Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly approves CTE bill
(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.
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Ceasefire in question as U.S. accuses Iran of violations
Supreme Court rules against prison sentence reductions
Illinois may take DOJ ‘Anti-Weaponization’ payouts from residents
Supreme Court rules in favor of racially biased jury claims
Poll: Voters have unfavorable opinions of Owens, Shapiro, Kirk, Pratt
Illinois Quick Hits: Waukegan official charted with casting dead mother’s ballot
Top Illinois diversity commissioner did not disclose side pay
Frankfort 157-C Board Awards Electrical, Plumbing Contracts; Tables Basketball Camp Fees
Lincoln-Way 210 Reports Lowest High School Tax Rate in the Area
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Township Annual Town Meeting for April 14, 2026
Durbin warns of divisions in Illinois farewell speech
USMCA talks open as tariffs loom over North America
