Cook County

Some employees of the Cook County Forest Preserves are currently on strike. The labor action involves forest preserve workers within the county.

Chicago police are investigating a funeral home following the discovery of over 50 individuals whose remains were improperly stored in deplorable conditions on Aug. 6. The Cook County medical examiner’s office is working to identify the deceased people involved. Additionally, attorneys are offering free legal advice to affected families.

Dozens of decomposing bodies were found at the South Chicago Chapel funeral home on East 95th Street. Cook County officials reported the discovery, which occurred on the Southeast Side.

The Queen of Martyrs Elementary School community is planning a farewell celebration, following the archdiocese announcement that the school will not reopen this year. The closure was attributed to declining enrollment and occurred after a scandal involving substitute teacher Brett Smith. A lawsuit also alleges that archdiocese officials were aware of Smith’s sexual abuse allegations and failed to notify parents.

ICE has issued warnings to sheriffs in Cook County, Ill., and Hennepin County, Minn., through letters delivered by federal agents in early July regarding access to inmates. Sheriffs Tom Dart and Dawanna S. Witt are the recipients of these threats of prosecution.

Attorneys criticize Chicago immigration court for 'mega master' hearings. Cook County has the second-highest number of pending deportation cases in the U.S., totaling 108,934 as of June.

Chicago Public Schools faces a budget crisis requiring a $9.96 billion plan to cut teachers, boost special education staff, and freeze spending by September to avoid payroll delays. Delays in property tax revenue from Cook County and the need to secure short-term loans have forced the district to seek immediate budget approval, despite disagreements over cuts and reliance on uncertain state funding.

The Superior National Forest is reopening 41 Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) entry points in central and eastern regions this week, covering roughly 39% of the area. The reopening follows earlier day-use reopenings in Cook County, with all other entry points remaining closed due to ongoing wildfires.

Evacuation zones in Minnesota have been downgraded as firefighting efforts continue against northern wildfires, with combined acreage estimated at over 64,000 acres in the U.S. and 8,400 acres in Canada. Over 1,000 personnel are battling the fires, and some areas in the Boundary Waters reopened, though overnight permits remain canceled. Governor Tim Walz highlighted concerns about entering a 'new norm' due to extreme weather conditions.

The Forest Service is considering reopening 37 of 103 entry points in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness by July 30, contingent on wildfire conditions. The second phase would open 420,000 acres (39% of the area), including entry points in Lake County, Cook County, and one near Trout Lake in St. Louis County.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) reports that delayed tax collections from Cook County are increasing borrowing costs. The issue coincides with a persistent budget gap at CPS.

A third rabid bat has been confirmed in Cook County this year. Pet owners are advised to ensure their animals' rabies vaccinations are up to date.

Parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Cook County will reopen for day-use access on July 27, but overnight permits remain banned through July 29 due to ongoing wildfires. The fires, sparked by a July 6 lightning storm, have burned over 72,000 acres in Minnesota and Canada, with 1,029 firefighters working to contain them.

Cook County's contract with Tyler Technologies has increased from $30 million to $63 million, and the tax system remains broken. The project shows no signs of completion.

A federal appellate court struck down New Jersey’s assault weapons ban on Second Amendment grounds, marking the first such ruling in a case that could influence similar laws in other states. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals decision, led by Judge Arianna Freeman, cited U.S. Supreme Court precedents as grounds for invalidating the law, potentially affecting Delaware, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and pending cases in Illinois and Connecticut. The Supreme Court will hear challenges to assault weapons bans later this year, with a ruling expected by 2027.

Wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada have burned 71,000 acres, revised downward due to updated mapping. New burning bans and closures are in effect in several counties, while firefighters contain 10 fires at 30% combined containment. Over 780 personnel are battling blazes as wind gusts threaten to expand fires.

Chicago's air quality reached hazardous levels (AQI 638) due to smoke from Canadian and Minnesota wildfires, prompting closures of outdoor activities, events, and businesses. The Environmental Protection Agency and National Weather Service forecasted unhealthy conditions to persist through Friday, with sensitive groups advised to avoid outdoor exposure.

A family filed a lawsuit against the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office after Jermaine Richards went unidentified for nearly 2 years. The lawsuit targets the medical examiner's office and Cook County.

A Chicago man and a suburban woman are facing felony gun charges following separate arrests in Cook County. Sheriff's police confirmed the charges, which stem from two distinct incidents occurring on the same day.

