Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “5,000 medical/religious exemptions applied for to city’s HR Department. Only a dozen employees reviewing each application manually. That means HR needs to review & decide roughly 80 applications a day, about 7 request daily per employee - all before the 12/31 vax deadline.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “TOMORROW: The 35th Ward office at 2934 N. Milwaukee will close at 12 PM on Friday, October 29th to staff Hermosa Halloween at Nixon Elementary (2121 N. Keeler). You are welcome to visit us at Nixon from 2pm to 6pm."  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted a video of the speech he gave from the council floor before voting on the 2022 budget.  

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) in his latest newsletter detailed his vote to approve the 2022 budget. “This was not a perfect budget and I had reservations in supporting it, my main objection being the modest property tax increase,” Tunney began. “Our city will be seeing a large influx of federal COVID relief funds this year, and I feel it is wrong to raise property taxes when there are federal funds that could prevent hiking taxes.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Proud this year's budget includes additional investment in our city's public mental health services. And now this Saturday, @ChiPublicHealth will be at our Health and Wellness Fair to share info on how to access those resources. Stop by Sulzer Library from 10 AM to 2 PM!”

Cook County Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health rolled out plans on Thursday to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5-11 as soon as it is approved by federal regulators. The full list of locations where the vaccine is offered, including schools, pharmacies and health clinics, is available online. 

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will participate in the Inter-American Conference on Cadastre and Property Registry in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from Nov. 2-4, where she will “discuss how advancements in the Treasurer’s Office have increased transparency and efficiency while promoting social equity,” her office announced Thursday. 

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) issued a statement after the Senate approved a bill that would replace the state’s Parental Notification of Abortion with the Youth Health and Safety Act.  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted a video update about the Senate’s passage of the measure to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion law.  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) issued a statement after a bill he sponsored related to school employees and COVID-19 was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.  

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued a statement after a bill he sponsored related to EMS workers was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) provided a video update on Facebook about the veto session.  

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville), along with the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs, will host a discussion on Facebook on Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. about benefits available to veterans in Illinois.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “Thanks to the feedback that I received from residents like yourself about your priorities for the 2022 Budget, and thanks to the work of advocates around the City, the City of Chicago is on the right path to investing in every community.”  

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted “Im all in for [Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30)] congressmen of NEW 3rd district.  He tells me WHY NOT???”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted a video of his remarks on the 2022 budget and wrote "We should not pass a budget that requires Public Relations gymnastics to justify why City Hall isn’t fully investing in our communities that need it the most." 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted a copy of a statement from the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America and wrote “feeling very proud of @ChicagoDSA for their political learning, year over year. Seeing the highlighted portion included in this year’s statement shows a recognition that comrades can disagree and still be in solidarity.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “This budget invests in Chicagoans most impacted by the pandemic & disinvestment. It funds housing, mental health, violence prevention, youth support & homelessness prevention at levels that should be a new standard. The work to ensure these funds make a difference begins now.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted a copy of her official statement on her vote in favor of the 2022 budget and her vote against the 2021 budget amendment and wrote “Thank you to 49th Ward residents who helped me come to this decision and the community organizations who were instrumental in us winning so many investments for Chicagoans.” 

Applications close on Friday for the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which will tap $75 million from the American Rescue Plan to provide rental assistance grants stretching back as far as 18 months. Applicants must live in suburban Cook County, fall below an income threshold and demonstrate proof of a “hardship” related to the pandemic. Applications are available online. 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “I was excited to join the Illinois General Assembly in congratulating the  @chicagosky  2021  @WNBA championship team. It was particularly thrilling to meet superstar guard Dana Evans!” 

Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) tweeted “The WNBA Champions came to Springfield today! Congrats to Dana Evans-point guard, James Wade-head coach, & to the entire team & org. The women of the Illinois House of Representatives salute you. #ChicagoSky 

Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) tweeted about her the upcoming office hours for her satellite office. 

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) tweeted “The Senate Executive Committee votes to repeal requirement that a parent be notified before an abortion provider performs an abortion on their minor child. This is the legislature saying that parents don’t matter. I completely disagree. I stand on the side of parents.”  

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) shared a link on Facebook of Tuesday’s Senate Republican Caucus news conference. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday appointed Bradley Zeller to the Illinois Finance Authority, Michelle McClendon to the Illinois International Port District Board, Karen McNaught to the Illinois State Police Merit Board, Niketa Brar to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and Tonya Genovese to the Illinois State Board of Elections. All of the appointments must be confirmed by the state Senate.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted information about a neighborhood cleanup set for 10 a.m. Nov. 6 at multiple locations in the 1st Ward.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) shared a WTTW article about murals promoting vaccine awareness and tweeted a photo of a similar mural in his ward that had been damaged and wrote “This is the second mural located in West Englewood. Hopefully it can be fixed (or removed).” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) retweeted the “Fight For 15 Chicago” account which tweeted a photo of Sigcho-Lopez at a rally and wrote “thank you all for standing strong here today with [McDonald’s] workers in Chicago. Together, we will win.” 

Cook County Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted “On Friday, I met with @chicagonw’s board of directors at the Mecum Auctions at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. The auction was a shining example of how tourism grows our local economy and helps our community thrive.” 

Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland and Mississippi have been removed from the city’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory list because they have maintained new caseloads below 15 per 100,000 residents for at least two weeks, the Chicago Department of Public Health announced Tuesday. Forty-one states and two territories remain on the list, meaning unvaccinated travelers to Chicago from those states are asked to quarantine or get tested. As of Tuesday, states and territories not on the Travel Advisory were: California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and Puerto Rico. 

Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) issued a statement highlighting several businesses in her district that received Back to Business grants.  

Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) issued a statement highlighting the businesses in her district that received Back to Business grants.  

