Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Yesterday our office assisted our Judge Green seniors in getting their food boxes with the Good Food For All program. Anyone can pickup a box of food every Wednesday.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Every day is #NationalDogDay for me!” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “Proud to support the senior US Senator from Illinois, @SenatorDurbin, this morning on a zoom fundraiser. He is doing a great job in bringing resources back to Illinois.”  

Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted “I can't stay mute in the face of the comment by the head of the @FOP7Chicago. Apologize, retract the statement, and resign. You are not fit to represent the fine officers of the Chicago Police with whom we work everyday." 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “1 in 7 students in CPS experience homelessness. As students head back-to-school, we must ensure that all of our students have access to a high quality learning experience -- and that means ensuring families can find and keep a home in Chicago.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office is partnering with local aldermen to hold a virtual community town hall at 6 p.m. Wednesday “to discuss the co-responder alternative dispatch program that will be piloted in the 19th police district,” according to information in the latest newsletters from multiple aldermen. The 19th district covers the 1st, 2nd, 32nd, 40th, 43rd, 44th, 46th and 47th wards, according to the registration page for the virtual town hall. 

All September City Council committee meetings that had been scheduled to be held in-person in Council Chambers were changed to virtual meetings as of Thursday. Amended notices of the meeting changes were posted on Legistar where it appeared at least four committees had previously been scheduled to meet in-person next month.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez’s office took down its website for maintenance following “breach” earlier this month, officials announced Thursday. The county’s Bureau of Technology is making “software and other technology upgrades that will bring the website up-to-date for its software, security and technology,” officials said, adding that they expect the website “will be fully functional within the next few weeks.”

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted images after she toured Advocate Health’s new pediatric development center.  

Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) tweeted “IDES, the unemployment office, announces today that they will begin the phased restoration of in-person, appointment-only meetings starting Thursday, August 26th… ABOUT TIME!!  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted “This week I met with Jacki Gomez, executive director for Hispanic American Construction Industry Association @HACIAworks and Juan Calahorrano to talk about serving minority own businesses in my district. Making sure everyone has opportunities will enrich the Illinois economy.” 

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) wrote on Facebook “Thanks to CL PAC for inviting me to their first ever golf outing! I may not be able to swing a golf club but with your support we can make sure we keep swinging our policies left. Thanks to everyone who came out in this hot sunny day. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) on Wednesday appointed former appellate court Judge Marcus Salone to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission’s search committee to find Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope’s replacement.  

Officials from the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Wednesday the department will begin returning to in-person operations through a phased in approach starting Aug. 26. In-person appointments will be available for the agency’s offices in Rockford, Harvey, Champaign and Mt. Vernon. To schedule an appointment, the public should call the IDES Scheduling Hotline at 217-558-0401. Officials said additional IDES offices are expected to reopen in the coming weeks.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted information about a “Back to School Celebration” his office is helping to host at 10 a.m. Saturday at 2300 W. Potomac Ave.  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted a community alert about information on recent burglaries in the police department’s 2nd District. 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “The city renewed a contract with Shot spotter wasting millions of $ we could use towards violence prevention.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) in an email blast reminded residents that the 40th Ward budget survey is closing soon. “What are your biggest priorities for the City of Chicago's next annual budget? Which services do you use, and which do you want prioritized? How satisfied are you with city service response times?” Vasquez wrote. 

Cook County Board Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted “Everyone should have equal access to legal representation. I applaud Governor Pritzker for signing HB 2790 into law. The bill allows the Cook County Public Defender's office to represent non-citizens in immigration cases.”

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) wrote in a news release that he tested positive for COVID-19 and "is experiencing mild symptoms" after having been vaccinated earlier this year. Morrison "is remaining quarantined at home but is continuing his duties remotely and is in regular communication with staff," according to the release.

In celebration of August’s designation as National Black Business Month, Chicago’s Department of Business Protection and Consumer Affairs is hosting a webinar, "Celebrating and Learning from Black-Owned Businesses," beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday. The webinar will be moderated by Kenya Merritt, the city’s chief small business officer. Panelists will include Kimberly Moore, president of KDM Engineering; Vincent William, president and CEO of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and Trez V. Pugh III, founder and CEO of Sip & Savor Hospitality Group. Registration is available online. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health on Tuesday added four states to its COVID-19 Travel Advisory. Each of the states surpassed 15 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, making 43 states and two territories on the list. Unvaccinated travelers coming from Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska and South Dakota are now required to either quarantine for 10 days or obtain a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving in Chicago. The District of Columbia was moved off the city’s Travel Advisory list this week. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted that he would be at Division & Ashland at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to “chat in-person" about residents’ budget priorities. “It's budget season & I would love to hear from residents about what you would like to see the City's budget go toward,” he wrote. 

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted “I’d like to see our public health officials explain how effective universal masking is, at a ratio of one mask message for every 10 reminders that we should get vaccinated if we haven’t yet. Let’s start there.” 

