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

Illinois quick hits: DHS ordered to address ICE facility conditions; Garcia explains retirement decision

Illinois quick hits: DHS ordered to address ICE facility conditions; Garcia explains retirement decision

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square DHS ordered to address ICE facility conditions A U.S. District Court judge in Chicago has issued a temporary restraining order directing...
WATCH: DCFS still looking for missing children numbers; Pritzker on elections results

WATCH: DCFS still looking for missing children numbers; Pritzker on elections results

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop continues his coverage...
Congressional Perks: Luxury cars and mileage result in big costs for taxpayers

Congressional Perks: Luxury cars and mileage result in big costs for taxpayers

By Arthur KaneThe Center Square U.S. Reps Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and David Scott, D-Ga., have each had taxpayers pay as much as $1,000 every month to Lexus financial so they...
New-Lenox-Sharons-Bay-Park

Playground Equipment Installation Begins at Sharon’s Bay Park

Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Community Park District Meeting | September 2025 Article Summary: The major redevelopment of Sharon's Bay Park is entering its final and most visible stage,...
Report says Pennsylvanians face highest costs for colleges

Report says Pennsylvanians face highest costs for colleges

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Pennsylvania residents face the nation's steepest college affordability crisis, according to a WalletHub report that looked at states that spend the most and least on...
Republican congressmen react to Prop. 50 passage

Republican congressmen react to Prop. 50 passage

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square In the hours after California’s Proposition 50 passed by a wide margin, Republican congressional members at risk of losing their seats expressed dismay and disappointment...
Dems: Long federal government shutdown hurts health care

Dems: Long federal government shutdown hurts health care

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square As the federal government shutdown becomes America's longest one on its 37th day, many are worried health care is going to become too expensive to...
Illinois quick hits: $20 million for Alton housing project; alleged migrant assaults reported

Illinois quick hits: $20 million for Alton housing project; alleged migrant assaults reported

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square $20 million for Alton housing project Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority announced the opening of a $20...

WATCH: Illinois DCFS can’t locate documents showing number of missing children

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Documents to show the number of missing youth in care from the Department of Children and Family...

WATCH: Pritzker: ‘Government isn’t always the best option’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says government is not always the best option when it comes to private...
FAA announces flight reductions due to government shutdown

FAA announces flight reductions due to government shutdown

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday there would be a 10% reduction of air traffic in 40 locations across the country due to the ongoing...
U.S. Supreme Court frosty on Trump's tariff power as world watches

U.S. Supreme Court frosty on Trump’s tariff power as world watches

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court gave President Donald Trump's tariff authority a chilly reception on Wednesday, with his economic agenda hanging in the balance and businesses...
California invests in visas, legal immigration

California invests in visas, legal immigration

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square In recent years, California lawmakers and immigrant advocates have rallied around federal visa programs to pursue legal immigration pathways for immigrants in the state. Universities...
Group seeks probe into Illinois law requiring grades 3-12 mental health screenings

Group seeks probe into Illinois law requiring grades 3-12 mental health screenings

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A law firm is urging a federal investigation into a new Illinois law, arguing that the...
Reason Foundation: No turning point yet in Illinois on pension debt

Reason Foundation: No turning point yet in Illinois on pension debt

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new report says Illinois has the highest per-capita unfunded state and local pension liabilities in the...