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.Dr. Donna Alexander, Administrator of the Cook County

Department of Animal and Rabies Control, offers a number of tips for pet owners to keep in mind during summer and the upcoming holidays. 

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

Workers provide expertise and labor to repair, update two homes in Robbins

National Rebuilding Day brought dozens of Cook County employees who volunteered their time today to help repair two homes in south suburban Robbins.

It was the County’s 26th consecutive year of participation in the event, also known as “Rebuilding Together.”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced the County’s Dunne Administrative Building has achieved LEED Gold certification.  

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and denotes an improvement to a building’s lifecycle performance, based on a point system, that provides associated environmental, health and financial benefits. 

LEED Gold is the second highest level of achievement. Cook County has an ordinance that all new construction in the County must be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Ann Kalayil has been appointed by President Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board of Commissioners to serve as Chief of the Cook County's Bureau of Asset Management.  Kalayil comes to the County with broad experience in facilities and real estate management, including budgeting, staff supervision and strategic planning.

“I am pleased to have Ann Kalayil as part of our senior management team,” President Preckwinkle said. “She brings a broad range of experience and will provide strong leadership to the Bureau of Asset Management.”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced changes to the Cook County Department of Environmental Control, including renaming the agency and reducing some of its fees. 

The chair and accompanying plaque will serve permanent reminders of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for country

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Commissioners today unveiled a memorial chair to honor and recognize American prisoners of war and those missing in action. The POW/MIA Chair of Honor is a permanent installation in the Cook County Board Room.

Cook County partnered with Rolling Thunder, Inc., a nonprofit that works to make sure MIA’s and POW’s are never forgotten.  

Initiative will broaden the reach of solar energy to residents, businesses, institutions 

The Cook County Department of Environmental Control and its partners have selected 15 pilot sites to help study and establish community shared solar power in the region. 

The sites selected are located throughout Cook County and reflect a variety of building and property types, including a community college, affordable housing units, a landfill, industrial sites and places of worship. 

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 25 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.

Cook County Commissioners today approved an agreement championed by President Toni Preckwinkle that will create a pilot program to provide paid internships in high-growth industries and a career pathway for young adults. 

The agreement creates a formal structure between the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) and the County’s Bureau of Economic Development (BED) and Department of Transportation and Highways (DOTH) to launch the program this summer. 

Designed to improve the County’s business climate 

The Cook County Board today approved a new Tax Incentive Ordinance that will work in tandem with the recently passed Workforce Ordinance for any tax incentives processed by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED).