Aurora Beacon-News

Indian Prairie D204 sees lower absenteeism rates, continued high proficiency rates on 2026 Illinois Report Card

School District 204 continued to post high proficiency rates in ELA, math and science, and again saw chronic absenteeism rates fall, per the latest data.

The Indian Prairie School District 204 office is at the Crouse Education Center at 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora. (R. Christian Smith/The Beacon-News)

Erin Aleman, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, speaks Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in downtown Aurora to around 60 local and regional leaders about housing issues in the Fox Valley. (Alex Garcia)

Column: Planning group looks at housing for a changing Aurora and Fox Valley

An Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry volunteer works stocking food recently at the pantry's market in Aurora. (Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry)

Holiday Food Drive aims to help those in need in Aurora

Nayada Adams of Aurora and her son Ny’Jon Collins, 4, get ready to trick-or-treat inside Wilder Park on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, during the city of Aurora's annual Halloween celebration. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)

Aurora Halloween bash offers sweet way to get some extra candy

By David Sharos

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

Free candy, giveaways, music from a DJ, dancing and more were offered during the city...

A pile of "I voted" stickers were available to voters at the Vaughan Athletic Center in Aurora on Nov. 8, 2022. Aurora area residents will head to the polls again on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Mark Black/For The Beacon-News)

Column: Don’t let political fatigue have the last word, so get out and vote

By Denise Crosby

November 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As easy as it is to get tired of all the political noise, Tuesday's election...

Geneva’s Lincoln Mercado (88) looks back and gives a nod to his QB after catching a TD pass against Carmel during a Class 6A first-round playoff game in Geneva on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

IHSA football playoffs: Geneva’s Lincoln Mercado becomes chip off the old block in 1st-round win over Carmel

By Rick Armstrong

November 1, 2026 at 12:55 a.m.

Senior tight end Lincoln Mercado catches pair of TDs for Geneva in 49-30 win over...

Morgan Park's William Smith Jr. (4) tries to shake off a tackle against Oak Forest during a Class 5A first-round playoff game at Stagg Stadium in Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

IHSA football playoffs: Get first-round scores and second-round pairings in Class 8A to 1A

By Chicago Tribune

October 31, 2026 at 10:38 p.m.

Here are the first-round scores and second-round pairings of the IHSA state football playoffs for...

Richards' Kahmari Flowers (11) takes down Niles North's Adonis Williams (15) causing a turnover during a Class 7A first-round game in Oak Lawn on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

Local scores for the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County

By Josh Krockey

October 31, 2026 at 9:17 p.m.

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

IHSA football playoffs: Ethan Posey and Brother Rice ‘dominate’ in 1st-round win over St. Charles North

By Mike McGraw

October 31, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

With players like senior offensive lineman Ethan Posey, Brother Rice is a team built to...

South Elgin's Pelon Munoz (11) scores the winning goal on Huntley goalkeeper Eli Valdez (0) in the second half of the Class 3A Huntley Sectional final on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Ryan Rayburn / The Beacon-News)

South Elgin’s Pelon Munoz, looking to ‘just smash it,’ buries his 32nd goal to clinch win for sectional title

By Paul Johnson

October 31, 2026 at 6:10 p.m.

Pelon Munoz scores go-ahead goal with 8:51 left for South Elgin in 2-1 win over...

Batavia's Charlie Rosengren (7) jukes between Lincoln-Way Central's Vaughn Mroz (47) and Colin Slaney (97) in the third quarter during a Class 7A first-round game in Batavia. on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026.
H. Rick Bamman/for the Beacon-News

IHSA football playoffs: How Chicagoland high school teams fared in the first round

By Chicago Tribune

October 31, 2026 at 9:01 p.m.

Here's how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in the first round of the IHSA...

Aurora Christian's Luke Baumann (7) runs the ball against on play out of the Wildcat against Winnebago during a Class 2A first-round playoff game in Aurora on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)

IHSA football playoffs: Luke Baumann accounts for 210 yards and 2 TDs as Aurora Christian rolls in 1st round

By Rick Armstrong

October 31, 2026 at 2:40 a.m.

Luke Baumann accounts for 210 yards and 2 TDs in Aurora Christian's 42-14 win over...

Batavia's Charlie Rosengren (7) pulls in a TD pass from Michael Vander Luitgaren against Lincoln-Way Central during a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Batavia on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

IHSA football playoffs: Charlie Rosengren gets his turn and scores 3 TDs as Batavia downs Lincoln-Way Central

By Paul Johnson

October 31, 2026 at 2:00 a.m.

Charlie Rosengren scores on TD runs of 31 and 17 yards as Batavia beats Lincoln-Way...

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