The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation is hosting their annual conference Friday and Saturday. The conference will cover a series of topics important to the caucus such as business development, youth engagement, equity in the cannabis industry, the caucus’ Four Pillars passed in 2021, and judicial issues.

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “Want to help create the 2023 strategic plan for the 4th district police? Join the virtual session on Tuesday October 18th from 6-8PM. Join the in person session Thursday October 27th at Sacred Heart at 6PM.”  

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted “This bears game is painful watching, yikes”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “First Lori, now Tom! Does anyone obey election laws in this city other than me?” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Ive said that this man needs to resign way too many times. He somehow manages to have a never ending stream of racist thoughts that he needs to share. There’s no place for Catanzara’s racism in Chicago. #AbolishColumbusDay”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) tweeted “Would the Bears have scored any first half points if they were playing in Arlington Heights tonight?” 

As of Thursday evening, 1,525 Chicagoans had voted early for the Nov. 8 General Election, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Additionally, 7,444 ballots had been mailed in for a total of 8,969 ballots cast so far. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “I was honored to speak at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting. We could not do the work to move our state forward without our businesses and strong business leaders. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.”  

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “Yesterday I was pleased to join the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to present a check for $45k to Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois. Thank you for everything you do for our community!”  

Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) tweeted, “Two years ago, @IllinoisStand was one of the first to stand with me in my first run for state rep. Since then, we’ve passed bills to help student mental health, support educators through the pandemic, and ease substitute teacher shortages. Thank you for your continued trust.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Agriculture is one of Illinois’ top employers and industries. As a a farmer myself, I have a deep appreciation for Illinois agriculture. Thank you to all of the hardworking farmers across the state who help fuel our economy and feed the world! #NationalFarmersDay"  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “I always appreciate the opportunity to interact w/community leaders including fellow legislators @DanMcConchie @Chris_Bos at the annual Barrington Area Leg Breakfast. Thanks to @BacogNews @bacc_tweet @barrington220 for providing a forum for greats and conversations.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart works hard to keep families safe, and that's why he supports the SAFE-T Act. He wants you to know the truth about how this law makes communities safer, and makes the justice system smarter and more equitable.” 

The state’s Secure Choice retirement savings program reached $90 million of investments from Illinois workers, according to the Treasurer’s Office. The program was created in 2015 as an alternative for employers not offering a retirement savings program. The program is meant to provide another source of retirement income to workers beyond traditional sources such as Social Security.  

Ald. Sophia King (4) shared a WTTW article and tweeted “I'm proud to serve Hyde Park and every corner of the 4th ward - and we're just getting started with fostering positive change in every community and neighborhood. Please support your local restaurants and small businesses!”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “As Chicago continues to be hostile to business, both in terms of safety as well as bureaucracy, the slow-boil closure economy will continue. As mayor, I will roll out the 5th Floor welcome mat both for existing businesses as well as new businesses seeking to call our city home!”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Join @dleonjaime and Audrey Jonas for a Stand Up Comedy Fundraiser in support of our 35th Ward re-election campaign! Tuesday, October 18 at 7 pm at Cole's Bar in Logan Square.” 

As of Wednesday evening, 1,269 Chicagoans had voted early for the Nov. 8 General Election, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Additionally, 5,071 ballots had been mailed in for a total of 6,340 ballots cast so far. 

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I had a great time at my District Office Open House last Friday! We had +60 people come through, including members of our policy roundtable program and neighbors who were recent arrivals from the Southern border. I was happy to meet and discuss policy issues with everyone!”  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Tomorrow, Oct. 12, I will join Representative Kam Buckner to host a virtual panel on the SAFE-T Act from 6-7 p.m. The panel of experts will dispel myths about the Pretrial Fairness Act and discuss how to build safe communities.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Cindy and I had an excellent radio interview yesterday connecting further with the Polish Community! Thank you to Paulina for arranging this interview and having us on!”  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “As the first openly gay person to serve in the Illinois Senate, I was very proud to share my own story and thoughts on #NationalComingOutDay. LGBTQ+ communities are being targeted all around the country.”  

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I’m the wife of a DACA recipient and for me this is personal. It’s past time we pass the Dream Act. Enough talk, it’s time for the Senate to act!” 

The week of Oct. 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week in Illinois and the Illinois Fire Marshal is encouraging people to make and practice an evacuation plan from their home in the event of a fire. They recommend including in the plan ways to assist anyone in the home with a disability, installing smoke alarms, designating two escapes through doors or windows out of a room, establishing a meeting place outside the house, and practicing a fire drill twice a year.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “Happy Day Of The Girl!!”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Today on #NationalComingOutDay and on all days, I stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Never doubt that you are loved and appreciated for being exactly who you are.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “We knock doors when it’s nice and when it rains and when the sun is out and when it’s dark out because we won’t go back to corrupt machine politics in the 33rd ward.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “I am proud to endorse the @19thTogether Team for 19th District Council.  As District Councilors, Sam, Jenny, and Maurilio will elevate community voices and serve as ambassadors between our community and public safety stakeholders. Come Meet Them! http://bit.ly/ecps19”  

Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43) tweeted “Coming out takes courage and happens every day. Whether at a law firm or in City Council, I’m proud of who I am and hope the visibility of all LGBTQ people shines through on #ComingOutDay. Hear how my name is part of my story in @fspielman’s podcast”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) shared a WTTW article and tweeted “I remain determined to ban the predatory practice of private booting and have my own personal judgments about whether lobbying is the right way to use one’s access to Council or one’s former status.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, public policy housing leaders and city officials on Tuesday broke ground on the National Public Housing Museum at former site of the Jane Addams Homes on the Near West Side. The museum will eventually host programs and exhibits featuring historic objects and art. The National Public Housing Museum will be an African American Historic Site. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Congratulations to my friend and radio legend Dave Dahl from @WTAX on being named father of the year by the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood. A really well deserved honor from a truly good man!”  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Chicago’s Black and Brown communities have been disproportionately affected by economic and environmental injustices. The Rust Belt to Green Belt Pilot Program can push Illinois forward and bring sustainable and green jobs to our city’s Southeast Side”  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Earlier this year I stood in solidarity w/the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation as I passed a resolution urging Congress to recognize the illegal 1849 selling of their reservation.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Happy Columbus Day!”  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted, “My office will be closed today, October 10th, in observation of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Here in Chicago, we acknowledge that this is the ancestral lands of the Council of the Three Fires--comprised of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations.”  

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Happy Indigenous People’s Day! Today we honor and recognize the diverse cultural heritage, strength, and resilience of Indigenous communities across our state. I am proud to be the lead sponsor of HB3982 to make Indigenous Peoples Day a recognized Holiday in our state.” 

Gov. JB Pritzker and Western Illinois University officials announced Friday the university was receiving a $119 million grant to Center for Performing Arts. Funding for the project comes from the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan.  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “Proud to stand as an ally with the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Coalition today at Pottawattomie Park to celebrate and call for action. We need to pass the ordinance in City Council that would replace Columbus Day with #IndigenousPeoplesDay.”  

Ald. Gil Villegas (3) tweeted, “With another set of January 6th Commission Hearings, let's recommit ourselves to electing pro-democracy, not pro-insurrection, candidates.”  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who made our office launch so special, especially all of you who headed out canvassing! It’s going to be a great home base as we connect with tens of thousands of neighbors!”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted, “As I continue getting deeper into the insanity that these aldermanic races are about to be, I am again grateful for the @chicagobulls and the joy they bring to my life.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “Grateful for all of the urbanists and cyclists who support reimagining our public way! So that we can continue our work, we need to win re-election we have an opponent who has public expressed her opposition to the @clarkstbikelane.”  

Ald. Ray Lopez (15) tweeted, “I am pretty sure that @chicagosmayor’s petitions need an actual circulator to witness the voter signing them - not just the cashier at @HaroldsCorp in the south Loop.” 

As of Monday, 545 votes had been cast in Chicago after early voting began Friday, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. Another 2,595 mail-in ballots had also been returned. A total of 164,035 mail-in ballots have been requested in the city so far. Election Day in on Nov. 8.  

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted, “2022 Illinois Retailer of the Year- Groceries of Southern Illinois, Joe Koppeis I am in Chicago today celebrating w/the Illinois Retail Merchants Assoc. as they honor our very own Joe Koppeis. I hereby proclaim October 6, 2022 as Joe Koppeis Day in the Illinois 58th Sen. District”  

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted, “I was happy to join @shrinershosp this week to mark 100 years of helping children and families live happier, healthier lives. Here's to the next 100!”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Yesterday, check up with my oncologist Dr. Z. In 2006 I was diagnosed with cancer. Whenever I’m worried about nonsense Dr. Z reminds me of how blessed I am many did not make it. I’m blessed to still be cancer free” 

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Department of Transportation announced the state was making the final $250 million payment to local governments as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan passed in 2019. It’s the sixth installment of payments to local governments as part of the plan’s $1.5 billion infrastructure investment. 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “The 48th Ward Town Halls start next Tuesday, and I look forward to hearing your input on issues facing our community, such as the City budget, public safety, infrastructure, and education. Hope to see you there!”  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “You can follow my advocacy at our policy website, which features a 2023 Budget Blog. We are going to regularly update you in real time on the advocacy going on at City Hall. Today's blog is about the City's audit of personnel & contractual services || https://the1stward.com/policy”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “Cook County is now accepting applications for a guaranteed income pilot program. Cook County residents age 18+ who are income eligible can apply to receive $500 a month for 24 months. Visit http://engagecookcounty.com/promise to apply now! #CookCountyPromise”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “As politicians continue to treat immigrants & refugees as pawns for their political calculations, the humanitarian crisis grows without adequate support. When @POTUS & our fed reps put an end to the criminal embargoes & stop the fossil fuel industry from destroying the planet?” in response to news 198 additional immigrants had arrived in Chicago on buses from Texas.  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “I support a fair contract for faculty and professionals, let’s get this done asap! @CCCTU_Local1600” 

The final Chicago Food Truck Festival of this year will kick off at 11 a.m. Friday in Daley Plaza. Friday’s event is set to feature 10 food trucks that have been popular this season. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection will post the official food truck lineup on its social media accounts Friday morning.  

Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) tweeted, “Girls in 9th through 12th grades can apply to have the opportunity to learn the legislative process and participate with the 2022 Illinois Council on Women and Girls. Applications are due Oct. 23”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Honored that Australia’s Counsel-General @celstoft stopped by my office today to introduce himself. Extremely glad that he is in Chicago.”  

Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Palos West and Christ the King schools have been named 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Only 17 schools in IL received this high honor. Congratulations to all the hard working students and staff on your recognition!”  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “A day of atonement is a good thing for us all. Bless our brother and sisters who celebrate it.”