Ald. George Cardenas (12) shared a post noting that 26 people have been charged in a shooting or attempted murder while released on bond this year, adding, “I think anyone would agree this is a problem.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Joining my @SEIU73 brothers & sisters demanding fairness from @cookcountygov at @TasteofChi #UnionStrong” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) shared a video of himself jumping over a fence to get a traffic cone so he could mark a pothole on a street in his ward. 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) shared a Tribune editorial about a long stretch of undeveloped land in Lake County and wrote, “The state spent $53 million and the best use of land is for a park. The best use of public money along the Chicago River is the ⁦@NorthBranchPark⁩.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that he “met with many of [his]colleagues in the City Council Black Caucus to discuss potential priorities for how to allocate the $1.8 billion in COVID-related stimulus funds that Chicago will be receiving from the federal government.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) wrote in his latest newsletter that he spoke with Chicago Police Department leaders and “requested the reinstatement of bike patrols in 20th and 24th Districts, which were reassigned last summer due to COVID and have not returned. These bike patrols have been critical aspects of summer safety in our community in previous years and I will work with my colleagues to have them restored.” 

Cook County Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) shared a Facebook post from Paul Vallas and wrote that many shootings are the “Result of 100% manufactured criminal justice experiment policy. States Attorney Kim FOXX & Chief Judge Evans, your prosecutorial and judicial sentence guidelines policies are horrible, end them now!”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday announced Cesar Rodriguez as her new press secretary. Rodriguez was previously a national news correspondent for the E.W. Scripps Company, a freelance reporter with CBS2 Chicago and a sports anchor at Telemundo Chicago. Lightfoot had not had a permanent press secretary since Jordan Troy stepped down from the post in April. Rodriguez joins Alejandra Flores Rebollar, whom the mayor hired this month as her deputy press secretary for education and human services.  

Lightfoot on Friday announced the launch of the “Summer Kickback Series," an initiative to “provide safe spaces, programs, and other opportunities for Chicago youth, ages 14 to 19 across 15 communities on the South and West side of Chicago.” The Summer Kickback Series is the latest plank of “My CHI My Future,” the mayor's youth afterschool and summer programming initiative. 

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted a New York Times story about climate change, saying “Chicago is not immune to the ravages of the climate crisis.” 

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted a link to a Tribune story about a recent shooting, saying “Something is terribly wrong. The uncompromising cadence of death and violence is ripping through our streets with no regard.”  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted about an ice cream social event she will be hosting on July 25 with Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).   

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “This month I am going to kick-off the people’s legislative councils for the 7th District. I’m excited to meet with constituents from groups like single mothers, longtime residents, senior citizens, and more. This will inform my entire legislative agenda.”

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) tweeted a video encouraging residents in her district to attend an upcoming Back to School Vaccine Clinic.  

The Illinois State Fair announced Thursday Bret Michaels, Dee Snider, Dokken and George Lynch have been added to lineup for the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on August 21. The state fair, which begins on Aug. 12 and runs through Aug. 22, will also feature performances by Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Kane Brown with Restless Road, Toby Keith, Chris Young and George Thorogood. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday announced the home cities and counties of the winners of the state’s first COVID-19 lottery drawing. A $1 million prize went to a Chicago resident, while three $150,000 scholarships were handed out to three separate individuals living in Chicago, DeKalb County and suburban Cook County.  

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) sent a news release announcing the launch of a fundraising campaign to back an $8 million expansion for Rudy Lozano Library in Pilsen. He was joined at an event to launch the effort by U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.), state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago), Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) and Cook County Comm. Alma Anaya (D-7). 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “FYI, @POTUS signed the ARP Act into law on March 11th and asked Treasury to expedite funds to cities. To date Chicago has half of the $1.9 billion in our account and none of that money has been appropriated as Chicagoans are still struggling from the pandemic. Let’s go!!!!!” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) invited his constituents to participate in a “visioning survey” for streetscape work on Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Catalpa avenues. 

The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Department of Public Health on Thursday announced an expansion of their Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program, which is “designed to divert individuals with a substance use disorder away from the criminal justice system and towards treatment and recovery services.” The program launched in late 2018 in the West Side Harrison District and has since expanded to 11 districts. But it will expand to all 22 districts in the city by the end of the year, officials said Thursday. The program allows arrestees 18 or older with “no previous violent arrests” to “opt into a substance use disorder assessment with a clinician.”   

