25th annual Turkey Bowl flag football
A tackler brings down a ball carrier in the off-duty Aurora firefighters’ 25th annual Turkey Bowl flag football game Thanksgiving morning at West Aurora High School.
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honors two Aurora residents selected to perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
At Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honored two West Aurora High School students who represented Aurora on the national stage, performing at last week’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Asher and Emily Lesniak were selected to perform as part of
Giving Machines back at Fox Valley Mall
The “Giving Machines” will be back December 17 through January 1, 2026 at Aurora’s Fox Valley Mall. Wednesday, Dec. 17 there will be live entertainment and photo opportunities. All of the proceeds go to the charities, which include Loaves and Fishes and Ronald McDonald House. Look for the big red
Aurora’s former police department and post office
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, This week, I’ll finish the meaningful lyrics of Old Days by the band Chicago: “Funny faces, Full of love and laughter. Funny places, Summer nights and streetcars. “Take me back, To a world gone by. Boyhood memories, Seem like yesterday. “Old days, in my mind
Aurora City Council votes to increase the number of video gaming terminals
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council approved an increase to the number of video gaming terminals permitted in Aurora at the Tuesday, Nov. 25 City Council meeting. City government of Aurora documents show the purpose is to amend the City Code to align with state law and the revision
Aurora Winter Lights Festival 2025
The Aurora Winter Lights Festival parade delighted many onlookers in downtown Aurora November 21.
Diverse faiths celebrate Thanksgiving season
Celebrating the Thanksgiving season, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other faith groups gathered at an annual interfaith worship service Sunday, Nov. 23. Our Savior Lutheran Church hosted the afternoon “Thanksgiving Celebration of Music and Friendship.” InterFaith Aurora, an ecumenical group, sponsored the event that featured messages and songs from diverse area
Paramount Arts Center history; community thanks
By Ricky Rieckert This week, I would like to share some lyrics from a song, written by James Pankow and song by Peter Cetera, the lead singer of the band Chicago, off their 1975 Album, titled Chicago VIII. The song easily could be titled Aurora. For you Baby Boomers, and
Aurora Police Investigating Shooting at Two Brothers Roundhouse
November 22, just around 9:10 p.m., Aurora Police Dispatch received multiple 911 calls for shots fired at 205 N. Broadway (Two Brothers Roundhouse). When officers arrived, they located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Patrol officers began life-saving measures before Aurora Fire Paramedics transported two of the victims to area
Mayor of Aurora John Laesch honors two Aurora students
At Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, mayor of Aurora John Laesch honored two East Aurora School District 131 students who were named Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars. The distinction, earned by Yahir Ferreira of Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy and Taleen Kandakji of Cowherd Middle School, is a selective
Official statement on Aurora Public Safety Funding
Below is a joint statement from Aurora mayor John Laesch, Police chief Matt Thomas, and Fire chief Dave McCabe, on Public Safety Funding in the 2026 Budget: Throughout this year’s budget process, there have been claims that the City of Aurora has chosen to enact significant cuts to public safety.
Back in Aurora’s downtown, original, old buildings
By Ricky Rieckert Thanks to everyone who braved the cold inclement weather to attend the Veterans Day parade in Aurora! A big thank- you to all of the veterans who fought to protect our country and our freedoms. And thank you Aurora Lions Club president, Randy Brown; his wife Lisa;
Think AI – Tech Town Hall in Aurora
Aurora Mayor John Laesch, left, addresses “Think AI – Tech Town Hall” November 13.
City of Aurora and Aurora Civic Center Authority Agree on One-Time Support of $2 Million in 2026, Paving Path to Financial Sustainability and Avoiding Programming Cuts
The City of Aurora and the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) have reached an agreement on operating support of $2 million in 2026, ensuring ACCA can continue running its four live performance spaces throughout downtown Aurora, as well as the Paramount School of the Arts. The agreement, brokered in partnership
Aurora City Council Unanimously Approves Ordinance Prohibiting The Use Of City Property For Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities
At a special meeting on Wednesday night, the Aurora City Council unanimously approved a City Ordinance that prohibits the use of City property for civil immigration enforcement activities. The Ordinance is specifically tailored to prohibit the use of any City-owned and controlled property, including parking lots, buildings, or parks, as a
Aurora Veterans Day parade 2025
U.S. flags are handed out to parade watchers during Aurora’s Veterans Day parade Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Aurora City Council continues work on ICE-Free Zones
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council met from 5 p.m. to nearly 11 p.m. to listen to dozens of speakers after allowing extra time for comments at the Tuesday, Nov. 4 Committee of the Whole and City Council meetings. The Council agreed to work on the language of an
Aurora Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11
The City of Aurora is set to celebrate the 87th anniversary of Veterans Day with the annual Aurora Veterans Day Parade, beginning at the intersection of Downer Place and Water Street Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10:15 a.m.. U.S. Air Force veteran and current Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
Aurora ranked among safest cities in America
The City of Aurora has been named one of the safest cities in the United States, ranking No. 33 overall and No. 17 in the category of “Home & Community Safety” in WalletHub’s 2025 Safest Cities in America study. The national study compared 182 of the country’s largest cities using
Aurora City Council considers ordinance to limit ICE from staging on City-owned spaces
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council listened to dozens of speakers in a standing-room-only crowd after agreeing to allow nearly an hour of extra time for public comments at the Tuesday, Oct. 28 City Council meeting. The majority of speakers expressed anger and sadness about the recent actions of