“Faced with a perfect storm of the pandemic, a changing labor market and often negative public perceptions of police work, law enforcement agencies across the suburbs and the nation are facing unprecedented staffing challenges.”

“From the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to deadly tornadoes in the Midwest — not to mention the unending COVID-19 pandemic — it may be hard to remember good things that happened in 2021. Here are some happier memories to savor as we start a new year.”

Evanston and Oak Park, both of whom have their own health departments and are therefore not bound by Cook County mandates, will adopt the new mitigation rules beginning in January, according to officials. Skokie, which also has its own health department, had also agreed to implement the policy in recent days.

Brown said he wants to beef up the number of violent crime detectives from 1,100 to 1,300 during the first quarter of 2022. The department has lost hundreds of officers this past year, and Brown did not say how many of the new detectives would replace those who have left.

After six employees got COVID, Richard Mott of the North Pond in Lincoln Park decided Monday to cancel New Year’s Eve reservations. “We had two wedding proposals scheduled for the night. We’ve been open 23 years. We’ve had a wedding proposal on New Year’s every year we’ve been open except one,” he said. “It’s just kind of sad to call someone up and tell them that.”