Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “We’re listening. Email [email protected] to testify before the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee this Thursday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m., where we’ll discuss the 2020 Census and what it means for Illinois.” 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “ICYMI: I am so proud that my bill, HB1092, was signed into law! HB 1092 strengthens Illinois' Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) by including yearly training for law enforcement on its implementation and creating an education campaign for the public.” 

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) wrote on Facebook “A heartfelt Thank You to Suncast Corporation, one of the largest employers in our district, for urging the federal delegation to find an appropriate, legal pathway to residency for undocumented people in our community. Finding a legal pathway to residency would not only stimulate further economic growth and prosperity, but it is also simply the right thing to do.” 

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) posted a video on Facebook of him delivering 45,000 petitions to the office of Gov. JB Pritzker to “demand he rescinds his unilateral mask mandate on our schools.” Bailey is running for the GOP nomination for governor. 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “1/Colton's Task Force is a reality. This act is dedicated to the life of Colton Miller who was tragically taken from us at just 18 months due to domestic violence. The creation of this task force shows that one person can make a difference.” 

Rep. Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted “It was a pleasure to stop by the #HeroCenter in downtown Waukegan to learn more about the great work they do with @LakeCountyJobs! We talked about the struggles they've endured during the pandemic and how we can work together to help them move forward. Thank you for hosting me!” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “TIME IS RUNNING OUT! The General Assembly is returning for special session on Aug. 31. However, energy legislation wasn’t on the agenda that Senate President Don Harmon sent out. To preserve our nuclear fleet, Senate President Harmon must call a bill for a vote while we are in.” 

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Plainfield) tweeted a reminder about a Tuesday night “Women Who Lead” panel discussion on Facebook Live she is hosting with Comptroller Susana Mendoza and other elected officials.  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted about how his office is “now accessible” through text messages.  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will receive $140 million in statue funds, as well $52 million in non-state funds, to help cover costs associated with the construction of a new facility, renovations and upgrades on the campus. The funding, which comes from the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan, will be used to restore Altgeld Hall and replace Illini Hall. 

Pritzker on Monday also joined state and local officials to announce the start of construction on a new Interstate 57/74 interchange in Champaign-Urbana. The project, which will cost $216.8 million, is funded by Rebuild Illinois.  

Pritzker on Monday announced Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz was leaving his administration. Ruiz, who joined the governor’s office in February 2019, has primarily overseen education-related matters.

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) on Monday appointed Jeremy Margolis to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission’s search committee to find Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope’s replacement. 

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “So proud of the workers at [Colectivo Coffee] who just became the largest unionized coffee and cafe chain in the country! What a long struggle, but a powerful and inspiring one!” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “Restorative justice only works if the offender accepts responsibility for their actions and makes amends to the injured. Otherwise it is a waste of time & only offers false redemption.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted “If ‘immigrants are welcome here’, their kin in their birth countries deserve immediate access to generic covid vaccines. Shame on criminally immoral billionaire class that lives lavishly as they use their political strength to deny the workers of the world the life saving vaccine” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) shared a Block Club article about Amazon lockers in Chicago parks and in a thread tweeted “A few things that didn’t make it in the article. 1. Amazon should not be occupying public space regardless of what they offer but we have to note that 137K is a slap in the face.  2.Corps like Amazon that don’t pay taxes impact our ability to fund public services, like parks.”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) in a thread tweeted “Latino became Latina/o, then Latin@, then Latinx, and most recently Latine. This progression has been organic, conceived of by women, and trans and nonbinary people to challenge patriarchy and embrace a gender-neutral and inclusive term for latinidad.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted “We're excited to have nearly 30 block parties in the ward this Saturday! As the Delta variant continues to spread, remember to take covid-19 precautions at your block parties. Props to the organizers of this party for getting creative when promoting covid-19 safety!” 

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted “If you were hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it didn't yet have full FDA approval, your wait is over! Your loved ones, hospital staff, educators, those who work in restaurants and local businesses, and your neighbors will thank you for it!”

Chicago Department of Public Health workers will spray insecticide on Wednesday at Albany Park, Lincoln Square, Irving Park, and North Center as part of the department’s “efforts to protect residents against the West Nile virus.” according to an announcement. “Weather permitting, the spraying will begin at dusk on August 25th and continue through the night until approximately 1:00 am, with licensed mosquito abatement technicians in trucks dispensing an ultra-low-volume spray,” according to the announcement. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) is scheduled to host a housing budget town hall virtual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. “Join us for a virtual town hall to talk about how the pandemic has impacted housing stability, the status of rental assistance programs, and how we can invest in permanent solutions,” Martin tweeted on Monday. Registration is available online. 

