Amanda came to Patch in June 2010 after graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She launched Lemont Patch in 2010, and covered the community for two years before moving to Downers Grove in August 2012.
Prior to Patch, Amanda wrote for her college newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, covering city council and education. In 2009, Amanda spent three months interning at the Orange County Register in California. Despite the large market, it was here that she learned the ins and outs of community reporting. After returning to Illinois in June 2009, Amanda immediately started working as an editorial intern in the DuPage County office of the Daily Herald. During her senior year at Northwestern, she spent six months investigating a possible wrongful conviction case with the Medill Innocence Project.
In the consolidated election on April 9, 2013, voters will elect individuals to several Downers Grove municipal boards, including the school districts 58 and 99 and the park district.
Every week Downers Grove Patch profiles a luxury home for sale in town.
The department is conducting an online customer survey through Jan. 7, 2013.
Find out what the experts are saying about the Dec. 21, 2012, Doomsday prophesies, the end of the Mayan calendar and their potential impact on our area.
A look back at the Downers Grove headlines, Dec. 10-16.
Downers Grove Grade School District 58 and Community High School District 99 released brief statements on school safety protocol following Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.
Local school officials give advice on how best to address high-profile acts of violence.
Fine arts teacher Bill Miller and English teacher John Waite were recently recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Vote every day for Downers Grove resident Mike Crowley's home for a chance for a local school district to win $100,000.
Residents could pay $10 to $15 more at Metra lots, while non-residents could see increases upward of $20 for quarterly parking passes.
Downers Grove police reports, Dec. 4-11.
A “One School, One Book” reading program, iPads and a middle school initiative called "Rachel’s Challenge" were among the nearly two dozen grant requests funded by the foundation for 2012-13.
The stores—slated to open in early 2013—will hold job fairs for potential employees beginning Dec. 27.
NASA scientist says two debris streams may cross after sunset Thursday.
Families from Glen Ellyn and Lombard welcomed newborns Wednesday with a once-in-a-century birthdate.
FBI Agents allege that Martin Crossley robbed banks in Des Plaines, Buffalo Grove and Oak Brook.
Attention emergency services workers: a boy in Virginia wants to hear from you.
A dozen Chicago-area pet stores were listed in an undercover investigation released Tuesday by the Puppy Mill Campaign for the Humane Society of the United States.
A dozen Chicago-area pet stores were listed in an undercover investigation released Tuseday by the Puppy Mill Campaign for the Humane Society of the United States.
A dozen Chicago-area pet stores were listed in an undercover investigation released Tuseday by the Puppy Mill Campaign for the Humane Society of the United States.