The U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in the Janus vs. AFSCME case today is the culmination of yet another partisan effort to weaken and undercut public employee unions. Janus was funded and supported by corporate interest groups that want to make it harder for workers to stand united. The decision means that public sector employees can now choose to not pay fair share dues to the unions that secure for them fair wages and safe working conditions.

As a former history teacher, I am well aware of the hostility so often directed at immigrants throughout our history. Wave after wave of immigrants have had to endure discrimination once they arrived on our shores. I am disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court today narrowly upheld the Trump Administration's travel ban, which clearly targets certain populations.

Heavy rains could lead to flooding. The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urges residents to keep the following road facts and tips in mind.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released a preliminary Fiscal Year 2019 financial forecast with the lowest gap the administration has projected since she took office. The preliminary gap for the County’s FY19 budget is forecast at $81.8 million.

Closing the gap will again require difficult choices without new revenue, Preckwinkle said. 

A wild rabbit found June 13 in Tinley Park has tested positive for tularemia. Cook County Animal and Rabies Control urges residents to avoid touching live or dead wildlife.

Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cook County Animal and Rabies Control urges pet owners to take special precautions to protect the health and welfare of their pets during the forecasted excessive heat.

Among the recommendations:

Do not leave your pet in a hot car: Even with the windows rolled down, studies have shown that the temperature inside the car can increase by 15 degrees above the outside temperature. The law requires that any time the ambient temperature is above 78 degrees, you cannot leave your dog in a car.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was joined today by a host of elected officials, numerous stakeholders and members of the developer team in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the restoration and redevelopment of Old Cook County Hospital. 

Cook County Commissioners today approved three 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: Crestwood, Mount Prospect and Schaumburg. One of the manufacturing companies that received an incentive services clients globally.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Bruce Rauner and the American Association of Railroads, partners of  the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, today announced a $132 million federal grant for the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP) in Chicago. 

While it is not perfect, we are encouraged by the bipartisan budget passed by the General Assembly and are hopeful that this budget will facilitate prompt and timely payments by the state to the County for the essential public health and safety services we provide. We are especially relieved that there will not be a repeat of the financial hardships caused by a historically long and painful state budget impasse that lasted 736 days and decimated the state’s social safety net, fiscally harmed our public colleges and universities and their students, and stressed local units of government.