The Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission has drafted 18 ward maps in anticipation of releasing a full proposed city ward map in September, the group announced on Thursday. Members have drafted maps for Rogers Park, West Ridge, Dunning, Montclare, Portage Park, North and South Lawndale, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, Chinatown, South Loop, Near South Side, South Commons, Douglas, Oakland, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, West Town, Logan Square, North Center, Austin, East and West Garfield Park, Belmont-Cragin, Hermosa, and Humboldt Park, according to the announcement. The commission will hold its next virtual public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday and an in-person hearing at 6 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Horizon Science Academy, 2245 W. Pershing Road. More information and archived meeting videos are available on the commission’s website. 

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today I joined @GovPritzker, @AldTomTunney & @Croke4Illinois as we rededicated Wrigley Field & heard about the years of effort to restore this historic ballpark.” 

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) provided a legislative update in her latest newsletter.  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) tweeted images after she attended the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association’s brunch at the state fair.  

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) shared a link on Facebook encouraging residents in her district to join the Kane County Sheriff’s office for a “one day Forklift Driver Certification Class.” 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) said on Facebook “I send my deepest sympathies to the family of Officer Ella French, and am keeping her partner Officer Carlos Yanez in my thoughts as he recuperates in ICU. No one should have to experience the incredible loss that gun violence brings, and our community mourns for Officer French.” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted her chief of staff will be at the Coal City Public Library on Thursday.  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today I visited the PACTT Learning Center! There is so much work to do for people on the spectrum and those living with disabilities. I am proud to stand with  

@PACTTChicago and their work supporting people with disabilities, workers, and people on the autism spectrum.” 

House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted “My doctor said I should get my COVID booster shot. Signed up on the @Walgreens website yesterday, went to the store today, took 5 minutes to register and get the shot. Easy to do. And FREE. Go get one” 

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) on Wednesday said she was recently appointed by House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) to the Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate Surveys. Ammons was the House sponsor of SB 1610, which created the task force. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure into law on Aug. 6.   

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted that his office is hosting a virtual First Look meeting for three different development proposals in his ward at 6 p.m. Monday.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) wrote in her latest newsletter that her office will host a Back to School Festival at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Chicago Urban League. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) wrote in a news release that his office will host its annual Back to School Health Fair to provide “school physicals,” COVID-19 vaccines, other immunizations and school supplies to more than 500 children at McKinley Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday.  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) will host a Back-to-School Resource Fair at Avondale-Logandale School at 10 a.m. Saturday. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) will host a Back To School Fair at Avondale School at 10 a.m. Saturday with school supply giveaways and COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) invited constituents to participate in a virtual Child Care Budget Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, Aug. 24. 

Cook County Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) wrote in her latest newsletter that she “proposed an amendment to the Cook County Code regarding Rules and Organization and Procedure. This amendment would clarify when a Commissioner is allowed to attend a meeting virtually as opposed to in person as we transition between in person and virtual meetings.”

City Clerk Anna Valencia announced the coming return of Mobile City Hall, which brings access to multiple city departments to neighborhoods across the city. Mobile City Hall "will be held regionally on select week days, nights and weekends” between August and October “to ensure these services are conveniently available to hard working Chicagoans,” according to the announcement. The program will debut in Garfield Park, and subsequent events will be announced on the clerk’s website. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health added nine states and the District of Columbia to its COVID-19 Travel Advisory because they surpassed 15 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, making 39 states and three territories on the list. Unvaccinated travelers from Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia must now either quarantine for 10 days or secure a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving in Chicago. 

Leaders of the Chicago Teachers will host a news conference at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Benito Juarez High School to highlight how “CPS continues to insist on rolling back last year’s health and safety protocols even as the delta variant is filling hospitals around the country with children at the highest rate since the pandemic began,” they wrote in a release Tuesday.  

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin will host a free online workshop at 12 p.m. Wednesday called “Small Business 101.” Online registration is required. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Rather than a mandate, why not call for a vote on the ordinance introduced by @AldermanSmith43 making mask wearing the law?”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) advertised a drive-thru vaccine clinic his office will host alongside Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Rep, Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) and Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago). 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) retweeted a WTTW story about the City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity spending more money than other committees and not meeting in 2021 and wrote, “It’s wild that the Mayor appoints Committee Chairs. It’s wild that some committees barely meet yet have so much staff. It’s wild that there’s so little independence when it comes to Chairs conducting business but they have so much power over what gets discussed. And this. Wild.” 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) tweeted “Cops catch offenders. Victims identify offenders. Video footage captures offenders. State’s Attorney still not convinced there’s enough evidence. Offenders set free to do it again. And people wonder why crime stats are up?”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted information about his ward’s youth council. “Any students in the 47th Ward interested in policy, organizing, or local government can get involved in our youth council,” Martin wrote. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “Mask Mandate is effective Friday, Aug. 20. Better late than never!” 

