Home Care In Aurora, IL

People in some parts of the world Sunday were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, including in Illinois.

According to an alert from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and even Iowa were part of an "Aurora viewline" Sunday evening, as a geomagnetic storm reached strong levels following the arrival of a coronal mass ejection from the sun.

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According to the agency, a CME is a "large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona," which can result in the "sudden release of electromagnetic energy in the form of a solar flare."

In some parts, this meant an Aurora Borealis was visible.

"I cannot believe this just happened directly overhead in DeKalb, Illinois!" one tweet that captured a purple and blue sky Sunday evening said.

Much father east, in Willicott, Maine, the northern lights looked more crimson and green.

Across the pond, sights of the Northern Lights were reported in multiple spots, turning the skies in some areas "magenta."

According to NOAA, the aurora's green, red and purple lights gentle shift and change shape "like softly blowing curtains."

Chicago area forecast

The Chicago area will see a mild but windy start to the first full week of November, with above average temperatures as high as 70 degrees in some areas, gusty winds and a few early morning sprinkles, the NBC 5 Storm Team said.

According to NBC 5 Meteorologist Alicia Roman, counties to the north could see the chance for an isolated shower or two as the morning continues, though much of the day is expected to remain dry.

"Outside of a few morning showers along our northern counties," Roman said, "Today will be dry with skies turning partly sunny this afternoon."

Temperatures Monday will be warmer than average Roman said, with highs in the mid 60s to low 70s. By 5:15 a.m., the temperature in most parts was already in the 50s, Roman added.

"Highs today are feeling nice for the start of November," Roman said.

Though Monday will be on the warmer side, it will be breezy too, Roman said. Early Monday, winds had already clocked in at between 20 and 25 miles per hour.

By 9 a.m., those winds are expected to pick up even more, with gusts as high as 43 mph, Roman said.

Monday afternoon, winds are expected to die down, Roman said, with gusts around 25 mph in the 3 p.m. hour.

According to the National Weather Service, "seasonably warm" conditions are expected to remain in the forecast Tuesday and Wednesday, with a chance for showers late Tuesday into Wednesday morning and afternoon.

Mayor Richard Irvin added Aurora to the Chicago Bears' suitors, offering the city as a home to begin the next phase of the team's history.

|Updated Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 11:42 am CT

AURORA, IL — Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin is the latest municipal official to throw his city into the ring of consideration for a new stadium for the Chicago Bears, the city announced late Tuesday.

Irvin sent a two-page “letter of interest” to new Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren on Monday, pitching the team on coming to Illinois’ second-largest city when it builds a new multi-billion stadium, business and entertainment district.

Warren said at a meeting with Arlington Heights residents and stakeholders Monday night that he had received another notice of interest from another municipality while traveling from Lake Forest. Aurora joins Naperville, Waukegan, and Chicago as the communities that have contacted the Bears after the team announced that Arlington Heights is no longer its singular focus for a new football home.

“The opportunity to partner with the historic Chicago Bears as you search for the perfect new home is one we are eager to take on,” Irvin wrote in the letter, a portion of which was released by the city on Tuesday night. “Welcoming a historic organization such as the Chicago Bears would enhance our bold vision for Aurora and will provide the Chicago Bears with a new home to begin the next phase of your storied history.”

Irvin said the city's proximity to I-88 and to Metra lines would make Aurora a suitable destination as the team considers leaving Chicago's Lakefront, where it moved in 1971. An Aurora city spokesman said that the Bears responded "quickly and positively" to the mayor's letter.

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The city said that in addition to access to major expressways and public transportation, Aurora city officials recently approved plans for a $360 million Hollywood Casino Aurora and pointed to development projects happening at the Fox Valley Mall and the current construction of the Del Webb community.

The letter says that the opportunity to provide the Bears with a "perfect" new home is one the city is "eager to take on" and says that Aurora wants to throw its hat into the proverbial ring.

" . . Turning a vision into reality is not always easy," Irvin wrote. "It requires the right resources to make dreams come true. Aurora offers unparalleled key resources to take a vision and make dreams come true. Our professional team of government and development professionals has a proven track record of getting big things done."

