Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the completion of the County’s first-ever Transit Plan that was presented to the Board of Commissioners last week. Developed by the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH), the Transit Plan priorities include improving the seamlessness of transit, increasing overall transit ridership and focusing on the needs of transit-reliant communities. 

Today, Cook County Commissioners and the Office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle marked September 15 through October 15, 2023 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Cook County through the passage of Resolution 23-4982. The Resolution was co-sponsored by Commissioners Alma Anaya, Anthony Quezada and Frank J. Aguilar, and was passed unanimously by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

(COOK COUNTY, IL) – On September 18, the Pretrial Fairness Act will take full effect in Illinois, eliminating the use of money bond and redesigning pretrial processes to increase transparency in release and detention decisions. Cook County stands ready to implement all aspects of the Act, including the new initial appearance and detention hearing processes.

Participants are now being referred through Community Organizations and the Illinois Dept. of Corrections

Today, Cook County announced the launch of Cook County Reconnect: Rental Assistance and Services for Returning Residents. Cook County has designated $23 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding for this initiative which provides rental assistance and services to residents returning to Cook County from periods of incarceration. Cook County Reconnect launched in August with a successful pilot phase.

Today, the office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced additional events and details for the upcoming fifth annual Racial Equity Week, to be held September 11-15, 2023.

The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control urges pet owners to take special precautions to protect the health and welfare of their pets as hot and humid weather conditions settle into the area through Thursday. The department offers the following tips for pet owners to keep in mind: 

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Cook County between 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday with heat indexes between 110 – 115 degrees expected. Dangerously hot and humid conditions will linger through Thursday evening. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today applauded Moody

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced $10 million in funding today for the Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program, an initiative led by the County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES). This program is available to dry cleaners, auto body and repair shops, metal finishers as well as food and beverage manufacturers in suburban Cook County and helps reduce their environmental impact through pollution reduction.

The application window for $10,000 and $20,000 grants has been extended to August 25