Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) wrote in his latest newsletter that “on a global scale, we could not ignore how parental notification is an important tool to combat the rise of human trafficking, which is the fastest growing criminal trade in the world. Parental notification serves as an extra layer of protection against those who would exploit children.” 

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted, “Thank you to the community members who donated to our Love Purse drive benefitting  @MetroFamChicago. Because of your generosity, we were able provide over 325 purses to survivors of domestic violence!”  

Sen. Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) announced via a statement that he will seek reelection next year, writing that he has “worked hard to develop beneficial and respectful working relationships with both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, and have always taken a collaborative approach to passing legislation.” 

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted, “In case you missed it, IDPH adopted federal guidance for long-term care facility visits 12 days after the federal government put out the guidance and just one day before Thanksgiving.”  

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) tweeted, “I am happy to announce a $4.5 million investment in state funding to help maintain and upgrade the Rockford Airport. The Rockford Airport is a strong economic driver of our region that provides hundreds of jobs to our community.” 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Wednesday announced the “Accelerate Illinois Broadband Infrastructure Planning Program” to “help Illinois communities leverage historic broadband infrastructure funding for community-driven broadband expansion.” The Illinois Office of Broadband is “calling on local units of government – particularly cities, counties, and multi-county regions – to apply to receive expert support offered as part of an intensive 14-week community engagement program designed to turn available public broadband funding into sustainable broadband access,” according to the announcement. 

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “This morning I joined my Latino Caucus collegues to call for transparency in the City's redistricting process. Our Coalition Map protects and brings together Black, White, Latino and Asian communities, preserves communities of interests and satifies progressive and moderates” 

Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11) tweeted a lengthy statement about the remap, saying that “dividing areas or neighborhoods based on race is indeed racism.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted a picture of the Rules Committee ward map introduced on Wednesday and wrote “Uh, no thanks” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Public Safety Update: Our office has been made aware by the 20th District of a homicide on the 2600 block of W Catalpa on Dec. 1st at roughly 7am. Police are actively investigating and do not have additional details for public release at this time.” 

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) tweeted “This #WorldAidsDay2021 let’s recommit to ‘Getting to Zero’ new HIV infections! Thank you to AIDS Garden Chicago Board chair Yoni Pizer, @AIDSChicago President John Peller, and @ChiPublicHealth’s Antonio King for joining me in supporting HIV prevention” 

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted “And so the mapping process continues!” 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “I am very upset to report that there were 3 carjackings in our neighborhood over the last few days. The police are investigating, but we must all remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to 911.”

Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) announced on Tuesday that he would retire from his House district at the end of the day. “I said from the beginning that my goal was to get things done and do what’s right for the people of the 99th District,” he wrote in the release. “To me, that’s always meant standing up to bad policy when I had to, but also finding ways to work across the aisle when there was an opportunity to benefit the constituents I was elected to serve. This mentality is why I voted for the 2019 capital bill and 2019 state budget.”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) posted on Facebook, “It was a cold but wonderful night celebrating Hanukkah! Thank you to Rabbi Yaakov Kotlarsky and the Chabad Jewish Center of Arlington Heights for putting on such a great event. I hope all who celebrate have a great Hanukkah”  

Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) posted on Facebook, “I joined University of Illinois President Killeen and State Senator Scott Bennett to cheer on a Fighting Illini Basketball win last night! Thank you for having me, University of Illinois System.”  

Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) tweeted that mounting support for federal legislation to allow banking for cannabis businesses is “A big deal. Would allow FDIC backed banks to accept cannabis $$” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted, “I have been impressed with @SenPacioneZayas as well and have enjoyed working with her on the Senate Education Committee.” 

The Illinois Department of Transportation will host seven free virtual workshops between Wednesday and Dec. 16 as part of its “Building Blocks of Success” series for firms interested in participating in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, according to a Tuesday announcement. The full list of workshops is listed online.  

