In her first full meeting as Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle began the process of fixing what she has called a "desperate" budget situation. As a sign that Preckwinkle plans to make good on her pledge to cut waste, the board agreed to halt vehicle purchases by some county departments and began a process to review salaries of officials in the county health system.

In other news from the county, Commissioner Robert Steele (2nd District) was named president pro-tem, which means he will run board meetings in Preckwinkle's absence.