The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Thursday the state’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percent to 4.6 percent in October. Illinois’ unemployment rate remains the highest in the nation and is 0.9 points above the national average. However, the state added 3,600 non-farm jobs in October, marking the 17th straight month of job growth in Illinois.  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Join @edgechamber for the Winter Bryn Mawrkets, taking place at 1052 W. Bryn Mawr Ave and 1040 W. Bryn Mawr on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting this weekend! Stop by to do your holiday shopping and support local artisans!”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “A big thanks to The Cook County Sheriff’s Office for hosting the Catalytic Converter Marking Event this afternoon at CrossWinds Church. @CCSOPIO @SenCunningham @repfranhurley35”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Thank you @patrickelwood & @WGNTV for visiting our Canaryville Veteran Riders Association during their annual coat drive! We are accepting donations until 5p today at The Village Inn and at my office during the rest of the week!”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “🗳 We’re close to our highest ever turnout for participatory budgeting! If you live in the 47th Ward, cast your vote to select two special infrastructure projects at aldermanmartin.com/participatory-budgeting”  

Comm. Brandon Johnson (D-1) tweeted “Proud to stand with Starbucks fam at Armitage and Hoyne this morning, and in solidarity with striking Starbucks workers everywhere demanding increased staffing and good faith bargaining. Like many, I enjoy a good cup of coffee. But not today. #RedCupRebellion #NoContractNoCoffee” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted “Starbucks worker at 2101 W Armitage are on strike. Please support their strike fund and show them some love! #UnionTown” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday announced the city launched a new land sale portal where 2,000 vacant city-owned lots now are available for sale and redevelopment by private buyers. The properties can be found at Chicago.gov/BlockBuilder. 

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Illinois has decided and dutifully reaffirmed that we will not stand for habit, we will not stand for the appearance of justice. We will stand for justice and justice made manifest across each of our communities in this state.”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Back in Springfield, under the Dome, doing the People’s work.”  

Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) tweeted, “Senate Bill 4242 was introduced in response to an Indigenous student in my district, Nimkii Curley, who was not allowed to walk in his graduation because of cultural feathers on his graduation cap. I am proud of the bravery of my young constituents to speak out”  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “I was honored to join First Lady Jill Biden and other national leaders at Rolling Meadows High School to celebrate High School District 214's Career Pathways program.” 

The Illinois Senate passed HB1293 on a unanimous vote Wednesday. The bill requires the Investment Policy Board to develop a list of companies based in the two countries that would be added to the state’s Prohibited Investment List. The bill also creates a one-year Money Laundering in Real Estate Task Force, gives the Department of Human Services emergency rulemaking power and establishes an Elections Infrastructure and Integrity Task Force. The bill now goes back to the House for consideration.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Some jobs in a campaign are glamorous, others require diligence & patience to the Nth degree. My folks reviewing the thousands of signatures I have collected from across the city have both in spades. Thank you for your hard work!”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Earlier today: @Andrefor40th experienced his first "media scrum." He did well!”  

Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) tweeted “Please join me tonight at RNRA's 25th Annual Reception and Gala! Hear Ald. Reilly and Commander Hein speak about public safety and development while enjoying great food and drinks from Tao! Tickets available through http://RNRA2022TAO.eventbrite.com #taochicago #RNRA”  

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted “Thank you to ⁦@ChicagoCAPS18⁩ Commander Hein for meeting with neighbors at Lake Shore Park. The Commander shared information regarding local crime patterns, and answered questions. Thanks also to Wildberry Cafe for coffee and snacks.”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “City Council appropriates millions every year that is used by CPS. City Council, parents, and taxpayers are entitled to hear from the CEO. While I'm glad the Mayor finally agreed, I envision a Chicago where transparency and accountability are the norm, not a fight to be won” in response to news the heads of CPS and CTA, among other agencies, would begin testifying before City Council committees quarterly next year. 

Ald. Mike Rodriguez (22) tweeted “Happy to honor and support the El Milagro workers at the @AriseChicago Chicago Faith-Labor-Action annual breakfast. Si se puede!!!” 

Applications to replace Ald. George Cardenas (12) as the 12th Ward alderman closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Cardenas’ last day as a member of the City Council is Nov. 30 and Mayor Lori Lightfoot is tasked with appointing his replacement within 60 days of his departure. Cardenas’ colleagues thanked him for his service and gave him well wishes during the City Council meeting Wednesday. 

Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) tweeted a picture with Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason): “The Senate Turner Caucus is back….!!!!!” 

