Gov. JB Pritzker and leaders of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Tuesday announced an $8 million expansion of the Apprenticeship Illinois program. The expansion will stretch the program to “serve an additional 750 apprentices across key industries, with plans to reach underserved populations as well as industries heavily impacted by COVID-19,” according to an announcement. The expansion is being funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, officials said. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted, “It has been 124 days since the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, of which Chicago received $1.9 billion in federal aid that could be going toward social supports that have been shown to lead to a measurable reduction in crime.” 

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted, the “Chicago Department of Public Health reports that a West Nile Virus positive mosquito trap has been found in the 19th Ward near 95th & Charles St. CDPH officials will monitor the area and take appropriate action following additional testing.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted she is “rooting” for Nikole Hannah-Jones “to stand with non-tenured unionized faculty in their fight to get the treatment they deserve. Kindergarten teachers need to be valued just as much. Among other things they teach babies to READ and be kind. Both deserve the best, no need to compare worth.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, “A new NIMBY group was launched this week to oppose a 300-unit multifamily development proposed for former site of Gordon Tech HS (at #IrvingPark / #Avondale border). Group calls itself ‘California Park Neighb Assoc’ & former Ald. Dick Mell is on the board” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) retweeted a Block Club story about how The Wilson Men's Hotel has reopened offering upscale "micro-apartments" and wrote, “We've gotta do more to save our remaining SROs. They provide sustainable, affordable housing for many and seeing this flip is outrageous. Let's preserve what we have left.” 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted a link to her radio appearance with the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce.  

Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Comm. Rosa Escareño and Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Comm. Mark Kelly will both step down from their roles in the coming months, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday. Escareño, who has led the business affairs department since 2017, will retire at the end of July and be succeeded by First Deputy Comm. Kenneth Meyer in an acting capacity, officials said. Kelly, who was appointed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2016, will step down “in the fall,” according to the announcement. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health reactivated its COVID-19 Emergency Travel Order on Tuesday, announcing that unvaccinated travelers from Missouri and Arkansas must obtain a negative test result or quarantine for 10 days upon visiting Chicago. The two states were added back into the city’s “Orange Tier” because their daily COVID-19 caseloads exceed 15 new cases per 100,000 residents. The department had not listed any states in its Orange Tier since May 18, and on June 29 officials changed the emergency travel order to an “advisory.” Officials added that case rates have been “steadily increasing” in Nevada, Louisiana, Utah, Wyoming, and Florida, which may soon be added to the list of travel-restricted states. 

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted an image of her recently attending a renaming of Twin Creeks Park to Rick Drazner Park.  

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “I will be co-hosting a free Mental Wellness Fair on Monday, July 19 with @SenatorHolmes.” 

Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) tweeted a reminder about his July 13 event with the Secretary of State’s office to offer mobile services in his district.  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted about a July 24 “Yoga in the Park” event she is co-hosting with Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) is set to co-host a series of in-person town halls this week. On Tuesday, Harmon and Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) will host a 6:30 p.m. event at Brooks Middle School in Oak Park. On Wednesday, Harmon, Lilly and Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Addison) will hold a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Centre at North Park in Franklin Park. On Thursday, Harmon and Willis will hold a town hall at Northlake’s city hall at 6:30 p.m.  

The Illinois Department of Public Health said Monday the latest winners of its COVID-19 vaccine lottery were residents of Quincy, Springfield and Chicago. The three winners will be awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.  

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) wrote in his most recent newsletter that his 2nd Ward service office at 1400 N. Ashland Ave. is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Residential Zone Parking Permits are also available for purchase. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) wrote in a tweet thread, “Do the people tweeting #SOSCuba want capitalism and the US to do to Cuba what it has done to Haiti? If you want to help the Cuban people achieve an even greater life expectancy demand an end to the US embargo - not a US military intervention a la Iraq or Afghanistan.” 

Cook County Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted a “reminder” that he is hosting a town hall on regional infrastructure and public transportation at 6 p.m. July 22.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) and Ald. Matt Martin (47) are set to host a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday on “climate solutions” the City Council is considering. Discussion topics will include building decarbonization, electric vehicle infrastructure and “a green bank for Chicago,” according to the event invitation. Clean energy and climate experts from the Illinois Environmental Council will also be on hand to answer questions. Registration is available online. 

The Chicago Department of Transportation is scheduled to hold a virtual community meeting at 6 p.m. July 27 to introduce plans for streetscape work along Lincoln Avenue from Western Avenue to Catalpa Avenue, including Catalpa Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to Western Avenue. In addition to introducing and discussing the potential scope of the streetscape project, officials from the transportation department are expected to look at existing conditions, seek feedback and provider a question-and-answer session. Registration is available online.

