Current Operational Situations: Information, Intelligence, and Data Reports

Today’s Weather

Tip of the Day:

President Obama Declares a Disaster for Illinois

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Friday that disaster aid has been made available to the State of Illinois to aid recovery from the recent flooding. This action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will counties.

There are three ways to apply for assistance:

• Apply online at disasterassistance.gov.
• Apply via a smartphone at m.fema.gov.
• Apply by phone:
• - Call (800) 621-3362
• - Call TTY (800) 462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities.

Information of the Day:

May 15, Associated Press – (Nebraska)

Ruptured Nebraska natural gas pipeline repaired.

A southwest Nebraska natural gas pipeline that ruptured May 4 was put back into limited operation May 15. The pipeline failure is still under investigation by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

May 14, Idaho State Journal – (Idaho)

I.F. Police investigate copper theft.

Police are investigating a copper theft after Idaho Falls Power reported 144 feet of copper ground wire and about 80 brass connectors off a perimeter fence from the Milligan Substation and Sugar Mill Substation were stolen.

May 14, New Haven Register – (Connecticut)

Wallingford trash-to-energy plant damaged by fire Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters fought a blaze at the Covanta Energy plant in Wallingford for nearly 2 hours May 14 after a fire started on the tipping room floor. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

May 14, Associated Press – (Missouri)

Attorney General: Landfill smoldering being watched closely over concerns about nearby nuclear waste. Smoldering at the Bridgeton Landfill near St. Louis was being monitored due to its proximity to nuclear waste buried at an adjacent landfill. The Missouri Attorney General announced an agreement with the landfill’s operators to temporarily relocate nearby residents due to the smell from the smoldering.

May 15, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – (National)

Optimus recalls portable electric heaters due to fire hazard.

Optimus recalled about 355,000 Portable Infrared Radiant Quartz Electric space heaters due to the design failing to prevent ignition of nearby combustible materials, posing a fire hazard.

May 14, WMAZ 3 Macon – (Georgia)

Pactiv fire ruled accidental, Byron factory blaze ‘undetermined.’

The Georgia fire marshal’s office released its findings in two factory fires that occurred May 1-2, including one at a Southern Perfection metal plant in Bibb that caused approximately $2 million in damage. Damage from the Southern Perfection plant fire was so extensive that investigators could not determine the cause.

May 14, KSRW 92.5 FM Independence – (California)

395 re-opens after fatal accident.

Officials closed a section of Highway 395 in Mono County for nearly 24 hours after a semi-tractor trailer failed to negotiate a turn, went over a bridge, and became engulfed in flames.

May 14, WRJN 1400 AM Racine – (Wisconsin)

Man killed while driving car on train tracks.

Train traffic between Milwaukee and Chicago was delayed for several hours after a vehicle was hit by a northbound Amtrak train near the Racine County village of Franksville.

May 14, Greensboro News-Record– (North Carolina)

4 charged with damaging 100+ mailboxes in Alamance County.

Four individuals were arrested and accused of damaging more than 100 mailboxes in Alamance County, which caused several thousand dollars of damage.

May 15, Food Safety News – (National)

Listeria in onions, Salmonella in mangoes topped last year’s reportable foods list.

According to a new report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), onions recalled for potential Listeria contamination and mangoes recalled for the possible presence of Salmonella were the foods most commonly reported by manufacturers to the FDA between September 2011 and September of 2012.

May 14, Food Safety News – (Texas)

College Station market closed for fumigant.

Brazos County Health Department and the Texas Department of State Services closed the Better Customer Service Asian Market in College Station after a failed inspection that included finding a restricted use fumigant (aluminum phosphide) stored with food and other items sold in the market.

May 14, Food Safety News – (North Carolina)

NC announces possible Salmonella outbreak linked to Holiday Inn.

Officials from the Cumberland County Department of Public Health in Fayetteville began an investigation of a gastrointestinal illness outbreak among staff and patrons of the Holiday Inn Bordeaux.

May 14, Federal Bureau of Investigation – (Illinois)

Federal Medicare Fraud Strike Force charges Chicago-area defendants with defrauding Medicare and other health insurers.

