Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The staggering death toll from gun violence is a uniquely American crisis, and America must rise to the challenge of ending it, together. #HighlandPark"  

Rep. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago) tweeted, “My heart goes out to the victims and families affected by the mass shooting in Highland Park. We need Congress to pass expanded background checks and gun reform now. #ExpandGunReform"  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “In the wake of the recent tragedy in #HighlandPark, the @highwoodlibrary will offer supportive mental health services to facilitate community healing. The following services will be available free of charge for all: Individual Therapy Monday - Thursday Appts available from 3-7pm.”  

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) tweeted, “You can help today by donating to the Highland Park Community Foundation, which will help those directly impacted by Monday's mass shooting. https://www.hpcfil.org/july-4th-highland-park-shooting-response-fund/ Thank you!”  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted, “Honor Highland Park with action. Thank you @RepBobMorgan- we stand with you, your community, and every community affected by gun violence.”  

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) tweeted, “State Rights mean Illinois must move forward together to protect our communities from violence. We must unify for the Love of God.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Over 400,000 high priority calls in Chicago without an officer available. We must repeal Pritzker’s anti-police legislation. We must support law enforcement and put more police on the streets to combat crime. We must demand law & order and safer communities for EVERY Illinoisan.” 

The Illinois Supreme Court established the Committee on Judicial Security and Safety Wednesday. The committee will provide “the Court with developments and recommendations related to the judicial threat environment and protective operations, intelligence, and information. The committee will also coordinate with the Court’s judicial and law enforcement partners to monitor and review current and anticipated future judicial security needs and make appropriate recommendations to the Court,” according to a news release.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Join us next Tuesday, July 12th at Haas Park to learn about programs that can help keep low-income renters in their home and guarantee property owners on-time rent payments! Presented by @ChicagoDOH @AllChicago_MHH @clihtf & the Flexible Housing Pool”  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “Some big summer festivals returning to the neighborhood this week, including the Grant Park portion of the Taste of Chicago, and Bronzeville Summer Nights along 47th. Get out and safely enjoy our great city together this weekend!”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Vallas might as well set that money on fire. Chicagoans remember the harm he did to CPS. His politics are out of touch. He's too conservative and too neoliberal for Chicagoans fed up with the status quo in the mayor's office.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “.@DarrenBaileyIL ‘heavily arms’ staff at his private school. It’s no surprise he tells us to ‘move on’ from mass shootings — he can’t even imagine a reality where our children go to school without fear of shooters. That’s not what community safety looks like.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “The a/c is back in service at Sneider. Thanks to @ChicagoDOB Cmsr Beaudet and @ChicagoOEMC for your support.” 

Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago announced the launch of their newest Student Outreach and Re-engagement Center (SOAR) at Kennedy-King College in Englewood “to strengthen educational opportunities and outcomes for students, ages 15 – 21,” according to a Wednesday announcement. “Through the SOAR centers, a cohort of about 20 chronically truant and out-of-school youth are provided with guidance and support over six weeks to determine the best pathways for re-engagement and high school graduation. Participants are also provided access to adult education, CCC credit, and certifications,” officials said. Additional SOAR locations are already open at 837 W. 119th St. in Roseland, 2622 W. Jackson Blvd. in Garfield Park and at 3948 W. 26th St. in Little Village. 

ComEd executives will host an event at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at 43rd Street and Calumet Avenue to “unveil a transformative new plan to advance beneficial electrification, including clean transportation, to empower communities in moving toward electric vehicle use,” according to a release. 

Gov. JB Pritzker issues a disaster proclamation for Lake County Tuesday to help direct personnel and financial resources more quickly to bring resources to Highland Park to help the city recover from Monday’s mass shooting. The disaster declaration will be in effect for 30 days. 

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “10th Ward Constituents, we look forward to welcoming Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s representatives to our office. They will be hosting mobile office hours at our office TOMORROW, Wednesday, July 6th from 10AM- 1PM. 10500 S. Ewing Avenue!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in Chicago.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “The community feedback survey for the proposed shelter at 7464 N. Clark St is open until Friday. If you haven't reviewed the presentation or watched the meeting we had about it yet, please do so and then share your thoughts via the survey.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “I am very upset to report that there was a fatal shooting today at Warren Park. A 15-year-old victim was killed in what the police are saying was an isolated and targeted incident. There is currently no danger to the general public.” 

