Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “Happy National Coming Out Day! I am so honored to be celebrating today as Illinois’ first openly gay State Senator! The LGBTQ+ community is Born to Shine! If you are not ready to come out yet, that is okay too. Just know that I and your community are here for you.”

Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Flossmoor) tweeted “Indigenous communities are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. This #IndigenousPeoplesDay, do what you can to support families struggling to access food and other resources, and continue to #WearAMask and social distance to prevent the spread of the virus.”

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) tweeted “Happy Columbus Day!”

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “Throughout this pandemic, Illinois farmers have continued to put food on our tables despite risks to their health and safety. This #NationalFarmersDay, tell a farmer how much you appreciate their hard work and sacrifice to keep our families fed.”

Rep. Eva Delgado (D-Chicago) tweeted “As the chair of the Public Utilities Committee, I am looking forward to seeing the data and continuing to work on equity and access to broadband across the state of Illinois.”

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) is scheduled on Tuesday to host what his office has billed as “the first ever Open House Job Fair at the Illinois State Capitol.” The job fair is set to run from 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to online event information. The in-person job fair will be held in the Capitol building in Room 114, and a virtual event is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Registration for both the in-person and virtual events is available online.

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “Lead a bike & scooter parade with the neighbors on Fairfield Ave in the Arcadia Terrace neighborhood! We met with residents who have lived on this block for four generations & folks selling homegrown jams. A great day spent connecting with constituents! #arcadiaterracechicago” 

 Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) wrote on Facebook about her new district office chief of staff, Kate Peterson.  

House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted “I've struggled with mental illness/addiction lots of my life like lots of people. COVID made things worse. I try to remember that people around me are going through the same or worse, and to be a little more kind and extend some grace. You're never alone. #WorldMentalHealthDay  

Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) tweeted a link to a guest commentary about the state’s finances posted on the News-Gazette, adding, “This is unbelievably off the mark, even for the News-Gazette. Unfounded liabilities don’t have to be paid at once. They’re the amount the systems are responsible for for every member of the system. That bill never comes due all at once.

Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) will participate in a virtual discussion with Vote Run Lead, a nonprofit focused on appealing to women voters, on Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. Attendees can watch the conversation on Facebook and YouTube. 

Ald. Ed Burke (14) posted on Facebook, “Today marks the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. Let us pause for a moment and remember the 150th Anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.” 

Ald. Scott Waguespak (32) tweeted, “The tip of the iceberg breaking loose at Parks. Sexual abuse is endemic, it has to be fully removed.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “Great turnout to celebrate the 90thAnniversary of the Schorsch Village Improvement Association (SVIA).SVIA has been the anchor for the Dunning community and I look forward to continuing to work with this great organization.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) in his latest newsletter thanked “Save Your Ash volunteers and 40th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Maggie O'Keefe for their hard work (and several in-person appearances!) urging the Department of Streets and Sanitation to protect our tree canopy with simple, cost-effective ash tree inoculations.” 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) wrote in a statement that Chicago Park District Supt. Michael Kelly’s resignation “is a welcome first step; but truly only a first step.  We have not heard from every victim, and we have not yet discovered how deep this unacceptable culture ran throughout the entire Park District...All accountable parties should resign.”  

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted, “Yesterday afternoon at Leland/Racine, an ambulance arrived to transport a man who was passed out on the sidewalk. This morning at the same intersection, the same exact scenario with the same man was repeated. #TreatAddictions #MoreCoResponderTeamsNeeded” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “A graduated Real Estate Transfer Tax would help create a long-term revenue stream for affordable housing. This revenue stream could ensure we’ve got more dedicated, long-term sustainable funds for housing initiatives.”

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted about the “first-ever Open House Job Fair” hosted by the Illinois House of Representatives, which will take place on Oct. 12.  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted “The @ChicagoBears really should play football in Chicago. Always. And I wouldn’t be opposed to them moving their practice facilities to the city like @chicagobulls did. And why not summer training camp at @ChicagoState, while we’re at it. Plenty of space.” 

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “I am partnering with Metropolitan Family Services DuPage to hold a #LovePurse donation drive. #LovePurse collects new purses that are filled with personal care items to distribute to women in need & survivors of domestic violence.”

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) issued a statement after she attended a new cancer screening program in her district.  

Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) posted a link on Facebook to court documents about three school districts that filed a restraining order against the Illinois State Board of Education.

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), Chicago Ald. Matt Martin (47) and Chicago CAPS will hold a virtual meeting to discuss recent gun violence in Chicago on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “I support, and urge Mayor Lightfoot to support, the  [Bring Chicago Home] Resolution to create a dedicated revenue stream to provide more affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.” 