Authorities charged 2 Chicago-area physicians and 3 health clinic co-owners among 7 other defendants for 5 separate, unrelated health care fraud schemes. The defendants defrauded the Medicare program and/or private health insurers of millions of dollars in what is part of a national takedown by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force involving 89 defendants in 8 cities collectively involving $233 million in false billing.

May 14, WSVN 7 Miami – (Florida)

Gas leak sealed outside assisted living facility.

A propane gas leak prompted the partial evacuation of the Lennox on the Lake assisted living facility in Lauderhill for several hours May 14. A construction crew accidentally cut the underground propane tank while they were working on the area.

May 15, Duluth News Tribune – (Wisconsin; Minnesota)

Residents evacuated as Wisconsin wildfire grows.

Firefighters reached 95 percent containment in a wildfire that burned through 6,800 acres in Wisconsin’s Douglas and Bayfield Counties and destroyed at least 50 structures. Residents were evacuated and a portion of Wisconsin’s state Highway 27 was closed as crews also responded to a wildfire in Minnesota that burned through nearly 5,000 acres.

May 14, KMGH 7 Denver – (Colorado)

16-year-old student arrested Tuesday after pipe bomb left at Centaurus High School in Lafayette.

A student was arrested and is facing charges in connection with leaving a pipe bomb at Centaurus High School in Lafayette that prompted an emergency response and evacuation May 13.

May 13, Ventura County Star – (California)

Some Santa Monica Mountains trails to reopen Tuesday.

Several trails on the western side of the Santa Monica Mountains were reopened May 14 by the National Park Service after the Springs Fire forced their closure. The park is still in recovery and all backcountry trails remain closed.

May 14, NY 1 News – (New York)

Sound the alarm: Roughly one-third of city’s fire alarm boxes cannot be used.

The New York fire commissioner confirmed a large number of fire alarm boxes around the city are not functional. According to federal safety regulations they must remain in working order, but approximately one-third are out of service mostly due to Hurricane Sandy.

May 15, The H – (International)

Mozilla’s Firefox update fixes three critical holes.

Mozilla released an update for its Firefox browser that fixes three vulnerabilities rated “critical” or “high severity.”

May 14, V3.co.uk – (International)

Google Android malware levels rocket as spam threat grows.

F-Secure released its Q1 2013 Threat Report, which found malware variants targeting mobile devices have risen by 49 per cent since 2012, among other findings.

May 15, Columbus Dispatch – (Ohio)

Authorities investigate mystery chemicals.

Apartments in one building at Sterling Place apartments in Columbus were evacuated May 15 after a maintenance worker found unidentified chemicals which prompted an emergency response. Authorities spent several hours processing the scene and sent the chemicals for analysis.

May 14, Middlesex County News – (New Jersey)

Police investigate bomb threat at Woodbridge Center Mall.

A May 14 bomb threat prompted an emergency response at the Woodbridge Center Mall in Woodbridge Township and the evacuation of mall security and personnel. Authorities declared the mall safe after they conducted a search and did not find an explosive device.

May 14, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal – (Minnesota)

Man charged with bomb threats at Mall of America, MSP Airport.

A Maine man who made bomb threats April 12 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America was charged May 14. Searches of the areas revealed no bombs present and authorities arrested the suspect inside the Mall of America after they traced the call.

May 15, Advocate River Parishes Bureau – (Louisiana)

All 5 holes in Assumption sinkhole’s containment berm now plugged.

The final two breaches in a containment berm around the Assumption Parish sinkhole were plugged May 14 by Texas Brine Co. contractors after heavy rainfall and high water made its way through the incomplete earthen barrier the week of May 6. Work on the berm is expected to continue for another 45 to 60 days barring delays from underground tremors or weather.

