Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted, "is there even one American today who is unaware that their government wants everyone to get vaccinated? Yet millions don’t fully understand the functional difference between a KN95 and a bandana over your mouth. Public health messaging is stuck, it’s failing us when we need it"

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) shared an article about improvements at Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Great turnout this morning for @ChicagoREALTORS Foundation 5K! I miss running these events throughout the city.” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted, “Calling on Chicago's working people to come show support with striking Nabisco workers! These courageous workers are confronting the corporate greed bankrupting our communities 24/7 at Kedzie and 73rd Street, Chicago. #ChicagoIsAUnionTown #NoContractNoSnacks” 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter that a “final status meeting” is scheduled for Wednesday on the city’s “public nuisance disciplinary case” against Eurostar Magnificent Mile Hotel at 660 N. State St.  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that he “met with several shared kitchens operators to discuss an ordinance I recently introduced aimed at preventing the traffic and parking problems our community has endured near Rockwell and Berteau from occurring at future shared kitchens locations.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) announced she will host a “free workshop on how to appeal your property tax assessment through the Board of Review” alongside Board of Review Comm. Michael Cabonargi (D-2), Cook County Comm. Larry Suffredin (D-13) and Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago). 

Chicago Public Schools released an announcement reminding parents that masks will be required for all students when classes resume on Monday. Parents will be asked to “run through these health questions” every morning before sending their kids to school. “Look for a form to come home with your students next week regarding your cooperation with this practice, which must be signed and returned to the school by Friday, September 3,” the announcement said. More information is available on CPS' back-to-school website.

Monday is the last day to apply for the Chicago Community Works Challenge, which is offering up to $1.5 million each for "neighborhood improvement projects involving libraries, parks, schools, vacant lots, and other public facilities." Any Chicago resident may submit an idea, which will be "evaluated based on feasibility, need and potential impact." More information is available online.

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “I am devastated that 12 U.S. service members have been killed in a targeted attack in Kabul. The men and women of our armed forces put their lives in harms way to serve and protect our nation. We must always remember their commitment and sacrifice."

Sen. Sally Turner (R-Lincoln) wrote on Facebook “My heart goes out to the 12 U.S. service members who were killed in horrific bombings in Kabul. The men and women of our armed forces give up many of the luxuries that we take for granted in order to protect our nation’s freedom. We must never forget the sacrifices they make for all of us."

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) issued a statement after the Illinois Department of Employment Security recently said it would restart in-person services in his district.  

Officials from the Illinois Senate said Thursday anyone that planning to attend next week’s special session will need to take a PCR COVID-19 test 72 hours beforehand.  

Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) and the Secretary of State’s office will offer services to residents at her Maryville district office on Sept. 14.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) appointed Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) to the Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Yesterday our office assisted our Judge Green seniors in getting their food boxes with the Good Food For All program. Anyone can pickup a box of food every Wednesday.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Every day is #NationalDogDay for me!” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “Proud to support the senior US Senator from Illinois, @SenatorDurbin, this morning on a zoom fundraiser. He is doing a great job in bringing resources back to Illinois.”  

Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted “I can't stay mute in the face of the comment by the head of the @FOP7Chicago. Apologize, retract the statement, and resign. You are not fit to represent the fine officers of the Chicago Police with whom we work everyday." 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “1 in 7 students in CPS experience homelessness. As students head back-to-school, we must ensure that all of our students have access to a high quality learning experience -- and that means ensuring families can find and keep a home in Chicago.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office is partnering with local aldermen to hold a virtual community town hall at 6 p.m. Wednesday “to discuss the co-responder alternative dispatch program that will be piloted in the 19th police district,” according to information in the latest newsletters from multiple aldermen. The 19th district covers the 1st, 2nd, 32nd, 40th, 43rd, 44th, 46th and 47th wards, according to the registration page for the virtual town hall. 

All September City Council committee meetings that had been scheduled to be held in-person in Council Chambers were changed to virtual meetings as of Thursday. Amended notices of the meeting changes were posted on Legistar where it appeared at least four committees had previously been scheduled to meet in-person next month.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez’s office took down its website for maintenance following “breach” earlier this month, officials announced Thursday. The county’s Bureau of Technology is making “software and other technology upgrades that will bring the website up-to-date for its software, security and technology,” officials said, adding that they expect the website “will be fully functional within the next few weeks.”

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted images after she toured Advocate Health’s new pediatric development center.  

Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) tweeted “IDES, the unemployment office, announces today that they will begin the phased restoration of in-person, appointment-only meetings starting Thursday, August 26th… ABOUT TIME!!  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted “This week I met with Jacki Gomez, executive director for Hispanic American Construction Industry Association @HACIAworks and Juan Calahorrano to talk about serving minority own businesses in my district. Making sure everyone has opportunities will enrich the Illinois economy.” 

