The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced the second round of the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program will open on Nov. 1 and run through Jan. 31, 2023. The first round will close on Sept. 30. The program gives rebates to owners of exclusively electric vehicles. Vehicles are only eligible for a rebate one time and the owner must own the vehicle for at least one year. Owners must apply for the rebate within 90 days of purchasing the vehicle. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Loved being at the Ukrainian Village Fest this weekend. Bought the ornament below as a reminder of this year of solidarity and the daughter I’m soon to meet.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “We need #TreatmentNotTrauma in Chicago. I’ve spent the last 2 plus years fighting for it alongside @ccwchicago and my close allies like  

@CDRosa in City Council. We need an expanded non police mental health crisis response, 24/7 walk-in crisis centers and community based teams.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “It was a beautiful Sunday in the 36th Ward. We enjoyed the Ukrainian Village Fest this past weekend. UNITED FOR UKRAINE!!!!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Tomorrow is the first day to collect petition signatures to get on the ballot. In 2019, we knocked on every door — more than once. We’re ready to do it again. Sign up to join our amazing precinct captains and talk to neighbors on your block”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Today I joined @chicagosmayor as she appointed the first 7 members of the interim Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability. I look forward to the work this important commission will do in strengthening the relationship between the police and Chicagoans.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “The federal government will pause the free COVID-19 testing kit program on Friday due to a lack of funding. Make sure to order your free test kits before this Friday, September 2, by visiting https://covid.gov/tests.” 

Tuesday marks the first day to begin circulating nominating petitions for Chicago’s 2023 municipal election. Chicagoans next year will elect the positions of mayor, city clerk, treasurer, all 50 aldermen and police district councils. Candidates can file their petitions between Nov. 21 and Nov. 28. 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Last night I joined concerned community members, friends and neighbors for the LGBTQ+ community safety town hall in South Shore. Talking about solutions, solidarity and Justice for Devonta Vivetter, Donald Huey and Jaylen Ausley.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “We are still heartbroken about the tragedy at Schurz on Wednesday. But it's beautiful to see our community responding with love. Our young people deserve support.”  

Sen. Jacqui Collins (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The pioneers of the suffrage movement would be proud to see the 102nd General Assembly. More than half of the 41 Illinois Democratic Senators are women, and nearly half are women of color. This is the most diverse #ILGA in history! #WomensEqualityDay #19thAmendmentAnniversary"  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “I had the privilege on this Illinois Constitution Day to visit our tremendous @ILSecOfState Illinois State Archives to view the originals of all four constitutions. It is awe-inspiring to see all four constitutions (1818, 1848, 1870, 1970) together.”  

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Bailey is all “tough on crime” unless that crime is invading the US Capitol.” 

Illinois will use funding from the federal infrastructure bill to plug, cap and reclaim up to 20 percent of the state’s unused oil and gas wells in rural areas of Illinois, the Department of Natural Resources announces Friday. Illinois will receive $25 million from the U.S. Department of Interior for the projects and is one 24 states to receive funding. The funds will go toward capping 600 to 800 of the state’s 4,000 unused oil wells. 

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “The City Council is losing one of its most fervent and vocal leaders in the progressive space. @5thWardChicago Ald. Hairston has championed and was an early supporter for many progressive causes. She will be missed!"  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Absolutely and completely disgraceful what the incompetent absent leadership of @chicagosmayor @ChiefDavidBrown allows to be acceptable in our communities. I will bring an end to this madness as our city’s next mayor!”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “On Sunday, September 11th, we will host the 2nd Annual Music on the Green featuring Gentlemen of Leisure,  craft beer festival & a fireworks show  at Morgan Park Academy. Get your tickets at http://the19thWard.com.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “We’ll be having our petition launch party this coming weekend and we have some new fresh tees for this cycle! RSVP for Sept 3rd so you can reserve yours!”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “.@AnthonyJQuezada and I had a blast at St. Hyacinth Basilica's Parish Carnival yesterday. It was great to connect with Parish Council President Joe Jurek and Father Stan. I look forward to representing the parish and more of Avondale when the new ward boundaries go into effect.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “This weekend we had two blocks celebrating their first block party here in the 40th! Shout out to the 1700 Thorndale and 2400 Berwyn blocks for their organizing efforts!”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “We got our groove on for Sunday Funday’s LGBTQ+ community fundraiser for our re-election campaign! Thank you to everyone who came out to eat, drink, and dance with us in celebration of our diverse community and excellent representation we have in our elected officials.” 