Cook County Comm. Dennis Deer (D-2) in his latest newsletter said his staff participated in a youth vaccination “Raps and Vax Event” with Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16) on Saturday. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday notified the Department of Central Management Services that all entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act must fly their flags at half-staff in remembrance of Chicago police Officer Ella French, who was killed on Aug. 7. The directive requires all U.S. and state flags to be lowered starting at sunrise on Wednesday through sunset on Thursday.

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) tweeted “On my small business tour, I have had the opportunity to meet with various organizations. I'd like to thank Call for Help and Educational Concepts Unlimited, Inc for their hard work and dedication to the members in the community. Take advantage of local resources near you!”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted “After wasting time & taxpayers $$, looks like the new maps that Guv & Dems approved at the last minute violate the allowable standards. Maps are so egregious that their miss is around 3x what's legally allowed. That's like hitting the target 3 rows down, not your own. Thx JB!  

Rep. Nick Smith (D-Chicago) tweeted “Happy #AgDay at the @ILStateFair I'm delighted to share that HB 3218 has been signed by @GovPritzker. This bill ensures high schoolers that agricultural science courses will be accepted by all public universities in Illinois.”  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted “Last night, I joined @SenatorSara6 State Senator to host a reception for some of our local CPS principals. So grateful for these hardworking professionals and all they do for our community and our kids. A big thank you to Cubbington's Cabinet for sharing your beautiful patio!” 

Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) issued a statement after former Sen. Bill Haine died on Monday. Crowe replaced Haine in the Senate.  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted “ There would be no medical cannabis program in IL without Bill Haine (and @HonLouLang). I spent many, many hours in a room negotiating language with him. Despite his background in the "law & order" sect, he was wise and compassionate. He will be missed.”   

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “There is agreement on the provisions needed to save our nuclear fleet. Lawmakers must return to Springfield to pass legislation that includes these provisions. If we don’t act now Byron & Dresden will close. Their closure will have consequences for ratepayers & the environment.”  

Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) tweeted “House Bill 848 was signed into law to extend the scratch-off lottery ticket to continue raising funds for Alzheimer's care, support, education and awareness in Illinois.”  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday formally requested the U.S. Small Business Administration to conduct an assessment of Ford County to review the damage associated with the Aug. 12 storm that resulted in nine inches of rain falling in and around Gibson City. The assessment could provide residents with access to federal financial assistance.  

Pritzker’s office on Monday announced hometowns of the sixth and final winners of the state’s $100,000 COVID-19 vaccine lottery. The winners, who will receive $100,000 cash prizes, included two residents of Chicago and a resident of St. Charles. The final lottery will take place on Aug. 18, when two $1 million case prizes will be handed out, as well as 17 scholarships for kids.  

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) in his latest newsletter included a photo of himself at the groundbreaking for the Webster Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project. “The Chicago Department of Transportation's commitment to this preservation will assist in the future growth of the area surrounding the river's North Branch,” Hopkins wrote.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) retweeted a statement from Mayor Lori Lightfoot about a shooting that left a 7-year-old girl dead and her 6-year-old sister wounded and wrote “’Gangs’ & ‘declare war on these killers’ - Lightfoot needs to sit down before she hurts herself. She NEVER uttered the word gangs until last week. She has worked w/ them time & time again, and is only now realizing they are monsters she can’t control. Too late.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) shared a WTTW article about the city’s finances and tweeted, “The council, Budget Committee, should be meeting weekly to discuss how we are going to deal with this budget gap as well as future gaps.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) shared a CNN article about the cost of childcare and tweeted, “We've known that we've had a child care crisis for decades. The pandemic has made it even more clear. We know what the solutions are. Now, let's make them happen.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) in his latest newsletter wrote that beginning Friday, Foster Avenue is set to be closed between Broadway and Winthrop Avenue to allow for demolition of a viaduct. Closure of the road and sidewalks is expected to last through Monday.

The Chicago Department of Public Health, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Design Museum of Chicago announced on Monday they are “getting creative” in a campaign to encourage Chicagoans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by working with 80 local artists to design art with themes including health, vitality and vaccine distribution. The first 26 pieces of art were unveiled Monday, including pieces from Hector Duarte, Dont Fret, Langston Allston and Penny Pinch. The art is set to be featured on billboards throughout the city and on artists’ and the city’s social media channels. 

David Orr of Good Government Illinois and Alisa Kaplan of Reform for Illinois will moderate a virtual panel discussion at 7 p.m. next Thursday, Aug. 26 to discuss ethics and the Cook County Board of Review with former Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, former Cook County Board of Ethics member Juliet Sorensen and Cunningham Township Assessor Wayne Williams. Online registration is required. 

The Metropolitan Planning Council will host an event at noon next Wednesday, Aug. 25 titled “Exploring Chicago’s Riverfronts.” Panelists will include Metropolitan Planning Council manager of equity and planning Chloe Gurin-Sands, Alex Perez of the Active Transportation 

Chicago Public Schools will require all teachers to be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 tests by Oct. 15 unless they “qualify for a medical or religious exemption,” district officials announced Friday. 

