Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she has appointed Ald. Michelle Harris (8) to chair a search committee to find new candidate for the appointment of 11th Ward alderman with the goal of confirming a candidate at the next City Council meeting on March 23. The search committee will also include attorney Salvador Cicero, Coalition for a Better Chinese Community director Grace Chan McKibben and radio host Jamie Trecker. The committee is charged with presenting a short list of candidates to Lightfoot so she can make the final pick. Interested candidates are asked to submit applications to [email protected] or mail applications to City Hall care of the 11th Ward Vacancy Committee by March 11.  

The Chicago Department of Public Health announced that it is taking Maryland off the city’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory, marking the first time this year every state and territory has not been on the list. Ohio, Puerto Rico, Nebraska, Nevada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia are set to come off the list next week because their average daily new case counts have dipped below 15 per 100,000 residents. Chicago’s case count on Tuesday was 10.3 per 100,000 residents, and Illinois’ daily average was 13.5 cases per 100,000. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted, “This is clearly lack of judgment on Chief Tally’s part. How can you not know what everyone else knows. Geez! CPD chief's niece told cops who busted her boyfriend for heroin, 'My auntie's probably your boss,' source says”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Now that the @CDCgov recognizes the benefits of natural immunity, @chicagosmayor & @ChiPublicHealth need to update our mitigation efforts to reflect that.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted, “VJO didn’t have the votes in council and got D&P’d by Chair. Let’s hope it doesn’t come back.”  

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) wrote in his latest newsletter that “The 19th Police District has asked my office to gather community feedback on a proposal to make Waveland, from Sheffield to the first alley west of Halsted, a permanent eastbound one-way.  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted, “Today, the Chicago City Council recognized the many contributions made to the people of our City and State by Secretary of State Jesse White. Thank you, @ILSecOfState, for your service and commitment to supporting our community throughout your career.  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “My office co-sponsored an ordinance introduced today that codifies divesting the city's multi-billion dollar portfolio from fossil fuels. This ordinance is critical to have Chicago literally put its money where its values are by encouraging investment in green energy.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted that the upcoming removal of the city’s mask mandate is “a tremendous milestone in our fight against COVID-19. However, many local residents will likely still opt to wear masks for the immediate future. Please be respectful of individual choice and not do anything that makes your neighbors, family, and friends uncomfortable.” 

The Illinois Housing Development Authority will begin accepting applications in April for the Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund program, which will provide up to $30,000 in free assistance per homeowner paid directly to the servicer, taxing body or other approved entity on behalf of Illinois homeowners impacted by COVID-19 to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures. Program information is available online.  

The group Illinois PIRG published an analysis finding that Illinois voter registration jumped by about 37 percent, translating to an additional 111,000 voter applications every year, since the state put its Automatic Voter Registration system in place in 2017. 

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am pleased that we are one step closer to addressing a critical lack of inclusion in the very center of democracy in this state. We need to make our capitol grounds more accessible to all.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Today’s head scratcher: a Republican colleague just voted no, remotely, on a motion to allow 2 of his fellow Republican caucus members to…vote remotely #twill"  

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who took the time to reach out and wish me well after my recent battle with the ice. Doctor confirmed tears to Quad tendon, MCL and rotator cuff. I love serving my community because #Serving17 is a mentality so I am back at my duty station for session.”  

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “By offering an economic incentive for vehicles made in Illinois, we can make the decision easy when it comes down to purchasing in- versus out-of-state cars.”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Today I was honored to welcome the Honorable Counsel General of Israel to the Midwest @YinamCohen to the Capitol. I enjoyed speaking with him about his country, foreign affairs and about ways to strengthen the relationship between Israel and the State of Illinois.” 

Chicago business owners will be allowed starting next Tuesday to apply with the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection for permits to place A-frame signs outside their doors, the department announced Tuesday. While a relatively common practice, the signs are illegal in Chicago but the ban will be lifted March 1 in accordance with the city’s “Chi Biz Strong” ordinance passed last year. Applications will be available on the city’s Inspections, Permitting & Licensing web portal.  

