Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Only an out-of-touch elitist billionaire would believe freezing his next tax increase is relief. Illinoisans deserve a Governor who wants to do the hard work of being Governor. We must prioritize spending through a zero-based budget, cut taxes and deliver real relief. #twill"  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I'm excited to announce that I'm a member of @EriksonPolicy's Executive Fellows 2022 Cohort! This program uses an anti-racism approach to explore the benefits of quality early childhood experiences and policy opportunities to support children and families.”  

Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) tweeted, “Add all the cost, grocery, gas etc and we are looking more like 24%……folks, you don’t need the numbers. We all feel it……our checking is low and we are not putting anything into savings……dems claim to be for the working class , ya right”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “Chicago is ranked as the #2 city to live in worldwide - the only U.S. city to rank in the top 10! So proud to be a lifelong resident of the Chicago area. Yet another reason to be proud of Illinois!”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “Poor Policies Matter! Inflation 9.1% worst in 40 Years. What happened to the concern for the “Wealth gap”? Remember when Progressive Policy Pushers said it must be fixed? Instead they have driven our energy costs through the roof costing everyday Americans billions.”  

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted, “When a child sends a handwritten letter asking that all schools have lockdown drills, guards, and buzzers... We have to do better. I'm ready to do what it takes. #banassaultweapons #hpstrong" 

Comptroller Susana Mendoza deposited $100 million into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, more commonly known as the “rainy day” fund, on Wednesday. The deposit brings the fund’s balance to $854 million. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget will eventually bring the fund’s balance to $1 billion. In Fiscal Year 2024, state lawmakers will be required to deposit at least $45 million each year into the fund.   

Gov. JB Pritzker issues a new executive order ending some COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements. Under the new order, staff members at long-term care facilities who are not up to date on their vaccines will need to be tested once a week if they are working in a county with moderate COVID-19 transmission, rather than once a week for any unvaccinated staff members in all counties. Staff members who are not up to date on their vaccines and work in a county with high transmission will be tested twice a week. Unvaccinated staff members at hospitals and other health care facilities will only have to test once a week if the county is under high transmission. The order also eliminates vaccine requirements for faculty and staff at higher education institutions. The vaccine mandate will remain in place at K-12 schools, state run congregate care facilities, and any health care facility not covered by the federal government’s vaccine requirements.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “On my second day in Israel, we visited Kibbutz Magal for a lengthy discussion about agribusiness, drip irrigation technology developed here that doubles yields of most crops; state-owned water management, conservation and reuse.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared a Block Club article and tweeted “Our community came together to win the all-affordable Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments next to the Logan Square Blue Line. Now our community is coming together to win another affordable equitable transit-oriented development at 2525 N. Kedzie. #LoganSquare”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Our kids deserve to live in a world where they aren’t scared to go to school. We don’t need assault weapons. We don’t need high capacity magazines. Ban them now”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) in a thread tweeted “Our 49th Ward has a long political tradition.First, members of this community worked to make sure Harold Washington was elected as our first Black Mayor. 26 years later, our community threw down to make sure Obama was the first Black President. Ten years later, the 49th gave made sure that the first Black, openly gay Alderperson was elected on the Northside of Chicago. We make things happen Let’s keep the tradition strong. Please get your ticket & join us for my re-election kickoff!” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday announced the opening of the “Community Marketplace” on the Chicago Riverwalk, which is designed to “allow small, minority- and women-owned neighborhood businesses the opportunity to get exposure to the high number of Riverwalk visitors and inspire visits to neighborhood locations,” according to an announcement. Vendors include ChiBoys, Chiya Chai, Colores Mexicanos, Feed Your Head, Freddies and Neighborly. 

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero) tweeted, “Beginning Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 14, Illinois will offer a 10-day tax reduction for school-related items, as well as for qualifying clothing and footwear that is less than $125 per item.”  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I wrote a letter to IDOT w/ @repgregharris and @RepKellyCassidy urging the agency to look into pedestrian and bike safety issues along Peterson Avenue, a state route. We will work together and keep the community updated as things move forward.”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted a link to an interview about DCFS with Steve Cochran: “The most vulnerable among us need action and solutions. Thanks Steve for keeping this issue front & center. We can do better!”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The lack of attention being paid to CTA service by decision makers is troubling. We deserve a safe, clean and accessible public transit system. I’ve been a CTA rider for 30+ years and it’s pretty bad today. A quarter of Chicagoans don’t have cars. There are solutions.” 