The month-long “Chicago In Tune” city-sponsored music festival will get underway on Thursday, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced on Friday. The network of events “will bring together iconic neighborhood venues, presenting organizations and musicians from across the city to celebrate all music genres and forms — with 575+ free and ticketed shows at more than 55 venues,” according to the announcement. More information is available online. 

The Chicago Urban League will host its Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner in person on Nov. 6, the group announced Friday. Attendees will be asked to show proof of vaccination, wear masks throughout the event and “observe appropriate social distancing.” 

Ald. Sophia King (4) shared photos of herself with other elected leaders at the Bud Billiken Parade. 

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) wrote in her latest newsletter that she joined Ald. Raymond Lopez (15), Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41) and Ald. Jim Gardiner (45) for “bond hearings to show support for Officer French, her partner and their families...Politicians say CPD needs oversight, but the voters can now step up and be the oversight of the politicians who would rather coddle criminals than support victims and their families.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted that an Amazon locker at a park in her ward “has been removed and there will be no further installations of Amazon lockers on any parks until there is a review of the process. I am still waiting to receive the contractual agreement between Amazon and the Chicago Parks District.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) shared a Sun-Times article about South and West Side hospitals facing increased COVID-19 hospitalizations and tweeted, “This looks like a good place to start when we discuss appropriating ARP funds.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) used the “business highlight” section of his latest newsletter to promote Lincoln Square Barber Shop. 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) used his latest newsletter to highlight two development proposals set for consideration by the Chicago Plan Commission on Aug. 19: a pair of mixed-use towers with 777 residential units and 405 hotel keys at 525 S. Wabash Ave., and another pair of towers comprising 1,053 residential units at 601 W. Monroe St.  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that “Officer French's death is a tragedy, as are the deaths of the hundreds of other Chicagoans who have lost their lives this year as a result of gun violence, an epidemic that continues to affect residents of all backgrounds and from every community.” 

Cook County Comm. Scott Britton (D-14) wrote in his latest newsletter that he “visited the Wheeling Fire Department for a tour of the recently constructed Fire Station 23 facilities. This new space better addresses the needs of the department.”  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday announced the appointment of Robert Porter as the public administrator and public guardian of McLean County and Vicky McElroy to the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority. The governor also announced the reappointment of Jeffrey Wright to the board of directors of the Finance Authority. All three appointments require confirmation by the state Senate.  

Pritzker’s office also on Friday announced the hometowns and counties of the state’s latest COVID-19 vaccine lottery. The latest winners, which were selected during an Aug. 12 drawing, were from Boone and Winnebago counties (Region 1), Bloomington and Normal (Region 2), Christian County and Springfield (Region 3), two residents from Granite City (Region 4), Williamson and Wayne counties (Region 5), Fayette County and Urbana (Region 6), Joliet and Plainfield (Region 7), Hanover Park and Aurora (Region 8), Mundelein and Lake County (Region 9), Arlington Heights and Cook County (Region 10) and two residents from Chicago (Region 11). The final drawing from the state’s vaccine lottery will take place Aug. 18.  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today is the 75th Indian Independence Day! I was so proud to be a part of the Federation of Indian Association's parade down Devon Avenue. We had so many candidates, elected officials, friends, and volunteers out who joined me on the float.” 

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted “Our team headed out today to Retro on Roscoe to chat with neighbors and see the festival. Thanks to @RVNeighbors for organizing another great year of this much loved community day. #11thdistrict #twill #retroonroscoe.” 

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted an image of a video gaming facility at the state fair, adding, “230 ILCS 50/Art. 30 in action.” 

Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) tweeted “Under a new law I supported, the @IllinoisIDES will collaborate w/ the Dept of Revenue to provide checks & balances in ID'ing suspected fraud in the unemployment benefits system & to prevent negative income tax consequences for anyone affected by unemployment insurance fraud.” 

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) wrote about back-to-school fairs in her district in her latest newsletter.

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted about an Aug. 28 job fair he is co-hosting with Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey.

Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) tweeted “I visited various @IllinoisDNR sites with Director Colleen Callahan this morning. I enjoyed visiting the Kankakee River State Park and the Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area. Thanks for the opportunity tour these wonderful parks!”

Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted “This afternoon I attended a #Back2Business round table with some of our area community navigators. We discussed how we can best support a strong, equitable recovery for small businesses, especially here in Central IL. Additional meetings will be held in the future.”

Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) tweeted a link to an online application system for her to tour small businesses in her district.

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) tweeted “HB 548 We need our private security officers to be properly trained. HB 665 Our current and future entrepreneurs need our assistant to strategize for success. This bill requires DCEO to set up centers. Gov @GovPritzker made it law.”