Despite closing on a $197.2 million purchase agreement for the 326-acre Arlington Park Racecourse property earlier this year and beginning demolition at the site, the Bears have opened up discussions for other possible sites for a new domed stadium as talks in Arlington Heights have slowed.

Warren said Monday night that the team and Arlington Heights are at a stalemate, partially due to a lack of communication. The Bears said earlier this year that their hopes of building the largest single-use development in Illinois history at Arlington Park are “at risk”. The team said earlier this spring that it "is our responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans, our club, and the State of Illinois.”

Warren said Monday night that he has a fiduciary responsibility to find a “legitimate partner” to work with to build a new stadium. In addition to housing the Bears, Warren said he wanted to open a facility that would draw major events like Super Bowls, Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, concerts, and other major events 365 days a year.

The Bears have previously flirted with leaving the City of Chicago and even the state of Illinois in the past. In 1995, then-team President Michael McCaskey said the team was looking at other possible homes and the team mentioned the possibility of moving to suburban Hoffman Estates before eventually remaining at Soldier Field.

The team’s lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033 but could leave as soon as 2026 with a penalty it would pay to the Chicago Park District for breaking its lease. Warren said on Monday night that he still believes something can be worked out in Arlington Heights, which remains the front-runner given the team’s financial investment at the former racecourse property.

However, when asked directly about considering other locations such as Naperville, Waukegan, and now Aurora, Warren said “We have to” as a way of finding the best possible partner to build a new stadium and entertainment and business district.

Warren said opening up conversations is not a negotiating ploy, but instead “strictly business.”

“Once we have a legitimate partner, we will move forward,” Warren said Monday night. “If that’s in Arlington Heights, great. If it’s somewhere else, that’s great too.”

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Aurora, a city nestled along the banks of the Fox River in Illinois, is often celebrated for its vibrant arts scene and picturesque riverfront. However, beyond the glimmering lights and cultural attractions, the true essence of Aurora lies in its rich tapestry—a diverse and thriving community that encapsulates history, innovation, and the practicalities of comfortable living, including the essential role of reliable AC Repair services.

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"Beyond the Lights: Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Aurora, IL" concludes by inviting readers to appreciate the city's multifaceted identity. From cultural richness and historic charm to economic vitality and the practicalities of comfortable living, Aurora's tapestry is ever-evolving. The article underscores the city's commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and the well-being of its residents, encapsulating the essence of Aurora beyond the glimmering lights that often adorn its skyline.

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News

Aurora City Council members Friday will consider an ordinance that will make it more difficult for buses carrying asylum seekers to drop off passengers in town.

The ordinance, similar to one recently approved in Rosemont, would give the city the ability to fine bus companies and impound buses making unscheduled stops in Aurora.

The proposal would require bus companies transporting migrants to submit an application for city approval five days prior to arrival.

As part of the application process, bus companies would have to submit their contact information along with the driver’s name and contact information, passenger names and copies of photo IDs, and contact information for those picking up passengers in Aurora. The company also must submit a detailed plan identifying who will provide housing and care for the migrants once they arrive in Aurora.

The ordinance is the sole topic of a special city council meeting Friday at noon.

The proposal comes after buses carrying migrants from Texas began to arrive in Aurora this week. As of Thursday afternoon, five buses from Texas have arrived, a city spokesman said. According to a written statement, passengers on the buses were dropped off at the Aurora Transportation Center and encouraged to catch a commuter train to Chicago.

“The city of Aurora is not equipped to handle an influx of multiple busloads of persons arriving each day, nor, given the time of year, is it acceptable for person to simply be ‘dropped off’ at a Metra station with few personal items, seasonally inappropriate attire, and no access to services,” a statement from the City of Aurora released Thursday reads. “In fact, doing so puts the health and safety of these passengers at great risk.”

Companies violating the proposed ordinance could face an adjudication hearing before the city, have their bus impounded and fines of up to $1,000 per passenger.

The proposed ordinance alreadyhas sparked criticism from various groups, including Immigrant Solidarity DuPage and the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“I think it’s very unfortunate .. this reaction of Aurora, the city officials and the mayor,” said Cristobal Cavazos, executive director of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage. “Instead of opening their arms during Christmastime, they’re closing them up.”

Cavazos and other groups plan to be at Friday’s council meeting.