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “CDOT crews are currently performing repairs at 100th St. Bridge. Crews had to address field identified conditions. They anticipate the repairs to be completed on 10/15/21.” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25) in a thread tweeted Mark Kelly and every [Chicago Park District] employee who knowingly allowed sexual abuse and rape to continue under their watch violated the trust of our communities, ruined the lives of the youth entrusted to them, and do not belong anywhere near our parks or our children. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “With the eviction moratorium now having expired, we need to create a dedicated revenue stream to provide more affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness. That's why I introduced the [Bring Chicago Home] resolution in July.” 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted a photo of herself getting a flu shot and wrote, “I got my flu shot; now it is your turn! Dozens of people came out to get vaccinated yesterday at the 50th Ward clinic.” 

Chicago Riverwalk Community Marketplace Applications for the 2022 season will be available beginning 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection website. The procurement is “specifically looking to provide opportunities to businesses offering concession services reflective of the cultural diversity and neighborhoods of the City of Chicago on the Chicago Riverwalk,” according to the website. Registration is available online for a webinar set for 10 a.m. Tuesday. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted “I was thrilled to welcome several 4-H participants to my office in Springfield, earlier this session! I’m excited to see how you all continue to develop your skills and connect with the community.” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted a link to a news story about the Illinois State Board of Education changing the way private schools are treated for not complying with Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask mandate, saying, “A small victory for due process. ISBE quietly restored due process for nonpublic schools after I & other JCAR members questioned whether they could remove schools' recognition. I still have questions about their potential overreach but this is a start.” 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted about his upcoming business roundtable, which will feature discussions about state assistance and the challenges facing small businesses.

Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) tweeted a reminder about a virtual town hall he is co-hosting with Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) and Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago) on Thursday.  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) announced Wednesday that she was recently appointed to the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding, which was created by a measure (SB 815) she sponsored. Ammons was appointed to the commission by House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) on Sept. 28. Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian), Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) have also been appointed to the commission by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich), respectively.  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared Department of Transportation design plans for a new pedestrian plaza outside the Logan Square Blue Line station and wrote, “I can't wait until the day I exit the Logan Square Blue Line into La Placita.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted that Latinos make up 18 percent of Illinois' population but "Unfortunately, of the 18 Congressional members representing the State of Illinois, only one represents the diverse interests of the Latino community." 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted that he would "like to add my voice to those calling for the resignation of Parks CEO Mike Kelly. This is unacceptable and the opposite of leadership or accountability."

Ald. Matt Martin (47) in an email notified residents that his office is rescheduling its budget town hall, originally scheduled for Oct. 6, to Oct. 14. The rescheduling comes “as the Alderman continues to have conversations with neighbors and representatives from our public safety institutions about recent incidents of gun violence in our community,” according to the email.  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted a photo of himself and a Chicago Architecture Biennial art installation called Parasite Parking, which he wrote is “a commentary on the privatization of parking in Chicago. Food for thought as I went to another day of Budget Hearings.” Osterman also wrote that he saw the installation during while biking to City Hall. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) shared an editorial on Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal for a guaranteed income program published in the Sun-Times and wrote “A guaranteed income pilot is what 39% of Chicago households need to help make ends meet. The pilot builds off work by the Chicago Resilient Families Task Force in 2019, as well as initiatives and work by [Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36)], [Ald. Sophia King (4)], and myself.” 

Members of the Housing Justice League and Right to Recovery Coalition will join Ald. Maria Hadden (49), Ald. Matt Martin (47), Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Daniel La Spata (1), Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) for a news conference outside City Hall at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in support of the Just Cause Eviction ordinance (O2020-3449). The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate hosted a subject matter hearing last month to discuss the ordinance, but committee chair Ald. Harry Osterman (48) has not brought it up for a vote.  

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will be the keynote speaker for the Academy of Architecture for Justice summit, titled, “Bending Toward Equity: Redefining and Transforming Urban Justice,” at 11 a.m. next Wednesday. Online registration is required for the virtual event. 

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted “The IL Treasurer is holding more than $3.5 billion in unclaimed funds for Illinoisans. On October 13 from 2-5pm my office is bringing iCash to YOU with a mobile iCash event at St.Charles Public Library. https://tiny.one/icash for more info or a link to search the database now!” 

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted about a property tax appeal workshop she is co-hosting on Thursday.  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted about a COVID-19 vaccine clinic the Illinois Department of Public Health is hosting on Wednesday.  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted about a Wednesday Facebook live webinar on the state’s Back to Business Grant program that she is co-hosting along with Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove), Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) and Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield). 

