DES PLAINES – A local Jewel-Osco store will now offer ADA Paratransit tickets, thanks to the efforts of State Senator Laura Murphy (D – Des Plaines).

Murphy was touched by the story of a constituent named Garland Armstrong, who lives in an apartment complex in Des Plaines specially designed for people with physical disabilities and special needs. Armstrong’s wife also has a disability and relies on Pace bus service to get around. She would often have to travel several miles out of his way in order to purchase ADA Paratransit tickets for the Pace bus service.

“It broke my heart to hear Garland’s story,” Murphy said. “I knew right away that we needed to get to work to help make it easier for people with disabilities to get where they need to go.”

Murphy’s office contacted Pace directly, and they agreed to partner with Jewel-Osco to add an additional location to purchase tickets within the district, so that Armstrong and any other person with a disability can purchase the tickets they need without having to out of their way.

“I am thrilled that Pace and Jewel-Osco were able to expand this service after Garland’s passionate advocacy for the larger disabled community,” Murphy said. The new location is a Jewel-Osco store, located at 1500 S. Lee St. in Des Plaines.

The ADA Paratransit tickets are sold in books of 10 for $32.50 and may be used on ADA Paratransit service throughout the Chicagoland area.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy welcomed the Oakton Owls baseball team to Springfield on Wednesday. The Owls were the 2018 National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series Champions.

"The Oakton Owls baseball team is a story of success and perseverance," Murphy (D - Des Plaines) said. "They truly exemplify what it means to be an Illinoisan, and I'm proud to represent Oakton College as the State Senator for the 28th District."

The Oakton Owls defeated Tyler Junior College to win the championship. They had gone 44-17 in the regular season, which is the best record in school history.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy is calling for more security at Illinois hospitals after the fatal shooting of two members of hospital staff and a Chicago police officer at Mercy Hospital Monday evening.

“This tragic act of evil is a clear reminder that we must do all we can to protect our doctors, nurses and support staff serving in hospitals around Illinois from the very acts of violence they are often treating,” Murphy (D-Des Plaines) said.

Last year, after visiting with Chicago area nurses and hearing their experiences and concern for their safety in the workplace, Murphy introduced Senate Bill 2334, which called for metal detectors in every hospital in Illinois. The opponents of the initial bill were very engaged in discussion, so the bill did not make it out of committee, but Murphy intends to reintroduce it during the next General Assembly.

“It’s my hope that the deaths of these dedicated public service workers renew a call to honor their sacrifice,” Murphy said. “Some of the most important work in our society is performed by the highly trained doctors and nurses at hospitals throughout our state, and we owe it to them to ensure their safety and security while they’re working to save lives.”

More information can be found on Senator Murphy’s website, www.SenatorLauraMurphy.com, or by calling her district office at 847-718-1110.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy joined 35 Senate colleagues Wednesday in overriding Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that raises the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Illinois to 21 years.

Senate Bill 2332 passed through both houses of the General Assembly in May, but was vetoed by the governor in August. The bill, popularly known as “Tobacco 21”, aims to help reduce the number of underage smokers and increase the overall health of people in Illinois by preventing anyone between the ages of 18 and 21 from purchasing or possessing tobacco problems.

“Smoking is one of the worst habits for young people to pick up,” said Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat. “The goal of this bill is to prevent and delay the onset of smoking. Studies have proven that if you can delay cigarette smoking until 21, you are likely to prevent young people from ever starting. Elk Grove Village and Hoffman Estates, two municipalities within my district, have already passed similar local measures and have seen promising results. I’m proud to have helped override this veto to make this law consistent throughout the entire state.”

The motion to override now moves over to the House of Representatives, where 71 votes in favor are required. Should it pass, the bill will become law and will be effective on January 1, 2019.