The Quincy Veterans’ Home is in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs announced Tuesday. The outbreak includes 16 residents and 10 staff members. Most are suffering from mild symptoms, but four residents were taken to the hospital this week as a precaution and two remain hospitalized for unrelated reasons. Each of the 16 residents are being isolated from the rest of the home’s population and all were considered full vaccinated while 11 had received a booster shot.   

U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) will be the keynote speaker for the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association brunch on Aug. 17. Neguse was elected to the U.S. House in 2019 as Colorado’s first African American member of Congress and served as the House Democrats’ impeachment manager during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in 2021. The brunch will take place at 9 a.m. at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. Tickets are available online. 

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “4th Ward office staff and interns flyer the community for tomorrow night’s meeting for the Kenwood Advisory Council and the 4th Ward Shred-A-Thon on Saturday.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Very interesting first day in Israel, starting w/ full agenda on American/Israeli relations; @UN sustainability goals; and @MASHAVisrael efforts to support & expand innovation abroad; smart cities logistical & operational techniques; and trauma, EMT & mass casualty training.”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “Please consider making a donation to the Danny Golden Support Fund.  He and his family need our support!”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “So we actually can open public mental health clinics ran by the city? Interesting. We’ve been constantly told that’s an outdated approach. We are told that the non-profits & FQHC’s are in the best position to provide those services. Our communities deserve this same kind of care.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “Paisans Pizzeria is coming to the 36th Ward! Another development in the ward (located at Palmer and Cicero Ave) that will create jobs/revenue for the City of Chicago. Welcome to our ward @PaisansPizzeria Please call our office if you’re interested in employment, 773-745-4636"  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) tweeted “On our way back from a long weekend in NH celebrating my dad’s 75th Birthday. I hear the Mayor has “approved” a giant Hot Wheels Track in downtown Chicago: impacting residents & businesses in four different wards. Number of conversations the Administration has had with aldermen?”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) in a thread tweeted “Today, the Committee on Housing and Real Estate passed an ordinance that grants Sarah's Circle the ability to build new facilities that will provide new, permanent supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness. The new building will be located at the corner of N Sheridan Rd and W Lakeside Pl and will provide 28 permanent affordable subsidized studio units, a large open space for supportive services, case manager and staff offices, and outdoor greenspace.” 

The Metropolitan Planning Council will host a webinar at 12 p.m. Thursday titled “Show me the money! Bringing active transportation funding to your community.” Panelists will include Lindsay Bayley of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Active Transportation Alliance advocacy manager Maggie Czerwinski, Cook County transportation planner Laura McFadden, Metropolitan Planning Council transportation director Audrey Wennink and officials from the city of Batavia. Online registration is required. 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted, “I joined @CNNnewsroom to discuss the Highland Park shooting & how a lack of implementation of Illinois' "Red Flag" law failed to prevent the tragedy. I also discussed how we can strengthen our Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs).”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “We are still grieving and healing, but today at the White House we are #HighlandParkStrong.”  

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted, “Cyclists can now enjoy new-and-improved Illinois Official Bike Maps – a convenient and free resource to plan trips and showcase the state’s network of bike trails.”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “DCFS Director Smith has once again been cited for contempt of court. DCFS leadership has let down the most vulnerable in our state. Why won’t the Pritzker administration protect our children? I bet you won’t see any political ads on TV about this issue!” 

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton will testify in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday “the negative impact, chronic problems, and the potential loss of life women will experience in a post-Roe V. Wade America, particularly for women of color,” according to a news release. Stratton is the only elected official among the five witnesses expected to speak Tuesday at 9 a.m. Central time. The committee is chaired by Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) tweeted “THE 10-1 IS NOT OVER. Ofc. Jaime Avila is back home w/ his family in the 23rd Ward after being shot multiple times in a police ambush in 012.  Jaime and his family still have a long road ahead, so let's show we've got their backs. #CPD #BackTheBlue”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “If you haven’t yet, make some time to watch The Janes.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Here in the #40thWard, we recognize the regenerative values of having art in our community. As part of our Viaduct Visual initiative, we have been able to integrate street art in old viaducts so as to breathe new life into them and deter unwanted tagging!”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “Thank you to everyone who came out to Lerner Park yesterday for our Clean & Green! We spread fresh woodchips over the playground, making the park a safer and nicer space for our children. A special thank you to Misericordia for participating and being such a tremendous help!” 

