WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

New DNA evidence has helped Cook County investigators identify another victim of serial killer John Wayne Gacy.Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced Tuesday that William George Bundy has been positively identified as one of Gacy's victims.

The proposed 2012 Cook County budget would help plug a projected $315 million dollar deficit but it also reflected lots of tough decisions by Board President Toni Preckwinkle. The budget involved layoffs, new taxes and new fees; and there were quite a few proposals that could affect public safety.

Cook County has found a new way to make money: by cracking down on stores that aren't paying cigarette taxes. At the urging of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's office, the sheriff's office has fined retailers almost $400,000 in the first three weeks of the project.

A Northwest suburban mayor is criticizing a new Cook County policy for being weak on illegal immigration.On September 7, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a measure that allows the sheriff to release undocumented immigrants on bond from jail.

Cook County moved to center stage in the fight over national immigration policy. Sheriff Tom Dart recently suggested that he may no longer comply with federal requests to detain inmates wanted for immigration violations.

Legislators in Springfield are considering a measure that would undo some cemetery regulations in the state.The Illinois Senate approved legislation that would cut back on a statewide task force designated to oversee cemeteries.