Count Down To:

11 Days – May 27, Memorial Day
11 Days – May 27, Millennium Park Music Series – Mondays through the summer              
36 Days – June 21, First Full Day of Summer 2013                                                                       
47 Days – July 04, Independence Day                                                                                                 

Observances for the Month:

May 22: National Maritime Day
May 25: National Missing Children’s Day
May 25: Duddha Day – Birthday of Buddah
May 29: Ascension of Baha’u’llah  -Baha’I Holiday
3rd Friday in May: National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week
Third Week of May: World Trade Week
Third Week of May: National Hurricane Preparedness Week
Week Prior to Memorial Day: National Safe Boating Week
May: Older Americans Month
May: Jewish American Heritage Month
May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May: Mental Health Awareness Month
May: National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
May: National Foster Care Month

Scheduled Pre-Planned Events or Festivals:

May 18, 12:05 p.m., Wrigley Field, Cubs vs. New York Mets
May 18, 09:30 a.m., Soldier Field, Chicago Walk Now for Autism Speaks
May 19, 07:00 a.m., Soldier Field, Move for Kids 5K Walk/ Run
May 19, 1:20 p.m., Wrigley Field, Cubs vs. New York Mets
May 19, 3:00 p.m., Allstate Arena, Chicago Rush vs. Arizona Rattlers

Click here for NOAA’s daily Space Weather forecast

Earthquake Report

Click here for today’s USGS earthquake report

Cook County Rivers and Streams Report

Click here for today’s NOAA Rivers and Streams report

 Cook County Road and Construction Report

Click here for today’s Road and Construction Report from Travel Midwest

On April 29, 2013 Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was joined by distinguished jurists and the Chief of Police of Aurora, Illinois to discuss how to make the justice system more efficient.

Efficient administration of justice promotes a speedy trial and all of its attendant benefits. While that constitutional right to a speedy trial should be reason enough to strive for greater efficiency, today’s economic climate compels us to work not only harder, but much smarter.

The discussion was moderated by Tom Wartowski, a retired Assistant State’s Attorney from Winnebago County, IL.  Along with President Preckwinkle, the panelists were as follows:

Panelists:

• Paul Logli, State’s Attorney and Circuit Judge in Winnebago County, IL (Retired), Past President of the NDAA
• Pamela Dembe, President Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
• Gregory Thomas, Chief of Police of the City of Aurora, Illinois
• Randolph Stone, Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School Mandel Legal Aid Clinic’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Projects

You can also watch from 8 key questions addressed during the event:

Question 1: “What kinds of incentives or policies can encourage justice system stakeholders to work collaboratively?

Question 2: “How important is it that the public have faith in the system?”

Question 3: “What are common barriers to efficiency, and what strategies have you found to overcome them?”

Question 4: “What role has technology played in increasing efficiency in your justice system?”

Question 5: “Are there better ways than a traditional money bail and warrant system to ensure court appearances by defendants?”

Question 6: “Many of defendants who return to the system over and over also have serious mental or behavioral health issues. Are there better and more efficient ways for system to work with this population?”

Question 7: “How you found ways to cooperate with communities affected most by crime?”

Question 8: “How can a more efficient address the inherent racial and economic disparity in the criminal justice system?”

Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) officials encourage suburban Cook County residents to prevent against tick bites while outdoors enjoying the warmer weather. Ticks are found in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush. Infected ticks can transmit diseases including ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and Lyme disease through their bites.

“Last year there were 36 cases of Lyme disease in suburban Cook County,” said CCDPH chief operating officer Terry Mason, MD, FACS. “Tickborne diseases can cause mild symptoms, severe infections requiring hospitalization and even death.  Avoiding tick bites takes a few precautions and protects residents when enjoying their neighborhood and the many Forest Preserves in suburban Cook County.”

To avoid tick bites:

• Walk in the center of trails so weeds do not brush against you.
• Use repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin. Always follow product instructions.
• Use products that contain permethrin to treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants (especially the cuffs), socks and tents.  Or look for clothing pre-treated with permethrin.
• Tuck long pants into your socks and boots. Wearing light-colored pants makes ticks easier to see.
• In heavily wooded areas or in tall grass and brush, check yourself, children and other family members every two to three hours for ticks (especially ears, hair, neck, legs and between the toes).
• If you let your pets outdoors, check them often for ticks. Ticks can “hitch a ride” on your pets, but fall off in your home before they feed.

If you find a tick, on yourself, others or pets, remove it promptly. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with fine-point tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick. Wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to the bite site.

Within two weeks following a tick bite, if you experience a rash that looks like a bull’s-eye or a rash anywhere on your body, or an unexplained illness accompanied by fever following, call your doctor. The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses can include fever, chills, aches and pains, and rash. Early recognition and treatment of the infection decreases the risk of serious complications.

