All Week Long
Public servants are under attack. Across the country, the federal government is purging employees, dismantling long-standing institutions and turning its back on the very people who have devoted their lives to public service. Decades of progress are being unraveled under the guise of efficiency. And those who keep government running are being told their work does not matter.
That is simply not true.
The truth is, government doesn’t work without the professionals who show up every day to serve the public. Effectiveness depends on more than elected officials or public leaders. It requires the daily efforts of those working quietly behind the scenes. Their roles are rarely glamorous or celebrated, yet they perform them diligently because they believe in something bigger than themselves.
I know this because I’ve spent my life in public service. I started as a history teacher, then served in Mayor Harold Washington’s economic development department. I led the Chicago Jobs Council to expand access to employment, became an alderperson, and for over a decade now, have led Cook County as board president. In every role, I’ve worked alongside people who make government work.
Every day, I see the positive impact of their dedication: Cook County Health professionals delivering care to those most in need, regardless of their ability to pay; staff at our Department of Veterans Affairs connecting veterans to benefits they earned; public defenders safeguarding justice for those with limited means; emergency management teams coordinating rapid responses when crises strike. Each of these roles is essential. Each role makes a tangible difference in people’s lives.
These roles remind us that public service is more than just a career. It’s a calling. It’s the school nurse who comforts a sick child, the bus driver who ensures people safely get home and the sanitation worker who keeps our streets clean. They don’t just fill jobs. They sustain the fabric of our community. Their stories matter, and their dignity deserves protection.
Originally published by Jackie Kostek via CBS Chicago | June 26, 2025
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced he is running for a third term Thursday morning.
Pritzker posted a video announcing his run on his official website at 8 a.m. Filmed in Chestnut, Illinois, Pritzker speaks in the video about the impact of President Trump's tariffs on Illinois farmers and industry, and the current budget bill's intent to cut Medicaid.
He also touts his record, saying he's achieved seven balanced budgets in a row and nine credit upgrades for the state of Illinois, while raising the Illinois minimum wage, decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana, capping the cost of insulin, banning assault weapons, lowering prescription drug costs and creating jobs.
"We don't just talk about problems; in Illinois, we solve them," he says in the video. "Because we know government ought to stand up for working families and be a force for good, not a weapon of revenge."
At a formal campaign kickoff event Thursday morning at the Grand Crossing Park Fieldhouse, where he launched his first campaign for governor in 2017, Pritzker said, "through every challenge and every triumph, I have grown to love Illinois even more."
Today, Cook County leaders came together to announce the launch of the Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard. The new dashboard consolidates data from across Cook County’s criminal justice agencies to promote increased transparency, access and understanding of data connected to the local criminal justice system.
“The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard reflects the ongoing collaboration among our justice system partners,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “It shows our shared commitment to transparency and to making the criminal legal system work better for the public. We’re proud to share this tool to help residents better understand how the justice system affects people and communities across Cook County.”
The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard has been funded by the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge and developed in conjunction with Loyola University of Chicago's Center for Criminal Justice Research. It includes information about incidents and arrests, criminal case filings, jail bookings and releases, pretrial release decisions, sentences and prison information. The dynamic tool allows users to interact with the data, filtering by year, offense types, and other demographic factors, allowing data to be viewed from a variety of perspectives that were previously not publicly available.
The dashboard project is the result of sustained coordination across independently elected offices that share a commitment to promoting equitable access to information. It includes data from the Office of the Chief Judge, the Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County Sherriff’s Office, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender.
“My office has long understood the importance of transparency and interagency collaboration to inform the public about the justice system,” said Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Timothy C. Evans. “The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard is a continuation of this commitment.”
Paid for by Preckwinkle for President. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website, http://elections.il.gov/, or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. All contributions are reported to the State Board of Elections. Contributions are not accepted from employees of Cook County. Companies holding contracts with the Cook County are limited to $750.
Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.