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.
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
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
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.
Kane County is advancing a plan to fix crash-prone Fabyan Parkway intersections
Kane County is advancing a plan to fix Fabyan Parkway's crash-prone crossings that would realign the Route 31 intersection, add turn lanes at Route 25, and widens the Fox River bridge to six lanes.
It's going to be a rough week of traffic closures and detours in Geneva
Geneva drivers face a rough week ahead, with an emergency South Street closure, a Dodson Street parking ban, and heavier construction at Routes 25 and 38 all landing the same Monday.
