By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council is considering an Ordinance amending and adding several sections of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Aurora pertaining to the disclosure of economic interests, campaign contributions, lobbying, and the use of City property and the City seal. Several members of the
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, This week I will continue with St. Mary’s Parish, and an Aurora affiliation at Blessed Sacrament Parish in North Aurora. Monsignor Edward S. Wright served as the assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Parish, from May of 1954 to August of 1959. I didn’t realize until
DuPage County and the City of Aurora under the direction of DuPage Sports Commission, the Aurora Area Sports Alliance and the National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA) is hosting the NBBA’s 50th Annual World Series of Beep Baseball. The 2026 World Series will be held August 2-8 at the Stuart Sports
Celebrating Clayton Parks Day February 26, his widow, Abby, mobilized family members to stock two Aurora community fridges with food. Clayton was among five victims of a 2019 shooting at Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora. Fridge project spokesman David Cannon said Abby and other volunteers filled fridges located outside at
On Tuesday night, the Aurora City Council approved the appointments of Michele Clark to serve as the City’s chief Human Resources officer, Theodore Van De Sampel to serve as the City’s Emergency Management coordinator, and Josue Alcaraz to serve as the City’s director of Property Standards. All three employees had previously been serving in interim roles until their
The Aurora Greenfest is back and better than ever. We are planning a wonderful festival celebrating everything about the environment and how to take care of our planet. Save the date, Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 18 W. Benton Street, Aurora, in the beautiful and
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, This week I’m writing about St. Mary’s Parish, on the northwest corner of Downer Place and Root Street in Aurora. In the winter of 1848, Mr. I. E. Labrie, an influential citizen, went to Bourbonnais, to explain to the Parish Priest there, the needs of
City of Aurora economic development projects are focusing on commercial and residential. That was the word February 19 from Aurora zoning and planning division director Tracey Vacek at Aurora Lions Club’s monthly luncheon meeting at Riverview Diner in Montgomery. Vacek said key retail projects include: •A Climate and Equitable Jobs
Cathy Hayen is retiring from the City of Aurora government at the end of February. You might not know her by name, but you know her by the gardens, baskets, and planters of vibrant colors that have transformed downtown Aurora over the years into a seasonal paradise. In 2014, Hayen
The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent review in connection with concerns regarding the allegations that excessive force was used by the Aurora Police Department during the coordinated student walkouts February 9. This office has received all body-worn camera footage, reports, and related evidence from the Aurora
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, center, presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to 10 East Aurora High School (EAHS) students in attendance Tuesday, at the Aurora Committee of the Whole meeting.
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, This week I’m going to finish up with the history of the buildings at Sacred Heart Parish. When I was in grade school, there was a white house on State Street, just south of the original church, that was on the southeast corner of Fulton
After being named the second-best city in America to move to by MRI Software, the City of Aurora is launching the “Choose Aurora Homebuyer Assistance Program,” aimed at helping to make the homebuying process more affordable, while attracting new residents to the City of Lights. The program, which is funded
Legendary Aurora track coach, Wilbert Walters, is coming out of retirement. Walters, 97, will join Aurora biographer Maureen McKane for a reading of “Walters Way: A Coach, His Runners, and His Race” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. The presentation and book signing will take place at Santori Aurora Public
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honored 11-year-old Aurora resident Jakoi Ruff, at Tuesday, Feb. 10 night’s City Council meeting. Ruff, set a national record at the 2025 AAU Northern Indoor National Track & Field Invitational, which took place December 27 and 28, 2025 at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track &
The City of Aurora, in partnership with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, is excited to announce that the inaugural Chicago Junior All-Star Championship will take place at the Phillips Park Golf Course from June 15 through 18. The event will feature an
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council viewed a summary about a gas main that was damaged Wednesday, Jan. 21 near Rush-Copley Hospital at the Tuesday, Jan. 27 City Council meeting. Interim Fire Chief Kevin Nickel explained a construction company was installing a new sign and hit a five-inch supply
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, This week, I’ll continue with Aurora’s churches and influential persons, with Sacred Heart Parish on Fulton Street, on the East Side. Sacred Heart of Jesus was the very first Catholic Church in Aurora, dedicated in 1848. The Parish began with German, Irish, and French immigrant
By Al Benson “Aurora’s police department is not going out of business.” Deputy Chief Steven Stemmet made the comment as guest speaker at the January 13 Citizen Police Academy Alumni of Aurora monthly membership meeting at APD headquarters. Stemmet filled in for Police chief Matt Thomas who was unable to
Celebrating MLK Day, Aurora held a 41st annual MLK ceremony Monday, Jan. 19, at East Aurora High School auditorium. “Beyond the Dream” was the theme. Keynote speaker was Stacy Davis Gates, president of both Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers. The leading national voice in the fight for
