The Illinois State Board of Elections will hold its last day of operations in Chicago’s James R. Thompson Center on Friday. Starting on Monday, the state agency will open its new location at 69 W. Washington St.    

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) in her latest newsletter included information about the 92nd annual Bud Billiken Parade, which is set for Aug. 14. 

Ald. Michael Scott (24) tweeted information about Nights Out on the Boulevard, which he wrote is a “series of events held on Douglas Blvd. to help promote public safety in our community.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Can we replace the Columbus statues with a giant stove top espresso maker in honor of Alfonso Bialetti? I’m forever in debt to Italians for that wonderful gift to the world.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted a link to a map of raids conducted by the Chicago Police Department in 2019. 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “I am sad to report that the recent uptick in carjackings has continued here and across Chicago. The police are coordinating closely to catch the people responsible and are increasing patrols to keep us all safe.” 

Cook County Comm. Dennis Deer (D-2) in his latest newsletter included a link to a survey for residents to share their opinion on how the county should spend $1 billion in federal American Rescue Act funds. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health added nine states to the city’s Travel Advisory because their COVID-19 case rates grew beyond 15 new daily cases per 100,000 residents. Health officials have added Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming to the list of states whose travelers must quarantine or secure a negative test upon arrival to Chicago. They make 14 states now listed under the advisory, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The Coalition to End Money Bond will host a live virtual "teach-in and panel discussion” with Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) at 6 p.m. Wednesday to “set the record on Cook County’s pretrial justice reforms.” The event will be broadcast on the coalition’s Facebook and YouTube page. 

The Chicago Department of Water Management has expanded its Equity Lead Service Line Replacement program so that residents may apply even if they do not have elevated levels of lead in their drinking water, officials announced Tuesday. Homeowners may apply for the program online if they own a single-family home or two-flat and fall below the income threshold of $74,550 per year for a family of four. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health will expand its at-home vaccination program by offering $25 gift cards to everyone who participates in the program, officials announced Tuesday. Gift card distribution will get underway next Monday. People can make an appointment for in-home vaccination online or by calling (312) 746-4835. 

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) and Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) tweeted images from their recent ice cream social town hall.   

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield) tweeted about her Aurora district office’s grand opening ceremony, which will be held on Thursday.   

Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) tweeted about an Aug. 7 health fair she is co-hosting.  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted about a brewery crawl event she, Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) and Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) are hosting on Friday.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted an image of him and U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood at the airport in Washington, D.C. Welch and LaHood were classmates at the John Marshall Law School.  

Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Monday the U.S. Small Business Administration’s approval of the state’s request for people and businesses in McLean County who were affected by the severe storms and flash flooding that occurred in June. The newly approved declaration will allow eligible residents and businesses to apply for low-interest, long-term loans. Assistance will be available to residents and businesses in McLean County, as well as Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Livingston, Logan, Piatt, Tazewell and Woodford counties. 

Pritzker’s office announced on Monday the hometowns of the latest winners of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination lottery. The selected winners, who will receive $100,000 cash prizes, were from Bolingbrook, Champaign County and Vernon Hills, according to a news release from the governor’s office.  

Ald. Michael Scott (24) tweeted “Bike the Boulevard is Back! Join us this Saturday for a community bike ride on Douglas Blvd! Come out and see why everyone was raving about last year’s event! Tell a neighbor to tell a neighbor.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “COVID Delta Variant + Lollapalooza = ?” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted information about the 47th Ward community bike ride scheduled for Aug. 20. “The Alderman will lead the ride spotlighting a number of locations in the 47th Ward, and ending with ice cream or drinks at a local business,” Martin wrote. 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Last week our team hit the pavement to let businesses on N. Clark St. know that protected bike lanes are coming later this summer between Hollywood and Devon.” Osterman also included a map of the bike lanes with his tweet. 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted photos of a bike helmet giveawat event in her ward and wrote “We gave away more than 100 bike helmets yesterday! Thank you to everyone who came out to stay safe!” 

The Metropolitan Planning Council will host the final event in its “Drinking Water 1-2-3" series, focused on asset management, at 10 a.m. on Aug 19. Panelists will include Kareem Adeem of the city of Newark’s water department, George Hawkins of Moonshot Missions and Joseph Kane of the Brookings Institution, plus introductory remarks from Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson. 

The Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance will host a webinar at noon Tuesday to discuss Chicago’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Online registration is required. 

The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization will hold a protest at 11 a.m. Tuesday in opposition to a new Target opening at the Exchange 55 distribution facility built by Hilco Redevelopment Partners at 35th Street and Pulaski Road. 

Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) tweeted about a small business tour she is hosting in her district.  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted about her office holding mobile office hours on Monday.  

Rep. Edgard Gonzalez Jr. (D-Chicago) retweeted a tweet from former state treasurer and Democratic Secretary of State candidate Alexi Giannoulias.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted images after he recently met with Will County elected officials. 

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) in her latest newsletter invited constituents to participate in a “Sips & Session Discussion” at Moody’s Pub at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss the past legislative session. 

Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that Mike Ollen will lead his reelection bid as campaign manager. Ollen, whose résumé includes working on the campaigns of former President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, takes over for Quentin Fulks, who will serve as campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s 2022 reelection campaign. 

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) included an appreciation in her latest newsletter for the Archer Heights Civic Association’s “graffiti patrol.” 

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) wrote in his latest newsletter that he wants “to see a comprehensive review and revision of the Park District sexual harassment policy, and will review all City of Chicago and Chicago sister agency policies.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted that employer-required vaccination “needs to occur ASAP. Put away the COVID-shot carrots. It's time for some sticks.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) wrote in his latest newsletter that a civilian police oversight commission “represents a much-needed official commitment to police oversight in a city that has been scarred by generations of segregation, racial abuse, police torture and corruption, and the loss of innocent lives to police violence. For Chicago taxpayers, oversight is also a path towards ending the hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in police wrongdoing settlements paid out by the City every year.” 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) in his latest newsletter explained his “no” vote for a civilian police oversight commission, writing that he “believes this legislation was well-intended, and thinks there are many opportunities for reform in the Chicago Police Department. However, there are already existing agencies which are tasked with Police oversight, and the Alderman believes those agencies should be improved before adding a new layer of bureaucracy, with significant added expense to taxpayers.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that after standing up the police oversight commission, “we must rapidly ramp up our compliance with the consent decree, expand support for violence-reduction organizations, and stand up a pilot in which crisis workers will be paired with paramedics in responding to mental health calls for service. We're not yet where we want to be, but this oversight board is a critical step in the right direction.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted that she is “Looking forward to reading [a new regional climate action] plan, Chicago will be key in any successful plan which is why I introduced an Order for the City to tell us what funding is necessary to reconstitute a meaningful Dept. of Environment. Chicago can't wait.” 

The Chicago Department of Public Health released its “hyperlocal vaccine event” schedule for the coming week, with multiple pop-up vaccination opportunities around the city each day through Friday. The full list of sites is available online. Vaccination appointments can be made online or by calling (312) 746-4835. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted images of him meeting with summer interns from the Maywood Police Department in his district office.  

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) and Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) are set to host a virtual meeting on social justice on July 27 at 5 p.m. Registration is required.   

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) issued a statement Thursday after Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law bill that will expand telehealth in Illinois.  

Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) similarly issued a statement about the new telehealth expansion law.  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted images from Pritzker’s bill signing of a emasure that will allow pharmacists to dispense hormonal contraception in Illinois. 

Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday more than 1,250 small cities, towns and villages across the state that have not already received aid from the American Rescue Plan Act can apply for their share of $742 million in federal funding available. Municipalities interested in applying for funding from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund must use the money to cover costs incurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first payments are expected to be made in August. Eligible local governments include cities, towns and villages serving populations of less than 50,000 that did not receive direct aid from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted information about a “summer kickback party” with BUILD Chicago scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday near the corner of Division Street and Western Avenue. 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Violence needs to be addressed as the public health crisis it is. We have precious lives to protect. We are fighting for a Public Health approach to safety and we need meaningful investment to make it happen. Let’s fund jobs, social services, #PeaceBook  & #TreatmentNotTrauma” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted information about his birthday fundraiser he is hosting on Aug. 3 on Pilsen Yards’ outdoor patio. 

