FOIA Request to Cook County regarding new contracts or amendments on February 1, 2026.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Cook County by Chicago City Wire, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. The request, sent on February 1, 2026, seeks access to records of new contracts and any amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The specific records requested include details such as the contract or amendment title, names of contracting parties, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. The request emphasizes that it is limited to records that currently exist and does not require the creation of new documents.
Chicago City Wire has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format if available. The organization also highlighted its role in gathering information of public interest for dissemination to the public and noted its eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit corporation that assists news media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies. This coalition leverages Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws to promote transparency in government actions.
Cook County is home to over 672,009 students enrolled across various schools with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 14-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year. It employs 48,761 full-time faculty members across the county’s schools.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
