Category: Government

Reader’s Voice: Count Aurora fairly: Aurora mayor

June 3, 2024Dear editor; According to the 2020 Census report, the City of Aurora’s population declined from approximately 197,000 in 2010 to now around 180,000, indicating a loss of 17,000 residents. However, the decline is an unfortunate and unacceptable product of a faulty 2020 Census report, which exacerbates inaccuracies and

Tax proceeds distribution difficulties from Illinois Cannabis Tax Act hurts Blacks and Hispanics in Illinois R3 Communities

Dear Governor Pritzker, I hope this message finds you well. I’m Marcus Robinson, also known as Coach HYPE, a military veteran, social entrepreneur, and co-founder of Gametime Life Skills, based in Aurora. Our organization is proud to affiliate with MLB’s Nike RBI Program, which fosters youth baseball and softball development.

Health insurance changes target ‘utilization management’

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A package of health insurance reform measures that Gov. JB Pritzker called for at the beginning of the legislative session will soon be headed to his desk for his signature. The Illinois House gave final approval Saturday to a pair of bills that limit the

Measure targets ‘legacy’ admission at public universities

By Dilpreet Raju, Cole Longcor, & Alex AbbedutoCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers missed a self-imposed Friday deadline for passing a budget, but they had approved more than 250 bills last week as of Friday afternoon. Amid the flurry of legislation was a measure prohibiting State universities from admitting students based

Potawatomi Nation closer to acquiring land

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is a step closer to acquiring a 1,500-acre state park in DeKalb County, much of which was once part of a reservation that was illegally seized from the tribe in the mid-19th Century. As the Senate worked through its last

Aurora Mayor’s Award to Fox Valley Mall

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented his Mayor’s Award of Excellence to representatives from the Fox Valley Mall at the May 28 Aurora City Council meeting. International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Global Awards are the most recognized achievement for professional excellence in the marketplaces industry. The

Nursing homes still grappling with worker shortage, cost increases

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been four years since some of the worst scenes of COVID-19 played out in locked-down nursing homes during the early months of the pandemic. But while most of the world has moved on, the nursing home industry is still reeling from COVID, which exacerbated

Pritzker pledges to expand mental health care access

By Dilpreet RajuCapitol News Illinoisdraju@capitolnewsillinois.com In the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a panel in Springfield this week at which he pledged to expand the state’s behavioral health services. With several dozen services providers from around the state in attendance,

Mayor of Aurora thankful for veterans, disgusted with U. S. Census Bureau

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, expressed disgust with the U. S. Census Bureau, at the Committee of the Whole meeting, Tuesday, May 21. Mayor Irvin made the following statement about the U.S. Census Bureau population estimates: “The most recent population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau are

Aurora Police Officers Active and Deceased Honored During Police Week Ceremony

Aurora Police Officers, Active and Deceased, Honored During Police Week Ceremony

Aurora concluded National Police Week with an annual ceremony that honored the current officers and those who died in the line of duty. Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin and Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross led the ceremony with the mayor presenting a proclamation to recognize the week. The mayor and

Hundreds of Aurora Seniors Turn Out for FBI Workshop on Senior Fraud Awareness Day

More than 200 Aurora senior citizens eagerly showed up for a special workshop presented by the FBI and the City of Aurora, Wednesday, May 15, Senior Fraud Awareness Day. Last year, the frequency of elder fraud crimes targeting Americans over 60 reached an alarming high, surpassing any previous year. These

Report says natural gas prices could triple in next 10 years without State action

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Consumer natural gas bills could triple over the next 10 years without state intervention, according to a report from the Building Decarbonization Coalition and Groundwork Data. The report attributes much of the potential increase to the fact that most utility infrastructure spending is going toward

House okays program for student teacher stipends, but not the funding for it

By Peter Hancock & Andrew CampbellCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois House approved a bill Tuesday to allow student teachers to receive stipends while earning their education degree, even though the money needed to fund those stipends is unlikely to be included in next year’s budget. House Bill 4652, by Rep.

Aurora City Council honors Warriors Hockey Club

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, presented honors to the Warriors Hockey Club at the May 14 Aurora City Council meeting. The Warriors Hockey Club with students from Waubonsie Valley High School and Metea Valley High School ice hockey team of Aurora claimed their fourth Illinois State high