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) wrote on Facebook “Thanks to CL PAC for inviting me to their first ever golf outing! I may not be able to swing a golf club but with your support we can make sure we keep swinging our policies left. Thanks to everyone who came out in this hot sunny day. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) on Wednesday appointed former appellate court Judge Marcus Salone to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission’s search committee to find Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope’s replacement.  

Officials from the Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Wednesday the department will begin returning to in-person operations through a phased in approach starting Aug. 26. In-person appointments will be available for the agency’s offices in Rockford, Harvey, Champaign and Mt. Vernon. To schedule an appointment, the public should call the IDES Scheduling Hotline at 217-558-0401. Officials said additional IDES offices are expected to reopen in the coming weeks.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted information about a “Back to School Celebration” his office is helping to host at 10 a.m. Saturday at 2300 W. Potomac Ave.  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted a community alert about information on recent burglaries in the police department’s 2nd District. 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “The city renewed a contract with Shot spotter wasting millions of $ we could use towards violence prevention.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) in an email blast reminded residents that the 40th Ward budget survey is closing soon. “What are your biggest priorities for the City of Chicago's next annual budget? Which services do you use, and which do you want prioritized? How satisfied are you with city service response times?” Vasquez wrote. 

Cook County Board Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted “Everyone should have equal access to legal representation. I applaud Governor Pritzker for signing HB 2790 into law. The bill allows the Cook County Public Defender's office to represent non-citizens in immigration cases.”

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) wrote in a news release that he tested positive for COVID-19 and "is experiencing mild symptoms" after having been vaccinated earlier this year. Morrison "is remaining quarantined at home but is continuing his duties remotely and is in regular communication with staff," according to the release.

In celebration of August’s designation as National Black Business Month, Chicago’s Department of Business Protection and Consumer Affairs is hosting a webinar, "Celebrating and Learning from Black-Owned Businesses," beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday. The webinar will be moderated by Kenya Merritt, the city’s chief small business officer. Panelists will include Kimberly Moore, president of KDM Engineering; Vincent William, president and CEO of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and Trez V. Pugh III, founder and CEO of Sip & Savor Hospitality Group. Registration is available online. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health on Tuesday added four states to its COVID-19 Travel Advisory. Each of the states surpassed 15 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, making 43 states and two territories on the list. Unvaccinated travelers coming from Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska and South Dakota are now required to either quarantine for 10 days or obtain a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving in Chicago. The District of Columbia was moved off the city’s Travel Advisory list this week. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted that he would be at Division & Ashland at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to “chat in-person" about residents’ budget priorities. “It's budget season & I would love to hear from residents about what you would like to see the City's budget go toward,” he wrote. 

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted “I’d like to see our public health officials explain how effective universal masking is, at a ratio of one mask message for every 10 reminders that we should get vaccinated if we haven’t yet. Let’s start there.” 

Ald. Michelle Harris (8) shared a CBS story about her “targeting” of “illegal parties” at a Calumet Heights location where a mass shooting occurred. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted “Whatever happened to the children in cages at the border ?  This obsession with a country 7k miles away. The Afghan pull out was never going to be smooth, not when they see you as an ATM machine. Too many haters in that region. Who benefited? China, Russia and Irán.” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “Pass Just Cause! No one should be experiencing no fault evictions (or any evictions!) during this pandemic.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Ald.Sposato gets away with a lot in City Council. His hateful, racist, queer-phobic rhetoric way too many times passes as colorful harmless behavior. Im so tired of his clown act. It’s harmful and it needs to be called out by everyone who hears it.” 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday and officials from CoinFlip, a cryptocurrency ATM operator, announced the company was moving its 44,000 square-foot headquarters into the Old Post Office in downtown Chicago.  

Nikki Budzinski, a former senior adviser to Pritzker and labor activist, on Tuesday announced she was running for Illinois’ 13th congressional district. Budzinski, a Democrat, is looking to challenge U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.). 

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “We’re listening. Email [email protected] to testify before the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee this Thursday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m., where we’ll discuss the 2020 Census and what it means for Illinois.” 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “ICYMI: I am so proud that my bill, HB1092, was signed into law! HB 1092 strengthens Illinois' Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) by including yearly training for law enforcement on its implementation and creating an education campaign for the public.” 

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) wrote on Facebook “A heartfelt Thank You to Suncast Corporation, one of the largest employers in our district, for urging the federal delegation to find an appropriate, legal pathway to residency for undocumented people in our community. Finding a legal pathway to residency would not only stimulate further economic growth and prosperity, but it is also simply the right thing to do.” 

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) posted a video on Facebook of him delivering 45,000 petitions to the office of Gov. JB Pritzker to “demand he rescinds his unilateral mask mandate on our schools.” Bailey is running for the GOP nomination for governor. 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “1/Colton's Task Force is a reality. This act is dedicated to the life of Colton Miller who was tragically taken from us at just 18 months due to domestic violence. The creation of this task force shows that one person can make a difference.” 