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield) tweeted about a mobile driver services unit that she and Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) will be hosting on Oct. 15.  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the appointments of Jennifer Watson to the Illinois Finance Authority, Marc Bell to the Illinois Gaming Board and Cynthia Haliemun to the Mid-America Intermodal Port District Board. All three appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Officials from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday the Old State Capitol building in Springfield will begin welcoming visitors again starting Thursday. The building has been closed to visitors since last spring as the facility underwent renovations and repairs. The building will be open to visitors between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted that Mayor Lori Ligthfoot “is intentionally suppressing CPD hiring, limiting new hire officers at 200 for 2022 despite having 1,147 vacancies. That gimmick allows her to “bank” money for next year’s budget gap & #DefundthePolice through attrition.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted a thread rebutting Lightfoot’s criticism of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on prosecutions, writing, “We can’t be parroting lies to deflect responsibility.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) thanked the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for supporting efforts to eliminate tax breaks for vacant storefronts and wrote, “Our communities need policies that (1) disincentivize land-banking and speculation, and (2) promote immediate investment. I will continue to support good policy that supports our small businesses and promotes thriving commercial corridors.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) shared a tweet thread from Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell and wrote, "Just do yourself a favor and follow @SharoneMitchJr so that you can be informed on the facts, not just the tired “tough on crime” talking points that CPD and Mayor Lightfoot continue to push.

Ald. Harry Ostmeran (48) tweeted, “@SecFudge gets the needs of cities like Chicago & the urgency of investing in communities w/ safe, accessible, affordable housing. I thank the Secretary for visiting Chicago & add my voice to the many calling on Congress and the Senate to pass #BuildBackBetter now. 

Cook County Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) wrote in her latest newsletter that she has “advocated for spending our American Rescue Plan Act dollars on economic development, mental health initiatives, climate change mitigation and after-school education.” She will be hosting a virtual town hall event at 6 p.m. next Tuesday to “talk priorities,” she said. 

Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted, “There is an existential threat to reproductive rights – and it is critically important that Cook County uses every tool at its disposal to ensure access to reproductive healthcare.” He shared a video of himself speaking during a Cook County Board committee meeting before the committee advanced a resolution condemning the recent Texas six-week abortion ban law.

The Chicago Department of Public Health removed Connecticut from its COVID-19 Travel Advisory because its average daily new caseload dropped below 15 cases per 100,000 residents, officials announced Tuesday. Connecticut joins California and Puerto Rico, which were previously removed from the advisory, leaving 47 states whose unvaccinated travelers are now required to quarantine for 10 days or get tested upon arrival in Chicago. Officials said Washington, D.C., Louisiana and Massachusetts are next poised for removal from the watch list, as their case averages hover just above the 15 per 100,000 mark. 

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin will host a virtual Financial Services Career Fair, when participants will join “private or video chats with financial service employers,” starting 9 a.m. next Thursday, Oct. 14. The event will include “job readiness workshops” all morning and a “virtual career fair” from noon to 4 p.m. Online registration is required. 

Rep. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) tweeted a link to a statement she recently issued about opportunities for low-income residents to heat their home in the fall and winter.  

Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) tweeted a reminder about her Tuesday “coffee & conversations” event in her district.   

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) tweeted about a “community canvassing” event she is hosting with Planned Parenthood on Oct. 16.  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted about her recent appointment to the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force.  

Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) tweeted images from a recent property tax appeal event she co-hosted.

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) is set to host a webinar on the state’s back to business grant program on Oct. 7. Registration is required. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Yes, it is true: I have an agenda. It is to keep Chicago safe. I’m not here to carry Lightfoot’s water or pretend we are not a city walking off a cliff. That is too much for truth for some to handle. I was elected to defend the interests of 15th Ward. I will not waiver from that.” 

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted, “Congratulations to Alderman Tabares and the great people of the 23rd Ward for another successful event to support the men and women of the CPD and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted, “Looking at the cost-benefit analysis of having a billionaire like Ken Griffin spending dozens of millions of dollars last year to avoid paying his fair share of taxes & defeat the fair tax amendment, the cost of violence & fiscal issues all suggest we are better off without him.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted, “@aldcardenas just threatened me in city hall for commenting on his brother’s contract with CPS. He yelled at me outside the chambers and said to me ‘there are consequences for what you are doing.’ Thought I’d let y’all know.” Rodriguez-Sanchez and Cardenas had earlier engaged in a public tiff on Twitter.  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared a Block Club article about efforts to overturn a Cook County tax break offered to vacant storefronts.  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) invited people to participate in a virtual budget town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday, when she will “share updates on the 2022 budget proposal and hear feedback from residents.”