Cook County Republican Party chair Sean Morrison announced the appointment of Latasha Fields as the new 3rd Ward Republican committeewoman, Carl Ivan as Bremen township committeeman and Katie Justak as Lyons Township Republican committeewoman. Fields oversees a conservative Christrian group called Our Report Ministries & Publications, Ivan is a Midlothian village trustee and Justak is a public relations professional. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “The same mayor who blames the judicial system every chance she gets for her failures now trusts the judicial system to do the right thing?”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “I dream of a day when our city makes the very intentional decision to embrace a Treatment Not Trauma approach to safety where people who need help will get it right away instead of being punished for needing it. For  that we have to invest in permanent structures of care.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Currently joined by colleagues and coalition that are adamantly opposed to the Mayor’s “Victim’s Justice” ordinance, which we believe to be ill-conceived, ill-considered, ineffective, and wasteful mismanagement of resources. We urge Alders to vote NO.”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) tweeted “Glad to hear masks are still required on public transit because, you know, everyone’s playing by the rules on public transit lately.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “In case you missed it - I was joined by Alderpersons around the city, @CookCoDefender @livefreechicago @ACLUofIL @ChiAppleseed @ChiCouncilLaw 

to voice our strong opposition to the Mayor's Victims' Justice Ordinance. Watch our presser here: https://bit.ly/36mRSp6” 

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced a new monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 is being made available in Illinois. Bebtelovimab recently received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. The treatment is given by an IV injection and is used to treat patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 who are at high risk for hospitalization or death from COVID-19.  

The Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative announced Patrice James has been named the organization’s founding executive director. James was previously the director of community justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. 

Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) tweeted, “I'm proud to sponsor a bill that ensures the  

@DQStateFair continues its almost century long legacy in southern Illinois. #ILFairs #ILGA"  

Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Thank you to @wttw Chicago Tonight and Nick Blumberg for speaking with me and drawing more attention to our work to rid Chicago and Illinois of dangerous lead piping in our water infrastructure.”  

Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) tweeted, “If the Supreme Court is going to allow civil suits against those who violate a law like they did with their ruling in Texas, then I’m going to use that same logic to try to prevent senseless gun violence in Illinois.”  

Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Chicago) tweeted a graphic of Europe’s dependence on Russian energy: “For those of you who follow our energy policy in our state, nationally and globally. This is the dark side of natural resources. This is why it is important to continue to invest in our renewable energy market while maintaining adequate base load.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Walking down to the basement tunnel to the Capitol, 2 lobbyists in the stairwell peeled off to walk outside. As we said goodbye, I caught myself before calling out “make good choices,” something I jokingly say to the boys when saying goodbye. Disengage mom mode, enable legislator”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Joined my local @advocatehealth Trinity Hospital in the fight to defeat Covid and help our yours seniors as they donated free masks directly to my neighbors at Montclare Senior Residence of Calumet Heights 🩺😷🏥 #advocatehospital”  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Last year, I championed legislation to empower Local School Councils. Now, you have the opportunity to apply to run for your LSC.” 

The application period to be on the interim citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability has been extended to Thursday as the city seeks more applicants specifically from Chicago’s South and West sides and applicants ages 18-24. The City Council last year approved the ordinance establishing civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department. So far, 34 people have applied for positions on the seven-member commission, Ald. Harry Osterman (48) told The Daily Line on Friday. Those interested in applying can find more information, including qualifications, on the City Council’s Committee on Committees and Rules’ website.    

City Bureau will host a virtual Public Newsroom event at 6 pm. Tuesday to celebrate the launch of its new guide titled “Will That New Development Benefit Your Community?: A People’s Guide to Community Benefits Agreements and Alternatives.” Online registration is required. 

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) shared a Sun-Times op-ed in support of Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi.  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted, “Lightfoot has been clear on her intentions, she wants to interfere with the selection process of the new IG to have someone who “stays their lane”. Lightfoot has done little to nothing to fight corruption in City Hall & has continued the same old practices of the past.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, Bringing neighbors together to advance our community's shared compassionate values - it's what [Anthony Quezada] does. And that's why we're building a movement to elect him as our next County Commissioner.  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “Shout out to @RamForSenate, @RepKellyCassidy, @MikeSimmonsChi, @mike_cabonargi, @DanPogoFC, Mike Weaver, @ArielleMaffei and @Theresa Flynn for being such great people to work with and hit doors with! 

