1. Cook County unveils $16.7 million rehabilitation of Ford Heights’ Vera Yates affordable housing: The Housing Authority of Cook County recently wrapped up a round of affordable housing rehabilitation that has topped $200 million since 2015, with much of the work taking place in the Southland. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle toured the renovated Vera L. Yates Homes in Ford Heights Friday and said she was happy to see how it looks. [Daily Southtown]
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3. https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-vera-yates-homes-ford-heights-st-0615-20210614-6slndcgkd5esxjoe75mljhapn4-story.html
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5. Cook County and State of Illinois Celebrate Juneteenth: Cook County’s celebration of Juneteenth 2021, kicks off officially next week as a part of “Juneteenth Illinois,” an initiative commemorating June 19, announced Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd District), who is heading up the effort.  Juneteenth Illinois is a collaboration between Cook County, the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago and it marks the first celebration of Juneteenth by the County since it became an official holiday in December of last year. Visit www.juneteenthIllinois.com. [Chicago Defender]
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7. https://chicagodefender.com/cook-county-and-state-of-illinois-celebrate-juneteenth/
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9. Cook County kicks off weeklong celebration of Juneteenth, now a paid county holiday: Marking the first year that Juneteenth will be a paid Cook County holiday, the county’s weeklong celebration kicks off Monday with a mix of programming commemorating the June 19, 1865, freeing of the last slaves in Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Activities under a Cook County Juneteenth Joint Planning Committee include panel discussions addressing issues important to the Black community, from justice and education, to culture and health and wealth. [Chicago Sun-Times]
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11. https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2021/6/13/22530269/cook-county-week-long-celebration-juneteenth-paid-county-holiday
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13. Cook County To Kick Off Week Of Juneteenth Celebrations On Monday: On Monday, Cook County will kick off a weeklong celebration of Juneteenth. This is the first year that Juneteenth will be a paid Cook County holiday. Virtual events Monday through Wednesday will include panel discussions on issues important to the Black community – from justice and education to culture, health, and wealth. [CBS Chicago]
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15. https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/06/14/cook-county-juneteenth-celebrations/
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17. Juneteenth celebrations kickoff in Chicago, now a paid county holiday: Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined the City Council Black Caucus Monday in a ceremony to kickoff a week-long celebration of Juneteenth. Juneteenth isn’t until Saturday, but events are happening all week leading up to June 19. For the first time, Juneteenth will be a paid Cook County holiday. [WGN]
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19. https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/juneteenth-celebrations-kickoff-in-chicago-now-a-paid-county-holiday/
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21. Security guard killed in Gary bank shooting identified as former Cook County Sheriff's Deputy: A security guard who was fatally shot outside of a bank in Gary, Indiana has been identified as a former Cook County Sheriff's Deputy. Richard Castellana, 55, lived in suburban Tinley Park. [Fox 32]
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23. https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/security-guard-killed-in-gary-bank-shooting-identified-as-former-cook-county-sheriffs-deputy
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25. Judge will appoint special prosecutor to probe conduct of Cook County state’s attorney’s office in Burge-related case that imploded at trial last year: A special prosecutor will be appointed to investigate potential wrongdoing by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office related to the case of Jackie Wilson, whose trial fell apart last year after a prosecutor admitted to having a relationship with a key witness and then allegedly lied on the witness stand. [Chicago Tribune]
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27. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-special-prosecutor-trutenko-case-20210610-cqj2gjgtynbfdp45mwklccvq24-story.html
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29. Cook County workers protest what they say is an unfair contract offer: Several dozen Cook County workers took to the streets Thursday to protest what they say is a meager pay increase offer from their employer — and one all but erased by a demand to pay higher health insurance premiums. “We’re not saying we don’t want to pay for health care, but we’re not looking for a Jedi mind trick where you give us a raise on this side but then you take it back with the health care,” said Claudia Martin, an adult probation officer and one of about two dozen people demonstrating outside the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Thursday. Protesters also gathered outside Stroger Hospital and Cook County Juvenile Court. [Chicago Sun-Times]
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31. https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/6/10/22528255/cook-county-workers-union-contract-informational-picket-protest-afscme
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33. Cook County Releases Plan For Phase 5 Reopening Friday: Cook County health officials revealed their plan for the move to Phase 5 and a full reopening, removing all capacity limits and restrictions. Conventions, festivals and other large events are allowed to function at full capacity in Cook County in Phase 5, according to health officials, allowing for businesses and schools to resume pre-COVID-19 operations. [NBC 5]
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35. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/cook-county-releases-plan-for-phase-5-reopening-friday/2529935/
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37. COVID-19 Funeral Financial Assistance Available In Cook County: Financial assistance is available to families who incurred COVID-19 related funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020. The assistance is being provided Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the State of Illinois and Cook County. Cook County residents can apply for FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program by calling 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585), from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The application process takes about 20 minutes to complete, and multilingual services are available. [Patch]
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39. https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/covid-19-funeral-financial-assistance-available-cook-county
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41. ‘I’ve always felt I was an American’: Illinois guardsman realizes dream of citizenship at mass vaccination site: A few hours into his shift checking in people for their vaccine appointments Thursday, Illinois National Guard Spec. Alan Juarez briefly left his post and took his final step toward American citizenship. With his fellow soldiers looking on at the Cook County mass vaccination site in south suburban Harvey, the 31-year-old specialist raised his right hand and swore allegiance to his adopted country. He vowed to bear arms in its defense, serve noncombat roles if needed and perform “work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law.” [Chicago Tribune]
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43. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-solider-citizenship-illinois-national-guard-vaccine-20210610-xqfmp54bk5erba5xdvdnehkeby-story.html
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45. Backers of renaming Lake Shore Drive for DuSable aren’t giving up, Mayor Lightfoot: My first reaction to the city renaming Lake Shore Drive for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable was: Why? Lake Shore Drive seems a fitting name for a roadway that runs parallel to Lake Michigan, giving drivers a spectacular view that doesn’t cost them anything. But after talking with Ephraim Martin, the chairman of Black Heroes Matter, I have to ask: Why not? [Chicago Sun-Times]
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47. https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/6/11/22530184/lake-shore-drive-dusable-renaming