# Tri-Cities Central > Get the the top local news, events, and community happenings for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and nearby communities in a quick, entertaining read. This file provides information about Tri-Cities Central to help large language models understand and reference this publication's content. ## Posts - [Tri-Cities Live Music Events: July 23-26](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/tri-cities-live-music-events-july-23-26): Performances in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles on Thursday through Sunday. - [Batavia is leaning toward a cap on video gaming licenses](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/batavia-is-leaning-toward-a-cap-on-video-gaming-licenses): Batavia's city council is leaning toward capping video gaming licenses at 14 citywide, with new rules dictating where they can operate and how existing licenses carry over. - [Four police officers receive Batavia's highest honor for 2025 rescue](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/four-police-officers-receive-batavia-s-highest-honor-for-2025-rescue): Four Batavia police officers received the department's highest honor for showing extraordinary bravery while rescuing two children from an armed individual during a dangerous encounter last August. - [Despite its "better, not bigger" mantra, Elburn keeps growing](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/despite-its-better-not-bigger-mantra-elburn-keeps-growing): Elburn — which was almost named after an Australian city in the 1880s and has seen its population grow 130% since 2000 — is striving to maintain its small-town charm. Here's a brief history and a current snapshot of the Tri-Cities' westerly neighbor. - [Several "National Night Out" events coming up in the Tri-Cities area](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/several-national-night-out-events-coming-up-in-the-tri-cities-area): National Night Out (the annual event connecting police with the community) returns on August 4 across the Tri-Cities, with Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Campton Hills and North Aurora all planning special events. - [July 20 Newsletter: Batavia tried to bring a university to town back in 1857](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/batavia-university-1857): Plus the local impact of a new national housing law, a collaborative community mural, and Cocktails in the Park. - [Tri-Cities Property Sales: July 11 - July 18, 2026](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/tri-cities-property-sales-july-11-july-18-2026): Property sales in the Tri-Cities and surrounding communities during the week of July 11-18, 2026. Information sourced from Blockshopper.com. - [Tri-Cities Obituaries: July 20, 2026](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/tri-cities-obituaries-july-20-2026): Obituaries from Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, and surrounding communities. - [Tri-Cities Live Music Events: July 20-23](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/tri-cities-live-music-events-july-20-23): Performances in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles from Monday to Thursday. - [Residents invited to help paint the new Peace Out Batavia mural](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/residents-invited-to-help-paint-the-new-peace-out-batavia-mural): Batavia's "Peace Out Batavia" mural is being painted one panel at a time, and there's still time to contribute to the piece before its September installation on the Peace Pedestrian Ramp. - [How will the new federal housing law impact the Tri-Cities?](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/how-will-the-new-federal-housing-law-impact-the-tri-cities): The new national "ROAD to Housing" law does not include the local zoning mandates that made the Illinois BUILD Act controversial locally, but its full impact is yet to be determined. Here's how it might affect the Tri-Cities. - [Batavia set to roll out new grant program for properties near downtown](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/batavia-set-to-roll-out-new-grant-program-for-properties-near-downtown): Batavia officials recommended a new grant program that would cover up to $25,000 of exterior upgrade costs for commercial and light-industrial properties near downtown but outside the TIF districts. - [Batavia Board of Education fills two vacancies ](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/batavia-board-of-education-fills-two-vacancies): BPS101 has filled its two board vacancies, swearing in Tara Gray and Patrick Ryan after May resignations left seats open. - [July 16 Newsletter: July Dinner Club, a school facilities referendum, and Wienermobile fun](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/july-16-2026-newsletter): Plus a downtown St. Charles senior housing tower was acquired by a private equity firm and Brother Chimp Brewing prepares to close its North Aurora taproom. - [Tri-Cities Live Music Events: July 16-19](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/tri-cities-live-music-events-july-16-19): Performances in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles on Thursday through Sunday. - [ACLU raises First Amendment concerns over Kane County protest activity order](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/aclu-raises-first-amendment-concerns-over-kane-county-protest-activity-order): The ACLU of Illinois asked Kane County officials to confirm that a new order setting guidelines for protest activity near the courthouse doesn't infringe on people's rights to monitor and document ICE activity in St. Charles. - [Downtown St. Charles senior housing tower sells to private equity firm](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/downtown-st-charles-senior-housing-tower-sells-to-private-equity-firm): Carroll Tower, the affordable senior housing tower on the downtown St. Charles riverfront near Hotel baker, has been sold to a private equity firm that plans to "extend the affordability an additional 20 years." - [St. Charles school board backs seven referendum projects in straw poll](https://www.tricitiescentral.com/p/st-charles-school-board-backs-seven-referendum-projects-in-straw-poll): The St. Charles D303 board backed seven of eight potential referendum projects in a straw poll on Monday night (including a new $62 million field house), though one project stalled and several remain to be discussed.