Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office on Tuesday released the 2011 property tax rates for more than 1,500 taxing agencies* in Chicago and suburban Cook County. This completes a process that started last December when each local taxing district, as required by law, filed its levy with the Clerk’s office.

Today’s City Council vote in favor of marijuana ticketing is a promising step in the right direction. I congratulate and thank Mayor Emanuel, Alderman Daniel Solis, and my former colleagues on the council for supporting the reform of unjust drug policies that burden our court system, police and jail. It is encouraging to see the forward movement with today’s vote, but there is still more work to be done. Together we can change marijuana possession laws in our area to reflect the realities of our community, in a manner that will save money for taxpayers and reduce criminal justice disparities.

The Cook County Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM) and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, along with County Board President Toni Preckwinkle are encouraging citizens to be prepared and keep cool as temperatures elevate to the upper 90’s during what the National Weather Service advises is a “heat wave,” a period of extreme heat accompanied by high humidity. “We want to remind residents to be careful of heat related illnesses and to utilize the cooling centers located throughout Cook County,” Preckwinkle said.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2013, projecting a shortfall of $267.5 million. The latest projection is a clear sign of the progress being made to stabilize County finances after preliminary budget shortfalls of $487 million for FY 2011 and $315 million for FY 2012.

“Summer is in full swing with the Fourth of July right around the corner,” said Cook County Department of Public Health interim chief operating officer Sandra Martell, RN, DNP. “Now is the time to get outside and enjoy the summer with your family. Just remember while you are enjoying picnics and block parties, this is the time of year when reports of foodborne illness and personal injuries increase.

Speaking at a national conference on vacant property and land use, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced her vision for a Cook County Land Bank, an entity that is granted specific powers with the purpose of returning vacant and abandoned property to productive use. Preckwinkle told participants of the “2012 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference” hosted by the Center for Community Progress that the need to pursue a Land Bank policy in the absence of state legislation, contrary to the majority of Land Bank models across the country, has grown more urgent than ever as ne

Greg Wass, Chief Information Officer for Cook County Government is presenting at the 2012 Public Sector and Education Shared Services Summit: Pathways to Transformation conference being hosted by Harvard University. The conference runs from June 20th through June 22nd. Shared services is a responsibility that involves a systemic approach to human capital transformation.

Some of the biggest changes at the ME's office involve additional measures to promote employee health and safety. For example, the Stroger Hospital Safety Division (SHSD) will begin training employees on safety issues this week, will develop a written hazard plan, and will also obtain more effective personal protective equipment for employees.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Chicago Transit Authority President Forrest Claypool today announced a collaboration that will advance the technological capability of Stroger Hospital, through new broadband infrastructure, at virtually no cost to taxpayers. The new intergovernmental agreement (IGA) will allow the county to utilize eight available strands of the CTA’s broadband fiber optic cable, which is in the rail right of way running approximately three miles from the James R. Thompson Center to the CTA Polk Street Station.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today marked the completion of the Lynwood Wind Study Project, a unique partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, Cook County and the Village of Lynwood that led to the construction of two different models of wind turbine and a data center. The newly completed turbines will provide several opportunities for the Village of Lynwood and the region as the project gets underway.