Kevin Beese

Glen Ellyn

Staff Writer at Chronicle Media

Kevin Beese is a writer and editor.

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Articles

Chicago Board of Education promises 'transparent' search for superintendent

3 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

As the Chicago Board of Education embarks on its first Chicago Public School superintendent search in decades, it launched an unprecedented public outreach — and it insists that it’s not just for show. For the past three decades, Chicago mayors chose both the public-school CEOs and the board members. However, since the start of this year, the newly expanded board has been split between 10 elected members and 11 appointed members.
New taxes on sports bets, nicotine products as Dems pass $55 billion budget

3 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

SPRINGFIELD — Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a $55.2 billion budget for next fiscal year late Saturday, bolstering coffers with new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products and businesses. The $55.2 billion spending plan is supported by $55.3 billion of revenue, including just more than $1 billion in new taxes and revenue changes.
Efforts made to have native ancestors reburied

3 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

Two of the country’s largest collections of Native American human remains are held by museums in Illinois. To the director of one of the museums, the work to rebury those remains at the behest of a tribal nation or send them to the tribe is an emotional process necessary for correcting historic wrongs — but it also includes a lot of bureaucratic paperwork that can take months to years to process. And it takes so long for a reason.
City working on plan to improve Chicago River's South Branch

3 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development is eying improvements to the South Branch of the Chicago River as far west as Western Avenue — a roadmap that will build off several earlier plans completed by other city departments and Southwest Side community organizations.
Seventh Buffalo Grove Pride Parade kicks off Pride Month

3 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

Pride Month began in Lake County with people from all over the Chicago area lining the route for the seventh Buffalo Grove Pride Parade on Sunday. With 100 parade entries, colors popped thanks, in part, to banner weather which was breezy to unfurl flags. Sunshine and rainbows prevailed amid temperatures in the 60-degree range. This year’s parade theme was “Pride is Natural.” The parade began on Buffalo Grove Road and continued with a turn onto Deerfield Parkway.
Courier for India-based fraud ring sentenced to 12 years

3 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

A native of India who was in the United States illegally has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a fraud conspiracy that victimized an 85-year old Madison County widow, among other victims. Nirav Patel, 44, formerly of Aurora, was arrested in Edwardsville on April 20, 2023 when he attempted to pick up $35,000 from an 85-year-old retired university professor who’d recently lost her husband.
Robber hits two Chicago banks

4 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

The FBI has announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an offender who robbed two Chicago banks Monday. Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Monday, an offender robbed the Huntington Bank at 1400 West Fullerton Ave. in the city’s Gresham neighborhood. Shortly after 12:05 p.m., the same offender robbed the Fifth Third Bank at 5918 North Broadway in the city’s Magnolia Glen neighborhood.
Addison man hits on 'Dust Bunny Mafia' comic in traffic jam

4 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

Ask Los Angeles-area residents what’s the worst thing about living in that region of the country and many are likely to mention traffic. L.A. is consistently ranked among the worst cities in the nation for freeway congestion. There’s nothing funny about a traffic jam.
Suspect charged in fatal Streamwood stabbings

4 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

A suspect has been charged in connection with the stabbing deaths of two females in Streamwood. Jalonie Jenkins was taken into custody without incident late Sunday night in Downers Grove. He is being held in connection with the fatal stabbings of Janiya Jenkins, 21; and Eyani Jones, 10. An arrest warrant was issued for Jalonie Jenkins on Friday evening. Streamwood police investigated the case with the assistance of the Major Case Assistance Team.
Aurora Township pedestrian killed

4 days ago | chronicleillinois.com | Kevin Beese

A 42-year-old Aurora man died Monday morning after being hit by a van while walking along a foggy roadway. Deputies from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident at 4:20 a.m. Monday near Farnsworth and Summit avenues in Aurora Township. A preliminary investigation indicated that a white 2017 GMC work van was traveling southbound on Farnsworth when it hit a pedestrian who was walking southbound in the roadway along the fog line.