Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted, “It was a privilege to greet Consulate General Kevin Byrne of @IrelandChicago at the Capitol to hear him address the House today, and on behalf of the all members of the Illinois Irish Caucus - Happy St. Patrick's Day”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The findings & the research are pretty unequivocal...virtual remote hearings provide worse outcomes for young people." That's why I sponsored a resolution urging the IL supreme court to reinstate in-person hearings in juvenile court.”  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Thank you to all who joined our innovative Single Parents Town Hall discussion with Jenny Leflore of @mamafreshchi, Ariel Rainey of Hustle Mommies, and Ida Nelson! I explained the two pieces of legislation behind the “Single Parents Bills of Rights.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Lets spread this luck to our #LoyolaRamblers for the their first round #NCAA game tomorrow!”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “Illinois families across the state are feeling the impact of record-high inflation. Illinois House Republicans have proposed several measures to provide relief and help our residents recover. #twill"  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) tweeted, “I am proud to announce that #HR615 is officially adopted by the House of Representatives! This resolution urges Congress to protect, strengthen, and improve existing child nutrition programs so that low-income children have equitable access to free meals.”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “I was honored to welcome the @IrelandChicago Counsel General Kevin Byrne to the Capitol. We were blessed to host him on St. Patrick’s Day, and we are thankful for the words he shared on the floor of the House of Representatives. Special thanks to Rep. Fran Hurley for co-hosting.”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “@E0S_Consulting with the best-ever St. Patrick's Day witness slip: Sullivan Caucus a proponent of HB 4811, which establishes Republic of Ireland Day in Illinois”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago), tweeted, “Working w/ ChicagoHomeless as the bill lead sponsor I’m fighting to pass HB 4423 in Human Services Committee. On to the House Floor This bill increases the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to help families survive Ensures that all child support goes to families.” 

The grassroots progressive organization Swing Left announced they are targeting four congressional races in Illinois that they have labeled as “competitive.” The group will be devoting resources to electing Democrats to Congress in the state’s sixth, 13th, 14th and 17th congressional districts.   

The Environmental Law and Policy Center will host a conversation on April 6 at 12 p.m. with Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Registration can be found online.

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Happy Saint Patricks Day! We appreciate the contributions of Irish-Americans to the City of Chicago.”  

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6) tweeted “The Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship Fund is accepting 2022 applications until March 31, 2022”  

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “The Calumet Area Industrial Commission One Workforce Program can provide financial assistance to obtain industry recognized credentials and job opportunities in the manufacturing sector by paying for tuition, books, and fees at one of their college or training provider partners.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Re: complaints about @DrWillieWilson’s gas giveaway. Why does his philanthropy need “permission” from politicians when he promoted this for days. He’s not a candidate. Maybe the focus should be on why so many were willing to wait hours for a reprieve from filling their gas tanks.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “We need to get woman owned businesses up and rocking again.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Join us Saturday 11am-2pm at 5228 N Clark as we flyer Andersonville with information so that we can #BringEliseHome as she has been missing for over a week. Please join us if you can.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted about Willie Wilson’s gas giveaway writing that “In Rogers Park, this has caused a traffic disaster. I’ll be following up with @ChicagoBACP to look into special permits that we should require in the future for businesses to do these giveaways. This was irresponsible and reckless of Dr. Wilson and the gas station owners.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office released a schedule of the next six Community Safety Town Hall meetings planned around the city during the next month to “provide Chicagoans with the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the City's efforts to reduce and prevent violence.” The full schedule and more information are available online.  

Cook County Comm. Donna Miller (D-6) and Comm. Scott Britton (D-14) will join leaders of the NAACP Illinois State Conference and the mayors and police chiefs from 36 south-suburban municipalities at 10 a.m. on March 21 at Oak Forest City Hall for a ceremonial signing of the “the NAACP’s “Ten Shared Principles of Policing.” Nearly 230 entities throughout Illinois have already adopted the principles since then, including the Cook County Forest Preserves Police and Cook County Sheriff, according to an event announcement. 

Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook) tweeted, “SB3988 passes out of the education committee unanimously!”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) tweeted, “NY Speaker @CarlHeastie visits @RepChrisWelch and the Illinois House of Representatives.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “As long as we keep sending armed officers trained in lethal violence to respond to homelessness, mental health calls, & traffic violations, these killings are not going to stop. We need to transform the role of police in society. #JusticeForAnthonyAlvarez”  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “How should we solve Illinois’s teacher vacancy issue? We start by making sure our teachers are supported and have the funding necessary to succeed.”  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “Tucker's show has drifted into straight-up Russian propaganda. I wonder who is influencing his scriptwriter.”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “Inflation is costing the average American family an extra $296 per month. Illinois has one the highest tax rates in the nation, adding additional costs for Illinois taxpayers. Out-of-control government spending needs to stop.”  

Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) tweeted, “Glory to Ukraine.” 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has completed sampling for PFAS, a family of chemicals, in the state’s water. Samples were taken at 1,428 locations. About 12 percent of samples were positive for PFAS chemicals, which the agency says is similar to numbers found in other states.   

The Illinois State Board of Higher Education approved creating a College of Engineering at Illinois State University. The first class of students to enroll at the college is expected to be in 2025.

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “The Chicago Park District wants to hear from you! Join them for a series of Town Hall Meetings to discuss their new Office of Prevention and Accountability.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “17 members tried to do their job today. City Council has failed its citizenry courtesy of Lightfoot’s political antics.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Chicago City Council's rightwing called a ‘Special Meeting’ to discuss COVID "natural immunity." The meeting did not reach quorum. Good. It was a waste of time, an excuse for rightwing theater. I, like most alders, spent the day in ward working on substantive local matters.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Yesterday morning I stood alongside members of @northsideaction and residents of Northpoint Apartments to demand that the multibillion dollar owner, Related Midwest, do better in responding to residents’ health and safety requests.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Wednesday that she had appointed Lynn Osmond to serve as the new president and CEO of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism organization. Osmond is set to be the first woman to serve as the organization’s leader and previously served as the president and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center.  

The Pace Suburban Bus Board of Directors during their meeting on Wednesday appointed Melinda J. Metzger as the agency’s first female executive director. Metzger has served as interim leader of the agency since December and previously served as the agency’s general manager and chief operating officer. Metzger has also previously managed operations for the Regional Transportation Authority. “Melinda has been a leader at Pace since the beginning,” Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski said in a news release. “I am confident she will continue to serve the agency and its riders well during this time of change and opportunity.”

Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) tweeted, “Last night, a Crest Hill officer was stabbed & a Shorewood officer was threatened. As officers investigate, let's continue to send our thoughts & prayers to these heroes, as well as their families, friends, & brothers and sisters in uniform who serve & protect our communities.”  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) tweeted, “The average woman makes 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. The wage gap is even greater for Black, Native American and Latina women. This Equal Pay Day, I remain committed to making sure ALL women receive equal pay for equal work.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Too often, people of color have been shut out of home ownership, and this is a time for us to turn that around and say, we can make investments to bring people of color into home ownership and into generational wealth building,” #Housing is a #HumanRight"  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am honored to be one of the co-chairs of the new Illinois Assyrian Caucus. Together, we can elevate the voices of our Assyrian American neighbors and partner in a united effort in addressing the issues their community faces.”  

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted, “5 years ago today the Illinois law allowing Trans folks to correct their birth certificates passed out of committee on the way to becoming law. I am proud that in Illinois we support our Trans neighbors.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Serving as a sub on Energy and Environment hearing a bill brought by @RitaMayfield and @ilenviro to force cleanup of coal ash ponds in Waukegan. Opponents were offended that I asked if they lived in Waukegan or would move their families next to the coal ash ponds. #SorryNotSorry"  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “Clean Green Energy is a laudable goal. But it shouldn’t jeopardize the standards of living of working families. We DIDN’T VOTE for Dems to clean all the green out of middle class bank accounts. We need to change the policies that have driven gas & energy prices sky high levels.”   

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) tweeted, “Pritzker's state agency in charge of the LaSalle Veterans Home didn't have any answers when this tragedy occurred back in 2020. Since then, there has been an unacceptable lack of transparency. The families who lost loved ones deserve better.” 

The Illinois Department of Labor will no longer enforce the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act because the state’s unemployment rate is no longer above 5 percent. The act requires 90 percent of workers employed on a public works project to be from Illinois when the state’s unemployment rate is above 5 percent for two or more consecutive months.   

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Consul General of Ireland to the Midwest Kevin Byrne will speak to the Illinois House this week. Heastie will address the chamber on Wednesday and Bryne will speak on Thursday. Both visitors mark a change to the House’s COVID-19 protocols allows guests to visit the chamber.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “After four days, we finally got a six-page response from Lawyer Lightfoot. Her abbreviated reply: Starts with an ‘F’ and ends with a ‘U’”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Last week we shared an update on the work that we are doing in collaboration with incredible volunteers and neighbors of the Ward to provide support to victims of the Richmond/Montrose fire. Thank you to all who donated and have shown support!”  

