• Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) posted to Facebook about legislation’s progress through the Illinois House, writing, “Friday was the deadline to pass bills out of the Illinois House. House Democrats saw 333 of their bills pass (a few bills also failed), while House Republicans were allowed just 74 bills to the floor for a vote, all of which passed.” 
• House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today was Environmental Lobby Day in the General Assembly” while sharing an image of a screenshot.  
• Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) posted a legislative update on Facebook and Twitter.  
• Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) tweeted an image from a recent drug take back effort in her district.  
• Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted an image of a screenshot as she “met with a group of clean energy warriors.” 

• Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) wrote in his latest newsletter that he was “proud to see over 3,000 Pfizer vaccination shots administered” during a vaccination his office cohosted with Jewel-Osco Pharmacy in Old Town. 
• Ald. Michelle Harris (8) shared information about improvements to Chicago O’Hare airport, home repair resources and employment opportunities in her weekly newsletter. 
• Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) wrote in his latest newsletter that the 19th Ward Youth Foundation will host a community blood drive this Saturday at Marist High School. 
• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted an RSVP link to an event discussing the city’s new Additional Dwelling Unit program, writing, “We need housing for our working families!” 
• Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted about a “Meet the Commanders” event she will co-host with area police chiefs, writing “learn tips from the Chicago Police Department and local leaders like me about how to keep your business, employees and neighborhood safe.” 
• Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) promoted an information session on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund on Twitter.  

• Ald Patrick Daley Thompson (11) wrote in his most recent newsletter about the ordinance meant to curb drag racing that City Council approved last week. “The Mariano’s Parking lot in the 12th Ward has been a major center for the drag racing activity for our community. The property management company announced they will be installing swing gates. The security will be able to open and close the gates to allow for delivery trucks on the property after hours. The plan is to have them installed by May 1st.” 

• Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted a photo and wrote “20 minutes into our annual #CleanAndGreen and we find this gun. #EnoughIsEnough” 
• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “instead of watching elon musk be "funny", why don't you take the bus?” 
• Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) in his most recent newsletter wrote about an ordinance he introduced last week that would make permanent the temporary caps on third-party delivery fees aldermen approved in November. “You may recall that 3rd party delivery fees were gouging consumers and damaging the reputation and bottom line of local restaurants as well, adding upwards of 30% fees to every bill,” Waguespack wrote. 
• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Theres no reason why we can’t create, support and expand the structures of care to address intercommunal violence. We need to stop relying on policing and carceral systems. The role of government needs to be to care for people not break them.” 
• Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted “I’m proud to join more than 1,200 fellow state and local elected officials from every state & DC calling on Congress to pass bold clean energy infrastructure package to enable us to fully recover while tackling the climate crisis.”

• Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted images after she hosted a weekend cleanup event with other elected officials in her district.  
• Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) tweeted images from his district, saying “Out enjoying another opportunity to appreciate the people, history and beauty of the 17th District.”  
• Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted images after she hosted a cell phone donation effort over the weekend.  
• Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) tweeted an image of an op-ed he wrote that was published in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend.  

• House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted images after he hosted a community shred event over the weekend.  
• Welch also tweeted images after he met with Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and others from the Rainbow Push Coalition over the weekend.

• The group of Black alderwomen who introduced the Anjanette Young ordinance, which would establish new search warrant standards for the Chicago Police Department, are scheduled to host a virtual town hall on the proposed ordinance beginning at 6 p.m. May 4. Attendees will also hear from “Chicagoans who have been harmed by these wrong raids,” including Young, according to the event invitation. Ald. Maria Hadden (49) is the lead sponsor of the ordinance that was introduced in February. Registration is available online. 

• Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) is set to host virtual “Environmental Justice Roundtable” discussion on Monday at 6 p.m. Registration is required.  

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) and Cook County Comm. Bridget Gainer (10) are hosting a park cleanup effort on April 25 at Kelly Park between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Volunteers are asked to sign up.  

Chicago is expanding vaccine access at city-owned sites to 16- and 17-year-old city residents, the city’s Department of Public Health announced Thursday. The teens “must have a parent or guardian present during their appointment” and may only receive the Pfizer vaccine, officials said. 

• Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) tweeted a link to a story about one of her bills, in which she is quoted saying, “My goal is to make sure that students from every (legislative) district in state have an opportunity to get to the University of Illinois if they are showing they are a good student.” 
• Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) tweeted appreciation to her colleagues after the House approved HB 155 which she said “would allow menstrual hygiene products & diapers in SNAP and WIC!” 
• Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted an image of the House voting board after lawmakers approved a bill placing term limits on legislative leaders, adding, “I am proud to have co-sponsored this long overdue measure to help restore Illinois.”  
• Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) shared an image of the House voting board on Instagram, adding “Things have come full-circle. I worked to remove Mike Madigan as Speaker of the House and now I supported a ten-year term limit for leadership.” 
• Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) tweeted “New Day in IL.” 
• House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted “Promise made, promise kept! The House just passed HB 642 to enact term limits for House and Senate leadership, further cementing the term limits we adopted as House rules earlier this year. This is one way to restore confidence in Springfield and uplift new leaders.” 
• Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) tweeted “The only reason to block attempts at reform is to allow one party to produce a purely partisan map. Why else would they be hiding from this legislation now?” 
• Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) issued a statement after his bill seeking to create a journalism task force was approved by the Senate.  
• Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “The Climate Union Jobs Act creates and protects thousands of well-paying jobs and preserves our state’s nuclear fleet all while reducing the state’s carbon energy footprint.”  
• Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted “Yesterday, my first bill was passed out of the Senate. SB 1861 would require the DOC to accept someone into the Impact Incarceration Program if it is part of the court’s sentencing order and the inmate meets the statutory eligibility requirements for the program.

• Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted that state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz’s (D-Chicago) “affordable housing bill is a solution for Chicago's housing crisis. This bill sets our city on a solid path to long term, affordable housing that will keep families in their homes.” 
• Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted Thursday marked the “5th public meeting to discuss the quality of life concerns at O’Reilly's Auto Parts, located at 4719 S. Cottage Grove.” 
• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “It is important to be factual and Mayor Lightfoot continues to avoid research based solutions that target the root causes of violence faced by Chicago residents.” 
• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Yesterday I had parent-teacher conference about Marcel’s progress. It’s been such a hard year for our little ones learning foundational skills. I have been so moved by the commitment of my child’s teachers and how far he has come even under these conditions. Thank you teachers” 
• Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “This pandemic has devastated small businesses throughout this country. Here in Chicago, the City Council took action passing the largest rewrite of our laws to assist those small businesses trying to survive. Help is on the way.” 
• Ald. Tom Tunney (44) wrote in his latest newsletter that a follow-up community meeting is anticipated in June on residential input on the preliminary design of North Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview. Tunney linked to a newsletter detailing resident feedback.

• Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is championing a new bill, SB654, which would “require elementary schools to guarantee daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through eighth grade.” In a press release, Peters said “Physical activity is a crucial part of a child’s development, and since children spend most of their time at school, all schools should offer recess.”  

• Sen. Michael Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “My name is Mike Simmons. And I’m a Black Man. All my life I’ve been a threat yet somehow I have survived. All I want is for our society to stop killing black men and women and gender non-binary folx so that we can survive in America. It’s so basic. Stop killing my people.” 

• Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is introducing SB1905, which would create the Family and Fertility Disclosure in Health Insurance Act. The act would mandate that insurance companies make public in writing a list of services related to fertility treatments for which they will or will not reimburse patients. 

• Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) tweeted, “equal representation on our community college trustee boards is needed, not just racially - but geographically as well. That's why I'm happy to have passed HB3145 out of the House today.” The bill would change the election process for community college trustees by mandating that they be elected by trustee district instead of community college districts.  

• Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-someplace) tweeted, “it is extremely meaningful to pass my 1st bills out of the House, HB1742 & HB1739, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I am proud to carry these bills & will continue to work with @ICASA_endrape to change the culture around sexual assault & hold perpetrators accountable.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that public museums throughout the state can begin applying for capital grants. Applications are due by July 16, with qualifying projects eligible for grants between $25,000 and $750,000.  

• Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted about the first in-person City Council meeting in more than a year, writing “Different side of the room but back in the chamber. That’s works for me” with a flexing emoji. 

• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted a photo of himself in City Council, writing “just out here waiting for the Mayor to call the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance for a vote.”

• Ald. Walter Burnett (27) shared a raft of COVID-19 vaccination events and rent relief opportunities in his newsletter.   

• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted, “Today @taylorfor20th and I introduced a Res. calling for all of aprox 1.9B in funds from the ARA plan to be allocated towards healing and recovery. 281M in CARES discretionary funding were given to CPD and $68 million was unspent at the end of 2020. We need to fund care.” 

• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted about actions supporting the Empowering Communities Public Safety Ordinance, writing “thank you @mrdannyglover for lending your voice to the people's ordinance for community control of police #ECPSNow.” 

• Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “So not only is legislation obstructed, so is speech apparently. Our city deserves more democracy and less impediments to police accountability and justice here in Chicago” following Mayor Lori Lightfoot's refusal to let Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) speak about the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance at City Council. 

• Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted about the just-passed Affordable Requirements Ordinance: “This new framework will ensure that the ARO is a significant tool in the toolbox when it comes to increasing affordable units throughout the City.”  

• Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted about the Affordable Requirements Ordinance: “As the lead sponsor on the Chicago Inclusive Housing Ordinance with @chi_housing, I know that the ARO reform being passed today is a big improvement from what we had. It's also not strong enough on some of our biggest unmet needs,” she wrote.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot named Lester Barclay as chair of the Chicago Transit Board, according to a Wednesday news release. Barclay is currently board chair of the Chicago Transit Authority Citizen Advisory Board and has served on various other city boards and civic organizations capacities. Lightfoot also named Ric Estrada to serve on Metra’s Board of Directors. Estrada is currently CEO of Metropolitan Family Services. Both nominations are subject to City Council approval. 

• Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “George Floyd should still be with us. Today's verdict provides some justice to his family, but there's more organizing to do to win real safety and justice for all. AT the end of the day, public safety belongs to the people.”   

• Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is backing SB2137, an amendment to the Nursing Home Care Act. The measure would mandate options for virtual visits at senior and long-term care facilities. In a press release, DeWitte said “this legislation is timely given the significant challenges these facilities and their patients have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic."  

• Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted, “George Floyd’s murder reignited the fight for justice across this country in the never-ending hope that someday justice might be found. This verdict will not undo the tragedy & suffering.” 

• Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) posted to Facebook about a visit to St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Winfield, writing “in the Governor’s budget proposal, this incredible program is in jeopardy.” 

• Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted about the forthcoming Restaurant Revitalization Fund: “Do you own a bar, restaurant or food service business? A new @SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund is coming soon, providing funding to eligible businesses to cover pandemic-related losses.” 

• Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted about the nascent One Central project, writing “How many neighborhoods does Chicago have? 77 and a possible? I would love to see some robust investment in the neighborhoods that already exist before we take off creating new ones that there may not be a need for.” 

• Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) tweeted about legislation that would permit special license plates for tinted windows, writing, “a disabled Marine veteran reached out to my office asking for legislative help to allow him to have a special license plate for tinted windows because he, along with many of our vets, suffers from traumatic brain injury with light sensitivity. Now the bill goes on to the Senate!”

Illinois State Board of Elections executive director Steve Sandvoss will retire on June 30, officials announced Tuesday. Earlier this month, Sandvoss, who joined the agency in 1988, was placed on paid administrative leave after he reported he was the victim of an online extortion attempt. An internal board investigation determined none of the agency’s data or systems had been compromised, according to a statement issued Tuesday. Sandvoss’s forthcoming retirement was announced Tuesday during a meeting of the Illinois State Board of Elections. He did not virtually attend the meeting, with interim executive director Bernadette Matthews filling in as head of the agency until a permanent replacement is named. 

• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) retweeted the Illinois Cannabis Workers Union message “Keep the cannabis industry accountable to their promises and say NO to cannabis sweatshops” 

• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted about recent youth deaths due to gun violence: “We mourn our babies whose lives are taken by brutal violence. Be it police violence of the violence that comes as a result of poverty, systemic racism and neglect. We are tired of seeing so many lives taken and families destroyed. It’s time for massive investment in communities.”

• Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “grateful to see a guilty verdict in the #ChauvinTrial. This is what accountability looks like. Chicago could use some of it.”  
   
• Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted, “we need to find ways to bring more affordable, family sized units online — particularly when it’s these sorts of units we’re losing to deconversions and tear downs” along with information about an updated Affordability Requirements Ordinance, which he voted to approve on Tuesday.  

• Ald. Maria Hadden (49) retweeted information about a Wednesday rally for community police oversight at the Thompson Center, writing “We can’t afford to wait any longer. Support the #UnityOrdinance.” 

• Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted, “I was honored to speak at Schaumburg Education Association’s Representative Assembly yesterday. It’s never been clearer that educators are essential workers. Teachers are essential. All school staff are essential.” 

• The Berwyn and Lawrence CTA Red Line stations will close for the next stage of the Red Purple Modernization Project starting May 16. In his weekly newsletter, Ald. Harry Osterman (48) told ward residents “our community has been bracing for this project for years” as “crews will begin working between Ardmore and Hollywood.” The CTA will host a series of Zoom meetings for community members divided by station to keep the public informed about the process.

• The Chicago Department of Public Health moved North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Puerto Rico to the more restrictive “orange tier” of the city’s Emergency Travel Order as COVID-19 cases in those states spike. Currently, 23 states are in the less restrictive “yellow tier,” meaning travelers from those states are not required to quarantine or take a pre-arrival COVID test when coming to Chicago. The more restrictive orange tier, which now includes 26 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., requires that people traveling to Chicago from those locations either be fully vaccinated, quarantine for 10 days or test negative for COVID-19 “no earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Chicago,” according to health department guidance . Additionally, people traveling to Chicago from an orange tier state can use airport testing upon arrival, but they must still quarantine until they receive a negative test result. 

• Andy Kang announced Tuesday in an email newsletter he will be leaving his role as the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago at the end of June. Kang wrote that his wife "received an amazing career opportunity" on the East Coast and he will start a new job as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition. Kang has worked with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago for nearly a decade, he wrote, and he has "been privileged and blessed to learn from and advocate alongside some of the finest community organizers and grassroots leaders in the country." 

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has promoted Manuel Venegas as her new press secretary, she announced Monday. Venegas joined the treasurer’s office in 2018 as its Hispanic outreach coordinator. He replaces Thomas Corfman, who left the spokesperson job “for a position in the private sector,” according to the announcement. 

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Community Justice Centers will host a webinar at 6 p.m. Wednesday on “’troubled buildings’ and what the public can do to assist them in helping to create safer neighborhoods,” according to the event invitation. Speakers are set to include Greg Sloyan, Chicago police lieutenant with the department’s Trouble Buildings Unit, Lindsay Evans, senior counsel for city’s Department of Law and William Townsell, civilian assistant director of community policing for the police department. Registration is available online. 

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6) tweeted about an upcoming mobile COVID-19 testing operation in the 6th Ward.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Jaslyn Adams — may your sacrifice not be in vain!” about the 7-year-old girl who was shot and killed over the weekend.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa (35) tweeted in support of HB116, which would reverse Illinois’ statewide ban on rent control, writing that the legislation will “help us keep working families in their homes.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) retweeted a statement by the Chicago Teachers’ Union regarding the death of Jaslyn Adams, which read, “We are crushed. Jaslyn was one of our students. Please keep her, her family and the Cameron Elementary Community in your hearts.” 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) retweeted a lobbyists’ praise of his ordinance (O2020-5902) to compel city finance officials to publish monthly revenue reports. “Cheers to this basic bit of fiscal transparency passing committee and heading to full council,” the bar and restaurant lobbyist tweeted. 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted, “Not vaccinated? Want things back to normal? Do your part. Come to our clinic this Thursday.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted, “A National Infrastructure Bank would be invaluable in helping Chicago address the ongoing climate crisis by funding improvements in how it manages stormwater runoff, public transit, and its electric vehicle charging network.” R2021-337, which calls for a National Infrastructure Bank, passed Committee on Transportation and Public Way on Monday. 

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) tweeted a facepalm emoji about potential state legislation that would raise electric bills despite last year’s ComEd bribery scandal.