With more than a month left in the year, County homicide rates highest in decades
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the County’s 1,000th homicide in 2021 over the holiday weekend. The total, with more than a month to go in the year, stands at 1,009. The last time Cook County saw more than 1,000 homicides was in 1994 when the County recorded 1,141. In 1991, the Office handled a record 1,229 homicides.
(Cook County, IL) – Today, Cook County announced the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a renewable energy Off-Site Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PPA will allow Cook County to purchase a large portion of its electricity supply from a renewable source beginning in FY2023. This is a significant step forward in reaching the County’s goal of 100% renewable electricity for County-owned facilities by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
Medical Examiner confirms grim milestone as COVID-19 deaths continue to rise
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) marked another grim pandemic milestone this week. The MEO confirmed the County’s 12,000th death due to COVID-19 infection 20 months after the first fatal case of the virus was confirmed here.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 5,818 COVID-19 deaths have occurred in the City of Chicago, accounting for approximately 48% of deaths throughout Cook County. Nearly 70% of Chicago’s COVID-19 deaths were in communities of color.
(COOK COUNTY, IL) - The Cook County PACE Program, administered by the Illinois Energy Conservation Authority NFP (“IECA”), an Illinois tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, announced today that it closed its first project utilizing Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (“C-PACE”) financing to support the renovation for of Chicago’s historic Ramova Theatre. C-PACE financing represents $7.4 million or approximately 25% of the total $28 million project.
President Preckwinkle today announced the launch of the Cook County 2020 Census Demographics App. The interactive map makes it easier to identify population shifts and demographic changes between 2010 and 2020 in Cook County.
Today, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a balanced $8 billion FY2022 budget which equitably addresses the County’s ongoing pandemic response efforts while not increasing taxes or cutting critical services. The unanimous 17-0 vote approving the budget follows a month of departmental hearings, commissioner questions and public meetings.
We are pleased with Fitch Ratings decision to upgrade Cook County’s ratings from A+ to AA- with a stable outlook. Furthermore, S&P also moved the outlook for the County to stable from negative and Moody’s reaffirmed its rating as well. We appreciate the recognition of our improvement in operating results, work to increase reserves, sound financial management, notable improvement in pension funding and work to stabilize our Health System’s finances.
As residents set clocks back one hour this weekend, the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) urges residents to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. It’s one of the simplest and least expensive things residents can do around their home and it could save lives.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved funding this week to further transportation projects and initiatives led by the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH). These are vital projects that boost economic development, build up regional transportation and improve quality of life throughout Cook County.
Rehab Project
The Cook County Department of Revenue (DOR) and Bureau of Technology (BOT) were recently awarded a 2021 LocalSmart Award for Local IT Innovation of the Year by StateScoop Magazine for their work to modernize County operations through the Integrated Tax Processing System (ITPS) project.