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) in his most recent newsletter wrote about his vote on Wednesday to support civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department, writing “Police work is often hurt by lack of community trust, and if residents do not trust the Police, then they will not call CPD when issues arise or not cooperate with investigations. By having dedicated elected officials working to build trust and a new commission that includes more civilian voices, I believe ECPS will have a positive impact to make policing in Chicago more effective and safe for everyone.”   

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted photos of himself at the ribbon cutting for the new pHlour Diner at 1100 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) and Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) will host a “roundtable discussion” at 6 p.m. Tuesday to “discuss the important role an ombudsman plays in overseeing our nursing homes and long-term care facilities.”  Online registration is required. 

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted images from his first of several “legislative council meetings” adding he plans on hosting “8 people’s legislative councils, meeting with people who have systemically been silenced in policy-making, such as single moms, longtime residents risk of displacements, those who are differently-abled & more to build a policy agenda that centers their needs.”  

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) tweeted he will hold a grand opening for his new district office on July 24.  

Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) tweeted a video of his “latest whiteboard legislative breakdown” about the state’s “crisis in retirement security.”  

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted images from a recent groundbreaking ceremony for a road extension in her district.  

The Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program announced Wednesday it will hold a statewide virtual town hall meeting on July 28 to discuss the challenges facing residents living in long-term care facilities in Illinois. Officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health and state long-term care ombudsman Kelly Richards will participate in the town hall. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the forum via Zoom. 

The House Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee is set to host a subject matter hearing on COVID-19 vaccinations and the Delta variant on Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m.   

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted two pages of “remarks” on the ordinance establishing civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department and wrote “Today I voted in SUPPORT of the Civilian Oversight Ord. As a strong supporter of police keeping Chicago safe, it’s imperative that we restore their legitimacy in our communities & end the second-guessing of our officers. I believe this is the best vehicle to accomplish that.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted a “group photo of the #ECPSNow Coalition negotiating team after we reached an agreement with the mayor's office. We were happy.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “We urge Congress to immediately pass an Infrastructure Bill. Let’s Build back better.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “So after we passed Civilian oversight, before the press conference with the Mayor, I had to de-escalate a situation where police officers were screaming at a black man who was protesting. The work isn’t done. The struggle isn’t over. And we aren’t going anywhere but forward.”  

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) tweeted “Today in City Council I was proud to vote for the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance, which creates civilian oversight of CPD. ECPS is years in the making and it is the most sweeping ordinance of its kind in the country.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) in a Twitter thread wrote “It took two years longer than I expected, but today the Chicago City Council passed the strongest civilian oversight law in the country”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted a document of carjacking prevention tips and wrote, “There have been several carjackings in the area over the past few days, including in the 50th Ward. The police are investigating and increasing patrols throughout the community to keep us all safe.” 

Members of the City Council Latino Caucus and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights will host a virtual news conference to call on Congress and President Joe Biden to include protections for immigrants into their planned budget reconciliation bill. Their demands include a pathway to citizenship, cutting immigration enforcement spending and a reduction in deportations. The event will be broadcast on the coalition’s Facebook Live page. 

The city's "Meet Me on the Mile" event series will kick off with separate events Thursday afternoon, officials announced. Brian Patti and the Dixieland Dudes will peform from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the 875 North Michigan Avenue’s Garden Plaza, and Mariachi Ameca will perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pioneer Court at 401 N. Michigan Ave. The pop-up concerts will take place every other Thursday through Sept. 30.

Max Bever was hired as the new director of public information for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Bever was previously deputy director of communications for ACLU of Illinois. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted “I was honored to join @Healthy_ILL today, as they announced their program which will expand healthcare to immigrant seniors, regardless of status.”   

Rep. Jonathan Caroll (D-Northbrook) tweeted “I WAS a huge fan of @benandjerrys until they decided to make unfounded and historically inaccurate comments about Israel. If we want to keep things real, who’s land was their headquarters built on? I’m guessing it wasn’t originally Ben and/or Jerry’s...” 

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) tweeted she is hosting a “menstrual product donation drive” between July 26 and Aug. 6.  

Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) tweeted a video encouraging participation in his July 24  
“Super Shredder Day.” 

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted images from the “Mundelein Grand Prix.”  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted a reminder to RSVP for a July 29 town hall he is hosting with House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago).  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) tweeted images after he recently provided a keynote speech at “Cahokia School District’s Vision and Mission Council Meeting.”