Geneva to get new crosswalk and pedestrian upgrades at Route 31 and Fargo
Geneva officials approved a Route 31 deal with IDOT for a new bus pad, sidewalk, ADA curb ramps, and a mid-block crossing near Fargo Boulevard where a section of sidewalk has been closed.
St. Charles will vote on a $282.5 million school referendum in November's election
St. Charles voters will decide whether to green light a $282.5M school building bond this November, after the D303 board voted on Monday to place the referendum on the ballot.
New Mexican restaurant plans to open this year in downtown St. Charles
Gallo Santo, a new family-owned Mexican restaurant, is aiming to open this year in the former Rehm's Electric space in downtown St. Charles with help from a $30K city grant.
A new Tri-Cities competition will turn thousands of canned goods into art for charity
Tri-Cities Canstruction just opened team registration for its first-ever canned food sculpture competition, which will be held at Waubonsee Community College in February 2027 and result in thousands of cans donated to local food pantries.
Norris Cultural Arts Center's upcoming season celebrates Baker Community Center's 100th year
The Norris Cultural Arts Center's 2026-27 season celebrates the Baker Community Center's centennial with a lineup of 1920s-themed concerts in downtown St. Charles.
Kane County sees increase in Lyme disease cases as ticks spread north
Kane County reported 42 Lyme disease cases in 2025 (double 2024's count) and health officials say new tick species are moving in from the south, which is contributing to an unusually active tick season.
Great mid-week happy hour options in Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles
Weekdays are typically when you find the best local happy hour deals — and if you know where to look, Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles have plenty of solid options waiting for you.
Officials considering a moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Kane County
Kane County officials are weighing a potential temporary freeze on data center construction in unincorporated areas to allow time for studying environmental impacts and drafting new regulations for the industry.
Batavia continues eyeing Mooseheart land for new rec center and police station
Batavia officials are considering concept plans for a proposal that would put both a new recreation center and police station on 20 acres of Mooseheart land promised to the park district.
Batavia hires architects to inspect condition of 75 historic downtown buildings
Batavia is sending inspectors to check the exteriors of 75 historic downtown buildings this summer as part of a broader push to keep the district well-maintained long-term.
New Batavia schools social media policy: no commenting, no political or religious content
Batavia's school board approved a new social media policy that excludes posts related to political and religious topics and disables commenting on district content after a post earlier this year led to a public controversy.
Village officials approved the redevelopment agreement for the 900-home LaFox of Campton Hills project despite some pushback from the Geneva library and school districts.
A behind-the-scenes look at the local elections process
Kane County Clerk John Cunningham is opening up his office for tours so residents can see exactly how their ballots get counted ahead of the November 3 election.
After avoiding demolition, Barry House in St. Charles gets landmark status
The St. Charles home once slated for demolition to make room for church parking has now been officially landmarked, following a restoration deal that saved it.
Proposed Pheasant Run overhaul includes a Chase Bank, Dutch Bros Coffee, Valvoline, and more
The St. Charles Plan Commission backed a proposal for a major redevelopment of the vacant Pheasant Run site that features Chase Bank, Dutch Bros Coffee, and Valvoline among the first tenants.
Geneva officials approved a 5-megawatt solar farm for a 13-acre site at Fabyan and Kirk, but because the city runs its own electric utility, none of the power will actually go to Geneva homes or businesses.
New Italian restaurant plans opening in historic St. Charles church
The new owners of Nuova Italia restaurant, which is located in an 1850s church building in downtown St. Charles, plan to remodel the space and reopen as "Tranita" — also an Italian restaurant concept.
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
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
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
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.
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?
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
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.
