Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago will hold its annual awards event at 7 p.m. on March 10 to honor John Rogers, co-CEO of Ariel Investments. Rogers will be in conversation with Neighborhood Housing Services president Anthony Simpkins. Online registration is required. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted a GoFundMe link and wrote “Hope you’ll join me in contributing to support Jordan, who was the victim of the recent shooting at the Point. He’s a generous and kind young man and he absolutely deserves our support.”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “Thanks @Ald_Reboyras for signing up for this year's Chicago Polar Plunge supporting @SpecialOChi See you at the beach!”  

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted a statement on the committee passage of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal to sue gang members and seize their assets, writing “this effort is misguided and based on ineffective and outdated attempts to reduce violence in our communities...this ordinance will not lead to any meaningful reduction in crime or gun violence, and I will ask the City Council to oppose the ‘Victim’s Justice Ordinance.’”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “My colleague @RossanaFor33 just asked Chicago's Deputy Mayor for Public Safety what evidence exists that civil asset forfeiture helps prevent crime. His answer: he had a conversation with an unnamed county officials who said it works.  

What? That's the "evidence"?”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted a statement Lightfoot’s proposal to sue gang members writing, “moving this legislation forward should be of concern to all Chicagoans.”  

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) in his latest newsletter wrote “This past week, I was proud to celebrate Black History Month by speaking at the official renaming of Agassiz Elementary to Harriet Tubman Elementary. In a CPS district first, it was the students themselves who advocated for the name change and selected the new name. Harriet Tubman represented the best aspects of America and the students could not have chosen a better name.” 

Sen. Mike Simmons’ (D-Chicago) chief of staff Izzy Dobbel announced Thursday was taking a position with Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign as the women’s outreach director. Dobbel has previously worked in legislative affairs at the Cook County Commissioner’s office.   

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host a discussion with Department of Central Management Services Director Janel Forde on Zoom at 3 p.m. Friday. is required.   

The Illinois Senate will not meet Friday as scheduled. The Senate will return to Springfield on Tuesday. The House will still meet as scheduled at 10 a.m. on Friday.

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Justice McCuskey is a man who has been praised by Democrats and Republicans for fairness, impartiality, and integrity. I'm thrilled that the Illinois House took action today.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “One of my proudest moments in Springfield was passing legislation in 2017 drastically curtailing civil asset forfeiture. I even got a pen at the signing ceremony — from Gov. Rauner. Everyone, D and R, knows it doesn't work. Sad to see the City reviving this failed policy.”  

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Big Day! I passed HB 5525 out of committee, a bill that will establish a commission on children of incarcerated parents to address the needs of the 200K children in IL & their parents impacted by  incarceration and my baby niece Zoe Catalina was born just a few hours ago!”  

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) tweeted, “This is reminiscent of when the Senate Dems brought Covid positive members to town to vote to take over the Illinois judiciary. "Do as I say, not as I do." And never mind the courts aren't supposed to be political pawns in the first place!”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “Thank you Rep. McCombie for your stand.”  

Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am pleased to see that we are one step closer to addressing IL’s epic teacher shortage by removing the barriers that prevent retired professional educators from returning to the classroom.”  

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) tweeted, “A measure I passed through the Senate yesterday will further deter folks from speeding through school zones or passing school buses and really reflect on how their actions could harm young students.”  

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Judge McCuskey. He represents ethics, morality and good judgement in his personal life, and I look forward to his staunch and conscientious review of this body.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday announced her nomination of Myetie Hamilton as the next president of the Chicago Park District Board. Hamilton is vice president of the community service group City Year Chicago and was previously a deputy network chief in Chicago Public Schools. Hamilton would take over for former board president Avis LaVelle, who resigned late last year amid the park district’s ongoing lifeguard sexual assault scandal.  

