Chicago News
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AUG 06, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker gives an update on unemployment benefits and statewide Covid-19 cases during a press conference on Wednesday
Gov. J.B. Pritzker blamed federal regulators for allowing widespread unemployment fraud to flourish in Illinois, saying the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) has flagged more than 100,000 cases of fraud this year. -
AUG 05, 2020
Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough’s office is scheduled to assume the duties of the Recorder of Deeds’ office, currently led by Ed Moody, in December.
Representatives of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough predict being able to save the county up to $1.1 million next year by assuming the staff and responsibilities of Cook County Recorder of Deeds Ed Moody, more than doubling earlier expectations. However, the offices still face significant hurdles, including a historic budget crisis that may force more cuts and convincing a court-appointed monitor that they can purge patronage from their hiring practices. -
AUG 04, 2020
Cook County officials who oversee technology, finance and workforce development have met or exceeded self-imposed goals but the county’s office of procurement and Justice Advisory Council have fallen short, according to a series of “performance dashboards” published by county board President Toni Preckwinkle on Monday.
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AUG 04, 2020
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A suspect has been arrested in the murder of 9-year-old Janari Ricks and the Cabrini Green community played a key role in the arrest, Chicago Police officials said Monday.
Speaking to reporters Monday outside the Near North (18th) Police District, Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said a suspect is in custody and police are working with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to determine charges. He stressed that the main reason for the quick arrest was neighbors who spoke up. -
AUG 03, 2020
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ComEd CEO Joe Dominguez and Vice President of Compliance David Glockner in a hearing Thursday called to discuss the company’s bribery scandal.
A phalanx of top executives from Commonwealth Edison were grilled for more than five hours Thursday by Chicago City Council members who blasted the credibility of the utility giant in the wake of a $1.3 million bribery scandal that is threatening to tear apart Democratic House leadership in Springfield. -
JUL 31, 2020
Commissioners debate the “Justice for Black Lives” resolution during a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners on Thursday.Cook County will work to steer its multibillion-dollar budget away from police and jails in favor of initiatives like health care, restorative justice and job creation in the coming years, according to a resolution approved by commissioners in a 15-1 vote on Thursday. -
JUL 30, 2020
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JUL 30, 2020
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Unless the tenor of negotiations shifts in Washington, D.C., the feds are not coming to save Cook County from a multi-year budget chasm that grows wider every day, county officials said Wednesday.
The situation looks grimmer now for county leaders than it did two months ago, when Cook County Chief Financial Officer Ammar Rizki was projecting a $200 million drop-off in revenue for 2020 and the U.S. House of Representatives had just passed a $3 trillion aid package that would have set aside roughly $1 trillion to reimburse state and local governments for lost revenues. -
JUL 29, 2020
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx speaks to commissioners during a virtual budget hearing on Tuesday.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on Tuesday swatted away arguments linking lenient judges and prosecutors to Chicago’s recent surge in gun violence. However, she said county budget officials could hamper her office’s ability to prosecute crimes if they get their way. -
JUL 28, 2020
Cook County is setting aside $5 million from its cash-starved budget to extend the reach of a street-level violence prevention program, but one Chicago alderman is casting doubt on the investment.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Friday; Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29) in 2018 [Facebook]
Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Criminal Justice Committee on Monday
