Illinois’ unemployment rate remained steady at 4.5 percent in September, according to the Department of Employment Security. Non-farm jobs increased by 14,500 during the month as well with the largest gains in the educational and health services area. The state’s unemployment rate continues to remain one percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.5 percent.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Halloween Town is coming to Wicker Park this Saturday (10am-1:30pm) 🎃 Families are invited to come out for games, face painting, a costume contest, arts & crafts, and of course candy!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Last month, more than 100 neighbors came out to hear updates about our work on transportation and infrastructure. 🚲 Because this event was over capacity, we’re hosting a SECOND  Infrastructure Ward Night Out tonight. 📍 Martyrs (3855 N Lincoln Ave) 🔗http://bit.ly/transport47”  

Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted “I was proud to join @ToniPreckwinkle, @FPDCC, and the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers at the ribbon cutting for the new 13 mile mountain biking trail now open at the Paul Douglas Preserve right here in the 15th district. Read more about it here: https://t.co/uyWQMuBg9D”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Eugene Debs is an American hero, a working-class hero, and an example for American socialists and all who labor to create a better world” in response to a tweet commemorating the anniversary of his death.  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “Police have released footage of a suspect in the homicide in our neighborhood on Monday evening. If you have any information, contact Area Three Detective Perricone #21169 at 312-744-8261. You can also submit an anonymous tip at http://CPDTIP.com.”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Did you notice the new trees on along 37th street between Lake Park Ave and Ellis Ave? They were planted on Tuesday. Trees are one small part of our goal to create safe and healthy communities in every corner of the ward.” 

The CTA unveiled its 2023 budget on Thursday. The transit agency’s proposed $1.8 billion operating budget does not include fare increases and aims to improve service and modernize its system, according to a news release. CTA’s full budget proposal can be found online. 

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Our coalition of Northwest Side elected officials have released the following statement denouncing Gubernatorial Candidate @DarrenBaileyIL's racist remarks scapegoating immigrants for crime and violence.”  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Yesterday I met with leaders at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center to talk about behavioral health, national staffing shortages in the medical field and continued improvements to their hospital system. And a bonus - meeting therapy dogs in the lobby!”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Had a quick visit this morning with some awesome, dedicated men at the Springfield Firefighter’s Club! Thank you for your service!”  

Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) tweeted, “I had the opportunity to sit down with educators, community leaders, and advocates at Friendship House of Crystal Lake to learn more about the issues facing the Early Childhood education system + collaborate on potential steps Illinois can take to better support the work they do”  

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) tweeted, “I take personal offense to the comments made by @DarrenBaileyIL in last night’s debate. Fear-mongering and lying to voters with his extremist views regarding immigrants shows he has no place in the Governorship.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Time to end DST and make it permanent!”  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) tweeted, “The City of North Chicago hosted a public safety open house where residents had the opportunity to learn about the efforts of the fire and police departments to prioritize safety, examine fire trucks and see responders handle various emergencies.”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “It has been a great run over the past decade with my friend @RodneyDavis and I'm proud to be part of Team Davis. He will be missed as a tremendous voice for Illinois on Capitol Hill, but I also know he and Shannon won't miss the grind!” 

Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office announced the state reached a settlement agreement with Stepan Company in Elwood to pay $360,735 in response to environmental violations. Raoul’s complaint against the company argued it violated multiple air quality regulations. 

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted “another winter covid wave is beginning, now is a good time to get your booster, and get a flu shot too @nytimes.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “So in Chicago, a police officer who hangs out with, engaged online with, and shares the mindset of the Proud Boys - a known hate group - doesn’t get fired for lying about it, but some want to rebuild trust between police and communities of color?”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33) tweeted “‘New York has poured $55 million into the city’s program; San Francisco’s SCRT has a $13 million annual budget funded by a city business tax. Chicago allocated $3.5 million to CARE in its 2022 budget’ That’s a no for me.” while posting a link to a Bloomberg article about Chicago’s Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement team.   

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Bullying is too common - and preventable. October is #NationalBullyingPreventionMonth - together, we can create a kinder society. Head to http://stopbullying.gov to learn how you can become an upstander by identifying bullying and standing up to it safely. @StopBullyingGov”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Join the Department of Water Management (@ChicagoWater) and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (@MWRDGC) on Monday, October 24th at 6pm for a meeting about last month’s supercell storm and the way Chicago’s sewer system operates.” 

As of Wednesday evening, 3,087 Chicagoans had cast their ballots early for the Nov. 8 General Election. Additionally, the Chicago Board of Elections has received 20,120 Vote By Mail ballots for a total of 23,207 ballots cast so far for the Nov. 8 election. 