Ald. Michele Smith (43) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) tweeted a “joint statement” on the North Branch Park Preserve.  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Earlier today there was a fire at 1054 West Hollywood. No one was injured and the Chicago Fire Department has extinguished the fire.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “I joined 32 other council members this afternoon to file our Chicago United Map for referendum. Voters will get to decide which map best represents Chicago in June.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “We dropped off large donations at two of our community partners today: @ICNARelief and Chicago Chesed Fund. Thank you to both organizations for all the work you do on behalf of our community!” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office on Tuesday released the name of 27 people who applied for the opportunity to be appointed as the next 11th Ward alderman. “A committee of dedicated public servants and 11th ward community members are currently reviewing the applications and will provide a final slate of candidates to the Mayor for selection,” according to a news release. The full list of applicants and other information about the appointment process are available online.  

The Chicago Department of Public Health removed 16 states from its COVID-19 Travel Advisory on Tuesday because their new daily rates of infection have spent at least a week below 15 per 100,000 residents: Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. The change leaves 18 states and one territory on the travel advisory list. But eight more states are due to come off the list next week because their cases have dropped below 15 per 100,000: New Mexico, California, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Oregon, North Carolina, Montana and Alabama.  

Michael Claffey has stepped down as director of public affairs for the Chicago Department of Transportation, a role he held since 2015, he announced Tuesday. He will become communications manager at the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) tweeted, “I was pleased to carry HB4828 on behalf of the McHenry County Board. The bill is an initiative to repeal a law that unfairly targeted McHenry County. As the law is currently written, it does a disservice to the taxpayers of McHenry County.”  

Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) tweeted, “Breast reduction surgery is a medically necessary procedure for many Women. Back pain, finding clothes that fit, and self confidence can all be issues that many women have to endure, making HB4271 an important bill.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “No better way to celebrate Pi Day than traveling through my Senate District with Cindy. We grabbed a couple of delicious pies from Niemerg's, a freedom-loving restaurant in Effingham. I love being in my district and spending some much-needed time with my family at the homestead.”  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) tweeted, “Today I attended the official name announcement for the NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway. The upcoming race will have an enormous economic boost for our community!”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “I am deeply thankful for Dr. Ngozi Ezike’s leadership during this once in a lifetime public health crisis. Her devotion to following science in making some of the hardest decisions have saved thousands of lives.”  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) tweeted, “We need to help those who are struggling, not those who vacation in the Caymans. I’m fighting for targeted tax relief for low-income Illinoisans this year. #ExpandEIC @EconsecureIL"  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “It was great to meet with @YinamCohen, the Consul General of Israel during his visit to Springfield @IsraelinChicago" 

Illinois’ office of tourism, Enjoy Illinois, will be the sponsor of June’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, just outside St. Louis, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday. The race will officially be known as the Enjoy Illinois 300. It’s the Cup Series’ first event at the Illinois track. The track also hosts a NASCAR Truck Series race and an IndyCar Series race. Illinois has not held a Cup Series race since 2019 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.  

Members of the Asian American Caucus will host a day of remembrance on Wednesday to honor lives lost because of anti-Asian hate. The caucus will host a press conference in the morning and a virtual vigil at 7 p.m. Registration for the vigil can be found online.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Last week many of us asked for assurances from  

@chicagosmayor in writing on moving forward using all scientific metrics available, not just those that fit her narrative. In the days since we have been talked about but not part of the discussion. See y’all Wednesday!”  

Ald. Michael Scott (24) tweeted “The Town Hall for West Side communities has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 19th and will be IN-PERSON.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Proud to have stood with @LSNAChicago this morning as we fight for policies that address displacement and bring us closer to housing as a human right. The 606 Demolition Impact Fee Ordinance that our community fought for must be extended and expanded.”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Happy Pi Day! If you're looking to celebrate with pie from a local baker, pre order a specialty pie from Honeypie Bake Shop to enjoy when they reopen on Wednesday.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Elise Malary is an amazing advocate and person. She’s been missing for more than 2 days; her parents have filed a missing persons report with Evanston PD. She’s part of the RP community as well. Let’s help bring her home to safety. If you have any info, please call 773-991-8198.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office will host a “community safety town hall” event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Garfield Park Gold Dome Field House, where attendees will be asked to “inform the city’s efforts to reduce violence and help us make our neighborhoods safer.” Information and registration are available online.  

