Planned Parenthood to offer expanded abortion services at Peoria location

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Less than two years after a firebombing destoryed a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Peoria, the center is now offering expanded abortion services.

According to a news release from the state chapter, the clinic, located at 2709 N. Knoxville Ave., will now offer "procedural abortion care in addition to medication abortion care."

The Peoria Health Center reopened earlier this year and can gradually added services since then. Planned Parenthood said the new addition will increase access to abortion care by 11% in the region.

"We are continually striving to ensure our patients have access to the care they need and deserve," said Dr. Amy Whitaker, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood of Illinois. "When we renovated Peoria after it was attacked, we purposefully designed it with flexibility in mind so we can expand our care options as needed.

Planned Parenthood to reopen Knoxville clinic a year after arson destroyed building

"Since PPIL continues to see a flood of patients needing care in central Illinois we are proud to now offer the full spectrum of abortion care in Peoria," she added.

The center was heavily damaged after a man threw a firebomb into the building. The nearly 4,300-square-foot facility suffered smoke and fire damage and Planned Parenthood said it used the chance to restructure the inside to maximize patient care.

The man who threw a Molotov cocktail into the clinic on Jan. 15, 2023, has since pleaded guilty in Peoria's federal court to the single count of malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage and attempt to damage the Planned Parenthood Peoria Health Center.

He was sentenced last summer to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $1.45 million in fines.

In addition to offering the full spectrum of abortion care, the center offers gender-affirming care, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, HIV testing, birth control, and medication abortion care.