New state laws taking effect Jan. 1

2x Food Network Winner Chef Camerron Dangerfield Visits

Minimum wage hike, pets in public housing among new changes

Rich Township High School To Talk Culinary With Area Students

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

BY PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD

– Minimum wage workers in Illinois will see a boost in their hourly pay to $12 per hour starting Jan. 1, while tenants in affordable housing units will be allowed to keep pets.

Those are just some of the more than 300 new laws that take effect in the new year.

The minimum wage increase is actually the result of a 2019 law that phases in a state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. This year, it will increase by one dollar to $12 an hour.

The law allowing public housing

BY JUEL STANLEY

tenants to keep pets is the result of Senate Bill 154, by Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego. It provides that tenants of multifamily housing units that are acquired, built or renovated with money from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund may keep up to two cats or one dog weighing less than 50 pounds.

It applies to residents of housing units that are designated as affordable housing for low- and very-lowincome families. The bill passed both chambers in its final form on May 30 and Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law Aug. 6.

Other new laws include:

Vehicle taxes: SB58 raises the private vehicle tax, which is a sales tax paid on the purchase of vehicles, by $75 for each model year where the purchase price is less than $15,000 and by $100 for vehicles priced above that amount. However, the registration fee for trailers weighing less than 3,000 pounds will drop to $36 instead of $118.

Rich Township High School is proud to announce that one of Chicago’s famous chefs has brought his inspiration to the Raptor Community. Chef Camerron Dangerfield visited the south suburban school for a one-on-one experience with culinary students. The arrival of the two-time Food Network winner was a complete shock and a memorable experience for the culi-nary department. Rich Township Culinary Department is one of the newest prominent pro-grams that provide students with an incentive to explore entrepreneurship as chefs. The wide-spread curriculum provides students with a wealth of information on food safety and best cooking practices. The diverse program encourages students to create food that is meaningful to them. Superintendent Johnnie Thomas says the culinary department hopes to have more “Chef Camerron’s.”

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

Garth President Publisher

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

“One of the greatest things I can witness is Rich Township students thriving and birthing their talents. It’s an honor to see so many of our culinary students exercise a great passion for the food they create and be receptive to instructors who will help develop them. Chef Camerron is such a great model and example for students because, like many of us, we come from all dif-ferent backgrounds. The fact that his story can be universally shared on a great platform like The Food Network is remarkable for us as faculty to see and our students,” says Superinten-dent Thomas.

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General Manager

College admissions: HB226, establishing the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, prohibits public colleges and universities from requiring applicants to submit SAT, ACT or other standardized test scores as part of the admissions process, although prospective students may choose to submit them if they wish.

The Chicago Native Teaches Culinary Practices That Go Beyond Food And “How To Make The Best Out Of Life After High School”. The Culinary Students Were Provided The Opportunity To Gain One On One Coaching

“Chicago Style” seasonings and diverse pal-ette has earned him a reputation as one of the most innovative chefs in the industry. Chef Dangerfield’s passion for food began at a young age, and he then honed his skills through ex-tensive training and experience in some of the best kitchens in the world. One of his passions is pushing the boundaries of traditional cuisine, which has earned him critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Rich Township students hope to have more speakers and influencers like him to gain a wealth of knowledge.

From Notable Chef

CST Weekly, published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issues annually). W ritten permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or part from the General manager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is every Monday at noon. For information on subscriptions or advertising call us at (773) 783-1251. Our office is located at 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

Editorial:

Drug prices: SB1682 requires pharmacies to post a notice informing consumers that they may request current pharmacy retail prices at the point of sale.

Chef Dangerfield’s presence for local students was a special treat due to his reputation for cre-ating a unique blend of flavors and techniques. His

“It’s important that we expose our students to countless opportunities that will push them to higher heights with dreaming. Our culinary department is very promising, and it continues to pave the way for our students to express themselves through the power of food. We want to thank Chef Dangerfield for taking the time to come teach our students about his journey as a chef and how to create their own. Our culinary students see a long-term future in serving oth-ers, and food is a beautiful way of doing it. It was a teaching moment our students will never forget,” says Principal Lynn Fields Jr.

Almost 2 Million Dollars in Scholarships Awarded to South Suburban Students at HBCU Band Auditions

RICHTON PARK, ILL. — Band students from Rich Township 227, Hillcrest High School and Southland College Prep Charter High School were offered almost 2 million dollars in four-year band scholarships last month at the annual HBCU band auditions event held at Southland College Prep.

