Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Yesterday I had a fantastic tour of Betts Precision in Alsip. We had a great discussion about labor issues, tax burdens, business, and quality of life issues. All over Illinois, we are talking solutions to these issues with the people on the ground facing them.”  

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) tweeted, “To see our state step up to the plate to make these asylum seekers feel at peace, makes me proud to serve in Illinois. . I will continue to do my part to ensure the safety and well-being of all of the refugees who will now call Chicago home.”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “So far this year, 141 officers have been shot across the country. As more cops retire or quit the profession altogether, recruitment and retention is the biggest challenge for departments statewide.” 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported demand for the new COVID-19 booster was strong, with 188,800 having received the booster since they were made available earlier this month. The department reports daily vaccination numbers are at the highest point since February when people were seeking out boosters during the Omicron wave, with about 21,000 doses of the new booster being administered each day.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Congratulations on your grand re-opening @volumesbooks!! Gorgeous lounge-y space to read and relax! 1375 N Milwaukee: come check it out!”  

Ald. Nicole Lee (11) tweeted “Great day for a Bocce Tourney. Special Olympics teams from across the city are here today at Armour Square Park. Shout out to the 11th Ward Volunteers making sure everyone is well fed! Come join us!”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Glad to join my colleagues @AldSColeman16 @MooreforIL @J1Ramann and @RoderickTSawyer (in spirit) for the annual Englewood Music Festival. Great job by my Alderneighbor as always”  

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) in a thread tweeted “As a proud Mexican-American, I’m outraged by the lawlessness & mayhem caused by people ‘celebrating’ Mexican Independence Day in recent days.  We lost control of the streets downtown & in our neighborhoods.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Check out the new mural at the Diplomat Motel 5230 N Lincoln, brought to you by @sickfisher1, @musichouseinc and our 40th Ward Arts & Access Microgrants!” 

The Northwest Side Progressive Coalition will host a Progressive Mayoral Forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, 2614 N. Kedzie Ave. In addition to being held as an in-person event, the forum will be livestreamed on Facebook. Those interested in attending can find additional information online. 

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “Politicians are spreading misinformation about our criminal justice reforms, to distract from talking about their positions on reproductive rights and gun control. Don't let them get away with it.”  

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) tweeted, “You may soon receive a rebate! Thanks to the Illinois Family Relief Plan, one-time individual income and property tax rebates will be issued to taxpayers who meet certain requirements.”  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) tweeted, “Misinformation is spreading on social media surrounding the SAFE-T Act. The law does not create “non-detainable offenses.” Defendants will be eligible for pretrial release based on their risk to public safety, not their bank accounts”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “This morning our office was attacked. Security footage shows a brick was thrown through one of our windows around 5 am by an individual who then fled northbound towards Bryn Mawr. Police are investigating. Board up is on the way and we will still be here to help our constituents.” 

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Wednesday that 1,200 municipalities will receive 371 million from the second round of funding from the American Rescue Plan. The funding is designed to go to non-entitlement units.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Great evening of canvassing! Such wonderful neighbors coming into the 1st ward in Logan Square! See you again tomorrow”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “The mass shooting in Washington Park last night is horrific and further erodes our sense of safety. This gun violence must stop. Stakeholders need to collaborate to uplift what’s working and to add and implement innovative solutions to end these senseless acts of violence.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “I'm proud to partner with local organizations like @NBranchWorks and local leaders like @RossanaFor33 to support businesses in Avondale and across the existing and new boundaries of the 35th Ward. Thank you, @ROCKWELL_OTR 

and @MetropolisCoCo, for hosting us yesterday.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Here at the 40th Ward Office we have leaders at every level!  Shout out to our Director of Development Morgan Madderom for getting on Public Comment to speak about Ghost Buses and improving our Public Transportation System. Pay attention, CTA!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “ATTN Chicagoland students: We want to work with YOU! Our campaign is hiring paid campaign interns to help us build up the progressive movement on the North Side! Apply here today http://bit.ly/apply47”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Early this morning, someone threw a brick through the window of our office. Police are investigating the incident. Our office is still open today until 5pm for constituents who need help.” 

City of Chicago leaders are scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday to announce additional ways for Chicagoans to acquire security devices at no cost through the city’s Home and Business Protection Program and will give an update on rebate applications. The announcement is scheduled to take place at the West Chicago Avenue Public Library. 

The city’s new Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability will hold its first public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Malcom X College. Meeting attendees will be able to hear from the seven interim commissioners that Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed last month and will get to discuss public safety issues. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “We’re excited be offering paid part-time internships to high school and college aged youth interested in being involved in my campaign. Please forward the application link to interested young people!”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “It's critical we elect leaders who are pro-choice at every level of government. Women's reproductive health is on the line.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “The @Fightin47th has never been more fired up and ready to help elect pro-choice, pro-gun-safety, and pro-environment champions to Springfield and Congress.”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Visit the Broadway Armory parking lot this Sunday from 2pm-4pm to support Care For Real!  This organization works tirelessly to provide food, clothing, and support to neighbors in our community. Stop by for food, music, and more! Wanna join us?”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Join Alderwoman Hadden and the 49th Ward team for the monthly virtual town hall on Wednesday, September 14, at 6 pm. Attendees will hear important updates for the ward and the city. These meetings now take place on the second Wednesday of the month @ 6 pm”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “A rabid bat was found near the 2200 block of W Estes Ave. Animal Care and Control assured me that this is not unusual and is not a cause for alarm.” 