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Chicago chapter will host a panel event at 7 p.m. Tuesday titled “Black Votes Matter: Voter Suppression and the Effect of Redistricting in our Black and Brown Communities.” The panel will include Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago), attorney Ami Gandhi of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and leaders of the League of Women Voters of Chicago. The event will be broadcast on Facebook Live. 

Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) tweeted, “Honored to receive the Champion for Justice Award from the Coalition to End Money Bond and the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice.”  

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) tweeted, “420 bills on second reading. Going to be a busy prep week. Bill review can be lonely!”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Another great event in DuPage County yesterday. The restaurant that hosted us never closed during Pritzker’s unconstitutional lockdowns. I support small businesses and will fight to keep them open and thriving in Illinois.”  

Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Today we honor another 17th District legend, former Cook County Board President, the Honorable John H. Stroger, Jr. President Stroger was committed to his community and empowerment thru service.” 

City Bureau will host a virtual Public Newsroom event at 6 pm. Tuesday to celebrate the launch of its new guide titled “Will That New Development Benefit Your Community?: A People’s Guide to Community Benefits Agreements and Alternatives.” Online registration is required.  

The Chicago Department of Transportation announced that Greencorps Chicago, the Chicago’s “green industry training program for individuals with barriers to employment,” is now accepting applications for paid positions. The $15-per-hour jobs will get underway in late March, and candidates are encouraged to apply online by the end of February.  

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi will host webinars on his office’s "Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program” enabled by new state tax credits. The webinars will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, and again at the same time on March 1 and March 8.

Ald. George Cardenas (12) shared a Wall Street Journal article titled “H ow Government Spending Fuels Inflation” and tweeted, “And they want to spend more. Fiscal policy my friends. Stop spending! What’s the use of wage increases?”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted of the denied permit for RMG, “Get ready for the $150 Million lawsuit against taxpayers for this manufactured crisis brought to you by @chicagosmayor.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “No evidence that a referendum will cost taxpayers millions! We can’t put a price tag on voting rights! #RepresentationCounts #wecount”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that he voted against the gang asset forfeiture “for several reasons, including the fact that federal and county prosecutors are already empowered to bring these suits, that none of county-based lawsuits have resulted in any forfeitures in recent decades, and that city attorneys may ultimately spend less time pursuing cases involving unlawful gun sales and cigarette marketing.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted that the gang asset forfeiture ordinance set for a vote on Wednesday “will exacerbate existing due process issues with civil asset forfeiture, will result in the targeting of community and family members of individuals who haven’t been convicted of criminal activity, and it is a policy that has proven to be woefully ineffective in reducing crime.”  

Cook County Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-10) tweeted, “Redlining, contract buying, the Cook County Scavenger Sale- all ways our own government - willfully or willfully blind- holds back Black homeownership, Black neighborhoods and our collective tax base. 

Gov. JB Pritzker is appointing PNC Bank senior vice president Dorothy Abreu as the next chair of the Illinois Tollway Board. The board’s current chair Will Evans is stepping down immediately after three years on the job. Abreu also works as president of the Latino Policy Forum.   

Gov. JB Pritzker appointed Elizabeth Nohren to serve as public administrator and guardian of Fayette, Montgomery, Effingham and Shelby Counties. Pritzker also appointed Katrina Anthony to the Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities, Dawn Jeffries to the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority, Jaya Kolisetty to the Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate Surveys and Amber Smock to the Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission.  

First Lady MK Pritzker is donating a bust of Abraham Lincoln to his presidential library and museum in Springfield. The bust was once owned by Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd at their Springfield home. Pritzker purchased it at an auction earlier this month.

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I had the pleasure of attending Illinois Environmental Council Lobby Day and I want to say, thank you to all 172 community members, organizers, and Illinoisans who are fighting alongside me in support of enfranchising those who are serving time in our state prisons.”  

Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) tweeted, “The equitable progress Will Evans brought to the Illinois Tollway was a step toward bridging historical disparities that have long plagued our workforce.”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “This week I was honored to welcome representatives from @iwlocal63 to the Capitol. These hardworking labor leaders were in town for their advocacy day and fighting for policies that promote strong wages for working families across Illinois.”  

Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) tweeted, “Mental health is as important as physical health. There should be accessible and quality resources available in the event of an emergency. This initiative will make treatment in times of crisis accessible for anyone who dials 9-8-8.”  