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago released its September schedule of courses and webinars, including four homebuyer education courses starting on Sept. 1, a “Financial Fresh Start” course on Sept. 14 and a “Foreclosure Prevention” webinar on Sept. 16. All the courses start at 6 p.m. More information is available online.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) shared a Crain’s article about population growth in Bronzeville and wrote, “I am proud of the work our community is doing in Bronzeville!! Let’s keep it up. Bronzeville remains a community of diverse housing markets.”  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) tweeted that President Joe Biden’s appointment of Rahm Emanuel as U.S. ambassador to Japan is “a slap in the face to our immigrant communities by the Biden Administration. Are we human beings or not?”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, “Thank you @ToniPreckwinkle for requiring county workers get vaccinated against COVID. @chicagosmayor, it's time Chicago do the same - for the health of our city and our city’s public workforce.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) wrote in his latest newsletter, “When we allow our neighborhoods to remain disinvested and bereft of mental health/social services, of job opportunities, of quality community investment, and a fair chance at succeeding, we end up with generations of people who see no other recourse but to engage in criminal activity that often escalates to violence. We can continue to focus on the individuals who commit crime, but if we ignore the environment that produces them, we fall short in solving the problem.”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) wrote in his latest newsletter that he is “disappointed with the direction of current policing strategies, such as eliminating foot pursuits. The Alderman is urging CPD to conduct a top-down reevaluation of public safety policies.” 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) tweeted that the “Park District has a bad habit of trying to commercialize our parks. Stop. So how did those Amazon lockers land in Chicago parks, anyway?” 

Officials from the Illinois Department of Employment Security on Friday offered a reminder that four federal unemployment programs are ending on Sept. 4. The programs include Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation.

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted “Texas legislators are voting to remove requirements of teaching about MLK. In Illinois, we are expanding the scope of our history curriculum to include more Black history, LGBTQ+, & Asian American history. We must not be afraid to teach all of our history.” 

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “I and my neighbors at 5533 N Broadway are hosting a Back-to-School celebration on Wednesday, August 25th at 5pm at Senn High School! Please feel free to reach out! We are also accepting donations to give out school supplies.”  

Rep. David Allen Welter (R-Morris) tweeted “@SenatorRezin and I had a great time supporting the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce at their Spirits On The Farm event showcasing local distilleries and breweries. We even had an opportunity to hangout with our good friend and Oswego Mayor Troy Parlier!” 

Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) said on Facebook “New mosaic benches are unveiled to complete the Rockford Women's Suffrage Plaza near the YMCA. The sculpture honors passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The unique benches recognize local women and city landmarks. Congrats to everyone with Women's Suffrage Centennial 2020 for their work on this wonderful project! 

Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) shared images on Facebook of him recently attending Elburn Days, adding “Fantastic night in Elburn fir the parade for Elburn Days! Always great to see so many friends line the route!!”

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on Thursday announced the winners of the final lottery for issuing cannabis dispensary licenses. A total of 75 licenses were awarded from a pool of 135 applicants. A full list of the winners can be found on the department’s website.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) wrote on her campaign Facebook page that she “had a blast at the Illinois State Fair and Illinois Democratic County Chairs' Association Brunch...As a Democratic Committee person, I'm proud to have built a thriving grassroots organization that is one of the highest voting wards in Chicago. And I'm proud to have supported the Democratic Party and all of our candidates.”  

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted, “The Trumpers were downright inept. I guess the Biden admin caught that virus !” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) shared a photo of Mayor Lori Lightfoot at the funeral of slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French and tweeted, “Even though you snuck in the backdoor, our brave men & women still saw you. They didn’t disrespect you but certainly could have lived this moment without you. A person of integrity knows when it’s appropriate to show up or when it’s best to stay home.” 

Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16) on her Facebook page highlighted Bass Elementary School’s Back to School Bash and thanked Busy B. Laundromat for “providing free laundry services for families and book bags for our youth.”  

Ald. Michael Scott (24) in his latest newsletter advertised his office’s Annual Back to School Community Giveback set to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Douglass Park fieldhouse. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared a link to a Block Club article about a new restorative justice court and tweeted, “I'm proud to have supported bringing a restorative justice court to Avondale, and I hope more neighbors will get involved in ensuring the success of this important Cook County Court initiative. 

Ald. Tom Tunney (44) tweeted that “this week Lakeview reached 80% of those eligible getting their first COVID vaccine dose.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “Out for back to school registration at Sullivan High School and was so excited to talk up the $25M in building improvements to students and their families when I learned that @ChiPubSchools installed WINDOWS THAT DON’T OPEN in the second story gymnasium in a building with no a/c.” 

The Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission has drafted 18 ward maps in anticipation of releasing a full proposed city ward map in September, the group announced on Thursday. Members have drafted maps for Rogers Park, West Ridge, Dunning, Montclare, Portage Park, North and South Lawndale, McKinley Park, Bridgeport, Chinatown, South Loop, Near South Side, South Commons, Douglas, Oakland, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, West Town, Logan Square, North Center, Austin, East and West Garfield Park, Belmont-Cragin, Hermosa, and Humboldt Park, according to the announcement. The commission will hold its next virtual public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday and an in-person hearing at 6 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Horizon Science Academy, 2245 W. Pershing Road. More information and archived meeting videos are available on the commission’s website. 

