Aurora mayor John Laesch declared that the state of the City of Aurora is “strong and growing” at his first-ever State of the City Address April 16. He added that his administration will be prioritizing fiscal responsibility with a specific focus on sustainable growth and government efficiency. The event, which
The City of Aurora government will host a free Electronics Recycling Drive-Thru from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25 at the Route 59 Metra Train Station, 1090 N. IL Route 59. All items are free to recycle, including televisions, but registration is required for the first 2,000 Aurora residents
Aurora mayor John Laesch will have his first State of the City Address, Thursday, April 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Aurora University, Crimi Auditorium, 1347 Prairie St., Aurora. Entering 2026, the City of Aurora is moving beyond traditional governance and exemplifying a people-centered strategic model. Mayor John Laesch
The City of Aurora’s Public Art Division is excited to unveil a new exhibit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, April 3, that will mark the homecoming of a world-renowned sculptor and historian, Dr. Charles Smith. The public is invited to attend the free opening reception at Aurora Public
At the Tuesday, March 24 City Council meeting, the Aurora City Council approved new, first-of-its-kind regulations intended to safeguard residents and the environment from future data center development. The nearly five-hour meeting included 17 speakers. Most spoke out against data centers. The approval of the new ordinances came as the
The City of Aurora government and the Aurora Fire Department will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the City’s two newest fire stations Thursday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Station 9, 500 N. Eola Road, and Station 13, 1701 Bilter Road. Both stations
The City of Aurora government is partnering with the Aurora Downtown District to host a free, action-packed weekend of St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. “Find Your Luck In Downtown Aurora,” which will take place March 14 and 15, will feature 15 downtown businesses in an event that is expected to deliver significant Irish cheer. From festive
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council voted Tuesday to send an ethics reform Ordinance back to the Rules, Administration, and Procedures (RAP) Committee for further discussion. The proposed Ordinance would amend and add several sections of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Aurora pertaining to the disclosure
The City of Aurora’s Data and Analytics Division, in partnership with the City’s Customer Service Division, has unveiled a new open data portal, designed to provide residents with an in-depth look at myAurora 311 operations, service requests, and call traffic. The myAurora 311 Open Data Portal features multiple dashboards that
City-sponsored Aurora events keep Mike Nelson busy. The director of community events detailed them for the Aurora Lions Club March 5 meeting at Riverview Diner in Montgomery. Nelson was appointed to lead the Events Division in 2022 after previously serving as an intern and interim manager. He said his five-person
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
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 government will host a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. to honor the seventh anniversary of the Henry Pratt Company Mass Shooting, which took the lives of five company employees and injured five Aurora police officers Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. The ceremony, which will
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 Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, and the City Council, honored an Aurora high school marching band that represented the City on the international stage, performing in Rome, Italy’s New Year’s Day Parade. The Waubonsie Valley High School Marching Warriors embarked on a Rome New Year’s Tour from
The City of Aurora’s Water Production Division has discovered elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes. Between July 2025 and December 2025, 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 exceeded
The City of Aurora is gearing up to celebrate its second annual Aurora Restaurant Week, from January 20 through February 3. The event, which will showcase Aurora’s rapidly growing and diverse culinary scene, offers both residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy exclusive discounts and prix-fixe menus at participating restaurants
The City of Aurora will continue a four-decades-long tradition of honoring the life and legacy of the Revernd Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 41st Annual MLK Ceremony Monday, Jan. 19. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, Aurora. This year’s
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council is considering a Resolution authorizing an advance of $80,000 to OnLight Aurora for operational support. City officials aren’t sure at this time if the money will be a loan or a grant. City government of Aurora documents show OnLight Aurora plays a critical