The Northpoint Tenant Association will join Ald. Maria Hadden (49) to host a news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 7717 N. Paulina St to draw attention to “the inhumane living conditions in affordable housing units at Northpoint Apartments.” The apartments are owned and managed by Related Midwest.

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “This week Florida’s senate passed the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” to ban discussion of gender identity & sexual orientation related topics in school. This also ends protection for LBTQ+ students. This shameful bill does nothing but hurt students who are already struggling & vulnerable.”  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted, “HB4729 (@repwillis77) has passed out of the House with overwhelming Bi-Partisan Support! Guns are the leading cause of death of Illinois children ages 1-17 years old. We are all safer when guns are safely stored and it is critical that we spread a safe storage message.”  

Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Museums give people an experience to learn and understand our history which is why I'm pleased to announce that @ExploreNMMA is set to receive $750,000 to make improvements and create new exhibits.”  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Members of the Jewish Caucus and President Harmon met with Israeli Consul General Yinam Cohen to discuss Israel-Illinois relations and how we are working to protect Jewish communities with rising anti-Semitism.”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “36 museums across IL will receive $19.7M to improve their facilities and expand their exhibits - including Arlington Heights' Banta House. The Banta House is an arts & crafts home and was the first architect-designed house in AH.”  

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) tweeted, “I spoke with Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton and others at a conference on the importance of obtaining a professional license and how this process shouldn’t keep people waiting months in order to practice a profession.”  

Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) tweeted, “Opioid overdoses have been occurring at alarming rates in Illinois. That's why I led SB 2535, to require pharmacists to inform the patient that opioids are addictive and offer to give the patient naloxone – a common opioid reversal medication.”  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) tweeted, “Support workers are essential workers. These individuals care for residents who rely on them to do basic day-to-day tasks that many of us do without thinking. It’s vital that these workers are taken care of and paid a fair wage.”  

Rep. Jonathon Carroll (D-Northbrook) tweeted, “Love the people I’ve met in Springfield. @staterepwest is my seat mate and one of my best friends. Blessed to have him in my life. #twill #ilgov" 

The University of Illinois-Springfield Public Affairs Reporting program will host an online conversation with Tribune reporter Ray Long at 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. Long will discuss his new book “The House that Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois’ Velvet Hammer.” Registration for the event can be found at https://go.UIS.edu/RayLong.  

The Illinois Attorney General’s office received a $750,000 federal grant to provide services to sexual assault victims. The Attorney General’s office says the grant will be used to support two programs in central Illinois.  

The Secretary of State’s office announced the expiration date for driver's licenses and IDs will be extended until July 31. The expiration date has been extended several times by the Secretary of State since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ald. Michael Scott (24) will host a virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss the “project pipeline” for the Ogden Avenue Corridor with Department of Planning and Development Comm. Maurice Cox. Online registration is required.  

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) tweeted, “The Archer Ave parade is raising money for police & Ofc. French is the Honorary Grand Marshal. My thoughts & prayers are with my CPD family today & my vow to keep fighting.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted a Tribune article about carjackings and wrote, “Read this! We need massive investments in public structures of care. “before they were a shooter or a carjacker, they were likely some combination of hungry and poor and traumatized by the violence happening on the blocks where they are supposed to thrive”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “The City of Chicago helped to defeat the citizenship question on the 2010 census questionnaire. I am not surprised to see that Latinos were undercounted at more than three times the amount in 2010. #letthepeopledecide”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter, “Green & Bransford, LLC has filed a Special Use application to operate an Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary at 212 East Ontario Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will hold a public hearing on a later date to consider this application.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter, “This week and throughout the last several months, I’ve met with Angela Tovar, our city’s Chief Sustainability Officer, to discuss key components of the plan—which range from expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and reducing the carbon footprint of new and existing buildings, to providing community-wide composting services and building solar and wind infrastructure to scale—and how we can ensure the plan is implemented quickly and completely once it’s finalized.”  

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) wrote in a statement, ““Instead of holding Jussie Smollett accountable for devising a hate crime hoax, breaking the law, disregarding law enforcement officials and their time, and wasting taxpayer resources — Kim Foxx opted to use the authority of her elected office to provide favors for a political ally, and mislead the public, the press, and facilitate a cover-up for a politically connected celebrity.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday announced the appointment of Alexandra Antoine as the new artist-in-residence for Legler Regional Library. She is the library system’s first artist-in-residence.