The Department of Insurance has fined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois’ parent company Health Care Service Corporation $339,000 after Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to properly file network adequacy filings regarding the company’s decision to end their contact with Springfield Clinic. The fine amounts to $1,000 for each day it was late filing the notices and is the first time the department has issued such a fine. The House Insurance Committee will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. Tuesday on the decision which has impacted thousands of residents.   

Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday associate secretary for Behavioral Health at the Illinois Department of Human Services David Jones will became the state’s chief behavioral health officer and lead the state’s Overdose Action Plan.  

Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago) is recovering at home after being involved in a serious car accident Sunday, her office said in a statement. The freshman representative was helped out of the car by bystanders and briefly taken to the hospital.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “As part of the 2022 City of Chicago Budget, I was proud to fund a new community-based organization micro-grant program. This funding allows all 50 aldermen to offer grants for programming in their ward. 3rd Ward grant details & info session included below https://conta.cc/3qntDOX”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “My office will be issuing warnings this week to new businesses and citations to existing businesses that fail to maintain their properties, front & back. Being responsible to the community is nothing new. Everyone, residents and businesses, must do their part.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “A privilege to stand with the courageous and righteous workers of IBEW Local 1220 @Window2workers @IBEW as they fight for fair working conditions and a fair contract from @wttw! Do the right thing!”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “To all elected officials in Chicagoland: Don’t cross the picket line of @Window2workers at WTTW. If they are not inside and working we shouldn’t be talking to reporters there. Hold the line until the contract is settled. This fight is to protect precious union jobs.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Thank you to my colleagues on the Finance Committee who just voted to extend our 606 demolition surcharge ordinance - an ordinance first proposed by @LSNAChicago and which has now been proven to protect naturally occurring affordable housing.” 

Cook County announced the opening of applications for the county Department of Planning and Development’s Public Service grants, funded by funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs. The department will host a virtual workshop at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to provide more details to units of government or nonprofit organizations that wish to apply. Online registration is required. Applications are due on April 15. The application is on the county’s website.  

Karin Norington-Reaves announced on Monday that she has resigned from her post as CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. Norrington-Reaves is running to fill U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s 1st District seat in Congress. “It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to serve my community,” Norington-Reaves said in a news release. “This weekend, I resigned as CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership in order to focus on the next stage of my public service: running to become the first Congresswoman for the First District for Illinois.” Norington-Reaves had helmed the organization since 2012.

Rep. Jen Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted, “Proud for Illinois to have been the 1st state in the nation to pass the #TEAACHAct. Education is a powerful tool to combat hate, build empathy, & to create a better democracy. Thanks @JBPritzker & @PhilMurphyNJ for their support, more states should follow.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Happy Friday! Great season @RamblersMBB! You represented our area proud!”  

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) tweeted, “While major corporations are pulling out of Russia, the Pritzkers' Hyatt Corporation has doubled down on their position to stay in Russia and pledged to continue their support.”  

Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Climbing Inside the Capitol with Counsel General of Ireland Kevin Byrne and a few friends. A great way to celebrate the Irish on St. Patricks Day morning”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Immediately after college, I had the honor and privilege of working with @MerriDee1 while a young man working for @WGNNews. She took me under her wings and helped set me up on my journey. She was extremely proud of me becoming Speaker, and I will miss her counsel and support.”  

Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) tweeted, “What a special experience to introduce students from @NeuquaValley, @WaubonsieValley, and @meteavalley Youth & Government to their Speaker of the House!”  

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted, “This week, I had the privilege of meeting @CarlHeastie, the first African American Speaker of the NY State Assembly.”  

Rep. Jaime Andrade (D-Chicago) tweeted, “'It's Scary': Chicago mobile surveillance camera shot out on city's Northwest Side - CBS Chicago - our very own war zone in the IL 40th- the saga continues.” 

All Senate committees scheduled for the week of March 21 will be conducted in-person at the State Capitol in Springfield and will not have any virtual participation for lawmakers or witnesses who wish to testify, according to the General Assembly’s website. The Senate has been holding hybrid or virtual committees since the pandemic began.   

Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday the start of the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to redesign how the state provides behavioral health services to children. The initiative is tasked with outlining a plan to guide state agencies on providing behavioral health services by the end of the year. Pritzker announced University of Chicago child welfare expert Dana Weiner would lead the initiative.   

Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday he was appointing Kevin McDermott as public administrator and public guardian of Sangamon and Moultrie Counties, Keyria Rodgers to the Juvenile Justice Commission, Jordan Powell and Anthony LoSasso to the Medicaid Managed Care Oversight Commission.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) announced she will host a virtual town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Monday.  