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) tweeted, “During Senator Stoller and his team's visit to the 30th District, we had breakfast at Walker Brothers in Lincolnshire and talked about the importance of working together in Springfield on behalf of all Illinoisans. Thank you for coming!”  

Rep. Daneil Didech (D-Buffalo Grove) tweeted, “Bailey’s the first nominee to take marching orders from a guy who says that Jews “better get their act together” “before it is too late”. Yeah I think the governor has a good point here.”  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Honored to represent one of the Coolest Neighborhoods in the World! While Time Out just ranked Avondale #16 in the coolest neighborhoods in the world, we already knew it to be home to a longstanding vibrant community of Polish immigrants and decedents”  

Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) tweeted, “Please join @DuPageSheriff James Mendrick & I on Thursday (10/20) between 7-8pm at Wilder Mansion in #Elmhurst for a discussion of the SAFE-T Act & its impact on individuals & small businesses. The law takes full effect January 1, 2023.” 

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 18 organizations across the state will receive $3.7 million of grants to address public health disparities highlighted by the pandemic. The grants are made possible through the federal ARISE Program. Recipients are located in Lake, Madison, Champaign, Clay, Will, DuPage, Ford, Iroquois, Adams, Kankakee, Effingham, McHenry, Kane, and Sangamon Counties. The Coordinated Care Alliance and Rainbow Café, which cover multiple counties, will also receive grants.  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33) tweeted “The Chicago Public Mental Health clinics are a great resource but are not promoted. We’ve been asking CDPH for years to create a dedicated website to promote them and to make appointments online. Crickets. Please continue sharing this important resource. We need it so much.” She tweeted in response to a post lauding the clinics for providing a fast and easy process to schedule an intake.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Our Ward Superintendent is hard at work filling bulk orders of bin replacements, removing damaged bins to help abate rats in our alleys! 1st Ward Staff regularly use 311 Service Request data to coordinate this request. Never hesitate to call or email us if you have cart issues.”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Attention those with student loans! The federal loan forgiveness application is open: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/student-loan-forgiveness-application-beta-version-launches/ar-AA12YRvy.”   

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted “Last Saturday, @chicagosmayor and I gathered with local residents, @UptownUnited, and others to rededicate the Winthrop Family Historical Garden to honor the Black residents who fought racist segregation to make Uptown their home. Winthrop Family Garden 2022 Ribbon Cutting”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “🎃 We have a few more FREE pumpkins left to reserve for tomorrow's pumpkin painting event at Ainslie Art Plaza. Reserve yours here while supplies last 👉🏽 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzrRLcZKi7BXwxnQh-Ot4e7_sWOn7KVLYkhT4iZvBAAibpVw/viewform” 

The Office of Inspector General’s Public Safety section on Tuesday posted a draft of its 2023 Outlook on Police Oversight and Accountability for public comment. The draft of the report is available online. 

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “This weekend I joined Dan Johnson, Goodwill CEO and Johanna Wagner, who leads the veterans program at Goodwill for their 14th annual Stand Down for Veterans event. Goodwill is exemplary in all the good work they do for the veterans of our community.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Thank you @LFCollege for the invitation to speak to one of your classes. I had such a great time with Christine Walker's Public Policy Study class. I always love speaking with students and discussing important rising matters.”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “It’s October 17, 2022, and it’s our anniversary. Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife Shawnte. 12 down and a lifetime to go”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “This week the @Springfield_IL flag flies from our home in advance of Saturday's 105th birthday of this beautiful banner, designed via a @SpringfieldArt contest in 1917. SAA: maybe we can start an annual event encouraging our citizens to fly this great flag?!” 

Gov. JB Pritzker issued an updated executive order Monday ending the weekly testing requirement for unvaccinated health care workers and ending the mask requirement in health care facilities and long-term care facilities. The new order falls in line with federal regulations and guidance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masking in places with high community transmission of COVID-19. Health care workers and long-term care employees also no longer fall under a vaccine mandate from the state, but federal rules from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services require employees at Medicaid and Medicare-certified facilities to be vaccinated.   

A federal judge issued a ruling Monday that blocks a state law passed in the spring prohibiting out-of-state contributions to judicial campaigns and limiting contributions to $500,000 from a single source to a judicial campaign. Plaintiffs sued the state with assistance from the Liberty Justice Center to block the law from taking effect during the 2022 election cycle. The ruling means expenditures in judicial races are no longer capped to $500,000 from a single source and out-of-state funds are permitted. Both Illinois Supreme Court races had self-funding caps removed earlier this year.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “We need a fully staffed CDPH to achieve our robust public safety and public health goals. Chicago needs a fully funded public health infrastructure to deliver this programming.”  