For more information, please visit: www.cookcountypublichealth.org.

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books connect!  In 2013, official events will be hosted in a record-breaking 50 cities, along with innumerable local events.

Cook County is helping with this valuable event.  Drop off your used children’s books through May 19 at the Cook County Law Library, 50 W Washington St., Room 2900.  The books will be donated to the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Children’s Advocacy Room at the Daley Center.  For more information, call the law library at 312-603-5423.

Children’s Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader, a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. The Children’s Book Council, the national non-profit trade association for children’s book publishers, is an anchor sponsor.

This year’s program will include health screenings, cooking demonstrations, educational materials and more. Visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois booth to register for WalkingWorks®. All you need is your County ID to join us and pick up your free pedometer.

Calendar of Events

May 16
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Rolling Meadows -
3rd District Courthouse
Lower Level – Cafeteria
2121 Euclid Ave.
Rolling Meadows, IL

May 17
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Markham Courthouse
Lower Level – Cafeteria
16501 S. Kedzie Pkwy.
Markham, IL

May 20
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Cook County Bldg.
8th Floor Lobby
118 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL

May 21
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Criminal Courts Bldg.
Cafeteria
2650 S. California Ave.
Chicago, IL

May 22
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Stroger Hospital
Lower Level – Cafeteria
1900 W. Polk St.
Chicago, IL

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, a collaborative workforce development program announced that Platform to Employment (P2E), a national program addressing the specific needs of unemployed workers over 50 and military veterans, has opened its on-line application for residents of Chicago/Cook County.

Those interested in the program can apply at the Platform to Employment website by clicking on the Platform to Employment Application button on the homepage.

The program is accepting applications from those who are unemployed and have exhausted 26 weeks or more of unemployment. Applicants must be 50 years old or older or veterans who are 30 years old or younger.

If you meet these criteria you are encourage to apply now as seating is limited and applications will not be accepted after May 10th.   Classes are scheduled to begin in late May.

P2E, which began in Southwest Connecticut in 2011, and has been featured on 60 Minutes and other national news programs, combines job readiness training, personal and family support services, and financial counseling. The program in Connecticut has placed nearly 80 percent of its participants into work experience programs with local employers.  90 percent subsequently moved to full-time employment.

For more information on this program, along with other training opportunities and classes for job seekers, contact:

Dunni T. Cosey Gay
dcgay@workforceboard.org
69 W. Washington, Suite 2860
Chicago, IL 60602
Tel: (312) 833-8973

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has passed an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cook County and the Village of Robbins to participate in the County’s Vacant Building Ordinance. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) passed on May 8, 2013.

The agreement is the result of the efforts undertaken by the Bureau of Economic Development, the Department of Building and Zoning, the Department of Administrative Hearings and representatives of the Village of Robbins. Under the agreement, the Cook County Department of Building and Zoning will work with Village of Robbins employees to determine if buildings within the village are vacant and have not been registered with the County. Building and Zoning will then institute the administrative hearing process where necessary.    The stakeholders will also work closely together to register vacant buildings with the County.

The Vacant Building Ordinance will work alongside the Village of Robbin’s municipal property maintenance ordinances.   The Vacant Building Ordinance, which came into effect last year was co-sponsored by President Preckwinkle and Commissioner Bridget Gainer (D-10th). It seeks to eliminate blight in communities hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. The Ordinance requires owners and mortgagees to register their properties with the County and maintain the interior and exterior of the buildings to certain standards.  Additionally, it expedites the adjudication process that continues to clog up the County’s court system.

For more information, please contact Cook County Building and Zoning/Bureau of Economic Development at:  (312) 603-0500 or go to their website at: www.cookcountyil.gov/BuildingZoning.

An international digital marketing agency today rated Chicago the 5^th most socially connected city during Big Data Week. Bloom Agency UK rated Cook County’s “CHGBigDataWeek” Twitter account the number one social media influencer of the event and “@ToniPreckwinkle” was rated number three in influence.  Click here to read the full report

During the recent Big Data Week (http://bigdataweek.com), Cook County Government and Chicago-based software firm INXPO combined forces to develop, produce and stream live interactive presentations from over 20 local experts on big and open Data topics.