The Metropolitan Planning Council will host a webinar at 12 p.m. Thursday titled “Show me the money! Bringing active transportation funding to your community.” Panelists will include Lindsay Bayley of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Active Transportation Alliance advocacy manager Maggie Czerwinski, Cook County transportation planner Laura McFadden, Metropolitan Planning Council transportation director Audrey Wennink and officials from the city of Batavia. Online registration is required. 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted, “In light of Highland Park, I was interviewed by @WSJ about these events & Illinois' Red Flag laws. We discussed the need for authorities to use Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs) more freq. & how we are addressing the lack of awareness & education of FROs.”  

Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) tweeted, “Congratulations Senator Tharp! I look forward to working with you.”  

Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted, “Proud of my friend and colleague @BobMorganIL. He, his family, and his community have gone through something traumatic and unspeakable — and he’s fighting for action. Proud to serve with him and ready to continue the work to save lives.”  

Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) tweeted, “It’s heartbreaking that, in this day and age, the president has to take such action in an effort to protect a woman’s basic right. I, too, call on the Justice Department to stand up for women in this country. We must all work together to reclaim our right.”  

Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am angry and saddened by the tragedy in Highland Park over the holiday weekend. I will continue working with my colleagues to do everything within our power to end gun violence in our communities.”  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted, “Don't look away - survivors and victims of gun violence across the state deserve our action and attention. With little outcry, Chicago’s bloody weekend eclipsed Highland Park toll”  

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) tweeted, “About eight-in-ten Black Americans see gun violence and violent crime as very big national problems.”  

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) tweeted, “A historic day as we congratulate the Honorable Lisa Holder White on becoming the first black female justice on the Illinois Supreme Court. She is deserving, brilliant, and extremely impressive. She will serve our state with honor and dignity” 

Kris Tharp, a Democrat from Bethalto, was sworn in Friday as the new senator for the 56th Senate District, which includes much of Madison County along the Mississippi River and stretches from Alton to Edwardsville to portions of O’Fallon and Fairview Heights. Tharp replaces Rachelle Crowe, who recently resigned to become U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Tharp is a Madison County corrections officer with 24 years of law enforcement experience. He also previously served on the Elder Abuse Task Force.   

Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was found in contempt of court Thursday for the 12th time in 2022. Cook County Judge Patrick Murphy for failing to place a 15-year-old girl in an appropriate care setting despite the girl being set for relief since mid-January. Department officials originally pledged to place the girl in a home by mid-June but had still not completed her placement as of Thursday.   

Nicole La Ha Zwiercan has been hired as the new press secretary for Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). Zwiercan currently serves as a Homer Glen trustee. Ellie Leonard will stay in her role as the Senate Republicans’ Director of Communications.  

Ald. George Cardenas (12) shared a Wall Street Journal column and tweeted, “How the Fed botched the response to the pandemic should be the title. Inflation is here to stay, how deep is the question? BBB is dead. The Fed Ignored the Money Supply, and a Recession Is Coming”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Our city is in pain. The cancer of violence continues to spread unchecked by Lightfoot’s @Chicago_Police. The moment we show consequence, any consequence, for actions like this, the dynamic will shift. I’m not afraid to fight back. Chicago is worth it. Chicago needs it.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted, “Just spoke with a mother who is desperate to get her 17 year old in therapy but got waitlisted. Her husband was deported & her three kids have been suffering the trauma of family separation. I’m working on it but it shouldn’t be this way. Real sanctuary is #TreatmentNotTrauma”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “Back to Biz after beating Covid!”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter, “The City of Chicago in coordination with Bally’s Chicago is hosting a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, July 19th at 6 PM regarding the temporary casino at the Medinah Temple, 600 North Wabash Street. Click here to register for the virtual meeting.”  

Ald. James Cappleman (46) shared a Bloomberg article about a new emergency hotline for mental health episodes and tweeted, “I can't tell you enough how excited I am about this!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter, “I met earlier this week with organizers from Live Free Illinois, which recently worked with 6th Ward Ald. Rod Sawyer to introduce an ordinance calling for the permanent establishment of an Office of Public Safety in Chicago that would develop and coordinate the implementation of a five-year strategic plan to reduce gun violence.” 

Cook County has returned to a medium COVID-19 risk level because the daily average of new cases detected fell below 200 per 100,000 people, according to an advisory from the Chicago Department of Public Health. “With the newer and more contagious Omicron subvariants BA.4/.5 now making up the majority of COVID-19 cases in the region, case rates have increased slightly since last week --though the City continues to see lower COVID case rates and hospitalizations than the county as a whole,” officials said in the release.  

