Illinois Quick Hits: CTE bill goes to House after clearing Senate

Illinois Quick Hits: CTE bill goes to House after clearing Senate

Spread the love

(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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies

Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A U.S. House task force questioned the president of the American Bar Association in a hearing Wednesday about the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and...
Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct

Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After reporting about a now-resigned state representative and allegations that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch may...
Republicans' $95B budget resolution passes House

Republicans’ $95B budget resolution passes House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans’ blueprint for a third party-line bill passed the U.S. House on a slim two-vote margin Wednesday, despite grumblings from fiscal hawks over the bill’s...
$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House

$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A $1.15 trillion annual defense funding bill finally passed the U.S. House Wednesday after weeks of delay. Six Democrats joined all but seven Republicans in...
Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion

Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers pushed for more regulations and safety standards on popular weight loss medications, including GLP-1 prescriptions, at an event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Rep....
Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28...
New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits

New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another quantum technology company is coming to Illinois, and tax credits are part of the deal. Gov....
Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment

Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday to impose 18-year term limits on U.S. Supreme Court justices by statute, a route that would sidestep the constitutional amendment...
Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard

Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says electronic monitoring of a suspect on pretrial release did not work in the...
Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council considered multiple ballot referendums during its regular meeting Wednesday morning, including some which...
Anti-ICE 'extremist' charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building

Anti-ICE ‘extremist’ charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building

By Chris WadeThe Center Square A 43-year-old Army vet and "anti-ICE" demonstrator is facing arson charges after Monday's fiery attack outside of a federal immigration court in New York City....
World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don't materialize

World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don’t materialize

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Ahead of the World Cup, several groups expressed concerns about terrorism and national security threats posed by the international tournament that brought millions of people...
Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill

Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan committee of senators advanced legislation on Wednesday that would require hospitals and insurance companies to display prices for provided services. Senators on the...
Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Consumers in six Illinois counties will be soon be paying higher sales taxes. Transit funding legislation signed...
As aggressions continue, Trump warns Iran to 'pay a big price'

As aggressions continue, Trump warns Iran to ‘pay a big price’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump is threatening that Iran will “pay a big price” as he headed to Dover Air Force Base Wednesday for the dignified transfer...