New member approved for West Aurora School District board
St. Jules stepped down from the West Aurora school board in March after being appointed as an associate judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in St. Charles.
St. Jules was midway through his second four-year term on the board. He was originally elected to the board in 2019.
The board accepted letters of interest from prospective candidates as part of a 'thorough process' to identify a community member to serve the remainder of the unexpired term, ending in May 2027, district officials said.
Jones is a manager in the Adult Education Department at Waubonsee Community College, where she oversees onboarding and engagement for adult learners and manages faculty compliance processes, district officials said in a statement.
Jones earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and Spanish from Butler University and a master's degree in business administration from Aurora University.
'I am honored to have been selected to serve the remaining two years of this term on the school board,' Jones said. 'As a parent with two daughters in the district, I am committed to doing whatever I can to ensure School District 129 remains strong, vibrant and a place where all students can thrive.'
The district received a 'high number' of applications 'reflecting strong community interest' and a 'well-qualified group of candidates,' district officials said of the selection process.
Jones emerged as the board's recommended candidate for the May 5 board vote.
In addition to approving Jones for the vacant seat on the board, the three candidates who won four-year seats on the board in the April 1 election – incumbents Richard Kerns II and Julie Stone and challenger Erika Garcia – were sworn in at Monday night's school board meeting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Democrats' Chances of Defeating Burt Jones in Georgia Governor's Race
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump weighed in on the Georgia gubernatorial race this week, endorsing Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones over Attorney General Chris Carr in the Republican primary. A political science professor weighed in on the chances of the Democrats beating Jones. Newsweek reached out to the Jones and Carr campaigns for comment via email. Why It Matters Georgia has emerged as a new swing state in recent years, and Democrats are hoping to have their first gubernatorial victory in the state since 1999 in next year's midterms. Typically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, but gubernatorial elections tend to be a bit less partisan than federal races. Georgia is set to be one of the most important states next year, as it will have both a competitive Senate and gubernatorial race. What to Know Trump backed Jones in the critical race, giving him a potential boost over Carr among the state's conservative GOP electorate. "He has been with us from the very beginning. I know his family well, and have seen Burt tested at the most difficult levels and times — He is a WARRIOR, a successful Businessman, former SEC Championship winning Georgia Bulldogs football player (Known for his toughness!), and now, as Lieutenant Governor, Burt has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation," Trump wrote on Truth Social. That endorsement could win him over some voters in the GOP primary, but some less-MAGA affiliated Republican voters in the suburban areas near Atlanta may not necessarily be swayed by Trump's support, Charles Bullock, professor of political science at the University of Georgia, told Newsweek on Tuesday. "Jones is certainly going to brag about, he is the Trump nominee. That's going to move the MAGA base, no doubt about that," he said. "But it's not the only kind of Republican you find in Georgia, especially in the primary, you're going to find the white, college-educated suburbanites who think of themselves generally as Republicans but are not MAGA." Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones speaks during an event in Savannah, Georgia on September 24, 2024. Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones speaks during an event in Savannah, Georgia on September 24, of the race has not been made public—only a straw poll of at least 1,200 Republican voters in June ahead of the June convention. Georgia's James Magazine reported that Jones had a "massive early lead" in the poll, but specific numbers were not reported. Jones, who had a business career before entering politics, may be able to carve out a financial advantage over both Democratic and Republican candidates, Bullock said. However, he is currently facing a lawsuit from Carr over a $10 million campaign loan. Democrats do "have a shot" at winning the election next November, Bullock said. The primary going to a runoff—which would happen if no candidate clears 50 percent—could benefit Democrats. That would "slow down" Republican efforts to unite after the primary, he said. There would be a greater risk of this if Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger joins the race. "Runoffs get nasty," he said. "Attack ads become more numerous and more personal. So if indeed there were a bitter runoff between Jones and Carr, Jones and Raffensperger—whoever—that might make it very difficult if Jones were the ultimate winner in the runoff to reunite the party." Jones is more MAGA-aligned, Bullock said, noting that Carr is a more traditional conservative and tied to Governor Brian Kemp, who has not made a formal endorsement. "A Jones nomination would have to overcome that division, and if it were reinforced by a bitter runoff, that would make it much harder for him," he said. Jeffrey Lewis Lazarus, professor of political science at Georgia State University, told Newsweek that Georgia is still a tough state for Democrats, despite recent victories. "Most Democratic victories here have occurred against extraordinarily flawed (Trump, Herschel Walker) or inexperienced (Kelly Loeffler) candidates," he said. "A seasoned and relatively scandal-free GOP nominee should be the favorite to win." Still, it is a "closely divided state," so nothing is guaranteed, he said. On the other hand, this is a closely divided state, and nothing is guaranteed. But the Republican nominee, whoever it is, probably has the inside track. What People Are Saying Charlie Bailey, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, wrote in a statement: "Jones and Chris Carr have spent this entire primary trying to out-MAGA each other, and that won't change with Trump's endorsement. This GOP primary will continue to be a race to the right – and to the bottom – as Jones and Carr fight to prove who can be more in line with Trump's toxic agenda of Medicaid and Medicare cuts, sky-high costs, and billionaire tax handouts at the expense of hardworking Georgians." Jeffrey Lewis Lazarus told Newsweek: "I haven't seen any polling so this is educated guesswork, but in my opinion Jones is probably the favorite. The GOP is more or less Trump's party at this point - he still has 90% approval among self-identified Republicans - and whoever is seen as being in his camp can make a strong claim to being a 'true conservative' or 'real Republican.'" Burt Jones wrote in a post to X: "With President Trump's endorsement, we have the opportunity to take this campaign to the next level. Let's show America what real Georgia grit looks like." Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donahue wrote in a statement: "For Burt Jones, fealty to extreme, partisan politics has always trumped doing what's right for Georgia — and that's why this endorsement shouldn't surprise anyone. Trump's support only further confirms what we already knew: Jones and the entire GOP field are running to bring DC Republicans' agenda of gutting health care and raising costs to Georgia." What Happens Next Georgia's primary is set for May 19, 2026. The Cook Political Report considers the race as a pure toss-up. However, Sabato's Crystal Ball classifies the race as Leans Republican.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
French president hired investigator to uncover dirt on right-wing U.S. podcaster Candace Owens
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron hired a prominent U.S. investigative firm to gather information on far-right podcaster Candace Owens before filing a defamation lawsuit against her in Delaware, according to reporting by the Financial Times. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. The 219-page complaint, filed in July in Delaware Superior Court, accuses Owens of leading a 'campaign of global humiliation' through an eight-part YouTube series and social media posts promoting false and transphobic claims about Brigitte Macron. The allegations include that the French first lady is transgender, that she assumed her brother's identity, and that the French president is the product of a CIA mind-control experiment. The lawsuit says Owens also claimed the couple are blood relatives. Related: French President Macron sues Candace Owens for defamation over claims his wife is transgender The FT reports that to prepare for the suit, the Macrons retained Nardello & Co., a U.S.-based firm led by former federal prosecutor Dan Nardello. Investigators reviewed Owens's public statements, documented her ties to far-right figures in France, Britain, and the United States, and noted her appearances on Russian state-controlled media. The report also traced the conspiracy theory's origins to a Spanish blog in 2017, its spread in France by 2021, and its promotion in 2023 by French far-right activist Xavier Poussard. Related: Alex Jones's lawyer mocks Candace Owens's chances in Emmanuel Macron's defamation lawsuit Owens first referenced the rumor on her show in March 2024, later devoting a full interview to Poussard. Russian outlets heavily covered her series once it was released. Investigators also highlighted her participation in a 2019 nationalist conference in Paris alongside politician Marion Maréchal and her online interactions with Russian nationalist Alexander Dugin. The Owens claims against Brigitte Macron are part of a pattern of online harassment known as 'transvestigation,' in which activists target public figures with fabricated claims that they are secretly trans. While Owens has dismissed the lawsuit, some of her allies have questioned her chances. Robert Barnes, a far-right attorney known for representing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, wrote on X that 'Owens told some of the dumbest, obvious lies one can tell' and has '0 percent chance of winning in court.' Related: Candace Owens claims Donald Trump asked her to stop calling Emmanuel Macron's wife transgender Macron's attorney, Thomas Clare, told the Financial Times the couple is willing to testify in Delaware. No trial date has been set. This article originally appeared on Advocate: French president hired investigator to uncover dirt on right-wing U.S. podcaster Candace Owens RELATED Beyond the Macrons' lawsuit: Why do people accuse powerful women of being men? French President Macron sues Candace Owens for defamation over claims his wife is transgender Alex Jones's lawyer mocks Candace Owens's chances in Emmanuel Macron's defamation lawsuit Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Armed terrorists killed while posing as World Central Kitchen staff in Gaza: IDF
A group of five armed terrorists were killed after they were caught posing as members of the World Central Kitchen humanitarian group in central Gaza, the Israeli military said Tuesday. Video from Deir al-Balah, one of the few cities largely spared by the 21-month Mideast war, shows a group of men in bright vests traveling in a vehicle marked with the WCK's emblem. 'The terrorists deliberately attached the [WCK] emblem and wore yellow vests in an attempt to disguise their activities and avoid being targeted, cynically exploiting the status and trust given to aid organizations,' the Israel Defense Force said in a statement. Advertisement 3 A group of terrorists were killed while posing as members the World Central Kitchen humanitarian group in central Gaza, the Israeli military said. IDF 3 The men were traveling in a truck with the charity's emblem on top. IDF The military said its unit that oversees the distribution of humanitarian aid contacted WCK about the group spotted near Deir al-Balah, with the nonprofit confirming that the vehicle was not affiliated with them. Advertisement While the IDF only confirmed that five of the men were killed, the video showed at least 10 people huddled around the car and putting on the vests before the vehicle set off. The IDF did not state if the men killed in the strike were specifically with Hamas or members of other terror groups or militias based in the Gaza Strip. WCK said it condemned anyone who would pose as one of their employees, warning that such actions endanger real aid workers operating in Gaza. 3 The World Central Kitchen confirmed that the vehicle was not affiliated with them. IDF Advertisement The agency, founded in 2010 by Spanish-American chef and restaurateur José Andrés, provides food relief to those around the world, with the humanitarian group currently focusing on trying to avoid the looming famine in Gaza. The war in Gaza has repeatedly put humanitarian aid workers at risk, with at least 10 WCK staffers killed last year after they were hit by Israeli airstrikes, including seven who were unloading 100 tons of food. Israeli officials have repeatedly apologized for the deaths, blaming Hamas for putting the aid workers at risk and accusing the group of routinely hiding behind the humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
