Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A bill offering career technical education classes as an alternative to Illinois’ foreign language mandate is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.

The Illinois House passed Senate Bill 3070 on Sunday.

The measure provides that high school students can still take two years of foreign language but will now have the option to take CTE classes starting in 2028.

NONPROFIT INVESTMENT BILL PASSED

The Illinois General Assembly has passed legislation allowing the state treasurer’s office to set up an investment pool for nonprofit organizations.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said Senate Bill 2968 is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their financial stability and maximize resources that help communities.

Frerichs told The Center Square last fall he would keep working on the legislation that was vetoed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last summer.

COOK COUNTY ANNOUNCES MINIMUM WAGE HIKE

Minimum wages will be going up in Cook County on July 1.

The county’s Commission on Human Rights issued a notice on Monday that the minimum wage for non-tipped workers over the age of 18 will increase from $15 to $15.40 and the minimum for tipped employees will rise from $9 to $9.25.

Cook County’s minimum wage is based on the greatest rate among the federal minimum wage, Illinois minimum wage, or on the county’s calculation using the Consumer Price Index.

CHICAGO ANNOUNCES BUDGET ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

Chicago officials have announced a series of five budget engagement roundtable events, starting Wednesday at Malcolm X College. T

he events are open to the public and will be livestreamed on social media platforms. More information is available at the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget engagement website.

The city’s $16.7 billion budget passed in December includes higher taxes on cloud computing, liquor and plastic bags, along with rideshare surcharges and a roughly $1 billion sweep of tax-increment financing funds to Chicago Public Schools.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

solar panels photovoltaics in solar farm

Clark County Board Hears Proposals for 10,000-Acre Wind Farm, Community Solar Projects

Clark County Board Meeting | February 20, 2026 Article Summary: The Clark County Board received comprehensive updates on the county’s expanding renewable energy landscape, highlighted by a proposal from Repsol...
casey fire protection district graphic.3

Casey Fire District Evaluates Half-Million Dollar Pumper Truck, Seeks Grant Writing Assistance

Casey Fire Protection District Meeting | March 2026 Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District is exploring a major capital investment after viewing a demonstration of a new 2,100-gallon pumper...
Martinsville School Graphic.1

Martinsville Board of Education Renews 8-Man Football Program, Adopts Cardiac Emergency Plan

Martinsville C.U.S.D. #C-3 Board of Education Meeting | February 23, 2026 Article Summary: The Martinsville Community Unit School District #C-3 Board of Education approved the continuation of its 8-man football...
White House calls on Pritzker to cooperate with ICE

White House calls on Pritzker to cooperate with ICE

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The White House called on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday to cooperate with immigration enforcement, after the killing of a student in Chicago. White...
DHS pushes back on Minnesota lawsuit over Metro Surge shootings

DHS pushes back on Minnesota lawsuit over Metro Surge shootings

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is defending federal agents’ actions in three Minnesota shootings while pushing back on claims of “unprecedented noncooperation” raised in...
Supreme Court reverses $1B copyright lawsuit

Supreme Court reverses $1B copyright lawsuit

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on Wednesday, ruled that an internet service provider is not liable in damages when its users unlawfully...
U.S. Supreme Court rules against automatic prison release punishments

U.S. Supreme Court rules against automatic prison release punishments

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, decided an individual on supervised release is not automatically extended when that person absconds from their release....
State Police address FOID, cyber security audit findings

State Police address FOID, cyber security audit findings

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As his agency works to correct compliance findings by the state’s auditor general, Illinois State Police Director...
Poll: Trump demonstrates stronger cognitive, communication skills compared to Biden

Poll: Trump demonstrates stronger cognitive, communication skills compared to Biden

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A majority of American voters say President Donald Trump has demonstrated better cognitive and physical skills during his second term compared to former President Joe...
Illinois Quick Hits: Red Line funds ordered to be unfrozen

Illinois Quick Hits: Red Line funds ordered to be unfrozen

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is hailing a federal judge’s ruling that directs the Trump administration to unfreeze...
EXCLUSIVE: 5 years in, Operation Lone Star seizes 870 million lethal doses of fentanyl

EXCLUSIVE: 5 years in, Operation Lone Star seizes 870 million lethal doses of fentanyl

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Five years into Texas’ border security mission, Operation Lone Star officers have seized a record amount of illicit drugs. Gov. Greg Abbott first launched OLS...
Proposal to decrease reliance on paper documents passes House

Proposal to decrease reliance on paper documents passes House

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Safety is compromised, and costs are increased by outdated rules, U.S. Rep. Brad Knott tells The Center Square. His proposal with Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich.,...
Casey Westfield Baseball Graphic

Late Sixth-Inning Surge Lifts Casey-Westfield Baseball Past Altamont 4-1

For five innings on Tuesday afternoon, the Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team was completely stymied at the plate. But when the opportunity finally presented itself in the bottom of the sixth,...
school board monroe elementary

Monroe Elementary Reading Initiatives Raise $13,000 as Students Log Nearly 91,000 Minutes

Casey-Westfield School Board Meeting | March 16, 2026 Article Summary: Monroe Elementary students shattered reading goals during two concurrent literacy programs, raising substantial funds for the school library and reading...
Casey Westfield Softball Graphic

Gilbert Drives in Five as Casey-Westfield Outslugs Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg 11-7

The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team unleashed a 17-hit offensive barrage on Tuesday afternoon, securing an 11-7 road victory over non-conference opponent Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg. Sophomore G. Gilbert was the primary run producer...