Illinois lawmakers seek full decriminalization of sex work

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois could become the first state to fully decriminalize sex work among consenting adults, under a new proposal introduced by two state lawmakers.

The legislation, unveiled Monday by State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago), seeks to remove criminal penalties for adults engaged in consensual paid sex. It would also expunge arrest and conviction records for sex workers, establish a sex workers’ bill of rights, and create protections against abuses by law enforcement.

Currently, Illinois law classifies prostitution as a misdemeanor, with penalties for both sex workers and their clients. The proposed measure would not alter existing laws that make solicitation of minors a felony.

If enacted, Illinois would go further than any other state in decriminalizing sex work. While Nevada allows prostitution in licensed brothels in certain counties, and Maine recently decriminalized the sale of sex but not its purchase, no state has fully decriminalized the industry as Illinois lawmakers are advocating.

Supporters of the legislation, including advocacy groups such as Equality Illinois and the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that decriminalization is critical to improving safety and access to resources for sex workers, particularly for marginalized communities. Transgender individuals, they say, are disproportionately affected by violence within the industry.

"Seventy-five percent of all sex workers will experience sexual violence during their careers," Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, told Axios. "Nearly two-thirds of transgender people killed in the past 15 years were sex workers."

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health estimates that 45% to 75% of sex workers in Illinois will encounter violence while working. Advocates argue that fear of arrest often prevents workers from reporting abuse, creating an environment in which perpetrators operate with impunity.

Critics of the proposal, however, contend that decriminalization could lead to harmful consequences.

"Taking advantage of the super-majority in both chambers, these Democrats want ‘private choices’ about the use of one's body to be a civil right protected by law," said David Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute. "This flawed thinking will only increase incidents of rape, assault and murder."

Smith further described prostitution as “inherently immoral,” arguing that it objectifies and exploits individuals involved, treating them as consumable products rather than human beings. He also warned that decriminalization could empower the criminal underworld and fuel demand for sex-trafficked victims, including children.

Under current Illinois law, individuals convicted of prostitution can face up to one year in jail and fines. Critics of the existing system say it drives the industry underground, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and unable to access legal protections afforded to other professions.

The proposed legislation also seeks to modernize state statutes by removing what advocates describe as dehumanizing language. Additionally, it would ensure that court records related to consensual sex work are automatically sealed.

While proponents view the bill as a step toward addressing systemic inequities and violence, opponents argue that decriminalization could exacerbate existing problems. The proposal’s introduction marks the beginning of what is expected to be a contentious debate in Springfield as Illinois considers whether to become the first state to adopt comprehensive decriminalization of sex work.



Unity first semester Honor Roll students recognized

The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School. Congratulations to each on their exceptional scholastic effort in the first semester.

Seniors ~

High Honor: Lindy Bates; Molly Baxley; Kolton Black; Paige Brewer; Noah Bryant; Elle Cheely; Madelyn Darnall; Jordan Daugherty; Frankie Davis; Emily Decker; Ashlyn Denney; Estella Dodd; Kade Dubson; Hunter Eastin; Catharine Ford; Paige Garretson; Kadence Goff; Sophia Hartke; Lauren Hellmer; Caleb Hoewing; Dallas Hollingsworth; Wyatt Huffstutler; Alex Mowrer; Brady Parr; Riley Petkus; Camryn Reedy; Rylee Reifsteck; Nolan Remole; Ashley Rennels; Lydia Rossi; Maegan Rothe; Savanna Sellers; Lauren Shaw; Tsihon Shotton; Daniel Stein; Joseph Tempel; Avery Watson; Gavin Weaver; McKinley Weller; Tessah Williams; Nolan Wishall; and Logan Zumbahlen.

Honor: Jenna Adkins; Avery Alagna; Emmerson Bailey; Sophia Beckett; Brianna Blakley; Holden Brazelton; Michael Bromley; Bentten Cain; Keegan Cenzano, Josephine Cler; Ava Davis; Jaden Dene; Chloey Duitsman; Piper Farney; Ava Fenter; Sophia Frye; Alexis Gady; Faith Hall; McKenzie Hart; Kaden Inman; Andrew King; Gracie Meharry; Makayla Nonman; Mary OBryan; Ryan Pickett; Rami Ramahi; Garrett Richardson; Ryan Rink; Ryan Robinson; Braden Roderick; Brock Schlittler; and Grant Steinman.

Juniors ~

High Honor: Anna Amias; Aria Battaglia; Mylie Castle; Cameryn Cobb; Kaylee Cooke; Chloe Cousins; Eli Crowe; Ella Darnall; Callie Ellars; Camden Fairbanks; Margaret Garcier; Isabel Grob; Kenley Harris; Caden Hensch; Lucas Hood; Jaxon Jett; Miles Johnson; Cameron Kaiser; Faith Lampe; Kallista Lancaster; Mylie Loftsgaard; Claire Meharry; Deakin Moore; Isaac Neverman; Brody Osterbur; Harry Polonus; Dallas Porter; Mackenzie Pound; Katie Ruggieri; Vanna Schriefer; Hunter Shike; Annalise Shunk; Shelby Smith; Caden Stierwalt; Ginna Stierwalt; Madelyn Stierwalt; Emma Swisher; Carter Tiemann; Bailey Tompkins; Evan Vlahovich; and Lucille Wiesbrook.

