he Cook County Department of Public Health is reminding residents to take precautions to avoid food poisoning this holiday cooking season. Basic steps to preventing most food poisonings: Wash your hands before you handle any food. Clean utensils, counter tops and dishes in hot soapy water between each step in food preparation. Towels and wash cloths should be laundered regularly, as bacteria can linger. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold: Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and her team are leading by example this winter, kicking off a new Seasonal Flu Shot Campaign by receiving the preventative vaccination today at the Cook County Building’s health services facility. Joined by Assessor Joe Berrios, Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, and her senior leadership, President Preckwinkle urged county employees and county residents to protect themselves this holiday season. As part of the president’s effort to raise awareness of influenza risks, flu shots that normally retail for more than $30 are being offered free of char

One year ago today, I was sworn in as the 34th Cook County Board President.

This was after more than two years spent traveling throughout the County, learning firsthand about the issues facing us, speaking with thousands of residents and hearing their concerns. Two years of long hours and hard work.  And that’s before I even walked in the door!

Our County needed a new direction. For too long Cook County had been allowed to drift without a strong sense of purpose, responsibility or accountability

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the one-year report marking her first year in office.

Toni has taken responsibility for giving County government a new direction. She said it would not be easy. The County faces daunting challenges. The County is taking some big steps in the right direction. In less than a year in office, the County closed two budget gaps, saving taxpayers $800 million. The progress rests on a framework of long term financial management and strategic structural changes across county government. The STAR Performance management program has begun to change the culture of County government.

I want to thank Chairman John Daley and the Board of Commissioners for approving a comprehensive and forward thinking budget that incorporates key structural changes to County operations and makes significant investments in public health and public safety. The spirit of compromise and collaboration that allowed us to pass this budget will continue in the weeks and months ahead as we continue to address the challenges that face Cook County.”

In a broad show of support heading into the vote on the 2012 budget today Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Public Defender A.C.

Commissioner Larry Rogers, Jr. of the Cook County Board of Review, has launched an aggressive community outreach campaign in response to the property tax crisis that residents across many communities of Cook County have been facing.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced two public health initiatives today targeting gaps in care for low-income individuals living in Cook County. A bi-partisan group of County Commissioners, Dr. Raju, CEO of the Cook County Hospitals System, and representatives from Access to Care and the Chicago Dental Society, stood with President Preckwinkle at a news conference to announce the budget amendment to increase grant funding for suburban primary healthcare and restore grant funding for outpatient dental care.