Cook County Board of Review Comm. Michael Cabonargi (D-2) will join Chicago Urban League CEO Karen Feeman Wilson, Diane Shelly of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Courtney Jones of the Black Coalition for Housing and Sarah Ware of the Chicago Association of Realtors for a virtual event at 6 p.m. Thursday “to discuss how racial bias in home appraisals contributes to the racial wealth gap.” Online registration is required. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “So excited for this collaboration! @chicagoswards and @CoalitionMapChi have been exploring cooperation for months as we seek an equitable and fair ward map! The partnership is official!!”  

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “As you may be aware, CDOT will be performing repairs to the 126th St. Pedestrian Bridge over Indian Creek near the intersection of 126th Place and Avenue O. Work is scheduled to start February 21, 2022, and to be completed by March 4, 2022. The bridge will be fully closed to pedestrian crossing during repairs.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted photos of himself and Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38) with hand sanitizer outside the 38th Ward office and wrote “Need some hand sanitizer, my guy got ya covered! Thanks Ald Sposato & our friends at @StreetsandSan for thinking of the residents of the 15th Ward!”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) appeared to tweet at every Chicago alderman with a Twitter handle, writing “Thousands of @SpecialOChi athletes need your support! Will you take the Chicago Polar Plunge with me? We are back on the beach March 6th.  Register for team Alderbear online at http://sochicago.org #freezinforareason”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Big news in the fight to give Chicago residents the best opportunity to choose their neighborhood's alderperson: The People's Map, CHANGE Illinois Action Fund & @CoalitionMapChi are joining forces to advance a map that puts transparency, fairness, and community-input first.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “Looking forward to working together with @chicagoswards to ensure that Chicagoans have a fair map that acknowledges the data, VRA and the voices of the residents of Chicago. #Referendum2022 #letthepeopledecide”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Apply for appointment to the Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability by February 24th. For more information on how to be involved in this critical safety measure, visit the website below.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted a copy of a statement detailing her opposition to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal to sue gang leaders and seize their assets and wrote “Tomorrow, the Committee on Public Safety will vote on an ordinance introduced by Mayor Lightfoot that she claims, “will strengthen and support crime prevention tools by allowing the City to file civil claims against streetgangs and their members.” 

Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed former Illinois Innocence Project Director John Hanlon to serve on the state’s Forensic Science Commission. The commission will review the state’s forensic science practices and recommend changes. Hanlon was previously appointed by Pritzker to the Forensic Science Task Force.   

The city of Joliet has hired William Evans as its next chief of police and Sean Connelly as the city’s new inspector general, according to an announcement Wednesday. Evans was previously a Cook County Sheriff’s police officer for 25 years, and Connelly is a private practice attorney who previously served as deputy general counsel for Illinois Central Management Services.

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted, “The process should and does matter. Today the Senate Democrats said that they do not care about that process and do not care about properly vetting the person meant to be the ethical watchdog of the General Assembly.”  

Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) tweeted, “Teachers deserve to have the peace of mind that their class will be left in good hands when they take time off. Passing Senate Bill 3915 is a declaration to our teachers that we hear them and we are working toward overcoming these shortages.”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “Incentivizing students of social work to start their careers in Illinois will help our local governments recruit the qualified professionals they need, while mitigating the student debt crisis.”  

Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) tweeted, “HB 4434 just passed committee! Meaning the @chicagosky and @chicagoredstars may soon be able to represent their team with new license plates that will raise money for Illinois public schools.”  

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Down in Springfield to pass bills out of committees to send to the floor. #twill”  

Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) tweeted, “It’s time for parents to retake their local governments.” 

Every U.S. state and territory remained on the Chicago Department of Public Health COVID-19 Travel Advisory on Tuesday, the department announced. But one state — Maryland — is set to come off the list next week because its average daily new cases have dipped below 15 per 100,000 people. Puerto Rico could also come off the list, as its daily case rate is 17.6 per 100,000 people. The average U.S. rate on Tuesday was 48.6 cases per 100,000 people, the Illinois average was 33.8 and Chicago’s daily case rate is 15.9. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “What does it say that Nick Sposato has more compassion for Patrick Daley Thompson (a man born into privilege) than he does for Adam Toledo (a child born into poverty)?”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “MISSING GIRL: Sullivan High School student and Rogers Park resident, Tariyah Spearman, was last seen leaving her home on Feb. 9. Her family and Chicago Police need our help to locate her. None of her family have heard from her since last Wednesday.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “REMINDER: Free KN-95 masks and COVID-19 self-test kits for seniors and disabled individuals TOMORROW (Feb 16). Come to the 50th Ward Office from 10 AM to 3 PM. Bring an ID that shows 50th Ward residency. Call (773) 262-1050 for accommodations.”  

