Tag: Coronavirus

Schools closed, staying home, extended

By Peter Hancock Illinois residents are being directed to continue staying home, and schools will continue to be closed for on-site instruction through April 30, governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday. Pritzker made that announcement during a news conference Tuesday in Chicago. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 937 new

Thoughts on a convention center

March 30, 2020Dear editor; COVID-19 (coronavirus) and social distancing have given me, and I hope all of us, time to think and evaluate where we are going, personally, locally, and nationally. Non-essential businesses are closed. Were they previously essential? The city government of Aurora wants to put a convention center

Representative Hernandez accessible

To ensure the health and safety of district office employees and local residents during the COVID-19 outbreak, State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, has closed her district office until further notice, but will still be accessible to assist with constituent concerns. “My district office will remain closed until further notice to

Aurora mayor, police chief test positive for COVID-19

The Kane County Health Department confirmed Thursday, March 27 the positive COVID-19 (coronavirus) test results for Aurora mayor Richard C. Irvin and Aurora Police chief Kristen Ziman. Under stern advice from the health department, both were tested Saturday, March 21 after an Aurora Police supervisor tested positive for COVID-19. “I

Illinois part of record-setting unemployment claims

By Peter Hancock More than 114,000 workers in Illinois filed first-time unemployment claims in the week ending Saturday, March 21 as the United States saw its biggest one-week spike in recorded history with 3.2 Million workers filing for benefits. The U.S. Department of Labor report the seasonally-adjusted number was due

A concern for long-term implications of $2.2 Trillion measure

Jim Oberweis, Republican Party candidate for Congress in the 14th District, issued the following statement on the $2.2 Trillion COVID-19 (coronavirus) relief bill passed last week by both Houses in Congress and signed by the president. By Jim Oberweis These are indeed trying times for our Nation as we face

Aurora Public Library finds ways to connect with digital content

The Aurora Public Library (APL) is closed, but we want everyone to stay connected. Here is what is new with Aurora Public Library: In response to governor JB Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, the Library will remain closed until further notice. We will re-open on a date to be determined upon the

Fox Valley Park District forced into cancellation of Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race

The Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) continues to monitor the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, and adhere to recommendations set forth by local, State, and federal lawmakers, and health experts. As a result, FVPD officials have been forced to cancel several upcoming programs and events, including the Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race,

Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley recently announced the creation of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund. Fox Valley area funders have come together to establish the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund at the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley to support nonprofits in the greater

Risk we take: Government intervention

By John W. Whitehead You can always count on the government to take advantage of a crisis, legitimate or manufactured. This COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is no exception. Not only are the federal and state governments unraveling the constitutional fabric of the Nation with lockdown mandates that are sending the economy

Stateville inmate among 8 more dead as state reports 461 new COVID-19 cases 12 other inmates hospitalized, 77 are isolated with symptoms

By Jerry Nowicki The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 461 new cases of COVID-19 and eight new deaths in the state Monday as an outbreak worsened at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill. IDPH said one of the deceased was an inmate at Stateville, and 12 other inmates

Aurora City Council remote meeting April 1

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis and the Executive Order to stay at home, the Aurora City Council will hold its first remote meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 by using the Zoom video conferencing platform. As all Aurora City Council meetings, public viewing will be available at www.facebook.com/cityofauroraIL

State seeks to expand hospital capacity

By Peter Hancock Governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday the State is stockpiling medical supplies and working to expand its hospital capacity, even by converting some closed hotels into isolation facilities, as it braces for a sharp increase in demand due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19 (coronavirus).