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) issued a statement highlighting the businesses in his district that received Back to Business grants.  

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted “I am proud to join Congressman Chuy Garcia and much of organized labor in standing with Alexi and his candidacy.” 

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted “What’s positive about #Illinois? The 2021 freshman class of GOP House members brought people from many professional backgrounds in private sector to serve the state. Their willingness to take time away from their jobs to fix IL is inspiring. We need a few more good people! #twill"

Stephanie Schmitz Bechteler, the Chicago Urban League’s executive director of research and policy, wrote Monday on LinkedIn she will be stepping down from her position to take a job as the director of special projects and program services with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. She will begin her new job Nov. 1.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Today I am please to join Ald. Burke & others in demanding a continuation of medical coverage for employee dependents during this vaccine mandate fiasco.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “MAGA hats on the first floor on City hall. Signs that read  23&Me and other gems. So disturbing.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “There's a QAnon rally happening right now at Chicago City Hall. People in fake military fatigues. Some guy with a weird trumpet. Lots of disinfo about vaccines. Wild.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Public Safety Update: Our office has been made aware by the 20th District of a shooting incident on the 5600 block of N Western Ave at approximately 5am. Police are actively investigating and do not have additional details for public release at this time.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted a video of herself recapping Monday’s City Council meeting. “We’re back on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 10am,” she wrote.

Chicago Department of Planning and Development Deputy Comm. James Harbin will join the next virtual meeting of the Neighborhood Building Owners’ Alliance at noon Tuesday to provide an “overview of opportunities in and around the South and West sides through Mayor Lightfoot's INVEST South West program,” according to an announcement. Online registration is required. 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago announced a series of webinars planned for November, including a four-part and two-part “homebuyer education” webinar. Other events include a “financial fresh start” webinar at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9, a “foreclosure prevention” webinar at 6 p.m. on Nov. 4 and a “financial self-defense" webinar at noon on Nov. 18. 

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) tweeted about a breast cancer awareness event she is hosting on Monday.  

Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) tweeted “At the Grundy County Drug Take Back this afternoon in Morris. It’s so important that we keep these out of the hands of our youth and safety dispose of them.”  

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “Are you working on your kids' Halloween costume? Costume masks are not substitutes for masks designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A safer option is finding an outfit that incorporates a well-fitting mask or adding your own to an outfit without a mask.” 

Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) issued a statement about the Illinois Commerce Commission’s efforts to implement the recently enacted omnibus energy law.  

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is hosting two sessions this week to provide information about filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The first session, which will take place on Monday, will be in Spanish. The second session, which will take place on Tuesday, will be in English. Registration is required for both. 

Ald. Sophia King (4) posted photos in her latest newsletter of the dedication of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and wrote, “As our city and our nation continue to celebrate and document the diverse histories that make our country great, it was a pleasure to see the signs finally go up renaming Lake Shore Drive.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Stop asking: I co-sponsored @AldermanTabares ordinance two days ago” 

Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16) will join Cook County Comm. Dennis Deer (D-2) to host a “virtual domestic violence forum” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, they announced. Online registration is required. 

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23) included a clip in her latest newsletter of herself talking about her proposal to repeal the city’s vaccination mandate. “If police are pulled off the street, firefighters are not at the firehouse, or garbage is not being picked up, are we going to tell our residents that we fought for them for answers or sat on the sidelines?” she wrote. 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted a list of “demands won” and wrote, “Feeling grateful for my colleagues: @AldMattMartin, @Mariafor49,@rodriguezfor22, @AldermanLaSpata, @5thWardChicago, @King4thWard, @RoderickTSawyer, @RossanaFor33, @CDRosa, @J1Ramann, @SSadlowskiGarza and @SigchoFor25. Regardless of how folks vote, we worked together. #Budget 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that he “co-hosted Recycle-Palooza, alongside the Northcenter Neighborhood Association (NNA), State Rep. Ann Williams, State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen, and MWRD Commissioner Kim du Buclet.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted, “have shared in my weekly newsletter today and want to share publicly: I support canceling the contract for ShotSpotter immediately.”

The Chicago Department of Public Health will begin offering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots at pop-up clinics and events starting Monday. Those eligible for the booster shot include people over 65 and all adults who live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions or “live in high-risk settings.” The full calendar of mobile and pop-up vaccination events is available online. 

The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection on Friday rolled out a new $20 million grant program for “small business and nonprofit relief,” as well as a new $2 million “Outdoor Dining Grant Program to provide for grants to support equipment for outdoor dining.” The programs will offer grants of $5,000 to $10,000 each. The department will host five “informational webinars” on the grant program this week, and the deadline to apply is Nov. 12. More information on the program is available online. 

Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) tweeted “I was honored and learned a lot down in Bloomington at the Heartland Community College training facility that has partnered with Rivian to start training workers for great paying jobs of the future.” 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “One of the highlights of my time in Springfield has been General Assembly Night at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. Thank you to the library staff for arranging this fascinating visit.”  

Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) tweeted about an Oct. 25 “burglary prevention seminar” he is hosting along with Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago).   

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted a link to a news story, adding, “Don’t miss out on one of the scariest homes in the 6th District in #RavenswoodManor.” 

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) wrote on Facebook “Yesterday, I participated in rally for Senate Bill 2333, a plan that seeks to reform the current parole system. Senate Bill 2333 would give individuals who have been incarcerated for 20 years or more the opportunity to be reviewed for Earned Reentry. This is about giving people hope in what may seem to be a hopeless situation. Our corrections system is meant to rehabilitate people. There are people who spend their time behind bars trying to better themselves, and the systems needs to recognize that.”

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods), Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) and Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) are scheduled to host a “health and wellness resource and activity fair” on Oct. 24 at the Greenbelt Cultural Center.