Author: Fox Valley Magazine

By JERRY NOWICKICAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS With Illinois lawmakers scheduled to return to legislative session in less than a month, a recent government fiscal forecast provides an overview of the budgeting landscape that awaits them.  The bottom line from the five-year forecast from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget: The current fiscal year is now projected to end with a $1.4 billion surplus, while the upcoming fiscal year 2025 is projected to face an $891 million deficit. Read the report: 2023 Illinois Economic and Fiscal Policy Report “So that five-year forecast, you know, we look at it as a guide for…

Day 5 of the Norris Cultural Arts Fourth Annual Baker’s Dozen Holiday Festival features the EYSO Hanson String Quartet. One of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras’ Honors Chamber Ensembles, the Hanson String Quartet performs a rollicking arrangement of Frosty the Snowman. Each day leading up to Christmas, Norris will post a different artist perfoming a Christmas-related piece leading up to “The Essential Christmas Carol,” a unique retelling of Dickens’ holiday classic by Norris’ Michael Sherry. Episodes are posted daily at 7pm at https://norrisculturalarts.com/bakers-dozen-festival. The Justa Coupla Guys podcast recently spoke with Sherry and the Center’s Director Mark Smith about this…

Chicago’s notorious improv troupe, Second City, is back to make you laugh through the holidays with its new revue “What The Elf.” Are you tired of the same-old holiday reruns? Then dash through the snow (grey slush) to The Second City’s WHAT THE ELF. Festive family gatherings, office parties, classic holiday movies, and Mariah Carey’s entire catalogue will all get roasted like chestnuts on an open fire in this fast-paced, interactive comedy revue stuffed with seasonal songs, sketches, and of course, a generous helping of our world-famous improv comedy. Have a holly jolly holiday season with Chicago’s famed improv and…

Come celebrate Christmas and the sounds of the season Saturday evening with Music Director, Stephen Squires and the Illinois Brass Band as they present “Holiday Classics” at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles. The program will feature glorious music of the season with a cheerful mix of traditional carols, holiday fanfares, holiday classics, and jazzy updates of Christmas favorites. It will be an evening that will put the entire family in the holiday spirit. Ms. Amy Bearden is the featured vocal soloist. In its 32nd year of performing, the Illinois Brass Band is a six time national champion…

A Grand Jury has indicted a 17-year-old Elgin girl for a variety of felonies in relation to an August traffic accident that claimed the lives of two South Elgin High School students. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Bartlett Chief of Police Geoffrey Pretkelis announced yesterday that the subject has been charged with Aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, Class 2 felony (2 counts); Reckless homicide, Class 3 felony (2 counts); Aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, Class 4 felony (2 counts); and Aggravated reckless driving, Class 4 felony. During the morning of August 31, 2023,…

A 27-year-old Aurora man has been sentenced to 44 years in prison in the 2022 stabbing death of a 17-year-old girl. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced today that Jose J. Gonzalez has agreed to a sentence of 44 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of first-degree murder. The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office is not naming the victim out of respect for her family. Judge William Engerman accepted the plea. According to prosecutors, Gonzalez, the victim and the victim’s older sister shared a residence along with four others in the 900…

One man is dead and another hospitalized in stable condition after a shooting incident on Aurora’s east side Tuesday evening. At approximately 6:45pm Tuesday, Aurora police officers arrived in the 700 block of Kane Street in Aurora and found two men, a 24-year-old and 32-year-old, both of Aurora, suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately rendered aid and performed life-saving measures, after which both men were transported to local hospitals. The 24-year-old was listed in stable condition, while the 32-year-old was pronounced dead a short time later. Officers searched the immediate area for the offender, but the offender was not located.…

Day 2 of the Norris Cultural Arts Fourth Annual Baker’s Dozen Holiday Festival features Lee Murdock. Recorded in concert, November 18, 2023, at the Baker Community Center. Lee Murdock sings songs of the Great Lakes. The Norris was honored to present Lee’s annual Christmas Ship Concert this year. We hope you’ll enjoy this song from his performance. Each day leading up to Christmas, Norris will post a different artist perfoming a Christmas-related piece leading up to “The Essential Christmas Carol,” a unique retelling of Dickens’ holiday classic by Norris’ Michael Sherry. Episodes are posted daily at 7pm at https://norrisculturalarts.com/bakers-dozen-festival. The…

The body of Brissa Romero, the 17-year-old Carpentersville woman who has been missing since December 4, has been located in a retention pond in Vernon Hills, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Divers pulled the body from the water just before 12:30pm Tuesday. Preliminary autopsy results show there were no significant injuries, and Romero’s death was consistent with drowning, the coroner’s office said. In a press release, Vernon Hills and Carpentersville police said the body was recovered by divers early Tuesday afternoon in the same Vernon Hills retention pond where her vehicle, a 2008 Nissan Rogue, had been recovered…

The popular Pete Ellman Big Band will perform a celebration of Christmas at The Venue in Aurora Friday, December 15 at 8pm. Tickets are $20-$25 and are available here. Doors open at 7pm. The Pete Ellman Big Band was formed in 2009 after Pete retired from the Illinois Air National Guard after 20 years of service. Since then, the band has played regularly in the Chicagoland Western suburbs at locations such as Mullen’s in Lisle and Fitzgerald’s in Oak Park. They regularly invite student jazz ensembles to join them and will provide guest clinicians. This is a way to get…