Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board of Commissioners today accepted annual grant awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support vital infrastructure, community services and economic development activities in Cook County.
The grants are as follows:
Cook County Commissioners today approved five 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: Alsip, Elk Grove Village, Northbrook, Palos Hills and Wheeling.
On November 30, 2017, Chief Judge Timothy Evans filed a Complaint seeking enforcement of a General Administrative Order against the County. The Complaint and Administrative Order demanded funding of approximately $41 million more than the amount appropriated by the Cook County Board of Commissioners to the Circuit Court of Cook County for Fiscal Year 2018.
The County disputed Judge Evans’ Administrative Order and his findings that $41 million more were required for the offices operated under the authority of the Chief Judge.
For three years in a row, the Center for Digital Government (CDG) named Cook County one of America's Top 10 Digital Counties with a population of more than one million. The 2018 award identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services, encourage collaboration and shared services, enhance cybersecurity and even reduce carbon emissions.
We have worked very hard since 2010 to make the Forest Preserves of Cook County a welcoming and safe place for all. An incident in Caldwell Woods on June 14 in which a visitor to the Preserves was verbally harassed was appalling and completely unacceptable. I am very sorry for the experience the young woman had to endure and I’m further troubled by the lack of response and action by the initial officer on the scene. The Forest Preserves immediately launched an investigation into the incident.
Heat and fireworks that mark the summer months can create special problems for pets.
Dr. Tom Wake, interim administrator of Cook County’s Animal and Rabies Control, urges pet owners to make sure their pets receive rabies vaccinations.
He also provides the following important seasonal recommendations and precautions:
Cook County will receive $1.9 million under the terms of a recently reached settlement with manufacturers of liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. Cook County Board President announced the settlement during the Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting today.
The settlement stems from a 2013 lawsuit filed by the Illinois attorney general’s office alleging that a number of companies conspired to fix and inflate prices for LCD screens used in various devices including cell phones, monitors, computer notebooks and TVs between 1998 and 2006.
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.
