Aurora News

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History-Making Inauguration at the Paramount Theatre
John Laesch
Tuesday, May 13 ushered in a new era for the City of Aurora's City Council. For the first time in history, the Council is made up of four Latino Aldermen and Alderwomen--Juany Garza of Ward 2, Jonathan Nunez of Ward 4, Dan Barreiro of Ward 1, and Javier Banuelos of Ward 7.

Keith Larson, Alderman-at-large, was also sworn in as the youngest City Council member at age 29.

These milestones were presented in tandem with the swearing in of the 60th Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch. Laesch's father, Jim, led the invocation at the start of the ceremony, which included performances by Ballet Folkloric Quetzalcoatl and students from the Paramount School of the Arts. A tribute poem and introduction by members of the Liberian Embassy were also included in the night's programming.

Inauguration Paramount Theatre
Ballet Folklorico
Keith Larson
The following were sworn in as Aldermen and Alderwomen of their respective wards:

Alderman Dan Barreiro - Ward 1
Alderwoman Juany Garza - Ward 2
Alderman Jonathan Nunez - Ward 4 (newly elected)
Alderman Javier Banuelos - Ward 7 (newly elected)
Alderman Edward Bugg - Ward 9
Alderwoman Shweta Baid - Ward 10
Alderman-at-large Keith Larson (newly elected)
After his swearing in, Mayor Laesch took to the podium to thank his supporters and reiterate his commitment to involving the voices of Aurora's City Council in his administration's decision-making process.

Watch the Inauguration Ceremony Here!
TOMORROW: Aurora Gardeners' Plant Sale!
Plant Sale
Join the Aurora Gardeners' for their 28th Annual Plant Sale tomorrow, May 17.

Admission is free and the vendors will be a plenty. Spend your Saturday at this family-friendly event full of flora, fauna, furniture, food trucks, and more.

See you then!

Washington Middle School Wins Sports Fest 2025 at Phillips Park!
Sports Fest Washington MS
Sports Fest Volleyball
Congratulations to Washington Middle School in District 129 on winning the 31st annual Sports Fest, hosted by the City of Aurora Youth Services division.

Thank you to the over 1,200 student athletes and 100 volunteers for making this event so successful last week at Phillips Park!

Sports Fest Soccer
Animal Care & Control Offers New Adoption and Stray Intake Services
The City of Aurora Animal Care & Control Center has launched a software to streamline adoptions and stray intakes!

The new “Adoptable Pets” portal, which updates hourly with all available animals at the shelter, will help those looking to adopt get an up-to-date snapshot of which furry friends are looking for homes.

Additionally, a “Stray Pets at the Shelter” portal is also available, giving hourly updates with animals who have entered the shelter as strays.

Animal Control Adoption Portal
Lost Pet Portal
“This software is a gamechanger for our shelter,” Animal Care & Control Manager, Kameron DeBoer, said. “The new upload feature puts real time data in the hands of our community. Not only will residents be able to view the most up-to-date adoptable animal population, but families missing their beloved pets can check our stray page 24/7, helping us reunite pets with their loving homes.”

Learn More & Adopt Your Forever Pet Today!
Aurora Water Main Flushing Program Continues Through June
Water Main Flushing Program
The 2025 Water Main Flushing Program has begun. Fire hydrant flushing will occur on weekdays between 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. from May through June and September through October to remove sediment that may have accumulated in pipes.

Watch for signs alerting the public of flushing in your area!

Please wash clothes before 7 A.M. or after 6 P.M. while flushing is occurring in your neighborhood. If you see rusty water, discontinue water use and turn on cold water faucets, such as an outside spigot or bathtub, until the water clears in a few minutes. If your clothes become discolored in the laundry, do not dry them and call 311 for a free bottle of liquid laundry aide to help remove stains.

More details, including a breakdown of the subareas pictured, can be found via the link below.

Learn More About The Water Main Flushing Program
Summer STEAM Courses with APS Training Academy
Free STEAM courses with APS Training Academy in Aurora begin next month!

Serving nearly 3,000 learners in 2024, the APS Training Academy’s FREE STEAM courses are designed to engage young minds and provide innovative opportunities for Aurora’s youth to succeed.

Summer courses—which include coding, robotics, smart technology, and creative design, are now open for registration.

APS STEAM Classes
Register Here!
Sign Up For Aurora Alert Today!
Aurora Alert is being revamped! You can now choose which notifications you want to receive, so peace of mind is always in your hands. From Weather Alerts to Public Safety Alerts, it's all here.

Sign up and opt in so you can stay aware and stay prepared!

Aurora Alerts
Sign Up For Aurora Alert Today!
Download The myAurora 311 App Today!
myAurora 311
The myAurora 311 app is your one-stop-shop for all of your customer service needs, and it's available in the App Store and Google Play!

You can submit cases from the palm of your hand, plus learn more about City events, City Council meetings, and receive easy access to the myAurora 311 web portal.

Download the myAurora 311 app today by visiting www.aurora.il.us/311.

Aurora Celebrates National Bike Week!
National Bike Week
This week, Aurora celebrated National Bike Week!

The City of Aurora’s Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Advisory Board encourages you to get outside and enjoy the 875 miles of shared bike paths, sidewalks, and bike lanes scattered throughout the City!

Remember to wear your helmet, follow the rules of the road, stay alert, and enjoy the ride!

For more information on Aurora’s Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Advisory Board, see below...

Learn More About The Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Advisory Board!
Spotlight On: Taqueria Aurora
A place like Taqueria Aurora is exactly what happens when authentic flavor and a dedicated family come together to create a phenomenal restaurant

If you haven't visited their space, don't miss out any longer on one of the best spots in Aurora!

Taqueria Aurora
Watch the Full Spotlight Here!