Category: Government

Aurora Council members share thoughts on the late Scheketa Hart-Burns

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council shared heart-felt thoughts on the late Aurora Ward 7 alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns, 68, at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Tuesday, June 20. First elected in 1991 to serve Aurora’s Ward 7 residents, alderwoman Hart-Burns, Aurora’s first black elected official on City

Aurora mayor remembers alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns at Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony

Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, shared his thoughts after hearing the news of the death of Aurora alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns, at Aurora’s Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony, Monday, June 19.“Scheketa was a mother, a sister. We called her the dean of the alderman.“Most importantly, she was a friend of so many.“She will

America’s youngest Black mayor, Jaylen Smith (l), 19, of Earle, Arkansas, met last month with mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, during the African American Mayor’s Association National Conference in Washington D.C. Smith will be Aurora’s guest speaker for the annual Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday, January 19 – the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth.

Youngest Black mayor in America to visit Aurora on Juneteenth

More than a century and a half ago, the last enslaved Black people received the news that they were indeed free.  Now, 158 years later, the youngest Black mayor in American history will join the first Black mayor of Aurora, Illinois, to honor the Juneteenth holiday. Mayor Jaylen Smith, 19,

Black fraternities and sororities place food boxes into trunks of vehicles at a previous Juneteenth Food Distribution.

Free groceries for 1,000 families Friday, June 16, at Juneteenth Food Giveaway in Aurora

1,000 families will be provided food tomorrow at the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Food Distribution Drive-Thru at Phillips Park in Aurora. In honor of Juneteenth and Father’s Day Weekend, more than 150 members of Black fraternities and sororities are gathering tomorrow morning in Aurora to distribute food to those in need.

Legislative watchdog Michael McCuskey sees job as educational opportunity

Former federal judge was nearly unanimously approved for a full five-year term in spring session By Nika Schoonover Capitol News Illinois nschoonover@capitolnewsillinois.com After 15 months as Illinois’ legislative inspector general, Judge Michael McCuskey is moving to Springfield. Since he first assumed the role in February 2022 – several months after

Health, Wellness Matter, Aurora free event

State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) has been selected as the 2022-2023 Outstanding House Legislator of the Year by the collective Posts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Illinois. The prestigious award was presented to Representative Kifowit, who is an honorably discharged United States Marine Corps Veteran, during the Joint

Aurora City Council approves mayoral appointments

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council approved two mayoral appointees at the City Council meeting, Tuesday, June 13. Approved was the appointment of Michael Nelson as director of Aurora’s Community Events Department and the appointment of Denise Zartmann to the City’s Advisory Commission for Disabilities. Zartmann is a transition

Reader’s Voice: Naperville launch pad of Awake Illinois

June 10, 2023Dear editor; Awake Americans, a national affiliate of Awake Illinois, is using Naperville as a launch pad for its views and actions that contradict and undermine our City’s pledge to diversity, equity, and inclusion. A public statement from mayor Scott Werhli and the City Council, to tell them

Children’s ID card available at Aurora Public Library District on two dates

Obtaining a State-issued ID card for children is an essential step towards ensuring their safety and security. Although it may not seem to be a top priority, having an ID card can prove to be crucial in a variety of situations. Normally one would have to visit the local Secretary

President, police state, must operate by the Constitution

By John & Nisha Whitehead We have become a nation in a permanent state of emergency. Power-hungry and lawless, the government has weaponized one national crisis after another in order to expand its powers and justify all manner of government tyranny in the so-called name of national security. COVID-19, for

On the witness stand, ex-legislator finally acknowledges he wore wire for FBI

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Former State senator Terry Link, a nearly 24-year veteran of the Illinois Capitol, publicly acknowledged for the first time this week that he’d worn a wire to secretly record a fellow lawmaker in 2019. Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat, has spent years denying news media

Aurora officials seek to enhance golf experience at Phillips Park

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council gave consent to purchasing an agreement designed to enhance the golf experience at Phillips Park Golf Course (PPGC), by providing staff members with improved control over golf management and decrease number of unutilized tee times at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting,

Balance delicate for governments to wage war on individuals

By John & Nisha Whitehead Let’s be clear about one thing: Seditious conspiracy isn’t a real crime to anyone, but to the U.S. government. To be convicted of seditious conspiracy, the charge levied against Stewart Rhodes who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for being the driving force behind

Red-light camera in restrictions in Illinois

By Andrew Adams Lawmakers in Springfield have unanimously approved a measure that would place new restrictions on the red-light and speed camera industry’s involvement in State and local elections and government. House Bill 3903 would ban automatic traffic enforcement companies or their officers from donating to candidates for public office

State Military Economic: State representative Stephanie Kifowit

Reflecting her years of service and strong understanding of military affairs, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, has been appointed to the State’s Military Economic Development Committee. “Illinois plays an instrumental role in our country’s defense, from logistics to industry to bases,” Kifowit said. “Our State is home to a number