The Illinois AFL-CIO hired Alyssa Goodstein as communications director. Goodstein was most recently deputy chief of communications to Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and has also served as chief of staff to Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). She has also held roles on Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 2019 primary campaign and Young Democrats of Illinois. 

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The SAFE-T Act does not allow people charged with a serious offense or who pose a flight risk to be released. It does replace the cash bail system with a new system that detains all dangerous defendants, regardless of their ability to pay”  

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Bailey abandons God's calling on his life leaving the farm to live in beautiful Chicago.”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “The Edgar Fellows program recently celebrated 10 years of developing exceptional public leaders who are dedicated to serving Illinois families. As a program alum, I was honored to speak at the celebration dinner alongside program founder and former governor, Jim Edgar.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Yesterday, myself and others were honored by @RepSchneider with a Public Service Flag Presentation Ceremony for leadership on July 4th.”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Also, if people would stop the “passed in the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness” lie, we could have real conversations about working together for better outcomes. See the tweet below. 11:32 AM is hardly the middle of the night. Knock it off.” 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “There is no such thing as perfect legislation, but all legislation can be perfected. We can only successfully accomplish that, if we commit to the truth. These recent attacks don’t do that.”  

Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago) tweeted, “9/11 is a day that our nation will never forget. Tragedy and horror unfolded through the eyes of millions as 2,977 lives were lost on American soil. We must remember that each one of those numbers was a human life with hopes and dreams.”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “Where in the world is the MLK Jr. Statue?! I've been informed it was on the ground this morning; now secure in the possession of @ILSecOfState Reminder to again rethink this statue for a more iconic version & location. Or at least we can clean the bird poop off his head 😊" 

Nexstar Media will be the host for the two gubernatorial debates this fall, WGN confirmed Sunday. Republican Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) and Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker will both participate in a debate at Illinois State University at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6 and at WGN’s Chicago studio at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Hard Chicago Facts: the extreme rain and flooding we saw yesterday is a direct result of climate change. Chicago has a great new climate action plan. Now it needs a great new Department of the Environment to execute on that plan! That’s what we’re fighting for!”  

Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22) tweeted “It was a great honor to serve as a grand Marshall of the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village. What a great event!”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “I will always fight to keep our communities safe. We need to take action to address the gun violence epidemic.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “We've made it to week three of petitioning! As we gear up for weeks 4-6, are you available to volunteer and come hang with us for a petition shift? We'll give you a brief training, a clipboard, and materials. You can sign up at the link below!”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “Our neighborhood was hit hard by yesterday’s historic storm. Nearly 6 inches of rain fell in a little over an hour, severely overtaxing the sewer system. If you got any water in your basement, please contact my office or 311 to report it right away.” 

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will host a virtual talk titled “How can we design safe and complete streets with an equity lens?” at noon Tuesday. The event will include CMAP’s Victoria Barrett, policy makers and planners from the area and representatives from Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways. The event is set to include a moderated discussion and Q&A session. Panelists are scheduled to discuss “how residents can design safer streets for all and create more vibrant, walkable communities with an equity lens,” according to a news release from Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office. Those interested can register online. 

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Bivalent Booster. Done.”  

Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) tweeted, “If you have a feeling this state and country are going in the wrong direction, that’s because it is”  

Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) tweeted, “I joined the @IDOT_Illinois and other community leaders to announce $93 million in improvements to Interstate 55 through Joliet and Shorewood by constructing a new diverging diamond interchange with Illinois 59”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “God speed to the Queen” 

The Department of Public Health released data Friday showing 8,600 Illinoisans have avoided hospitalization from COVID-19 in the last four months thanks to therapies for the virus. “The data from Illinois that IDPH released today show just how effective these treatments can be at protecting people who contract COVID-19 from being hospitalized and severe outcomes. These treatments are especially recommended for individuals over 50 and those with underlying medical conditions. The key is to start these medications quickly, within the first five days,” said IDPH Director Sameer Vohra.   

Reps. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Fran Hurley (D-Chicago) are asking residents to submit feedback about “current trends in public safety and efforts to reduce crime” in Illinois for the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force they chair. Residents can email [email protected] to share their thoughts.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “See you tomorrow at 11 at @subtchicago (North and Damen)! Rain or shine (okay, rain) we’re kicking off petition season in the 1st ward so I can earn a spot on our ballot and continue representing the 1st ward!”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “#NeverForget911 is an action, not just a memory”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “.@Delia4Congress, @CPZ4Senate and me canvassed one of the most incredible blocks in Avondale today. We met many wonderful 3rd Congressional, 20th State Senate, and new 35th Ward residents – including the photographer who took the photos up at Kuma's Corner!”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “We will never forget the lives lost on this day, 21 years ago. We must continue to recognize and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. #September11”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Many thanks to the ECPS Candidates, @Steele4BoR, and all of the neighbors who came and are continuing to come to our new office to help collect signatures to get us on the ballot!” 

The Metropolitan Planning Council on Sept. 21 will honor this year’s Champion Fighter awardees — Helene Gayle and The Chicago Community Trust for their “commitments to closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region,” according to a news release. The in-person event is set for 5 p.m. at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N. Morgan St. and event capacity is limited to event sponsors. Others can attend the event virtually via a livestream on the Metropolitan Planning Council’s website.