Project Altogether students honored at Aurora City Council
Aurora mayor John Laesch, honors Project Altogether students Zaire Robinson, Amirrah Robinson, and Faith Berry for their exceptional volunteerism and hard work in the community.
Hanson helps secure $682K funding for 12 local libraries
State representative, Matt Hanson, D-Montgomery, helped secure more than $682,000 in the State budget for five public libraries and seven school libraries in the 83rd district. “Libraries remain a vital pillar of our community. They are not only hubs for reading and education, but also technology and innovation,” said Hanson.
Oil instability: Price increases, war, refining, cartels
From the vault, August 20, 2011 (revised): Got gas? Would you be willing to pay $5 (or more) per gallon for a tankful? The answer to both questions is “yes” (although the answer to question number two might be hard in coming out of your mouth, dear reader). A couple
Reader’s Commentary: Orwell wrote about totalitarianism/communism, not the U.S.
By Bela “Bill” Suhayda Wayne Johnson announced to the readers of this publication he is doing a re-read of George Orwell’s classic Novel “1984.” Johnson does to this novel what subversives do to democratic societies, they turn them upside down. Johnson tells us the book has become a difficult read.
Under Trump, the buck stops nowhere, careless spending
By John & Nisha Whitehead Having burned through billions of dollars and depleted critical munitions stockpiles, the Pentagon is running out of money. Our money. According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon is facing an urgent budget shortfall caused largely by the Iran war, with some critical funding accounts expected
Jessica Dixon Heitman appointed to ex-Rep. Benton’s seat
By Brenden MooreCapitol News Illinoisbmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com The Democratic Party chairs in Will and Kendall Counties chose Jessica Dixon Heitman Monday night to complete the term of former Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, and replace him on the November ballot. Benton resigned following an ethics investigation that found conduct described as unbecoming of
Summer sustenance solutions: Free summer meals for kids
Even in a community known for opportunity, hunger affects an estimated 64,000 Kane County residents at any given time. Throughout July, Kane County Connects is spotlighting the work of the Northern Illinois Food Bank and its partners as they fight hunger and expand access to nutritious food across Kane County.
Permanent Daylight Savings Time or Tulsa Time?
By Dr. Glenn Mollette We have been seeing and hearing news about the possibility of permanent Daylight Savings Time (DST). Will this work better for you? There is a song called “Tulsa Time”. In the song, Don Williams sings about living on Tulsa Time. When he arrived in California, nobody
Ethics Reform Passes in Aurora, still room to improve
By John Laesch, Aurora mayor The ethics ordinance that passed the Aurora City Council, July 14, is good news, but there is certainly room to continue working on better legislation. First the good news! The ordinance limits campaign donations to $1,500 from any corporation who does business with the City
Aurora Summer Civics Series, budget, long-term plans
The City of Aurora government and mayor John Laesch are set to host a new Summer Civics Series to engage the community on the City’s plans for the 2027 budget and its long-term outlook for public safety, infrastructure, and sustainability. The City of Aurora Summer Civics Series will start Saturday,
Aurora’s Special Census has begun
The City of Aurora’s Special Census Initiative is a count of the City’s population that is held outside of the normal census in areas of new construction between 2020 and 2026 throughout City limits. During the 2020 Census, it was reported that the City of Aurora lost approximately 17,000 people.
Disability Pride Month in Aurora
During the Aurora City Council meeting, July 14, mayor John Laesch welcomed members of the Aurora Advisory Commission on Disabilities, Weston Bridges, and the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association to accept an official proclamation, declaring the month of July as Disability Pride Month in Aurora.
Pritzker signs new laws: Birth control, AI, play-based learning
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker signed 31 new laws on Friday as he continues evaluating measures passed in the spring session, including bills banning certain ingredients from cosmetics and correcting the State’s property tax laws. Access to birth control Senate Bill 3341 allows minors to receive birth
Illinois House to investigate Rep. Ammons following indictment
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com An Illinois House committee will investigate actions by Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, following her indictment on 10 federal charges this week. A group of 11 House Republicans filed a petition on Friday to create a special investigating committee, a sparingly used process laid out in
Aurora City Council Approves New, Comprehensive Ethics Ordinance Enacting $1,500 Cap on Campaign Donations from Businesses with City Contracts
The Aurora City Council has approved a new, comprehensive ethics Ordinance that creates a $1,500 cap on campaign donations from businesses or entities that are doing business with the City. The Ordinance builds off Aurora’s 2019 Ordinance, enhancing ethics safeguards around local elected officials. Key reforms from the Ordinance include
Reader’s Voice: Racing to the bottom, legacy of president
July 12, 2026Dear editor; Iran has shown it could destabilize the industrial world’s economy at will by closing the Strait of Hormuz, despite the bluster of president Donald Trump and secretary of war Pete Hegseth. Regardless of the lives lost and the billions of dollars spent, Iran’s leaders feel they
DeKalb County Emergency Planning
The DeKalb County Local Emergency Planning Committee Meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 20, at 1826 Barber Greene Road, DeKalb. More volunteers are sought to be on the DeKalb County Local Emergency Committee. —Frank Beierlotzer
Aurora Water Production Division finds elevated levels of lead
The City of Aurora government’s Water Production Division has discovered elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes. Between January 2026 and June 2026, the City of Aurora’s Water Production Division collected 100 samples of water and analyzed them for lead. More than 10% of the samples collected
Political circus distracts, Flock builds digital police state
By John & Nisha Whitehead While Americans remain transfixed by the political circus—cheering for their preferred party, jeering at the opposition, obsessing over every manufactured outrage and waiting for the next spectacle—the Surveillance State continues its steady march forward. The government is watching. It watches where you go, whom you
Pritzker signs landmark AI regulation bill to mitigate risks
By Maggie DoughertyCapitol News Illinoismdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker signed artificial intelligence legislation modeled after similar bills in California and New York Monday, July 6, furthering a push for a State-driven national framework in lieu of federal regulations. “Congress and the president ought to be passing similar legislation, but they’ve so