Honor: Ryan Akers; Maddix Buchanan; Savanna Cruz; Natalia Cunningham; Abram Davidson; Shyenne Eaton; Crewe Eckstein; Olivia Egelston; Dane Eisenmenger; Tanner Gallivan; Collin Graven; Brayden Henry; Tyler Henry; Sophia Hewerdine; Logan Jeurissen; Anna Kuhns; Johanna Langley; Maxwell McCabe; Phoenix Molina; Mason ONeill; Analea Popovics; Andrew Ray; Ty Rodems; Jillian Schlittler; Kamden Schuckman; Liana Sheets-Cowan; Anna Vasey; Alexander Wells; Paula Wilson; Shelby Zoch; and Claire Zorns.

Sophomores ~

High Honor: Dominic Baxley; Alex Bromley; Clare Bryant; Caleb Coy; Braedyn Dalton; Lillian Daly, Addison Davis; Danika Eisenmenger; Allison Fenter; Reese Frye; Journey Gabbard; Bailee Gadeken; Olivia Hall; Colton Harmon; Avery Kamradt; Kathryn Knoll; Cash McCann; Landrey Mohr; Emily Osterbur; Adam Reedy; Ethan Schaefer; Allyson Shaw; Isaac Siegwald; Evalyn Skibbe; Piper Staley; Grace Tempel; Leah Watson; Elizabeth Wayne; Grace Wherley; Rylan Wolf; Addison Wyatt; and Kendal Zerrusen.

Honor: Juan Acosta Toro; Grace Bickers; Wyatt Blanchard; Paige Bradley; Emma Carrington; Cadence Chandler; Noah Conde; Hudson DeHart; Austin Drewes; Aidan Ellis; Elizabeth Farney; Natalie Haas; Walker Hall; Everest Harper; Dustin Harris; Broderick Irwin; Hailey Keck; Rush Little; Audrey McDaniel; Nicholas Montgomery; Brooklyn Mumm; Miles Owens; Sadie Polonus; Evan Puckett; Max Rossi; Gabrielle Spanglo; Jacob Ward; and Maggie Weckle.

Freshmen ~

High Honor: Patrick Baxley; Beckam Brown; Sadie Carpenter; Jackson Cheely; Soren Davis; Andrew Donovan; Tessa Durham; Tyson Durham; Cecelia Easter; Dillon Ellars; Kaylee Estes; Carson Fairbanks; Reagan Fisher; Jordan Harmon; Roman Hastings; Noah Hettinger; Tessa Horn; Karleigh Jamison; Lincoln Johnson; Joseph Kamradt; Khison Kern; Tatum Kirby; Bryan Kleiss; Izabella Mallast; Nolan Meharry; Dalton Moose; Rhianna Ocasio; Caleb Saxon; Carter Schmid; Caleb Siegwald; Kole VanSickle; Gavin Warren; Sawyer Weller; Logan Wells; Haley White; John White; Austin Wiersema; Elsie Wiesbrook; Adilynn Wilson; Olivia Witheft; and Cole Zorns.

Honor: Cameron Barnes; Cooper Beckett; Beckham Brink; Brilynn Cain; Madison Castor; Skyler Chilton; Danika Dhom; Kinzey Duitsman; Haley Ennis; Cohen Fincham; Shae Lin Fournier; Makayla Goff; Hallie Handal; Brady Harris; Joel Hoewing; Kane Knudsen; Clint McCormick; Payten Niles; Kandace Reed; Mia Reifsteck; Caden Rogers; Sophia Seidlitz; Ian Skibbe; Ava Sommer; and Olivia Williams.



Illinois tennis team to host three-day Fighting Illini Invite

URBANA - There is a big weekend of college tennis on tap at Atkins Tennis Center. The Illinois men’s tennis team will host Columbia and Boise State in the Fighting Illini Invite this Friday through Sunday. The three days of jam-packed tennis competition will feature singles and doubles play, along with hidden duals.

Lucas Horve and Illinois tennis fans cheer on the Fighting Illini at last March's home match against Ohio State. Tennis fans can get an early look at the Illini and several top collegiate tennis players in the nation at Atkins Tennis Center in their first home meet of the season.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The action gets underway on Friday at 10 a.m. with four doubles pairs from each school competing for first place in a doubles tournament. The invitational meet concludes on Sunday afternoon with a hidden dual featuring Boise State against players from both Columbia and Illinois.

The Illini host Boise State and Columbia after opening their spring schedule with a trip to Arizona for the Sun Devil Preseason Invite. Along with playing singles and doubles matches against Arizona State and Texas A&M, the Orange and Blue participated in training sessions and team-bonding activities during their time in the Grand Canyon State.

