R. Christian Smith – Page 26

John Laesch speaks after being inaugurated as the new mayor of Aurora during a ceremony at the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Since he took the reins at City Hall, Laesch has hired three new people from his transition team to work in the Mayor's Office and appointed four others, with approval from the Aurora City Council, to other upper city management positions. (Chris Sweda / baiduhai)

New Aurora Mayor John Laesch chooses his leadership team at City Hall

May 24, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

Soon after taking office, new Aurora Mayor John Laesch hired three new people from his transition team to work in his Mayor's Office and recently appointed four others, with approval...

Aurora Mayor John Laesch, right, honors the city's Chief Engagement and Equity Officer Clayton Muhammad during a meeting on Tuesday. Muhammad is set to leave his role at the city. (City of Aurora)

Clayton Muhammad, called the ‘voice of Aurora,’ set to leave city government

May 21, 2025 at 7:15 p.m.

Clayton Muhammad, Aurora’s chief engagement and equity officer, is set to leave his role at the city.

Matt Thomas, left, shakes the hand of Aurora Mayor John Laesch after being sworn in as the city's new police chief. While Thomas was appointed by former Mayor Richard Irvin, Laesch has publicly indicated his support for Thomas. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Matt Thomas sworn in as new police chief of Aurora

May 23, 2025 at 4:03 p.m.

Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas takes over the department from former Police Chief Keith Cross following his retirement.

Richard Irvin gives a speech at one of his last city meetings as Aurora's mayor, the May 6 meeting of the Aurora City Council’s Committee of the Whole. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Economic development seen as key to legacy of former Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin

May 18, 2025 at 12:46 p.m.

Former Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s time in office was marked by significant economic development efforts throughout the city, as well as significant pushback and criticism for some of those same...

A rendering shows what the new Aurora Fire Department headquarters may look like. It is planned to be built near the current Aurora Police Department headquarters, creating a public safety campus. (Cordogan Clark)

Aurora City Council approves new $35 million fire department headquarters

May 15, 2025 at 4:40 p.m.

After a maneuver that involved temporarily suspending certain meeting rules, the Aurora City Council approved Tuesday the construction of a new $35 million fire department headquarters building.

John Laesch speaks after being sworn in as the new mayor of Aurora during a ceremony at the Paramount Theatre on May 13, 2025. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

New Aurora Mayor John Laesch talks challenges, opportunities during inauguration speech

May 15, 2025 at 10:21 a.m.

Aurora Mayor John Laesch was sworn in as Aurora’s 60th mayor alongside newly-elected and reelected aldermen of the Aurora City Council at an inauguration ceremony at downtown Aurora’s Paramount Theatre...

A rendering shows what the Learning Commons set to be built at Aurora University may look like. (SmithGroup)

Aurora University to begin construction of new Learning Commons

May 14, 2025 at 8:18 a.m.

Aurora University is gearing up to replace its existing library with a new forward-looking Learning Commons designed to bring people together.

Mercy Medical Center is at 1325 N Highland Ave. in Aurora. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Mercy Medical Center in Aurora gets top grade from hospital watchdog

May 13, 2025 at 4:20 p.m.

Mercy Medical Center in Aurora recently got a top grade from an independent hospital watchdog organization, The Leapfrog Group.

Aurora Mayor-elect John Laesch speaks during a press conference at Laborers' Union Local 68 in Lombard on April 14, 2025. Laesch's transition team has been busy over the past month in the run-up to Tuesday's inauguration ceremony. (Eileen T. Meslar / baiduhai)

Transition team for Aurora Mayor-elect John Laesch busy ahead of Tuesday inauguration

May 12, 2025 at 4:14 p.m.

Aurora Mayor-elect John Laesch’s 20-person transition team was in full swing ahead of his inauguration on Tuesday.

Aurora Deputy Mayor Guillermo Trujillo's last day of work at City Hall will be May 13. (Guillermo Trujillo)

Guillermo Trujillo, Aurora’s deputy mayor, gets ready to leave City Hall

May 10, 2025 at 2:58 p.m.

Aurora Deputy Mayor Guillermo Trujillo is set to retire, with his last work day scheduled for May 13.

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