Chicago Department of Transportation officials held an event with Lyft and Ald. Michael Scott (24) on Thursday to kick off the expansion of the Divvy bikeshare system into the city’s Northwest and Southwest Side, with 107 new stations set to be spread across the 35-square-mile expansion zone. The expansion will extend the Divvy network out to the city’s western limits between Irving Park Road and 51st Street. The city plans by the end of next year for the stations to be located all over the city, including the Far Northwest Side and Far Southwest Side areas not currently covered. 

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted an image of her attending President Joe Biden’s speech at McHenry County College.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) similarly tweeted an image of him at the Biden event standing in front of the president’s podium, adding, “Who else is having a good day? Let’s Build Back Better!!!”  

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) tweeted an image of him and several other elected officials at the Biden event, including Welch, Gong-Gershowitz, Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) and Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview). 

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted “Recently, the Mount Vernon Chapter of the Disable American Veterans dedicated a new van for use in transporting veterans to and from VA visits. It was an honor to be invited to the dedication and support our veterans.”

Illinois’ first lottery drawing for residents who received the COVID-19 vaccine is set to take place Thursday. The first drawing will provide one vaccinated resident with a $1 million prize and three vaccinated youth with $150,000 scholarships. The winners will be contacted by the Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday. The drawing will take place in the afternoon with the health department announcing the counties or cities of the winners.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted, “The violence in Chicago is heartbreaking. Need more investment in and respect for groups like @AcclivusChicago who are out here on these streets. I’m advocating for support for a anti violence public service announcement campaign and mediation hotline.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Despite @ChicagoWater’s best efforts, over a half dozen hydrants remained open last night in the 15th Ward. This is more than just an inconvenience to residents - it’s dangerous. Chicago needs a better solutions to keep hydrants secure.” 

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted that “The Chicago Police Department - Area 2 Detectives are talking to a person of interest regarding the shooting of (2) federal agents and (1) CPD officer early this morning.” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted a photo of “a historic meeting in Pilsen today” with more than a dozen elected Latino leaders at the city, county and state level. 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) shared Better Government Assocation’s investigation of carjackings and tweeted, “Thank you, thank you @BetterGov for the real answer to what we have been asking for several years - what happens to juvenile offenders? Answer - nothing.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) included updates in his latest newsletter on street closures resulting from the CTA Red Purple Modernization project in his ward. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) quote-tweeted a statement from United Working Families and added, “President Biden and Congress intended ARPA funds to support housing, jobs, small business, public health and violence prevention. Wall Street doesn't need our help, Chicagoans do.” 

The Right to Recovery Coalition, including Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) and leaders of the groups GoodKids MadCity and Southsiders Together Organizing for Power, will host a virtual news conference at 9 a.m. Thursday calling on Mayor Lori Lightfoot “to immediately allocate [American Rescue Plan Act] funds that the city has received and use it to address root causes of violence, not fund more police.”

The Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission will hold its next round of virtual public hearings at 11 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. next Tuesday, July 13 to gather public input on the city’s remap process. Participants can sign up online to testify. 

The Metropolitan Planning Council will host a virtual event at 10 a.m. July 17 called “Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy: Lead Service Lines.” WBEZ reporter Monica Eng will moderate a panel including Thomas Nagle of Robinson Engineering, Ian Robinson of Blue Conduit and Alexis Woodrow of Denver Water. The Metropolitan Planning Council will host a follow-up event at 10 a.m. on Aug. 19 titled “Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy: Asset Management.” Online registration is required for the July event and the August event. 

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) retweeted an epidemiologist who said the global COVID-19 “situation is getting worse, not better.”  

Ald. George Cardenas (12) shared a Crain's article about the Willis Tower's insurer suing the city over flood damage and tweeted, "Laughable. They are also trying to lower the assess value so they don’t pay their fair share of property taxes. More on that to come." 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted, “Safe assumption Lightfoot completely ignored my letter sent in June 2020 outlining strategies to reduce violence based on what worked in the 15th Ward. Again, her arrogance is costing Chicagoan’s their lives.”  