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) wrote in her latest newsletter of last week’s special City Council meeting, “We showed up because we are trying to stop the mayor from defunding the police. The mayor’s policy - it’s a “Defund the Police” initiative. PERIOD. Every police officer the mayor terminates, makes all other police officers less safe.  It makes response times rise. It leads to more cancelled RDO’s and 12-hr days. It makes this city less safe.”  

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) wrote in his latest newsletter, “Working with several aldermen and Mayor Lightfoot's Office, we have moved forward on a feasibility study on the proposal to create the North Branch Park and Preserve. There will be a planning firm selected within the next couple of months with the hope of having the feasibility study done later this year.”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter, “Green & Bransford, LLC has filed a Special Use application to operate an Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary at 212 East Ontario Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will hold a public hearing on a later date to consider this application... Alderman Reilly has raised concerns about the applicant’s security and loading plans for this particular site.”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter, “My office hosted the first of two town halls to discuss the demolition and deconversion of 2- and 3-flats across our Northcenter and Lincoln Square communities. Representatives from DePaul University’s Institute for Housing Studies, the Chicago Department of Housing, and The Preservation Compact shared data regarding these land-use changes, how they exacerbate the ongoing loss of affordable homes throughout our Ward, and potential policy responses.”  

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) wrote in a statement, “For the Appellate Court to let Jussie Smollett walk out the door yesterday, pending his appeal, is appalling. Once again, Cook County citizens are left questioning the competence and integrity of our judiciary after repeatedly being misled by State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, and exposed to her gross incompetence, and failure to perform the duties of her elected office.” 

The Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance of Chicago will host Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi for a Zoom meeting at 12 p.m. on Tuesday. Online registration is required. The group will also host Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx at 12 p.m. the following Tuesday, March 29. Registration information for the event is forthcoming.  

Timna Axel is stepping down as director of communications for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights to become a communications strategist for the environmental group Earthjustice. 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted, “It was a privilege to greet Consulate General Kevin Byrne of @IrelandChicago at the Capitol to hear him address the House today, and on behalf of the all members of the Illinois Irish Caucus - Happy St. Patrick's Day”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The findings & the research are pretty unequivocal...virtual remote hearings provide worse outcomes for young people." That's why I sponsored a resolution urging the IL supreme court to reinstate in-person hearings in juvenile court.”  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Thank you to all who joined our innovative Single Parents Town Hall discussion with Jenny Leflore of @mamafreshchi, Ariel Rainey of Hustle Mommies, and Ida Nelson! I explained the two pieces of legislation behind the “Single Parents Bills of Rights.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Lets spread this luck to our #LoyolaRamblers for the their first round #NCAA game tomorrow!”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “Illinois families across the state are feeling the impact of record-high inflation. Illinois House Republicans have proposed several measures to provide relief and help our residents recover. #twill"  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) tweeted, “I am proud to announce that #HR615 is officially adopted by the House of Representatives! This resolution urges Congress to protect, strengthen, and improve existing child nutrition programs so that low-income children have equitable access to free meals.”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “I was honored to welcome the @IrelandChicago Counsel General Kevin Byrne to the Capitol. We were blessed to host him on St. Patrick’s Day, and we are thankful for the words he shared on the floor of the House of Representatives. Special thanks to Rep. Fran Hurley for co-hosting.”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “@E0S_Consulting with the best-ever St. Patrick's Day witness slip: Sullivan Caucus a proponent of HB 4811, which establishes Republic of Ireland Day in Illinois”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago), tweeted, “Working w/ ChicagoHomeless as the bill lead sponsor I’m fighting to pass HB 4423 in Human Services Committee. On to the House Floor This bill increases the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to help families survive Ensures that all child support goes to families.” 

The grassroots progressive organization Swing Left announced they are targeting four congressional races in Illinois that they have labeled as “competitive.” The group will be devoting resources to electing Democrats to Congress in the state’s sixth, 13th, 14th and 17th congressional districts.   

The Environmental Law and Policy Center will host a conversation on April 6 at 12 p.m. with Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Registration can be found online.

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Happy Saint Patricks Day! We appreciate the contributions of Irish-Americans to the City of Chicago.”  

