Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues today in honoring 17 unsung heroines for their contributions to their communities, an annual ceremony held in recognition of Women’s History Month.

The Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award is presented to one woman from each of the County’s 17 legislative districts and one from the County at-large. Commissioners from the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues receive input from the individual districts to identify exceptional nominees whose work is significant yet seldom recognized.

Officials urge residents to be cautious of downed tree limbs and power lines

Cook County is under an ice storm warning beginning at 6 p.m. this evening. The County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) urge residents to use extreme caution through the duration of the storm.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was joined today by officials from the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH), Forest Preserves of Cook County, Cook County Health, Cook County Department of Public Health and Cook County Facilities Management to discuss Cook County’s preparations for the extreme cold weather.

Cook County’s suburban courthouses will be open to serve as 24 hour warming centers.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today was joined by Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli, First Defense Legal Aid, and others to announce the filing of legislation in Springfield to address the prevalent constitutional violations of those detained by police being denied their legal right to a phone call.

The legislation specifies that those detained by police must be given access to a phone within an hour of being brought to a station or wherever law enforcement is detaining them. The bill also ensures the arrestee is able to make three completed phone calls.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved two proposals from President Toni Preckwinkle’s Bureau of Economic Development (BED) that will provide tax incentives to businesses in Cook County.

The incentives, which will either create new or save existing jobs, were approved in the following communities: Elk Grove Village and Mount Prospect. 

As a result of redevelopment activities, these incentives should support the creation of an estimated 20 new private sector full-time jobs, retain an estimated 40 full-time jobs and support 20 construction jobs.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved funding today for projects designed to boost economic development and quality of life throughout Cook County. The projects are part of Invest in Cook, an initiative of Connecting Cook County, the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways’ (DoTH) long range transportation plan.

The projects include:

78^th Avenue Reconstruction

Changes to meeting days beginning next week

The Cook County Board of Commissioners is starting the New Year with a new schedule.  

Beginning next week, the Cook County Board of Commissioners will hold its consent calendar meetings on Wednesdays and its regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners on Thursdays. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners will now meet Tuesdays. 

Program to encourage transportation investments that support the County’s priorities, including transit, cycling and freight transportation

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was joined by the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) to announce a call for transportation-related projects throughout Cook County as part of the County’s initiative to build and maintain a comprehensive regional transportation network.

Cook County Animal and Rabies Control is advising pet owners to prepare and protect their pets from the distemper virus. The department has seen an increase in cases of confirmed canine distemper virus found in raccoons tested after displaying abnormal neurologic signs.

The distemper virus affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous system of dogs. Symptoms can include ocular and nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures. Death can occur from secondary pneumonia or non-responsive seizure activity.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today was joined by Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Brad Schneider, Representative-elect Sean Casten, Representative-elect Lauren Underwood, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Cook County Commissioner Kevin B. Morrison, and Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry to encourage Cook County residents to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. The enrollment deadline is tomorrow, Saturday, December 15.