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Women’s health was the subject of a pair of bills passing the Illinois Senate.
College and university restrooms would be required to stock feminine hygiene supplies, under a bill sponsored by State Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). When State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) said Southern Illinois University ended a similar program because of rampant theft, Villa said, “As a person who menstruates when I go to the bathroom, if I needed a product, I would use it, but I don’t think that would be considered stealing.”
A bill sponsored by State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) would require the same for homeless shelters. He said women without access to such projects can resort to newspapers or cardboard, if not simply reusing old products.
by Kevin Bessler, The Center Square | May 26, 2021 07:00 PM Print this article
The Illinois Senate passed two bills Tuesday aimed at making menstrual hygiene products available for free in more places.
The measures advise colleges and universities, as well as homeless shelters, to provide such products free of charge.
Both bill sponsors cited “period poverty,” or not being able to afford hygiene products such as pads and tampons as motivation for their legislation.
House Bill 641, sponsored by state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, requires colleges and universities to make hygiene products available free of charge in bathrooms.
State Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, questioned the cost of the proposal, but Villa could not provide any details. Tracy noted that Southern Illinois University offered the products in its restrooms and later discontinued the program because of “rampant theft.”
Memorial Day Parade returns Monday in Alton
Ron DeBrock, ronald.debrock@thetelegraph.com
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The Jaeger Guard Company F. 32 Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, shown here in the 2019 Alton Memorial Day Parade, will again be participating in the 154th annual parade Monday at 10 a.m. During the Civil War the regiment, comprised of men from Alton and Upper Alton, lost 268 men to battle and disease.
ALTON Dick Alford will serve as grand marshal for the 154th Alton Memorial Day Parade on Monday.
The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from Alton Middle School, 2200 College Ave., where staging will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday. No rain is forecast for Monday, and about 50 units are scheduled to participate in the parade, according to Steve Schwartz of the East End Improvement Association.