STATE

Bill would include LGBT history in schools

A plan requiring public schools to teach a unit on the role and societal contributions of gays, lesbians and other LGBT individuals has advanced in the Illinois Senate.

The Senate Education committee has endorsed the measure 8-2, after a House committee approved a nearly identical version of the plan. If enacted, Illinois would become just the second state to approve an LGBT inclusive curriculum.

The proposal requires all elementary and high schools to teach a unit studying the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of the country and state.

The measure would also have schools use more inclusive and “non-discriminatory” textbooks going forward. Such inclusion would include the fact that Jane Addams was a lesbian.

Supporters say the measure is consistent with current law, which requires students learn the contributions of other under-represented groups, including African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans.

School boards would determine how much instructional time is spent on the subject. But the curriculum must reinforce that all people, no matter their sexual orientation, “have a right to be treated with civil, legal and human rights.”

Conservative groups have taken issue with the measure, calling it unnecessary and ideologically driven.

Boy George brings show to state fair

Boy George and his band Culture Club will bring their iconic 1980s sound to the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Aug. 10. Joining Culture Club will be Tom Bailey, the lead singer of another popular ’80s British group, the Thompson Twins.

Culture Club has been called one of the most influential groups of the 1980s. Bailey, who now performs with a new band, still plays many of the Thompson Twins’ hits in his show.

Tickets for the show are being sold by Ticketmaster for $22 to $42.

Natalie Bardwell

EUREKA

Teen leads way to historic fundraiser

Natalie Bardwell helped her basketball team make state for the first time in 30 years this season. But there is another achievement she is prouder of: spearheading the largest teen-led fundraiser in the nation. Natalie, Eureka High School’s student council president, ran “Fight for Life,” a nearly year-long fundraiser for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

She and others raised money with coin wars, game nights, volleyball tournaments and snack carts.

Even Eureka’s grade schools get involved. The result of the combined effort? $63,106.95.

That’s a school record total to help kids fight cancer.

College students to help local spring cleanup effort

Eureka College students will again volunteer their services to local residents and organizations who need help with spring cleanup work. Help will be free, and will be offered 1-3 p.m. April 21. This is the 10th year that the students are helping through the college’s Maroon and Golden Rule Service Project.

Since the project’s  inception, approximately 450 students have assisted approximately 115 residents and organizations by doing yard work, painting, washing windows, moving furniture and general spring cleaning.

The project is funded by a grant from Illinois Campus Compact, and is designed to promote leadership and citizenship in the community.

To access the required job request forms, go to eureka.edu/student-life/service-opportunities/.

The forms are titled Job Request Form and Indemnification and Liability Release Form. Or, contact Interim Associate Dean of Students Ken Baxter at kabaxter@eureka.edu or 309-4676313

GERMANTOWN HILLS

Tips to be given about how to survive severe weather attack

The Woodford County Emergency Management Agency along with Nena’s Ace Hardware in

Germantown Hills will host a Severed Weather Awareness Day April 21. The agency will distribute severe weather material and will program weather radios that are brought to the hardware store, 505 Jubilee Lane. The store also will have radios available for sale.

–Woodford County News Briefs–