Rep. Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted “It was a pleasure to stop by the #HeroCenter in downtown Waukegan to learn more about the great work they do with @LakeCountyJobs! We talked about the struggles they've endured during the pandemic and how we can work together to help them move forward. Thank you for hosting me!” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “TIME IS RUNNING OUT! The General Assembly is returning for special session on Aug. 31. However, energy legislation wasn’t on the agenda that Senate President Don Harmon sent out. To preserve our nuclear fleet, Senate President Harmon must call a bill for a vote while we are in.” 

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield) tweeted a reminder about a Tuesday night “Women Who Lead” panel discussion on Facebook Live she is hosting with Comptroller Susana Mendoza and other elected officials.  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted about how his office is “now accessible” through text messages.  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will receive $140 million in statue funds, as well $52 million in non-state funds, to help cover costs associated with the construction of a new facility, renovations and upgrades on the campus. The funding, which comes from the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan, will be used to restore Altgeld Hall and replace Illini Hall. 

Pritzker on Monday also joined state and local officials to announce the start of construction on a new Interstate 57/74 interchange in Champaign-Urbana. The project, which will cost $216.8 million, is funded by Rebuild Illinois.  

Pritzker on Monday announced Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz was leaving his administration. Ruiz, who joined the governor’s office in February 2019, has primarily overseen education-related matters.

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) on Monday appointed Jeremy Margolis to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission’s search committee to find Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope’s replacement. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “So proud of the workers at [Colectivo Coffee] who just became the largest unionized coffee and cafe chain in the country! What a long struggle, but a powerful and inspiring one!” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Restorative justice only works if the offender accepts responsibility for their actions and makes amends to the injured. Otherwise it is a waste of time & only offers false redemption.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “If ‘immigrants are welcome here’, their kin in their birth countries deserve immediate access to generic covid vaccines. Shame on criminally immoral billionaire class that lives lavishly as they use their political strength to deny the workers of the world the life saving vaccine” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) shared a Block Club article about Amazon lockers in Chicago parks and in a thread tweeted “A few things that didn’t make it in the article. 1. Amazon should not be occupying public space regardless of what they offer but we have to note that 137K is a slap in the face.  2.Corps like Amazon that don’t pay taxes impact our ability to fund public services, like parks.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) in a thread tweeted “Latino became Latina/o, then Latin@, then Latinx, and most recently Latine. This progression has been organic, conceived of by women, and trans and nonbinary people to challenge patriarchy and embrace a gender-neutral and inclusive term for latinidad.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “We're excited to have nearly 30 block parties in the ward this Saturday! As the Delta variant continues to spread, remember to take covid-19 precautions at your block parties. Props to the organizers of this party for getting creative when promoting covid-19 safety!” 

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted “If you were hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it didn't yet have full FDA approval, your wait is over! Your loved ones, hospital staff, educators, those who work in restaurants and local businesses, and your neighbors will thank you for it!”

Chicago Department of Public Health workers will spray insecticide on Wednesday at Albany Park, Lincoln Square, Irving Park, and North Center as part of the department’s “efforts to protect residents against the West Nile virus.” according to an announcement. “Weather permitting, the spraying will begin at dusk on August 25th and continue through the night until approximately 1:00 am, with licensed mosquito abatement technicians in trucks dispensing an ultra-low-volume spray,” according to the announcement. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) is scheduled to host a housing budget town hall virtual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. “Join us for a virtual town hall to talk about how the pandemic has impacted housing stability, the status of rental assistance programs, and how we can invest in permanent solutions,” Martin tweeted on Monday. Registration is available online. 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago released its September schedule of courses and webinars, including four homebuyer education courses starting on Sept. 1, a “Financial Fresh Start” course on Sept. 14 and a “Foreclosure Prevention” webinar on Sept. 16. All the courses start at 6 p.m. More information is available online.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) shared a Crain’s article about population growth in Bronzeville and wrote, “I am proud of the work our community is doing in Bronzeville!! Let’s keep it up. Bronzeville remains a community of diverse housing markets.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted that President Joe Biden’s appointment of Rahm Emanuel as U.S. ambassador to Japan is “a slap in the face to our immigrant communities by the Biden Administration. Are we human beings or not?”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, “Thank you @ToniPreckwinkle for requiring county workers get vaccinated against COVID. @chicagosmayor, it's time Chicago do the same - for the health of our city and our city’s public workforce.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) wrote in his latest newsletter, “When we allow our neighborhoods to remain disinvested and bereft of mental health/social services, of job opportunities, of quality community investment, and a fair chance at succeeding, we end up with generations of people who see no other recourse but to engage in criminal activity that often escalates to violence. We can continue to focus on the individuals who commit crime, but if we ignore the environment that produces them, we fall short in solving the problem.”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter that he is “disappointed with the direction of current policing strategies, such as eliminating foot pursuits. The Alderman is urging CPD to conduct a top-down reevaluation of public safety policies.” 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted that the “Park District has a bad habit of trying to commercialize our parks. Stop. So how did those Amazon lockers land in Chicago parks, anyway?”