Chicago Department of Public Health
Chicago’s Health Department Does Little To Deter Repeat Polluters, Report Finds
Citations for air pollution — which contributes to Chicagoans' respiratory problems, cancers and premature deaths, per the city's own research — have dropped 90 percent over the past decade-plus.
State Lawmakers Poised To Legalize Drug-Injection Site This Year — But Will City Leaders Follow Through?
Public health advocates say they're all in on creating a safe space for drug use. But Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the idea is still "under consideration."
Will General Iron’s Operations Come To The Southeast Side After All? Judge Likely To Decide In April
City officials blocked General Iron's parent company from moving the scrapper's operations to East Side, and the company challenged that denial soon after.
City Should Inspect Apartments Every 5 Years To Prevent Landlord Neglect, Ald. Says
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez introduced the Healthy Homes ordinance at City Council in December and said she hopes to garner enough support for a hearing.
Bad Drugs In Clubs: Venue Owners Say They’re Not To Blame For Overdoses As Fentanyl Testing Expands
A club owner said he'll add security and train staff after four people overdosed inside around Halloween. "I have nothing to hide," he said.
Polygon Cafe Shut Down After Inspectors Find Roaches, Rat Droppings And Improperly Stored Raw Fish, City Says
The Andersonville business's license was suspended by the Chicago Department of Public Health last week, records show.
Thousands More Chicagoans Are Getting Mental Health Care, City’s Top Doc Says — But Critics Say More Must Be Done
The city expects to provide funding to at least one mental health clinic in each of Chicago’s 77 community areas by the end of the year, but relying on often-underfunded nonprofits to bear the brunt of the city's mental health needs is problematic, one alderperson said.
Learn Trauma-Informed Care, How To De-Escalate Conflicts With Free Mental Health Training On South, West Sides
"We've been hearing from the community, from leaders and from our providers that more mental health skill building training is needed."
Latino Chicagoans’ Life Expectancy Has Dropped 7 Years Since 2012 — The Steepest Decline In The City
In 2012, the life expectancy for Latino residents was 83.1 years; but that’s fallen to 75.9 years as of 2020. This has been fueled by barriers to health care, living in food deserts and dealing with stress and instability, experts said.
Black Chicagoans Can Learn About Health Resources, Get Questions Answered During City’s New Livestream Show
"Dr. Erica's Table," a new Instagram Live show with the department's Dr. Erica Taylor, will give Black Chicagoans a chance to get answers to their questions about health and wellness.
General Iron Tries To Reopen In Lincoln Park After City Rejects South Side Permit, But Officials Say No Way
"I don't see that as a possibility," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said after Reserve Management Group, which owns General Iron, applied for permits to reopen in Lincoln Park.
Smoking, Urination And ‘Unruly Behavior’ Is On The Rise On Trains, CTA Riders Say. But Will Private Security Fix Problems?
Riders say ongoing issues have left them fed up with the CTA. The situation also has gotten worse for CTA employees, who say they are routinely threatened on the job.
City Denies Controversial Metal Scrapper Southside Recycling’s Permit After Activists Wage Years-Long Fight
Southside Recycling, formerly known as General Iron, will not be allowed to open on Chicago's Southeast Side. "The Southeast Side is no longer going to be your dumping ground," one activist said.
City Will Rule On Controversial Southeast Side Metal Scrapper’s Permit By End Of Week
If approved, equipment and employees from General Iron will move. The months-long analysis of the proposed Southside Recycling scrapper doesn't say whether the health department should allow it to open.
There Are No Grocery Stores Open In West Garfield Park After Save A Lot Shut Down By City Because Of Rats
The store had its license temporarily revoked by the city because of a rodent infestation, leaving residents with no local options to buy food. An Aldi store in the area abruptly shut down last year.
Mask, Vax Mandates Should Be Lifted Ahead Of Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Aldermen Tell City’s Top Doc
Eleven alderpeople want mask and vaccine requirements relaxed by Friday, but city health officials say they can't drop their requirements before the state does.
Controversial Southside Recycling Permit Decision Delayed Again Amid COVID Struggles, Health Dept. Says
A COVID-19 outbreak on a city research team and "COVID-related lab slowdowns" led to the delay, the city said. A permit decision is now expected in February at the earliest.
Southside Recycling Asks EPA, City Officials To Tour Completed Metal Shredder Ahead Of Permit Decision
With the city expected to decide next month whether to approve the Southeast Side shredder, the company asked the mayor, the city health commissioner and the head of the EPA to see the site.
Syphilis Outbreak On Far South Side Being Investigated By City Health Department
Cases of syphilis citywide jumped 13 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Data from this year is incomplete, but five cases have been recorded in Roseland since September.
City Plan To Plant More Trees In Black And Latino Areas Could Improve Public Health, Crime, West Siders Say
The city earmarked $46 million to plant thousands of trees in areas lacking greenery. Neighborhood environmental groups say the investment will benefit the environment and help tackle racial equity issues.
