The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, a collaborative workforce development program announced that Platform to Employment (P2E), a national program addressing the specific needs of unemployed workers over 50 and military veterans, has opened its on-line application for residents of Chicago/Cook County. Those interested in the program can apply at the Platform to Employment website by clicking on the Platform to Employment Application button on the homepage. The program is accepting applications from those who are unemployed and have exhausted 26 weeks or more of unemployment.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has passed an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cook County and the Village of Robbins to participate in the County’s Vacant Building Ordinance. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) passed on May 8, 2013. The agreement is the result of the efforts undertaken by the Bureau of Economic Development, the Department of Building and Zoning, the Department of Administrative Hearings and representatives of the Village of Robbins.

An international digital marketing agency today rated Chicago the 5th most socially connected city during Big Data Week.

President Preckwinkle today announced that Cook County received approval from the U.S.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is pleased to welcome Kimberly Foxx as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Planning. Foxx is a seasoned juvenile justice prosecutor with 15 years of experience conducting trials, managing teams of attorneys and developing partnerships with civic and advocacy organizations.

Each year, approximately 170,000 babies are born in Illinois who need to be immunized against fourteen diseases before the age of 2. In observance of National Infant Immunizations Week, April 20 to 27, the Cook County Department of Public Health is reminding parents to follow the recommended immunization schedule to protect their infants and children by providing immunity early in life. Because of the success of vaccines in preventing diseases, parents may not have heard of some of today’s vaccines or the serious diseases they prevent.

Originally posted on the Cook County Clerk’s website In seven contests where candidates are divided by four votes or less, the election is not yet over, Cook County Clerk David Orr said Thursday. “I always say one vote makes a difference, and these close races prove how true that is,” Orr said. The close races are: 1 vote – Lincolnwood Village Trustee. Ronald S. Cope has 756 votes to John Swanson’s 755. Park Forest Village Trustee. Tiffani Graham (619); JeRome Brown (618). 2 votes – Countryside Ward 1 Alderman.

Originally appeared at the Cook County Assessor's Website Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios announced Thursday that legislation he crafted to increase the amount of savings for the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions has passed the Illinois General Assembly. The bill is designed to soften the blow caused by the sunset of the 7 percent Expanded Homeowner Exemption, which was originally designed to provide relief from rising home values before the economic downturn. “This is good public policy that will help take some of the sting away during a time when tax rates are jumping and property value

Originally appeared at the Cook County Chief Judge's website Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced that starting Monday, April 15, 2013, the court will begin the enforcement of the full ban on all electronic communications and Internet devices at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th and California. The ban, which was announced on January 11, 2013, is designed to go into effect in all 13 Circuit Court of Cook County courthouses (excluding the Richard J. Daley Center).

Originally posted on the Cook County HHS website on April 11th, 2013 On behalf of the Cook County Health System, we recognize April as National Donate Life Month. We applaud Secretary Jesse White’s leadership on organ donation. Today is about partnership between the health system, the Secretary White’s office and the community. Today is an effort to call Cook County residents to join the effort and become and organ donor. Currently, there are more than 5.2 million people registered to become organ/tissue donors in Illinois. We all know someone who has been touched by this issue.