R. Christian Smith – Page 31

Jose Luis Zamora, 68, left, votes during the primary election on Feb. 25 at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora. Voters in the city will cast ballots again on April 1 in a variety of contests, including the Aurora City Council race in the 2nd Ward. (Antonio Perez / baiduhai)

Juany Garza, Alfonso Santoyo run for 2nd Ward seat on Aurora City Council

March 26, 2025 at 2:13 p.m.

Aurora voters are set to soon choose between incumbent Juany Garza and challenger Alfonso Santoyo for the 2nd Ward seat on the Aurora City Council.

Ryan VanKampen votes at Vaughan Athletic Center in Aurora in 2020. Aurora voters will held to the polls again on April 1 to vote in a number of races, including the contest for the 1st Ward seat on the Aurora City Council. (Mike Mantucca / For The Beacon-News)

Four candidates run for Aurora City Council 1st Ward seat

March 26, 2025 at 1:12 p.m.

Incumbent Dan Barreiro is running against Hugo Saltijeral, Bishop Jeffrey D. Donelson and Ray Hull.

Jose Luis Zamora votes during the primary election on Feb. 25 at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora. The general election is set for April 1. (Antonio Perez / baiduhai)

Ron Woerman, Keith Larson run for Aurora alderman at-large in April 1 election

March 24, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

Aurora voters are set to choose in the April 1 consolidated election between incumbent Ron Woerman and challenger Keith Larson for one of two alderman at-large seats on the Aurora...

Aurora mayoral challenger John Laesch, left, and incumbent Richard Irvin shake hands after a mayoral forum at the Santori Public Library in Aurora, March 10, 2025. (Mark Black/for the Beacon-News)

Gov. JB Pritzker’s Illinois Democratic Party targets Richard Irvin as he seeks third term as Aurora mayor

April 3, 2025 at 11:18 a.m.

Incumbent Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, a GOP governor candidate in 2022, is facing reelection opposition from Illinois Democrats led by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The Aurora Police Department headquarters is at 1200 E. Indian Trail in Aurora. A new headquarters for the Aurora Fire Department may be built near the police facility. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News)

Aurora moving forward with plan to create consolidated public safety campus

March 20, 2025 at 1:15 p.m.

The city of Aurora is moving forward with plans to expand the site of the current police department headquarters into a public safety campus that would also hold a new...

Aurora City Hall is at 44 E. Downer Place in the city's downtown. The Aurora City Council Tuesday night approved millions of dollars in funding for community service organizations. (City of Aurora)

Aurora City Council approves millions of dollars in funding for community organizations

March 14, 2025 at 9:03 a.m.

The Aurora City Council has approved millions of dollars in funding for community service organizations along with a new five-year plan that will guide the city's spending of federal funds...

The Aurora City Council on Tuesday approved two loans to help create a new diner in the Terminal Building in the city's downtown. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Aurora City Council approves $450,000 in loans for downtown diner

March 12, 2025 at 3:48 p.m.

The restaurant is set to be owned by chef Jamie Gilmore, an Aurora resident who runs Lizzy J Cafe in Chicago’s Fulton Market District.

Aurora mayoral candidates, challenger John Laesch, left, and incumbent Richard Irvin shake hands after the League of Women Voters mayoral forum at the Santori Public Library in Aurora on March 10, 2025. (Mark Black/for the Beacon-News)

Irvin, Laesch share their visions for Aurora’s future at mayoral candidate forum

March 11, 2025 at 5:04 p.m.

Aurora mayoral candidates Richard Irvin and John Laesch both said they want to move the city forward, but their visions of the future differed.

The empty lot across South Raddant Road from Marmion Academy in Aurora where Abbey Meadows, a townhouse development, is proposed to be located. This is where the extended Mesa Road would connect to South Raddant Road, meeting up with Marmion Academy Drive. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Townhouse development proposed near Marmion Academy in Aurora

March 11, 2025 at 7:36 p.m.

Abbey Meadows is a proposed townhouse development by Lennar Homes, which would have 220 units across nearly 32 acres near Marmion Academy.

Aurora mayoral candidates Richard Irvin, John Laesch to answer questions at upcoming forum

March 5, 2025 at 3:51 p.m.

Richard Irvin, the current mayor of Aurora, and John Laesch, who is challenging Irvin in the upcoming consolidated election, are both set to attend the hybrid forum.

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