Ald. Michael Scott (24) shared a Sun-Times article about U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth endorsing Chicago Clerk Anna Valencia to be the next Illinois Secretary of State.  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “I want to remind my colleagues of a relevant section of the ARPA guidelines that allows Chicago to spend some of its funding on violence prevention programs.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “After seeing the results of failed strategies this weekend, it’s time that we address the root causes of the violence. Investing in street outreach is crucial. We need less excuses and scapegoating rather than truly reimagining public safety.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) sent a newsletter reminding constituents that the deadline for high schoolers to apply to the summer Youth Organizing Summit is on Sunday. 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) encouraged residents to sign up for a property tax appeal workshop she plans to host alongside Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi at 6 p.m. Tuesday. 

Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) tweeted images of her attending Gov. JB Pritzker’s Tuesday bill signing.  

Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted a brief video of her speaking at Pritzker’s bill signing.  

Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) tweeted about how he was looking forward to “having a casual conversation” for his upcoming July 31 “Coffee, Conversation and Constituent Services” event.   

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) is set to host mobile office hours throughout the summer in her district.   

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) retweeted an image from a Chicago Coalition for the Homeless event, saying he was “proud to stand” with the organization and others. 

Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) issued a statement after he was reappointed to serve on the Legislative Ethics Commission.  

Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) tweeted that he had “partnered” with the Secretary of State’s office to provide services at his district office.

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Chicago Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) are set to hold a virtual town hall on July 8 at 6:30 p.m. focused on cannabis and social equity.

Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) tweeted encouragement for his constituents to fill out a survey to share their views on important issues.  

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) tweeted images from a July 4 event.  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted images from him leading an Independence Day parade in his district.   

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) tweeted “The behavior and crime are unacceptable in Chicago. We can no longer justify or defend criminal behavior in this city. We need tough love to punish and help people that would like to get on the right track. People that reject help must pay the price to end the destruction.”  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Sunday issued a disaster proclamation for Grundy County in response to the June 29 fire in Morris. The proclamation allows the state to expedite the use of state recourses, personnel and equipment and gives the Illinois Emergency Management Agency the ability to utilize more resources in response to the disaster.  

The Illinois Department on Aging’s Resident and Family Support Council will hold a virtual forum on July 6 at 3 p.m. about understanding your financial rights. Advanced registration is not required.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted that police should send juvenile arrestees to “area lockups for 72 hours.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted a thread advocating for the “treatment not trauma” City Council order (Or2020-242) she introduced last year.  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “Proud to stand with the men/women of CPD this weekend as they patrol the streets of the our great city.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “There isn’t a labor shortage, the labor market demands higher wages. Pay them and you’ll see positions gets filled.” 

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) included details in his latest newsletter about two downtown development proposals set for Chicago Plan Commission approval this month, including the 28-story RIU Hotal at 150 E. Ontario St. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that “participated in the third meeting of the city's building decarbonization working group to discuss how the construction and maintenance of buildings can be modified to reduce carbon emissions in the years to come.”

The Chicago Department of Public Health announced a new Protect Chicago Music Series event featuring the Chosen Few DJs at Kennedy King College from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 28. The show will be open to Chicago residents who are fully vaccinated by Aug. 14. Interested residents can sign up for the event online. 

Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia) tweeted images from a recent tour she did of businesses in her district.  

Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Riverwoods) tweeted images from a recent visit to the College of Lake County.  

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) tweeted an image from a recent gathering of Barrington Township Republicans, adding, “People are fired up and change is in the air.”  

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) tweeted, “When you lose your license, you lose the ability to get to work, making it even harder to pay off outstanding fines. Starting today, drivers no longer face license suspensions as a penalty for the failure to pay minor fees – just one way the #SAFETAct makes Illinois stronger.”

The Illinois State Board of Elections on Thursday elected members Ian Linnabary and Casandra Watson as chair and vice chair, respectively. They will retain their positions until June 30, 2023. The state agency also welcome new board members Catherine S. McCrory and Rick Terven, who were sworn in for their four-year terms on Thursday. Terven and McCrory are replacing Charles Scholz and Katherine O’Brien.