Ald. Michelle Harris (8) shared a CBS story about her “targeting” of “illegal parties” at a Calumet Heights location where a mass shooting occurred. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted “Whatever happened to the children in cages at the border ?  This obsession with a country 7k miles away. The Afghan pull out was never going to be smooth, not when they see you as an ATM machine. Too many haters in that region. Who benefited? China, Russia and Irán.” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “Pass Just Cause! No one should be experiencing no fault evictions (or any evictions!) during this pandemic.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Ald.Sposato gets away with a lot in City Council. His hateful, racist, queer-phobic rhetoric way too many times passes as colorful harmless behavior. Im so tired of his clown act. It’s harmful and it needs to be called out by everyone who hears it.” 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday and officials from CoinFlip, a cryptocurrency ATM operator, announced the company was moving its 44,000 square-foot headquarters into the Old Post Office in downtown Chicago.  

Nikki Budzinski, a former senior adviser to Pritzker and labor activist, on Tuesday announced she was running for Illinois’ 13th congressional district. Budzinski, a Democrat, is looking to challenge U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.). 

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “We’re listening. Email [email protected] to testify before the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee this Thursday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m., where we’ll discuss the 2020 Census and what it means for Illinois.” 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “ICYMI: I am so proud that my bill, HB1092, was signed into law! HB 1092 strengthens Illinois' Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) by including yearly training for law enforcement on its implementation and creating an education campaign for the public.” 

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) wrote on Facebook “A heartfelt Thank You to Suncast Corporation, one of the largest employers in our district, for urging the federal delegation to find an appropriate, legal pathway to residency for undocumented people in our community. Finding a legal pathway to residency would not only stimulate further economic growth and prosperity, but it is also simply the right thing to do.” 

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) posted a video on Facebook of him delivering 45,000 petitions to the office of Gov. JB Pritzker to “demand he rescinds his unilateral mask mandate on our schools.” Bailey is running for the GOP nomination for governor. 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “1/Colton's Task Force is a reality. This act is dedicated to the life of Colton Miller who was tragically taken from us at just 18 months due to domestic violence. The creation of this task force shows that one person can make a difference.” 

Rep. Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted “It was a pleasure to stop by the #HeroCenter in downtown Waukegan to learn more about the great work they do with @LakeCountyJobs! We talked about the struggles they've endured during the pandemic and how we can work together to help them move forward. Thank you for hosting me!” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “TIME IS RUNNING OUT! The General Assembly is returning for special session on Aug. 31. However, energy legislation wasn’t on the agenda that Senate President Don Harmon sent out. To preserve our nuclear fleet, Senate President Harmon must call a bill for a vote while we are in.” 

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield) tweeted a reminder about a Tuesday night “Women Who Lead” panel discussion on Facebook Live she is hosting with Comptroller Susana Mendoza and other elected officials.  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted about how his office is “now accessible” through text messages.  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will receive $140 million in statue funds, as well $52 million in non-state funds, to help cover costs associated with the construction of a new facility, renovations and upgrades on the campus. The funding, which comes from the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan, will be used to restore Altgeld Hall and replace Illini Hall. 

Pritzker on Monday also joined state and local officials to announce the start of construction on a new Interstate 57/74 interchange in Champaign-Urbana. The project, which will cost $216.8 million, is funded by Rebuild Illinois.  

Pritzker on Monday announced Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz was leaving his administration. Ruiz, who joined the governor’s office in February 2019, has primarily overseen education-related matters.

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) on Monday appointed Jeremy Margolis to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission’s search committee to find Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope’s replacement. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “So proud of the workers at [Colectivo Coffee] who just became the largest unionized coffee and cafe chain in the country! What a long struggle, but a powerful and inspiring one!” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Restorative justice only works if the offender accepts responsibility for their actions and makes amends to the injured. Otherwise it is a waste of time & only offers false redemption.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “If ‘immigrants are welcome here’, their kin in their birth countries deserve immediate access to generic covid vaccines. Shame on criminally immoral billionaire class that lives lavishly as they use their political strength to deny the workers of the world the life saving vaccine” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) shared a Block Club article about Amazon lockers in Chicago parks and in a thread tweeted “A few things that didn’t make it in the article. 1. Amazon should not be occupying public space regardless of what they offer but we have to note that 137K is a slap in the face.  2.Corps like Amazon that don’t pay taxes impact our ability to fund public services, like parks.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) in a thread tweeted “Latino became Latina/o, then Latin@, then Latinx, and most recently Latine. This progression has been organic, conceived of by women, and trans and nonbinary people to challenge patriarchy and embrace a gender-neutral and inclusive term for latinidad.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “We're excited to have nearly 30 block parties in the ward this Saturday! As the Delta variant continues to spread, remember to take covid-19 precautions at your block parties. Props to the organizers of this party for getting creative when promoting covid-19 safety!” 

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted “If you were hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it didn't yet have full FDA approval, your wait is over! Your loved ones, hospital staff, educators, those who work in restaurants and local businesses, and your neighbors will thank you for it!”

