Aurora Beacon-News

Column: Final labor and delivery shift at Mercy Medical Center in Aurora full of bittersweet emotions

Saying goodbye difficult for tight-knit group of labor and delivery nurses.

Mercy Medical Center nurse Michelle Lancaster holds back tears after receiving flowers from Jamie Werve, left, as final shift nurses of the labor and delivery department exit the hospital in Aurora on Oct. 1, 2026. (Joe Lewnard/Daily Herald)

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Batavia's Jeffery D. Schielke Government Center is located at 100 N. Island Ave. in Batavia. The city of Batavia and Aurora are at odds over a closed-off road on the border between the two cities. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)

Batavia and Aurora again at odds over closed-off road near border between two cities

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain speaks during a press conference April 11, 2025, in St. Charles regarding a 2023 officer-involved shooting in Batavia. (Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, who has been missing from the public eye for months, announces his retirement

West Aurora’s Bryce Riley (8) uses a stiff-arm to get to the outside against Bartlett during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

Rick Armstrong’s 5 high school football games to watch in the Aurora-Elgin area and Week 7 predictions

By Rick Armstrong

October 1, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

West Aurora, Metea Valley, Kaneland, Marmion and East Aurora are picks to click for Week...

Lincoln-Way East's Evan LeFevour (10) looks for an open receiver against Homewood-Flossmoor during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

High school football schedule and local scores for the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County

By Josh Krockey

September 30, 2026 at 10:06 p.m.

High school and local college results and highlights from the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and...

Aurora man sentenced to 33 years in prison for fatal 2023 shooting

By Aurora Beacon-News

September 30, 2026 at 4:35 p.m.

Zahmeir Andrews, 19, was found guilty of first-degree murder in July in connection with the...

Kane County Board member Bill Roth chairs a special meeting on Sept. 29, 2026, at which the county board voted to censure Board Chair Corinne Pierog for an alleged disclosure of confidential information. (Molly Morrow/The Beacon-News)

Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog censured over allegations she disclosed confidential information

By Molly Morrow

October 1, 2026 at 5:26 p.m.

Following a little under an hour of discussion over the matter, the board ultimately voted...

Aurora resident Tony Michelassi asks questions about the city's deferred maintenance costs and casino revenue during a budget town hall meeting in Aurora on Sept. 26, 2026.(Addison Wright/The Beacon-News)

Officials say Aurora faces over $9 million projected deficit: ‘We can’t cut our way out of this’

By Addison Wright

September 30, 2026 at 12:28 p.m.

Facing a projected $9 million to $10 million deficit in Aurora's general fund for 2027,...

Chicagoland high school football rankings: Get Mike McGraw’s Top 25 for Week 7

By Mike McGraw

September 30, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.

Brother Rice tops Mount Carmel in the rivalry — and the rankings — as St....

St. Charles North's Ellie Sutter (9) serves the ball against St. Charles East during a DuKane Conference match in St. Charles on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Ellie Sutter, a proponent of being ‘really positive,’ keeps faith as St. Charles North edges St. Charles East

By Paul Johnson

September 30, 2026 at 10:28 a.m.

Ellie Sutter leads both teams with 15 kills in St. Charles North's 25-13, 23-25, 25-18...

Marmion's Ryan Loria (1) carries the ball for a big gain against De La Salle during a CCL/ESCC Red game in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon News)

Calling it ‘backyard football at that point,’ Marmion’s Ryan Loria lets loose on game-winning 65-yard pick six

By Rick Armstrong

September 30, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Ryan Loria returns interception 65 yards for TD with no time left on clock to...

Sports radio 104.3 The Score co-host Jarrett Payton talks during the live morning on-air program Sept. 28, 2026.
Payton replaced longtime co-host Mike Mulligan, launching the “Haugh & Payton Show" beside former Tribune columnist David Haugh on Aug. 31. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Chicago Media Report: Jarrett Payton’s 1st month at The Score — and an ex-Cubs radio voice up for Hall of Fame

By Robert Channick

September 30, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The latest Chicago Media Report tackles Jarrett Payton's first month on The Score, the debut...

Volunteers sort bags of sweet potatoes Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva during a Hunger Action Day event. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)

Volunteers work to help those in need during Hunger Action Day at Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva

By David Sharos

September 29, 2026 at 3:12 p.m.

About 200 volunteers pitched in during the effort to help people throughout the food bank’s...

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