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.

(Cook County) – The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) was joined today by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Congressman Bobby Rush, Joseph P. Galvan, HUD Midwest Regional Administrator, Mayor John A. Ostenburg of Park Forest, IL and Audra Hamernik, ED of IHDA to announce ongoing plans to improve affordable housing infrastructure in four communities of low-income housing in some of the poorest areas of Cook County.

I was greatly saddened to learn today of the passing of Dr. Donna Alexander, the administrator of Cook County Animal and Rabies Control.

Dr. Alexander passionately  served as the administrator  of the department since 2007, leading the agency that prevents the transmission of rabies; prevents animal cruelty and abuse and promotes spaying/neutering.

I offer my sincere condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
 

Cook County pet owners can save money and protect their animals from rabies by taking advantage of Cook County’s low-cost rabies vaccine clinics this spring and summer.

The inaugural low-cost rabies vaccine clinic of 2018 will take place Tuesday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Southwest Ice Arena, 5550 W. 127th St., Crestwood. It is the first of more than 30 rabies vaccine clinics scheduled throughout suburban Cook County and Chicago.

Cook County saved nearly $8.6 million and significantly decreased energy use in the first two years of implementing energy efficiency improvements by using guaranteed energy savings performance contracts. 

Cook County Chief Information Officer Simona Rollinson today was named Nonprofit/Government Chief Information Officer of the Year at the annual ORBIE Awards held in partnership with the CIO Leadership Association. The award honors chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership.

Cook County has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its Medical Examiner online data portal that provides up-to-date information about deaths in Cook County’s, including those caused by gun violence and the opioid epidemic.

Cook County Animal and Rabies Control urges pet owners to take special precautions to protect the health and welfare of their pets as the weather warms up.

“Everybody looks forward to the spring and summer, even our pets,” Dr. Donna Alexander, Administrator of the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control said. “But all the festivities and the changes in weather mean pet owners need to take special care of their furry friends.”

Dr. Alexander has the following suggestions:

Chicago, Illinois – April 30, 2018 –A group of ten young people will spend part of their summer learning about state and local government and  politics “hands-on,” thanks to the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Advocacy Internship Program. This project is centered on encouraging and educating the next generation of youth to the mechanics of state and municipal government. It serves college and graduate school-aged students in the Midwest Region.

The Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability was awarded two brownfield grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the agency said.

These grants will aid south suburban communities in assessing possible contamination on vacant or underused properties. The grants will also aid in the remediation of properties in some south and west suburban communities. The goal is to return brownfield properties to productive use creating jobs, bolstering the local tax base and creating other local economic development benefits.