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today I joined @GovPritzker, @AldTomTunney & @Croke4Illinois as we rededicated Wrigley Field & heard about the years of effort to restore this historic ballpark.” 

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) provided a legislative update in her latest newsletter.  

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) tweeted images after she attended the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association’s brunch at the state fair.  

Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) shared a link on Facebook encouraging residents in her district to join the Kane County Sheriff’s office for a “one day Forklift Driver Certification Class.” 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) said on Facebook “I send my deepest sympathies to the family of Officer Ella French, and am keeping her partner Officer Carlos Yanez in my thoughts as he recuperates in ICU. No one should have to experience the incredible loss that gun violence brings, and our community mourns for Officer French.” 

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted her chief of staff will be at the Coal City Public Library on Thursday.  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today I visited the PACTT Learning Center! There is so much work to do for people on the spectrum and those living with disabilities. I am proud to stand with  

@PACTTChicago and their work supporting people with disabilities, workers, and people on the autism spectrum.” 

House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted “My doctor said I should get my COVID booster shot. Signed up on the @Walgreens website yesterday, went to the store today, took 5 minutes to register and get the shot. Easy to do. And FREE. Go get one” 

Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) on Wednesday said she was recently appointed by House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) to the Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate Surveys. Ammons was the House sponsor of SB 1610, which created the task force. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure into law on Aug. 6.   

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted that his office is hosting a virtual First Look meeting for three different development proposals in his ward at 6 p.m. Monday.  

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) wrote in her latest newsletter that her office will host a Back to School Festival at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Chicago Urban League. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) wrote in a news release that his office will host its annual Back to School Health Fair to provide “school physicals,” COVID-19 vaccines, other immunizations and school supplies to more than 500 children at McKinley Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday.  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) will host a Back-to-School Resource Fair at Avondale-Logandale School at 10 a.m. Saturday. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) will host a Back To School Fair at Avondale School at 10 a.m. Saturday with school supply giveaways and COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) invited constituents to participate in a virtual Child Care Budget Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, Aug. 24. 

Cook County Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) wrote in her latest newsletter that she “proposed an amendment to the Cook County Code regarding Rules and Organization and Procedure. This amendment would clarify when a Commissioner is allowed to attend a meeting virtually as opposed to in person as we transition between in person and virtual meetings.”

City Clerk Anna Valencia announced the coming return of Mobile City Hall, which brings access to multiple city departments to neighborhoods across the city. Mobile City Hall "will be held regionally on select week days, nights and weekends” between August and October “to ensure these services are conveniently available to hard working Chicagoans,” according to the announcement. The program will debut in Garfield Park, and subsequent events will be announced on the clerk’s website. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health added nine states and the District of Columbia to its COVID-19 Travel Advisory because they surpassed 15 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, making 39 states and three territories on the list. Unvaccinated travelers from Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia must now either quarantine for 10 days or secure a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving in Chicago. 

Leaders of the Chicago Teachers will host a news conference at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Benito Juarez High School to highlight how “CPS continues to insist on rolling back last year’s health and safety protocols even as the delta variant is filling hospitals around the country with children at the highest rate since the pandemic began,” they wrote in a release Tuesday.  

Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin will host a free online workshop at 12 p.m. Wednesday called “Small Business 101.” Online registration is required. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Rather than a mandate, why not call for a vote on the ordinance introduced by @AldermanSmith43 making mask wearing the law?”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) advertised a drive-thru vaccine clinic his office will host alongside Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), Rep, Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) and Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago). 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) retweeted a WTTW story about the City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity spending more money than other committees and not meeting in 2021 and wrote, “It’s wild that the Mayor appoints Committee Chairs. It’s wild that some committees barely meet yet have so much staff. It’s wild that there’s so little independence when it comes to Chairs conducting business but they have so much power over what gets discussed. And this. Wild.” 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) tweeted “Cops catch offenders. Victims identify offenders. Video footage captures offenders. State’s Attorney still not convinced there’s enough evidence. Offenders set free to do it again. And people wonder why crime stats are up?”  

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted information about his ward’s youth council. “Any students in the 47th Ward interested in policy, organizing, or local government can get involved in our youth council,” Martin wrote. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “Mask Mandate is effective Friday, Aug. 20. Better late than never!” 

Cook County Comm. Dennis Deer (D-2) in his latest newsletter said his staff participated in a youth vaccination “Raps and Vax Event” with Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16) on Saturday. 

Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday notified the Department of Central Management Services that all entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act must fly their flags at half-staff in remembrance of Chicago police Officer Ella French, who was killed on Aug. 7. The directive requires all U.S. and state flags to be lowered starting at sunrise on Wednesday through sunset on Thursday.