“We don’t think it’s right what the city is trying to do right now,” said Karina Garcia, president and CEO of the Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 3,000 members.

Garcia said the chamber first learned of the proposed ordinance Wednesday, when notice of the meeting was given. She said the city should have contacted community organizations for input and to “figure out how we can work together.”

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Two former employees of Laura Ayala-Clarke, the girlfriend of Mayor Richard Irvin of west suburban Aurora, claim she failed to pay them for several weeks of work and isn’t running her business on the up-and-up.

In recent weeks, WTTW News has been reporting on Laura’s Furniture, the company owned by Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s girlfriend. The Aurora City Council approved a $10,000 grant to Laura Ayala-Clarke’s furniture business in May, despite the potential conflict of interest. Ayala-Clarke’s company also misrepresented whether it had gotten COVID relief funding in the grant application.

Now, Natalie Offen and Nikolas Rodriguez tell WTTW News they’re still waiting for money she owes them from working at her store during parts of December of last year and this January.

Offen and Rodriguez say they first met Mayor Irvin late last year when Rodriguez invited the mayor to a restaurant Rodriguez promotes on TikTok. They say later on Ayala-Clarke joined them, and the next day Offen went to the furniture store to do Ayala-Clarke’s lashes, which was what Offen did for work at the time – but that the talk quickly turned to Ayala-Clarke looking for help at the store and beyond.

“She basically told us the dream, saying that she was looking for people to run her store and then eventually partner with her in opening another store, and … being able to bring our daughter to work the way that she brought her children to work,” Offen said.

Offen and Rodriguez say they made a verbal agreement they’d each be paid $500 a week, plus commission on anything they sold.

“I thought everything was legit because she’s with the mayor, you know?” Rodriguez said.

But they say despite filling out all the paperwork to get on payroll, they weren’t paid the first week. The second week, they say Ayala-Clarke paid Offen $500 and Rodriguez just $250 with a transfer via Zelle from a personal account – and that was all they ever received, despite working full-time at the store for about a month.

Offen shared extensive text message records repeatedly asking when they’d get paid. Those messages appear to show Ayala-Clarke repeatedly putting them off and eventually responding angrily before telling them to drop their key off and stop coming in.

“It was around Christmas time. We didn’t get everything we wanted to get for her daughter. It was around the time for rent. I reached out to her and let her know that my landlord was going to charge me a late fee,” Offen said. “She just did not seem to care.”

Reached by phone, Ayala-Clarke said she could not comment and that her attorney was handling everything, but that any claims Offen and Rodriguez make about her or her business are not true.

Offen also shared messages she sent to Irvin asking about the issue. They appear to show Irvin saying that as mayor, he has too much on his plate to get involved.

Offen and Rodriguez also charged Ayala-Clarke with failing to pay them in a complaint to the Illinois Department of Labor. A spokesperson told WTTW News the department can’t comment because it’s an open and active investigation.

A subpoena sent to Ayala-Clarke obtained through a public records request outlines the department’s demands for a variety of records relating to Offen and Rodriguez’s employment.

WTTW News also learned from state records of a $48,958 tax lien for failing to pay the state sales/use taxes and the 911 surcharge – a lien Offen and Rodriguez said was posted on the door of the store one day when they showed up for work.

The two also say they experienced numerous customer complaints from people who said the furniture was late, damaged, or that the quoted price kept changing.

“We’ve seen so many angry people, people saying that they never received the furniture they paid for, people waiting months for their things,” Offen said.

Several people also complained on a public Facebook post Offen made about her time working at Laura’s Furniture. The company has an “F” rating on the Better Business Bureau website with several complaints and negative reviews.

Offen and Rodriguez even say Ayala-Clarke tried to charge them more for furniture the two purchased than agreed upon, and said they owed her for use of a truck – and that she backdated a receipt for the furniture to a date before they even started working at the store.

“I feel like nobody wants to stand up in the community because she’s dating the mayor and they’re feared because of the power he has politically,” Rodriguez said. “There needs to be justice.”

Payments from the city grant program Ayala-Clarke is set to benefit from are being delayed.

City staff say it’s due to missing documentation from several companies involved and that the applications are now all under review.

Contact Nick Blumberg: [email protected] | (773) 509-5434 | @ndblumberg