Chicago Department of Public Health workers will spray insecticide on Wednesday at Albany Park, Lincoln Square, Irving Park, and North Center as part of the department’s “efforts to protect residents against the West Nile virus.” according to an announcement. “Weather permitting, the spraying will begin at dusk on August 25th and continue through the night until approximately 1:00 am, with licensed mosquito abatement technicians in trucks dispensing an ultra-low-volume spray,” according to the announcement. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) is scheduled to host a housing budget town hall virtual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. “Join us for a virtual town hall to talk about how the pandemic has impacted housing stability, the status of rental assistance programs, and how we can invest in permanent solutions,” Martin tweeted on Monday. Registration is available online. 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago released its September schedule of courses and webinars, including four homebuyer education courses starting on Sept. 1, a “Financial Fresh Start” course on Sept. 14 and a “Foreclosure Prevention” webinar on Sept. 16. All the courses start at 6 p.m. More information is available online.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) shared a Crain’s article about population growth in Bronzeville and wrote, “I am proud of the work our community is doing in Bronzeville!! Let’s keep it up. Bronzeville remains a community of diverse housing markets.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted that President Joe Biden’s appointment of Rahm Emanuel as U.S. ambassador to Japan is “a slap in the face to our immigrant communities by the Biden Administration. Are we human beings or not?”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, “Thank you @ToniPreckwinkle for requiring county workers get vaccinated against COVID. @chicagosmayor, it's time Chicago do the same - for the health of our city and our city’s public workforce.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) wrote in his latest newsletter, “When we allow our neighborhoods to remain disinvested and bereft of mental health/social services, of job opportunities, of quality community investment, and a fair chance at succeeding, we end up with generations of people who see no other recourse but to engage in criminal activity that often escalates to violence. We can continue to focus on the individuals who commit crime, but if we ignore the environment that produces them, we fall short in solving the problem.”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter that he is “disappointed with the direction of current policing strategies, such as eliminating foot pursuits. The Alderman is urging CPD to conduct a top-down reevaluation of public safety policies.” 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted that the “Park District has a bad habit of trying to commercialize our parks. Stop. So how did those Amazon lockers land in Chicago parks, anyway?” 

Officials from the Illinois Department of Employment Security on Friday offered a reminder that four federal unemployment programs are ending on Sept. 4. The programs include Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation.

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted “Texas legislators are voting to remove requirements of teaching about MLK. In Illinois, we are expanding the scope of our history curriculum to include more Black history, LGBTQ+, & Asian American history. We must not be afraid to teach all of our history.” 

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “I and my neighbors at 5533 N Broadway are hosting a Back-to-School celebration on Wednesday, August 25th at 5pm at Senn High School! Please feel free to reach out! We are also accepting donations to give out school supplies.”  

Rep. David Allen Welter (R-Morris) tweeted “@SenatorRezin and I had a great time supporting the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce at their Spirits On The Farm event showcasing local distilleries and breweries. We even had an opportunity to hangout with our good friend and Oswego Mayor Troy Parlier!” 

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) said on Facebook “New mosaic benches are unveiled to complete the Rockford Women's Suffrage Plaza near the YMCA. The sculpture honors passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The unique benches recognize local women and city landmarks. Congrats to everyone with Women's Suffrage Centennial 2020 for their work on this wonderful project! 

Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) shared images on Facebook of him recently attending Elburn Days, adding “Fantastic night in Elburn fir the parade for Elburn Days! Always great to see so many friends line the route!!”

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on Thursday announced the winners of the final lottery for issuing cannabis dispensary licenses. A total of 75 licenses were awarded from a pool of 135 applicants. A full list of the winners can be found on the department’s website.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) wrote on her campaign Facebook page that she “had a blast at the Illinois State Fair and Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association Brunch...As a Democratic Committee person, I'm proud to have built a thriving grassroots organization that is one of the highest voting wards in Chicago. And I'm proud to have supported the Democratic Party and all of our candidates.”  

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted, “The Trumpers were downright inept. I guess the Biden admin caught that virus !” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) shared a photo of Mayor Lori Lightfoot at the funeral of slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French and tweeted, “Even though you snuck in the backdoor, our brave men & women still saw you. They didn’t disrespect you but certainly could have lived this moment without you. A person of integrity knows when it’s appropriate to show up or when it’s best to stay home.” 

Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16) on her Facebook page highlighted Bass Elementary School’s Back to School Bash and thanked Busy B. Laundromat for “providing free laundry services for families and book bags for our youth.”  

Ald. Michael Scott (24) in his latest newsletter advertised his office’s Annual Back to School Community Giveback set to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Douglass Park fieldhouse. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared a link to a Block Club article about a new restorative justice court and tweeted, “I'm proud to have supported bringing a restorative justice court to Avondale, and I hope more neighbors will get involved in ensuring the success of this important Cook County Court initiative. 

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) tweeted that “this week Lakeview reached 80% of those eligible getting their first COVID vaccine dose.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “Out for back to school registration at Sullivan High School and was so excited to talk up the $25M in building improvements to students and their families when I learned that @ChiPubSchools installed WINDOWS THAT DON’T OPEN in the second story gymnasium in a building with no a/c.”