Applications for the 2015 Cook County Government Fellowship program are being accepted through Tuesday, March 31, 2015. The Cook County Government Fellowship is a summer internship opportunity in Chicago for graduate students to develop leadership skills, create a civic network and have a lasting, positive impact on Cook County.

With a unanimous vote of the Cook County Land Bank Board and strong support of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) Board named Mr. Robert Rose as Executive Director at yesterday’s monthly board meeting. Rob comes to the Cook County Land Bank from the Chicago Community Loan Fund where he served as Chief Operating Officer and has strong background in finance, underwriting and community development. “I am not only excited, but also passionate about the opportunity to have an impact in this City and County.

Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Executive Director Michael Masters joined President Barack Obama, United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and leaders from around the U.S. and the world last week at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved a resolution introduced by President Toni Preckwinkle urging the Illinois General Assembly to restore judicial discretion by ending the automatic transfer of young people to adult court. HB 172, which accomplishes the goal of the resolution, would require that a hearing be held in front of a juvenile court judge to determine whether a young person should be transferred to adult court.

The Cook County Department of Environmental Control will receive a federal cooperative award of $1.2 million to help bring “community shared” solar power in the region. The “Solar Market Pathways” project was one of 15 awarded nationally as part of the U.S Department of Energy SunShot Initiative. Application for the cooperative agreement was made in coordination with the City of Chicago. Additional partners include nonprofits Elevate Energy and the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and technical consultant West Monroe Partners.

Items include waiving credit card transaction fees and lowered interest rates on late payments Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Wednesday introduced a series of proposed measures aimed at eliminating County credit card transaction fees and lowering the interest rates for various late payments. The ordinances are expected to be called for a full board vote in December.