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will host the first-ever Illinois Product Holiday Market, officials announced Tuesday. The market will be held Saturday and Sunday on the “Y Block” north of the Governor’s Mansion and “will feature Illinois products for everyone on your shopping list this season,” according to the announcement. 

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “Winter Overnight Parking Bans for many Chicago streets start Dec. 1. Even if there isn't snow, you can not park your car on an overnight parking ban street.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “People power, it's a beautiful thing. All respect to the Indigenous peoples of Bolivia who have taken their country back and are on the path to socialism and a more just and democratic society.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Here in the 40th Ward, we have winter parking restrictions on the following street sections: 

 - Clark St from Albion to Devon 

- Devon Ave from Clark to Greenview 

- Foster Ave from the North Shore Channel to Clark” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Our office is happy to provide gifts to 10 families this holiday season. But due to limited funding, we always have a list of additional families who need help. For #GivingTuesday consider donating to @HeartNeighbors to sponsor gifts for a local family.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Tomorrow! Wednesday December 1 at 6 PM, join Ald. Hadden via Zoom for the last virtual town hall of the year for City and Ward updates.” 

The Chicago Department of Public Health removed California, North Carolina and Guam from its COVID-19 Travel Advisory, leaving 38 states whose unvaccinated travelers are asked to quarantine or get tested upon arrival in Chicago. Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington may be taken off the list next week if they can keep average new case counts below 15 per 100,000 residents, officials said. 

Rep. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) posted on Facebook, “Our team had a great Monday meeting with Team VoteMaura to get our petition process ready to go! January 13th is the first day we can circulate petitions and we would love your help”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) posted on Facebook, “This afternoon I connected with President Billy Mitchell and my great NBCSL colleagues from around the country. #runwiththerep As the Illinois House of Representatives chief sponsor, co-author of the historic Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, I joined a panel during NBCSL’s pre conference to discuss state energy policy and this legislation with the Edison Electric Institute. I believe that reliability and affordability during the transition to clean energy is critical. Our Illinois policy stabilizes reliable nuclear power while strategically moving us toward clean energy, avoiding the clear dangers of failed energy delivery.” 

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted, “.@repgregharris is a trailblazer and true public servant who got into the weeds of the budget and fought for reform, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare expansion, & so much more. We will miss his presence in Springfield.  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “No map for you! Also, 36 hours? C'mon City Council! That's an eternity for IL Legislative Dems to gerrymander. It's more like 36 minutes for the public to review a legislative map.” 

The Illinois Commerce Commission on Monday announced the addition of a new 861 area code in Western Illinois, set to come online by early 2023. It will overlap with the 309 area code, which covers large portions of northwestern and northcentral Illinois. 

Farmers in Lake, Boone and McHenry counties are eligible for benefits following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s issuance of a disaster declaration for losses caused by freezing that occurred between May 5 and May 30 of this year, according to an announcement from the Illinois Department of Agriculture on Monday. A “Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to provide emergency loans to producers recovering from natural disasters,” according to the announcement. More information is available online. 

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “The 106th Street bridge will be opened on Friday, December 10th.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “I wonder what the Black Caucus/Rules/Lightfoot “Incumbent Protection” map looks like. Will it be secret until Wednesday 1p when we they try to force a vote on it?”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “@ChiLatinoCaucus was excluded from this morning's Rules Committee briefings, where the committee presented ward map drafted by Madigan-attorney Mike Kasper. But from the little we've gathered, the Kasper map is an embarrassment that slices, dices & disenfranchises communities.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “When you have the law on your side, you argue the law. When you have the facts/data on your side, you argue the facts/data. When you have neither on your side, you just argue.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “I want to thank and commend my friend, Majority Leader Greg Harris on his outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the citizens of Chicago and Illinois. Today Greg announced he will not seek another term in the General Assembly.”

The Chicago Department of Human Resources reported Monday that nearly 94 percent of city employees had reported their vaccination status, and of those, nearly 82 percent of whom are fully vaccinated. About 87.3 percent of Chicago Police Department employees, 98.5 percent of fire department employees and 85 percent of aldermen and City Council staffers had reported their vaccination statuses.

