Tri-Cities Central

Batavia officials recommended a new grant program that would cover up to $25K of exterior upgrade costs for commercial and light-industrial properties near downtown but outside the TIF districts:

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.

The St. Charles school 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.

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.

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."

Downtown St. Charles senior housing tower sells to private equity firm

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.

Kane County is advancing a plan to fix crash-prone Fabyan Parkway intersections

A 157-year-old local fair kicks off on Wednesday — plus an overhaul of a major local intersection, a GoFundMe for the Batavia family who lost their 10-year-old daughter in a tragic boating accident, and the Barry House in St. Charles up for landmark designation:

The Kane County Fair arrives in the Tri-Cities this week Plus an overhaul of a major local intersection, a GoFundMe for the Batavia family who lost their 10-year-old daughter in a tragic boating accident, and the Barry House in St. Charles up for landmark designation.

Today's issue: A history of Windmill City Fest, plus a potential 105-home housing project in St. Charles and several new local businesses opening up shop:

How Batavia's "Boo Boo Days" became Windmill City Festival Plus a major St. Charles housing development is being explored, Geneva spotlighted on WGN, and several new local businesses have opened their doors.

A local's guide to the 30+ local sites on the National Register of Historic Places — plus Wahlburgers abruptly closes its St. Charles location and Batavia's Boo Boo Days festival is quickly approaching:

Historic sites in the Tri-Cities Plus Wahlburgers abruptly closes its St. Charles location, new laws just went into effect in July, and Batavia's Boo Boo Days festival is quickly approaching.

New data shows that show that residents of Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles are aging, high earners, mostly homeowners, becoming more diverse, and shifting quickly to remote work.

More on that in today's issue — plus Moonlight Theatre is leaving its St. Charles location and a conversation with a long-time Batavia rabble rouser John Dryden.

A detailed look at who lives in the Tri-Cities Plus Moonlight Theatre is leaving its St. Charles location, a huge new casino complex opened in Aurora, and a conversation with a long-time Batavia rabble rouser.

Today's issue is live! We reveal the reader-voted "best breakfast" in the Tri-Cities — plus details on local 4th of July events and a $14M library project in Batavia:

4th of July 2026 in the Tri-Cities Plus summer festivals across the suburbs, a library renovation in Batavia, and a new Lou Malnati's going up in St. Charles.