Columbia, ranked No. 8 in the first ITA team rankings of 2025, will make its first visit to the University of Illinois campus. Reloading this season, the Lions are coming off an Elite Eight appearance at the NCAA Team Tournament and finished last season 23-4.

Junior Michael Zheng, the top-ranked Division I player in the country, won the NCAA Singles Championship in November after finishing as runner-up one year earlier.

Boise State, which finished 2024 with a 20-11 record, earned a share of the Mountain West regular-season title before winning its conference tournament in dominant fashion. The Broncos were beaten by No. 11 Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jett Middleton, ranked No. 111, is Boise State’s top player to watch.

The Illini will be led by two ITA-ranked players: No. 14 Kenta Miyoshi and No. 30 William Mroz. Three other top-100 singles players fill the ranks of Illinois’ opponents, including Zheng at No. 1, with teammates Hugo Hashimoto (No. 33) and Nicolas Kotzen (No. 42).


FIGHTING ILLINI INVITE SCHEDULE
(TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Friday, January 17
10 a.m. CT ~
Doubles tournament (four doubles teams per school, sets to six)

2 p.m. CT ~
Singles matches: Columbia, Boise State, Illinois

5 p.m. CT ~
Illinois hidden dual: Illinois vs. 1/2 Columbia & 1/2 Boise
Extra singles matches to follow

Saturday, January 18
12 p.m. CT ~
Columbia hidden dual: Columbia vs. 1/2 Boise & 1/2 Illinois

3 p.m. CT ~
Singles matches: Columbia, Boise State, Illinois

5 p.m. CT ~
Extra singles matches to follow

Sunday, January 19
10 a.m. CT
Boise State hidden dual: Boise State vs. 1/2 Columbia & 1/2 Illinois

1 p.m. CT ~
Extra singles matches to follow


Feel the Rush!

Letter to the Editor |
Legalizing prostitution in Illinois undermines public health

Dear Editor,

Some Illinois state lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to legalize prostitution in the Land of Lincoln. This proposal would expunge past criminal arrests and conviction records.

Taking advantage of the super-majority in both chambers, these Democrats want "private choices" about the use of one's body to be a civil right protected by law. This flawed thinking will only increase incidents of rape, assault and murder.

Prostitution is inherently immoral. It objectifies and exploits those involved as consumable products, instead of human beings made in the image of God. Moreover, it empowers the criminal underworld, fueling the demand for sex trafficked victims - including children.

At a time when sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are increasing, state lawmakers are foolish to promote an industry dedicated to sexual promiscuity. For two years in a row now, public health officials have issued warnings about the sexually transmitted virus, monkeypox, predominantly spread among gay and bisexual men. Is HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and HPV no longer a concern? Prostitution exacerbates these diseases.

A chief task of our legislators is to promote the public health. Legalizing prostitution would undermine this priority by spreading disease and fostering a culture that objectifies human beings as merely sexual outlets to be purchased. Sadly, it will contribute to rising rates of family dysfunction and breakdown.


David E. Smith, Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute



New Asian supermarket, H Mart in Urbana set to open tomorrow

Urbana H Mart
New H Mart at 220 N. Broadway in Urbana set to open on Thursday at 10 a.m.

Photo: oursentinel.com

URBANA - H Mart, America's largest Asian supermarket chain, will open its first downstate Illinois location Wednesday in downtown Urbana, marking a significant expansion beyond its Chicago-area presence.

The 32,000-square-foot store at 220 N. Broadway Ave. will celebrate its grand opening with traditional festivities beginning at 9:50 a.m., including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Korean dance performance and Lion Dance.

The store represents H Mart's sixth location in Illinois and brings authentic Asian grocery options to the diverse Champaign-Urbana community. The new location occupies a renovated former Save-A-Lot building, demonstrating the company's commitment to adaptive reuse.

"H Mart is excited to bring an authentic taste of Asia to your neighborhood," said H Mart President Brian Kwon in a statement. "Our market is all about celebrating the richness and variety of Asian cuisine, making it easier than ever to find the flavors you love, right here at home."

The store features the "Market Eatery" food court, offering various Asian cuisines in a sit-down dining environment. Shoppers will find extensive selections of packaged good, Asian produce, seafood, meats and Asian specialty items.

Opening day shoppers can participate in several promotions, including free gifts for purchases over $50 and complimentary reusable shopping bags with $30 purchases. New members joining the H Mart Smart Rewards Card program will receive a free thermos mug cup and 2025 calendar.

Urbana Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin welcomed the investment, noting the store's potential impact on downtown vitality and job creation.

"Our diverse community is excited to shop the full line of Asian and American groceries, meats, seafood, produce, housewares and ready-made meals," Marlin said.

The store will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays. Opening day promotions include free gifts for purchases over $50 and reusable shopping bags for purchases exceeding $30, while supplies last.

Founded in 1982 in Queens, New York, H-Mart as grown to more than 100 stores across 18 states. The Urbana location marks the chain's sixth Illinois store and its first venture outside the Chicago metropolitan area.



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