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted, “My staff was on hand to congratulate @dupageforest on being a finalist for the Governors Hometown Awards with their innovative Pop-Up Volunteer program.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Back to work. Buckle up - big things ahead.”  

Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) tweeted, “Hello friends and neighbors. I’ve started the process of packing up and cleaning out my Springfield office while I’m down here for the start of veto session. Serving the people of the 75th District these past 6+ years has been an honor and a privilege.”  

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted, “The big takeaway here is that Rs are becoming an endangered species in the suburbs. Suburban Cook is basically just Durkin. DuPage delegation down to 2. Only McLaughlin and half of Weber in Lake. Only Ozinga and part of Haas in Will. Burbs went from 34D-16R to 39-11.” 

The Illinois Attorney General and other state’s attorneys general reached a $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart as part of lawsuits over the company’s contribution to the opioid crisis. The settlement also includes court oversight of Walmart’s handling of prescription drugs. 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “As temperatures this week dip below freezing, remember that the City’s community service centers with @ChiFamSupport will be open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. This includes 845 W. Wilson Ave.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Proud to stand with @afscme31 , @BobReiterJr, @chicagolabor, and @RossanaFor33 in support of Field Museum Workers United,  who have been organizing to form a union in spite of union busting tactics by CEO Julian Siggers. Chicago is a UNION town! Don’t get it twisted!”  

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) tweeted “FTX, crashed because of the free fall of bitcoin and a run from crypto investors calling on to sell off their positions! The apparent scammer, Sam Bankman-Fried just got George Bailey’d.”  

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6) tweeted “Just saw Lori's ad. She was "cool" on Covid. What was NOT cool? Raising bridges. Berating staff. Freezing out reporters for doing their jobs. Standing in the way of police reform. Breaking campaign promises. And a classic Chicago pizza has sausage! #SawyerForChicago #ResetChicago ”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “Welcome @HopButcher to the 47th Ward!” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “A lesson for 2023 Chicago mayoral and aldermanic candidates: IL Republicans thought misinformation and fear-mongering about crime was their ticket to victory. Republicans lost big, particularly in the city. Chicago voters want and deserve honest conversations on public safety.”

The Chicago Transit Board on Tuesday approved the CTA’s $1.8 billion operating budget for 2023. The approved spending plan keeps the transit authority’s fares at its current levels and “maintains the agency’s commitment to improving service and continues important investments to upgrade and modernize the system,” according to a news release from the CTA. 

Rep. Mark Wallker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “Illinois is first in the nation to protect rights, again.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Praying for the @UVA community as they wait for an all-clear message. As Highland Park experienced on July 4th, being locked down after a mass shooting exponentially increases the trauma, with heart-pounding fears of further violence.”  

Sen. Meg Loughran-Cappel (D-Shorewood) tweeted, “It was great celebrating our nation's heroes at the Romeoville Veterans Day Service Breakfast! Few possess the integrity and bravery to put their lives on the line for complete strangers. That is what makes the observance of our service members so important an occasion.” 

The Illinois House will meet Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the Speaker’s office announced Monday. The regularly scheduled Thursday session is cancelled. The Senate is still scheduled to meet Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will meet in the Howlett Auditorium in the Howlett Building on the south side of the Capitol Complex. Ongoing construction on the north wing of the capitol has closed the Senate for renovations. COVID-19 precautions, including required COVID-19 tests for access to Senate spaces, have been lifted in both the House and Senate.   

Amendment 1, known as the Workers’ Rights Amendment, was passed by Illinois voters with 53 percent of voters participating in the election supporting the amendment. The amendment makes collective bargaining a constitutional right in Illinois.   

Democratic committee members in the 1st Senate District unanimously selected Javier Loera Cervantes of Chicago to succeed former Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago), who resigned his seat in October. Cervantes won the uncontested election for the seat last week and was the only person who applied to fill the remainder of Munoz’s term.  

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation on Monday announced six community garden sites that will accept organic waste materials for composting. The sites were launched in collaboration with NeighborSpace and partially funded by a grant from the Natural Resources Defense Council. Three bins at each site will collect fruit and vegetable scraps, garden trimmings, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags, according to a news release from Lightfoot’s office. The six sites are: Stockyard Garden at 5136-58 S. Carpenter St., El Paseo Garden at 944 W. 21st St., Merchant Park Community Garden at 4200 W. Addison St., Hermitage Street Community Garden at 5647 S. Hermitage Ave., Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden at 4427 W. Fulton St. and Montrose Metra Community Gardens at 4386 N. Ravenswood Ave. 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted “We’ve been fighting to #BringChicagoHome since we came in in 2019. We are trying to ask the people of Chicago if they want a luxury real estate transfer tax on properties worth over 1M to end homelessness. We are fighting for it til we get it. Who is elected to council matters.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “A flat tire is not how I planned on setting my day.”  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “The #BringChicagoHome campaign would be a transformative measure to end homelessness in this city, yet 25 alders couldn't even come to a City Council meeting to discuss it. Profoundly disappointing for housed and unhoused Chicagoans but we keep fighting.”  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “This morning, my team attended Harm Reduction Training by @ChiPublicHealthwhere they learned about overdose response and prevention. Thanks to  