Lauren Maniatis will join the Chicago Board of Ethics on Aug. 2 as an investigator/attorney, board executive director Steve Berlin announced during Monday’s board meeting. She comes from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and will fill the vacancy left by Ana Collazo, who left in April to become assistant inspector general for the City Colleges of Chicago. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted images from a recent graduation ceremony when he served as keynote speaker.  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted an image of one of her office staff members at a booth at an event in her district.  

Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) tweeted images from a recent event in which he said the Rockford Black Chamber of Commerce was “rebirthed.”  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted she is hosting her mobile office hours at Buffalo Grove Park District’s Alcott Center on July 13.  

Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) tweeted “stalking and the threat of confrontation is a constant worry for survivors of abuse. This year I helped pass legislation that better secures survivors’ private information.”

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission will host its annual College Changes Everything Conference virtually from July 12 to July 16. The conference will host education professionals, students, the business community and others to discuss education-related topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, the topic of the keynote panel. Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz will kick off the multiday event, which will also include an Illinois Board of Higher Education discussion about the state’s 10-year strategic plan for higher education. In total, the conference will feature more than 50 livestream sessions. Advanced registration is required. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) shared a post noting that 26 people have been charged in a shooting or attempted murder while released on bond this year, adding, “I think anyone would agree this is a problem.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Joining my @SEIU73 brothers & sisters demanding fairness from @cookcountygov at @TasteofChi #UnionStrong” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) shared a video of himself jumping over a fence to get a traffic cone so he could mark a pothole on a street in his ward. 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) shared a Tribune editorial about a long stretch of undeveloped land in Lake County and wrote, “The state spent $53 million and the best use of land is for a park. The best use of public money along the Chicago River is the ⁦@NorthBranchPark⁩.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that he “met with many of [his]colleagues in the City Council Black Caucus to discuss potential priorities for how to allocate the $1.8 billion in COVID-related stimulus funds that Chicago will be receiving from the federal government.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) wrote in his latest newsletter that he spoke with Chicago Police Department leaders and “requested the reinstatement of bike patrols in 20th and 24th Districts, which were reassigned last summer due to COVID and have not returned. These bike patrols have been critical aspects of summer safety in our community in previous years and I will work with my colleagues to have them restored.” 

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) shared a Facebook post from Paul Vallas and wrote that many shootings are the “Result of 100% manufactured criminal justice experiment policy. States Attorney Kim FOXX & Chief Judge Evans, your prosecutorial and judicial sentence guidelines policies are horrible, end them now!”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday announced Cesar Rodriguez as her new press secretary. Rodriguez was previously a national news correspondent for the E.W. Scripps Company, a freelance reporter with CBS2 Chicago and a sports anchor at Telemundo Chicago. Lightfoot had not had a permanent press secretary since Jordan Troy stepped down from the post in April. Rodriguez joins Alejandra Flores Rebollar, whom the mayor hired this month as her deputy press secretary for education and human services.  

Lightfoot on Friday announced the launch of the “Summer Kickback Series," an initiative to “provide safe spaces, programs, and other opportunities for Chicago youth, ages 14 to 19 across 15 communities on the South and West side of Chicago.” The Summer Kickback Series is the latest plank of “My CHI My Future,” the mayor's youth afterschool and summer programming initiative. 

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted a New York Times story about climate change, saying “Chicago is not immune to the ravages of the climate crisis.” 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted a link to a Tribune story about a recent shooting, saying “Something is terribly wrong. The uncompromising cadence of death and violence is ripping through our streets with no regard.”  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted about an ice cream social event she will be hosting on July 25 with Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).   

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “This month I am going to kick-off the people’s legislative councils for the 7th District. I’m excited to meet with constituents from groups like single mothers, longtime residents, senior citizens, and more. This will inform my entire legislative agenda.”

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted a video encouraging residents in her district to attend an upcoming Back to School Vaccine Clinic.  

