Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill

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

U.S. LNG exports hit new high as Turkey buys big

U.S. LNG exports hit new high as Turkey buys big

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square U.S. LNG exports reached a fresh record of 525.1 million cubic feet in November, with shipments to trade partners including Turkey, Egypt and several European...
Illinois Quick Hits: CTA passenger set on fire in November leaves hospital

Illinois Quick Hits: CTA passenger set on fire in November leaves hospital

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Chicago Transit Authority train passenger says she has been released from the hospital more than two...
House Oversight probes Rep. Ilhan Omar's husband's businesses

House Oversight probes Rep. Ilhan Omar’s husband’s businesses

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The House Oversight Committee is investigating the rapid rise in value of two companies owned by Rep. Ilhan Omar's husband, amid concerns over financial transparency...

WATCH: IL Senate GOP proposes SAFE-T Act changes for domestic violence violations

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran says his caucus has proposed changes to the SAFE-T Act that...
Illinois open-burn bill ignites capitol clash

Illinois open-burn bill ignites capitol clash

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal aimed at giving local fire protection districts more oversight of open burning in unincorporated...
AMA's medical education infused with political ideology, Do No Harm says

AMA’s medical education infused with political ideology, Do No Harm says

By Tate MillerThe Center Square In its ongoing fight against identity politics in medicine, Do No Harm exposed the American Medical Association this week for content related to identity politics...
Los Angeles police chief declines to enforce ICE mask ban

Los Angeles police chief declines to enforce ICE mask ban

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square California has a new law that prohibits law enforcement from wearing masks, but don’t expect it to be enforced in Los Angeles. At least not...
Surge in gas-fired power for data centers, with Texas leading

Surge in gas-fired power for data centers, with Texas leading

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The amount of gas-fired power generation in development in the U.S. nearly tripled over the past year to a record-high 252 gigawatts, with a third...
Entrepreneurs push back as Illinois city proposes new business registry

Entrepreneurs push back as Illinois city proposes new business registry

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Despite existing state registration requirements, Pontiac officials are proposing a new local business registration program aimed...
Benghazi attack suspect arrested, will face charges in U.S.

Benghazi attack suspect arrested, will face charges in U.S.

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A suspect in a 2012 attack on a United States compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans was arrested and will be prosecuted in...
Canada looks to shift auto industry away from U.S.

Canada looks to shift auto industry away from U.S.

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants his nation's auto industry to look far beyond its usual American market with investments in electric vehicles and other...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker's fiscal update blasts Trump administration

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker’s fiscal update blasts Trump administration

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget says tax provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill Act would...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Capital Imp Committee Debates ‘Human Factor’ in Drafting New Artificial Intelligence Policy

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee launched a comprehensive discussion on creating a...
Civil group seeks revival of student loan forgiveness lawsuit

Civil group seeks revival of student loan forgiveness lawsuit

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The New Civil Liberties Alliance presented oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit this week, after filing an opening brief...
Professor: California sees nation's least affordable electricity

Professor: California sees nation’s least affordable electricity

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California is experiencing the country's biggest hikes in electricity rates, according to new research from the Energy Institute at the Haas School of Business at...