“Cook County is home to many of today’s technology leaders and is well-known as an incubator for digital entrepreneurs,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. “Big Data Week gave us the opportunity to showcase our expertise and accomplishments.”

Big Data Week 2013 was a global event with 27 participating cities including Beirut, London, San Francisco, Kuala Lumpur and Toronto.  Using INXPO’s platform, Cook County and the City of Chicago held 32 virtual and physical events, the most of any participating city.

“We wanted to build a stage to tell the world about what data and technology companies are doing in the Chicago area, because Silicon Valley is not the only place where innovation is happening,” said Lydia Murray, Cook County’s Chief Information Officer.  “INXPO’s platform gave us the ability to create a very professional looking and interactive experience.”

Promoting local firms is an extension of President Preckwinkle’s regional strategy for economic development. In April, the county’s Council of Economic Advisors released an economic growth agenda (read the report).

In keeping with Preckwinkle’s focus on local technology companies, Cook County worked with Chicago-based INXPO, whose next generation webcasting platform, Social Business TV, powered the online experience. Working with the Bureau of Technology, INXPO supported the Big Data Week online experience and streamed three days of live programming from its downtown Chicago studios. Viewers accessed the content on desktops, laptops and mobile devices

“INXPO is honored to support Cook County and the City of Chicago. Their goal to reach a large dispersed audience with an important series of online presentations is a challenge that organizations of all sizes face,” said Drew VanVooren, President of INXPO. “Social Business TV is the ideal platform to deliver a highly engaging, interactive and measurable viewing experience.”

All of the Big Data Week Chicago presentations are available on demand and free of charge here.  On demand viewers can access the video-based programs from any device at their convenience.

On May 8, 2013 the Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved an amendment to lower tax rates on the transfer of motor vehicles between county residents.

The new rates, which take effect August 1, set a $90 tax on the transfer of motor vehicles nine years or older.  Vehicles four to eight years old will be subject to a $175 tax. Vehicles three years old or newer will pay a $225 tax.  Vehicle transfers between immediate family, certain business transactions and transfers to beneficiaries of an estate, will continue to have a $25 tax rate.

“This amendment will provide a lower and more equitable tax rate on the transfer of motor vehicles between County residents,” President Preckwinkle said.  “After listening to constituents throughout the County, we responded with a compromise solution that reduces the burden on taxpayers.”

The amendment also creates a new tax rate for the transfer of motorcycles. Beginning August 1, it will cost $90 for each transfer.  The $25 rate for family, businesses and estates will also apply to motorcycle transfers.

“The initial transfer tax ordinance was overly aggressive, but through the cooperative efforts of President Preckwinkle and her office we have now lessened the financial burden on county residents, especially for low income earners and young people who are first-time car buyers and have limited resources,” Commissioner Elizabeth Gorman (R-17th) said.

Previously, vehicles five years or newer were subject to a $225 tax, while vehicles between six and 10 years were subject to a $200 tax and vehicles 11 years or older were subject to $175.  Motorcycles were subject to the same levy as motor vehicles under the previous ordinance.

The County projects the ordinance change will be revenue neutral due to greater enforcement.  It is expected to raise $7.8 million in FY 2013.

On May 8, 2013, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle  introduced an amendment that would lower the rate for many individuals who park in garages and lots.

After a change in state law, the County and the City of Chicago are able to implement a percentage-based rate, rather than a tiered structure.  The County plans to impose a flat, 8.5% tax rate on parking garage fees.

“Changing the way we tax garage parking will allow more residents to pay less, while asking those who have premium service parking to pay a little more,” President Preckwinkle said.  “This change will benefit taxpayers and parking garage operators without negatively impacting tourism here in Cook County.”

Exemptions for residents of a municipality of greater than 250,000 people will remain in place for those who pay $2.00 or less over a 24-hour period, $10.00 or less weekly and $40.00 or less monthly.  Exemptions for residents of a municipality of 250,000 people or fewer will remain in place for those who pay $3.00 or less over a 24-hour period, $15.00 or less weekly and $60.00 or less monthly.

The County anticipates $42.6 million in revenue in 2013, which is unchanged from projections under the current tiered system.

If approved, the new rates will take effect July 1.