In a major turnaround in the opioid crisis, overdose deaths are falling across Chicago and Cook County.

Chicago and Cook County have increased the minimum wage for many workers, with employers with four or more workers in Chicago now required to pay at least $17.05/hr and employers in Cook County

Cook County’s budget gap is projected to rise to $550 million heading into next year, the highest figure since Board President Toni Preckwinkle took office in 2011.

The budget gap is largely due to federal funding cuts to Medicaid and continued rising costs across the economy.

Cook County faces a $550 million budget shortfall next year that will require “careful planning and difficult decisions,” county officials said this week in a preliminary budget forecast.

From Cook County officials to housing advocates, backers have framed the bill as a way to protect long-time homeowners and preserve generational wealth. Treasurer Maria Pappas called the reforms “a fairer system that protects homeowners, taxpayers and taxing districts alike,” according to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.

A 20-year-old man is charged after Cook County deputies said they found a loaded ghost gun during a traffic stop. Meanwhile, investigators recovered more than $1.3 million in stolen cargo in a separate case.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, whose police officers have been deployed on the CTA for several months, said Wednesday that a dedicated police force should be responsible for law enforcement on public transit.