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) released a statement saying he “sent a letter to President Toni Preckwinkle calling for an end to the Cook County COVID Mandate & Restrictions - following the letter from Chicago’s five Catholic High Schools urging Mayor Lightfoot to modify the Chicago’s COVID restrictions on schools and children.” 

Director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics David Axelrod will be leaving the director position to transition to a role as senior fellow and chairman of the institute's advisory board, the university announced Tuesday. Axelrod will make the transition next January after serving in the director position since 2013. Axelrod previously served as senior advisor to former President Barack Obama during his first term in office.   

The Department of Revenue is offering free income tax filing assistance for low to moderate income families and senior citizens. The department offers several types of assistance for different groups of people. People can visit a Department of Revenue office for help by visiting tax.illinois.gov.   

The Illinois Municipal League is launching a free pension fund trustee training program. The training is available for those serving on police and fire pension boards and is required by state law. The training can be found at iml.org/pensiontrustees. 

Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) tweeted, “In 1861, President Lincoln signed into law the creation of the Medal of Honor. This weekend I visited and spoke at the Chicago land Veterans Command Post; only the 3rd museum to display the Medal of Honor in Illinois. 

It was a privilege to be at this ceremony with our IL Vets!”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “The House is back in session today starting at noon. We are scheduled to be in Springfield for the rest of the week as we approach the committee deadline for House Bills. Follow along with committee activity and floor debate live at https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “Why did we shut down US oil & gas production? Why are Dems set on hi cost energy? Hurts working families by taking $ away from food, education, medicine & housing. And  impacts manufacturing/job creation. Open the pipelines! Producing our own gas is best way to fight inflation.”  

Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) tweeted, “The work to improve safety in the face of extreme weather events continues. Thank you to everyone who came and testified in the hearing yesterday.”  

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) tweeted, “Governor Pritzker’s rule by executive order while failing to seek local input has left local school districts in the dark. Our kids deserve better than this. It’s time to end these mandates once and for all.” 

The Chicago Department of Aviation will host an event at 3 p.m. Wednesday titled “How to Open a Concession at O'Hare and Midway International Airports.” Participants can “learn about the Request for Proposals (RFP) process and how to operate a business at the airport.” Online registration is required.  

The Chicago Housing Justice League will host an event at 6 p.m. Wednesday titled “Chicago Housing Justice League called “Busting the Myth of the 'Mom and Pop' Landlord.” It will be hosted by journalist Adam Johnson and include Karen Pamela Alvarez, organizer with Autonomous Tenants’ Union; Sam Rabiyah, a data researcher with Just Fix NYC; Taft West, a retired property manager; and Bill Lamme, a single-building landlord and member of UNETE.

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) shared the Tribune article on the guilty verdict in the federal trial of Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11) and tweeted, “Public service is built on integrity, not self-enrichment. The system should exist for the people and while today’s news is a shameful reminder that’s not always the case, @chicagosmayor can restore public trust by allowing the community to determine who should fill this vacancy.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Rooting for these workers trying to form a union at Howard Brown. We need way more unions and worker power in non-profits providing care. All my love and solidarity in this fight.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “So proud and honored to announce $100,000 in 40th Ward Arts & Access Grants! More details to come!”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Excited to welcome Don Pablo's Kitchen & Bakeshop to 1007 W. Argyle! Stop by from 10-8 to say hello and enjoy their selection of empanadas.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “Rogers Park Township is now open for appeals through the Board of Review. Stay tuned for webinar information to help you file your appeal. In the meantime, outreach info can be found at http://cookcountyboardofreview.com/Cabonargi.” 