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted, “Gun violence is a complex and multifaceted public health crisis, but make no mistake — above all else, it is about guns.”  

Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Yesterday marked another dark day in the modern history of America. Senseless and tragic loss of life and countless victims who will bear the physical and emotional scars of this act of terror for the rest of their lives.”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “After the terrible event yesterday at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade and hearing the awful heart-wrenching stories and the impact on the lives of so many innocent children and families, as well as first responders, it is evident that the evil miscreants among us who are intent upon destruction will stop at nothing to instill fear and try to ruin the lives of everyday Americans with their actions.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “We must come together in prayer and action to address the plague of violence and commit to better addressing mental health in Illinois. We continue to lift up the victims of Highland Park and the victims we see daily in and around the city of Chicago and across our state. #twill"  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “ICYMI: interview with @CNN @NewDay “…to know it happened here and to think there’s nothing we can do of course, that’s a fallacy… of course we can make our community safer, we can reduce the amount of guns getting to people who don’t deserve them…” #highlandparkstrong"  

Cook County Comm. Scott Britton (R-14) tweeted, “I am maintaining communication with Cook County Emergency Management and Regional Security (DEMRS) as they continue to support the incident in Highland Park. A unified command post is on scene from Cook County, and is ready to help Lake County Emergency Management in any way necessary should an unmet need arise. DEMRS is in close contact with northern suburban communities to make sure their public safety departments' needs are being met as well. Additional updates will be shared as information becomes available.”  

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) wrote in a statement on his primary election win, “17th District voters sent a clear and decisive message by rebuking my opponent and her dishonest campaign. But now, we move forward with our eyes focused squarely on the November General Election. I will continue to stand on my conservative principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and lower taxes. I will also remain committed to challenging the 'soft on crime' policies that have endangered communities all across Cook County.” 

Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Friday the state’s accounts payable balance, previously known as the bill backlog, dropped to a low of $1.8 billion Friday while bills are now also being paid the day they are received.   

Eighty-one Illinois counties met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention high and medium risk categories for COVID-19, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Friday. Twenty-eight of the counties are considered high risk, while 53 are medium risk.  

Gov. JB Pritzker ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on July 2 to honor the Marine Corp Corporal Nathan Carlson. Carlson, of Machesney Park, was killed in June in a plane crash during a training exercise in California. His funeral was July 2.

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted, ““A weapon made for war, not parades” Dr. Baum, of Highland Park who witnessed the heinous scene today. There’s only one answer to our gun pandemic and that’s fighting against NRA greed and enacting real gun reform including universal background checks and assault weapons bans.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “As we acknowledge Independence Day today, let us renew our promise to never relent until all our children can live free from the fear of gun violence.”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter, “Riverside Investment & Development in partnership with Bluestar Properties proposes to construct a new mixed-use development at 566 W. Van Buren Street. The site is currently two, two-story retail buildings and a surface parking lot containing 90 parking spaces. “As proposed, the mixed use building, designed by Antunovich Associates, contains 198 residential apartments, 2,500 square feet of retail space on the ground-floor, 76 accessory parking spaces, 99 bicycle parking spaces, a private dog run, and a rooftop amenity pool deck.”  

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted, “Our politics is not yet incentivized to come up with laws that get to the root of violence. We have much work to do, and we must do it together! Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter, “Earlier this week, I co-hosted a public meeting alongside our city's Department of Transportation and 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman to share plans to add a concrete protected bike lane along Clark St between Irving Park and Montrose. In addition, I participated in a groundbreaking at the intersection of Lincoln, Belmont, and Ashland, which will see significant improvements in the coming months to enhance walkability as well as pedestrian and bike safety.” 

Cook County’s regional COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations “remain just above the cutoff” for a “high community level” based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s metrics, the Chicago Department of Public Health announced on Friday. As of last week, the county recorded 207 average daily new cases per 100,000 residents and 10.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents — both basely exceeding the thresholds for the “high community level” category. 

