Rep. Nekritz, Sen. Raoul shepherd restoration of judicial discretion through Legislature

The Illinois General Assembly today gave final approval to legislation that will ensure that nearly 70 percent of Cook County youth will no longer be automatically transferred to adult court when facing certain criminal offenses. HB 3718 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 79-32. The bill previously passed the Senate on May 19.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle’s Bureau of Technology today launched a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to answer phones County-wide. The new system replaces several older automated systems and consolidates multiple County agencies onto a single platform.

Canine flu prompts officials to take certain precautions at this year’s events Cook County Animal and Rabies Control will begin its full schedule of low-cost rabies clinics next week. Some 40 clinics are scheduled in locations throughout Cook County from June until October. The rabies shot is the only service that will be provided at these clinics. Separate clinics are scheduled for insertion of microchips into companion animals. The full list of clinics, which run from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., is available on the Department’s website.

Judge Holderman orders transition to the control of County’s Chief Judge

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today hailed a federal court’s ruling that the County has reached substantial compliance in a federal lawsuit involving conditions at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC), and that control of the facility should be transferred to the Chief Judge of Cook County effective May 20.

Michael Masters, executive director of Cook County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) joined 15 law enforcement leaders from 10 states for a meeting on immigration at the White House on Tuesday.

In the midst of Police Week, Masters met with officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other administration officials.

County workers provide expertise and labor to repair, update two homes in Maywood National Rebuilding Day brought dozens of Cook County employees who volunteered their time today to help repair two homes in west suburban Maywood. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle toured the homes and congratulated the volunteers for their efforts as part of the County’s 24th consecutive year of participation in the event, also known as “Rebuilding Together.” The non-profit Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago annually partners with the County -- along with other agencies, charities, religious instit

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that County Budget Director Andrea Gibson will be leaving her position in early May to take on a new role as the Director of Project Management at the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. Cook County Bureau of Asset Management Chief John Cooke will also be leaving the administration in early May to join the federal government as the Public Building Service’s Regional Commissioner for the Great Lakes Region.

I am pleased to see that the State’s Attorney has finally recognized what many of us have been saying for years – that our failed drug policies are resulting in the unnecessary detention and incarceration of thousands of people, primarily young men of color, who are accused of non-violent low-level drug offenses each year.

Deadline to submit is April 28, 2015 As the deadline approaches for nonprofit organizations to apply for UASI grant funding, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) and the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) encourage eligible applicants to apply for funding available for security enhancements for nonprofit entities that are at high risk of terrorist attacks and located within the UASI-eligible urban areas. The U.S.