Tribune reporter Ray Long is publishing a book in March about the legacy and career of former Speaker of the House Mike Madigan. The book is titled “The House that Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer.” The book is available through University of Illinois Press and will be published on March 22.

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “It’s time to eliminate FOID cards and support the Second Amendment and every Illinoisans right to defend themselves and their families. #twill #voidthefoid #ValentinesDay2022”  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “In the district I represent, public safety has always been a top issue. That’s why we need public safety for all. People need a roof over their head, food on their table, a good job, and well funded schools.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Legislative Update: My bill, HB 4556, passed out of committee! This bill aims to expand access to fentanyl test strips and reduce opioid deaths across Illinois. Stay tuned for more information on House Bill 4556 next week!”  

President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted, “Illinois is a leader in the green technology on display at the @chicagoautoshow. I was honored to join @JBPritzker and @ChrisWelch_JD in opening the expo this weekend.”  

Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) tweeted, “My legislation entails that if a DCFS caseworker or investigator is killed in the line of duty, his or her spouse and children under the age of 18 are eligible to receive health insurance benefits.”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The relentless drumbeat of death and destruction in this city has to stop. We are losing an entire generation. Yet, we’ve become numb to it. This is not ok. What can we do? We have to be willing to do whatever it takes.” 

Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) wrote in her latest newsletter that “has never been in favor of statewide mandates, and [Gov. JB Pritzker’s] latest order adds to the confusion and frustration Illinoisans have. Illinois is about to enter a third year of Gov. Pritzker ruling unilaterally through Executive Orders and statewide mandates.”  

Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) held a news conference with Pastor Anthony Williams Sunday “to push more for businesses and professionals to have opportunities.” In a news release, Ford wrote, “I think there is some low-hanging fruit, and that's the Black Press. If the Chicago Bears and the NFL did business with the Black Media, that would be a great start and an easy path forward.”  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Today, February 13th, Commissioner @mike_cabonargi  joined me in the 50th Ward as we knocked on doors petitioning for each other, plus chatting with folks about important issues facing them and their families.”  

Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) tweeted, “Yesterday, I met with Rockford Illinois Police Department Chief of Police Carla Redd to discuss how I can help our officers legislatively in Springfield. We shared some great ideas and I'm excited to put these ideas into action!”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted a thread starting, “There’s been a lot of talk in Chicago recently about addressing criminal culpability through civil liability. While we are having that conversation let’s talk about the “deep pockets” in the middle of too much of this despair.” 

The Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission announced the launch of the Illinois Postsecondary Profiles project, which compiles data from hundreds of colleges and universities in Illinois and to help connect high school students with postsecondary options. The tool is available online.

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted, “I just signed a @TheActionNet petition in support of @ILCannabisWrkrs: NO TO CANNABIS SWEATSHOPS. Sign here to stand in solidarity with #cannabis workers keeping the cannabis industry accountable to their promises of social equity and good jobs:”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted, ‘It’s urgent to address the needs of the people most at risk and pave the way to move in the direction of healing. Folding to conservative talking points that are against all evidence and best practices takes us in the opposite direction and we always end up in the same place.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that the City Council Budget Subcommittee on Chicago Rescue Plan of which he serves as vice-chair “will help provide critical oversight and transparency, working to ensure that these federal funds are spent as quickly and effectively as possible.”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted, “This week, we lost Mimi Harris, a wonderful neighbor and advocate for our City. She worked tirelessly to support the lives of those in her community. Her memory and good work will carry on.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “Collecting signatures this morning with [Cook County Board of Review candidate Samantha Steele]. Petitioning is part of our long-term organizational legacy as a democracy & a key step to mobilize change, whether it be change in policy, protecting our rights, or introducing new reps!  

Cook County Comm. Luis Arroyo (D-8) tweeted a reelection campaign video and wrote, “This is our community. I was born here, raised here and I stayed here. I LOVE this place and you the people who call the 8th District home.” 

The Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance will hold a fundraising event at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District president and Cook County Assessor candidate Kari Steele as a featured guest. Online registration is required.