@ChiPublicHealth, my office now has available Fentanyl testing strips and Narcan (a legal medication that rapidly reverses an overdose).”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted “Very pleased to help dedicate the beautiful new Gan Avigail community park at the @jccchicago Horwich campus. Excited to have a new, fully accessible playground, walking path, and fields in the neighborhood!”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted about a Nov. 15 meeting in her ward saying “Please join us tomorrow for the Grand Boulevard Advisory Council's Development Meeting to discuss the new development on the South Side of 47th Street from Champlain to St. Lawrence. Grand Boulevard residents will have the opportunity to ask questions. https://t.co/D4GKfe8qVW ” 

Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) tweeted “PSA for adults w/hs seniors in their lives: unless you’re an actual college admissions professional (& maybe not even then) please don’t declare it impossible to get into X school without a unicorn & your own squad of flying monkeys. You’re not helping. Also, you’re an ass.”  

Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) tweeted “November is #NationalAlzheimersDiseaseAwarenessMonth and so we wanted to share a few facts about Alzheimer's disease as well as the Alzheimer's Association website: https://alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers”  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted “We have an historic set of opportunities. We passed a capital bill for the first time in a decade, the motor fuel tax is tied to inflation, there’s dedicated public transit funds & a $1.2 T infrastructure law w/ $550 B in new-program spending for state and local governments.”  

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted “I'm so proud that Illinois is among the 10 states filing Amicus  Briefs with the U.S. Court  of Appeals to protect the rights of Trans youth. Thank you so much Attorney General @KwameRaoul for defending all our rights!” 

The Illinois General Assembly’s six-day veto session is set to begin Tuesday. Lawmakers are scheduled to gather for veto session Nov. 15-17 and Nov. 29-Dec. 1. 

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted “allowing the SARS2 virus to spread mostly unimpeded, and rapidly mutate into immune evasive variants, is not sustainable. If we continue on this course of constant reinfection, the eventual result (5 years? 10?) is chronic, disabling disease and death at an unimaginable scale”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Attacking airline personnel on an aircraft should land someone permanently on the no-fly list. Period!”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “Please keep the Saint Ignatius community in your thoughts and prayers.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted “Great evening at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) annual fundraising gala. Tremendous leaders in the Ukrainian community are raising funds to support the culture. Thank you Marta, Natalia, and Tunia for the invitation. #SlavaUkraini”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “What a tremendous turnout out the weekend after Election Day for the Andrefor40th Our Turn Canvass! Shout out to @peopleslobbyusa, @MidAmCarpenters, @slowstreetsorg, @deirdrejane23 and our neighbors for demonstrating what #Our40th is all about!”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “We're having an Open House! Join us on Sunday, November 20 from 1-3pm at our campaign office for hot chocolate, hot cider, and cookies to celebrate our new campaign headquarters (1505 W. Morse). Stop by, grab a cookie, and say hi! We hope to see you next Sunday.” 

The city’s Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett will speak at the City Club of Chicago at noon Monday at Maggiano's Banquets at 111 W. Grand Ave. Doors for the event open at 11:30 a.m. and Bennett’s speech will be streamed online. Additional information is available online. 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted “It was great to be back at my old stomping grounds  

@DePaulLaw today to speak with Law Students about Criminal legal reform, public policy and how they intersect with the law. Excited for these bright young minds. Thanks for having me.”  

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted “Marines have been America’s elite first line of defense for 247 years. Created by the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1775, the Marine Corps has fought in every U.S. conflict with honor, courage and commitment befitting ‘the few, the proud.’ Thank you! Semper Fi!” 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted “I want to thank the 39,044 voters who cast their ballots in the election for the 8th State Senate District and voted to send me back to Springfield for a second term.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted “Put your shovels down! Last week I was able to attend Burr Oak’s Storm Sewer Completion Ceremony. Great seeing the amazing progress that the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission is completing. Continue to follow me for more updates and to follow upcoming projects”