R. Christian Smith

Christian Smith reports on Aurora city government for The Beacon-News. He grew up in Charleston, S.C., and graduated from Winthrop University in 2022. Previously, he has reported for The Citizen Times in Asheville, N.C., and The Morning News in Florence, S.C.

Brad Berns of Aurora stops his bike near an entrance to the pedestrian and bike bridge over the Fox River in downtown Aurora in 2021. The city is now looking at a plan to expand the number of bike paths in Aurora. (David Sharos / For The Beacon-News)

Aurora considering bike plan that recommends miles of new paths

May 5, 2025 at 4:29 p.m.

Aurora is considering adopting a new biking plan that would look to dramatically increase the number of bike lanes, paths and sidewalks in the city.

Avis Miller, a longtime community leader, said it felt "almost unbelievable" to be honored Thursday at the Aurora Everyday Heroes Breakfast. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Three ‘everyday heroes’ in Aurora honored

May 1, 2025 at 4:05 p.m.

Jeff Craig, Joe Grisson III and Avis P. Miller were honored at the Aurora Everyday Heroes Breakfast hosted by Scouting America's Three Fires Council on Thursday.

Aurora considers $6 million sale of land near Interstate 88 for townhouse development

April 30, 2025 at 2:20 p.m.

An 18-acre site owned by the city of Aurora may be sold to Lennar Homes so it can be developed into a 159-unit townhouse development.

Aurora is planning to build a new Aurora Fire Department headquarters near the current Aurora Police Department headquarters, creating a public safety campus. (Cordogan Clark)

Proposed $35 million headquarters for Aurora Fire Department continues through approval process

April 28, 2025 at 3:53 p.m.

An Aurora City Council committee last week moved forward to the Committee of the Whole a nearly $35 million project to build a new headquarters for the Aurora Fire Department...

A QuikTrip gas station is set to be built on this site at the southeast corner of Eola Road and Diehl Road in Aurora. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

QuikTrip gas station with diesel fuel spots for trucks to be built in Aurora near Interstate 88

April 25, 2025 at 10:15 p.m.

The Aurora City Council approved plans for a new QuikTrip gas station to be built on Eola Road near Interstate 88.

Overnight parking of commercial vehicles on city streets banned in Aurora

April 25, 2025 at 3:51 p.m.

Commercial vehicles are no longer allowed to park overnight on Aurora city streets after the City Council expanded a parking ordinance once just for residential areas.

Currently vacant land on South Raddant Road near Marmion Academy in Aurora will be the location of a new single-family subdivision by Pulte Homes. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

New single-family subdivision coming to Aurora near Marmion Academy

April 25, 2025 at 2:07 p.m.

National homebuilder Pulte Homes is set to build Harvest Point subdivision near Marmion Academy in Aurora.

Mercy Medical Center is at 1325 N Highland Ave. in Aurora. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Mercy Medical Center in Aurora can no longer provide same level of trauma care, state says

April 25, 2025 at 3:35 p.m.

Over allegations of staffing shortages, the Illinois Department of Public Health has revoked the Level II Trauma Center designation from Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.

The Aurora City Council has approved a tax sharing agreement to help Valley Honda at 4173 Ogden Ave. in Aurora expand its car dealership. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Aurora City Council OKs nearly $13 million tax sharing agreement to help Valley Honda expand

April 24, 2025 at 10:33 a.m.

Valley Honda's dealership on Ogden Avenue in Aurora, near Route 59 and the border between the city and Naperville, is set to be expanded with the help of a multimillion-dollar...

Aurora Deputy Police Chief Matt Thomas speaks in February at a press conference in Aurora. On Tuesday night, the Aurora City Council confirmed Thomas as the city's next police chief. (R. Christian Smith / The Beacon-News)

Next Aurora police chief will be Matt Thomas, City Council confirms

April 23, 2025 at 2:52 p.m.

To a standing ovation by the Aurora City Council and those in attendance at Tuesday night's council meeting, Matt Thomas was officially confirmed as the next chief of the Aurora...

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