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.
Meet the honorees for Batavia's 2026 Hall of Honor Class
The Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence announced eight new Hall of Honor inductees, from a Grammy-nominated band director to the district's first Black teacher.
Before it was Windmill City Fest, it was Batavia’s “crazy boo boo sale”
Windmill City Fest began in 1956 as a two-day sale for merchants to dump bad inventory. Decades later, Batavia is reviving the "Boo Boo Days" theme again, so we dug into its full, weird history.
A day of downtown shopping to feed neighbors in need
The 5th annual Passport to Batavia event returns on July 25, sending shoppers on a self-guided tour of east-side stores and Boardwalk shops to raise money for local food assistance programs.
St. Charles takes first step toward TIF for Pulte's 105-home project
St. Charles officials recommended hiring a consultant to explore setting up a new TIF district to help fund a Pulte Homes project that would add 105 homes to a vacant 28-acre industrial site on the west side.
Village of Elburn's water system gets clean result in latest test
Elburn just finished its latest round of required PFAS testing with a clean result, and the village's 2025 water quality report is now live for residents to review.
Batavia United Way announced $130K in Community Impact Grants to support local initiatives
Batavia United Way awarded $130K in Community Impact Grants to local nonprofits for the 2026-2027 year, backing programs in health, youth, financial security, and community resiliency.
Anderson Humane rescues dogs from tornado emergency in Springfield
Anderson Humane made a nearly 7-hour round trip to Springfield this week, bringing back six dogs displaced when a tornado destroyed the Animal Protective League's shelter and clinic there.
New rules limit protests at Kane County's courthouses
Kane County's chief judge has restricted courthouse protests to specific zones after weeks of unrest tied to federal immigration arrests near the St. Charles complex.
Exploring the 30+ local sites on the National Register of Historic Places
From grain elevators and railroad depots to 100-year-old churches, schools, and family farmsteads, these historic sites trace the Tri-Cities area back to its earliest settlers.
Wahlburgers abruptly closed its St. Charles location effective immediately on June 29 after six years on Randall Road, citing a lease expiration — though they said a new location is on the way.
Geneva Public Library takes home two national awards
The Geneva Public Library earned two national honors at a major industry conference, taking home the top prize in library PR for its funding campaign to connect more residents with valuable library resources.
Geneva's Swedish Days parade marches on in its 76th year
Geneva's 76th Swedish Days Parade rolled through downtown on Sunday after a coalition of local business sponsors united to help fund and organize the popular tradition — which almost didn't happen at all.