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted, “The 4th District Appellate Court has rejected the Governor’s appeal of a lower court ruling that nullified his COVID-19 mandates for schools. The people of this state have had enough of this Governor's unilateral power grab.”  

Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) tweeted, “Lincoln Way North (@LWDistrict210) is the premier location to train our @ILStatePolice troopers. There’s no doubt that we have a shortage, this location would draw recruits from the Chicagoland area.”  

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Earlier this week, HB 5581, my legislation to designate the "Milwaukee Avenue Polish Heritage Corridor" was passed out of the House Transportation Committee.”  

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) tweeted, “Just heard over 600+ school districts have walked away from JB's mandates after he threatened them...and that was before he got kicked out of the Appellate Court last night. Think about: JB has pushed 70%+ of locally elected school board's to the brink...Expect more today.” 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago will hold its annual awards event at 7 p.m. on March 10 to honor John Rogers, co-CEO of Ariel Investments. Rogers will be in conversation with Neighborhood Housing Services president Anthony Simpkins. Online registration is required. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted a GoFundMe link and wrote “Hope you’ll join me in contributing to support Jordan, who was the victim of the recent shooting at the Point. He’s a generous and kind young man and he absolutely deserves our support.”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “Thanks @Ald_Reboyras for signing up for this year's Chicago Polar Plunge supporting @SpecialOChi See you at the beach!”  

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted a statement on the committee passage of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal to sue gang members and seize their assets, writing “this effort is misguided and based on ineffective and outdated attempts to reduce violence in our communities...this ordinance will not lead to any meaningful reduction in crime or gun violence, and I will ask the City Council to oppose the ‘Victim’s Justice Ordinance.’”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “My colleague @RossanaFor33 just asked Chicago's Deputy Mayor for Public Safety what evidence exists that civil asset forfeiture helps prevent crime. His answer: he had a conversation with an unnamed county officials who said it works.  

What? That's the "evidence"?”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted a statement Lightfoot’s proposal to sue gang members writing, “moving this legislation forward should be of concern to all Chicagoans.”  

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) in his latest newsletter wrote “This past week, I was proud to celebrate Black History Month by speaking at the official renaming of Agassiz Elementary to Harriet Tubman Elementary. In a CPS district first, it was the students themselves who advocated for the name change and selected the new name. Harriet Tubman represented the best aspects of America and the students could not have chosen a better name.” 

Sen. Mike Simmons’ (D-Chicago) chief of staff Izzy Dobbel announced Thursday was taking a position with Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign as the women’s outreach director. Dobbel has previously worked in legislative affairs at the Cook County Commissioner’s office.   

The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host a discussion with Department of Central Management Services Director Janel Forde on Zoom at 3 p.m. Friday. is required.   

The Illinois Senate will not meet Friday as scheduled. The Senate will return to Springfield on Tuesday. The House will still meet as scheduled at 10 a.m. on Friday.

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Justice McCuskey is a man who has been praised by Democrats and Republicans for fairness, impartiality, and integrity. I'm thrilled that the Illinois House took action today.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “One of my proudest moments in Springfield was passing legislation in 2017 drastically curtailing civil asset forfeiture. I even got a pen at the signing ceremony — from Gov. Rauner. Everyone, D and R, knows it doesn't work. Sad to see the City reviving this failed policy.”  

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Big Day! I passed HB 5525 out of committee, a bill that will establish a commission on children of incarcerated parents to address the needs of the 200K children in IL & their parents impacted by  incarceration and my baby niece Zoe Catalina was born just a few hours ago!”  

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) tweeted, “This is reminiscent of when the Senate Dems brought Covid positive members to town to vote to take over the Illinois judiciary. "Do as I say, not as I do." And never mind the courts aren't supposed to be political pawns in the first place!”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “Thank you Rep. McCombie for your stand.”  

Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am pleased to see that we are one step closer to addressing IL’s epic teacher shortage by removing the barriers that prevent retired professional educators from returning to the classroom.”  

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) tweeted, “A measure I passed through the Senate yesterday will further deter folks from speeding through school zones or passing school buses and really reflect on how their actions could harm young students.”  

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Judge McCuskey. He represents ethics, morality and good judgement in his personal life, and I look forward to his staunch and conscientious review of this body.”