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6) tweeted “The Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship Fund is accepting 2022 applications until March 31, 2022”  

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “The Calumet Area Industrial Commission One Workforce Program can provide financial assistance to obtain industry recognized credentials and job opportunities in the manufacturing sector by paying for tuition, books, and fees at one of their college or training provider partners.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Re: complaints about @DrWillieWilson’s gas giveaway. Why does his philanthropy need “permission” from politicians when he promoted this for days. He’s not a candidate. Maybe the focus should be on why so many were willing to wait hours for a reprieve from filling their gas tanks.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “We need to get woman owned businesses up and rocking again.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Join us Saturday 11am-2pm at 5228 N Clark as we flyer Andersonville with information so that we can #BringEliseHome as she has been missing for over a week. Please join us if you can.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted about Willie Wilson’s gas giveaway writing that “In Rogers Park, this has caused a traffic disaster. I’ll be following up with @ChicagoBACP to look into special permits that we should require in the future for businesses to do these giveaways. This was irresponsible and reckless of Dr. Wilson and the gas station owners.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office released a schedule of the next six Community Safety Town Hall meetings planned around the city during the next month to “provide Chicagoans with the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the City's efforts to reduce and prevent violence.” The full schedule and more information are available online.  

Cook County Comm. Donna Miller (D-6) and Comm. Scott Britton (D-14) will join leaders of the NAACP Illinois State Conference and the mayors and police chiefs from 36 south-suburban municipalities at 10 a.m. on March 21 at Oak Forest City Hall for a ceremonial signing of the “the NAACP’s “Ten Shared Principles of Policing.” Nearly 230 entities throughout Illinois have already adopted the principles since then, including the Cook County Forest Preserves Police and Cook County Sheriff, according to an event announcement. 

Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook) tweeted, “SB3988 passes out of the education committee unanimously!”  

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) tweeted, “NY Speaker @CarlHeastie visits @RepChrisWelch and the Illinois House of Representatives.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “As long as we keep sending armed officers trained in lethal violence to respond to homelessness, mental health calls, & traffic violations, these killings are not going to stop. We need to transform the role of police in society. #JusticeForAnthonyAlvarez”  

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “How should we solve Illinois’s teacher vacancy issue? We start by making sure our teachers are supported and have the funding necessary to succeed.”  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “Tucker's show has drifted into straight-up Russian propaganda. I wonder who is influencing his scriptwriter.”  

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) tweeted, “Inflation is costing the average American family an extra $296 per month. Illinois has one the highest tax rates in the nation, adding additional costs for Illinois taxpayers. Out-of-control government spending needs to stop.”  

Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) tweeted, “Glory to Ukraine.” 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has completed sampling for PFAS, a family of chemicals, in the state’s water. Samples were taken at 1,428 locations. About 12 percent of samples were positive for PFAS chemicals, which the agency says is similar to numbers found in other states.   

The Illinois State Board of Higher Education approved creating a College of Engineering at Illinois State University. The first class of students to enroll at the college is expected to be in 2025.

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “The Chicago Park District wants to hear from you! Join them for a series of Town Hall Meetings to discuss their new Office of Prevention and Accountability.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “17 members tried to do their job today. City Council has failed its citizenry courtesy of Lightfoot’s political antics.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Chicago City Council's rightwing called a ‘Special Meeting’ to discuss COVID "natural immunity." The meeting did not reach quorum. Good. It was a waste of time, an excuse for rightwing theater. I, like most alders, spent the day in ward working on substantive local matters.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “Yesterday morning I stood alongside members of @northsideaction and residents of Northpoint Apartments to demand that the multibillion dollar owner, Related Midwest, do better in responding to residents’ health and safety requests.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Wednesday that she had appointed Lynn Osmond to serve as the new president and CEO of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism organization. Osmond is set to be the first woman to serve as the organization’s leader and previously served as the president and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center.  

The Pace Suburban Bus Board of Directors during their meeting on Wednesday appointed Melinda J. Metzger as the agency’s first female executive director. Metzger has served as interim leader of the agency since December and previously served as the agency’s general manager and chief operating officer. Metzger has also previously managed operations for the Regional Transportation Authority. “Melinda has been a leader at Pace since the beginning,” Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski said in a news release. “I am confident she will continue to serve the agency and its riders well during this time of change and opportunity.”

Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) tweeted, “Last night, a Crest Hill officer was stabbed & a Shorewood officer was threatened. As officers investigate, let's continue to send our thoughts & prayers to these heroes, as well as their families, friends, & brothers and sisters in uniform who serve & protect our communities.”  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) tweeted, “The average woman makes 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. The wage gap is even greater for Black, Native American and Latina women. This Equal Pay Day, I remain committed to making sure ALL women receive equal pay for equal work.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Too often, people of color have been shut out of home ownership, and this is a time for us to turn that around and say, we can make investments to bring people of color into home ownership and into generational wealth building,” #Housing is a #HumanRight"  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I am honored to be one of the co-chairs of the new Illinois Assyrian Caucus. Together, we can elevate the voices of our Assyrian American neighbors and partner in a united effort in addressing the issues their community faces.”  