Leaders of the American Hotel & Lodging Association will join Chicago business leaders for a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to “discuss reigniting travel to the Chicago area and the state of hospitality and tourism in the city,” according to an event notice. “Speakers will discuss recent data and opinion research underscoring optimism for reigniting travel to the Chicago area as well as new travel trends and opportunities to attract more travelers to the area.”  

The Pace Suburban Bus system will host virtual public meetings at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 12 p.m. Saturday to discuss the new Pace Pulse rapid bus line along Dempster Street. The meetings will be viewable online. 

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Dr. Keely Roberts and her 8-year-old son, Cooper, were greatly impacted by the tragic events of this past Monday. While both were shot, Cooper was shot in the chest, his spinal cord was severed, and he is currently in critical condition”  

Rep. Eva Dina-Delgado (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take a cultivation center tour with @CannabizIL and State Rep LaPointe. We got a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of this #cannabis facility. Thank you to CBAI and our host, 4Front, for the educational experience!”  

Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) tweeted, “Yesterday, I met with States Attorney Jim Glasgow and Ruth Colby, CEO of Silver Cross Hospital to discuss improvements in providing treatment to adult and pediatric victims of sexual assault. Proud to come from a community who is always looking to improve & take care of others”  

Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Gun violence is a public health crisis that plagues our nation day after day. This can't keep happening”  

Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) tweeted, “Just because one struggles with mental illness doesn’t mean he/she would carry out the unthinkable. We must do more for mental health, but using it as a pro-2nd Amendment talking point is insulting #twill #ilgov @shannonrwatts" 

The U.S. Small Business Administration approved a disaster declaration for Calumet City after a fire gutted a condo building in May, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday. The disaster declaration allows residents and business owners at the building to apply for loans to cover damage that insurance won’t cover.   

Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) and Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) were among 48 leaders throughout the country to be selected for The Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellowship. The fellowship allows the lawmakers to meet for leadership seminars at the end of August.  

The Chicago Office of Budget and Management will host three “public engagement forums” this month inviting city residents to “share their priorities regarding City services” ahead of this year’s budget season, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office announced on Thursday. The forums will be held at 6 p.m. on July 21 at Kennedy-King College in Englewood, at 10 a.m. July 23 at Malcolm X College on the Near West Side and at 10 a.m. on July 23 at Truman College in Uptown. Online registration is required.  

Cook County commissioners have unanimously reappointed Rick Kwasneski to serve a fifth four-year term as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Pace Suburban Bus agency.  

The Chicago Community Safety Coordination Center and other agencies announced the launch of the city’s second annual “Summer Kickback Series” with events in South and West Side parks on Saturday nights throughout the summer. The series launched in 2021 “in an effort to ensure youth across Chicago have access to engaging activities and necessary resources within their communities,” according to a city news release. Events will take place in Grand Crossing Park on July 23, Franklin Park on July 30, Ogden Park on Aug. 6, Humboldt Park on Aug. 16, West Pullman Park on Aug. 20, Abbot Park on Aug. 27, Garfield Park on Sept. 3, Foster Park on Sept. 10 and Cornell Square Park on Sept. 10. 

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted, “GOP candidate Bailey calls for “more psychiatrists and funding for mental health” but votes against Governor JB Pritzker’s budget which provided over $200M in additional violence prevention funding. Completely inept, in 2019 he raffled an AR15.”  

Ald. Michele Smith (43) wrote in her latest newsletter, “We are very proud of the quality public education available to students in our Ward. However, there remain educational gaps for some who come from within our enrollment boundaries who tend to underperform at Lincoln Park High School. This is a well-known issue, and our principals at the high school have worked hard to ensure that these children are given every opportunity and resource to succeed.”  

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) wrote in his latest newsletter, “I support an assault weapons ban which would make it illegal for civilians to purchase the type of high capacity, semi-automatic weapons of war that the shooter used this 4th of July. This year as a City Council member I have supported calling on the State to ban untraceable "ghost guns" and voted to increase funding for City mental health budgets by over $20M.  

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted, “The Commission on Chicago Landmarks unanimously passed the proposal at 640 W Irving Park (formerly the American Islamic College). One commissioner remarked about the strong opinions that sometimes surface within the 46th Ward. I smiled in agreement, but it's so healthy, too!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted of plans for Soldier Field, “Yes to aerial gondolas. No to replacing the largest harbor in Chicago with parking???”