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Today I joined Governor Pritzker and other elected officials to announce that tomorrow, July 1, the Illinois Family Relief Plan will take effect. Illinois is paying its bills and we are fighting to help struggling families pay theirs as well.”  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I couldn't have said it better than Justice Kagan, dissenting in today's disturbingly out of touch ruling on the EPA's regulation of carbon emissions from power plants. It appears the Court is on a mission not only to destroy society as we know it, but the planet as well. #twill"  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “We need a special season to address Illinois families' rising gas and energy prices. We must revisit JB's extreme energy policies that will continue to raise utility rates on families and cause rolling blackouts across the state.”  

Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) tweeted, “History has been made! Congratulations for Justice Jackson!”  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “It was great to join @ChicagoVotes this morning and show support for SB828: voting in prisons. This would put Illinois in line with Maine and Vermont.” 

The Department of Public Health will provide an additional $10 million of funding Community Health Workers to continue their program, which fills health equity gaps during the pandemic. Funding for the program was set to expire Thursday.  

Gov. JB Pritzker has asked all flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the death of Marine Corp veteran Hershel “Woody” Williams. Williams, of West Virginia, was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II and died this week. Williams’ foundation has helped establish Gold Star monuments in Naperville, Springfield and at Great Lakes Naval Air Station. Flags will fly at half-staff through Sunday.  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “The 4th of July Community Celebration on 53rd Street is on Monday. If you are interested in marching behind 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King at 10:30 AM, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line 

Attn: Maya, 4th of July Volunteer or call us at 773-536-8103.”  

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “ATTENTION 10TH WARD RESIDENTS: We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Grass Root Events to host a Community Ticket Giveaway at the 10th Ward Office (10500 S Ewing Avenue) this Saturday, July 2nd at 10:00Am for the upcoming Mas Flow Fest!”  

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted “More in a major victory @activetrans regarding concrete barriers improving bike safety.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Thank you @WillGuzzardi for this beautiful breakdown of @AnthonyJQuezada’s win. This campaign worked with so little resources but so much heart and conviction. I’m still in my feelings about  all these wins.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Congrats to the winners of the 2022 Illinois Primary Election. I'm looking forward to making sure you also have a successful election in November! To the candidates who didn't win this time, we are so proud of you and the campaigns that you ran.” 

Chicago officials will secure a piece of the 1.6 million doses of monkeypox vaccine set to be made available across the United States, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. City public health officials have set a goal to “vaccinate individuals with confirmed MPV exposures and those at high-risk of having been exposed: gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who have recently had multiple sex partners in a venue where MPV is spreading.” Officials have scheduled “initial vaccine events” in “bathhouses and other community settings,” officials said. 

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Onto the General! Congratulations to @ElectVentura on her primary victory. This is an impressive victory driven by grassroots organizing.”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “120+ yrs ago Chicago figured out how to reverse the flow of a 800 ft wide, 21 ft deep, 160 mile River. Today we can’t figure out how to keep lifeguards safe & open our pools in the summer. Less than half of Chicago Park District pools set to open Tuesday”  

Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Chicago Pride recognizes and celebrates the brave members of New York's LGBTQ community who stood up for their freedom and their right to love during the Stonewall riots. I was thrilled to once again join this year's Pride parade to stand for love against hate.”  

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Congratulations to @HoanDHuynh who won the Democratic Primary for my seat last night. When you meet him, you'll know why, he's smart, compelling, deeply rooted in the community, and bursting with new ideas and enthusiasm. Proud to have you represent me!” 

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Wednesday to improve access to health food options in Illinois schools. Pritzker signed HB4813, which exempts food providers from contract bidding if they are involved in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s child nutrition program.   

The Department of Agriculture is beginning a $58.1 million construction project at the state fairgrounds in Springfield. The project renovations of the multi-purpose area, coliseum, road repairs and other maintenance to buildings at the fairgrounds. Portions of the project will take place after the state fair in mid-August.   

State Fire Marshal Matt Perez announced Wednesday he will retire Thursday after seven years at the post. Perez previously worked for the Kane County Sheriff and Aurora Fire Department. Dale Simpson will take over as acting fire marshal until a replacement is found.  

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Library officials on Wednesday announced the launch of “City of Stories,” an “all-ages and citywide approach to summer programming across through discovery, learning and fun at all 81 Library locations.” From June 27 through Aug. 14, the program will offer “a mix of online and in-person events and resources focused on education, engagement, and safety for children, teens and adults,” according to the announcement. Children and teens can register online.