Denise Crosby –

Aurora Police Officer Justin Cebulski, left, who was recently recognized for his life-saving actions in a house fire, talks with his father John, a retired APD officer wounded in the 2019 Pratt mass shooting; and older brother Jonas, one of the Aurora firefighters who rescued a baby fawn from the Fox River this summer. (Denise Crosby)

Column: Saving lives runs in retired Aurora Police Officer Cebulski’s family

October 24, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

During a home fire, Autora Police Officer Justin Cebulski knocked down a door to rescue a sleeping man.

Jason and Carrie Lever of Aurora turn their front yard on Biltmore Circle into a spectacular Halloween display, complete with a fire-breathing dragon atop a castle tower, that will be open to the public from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31, 2026. (Carrie Lever)

Column: Aurora couple’s Halloween haunt gets more elaborate each year

October 23, 2026 at 7:00 a.m.

Jason Lever, an engineer, built a dragon that breathes fire, and Carrie Lever is in charge of decorations and props.

Aurora City Hall at 44 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora. (R. Christian Smith/The Beacon-News)

Column: National group helping to fund effort to change Aurora’s style of government

October 21, 2026 at 8:19 a.m.

The International City/County Management Association helping local efforts to change Aurora's style of government to city manager.

Developer David Karademas, on Sept. 30, 2026, points to where a sports bar is set to be built at The Mayan at 77 Stolp Ave. in downtown Aurora. (Addison Wright/The Beacon-News).

Column: Mayan restaurant project igniting Stolp Island developer’s belief in Aurora

October 19, 2026 at 8:05 a.m.

David Karademas says Aurora is ready to "take the next step" as far as downtown development.

Mike Bertrand is the new executive director of Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora. (Hesed House)

Column: ‘Big job … big need’ says new leader of Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora

October 16, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Mike Bertrand is the newly-named executive director of Hesed House.

People fill Neighborhood Church of the Brethren in Montgomery recently for a gathering about a proposed emergency winter shelter for the homeless in Kendall County. The leaders behind the shelter have come up with a revised plan for the warming center. (Caroline McCree

Column: Group set to open Boulder Hill warming shelter faces opposition to revised plan

October 14, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

After backlash against Oswegoland Community House’s plan to open Neighborhood Church of the Brethren to Kendall County’s homeless population when the temperature fell below freezing, OCH is looking now to...

From left, Judges Rene Cruz, Bianca Camargo, Sandra Parga and Julio Cesar Valdez pose with displays that help tell their stories at a celebration last week at the Kane County Courthouse to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month. (Miccah Simmons)

Column: Kane County Hispanic judges making history, paving the way to more diversity

October 13, 2026 at 4:55 p.m.

The judges' backstories are remarkable and certainly relevant as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Madison Palmer, left, and Corey McKinney perform in "Million Dollar Quartet," which began its final run Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, at Stolp Island Theatre in downtown Aurora. The show opened at the theater in July 2024. (Boris Martin)

Column: Love and careers hit the right note as ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ begins last run in Aurora

October 9, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, “Million Dollar Quartet” started its final run after more than two years at Stolp Island Theatre in downtown Aurora.

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert leaves Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago after his sentencing on April 27, 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak/baiduhai)

Column: Final questions about Hastert’s dramatic fall from grace

October 7, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Unfortunately, death doesn’t always put an end to questions, and sometimes it leaves us with even more of them.

People fill Neighborhood Church of the Brethren in Montgomery recently for a question-and-answer session about a proposed warming shelter for the homeless in Kendall County. Opponents are concerned about its location at the church, which is in a residential neighborhood and next to an elementary school. (Caroline McCree)

Column: Proposed warming shelter stirs controversy in Boulder Hill

October 5, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Organizers get pushback at a question-and-answer session that was held in the church where the warming center would be located.

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