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) posted on Facebook, 'Congratulations to the newest member of the Illinois House, Rep. Michael Kelly, D-15th. An active firefighter and member of the Chicago Fire Department, Rep. Kelly is well prepared to fight for working families. Welcome to the House Rep!"

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) shared an NBC News article about gerrymandering with the excerpt, ""Illinois is an example of where the fact that districts look funny actually does flag the fact that they not only look funny, but they are extremely politically biased."

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) in her latest newsletter promoted Thursday's meeting of the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues, when the commission will hold its annual public meeting titled "Listen, Believe, Support: Exploring Mental Health Needs of Survivors of Gender-Based Violence." Participants can sign up online to speak during the meeting.

Rep. Stefanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) wrote in her latest newsletter, "While the holidays is a wonderful time for some, it's also important to acknowledge that not everyone is as fortunate. I encourage anyone who is struggling in any situation to please call my district office (630) 585-1308. My constituent services office will be able to provide any assistance or resources so that we can help you as winter approaches."

The unemployment rate sank in all 14 of Illinois' metropolitan areas between October 2020 and October 2021, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released last week by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Unemployment fell most sharply in the Chicago region, where the rate dropped from 8.8 percent to 5.4 percent during the 12-month period. Unemployment remains highest in the Rockford area, where the rate only dropped from 7.5 percent to 7.1 percent. The statewide unemployment rate dropped from 7.5 percent to 5 percent since last October.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted, "Virologist Trevor Bedford says Omicron “potentially has significant immune evasion and appears to be spreading rapidly.” Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests increased transmissibility, but more data is needed before conclusions. The prudent course of action is assume the worst."

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, "Watching “Armageddon” while trying to avoid remap Armageddon" and then "I’m gonna start rooting for the referendum meteor."

Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) tweeted, "On November 26, 2010 Officer Michael Flisk was killed in the line of duty. He will always be remembered as a loving husband and father, a loyal friend an neighbor, and a dedicated member of the Chicago Police Department."

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) posted on Facebook, "We want to take a moment to thank our local business El Alebrije Mexican Restaurant & Bar for their donations of hot meals to feed the houseless residents of our ward. This week we went out to deliver the meals and checked in with our neighbors who are living outside during these cold months."

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) wrote in his latest newsletter, "Next week the Chicago City Council will vote on an ordinance creating new ward boundaries. The new citywide map will include increased Latino representation and a new majority Asian-American ward based on population changes from the recent census. The ward boundaries for the 48th Ward will remain mostly unchanged."

Friends of the Parks will host a virtual panel event at noon on Dec. 8 alongside the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation to launch a "new citywide innovative arts and environment initiative." The panel will include Uzma Noormohamed, program director of the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation, and environmental composer Norman Long.

Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) wrote in a news release that he partnered with Chicago Ald. Howard Brookins (21) and Cook County Comm. Stanley Moore (D-4) to give away more than 100 meals to residents of Chicago’s Southpoint Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. 

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “While Illinoisans are busy getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, @JBPritzker decided to continue breaking his own campaign promises by signing another gerrymandered and hyper-partisan map. It's time our Governor and all of our elected leaders put the people first. #twill””  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) shared news of JB Pritzker’s signature of Congressional maps and tweeted, “Map drawn by politicians, for politicians — Just the type of map the Governor said he would not sign.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Help spread the word! FREE meals and free vaccines every Thursday through January at 11:30am, 3000 N Kedzie Ave  

Thanks to Northwest Side Solidarity network and Roseland Community Hospital!”  

Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago) tweeted, “There is no better time to get prepared for a rewarding career in a high-demand field at no cost through the Future Ready program offered by @ChiCityColleges” with information about job placement programs. 

