Fox Valley - admin

Costs rise for library teen center

Construction on a Gail Borden Public Library teen center could begin in a few days, the library board was told this week. ... Full story

Elgin preps for next snowfall, noise issue

The city's public works department is ahead of the game for next winter's snowstorms, while the Downtown Neighborhood Association is being proactive addressing noise concerns in the heart of Elgin. ... Full story

'Friends' still working to aid Lords Park Zoo

Grass-roots group marks first year of long-term effort. ... Full story

Kane County board votes to freeze elected officials' pay

Kane County’s elected officials will not be receiving pay raises any time soon. The Kane County Board has approved a measure to freeze the salaries of each of the county’s top elected officials. ... Full story

Geneva lays off 47 teachers in 2 months

In the past two months, Geneva school officials laid off 47 non-tenured teachers for the upcoming school year. ... Full story

Batavia, Moose International moving ahead with land annexation talks

Annexation talks with Batavia for the farmland surrounding Mooseheart continue to move forward. ... Full story

Kaneland school board rejects student fee increases

Despite budget problems now facing the district, Kaneland students and their parents will not need to pay more to participate in student activities or to park at Kaneland High School. ... Full story

Redevelopment plans scaled back for Batavia building

The owners of a two-story building in downtown Batavia that dates to the 1880s have scaled back their plans to redevelop the building. ... Full story

Senate committee to vote today on bill to let schools to build wind farm

Things are finally looking up for three suburban school districts aiming to build a wind farm downstate and save millions on their energy costs. ... Full story

Democrats flex muscle in passing redistricting changes

The state Senate squeezed through a proposal along partisan lines Wednesday that changes how the state's political map is drawn but ultimately leaves decisions in incumbent lawmakers' hands. ... Full story

Mystery fireball streaks through night sky

A fireball, or very bright meteor, lit up the night sky Wednesday across the upper Midwest heading east to west and included several reports of a sonic boom, according to teh National Weather Service The event was captured by video from the squad car of an Iowa sheriff's deputy and a university webcam. ... Full story

Aldermen renew lobbyist’s contract, demand monthly reports

Dan Shomon will be the city of Aurora's lobbyist for another year, but he didn't get his new contract without a fight. ... Full story

D204 parents, students protest in Springfield

Seek restoration of education funding . ... Full story

Federal funds sought for Oswego Metra station

The mayors of Oswego, Yorkville and Montgomery will meet next week with representatives from U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin's office to promote funding for a Metra station in Oswego. ... Full story

Larger projects to be bid out in new landscaping contract

City leaders are considering extending Wally Mundy's citywide landscaping contract. But aldermen have proposed a significant change that would likely quiet some of the controversy surrounding the deal. ... Full story

Yorkville inches closer to a new budget

While aldermen here have not decided on a final 2010-11 budget, they are getting closer. ... Full story

Jersey Mike's offers East Coast-style sandwiches

Classic, original subs like a Philly cheese steak are the specialty at Jersey Mike's Subs. ... Full story

Cash-strapped Illinois owes companies $4.5 billion

Frank Vala left a state government job 30 years ago and built up a business that aims to keep seniors across Illinois out of hospitals and nursing homes by assisting them with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning or picking up medicine. ... Full story

Community panel offers own views on District 300's cuts

Focus on becoming less dependent on state funding. Budget based on local revenues, such as property taxes. ... Full story

Art colony, tax break on table for Elgin council

Also, service workers contract up for vote. ... Full story

Watching out for next emergency

Elgin officials: Being prepared cuts risks amid calamity. ... Full story

40 years of flicks in Carpentersville

Carpentersville cinema marking anniversary by showing classic films. ... Full story

St. Charles School District on the lookout for new superintendent

The St. Charles School District 303 is in the process of finding a replacement for Area Assistant Superintendent Brian Harris, whose resignation was officially accepted Monday by the Board of Education. ... Full story

Geneva District 304 Policy Committee recommends additions for anti-harassment and public comment policies

Public comment at school board meetings should remain at five minutes for two opportunities and sexual orientation and family status, among others, should be named specifically in its anti-harassment policy, the Geneva District 304 Policy Committee recommended Monday. ... Full story

Kane County nonprofits utilize Facebook, Twitter

Downtown St. Charles was recently filled with well-wishers welcoming home U.S. Army Specialist Tyler Jones after a yearlong stint in Afghanistan. ... Full story

Dist. 300 still needs to cut $5.6 million to balance budget

On Monday, for the first time in more than a month, the Community Unit District 300 school board met - and didn't lay off any staff. ... Full story

Food aid past due

Growing demand means DHS office is overloaded. ... Full story

Kaneland, teachers agree to pay freeze

Parents worried that Kaneland schools would radically change can breathe a sigh of relief. ... Full story

North Aurora clips wings on numbers of pigeons

A local pigeon fancier will have to give up most of his flock to comply with a new ordinance regulating the number of pigeons residents can keep on their properties. ... Full story

Parked in fire lane? You don't have a prayer

There's got to be a bad guy somewhere in this story. ... Full story

Yorkville eyes how to raise its water revenues

A consensus of aldermen here favor a 5 percent water rate increase for the 2010-11 budget year. ... Full story

Batavia seeks ways to protect vulnerable yards

Aldermen have yet to come up with a solution for a safety barrier to protect residential properties on the south side of Wilson Street at Raddant Road, where three runaway vehicles have plunged through fences and into the backyards of homes in recent years. ... Full story

Hundreds sign petition: Keep locks open

More than 500 signatures representing more than 100 organizations that want the Chicago Lock system kept open have been collected to try to convince the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the local economy depends on the waterways. ... Full story

Kane forest preserve chief explains golf passes

The president of the Kane County Forest Preserve District is encouraging commissioners to use some of the hundreds of golf passes available for them to play district courses at no cost. ... Full story

Efforts for ‘invisible children’ are easy to see

Aurora teens have raised thousands to help kids in war-torn Uganda. ... Full story

Illinois tea party at a crossroads

Protest movement has vocal supporters, but lacks structure, unified strategy ... Full story

St. Peter's spreads fundraiser throughout summer

This is not your ordinary garage sale. ... Full story

A Plank Road Panther?

Experts skeptical, but now they can 'never say never' ... Full story

Fair showcases area science students

When her family lived on the Pacific island of Saipan, Zoe Travis, 14, was able to participate in science fairs during her elementary and middle school years. ... Full story

Recession may tone down, but won't stop Elgin fest fun this summer

Though local municipalities have trimmed their budgets, there is still a good amount of community-sponsored warm-weather fun to be had this year in the Elgin area. ... Full story

Recession may tone down, but won't stop Elgin fest fun this summer

Though local municipalities have trimmed their budgets, there is still a good amount of community-sponsored warm-weather fun to be had this year in the Elgin area. ... Full story

Judson University set for weeklong 'indie' film festival

Independent films are among the most powerful, many say, stirring deep emotions from those who peer into the mind's eye of the purpose-driven filmmaker. ... Full story

Student loan legislation won't affect local community college lending

While community college officials across the suburbs express resounding support for the student loan overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama, they also admit the legislation won't change much about the way they're doing business. ... Full story