Tuesday, May 14, 2013
On Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., 10 Cook County Jail detainees will go head-to-head against Russian counterparts in a historic first-ever international chess game.
America and Russia are classic rivals. The space race, the Cold War and the Miracle on Ice all stand testament to that. Now, thanks to a new Cook County program, we can add prison chess tournaments to the list. On Wednesday morning, 10 Cook County Jail detainees will compete in an online chess match against Russian Federal Prison Service inmates in a first-ever event of its kind. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Cook County Jail chess program head Dr. Mikhail Korenman will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Wednesday with Russian officials via Skype. The games will then begin promptly at 9:30 a.m., inside Division 11 of the Cook County Jail. Patch published a preview of this concept last year. Here’s what some south suburbanites thought of…
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart releases a surveillance video that purports to show a corrections officer didn't slip and fall as he claimed in a workers compensation claim.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart wants you to know he's keeping an eye on the "duty injury king" — a corrections officer known among his peers for submitting false injury claims while on the job — and others like him. The sheriff's office released a video tape Wednesday that purports to show the time and location where a corrections officer claimed he slipped and fell, injuring his back on Nov. 20. The officer is now suspended without pay, and the sheriff wants to press criminal charges. The sheriff's office's claim about the video states: On November 20th of last year a Correctional Officer submitted a false injury report claiming that he sustained a back injury while returning from transporting a detainee. He reported to other staff the he …
Monday, April 1, 2013
Cook County Clerk David Orr's lawyers filed a brief in defense of a lawsuit attempting to overthrow the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office is taking a stance against opponents of same-sex marriage. On Monday, Clerk Orr's lawyers filed a brief in opposition to a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Illinois' same-sex marriage ban. Orr was the original defendant in the suit to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage: Darby v. Orr. However, the longtime equal rights advocate, along with Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, refused to defend the state ban, the Chicago Phoenix reports. Instead, Orr sided with the 25 plaintiffs across the state—from Evanston to Rock Island, Hyde Park to Alto Pass—who were denied marriage licenses. As a result, downstate County Clerks Kerry Hirtzel and …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The organization claims President Toni Preckwinkle's office refused to divulge information on dozens of her appointments to various county positions.
The Better Government Association (BGA) is suing President Toni Preckwinkle’s Cook County government for denying a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in January, according to the BGA. The BGA’s denied FOIA request asked for names and addresses of dozens of Cook County board members and commissioners appointed by Preckwinkle. Her office refused to respond after filing for an extension because disclosure of the information “would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” according to the BGA. Preckwinkle’s office did not respond to multiple attempts seeking explanation for the refusal. “It’s clear this information doesn’t belong to the County Board president – it belongs to the public, and she should turn it over…
Monday, March 25, 2013
Sheriff Tom Dart says CHIProperties has been issuing "highly illegal" notices to a number of Cook County residents.
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart directed a Chicago-based property management company to immediately cease and desist from providing tenants in Cook County, who reside in properties that are the subject of foreclosure proceedings, with illegal notices that contain threats and misleading, inaccurate information. CHIProperties of Chicago has been posting notices telling rental residents they are considered trespassers and must call immediately to make arrangements to move out. The posting also says an eviction process has started—even if an eviction suit has not yet been filed in Circuit court. “This notice is illegal, highly deceptive, and amounts to a constructive eviction in apparent violation of various federal, state and local laws, …
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Voters will have no choice in 64 percent of the contests in the upcoming April 9 election.
We’ve all heard of voter apathy, but candidate apathy? Of the nearly 1,000 south suburban Cook County contests in the upcoming April 9 election, 64 percent are uncontested, according to Clerk David Orr. In Oak Lawn, this includes the uncontested elementary school districts 122 and 123, and the local library and park district races. Donald Pratl is running unopposed for the sixth subdistrict seat on the Community Consolidated High School Dist. 218 board. Dist. 218 includes H.L. Richards High School. Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229 was short one candidate, until two write-in candidates--Stephen Green and Dan Sodaro--declared their intent to run. Five candidates are running for four open seats. Local races in neighboring Hometown…
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Nearly a quarter of Cook County adults lack physical activity and over a quarter are obese.
A recent study lists Cook County residents as some of the least healthy in the state. We rank 78th healthy out of 102 counties, according to The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report also provides a snapshot of health statistics for Cook County. Here are a few: The survey was based on several factors, including length of life, quality of life, clinical care, health behaviors, socioeconomic factors and physical environment.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Information on unidentified bodies, including photos will soon start appearing on the Cook County Medical Examiner's website.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office is teaming up with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System’s website to publish information about unidentified bodies, including photos in some cases, the Chicago Tribune reports. The county recently tried the tactic with a few bodies and they’ve already seen success, specifically with one instance of identifying a Michigan woman killed on the North Side. The changes are being ushered in with a revamped, more user-friendly website, most of which is already published. Information on unidentified bodies may go live as soon as Wednesday. Get the rest of the story by the Chicago Tribune
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The county hopes to help smokers quit the habit and raise more money with this recent tax hike.
Cook County smokers will have to shell out more than ever after last Friday’s $1 cigarette tax hike. This comes on top of an additional $1 jump on the state level last June. The county is hoping to receive an extra $25.6 million from the increase, but historic examples suggest the figure might be wishful thinking, according to the Chicago Tribune. In additional to the estimated revenue, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle hopes the initiative will deter youths from smoking and help current smokers kick the habit. Get the rest of the story by the Chicago Tribune.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Over 40 percent of Illinois homes contain dangerous levels of radon gas. For less than $10, you can find out if your's is one of them.
How much would you pay to protect your family? Radon gas is a silent, odorless threat to over 40 percent of Illinois homeowners, according to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The EPA reports this naturally-occuring radioactive gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Luckily, the state is offering an inexpensive solution for residents to test their homes and protect their families. For less than $10, radon test kits are now available to Illinoisians via this website. Cook County also offers radon test kits for $7. Residents can obtain one by mailing a $7 check or money order to: Cook County Dept. of Environmental Control 69 West Washington Street, Suite 1900 Chicago, IL 60602. Inexpensive radon test kits are also…
Ryan Fitzpatrick
11:44 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
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