Halpin secures $3 million for Moline River Drive

• Infrastructure

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin secured funding to bring jobs and updated infrastructure to the Moline River Drive.

“This new project will bring major improvements to River Drive to enhance the lives of residents,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “With this money we can fill potholes, bring jobs and make the Moline community safer.”

The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grants will fund the Illinois Department of Transportation project along the River Drive between 12^th and 19^th Streets in Moline. The IDOT project will involve a massive streetscape improvement effort. The project will address deteriorating sidewalks and tripping hazards to ease and increase foot traffic. In addition, missing crosswalks and outdated signal will be addressed to make the area more inviting to pedestrians. Finally, to make the River Drive more accessible, several intersections will receive ADA-compliant upgrades.

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Halpin supports bill to bring missing people justice

• Law Enforcement

SPRINGFIELD – With more than 3,000 people reported missing in Illinois, State Senator Mike Halpin is supporting legislation to use every available means of finding and identifying these victims.

“We need to make sure we are using every tool at our disposable to solve these missing person cases, both for the victims and their families,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This legislation sends a clear message to missing people and their friends and family: We are still searching, Illinois has not forgotten you.”

Halpin is cosponsoring legislation to set new requirements for investigations regarding missing person cases. The requirements include collecting and analyzing fingerprints and DNA, reporting missing people to a national database within 60 days, and prohibiting the closure of a case until the person has been confirmed returned or identified, among other requirements.

Western Illinois has had several high profile missing person cases. One of the cases was the tragic disappearance of 11-year-old Trudy Appleby of Moline. Her disappearance sparked a major search effort, but she has been missing for over 28 years, with family and friends still seeking justice. Another of the most high profile person’s cases in the Quad Cities is that of Jerry Wolking Sr., who went missing in 1990 at the age of 52. Missing Wolking Sr.’s case remains one of the longest-running missing person’s cases in the Quad Cities.

“These victims and their families have suffered long enough,” said Halpin. “By pushing forward on this legislation we can bring justice to missing people and their families not just in Western Illinois, but across the state.”

Senate Bill 24 passed the Criminal Law Committee.

Halpin pays respects to fallen firefighters at Memorial in Springfield

• First Responders

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Mike Halpin attended the Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service Tuesday and met several decorated firefighters from Western Illinois.

“It was an honor to pay tribute to firefighters who sacrifice themselves protecting our communities,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “While we honor their memory, we must also honor and continue to support our front line men and women whose careers as firefighters are dedicated to making us safer. When it comes to fire safety in Western Illinois, we’re in good hands.”

The memorial took place at the firefighter memorial statue in front of the Illinois Capitol. The bronze statue is a depiction of several firefighters in action, saving a child. The statue is surrounded by 2,400 red bricks engraved with the names of contributors.

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Halpin bill to protect consumers from predatory vehicle warranties passes committee

• Consumers

SPRINGFIELD – Third-party vehicle warranties are often opaque, contain exclusions, deductibles and difficult claim processes that may not be apparent to the average consumer. State Senator Mike Halpin is leading the effort to protect consumers from these predatory third-party vehicle warranties.

“This legislation will ensure folks know what they’re buying when they purchase one of these third-party warranties for their vehicle,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Too often these warranties use fine print, vague terminology and hidden fees to take money from people without providing meaningful coverage.”

House Bill 2338 would provide, at the customer’s request, a copy of the vehicle warranty contract and a written disclosure prepared by the third-party provider summarizing all costs the consumer may incur under the warranty. These provisions would provide transparency regarding the warranty before a customer purchases it, giving the consumer more choice and a better state of mind down the road.

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