MARYVILLE – To provide Metro East residents with a secure option to shred documents containing personal information, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) and State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) are hosting an event in Granite City offering free shredding services.

Shred trucks will be available at Granite City High School, located at 3101 Madison Ave., from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 23.

“A proactive way to protect yourself and your family from identity fraud is to securely destroy vulnerable documents,” Crowe said. “Take advantage of this free community shred event to safely dispose of documents with personal information, which can protect you, your loved ones or your business against fraud.”

Examples of documents with personally identifiable information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, utility bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts. No electronics will be accepted at this event.

For more information, residents are encouraged to call Crowe’s office at 618-251-9840.

SPRINGFIELD – To offer financial relief to struggling wine makers, the Illinois Senate adopted a measure championed by State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) to lower licensing fees for first-class manufacturers.

“Wineries are unique small businesses providing service to residents and visitors throughout the entire state,” Crowe said. “By re-implementing the previous licensing fees, we can offer financial support to wine operators as they work to recover following pandemic-related burdens.”

Read more: Crowe champions measure to offer relief to wine makers

SPRINGFIELD – With strong support from State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), the Illinois Senate advanced legislation Wednesday to allow centerfire, single-shot rifles to be used during deer season.

“Deer hunting is a vital wildlife management tool and a popular recreational activity throughout the state,” Crowe said. “By expanding the legal firearms used during deer season to include single-shot rifles, Illinois is joining other Midwest states and giving more options to hunters.”

Under current law, the only approved ways to take a deer during firearm season are with a shotgun, a handgun or muzzleloader.

House Bill 4386 will provide deer hunters with more options during deer hunting season in Illinois. The change also removes a barrier that oftentimes prevents younger sportsmen from participating and properly learning how to deer hunt: recoil. Centerfire rifles have substantially less recoil than traditional shotguns and muzzleloaders.

“This initiative will help ensure the next generation of sportsmen can safely participate in deer hunting,” Crowe said. “By expanding accessibility for young hunters, we can help grow the sport’s popularity and prevalence to residents of all ages.”

House Bill 4386 now moves to the governor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To streamline the detection process and determine hereditary risks for breast and ovarian cancers in women, the Illinois Senate approved a plan championed by State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) to require insurance companies to cover the cost of genetic testing kits.

“Early detection through genetic testing is essential for women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancers,” Crowe said. “By offering genetic testing at no cost, Illinois could offer comfort and stability to individuals who are at the most risk.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the genes most commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. About 3% of breast cancers, approximately 7,500 women per year, and 10% of ovarian cancers, an estimated 2,000 women per year, result from inherited mutations.

Once a test is recommended by a health care provider, Crowe’s proposal requires insurance coverage for costs associated with genetic testing for the BRCA1 and 2 genes. The measure applies to Illinois residents with individual or group insurance policies issued on or after Jan. 1, 2024.

In current law, the Illinois Insurance code requires individual and group insurance health plans to cover annual cancer screenings for women who have tested positive for BRCA1 or 2 mutations. However, the code does not require health insurance plans to cover the gene mutation testing. Some insurance companies have specific genetic testing criteria or do not cover genetic testing in certain situations, even when considered medically appropriate.

“By codifying the coverage into law, Illinois would create a consistent, reliable process for genetic mutation testing for at-risk women,” Crowe said. “Hereditary breast and ovarian cancers pose significant threats to women’s health, and preventative medical treatment can be implemented once the risks are determined.”

House Bill 5334 moves for final consideration by the governor.