Illinois Quick Hits: CTE bill goes to House after clearing Senate
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate has passed legislation allowing high school students to take Career Technical Education classes as an alternative to the foreign language mandate starting in 2028.
Senate Bill 3070 now heads to the House after it received unanimous approval in the Senate on Thursday.
HOUSE ADVANCES MICROMOBILITY REGULATION BILL
Amended legislation to regulate e-bikes, motorized scooters and other micromobility devices will go to the state Senate for concurrence after clearing the Illinois House on Wednesday night.
Senate Bill 3336 would require a person to be at least 16 years old, licensed to drive, and to register certain electric devices with the state before they can be legally operated.
Sean Reed contributed to this story.
MAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL WEAPON POSSESSION WHILE ON COURT-SUPERVISED RELEASE
A Chicago man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun on a train while he was on court-supervised release for a prior drug trafficking conviction.
Prosecutors say Gerald Pittman, 39, was arrested aboard the CTA Blue Line last July while drinking a beer, smoking and holding a red shopping bag that contained a loaded handgun.
Pittman had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
PROGRAM ALLOWS NEW ATTORNEYS TO EARN CREDIT FOR PRO BONO WORK
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced a rule amendment allowing newly-admitted attorneys to earn Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by participating in a pro bono pilot program.
The court said in a press release it hopes to address unmet legal needs and help foster a career-long commitment for new attorneys to pro bono service.
Under the program, an attorney may earn one MCLE credit hour for every two hours of pro bono participation in Illinois Free Legal Answers.
TURKEY HUNTERS LOG RECORD HARVEST
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says hunters harvested a preliminary record total of 20,821 wild turkeys during the state’s spring turkey season, surpassing the previous record of 18,189 birds harvested in 2025.
The top counties during the 2026 season were Jefferson and Jo Daviess counties, each with 646 birds harvested. Marion County was next with 530 turkeys, followed by Pike with 525.
Hunters bought 94,704 permits this year compared to 89,580 last year.
Latest News Stories
Another Mexico-Canada-US northern border smuggling ring busted
Fetterman tells Congress to hurry up and ‘make weed legal’
Mamdani backs off threat to arrest Netanyahu
Expected Colorado River pact seen as step in right direction
U.S. House passes govt funding stopgap to avoid shutdown
Illinois news in brief: House Democrat joins calls to release Benton report; State EV rebate program to begin Aug. 1; Member of armed robbery crew gets 15 years in prison
Grijalva, Butierez headed for rematch in congressional race
Biggs wins Arizona gubernatorial primary with 71.5% of vote
Trump endorsements score wins for Arizona candidates
Republicans advance bill to make Trump border policy permanent
Trump admin investigates five medical schools over DEI
Ethics complaint alleges District 214 used tax dollars for poll polling
Lawyer: Billionaire tax could cost California $1 trillion
Trump gives boost to Lebanese relations; puts squeeze on Iran in the process