Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and County Commissioners recognized 17 military veterans this week for their sacrifice and service to nation under the annual Silver Star Service Banner program.

The veterans were saluted for their service in wartime during the Board meeting. To be eligible for the Silver Star Service Banner program, a veteran must have been wounded or become ill while serving in a war zone. The veterans honored served in conflicts ranging from World War II to Afghanistan.

Announces commitment to no new revenue from taxpayers

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the preliminary forecast for the County’s Fiscal Year 2020 showing a historically small projected gap of $18.7 million.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the report from the Cook County Anti-Harassment Working Group. President Preckwinkle convened the group in October 2018 to review and enhance policies for preventing and prohibiting harassment in the workplace. Her office also conducted a Culture of Reporting Harassment survey, which recorded more than 1,500 responses.

Cook County Animal and Rabies Control released its 2019 low-cost rabies vaccine and microchip schedule. The first clinic is on Tuesday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield.

Clinics are scheduled throughout the summer across the County. A full schedule is posted on the department’s website.

Rabies vaccines and microchips are available to all dogs, cats and ferrets that are three months old and greater. Owners must be Cook County residents.

This week’s storms along with severe weather forecasted in the coming days is a reminder to area residents of the kind of damage a weather event can cause. A number of natural hazards like flooding, snowstorms and even tornadoes impact Cook County.

That is why the County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is updating the Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to prepare for natural disasters and their impacts. And they want residents’ input.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is hosting the third annual Cook County Missing Persons Day to connect those who have long-term missing loved ones with resources and experts.

Missing Persons Day will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office’s, 2121 West Harrison St., Chicago.

Those whose friends and family have been missing more than one month will be able to submit DNA samples, medical records, pictures and other records to aid in the search. Emotional support services will also be available to families. 

Some roadways remain closed due to flooding throughout Cook County. Below is an updated list.

Road closures include:

• Prospect Heights: Willow Road between Elmhurst Road and Wheeling Road
• Orland Park: 135^th Street from LaGrange Road to Southwest Highway
• Orland Park: Will Cook Road from 151^st Street to 159^th Street
• Matteson: Vollmer Road between I-57 and Cicero Avenue

Signs warning of water on pavement have been set up in the following locations:

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today launched a pilot of a public dashboard for the Cook County Policy Roadmap: Five-year Strategic Plan for the Offices Under the President. This dashboard is part of a newly upgraded Open Performance website that will also host Set Targets, Achieve Results (STAR) performance management dashboards, set to debut in Phase II of the upgrade.

Due to additional heavy rainfall, the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) continues to close roadways and erect warning signs to alert area drivers to potential hazards. Below is an update:

Road closures include:
- Prospect Heights: Willow Road between Elmhurst Road and Wheeling Road
- Orland Park: 135th Street from LaGrange Road to Southwest Highway
- Orland Park: Will Cook Road from 151st Street to 159th Street
- Matteson: Vollmer Road between I-57 and Cicero Avenue

The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways is closing roadways and erecting warning signs to alert area drivers to potential hazards after days of heavy rainfall.

Road closures include:
-    Orland Park: 135th Street from LaGrange Road to Southwest Highway
-    Orland Park: Will Cook Road from 151st Street to 159th Street
-    Prospect Heights: Willow Road between Wheeling Road and Elmhurst Road