The Chicago Department of Transportation has completed its first concrete curb bike lane installation along Kinzie Street between Wells and Des Plaines streets as part of the department’s efforts to upgrade all existing delineator-protected lanes to concrete by the end of 2023, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) reported in his latest newsletter.  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am excited that the President is addressing the immense financial burden many folks seeking higher education are taking on with rising costs of colleges and universities, and hope that this work continues to making higher education more accessible to low-income students.”  

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) tweeted, “Thank you to the Woodford County Farm Bureau and the Illinois Farm Bureau for adopting me yesterday for their Adopt - A - Legislator program! I showed them around some of my favorite places in Aurora.”  

Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) tweeted, “Election gimmicks to hide real facts. Same as the grocery tax and gas tax relief…..such a joke. When’s the last time you put anything in savings? How’s your 401K doing? Time the working class take back our state”  

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) tweeted, “Um, Gov its P. 673-676 of the bill that you signed into law! I am cordially inviting you to Shelby County to learn about your own law. @GovPritzker I'll set up a town hall with you and my constituents any time in the next month! What have you got to lose?” 

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, his office announced. White will work from home while he isolates and is fully vaccinated and double-boosted.  

Full attendance numbers will be released in the coming weeks, but the Illinois State Fair released numbers Thursday that show large crowds attended the fair. Over 4,500 children showed livestock, 4-H projects and other projects. Over 36,000 vehicles were parked at the fair throughout the week. The Brooks & Dunn concert on the first Sunday of the fair drew 10,142 attendees. Several vendors also reported setting records, while MiaBella’s Wood Fired Pizza used 81 gallons of dill pickles to serve their award-winning pizza. The State Fair will run from Aug. 10-23 in 2023.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “New citywide ward maps have been published! Check out my special eblast that explains the new ward maps, changes to polling locations, and how to check your voter registration. https://conta.cc/3cpNau3”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Join us for our first ever petitioning training this Saturday at 2PM! This is a crucial step in the campaign and we will need all hands on deck to go #FurtherTogether to fight for a #SaferAndStronger Chicago! RSVP and more information at the link below!”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “@chicagosmayor grabbed a headline when increasing clinicians for CPD from eleven to 22. Too bad she only hired 2 will banking the unspent salaries for her “budget efficiencies.” When @ChicagoParks needed lifeguards, she waived residency, gave bonus & increased pay. #Priorities”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Thinking about Schurz School Community & sending love & healing thoughts their way. Violence is a cycle that repeats itself and will continue doing so until it’s interrupted. Interrupting it requires creating the structures of support and healing our people need. We can do that.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “On this day 40 years ago, Joseph Bernadin (1928 – 1996) was formally installed as the seventh Archbishop of Chicago. Watch Cardinal Joseph Bernadin's invocation at Mayor Harold Washington's 1983 inauguration: http://youtu.be/r_JY_5HmHQg?t=267”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “In Chicago, 60% of crash-related emergency room visits are African American. This is an equity issue. We need robust investment in bike and pedestrian safety all across Chicago.” 

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning will host a talk titled “How can we design safe and complete streets with an equity lens?” at noon Sept. 13. Planners from the Northeastern Illinois region and Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways will also participate in the talk focused on designing safe streets for everyone including pedestrians and cyclists. Discussion panelists are set to talk about designing safer streets and creating more walkable communities. 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Thanks to an expansion of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, residents aged 42 and over are now eligible for Medicaid coverage regardless of immigration status. I am proud to have supported this step to create a more equitable health care system in Illinois.”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Chicago is the greatest city in the world. It’s time we start acting like it.”  

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted, “Thank you to @PPSLR for inviting me to your Fairview Heights Health Center this week. You provide incredibly valuable health care for the people of the Metro East and surrounding areas.”  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “It was a great pleasure to officially welcome CloudHQ to Mt. Prospect at their ceremony yesterday. CloudHQ is investing $2.5 billion to build one of the largest data centers in the Midwest. This is yet another example of Illinois’ strong high-tech economy”  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Today, @POTUS announced a federal relief plan for student loan borrowers. For hard-working families in the 11th district, this could mean a step towards buying a home, starting a business or saving for the future.” 

Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie’s (R-Hawthorn Woods) press secretary Nicole La Ha Zwiercan was named Mrs. American Saturday. She will next compete for the title of Mrs. World at a competition in Las Vegas in December. Zwiercan is a Homer Glen trustee and was named McConchie’s press secretary in July.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “Congrats to the @ChicagoSkyPR. Looking forward to Round 2. #girlsareballerstoo”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “.@AnthonyJQuezada may be our Democratic-nominee for 8th District Cook County Commissioner, but until he joins the County Board in December he's still hard at work as our @35th_Ward Neighborhood Services Director!”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Work with the CTA’s Red-Purple Modernization Project continues this weekend, with a closure of Foster from the CTA tracks to Winthrop for weeknight and weekend work starting on Friday, August 26th. Please see the CAN below for updated dates and times of the closure."  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “On Saturday, August 27, from noon - 8 p.m. Howard Street turns into a creative canvas at Chalk Howard Street, Chicago’s only major 3D chalk art festival. This FREE family-friendly event will highlight the street’s shops, restaurants and global cuisine in addition to live music!” 

The CTA on Wednesday launched a revamped bus tracker website meant to make it easier for riders to track bus arrival times and incorporate more modern design. The newly designed website will serve as a base for future upgrades CTA officials are planning via the “Meeting the Moment: Transforming CTA’s Post-Pandemic Future” Action Plan. Updates include a “responsive website design,” new mapping features and new ways to navigate the website, according to a CTA news release. 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Heard an apologist today say: CTA has had problems with safety and frequency because of ridership struggles. I submit that CTA struggles with ridership because of problems with safety and frequency. Better is possible.”  

Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) tweeted, “IL deserves a fiscal watchdog who acts as a check on new taxes that would hurt IL families and retirees!”  

Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted, “This is historic. “Starting this school year, every public elementary school and high school in Illinois must include a unit of instruction on Asian American history.” We became the first in the nation to require this and others are following our lead!”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Chicago is a beautiful city and many people there live a privileged life. We will also fight for the areas that are not on the lake front or the loop who have been abandoned and don’t enjoy this privilege. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community.”  

Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) tweeted, “One of the benefits of having my office in Lake Zurich, near the High School, is that my daughter can stop in to say hi on her break!”  

Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) tweeted, “Dr. Ezike resigns before she is set to appear before the Senate. Dr. Fauci resigns before we take back the House. Where is the media and accountability? Nowhere……….” 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency awarded three grants to wastewater treatment facilities as part of the Public Water Infrastructure Program. The funded projects will reduce the amount of energy used by the facilities. Danville received $260,000, New Baden received $33,467, and Vandalia received $26,773. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Aldermen are up for a 9.6% raise on top of the 5.5% they got last year! It’s time to hit the stop button on secret pay increases & force aldermen to vote on them as a stand-alone ordinance.”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “This week, students will be moving into residence halls at Loyola. There will be some impacts to the streets adjacent to campus. For more information on the move-in schedule, please visit the Loyola website.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Contact your Alderperson today and tell them to pass the Anjanette Young Ordinance!”  

Cook County Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) tweeted “Application deadline for the Property Tax Bridge Fund Program, offering local governments and taxing districts hundreds of millions in interest-free loans, is August 31st. Check out their website for more information: https://cookcountyil.gov/bridgefund”

The city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is hosting a Chicago Business Zoning Guide Overview webinar at 10 a.m. Thursday. The webinar will cover how to use the updated Chicago Business Zoning Guide, zoning usages and additional support. Those interested can register online. 

Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) tweeted, “33rd “emergency disaster declaration” was recently filed…for another 30 days. Where’s the emergency? This is BEYOND acceptable!!”  

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted, “A belated happy birthday to the incomparable Sister Jean! And congratulations on having the CTA platform at your beloved Loyola named after you. A well-deserved honor.”  

Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Chicago Public Schools students return to class today. Best wishes to every student for a fun and educational new year”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Happy First Day of School to all of our young scholars. Today, I got a chance to welcome some young students and their teachers back to school. Here’s to a successful year!”