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “Attention 10th Ward Residents:  There will be a closure on 122nd street between Torrence and Stoney Island due to track repair. The repairs are scheduled from 10/18 through 10/21 and should be open afterwards!” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Taking deep breaths at this CDPH budget hearing. God help me.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “This is not going to end anytime soon and this is why the @ChiLatinoCaucus has demanded the @chicagosmayor declare a state of emergency. We must ensure those seeking asylum are treated with dignity and our not for profits have the necessary resources to provide services.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Had a great weekend with #mariafor49 meet and greets and joining the campaign launch of our community candidates for the 24th District Council EdVetté Jones, Rev. Marilyn Pagán-Banks and Veronica Arreola. Learn more about the candidates at http://uniting24.com” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) is hosting a “Transportation and Infrastructure Ward Night Out” at Martyrs,’ 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., at 7 p.m. Thursday. Martin and ward staff will discuss work they have done to increase bike and pedestrian safety, what they’re working on and how more work can be done citywide. Martin’s newsletter says the event is part of “a new initiative in our office to bring ward office services directly to you!” Additional information and registration is available online.  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, ““State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, was among the more passionate panelists Friday. “In Illinois, money bond prioritizes access to wealth over public safety,” Peters said. “Cash bail ends up being a tax on poor communities. It deprives families of money they need to pay rent.””  

Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) tweeted, “I’m a proud member of the “gang of 19” who demanded new leadership in Springfield. That’s why I supported leadership term limits and stricter ethic guidelines.”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “To keep all our elections free from dark money, I am proud to have been appointed to the Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force. The task force will look into overhauling how we fund judicial elections to ensure they are fair and free from outside influence.”  

Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) tweeted, “The Teachers Unions have done more harm to student achievement & wellbeing than any other entity-especially in Chicago. It’s time to prioritize students.”  

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) tweeted, ““Environment created by Democratic machine” as another company faces charges in Madigan pay-to-play scheme… had enough yet??” 

AT&T will admit guilt and pay a $23 million fine as a result of a criminal investigation into the company’s attempts to influence former House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), federal prosecutors announced Friday. The company made payments to former Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago), though he was not a registered lobbyist for AT&T. Federal prosecutors also announced new conspiracy charges against Madigan and his associate Mike McClain for directing payments to a political ally in the AT&T scheme.  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “We are creating safe and healthy communities in every corner of the ward. Thanks to Family & Support Services, our office, & CPD, the Harrison Street Viaduct between Financial and LaSalle no longer has any tents. People are getting the services - including housing - they need.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Chicago will keep having bike lane issues as long as we continue to force bikes & cars to fight for space. As Mayor, I will end the nonsense & direct @ChicagoDOT to put bike lanes on the parkway above the curb line. I saw this work in Tel Aviv & know we can make it work here!”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Let's get a Dept of Environment to coordinate carbon footprint reduction across all city developments!” in quoting a tweet which mentioned the alderman’s questions about city housing department and planning and development department coordination on decarbonization.  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “TOMORROW — If you live in the 19th Police District (much of the 47th ward), come meet three candidates for the new police district councils. This will be an important election, and the first time these new positions are on your ballot.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “I am very sad to report that a local 13-year-old boy was shot and killed at Lerner Park on Friday evening. The police are investigating, but the shooting appears to have been an accident.”  

Comm. Sean Morrison (17) tweeted “Not all hero’s wear capes, some work alone and wear a badge! BIG Respect! God bless our Law enforcement hero’s.👏👏👍🇺🇸” in response to a video of a female Chicago police officer grappling with a person. 

The city’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and Score Chicago will host a Holiday Marketing Strategies webinar at 2 p.m. Oct. 27. The webinar will help attendees prepare for holiday marketing and advertising by offering a variety of strategies to increase revenue and attract new customers. Registration is available online.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Thanks to amazing organizations like Personal PAC, Illinois has continued to protect reproductive rights. I also want to congratulate my friend in the House, Leader Greg Harris, who was recognized for his commitment to ensuring Illinois remains 100% pro-choice now and always.”  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I stand in solidarity with these Field Museum workers as they come together and fight for an @afscme31 union. Our museums are important treasures for our city and without these hard workers none of it would be possible.”  

Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) tweeted, “Scott's Law is named after Lt. Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Honor his memory today and every day-- slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.”  

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Wood) tweeted, “Thanks to the SAFE-T Act, on January 1 judges will have limited ability to keep those arrested in jail while awaiting trial. We have to stop this now.”  

Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) tweeted, “For months, the Public Safety Working Group has been meeting regularly with stakeholders from across the state to discuss ways we can improve and ensure successful implementation of the SAFE-T Act. Ford and Hurley’s task force has never been tasked with these conversations.”  

Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) tweeted, “I passed PA 102-0648 to provide affordable internet to residents in IL. I’m proud to be able to represent the State of IL at the NCSL Telecommunications conference and share best practices with other legislatures across the country”