Enhanced burning restrictions begin Sunday in Cook, Lake, and Northern St. Louis Counties in northeast Minnesota, prohibiting campfires in remote and dispersed areas. The restrictions, announced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, aim to ensure public safety and protect natural resources.

A report by the City of Chicago-Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force highlights challenges faced by domestic violence survivors in Cook County courts.

Chicago has seen a 52% decline in domestic violence homicides in 2026 compared to 2025, attributed to increased funding for gender-based violence services, implementation of Karina’s Law, and reforms under the Pretrial Fairness Act. The city allocated $23.2 million for such services, while Cook County invested nearly $5 million.

Cook County has recorded 220 gun homicides through June 2024, a 24% increase from the same period last year, but a 50% decline from the 2021 peak. Federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act enabled over $350 million in community-based violence intervention investments, with a 2025 Northwestern University study showing these efforts reduced violent crime arrests by 73% for program participants.

Severe storms in Chicago are ending a week-long heatwave but bringing concerns of damaging winds, lightning, and flash flooding. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts up to 70 mph, recent heavy rainfall in Kane County, and a flood advisory in Cook County.

Chicago dismissed citations against nearly 20 street vendors, including Leydy Murillo, after a city crackdown on unlicensed vendors in downtown areas. The dismissals follow arrests, confiscation of carts, and fears of immigration enforcement detentions, with vendors expressing anxiety about ongoing threats and ICE involvement.

Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling announced his retirement this month. The minimum wage has officially increased in Chicago and Cook County.

The minimum wage increases for workers in Chicago and Cook County take effect Wednesday. The changes apply to both Chicago and Cook County.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation to address severe weather, flooding, and tornadoes affecting multiple counties over several months. The proclamation aims to mobilize state resources and expedite recovery efforts, with potential federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response program.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases challenging assault weapons bans in Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut. The decision could determine the constitutionality of such bans under the Second Amendment, potentially affecting similar laws in other states. The cases, Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, will be argued in October 2023, with a ruling expected by 2024.

Chicago and Cook County have increased the minimum wage for many workers, with new rates taking effect Wednesday. Employers in Chicago with four or more workers must pay at least $17.05/hr, while Cook County employers must pay at least $15.40/hr for workers 18 and older.

The Supreme Court will hear cases challenging bans on semiautomatic rifles like the AR-15 in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois. Similar laws exist in about a dozen states, including major cities, with gun control groups and rights organizations presenting opposing constitutional arguments.

The Supreme Court will hear a Second Amendment case challenging Cook County's assault weapon ban, which could determine the ban's future. The case centers on the legality of restricting specific firearms under constitutional protections.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to Cook County’s assault weapons ban, which prohibits possession of firearms like AR-15s. The case, consolidated with a similar challenge from Connecticut, will determine whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee the right to own such rifles. The decision follows the 2022 Bruen ruling, which established a framework for evaluating gun laws based on historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear cases challenging bans on semiautomatic rifles, including the AR-15, in Connecticut and the Chicago area. The court will determine if such bans violate the Second Amendment, following a conservative-leaning court that expanded gun rights in 2022. States like Connecticut and Illinois argue these weapons are commonly used in mass shootings and can be constitutionally banned, while gun rights groups claim the bans infringe on Second Amendment protections.

The U.S. Supreme Court will review bans on semiautomatic rifles, including AR-15s, in Connecticut and the Chicago area, with similar laws in other states. The case arises after a 2022 ruling expanded Second Amendment protections and follows debates over gun control measures in response to mass shootings. Opponents argue such bans violate constitutional rights, while proponents claim they address public safety risks.

A 20-year-old man was charged after a loaded ghost gun was discovered during a traffic stop in Cook County. Investigators also recovered over $1.3 million in stolen cargo in a separate case.

Illinois saw a 36% decrease in opioid overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024, with synthetic opioid deaths dropping 38%. Cook County and Chicago reported a 37% decline. Experts attribute the drop to expanded treatment access, Narcan distribution, and harm reduction strategies.

An Oak Lawn man was found with a loaded gun, mushrooms, a pot cigar, and $10,000 in cash during a traffic stop on Chicago’s South Side, according to the sheriff.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart suggests a dedicated CTA police force may be needed to address safety concerns on Chicago's public transit train system.

Henry Graham was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after attacking Russell Long, a Northern Trust executive, on the Magnificent Mile in 2023. A Cook County judge cited Illinois case law from 1921, stating a single-punch death does not constitute first-degree murder, leading to the lesser charge.