The Illinois State Fair announced Thursday Bret Michaels, Dee Snider, Dokken and George Lynch have been added to lineup for the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on August 21. The state fair, which begins on Aug. 12 and runs through Aug. 22, will also feature performances by Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Kane Brown with Restless Road, Toby Keith, Chris Young and George Thorogood. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday announced the home cities and counties of the winners of the state’s first COVID-19 lottery drawing. A $1 million prize went to a Chicago resident, while three $150,000 scholarships were handed out to three separate individuals living in Chicago, DeKalb County and suburban Cook County.  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) sent a news release announcing the launch of a fundraising campaign to back an $8 million expansion for Rudy Lozano Library in Pilsen. He was joined at an event to launch the effort by U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.), state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago), Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) and Cook County Comm. Alma Anaya (D-7). 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “FYI, @POTUS signed the ARP Act into law on March 11th and asked Treasury to expedite funds to cities. To date Chicago has half of the $1.9 billion in our account and none of that money has been appropriated as Chicagoans are still struggling from the pandemic. Let’s go!!!!!” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) invited his constituents to participate in a “visioning survey” for streetscape work on Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Catalpa avenues. 

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Department of Public Health on Thursday announced an expansion of their Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, which is “designed to divert individuals with a substance use disorder away from the criminal justice system and towards treatment and recovery services.” The program launched in late 2018 in the West Side Harrison District and has since expanded to 11 districts. But it will expand to all 22 districts in the city by the end of the year, officials said Thursday. The program allows arrestees 18 or older with “no previous violent arrests” to “opt into a substance use disorder assessment with a clinician.”   

Chicago Department of Transportation officials held an event with Lyft and Ald. Michael Scott (24) on Thursday to kick off the expansion of the Divvy bikeshare system into the city’s Northwest and Southwest Side, with 107 new stations set to be spread across the 35-square-mile expansion zone. The expansion will extend the Divvy network out to the city’s western limits between Irving Park Road and 51st Street. The city plans by the end of next year for the stations to be located all over the city, including the Far Northwest Side and Far Southwest Side areas not currently covered. 

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted an image of her attending President Joe Biden’s speech at McHenry County College.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) similarly tweeted an image of him at the Biden event standing in front of the president’s podium, adding, “Who else is having a good day? Let’s Build Back Better!!!”  

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted an image of him and several other elected officials at the Biden event, including Welch, Gong-Gershowitz, Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) and Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview). 

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted “Recently, the Mount Vernon Chapter of the Disable American Veterans dedicated a new van for use in transporting veterans to and from VA visits. It was an honor to be invited to the dedication and support our veterans.”

Illinois’ first lottery drawing for residents who received the COVID-19 vaccine is set to take place Thursday. The first drawing will provide one vaccinated resident with a $1 million prize and three vaccinated youth with $150,000 scholarships. The winners will be contacted by the Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday. The drawing will take place in the afternoon with the health department announcing the counties or cities of the winners.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted, “The violence in Chicago is heartbreaking. Need more investment in and respect for groups like @AcclivusChicago who are out here on these streets. I’m advocating for support for a anti violence public service announcement campaign and mediation hotline.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Despite @ChicagoWater’s best efforts, over a half dozen hydrants remained open last night in the 15th Ward. This is more than just an inconvenience to residents - it’s dangerous. Chicago needs a better solutions to keep hydrants secure.” 

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted that “The Chicago Police Department - Area 2 Detectives are talking to a person of interest regarding the shooting of (2) federal agents and (1) CPD officer early this morning.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted a photo of “a historic meeting in Pilsen today” with more than a dozen elected Latino leaders at the city, county and state level. 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) shared Better Government Assocation’s investigation of carjackings and tweeted, “Thank you, thank you @BetterGov for the real answer to what we have been asking for several years - what happens to juvenile offenders? Answer - nothing.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) included updates in his latest newsletter on street closures resulting from the CTA Red Purple Modernization project in his ward. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) quote-tweeted a statement from United Working Families and added, “President Biden and Congress intended ARPA funds to support housing, jobs, small business, public health and violence prevention. Wall Street doesn't need our help, Chicagoans do.” 

The Right to Recovery Coalition, including Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) and leaders of the groups GoodKids MadCity and Southsiders Together Organizing for Power, will host a virtual news conference at 9 a.m. Thursday calling on Mayor Lori Lightfoot “to immediately allocate [American Rescue Plan Act] funds that the city has received and use it to address root causes of violence, not fund more police.”

The Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission will hold its next round of virtual public hearings at 11 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. next Tuesday, July 13 to gather public input on the city’s remap process. Participants can sign up online to testify. 

The Metropolitan Planning Council will host a virtual event at 10 a.m. July 17 called “Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy: Lead Service Lines.” WBEZ reporter Monica Eng will moderate a panel including Thomas Nagle of Robinson Engineering, Ian Robinson of Blue Conduit and Alexis Woodrow of Denver Water. The Metropolitan Planning Council will host a follow-up event at 10 a.m. on Aug. 19 titled “Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy: Asset Management.” Online registration is required for the July event and the August event.