Eighteen students auditioned for spots at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) bands, said Dr. Carl Cogar, the director of fine arts at Southland College Prep who started the audition event in 2018.

Gov. JB Pritzker is shown here earlier this year in a Capitol News Illinois file photo. The governor signed more than 300 bills that become law on Jan. 1. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)

University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State University, North Carolina A & T University, Clark Atlanta University, Texas College, Virginia State University, Allen University, Central State University, Claflin University, Miles College, Talladega College, Morehouse College, Delaware State University, Tuskegee University, Wiley College, Langston University, Mississippi Valley State University and Fisk University to name a few.

Editorial:

Editorial:

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Send press releases, news tips, calendar listing etc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com

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FOID card changes: HB562 enacts several changes to the Firearm Owner Identification card law. Among other things, it provides for a streamlined renewal process for FOID cards and Concealed Carry Licenses for people who voluntarily submit fingerprint records. It also allows the Illinois State Police to issue a combined FOID card and Concealed Carry License to qualified applicants, and it establishes a new Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force to take enforcement action against people with revoked FOID cards.

“Being a part of the marching band at an HBCU is a life-changing experience,” Cogar said. “We wanted to give our students in the south suburbs the opportunity to audition for some of the best bands in the country in person and have the chance to go to college on a band scholarship.”

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Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251

Student mental health: HB576 and SB1577 allow students in Illinois up to five excused absences to attend to their mental or behavioral health without providing a medical note. Those students will be given an opportunity to make up any work they missed during the first absence and, after using a second mental health day, may be referred its public health authorities from regulating or shutting down lemonade stands or similar operations that are operated by children under the age of 16. Known as “Hayli’s Law,” it was inspired by 12-year-old Hayli Martinez, whose lemonade stand in Kankakee was shut down by local officials.

Official flags: HB605 requires state agencies and institutions to purchase Illinois and American flags that are made in the United States.

Hair styles: SB817 prohibits discrimination in schools against individuals on the grounds of wearing natural or ethnic hairstyles, which include dreadlocks, braids, twists and afros.

Twenty-seven HBCU band directors made their way to the Richton Park high school campus on December 20 to hear promising young musicians. The directors were in Chicago for the 76th annual Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra conference.

The universities and colleges included Hampton University,

Lemonade stands: SB119 prohib- www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Each student auditioned for a minimum of six colleges and universities. Each school offered students a scholarship in excess of $32,000 for four years. Some schools offered students full band and academic scholarships. One Southland student received scholarship offers of more than $320,000. Cogar estimates that students earned “well over” $1.7 million in scholarship offers.

United States. In June, President Joe Biden also signed a bill designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Ron Harrigan, Southland’s director of bands, was excited to see his students walk away from the evening with scholarship offers in hand.

Juneteenth: HB3922 recognizes June 19, or “Juneteenth,” as an official state holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

“This event gives students a chance to earn a college education through their musical skills and talent,” Harrigan said. “Getting scholarship offers is a reward for their years of hard work and dedication.”

ColorComm’s 6th Annual NextGen Fellows Program Will Connect HBCU Students and Graduates with the Nation’s Leading Media, Tech, and Corporate Firms

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- ColorComm, Inc., the nation’s leading women’s platform addressing diversity & inclusion across the communications, marketing, advertising, and media industries, will host the 6th Annual NextGen Fellows Program with a summit & recruiting day on Friday, Feb. 24. The program will connect Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) students with Fortune 500 companies, agencies, brands, and corporations to recruit students for internships and fulltime positions.

The year-long program will provide HBCU students and recent graduates with access to decision makers, formal mentorship, professional development workshops, and access to ColorComm’s Network of more than 100,000 multicultural professionals. Participants will meet with executive leaders and will learn hiring strategies and best practices on how to land coveted internships and full-time positions at some of the most desired places to work.

The HBCU Fellows Program is an exclusive program where applicants will be evaluated on academic achievement and how they contribute to their communities. There is no cost associated to apply for the fellowship.

“Our focus is about securing jobs for our HBCU fellows and preparing the next generation of leaders to be successful in the workforce,” said Lauren Wesley Wilson, Founder and CEO, ColorComm.

Participating HBCU Schools Include:

Alabama A&M University

Claflin University

Clark Atlanta University

Delaware State University

Elizabeth City State University

Florida A&M University

Hampton University

Howard University

Jackson State University

Morgan State University

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Central University

Spelman College

Tougaloo College

Tuskegee University

For more information, visit www. colorcomm.com, www.colorcommnetwork.com or www.colorcommmediagroup.com.