Gov. JB Pritzker announced the appointment of Michael Clark, an executive with the Travelers Insurance Company, as a member of the Illinois State Police Merit Board. He will also appoint Boone County Health Department Supervisor Michelle Gibson to serve on the Illinois Pollution Control Board and Blue Cross Blue Shield executive Damon Arnold to serve on the State Board of Health. All appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.  

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will run a holiday special on the Mega Pass and Jumbo Pass for entrance to the Illinois State Fair, at $60 and $70 respectively. The passes will be available throughout the month of December. More information is available online. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted photos from a senior fair his office hosted at Haas Park.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “With Thanksgiving & Black Friday later this week, please shop local whenever you can and support our local businesses!!” Dowell included a link to her latest newsletter. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted: 

“Peoples Map filed without any aldermanic sponsors.  

Black Caucus map filed without any ward boundaries. 

Coalition Map creates 50 distinct wards with ethnic parity 

7 days, 14 hours to the deadline 

Lori being Lori!” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) shared a Block Club story about the investigation into a sex abuse scandal at a Logan Square school and tweeted “This is terrifying. We send our babies to school every day with trust in our public institutions, which is destroyed when we see this kind of harm. This crisis of leadership and culture of abuse & no accountability needs to make end. Schools need to be places of care & healing.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “I stand with workers at the Art Institute of Chicago & SAIC forming their union #AICWU. Management must stop interfering with their right to organize. I endorse these principles for a free, fair election, & call on @artinstitutechi @saic_news to do so now” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted in a thread “I am pleased to share that the Kathy Osterman Awards honoring city employees with exceptional service will return this year... My family and I thank Mayor Lightfoot for reinstating the Kathy Osterman awards and join Mayor Lightfoot in recognizing Chicago’s outstanding public servants, especially in light of the dedication and service city employees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

The Chicago Department of Public Health added Connecticut and Maryland to its COVID-19 Travel Advisory, bringing the list to 40 states and one territory. Unvaccinated travelers from states on the advisory list are asked to quarantine for 10 days or to get a negative test. California, Guam and North Carolina are set to come off the list next week if their average new caseloads stay below 15 per 100,000 residents.  

Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Chicago Commission on Human Relations announced on Tuesday that city officials are conducting a “comprehensive investigation” into allegations that workers at Parlor Pizza Bar restaurants “were not paid for overtime work, that employees were sexually harassed and that customers were discriminated against based on their race and/or age.” City officials in a news release urged former and current employees of Parlor Pizza location to “step forward and work with us as we investigate these allegations and work to compensate any workers harmed by unjust business practices.” City officials also encouraged Parlor Pizza customers who “believe they were discriminated against based on a protected class which includes race, national origin, age and/or were denied an accommodation related to a disability” to contact the human rights commission at [email protected] or by calling 312-744-4474. Former employees can reach out to the city’s Office of Labor Standards at [email protected] or by calling 312-744-2211. 

Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich), Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) and Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) issued a joint statement calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to “rescind” his “incendiary remarks on the Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty verdict, saying, “The right of self-defense is a basic right of all Americans regardless of age, race, creed, or gender. To suggest that these rights should be stripped from an individual simply on the basis of perceived political differences is wrong and goes against the values we as Americans hold dear.” 

Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Chicago) tweeted, “.@GovPritzker got HB3136 today. Illinois collegiate sports betting is a pen stroke away.” 

Rep. Jaime Andrade (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Do not forget to vote for @Ward33Chicago participatory budget. There are a lot of great projects to choose from.” 

Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) tweeted, “Tune in to my latest episode on the @ILSenDems Sound of the State podcast to hear my discussion with Hugh Brady of @namiillinois on mental health and where the state is headed next with the subject. Listen on all major platforms, including on Spreaker at http://ilsendems.co/3kRtm43” 

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “It was a pleasure to join [Mid-America Regional Council of Carpenters] on Friday to break ground on its Pekin Apprenticeship & Training Center. The council represents 50,000+ laborers across IL, MO, KS & IA, & I'm pleased that they have chosen to mold the next generation of carpenters here in our community.