Carolyn Stein

Carolyn Stein covers news for the Naperville Sun. She is a recent graduate of Stanford University, where she studied communication and East Asian studies. She has previously worked for the San Francisco Chronicle, Mercury News and Mission Local.

Elgin resident Henrrich Alvarez De-La Sancha, far left, was killed in December when a freight train struck the snow-removal equipment he was operating at a Metra station in Naperville. Alvarez De-La Sancha's family is suing Metra, alleging negligence. (Josefa Cruz Dominguez)

Family of Elgin snowplow operator killed by freight train in Naperville sues Metra

July 21, 2026 at 11:41 a.m.

The family of an Elgin man killed by a freight train last year while removing snow at a Naperville train station has sued Metra.

Mary Groll, dean of North Central College's School of Education and Health Sciences, shows props that are used in the health sciences programs at the school's Dr. Myron Wentz Center for Health Sciences and Engineering in Naperville. (Carolyn Stein/Naperville Sun)

‘If you stay stagnant, you’re going to die’: Inside North Central College’s bet on health sciences

July 17, 2026 at 2:53 p.m.

Expanding North Central College's health sciences programs while keeping its liberal arts identity is the Naperville school's goal.

The Naperville Public Library Board has endorsed plans to build a new city parking deck at Jefferson Avenue and Webster Street using a portion of the Nichols Library parking lot. (City of Naperville)

Naperville library board formally supports Nichols parking deck

July 16, 2026 at 2:52 p.m.

The Naperville Public Library Board has approved a letter supporting city construction of a new parking deck at the Nichols Library.

A "wind phone" located in Safety Harbor, Florida, allows users to have therapeutic conversations with someone who has died using a disconnected phone. A similar phone has been proposed for Naperville by nonprofit Max's Mission. (Jill Wijangco)

‘Wind phone’ to help those struggling with grief proposed for Naperville

July 16, 2026 at 12:15 p.m.

Max’s Mission, a nonprofit that helps families coping with suicide loss, wants to install a "wind phone" in a Naperville park.

Everdine's Grilled Cheese Co.'s last day in business in downtown Naperville will be Friday, the owners announced on social media. (Everdine's Grilled Cheese Co.)

Nike, Everdine’s Grilled Cheese close this week in downtown Naperville

July 15, 2026 at 1:17 p.m.

Downtown Naperville is saying goodbye to two businesses this week: Everdine's Grilled Cheese and the Nike store.

A home on Perkins Court in Naperville, which sold for a record $8.3 million, features a soccer field, sauna, resort-style pool and in-ground trampoline among its amenities. (@properties Christie's International Real Estate)

Naperville home goes for $8.3 million in record-breaking residential sale

July 14, 2026 at 2:52 p.m.

A home in unincorporated Naperville purchased for $8.3 million is the highest residential sale in the city and Will County history.

The Naperville Community Concert Center in Central Park at 104 E. Benton Ave. will be tranformed this weekend with the debut of Park After Dark. (Carolyn Stein/Naperville Sun)

Park After Dark to transform Naperville’s Central Park with music and art

July 16, 2026 at 9:46 a.m.

Park After Dark, a three-day, interactive music and arts experience, is coming to downtown Naperville this weekend.

Naperville resident Ashley Ware speaks to the Naperville Liquor Commission Thursday about how she developed a kratom substance use disorder for which she had to be hospitalized and treated. (Carolyn Stein/Naperville Sun)

Naperville commission votes in favor of ban on kratom products

July 10, 2026 at 5:55 p.m.

Naperville Liquor Commission wants a ban on the sale of all kratom products after new concerns emerge about new synthetic variations.

This is an inside view of the Five Iron Golf at 609 N. Dearborn St. in Chicago. A Five Iron Golf is to open at 47 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville in April 2027. (Five Iron Golf)

Five Iron Golf planning first suburban location in downtown Naperville

July 10, 2026 at 5:17 p.m.

A new indoor sports experience is slated for downtown Naperville. Five Iron Golf's first indoor golf simulator bar in the Chicago suburbs will open in April 2027 in an 11,000-square-foot...

This rendering shows what a proposed three-story, multitenant office building in downtown Naperville would look like if built by john greene Real Estate at Main Street and Aurora Avenue. (Torch Architecture)

Realtor planning new 3-story office building for downtown Naperville

July 9, 2026 at 2:43 p.m.

A three-story office building has been proposed for the northwest corner of Main Street and Aurora Avenue in downtown Naperville. Two vacant structures would be torn down to make way...

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