Some County buildings will go dark for global event to call attention to climate change

Cook County will turn off its non-essential lights March 24 to commemorate Earth Hour and call attention to climate change.

The Cook County Department of Facilities Management will save energy – and send a message about the role local government and Cook County residents play in cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions – by turning off lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at several of its facilities.

Today, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued the following statement in advance of scheduled votes on gun legislation in Springfield:

“A step toward more comprehensive gun safety laws is a step in the right direction because every gun death is one too many. 

I'm heartened that the state house will be taking action today on a variety of gun bills. But a vote is not enough. We must not stop pushing for commonsense change until it is law and we cannot stop at the state house because we are also in dire need of federal action. 

The County Medical Examiner’s Office has received national, full accreditation for 2018 from the National Association of Medical Examiners, known as NAME.

Accreditation recognizes that the office has met or exceeds national standards in key areas of operations, staffing and procedures.

The office regained full national accreditation in 2016 for the first time since 2011. The accreditation is verified annually.  

Today, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle called on the Trump administration and members of Congress to advocate against civil immigration arrests in courthouses, which pose a threat to public safety. 

Last month, the Trump administration issued new guidance directing immigration officers to make civil arrests in courthouses and claimed it would improve public safety. Last week, a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections was wrongfully detained at the Cook County courthouse in Skokie when he appeared for a minor traffic violation.

Today, Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle was joined by leading clinical experts to discuss gun violence as a public health issue in Cook County. 

In 2017, 744 people in Cook County died in gun-related homicides. More than 1,100 patients were treated for gun-related injuries at Stroger Hospital, the flagship hospital for Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS) in that same year.

Cook County, The Anti-Cruelty Society team up to promote the importance of spaying/neutering pets

February is National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and Cook County Animal and Rabies Control and The Anti-Cruelty Society have teamed up to promote the importance of spaying/neutering pets. Spaying/neutering pets keeps them healthier, safer and reduces pet over-population at shelters.

Program encourages local and regional investments that support the County’s priorities

The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) is seeking applications for transportation-related projects throughout Cook County as part of President Toni Preckwinkle’s initiative to strategically build and maintain a comprehensive regional transportation network.

County’s animal control administrator urges caution as temperatures remain low

Pet owners should take special precautious with dangerously low temperatures still forecasted.

Dr. Donna Alexander, administrator of the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control, has tips for pet should to keep in mind during the cold weather season.

“It’s important for pet owners to remember that they should adjust their pets’ normal routine,” Dr. Alexander said. “Prolonged exposure to cold, snow and ice can be as dangerous for dogs and cats as it is for humans.”

Even a short drive can turn into a dangerous one, especially during severe weather. The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) advises residents to take extra precautions when driving during storms and to also keep an emergency kit in each of their vehicles in case they break down or get stuck during a storm. 

A basic safety kit should include the following items:

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and State’s Attorney Kim Foxx today announced the County has filed a lawsuit against the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies over their manufacture and aggressive marketing of prescription opioid painkillers and the resulting climb in overdose and fatality rates ravaging families and communities throughout Cook County.