Aurora Beacon-News

How authorities say a jammed gun and Taco Bell workers prevented a possible mass shooting at an Aurora temple

A jammed gun and workers at an Arlington Heights Taco Bell restaurant prevented a potentially devastating mass shooting Sunday at a Hindu temple in Aurora.

A security vehicle sits outside the Sri Venkateswara Swami Balaji Temple in Aurora on Oct. 14, 2026. The temple was the alleged target of a foiled terror attack. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)

Aurora Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward, center, raises concerns about a measure that would end an agreement between the city and Onlight Aurora, the organization that manages the city's fiber-optic network, at an Aurora City Council meeting on Oct. 13, 2026, as Ald. Javier Banuelos, 7th Ward, left, and Ald. Edward Bugg, 9th Ward, look on. (Addison Wright/The Beacon-News)

Aurora City Council delays decision on ending fiber network agreement

David Spade attends the world premiere of Apple's "Outcome" at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on April 06, 2026 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)

David Spade to perform at Aurora Hollywood Casino

Residents protest three solar farm projects Oct. 15, 2026, at the Will County Board meeting in Joliet. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown)

Will County Board rejects solar farm near Monee, approves one near Manhattan while lamenting lack of local control

By Michelle Mullins

October 15, 2026 at 3:53 p.m.

The Will County Board rejects a solar energy project in Green Garden Township and approves...

West Aurora’s Darius Stewart (0) and Devin Farmer (11) run Elgin’s Dan Beckett (7) out of bounds during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

Rick Armstrong’s 5 high school football games to watch in the Aurora-Elgin area and Week 9 predictions

By Rick Armstrong

October 15, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

West Aurora, Oswego, Kaneland, Batavia and Geneva are picks to click for Week 9.

St. Charles East's Scarlett Dickerson (1) reacts to a point against South Elgin during a nonconference match in South Elgin on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

St. Charles East’s Scarlett Dickerson, reunited this year with former coach, excels in win over South Elgin

By Paul Johnson

October 15, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Scarlett Dickerson ties for team-high honors with 12 kills as St. Charles East prevails 25-23,...

Homewood-Flossmoor's Rahsaan Coleman (6) hands off the ball to Layden Williams (2) during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Friday, Sept. 11, 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

October 14, 2026 at 11:33 p.m.

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

Aurora Police Officer Justin Cebulski has been recognized by the Aurora Police Department for his work during a recent house fire in Aurora. (Aurora Police Department)

Aurora police officer recognized by department for helping seven residents evacuate during fire

By Molly Morrow

October 14, 2026 at 3:14 p.m.

Among those Officer Justin Cebulski helped was a man who was asleep in a bedroom...

Palatine man accused of planning attack on Hindu house of worship

By Steve Zalusky

October 14, 2026 at 2:29 p.m.

Police believe Alexandros Paporakis, 19, may have been intending to carry out the attack Sunday.

A member of a Kane County Forest Preserve District fire crew uses a hand torch to light a fire along the edge of a 30-acre plot of prairie at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles during a prescribed burn in 2024. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, the district announced a series of prescribed burns that will take place this fall at forest preserves in Kane County. (R. Christian Smith/The Beacon-News)

Controlled burns planned at forest preserves throughout Kane County

By Aurora Beacon-News

October 14, 2026 at 1:13 p.m.

Each spring and fall, the district conducts prescribed burns across prairies, woodlands and wetlands in...

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