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted, “5 years ago today the Illinois law allowing Trans folks to correct their birth certificates passed out of committee on the way to becoming law. I am proud that in Illinois we support our Trans neighbors.”  

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Serving as a sub on Energy and Environment hearing a bill brought by @RitaMayfield and @ilenviro to force cleanup of coal ash ponds in Waukegan. Opponents were offended that I asked if they lived in Waukegan or would move their families next to the coal ash ponds. #SorryNotSorry"  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “Clean Green Energy is a laudable goal. But it shouldn’t jeopardize the standards of living of working families. We DIDN’T VOTE for Dems to clean all the green out of middle class bank accounts. We need to change the policies that have driven gas & energy prices sky high levels.”   

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) tweeted, “Pritzker's state agency in charge of the LaSalle Veterans Home didn't have any answers when this tragedy occurred back in 2020. Since then, there has been an unacceptable lack of transparency. The families who lost loved ones deserve better.” 

The Illinois Department of Labor will no longer enforce the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act because the state’s unemployment rate is no longer above 5 percent. The act requires 90 percent of workers employed on a public works project to be from Illinois when the state’s unemployment rate is above 5 percent for two or more consecutive months.   

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Consul General of Ireland to the Midwest Kevin Byrne will speak to the Illinois House this week. Heastie will address the chamber on Wednesday and Bryne will speak on Thursday. Both visitors mark a change to the House’s COVID-19 protocols allows guests to visit the chamber.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “After four days, we finally got a six-page response from Lawyer Lightfoot. Her abbreviated reply: Starts with an ‘F’ and ends with a ‘U’”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Last week we shared an update on the work that we are doing in collaboration with incredible volunteers and neighbors of the Ward to provide support to victims of the Richmond/Montrose fire. Thank you to all who donated and have shown support!”  

Ald. Michele Smith (43) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) tweeted a “joint statement” on the North Branch Park Preserve.  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Earlier today there was a fire at 1054 West Hollywood. No one was injured and the Chicago Fire Department has extinguished the fire.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “I joined 32 other council members this afternoon to file our Chicago United Map for referendum. Voters will get to decide which map best represents Chicago in June.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “We dropped off large donations at two of our community partners today: @ICNARelief and Chicago Chesed Fund. Thank you to both organizations for all the work you do on behalf of our community!” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office on Tuesday released the name of 27 people who applied for the opportunity to be appointed as the next 11th Ward alderman. “A committee of dedicated public servants and 11th ward community members are currently reviewing the applications and will provide a final slate of candidates to the Mayor for selection,” according to a news release. The full list of applicants and other information about the appointment process are available online.  

The Chicago Department of Public Health removed 16 states from its COVID-19 Travel Advisory on Tuesday because their new daily rates of infection have spent at least a week below 15 per 100,000 residents: Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. The change leaves 18 states and one territory on the travel advisory list. But eight more states are due to come off the list next week because their cases have dropped below 15 per 100,000: New Mexico, California, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Oregon, North Carolina, Montana and Alabama.  

Michael Claffey has stepped down as director of public affairs for the Chicago Department of Transportation, a role he held since 2015, he announced Tuesday. He will become communications manager at the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) tweeted, “I was pleased to carry HB4828 on behalf of the McHenry County Board. The bill is an initiative to repeal a law that unfairly targeted McHenry County. As the law is currently written, it does a disservice to the taxpayers of McHenry County.”  

Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) tweeted, “Breast reduction surgery is a medically necessary procedure for many Women. Back pain, finding clothes that fit, and self confidence can all be issues that many women have to endure, making HB4271 an important bill.”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “No better way to celebrate Pi Day than traveling through my Senate District with Cindy. We grabbed a couple of delicious pies from Niemerg's, a freedom-loving restaurant in Effingham. I love being in my district and spending some much-needed time with my family at the homestead.”  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) tweeted, “Today I attended the official name announcement for the NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway. The upcoming race will have an enormous economic boost for our community!”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “I am deeply thankful for Dr. Ngozi Ezike’s leadership during this once in a lifetime public health crisis. Her devotion to following science in making some of the hardest decisions have saved thousands of lives.”  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) tweeted, “We need to help those who are struggling, not those who vacation in the Caymans. I’m fighting for targeted tax relief for low-income Illinoisans this year. #ExpandEIC @EconsecureIL"  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “It was great to meet with @YinamCohen, the Consul General of Israel during his visit to Springfield @IsraelinChicago"