1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:04,678 Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. The YWCA of 2 00:00:04,679 --> 00:00:07,119 Speaker 1: McLean County says it will wind down a program that 3 00:00:07,119 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: has saved not for profit agencies in the community a 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:14,439 Speaker 1: million dollars annually in recent years. YWCA Vice President Alicia 5 00:00:14,439 --> 00:00:18,879 Speaker 1: Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program coordinated volunteers for 6 00:00:18,879 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: 60 to 80 organizations. I am not sure that there 7 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,729 Speaker 1: are many nonprofits in McLean County who we are not 8 00:00:24,729 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: working with through RSVP in some. 9 00:00:26,265 --> 00:00:29,785 Speaker 1: Capacity or another. Whitworth says changes in federal grant guidelines 10 00:00:29,785 --> 00:00:33,305 Speaker 1: made the program not sustainable. Husband and wife Art and 11 00:00:33,305 --> 00:00:36,776 Speaker 1: Camille Taylor are joining the 2026 class of McLean County 12 00:00:36,776 --> 00:00:40,066 Speaker 1: history makers. Camille serves on the board of the YWCA 13 00:00:40,066 --> 00:00:42,585 Speaker 1: of McLean County, and both are active in the local 14 00:00:42,585 --> 00:00:45,465 Speaker 1: chapter of Not in Our Town. Art says together the 15 00:00:45,465 --> 00:00:47,145 Speaker 1: two have stood up as a voice for those who 16 00:00:47,145 --> 00:00:49,986 Speaker 1: need to share in a positive message, one that may 17 00:00:49,986 --> 00:00:51,686 Speaker 1: not always be represented. 18 00:00:52,212 --> 00:00:56,231 Speaker 1: Presented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless for truth 19 00:00:56,231 --> 00:01:00,692 Speaker 1: and we've always been truth tellers. Other honorees include retired 20 00:01:00,692 --> 00:01:05,202 Speaker 1: ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former county board chair John McIntyre, 21 00:01:05,251 --> 00:01:09,251 Speaker 1: and counselor Fay Sebastian. The demand for child care in 22 00:01:09,251 --> 00:01:13,622 Speaker 1: Illinois remains high. Kayla Edwards, managing partner of a central 23 00:01:13,622 --> 00:01:17,092 Speaker 1: Illinois employment firm, says many parents unable to find or 24 00:01:17,092 --> 00:01:18,052 Speaker 1: afford childcare are. 25 00:01:18,258 --> 00:01:19,277 Speaker 1: Present at work in 26 00:01:19,277 --> 00:01:24,797 Speaker 2: this case of either presenteeism or absenteeism, employee productivity drops. 27 00:01:24,998 --> 00:01:29,357 Speaker 2: Many parents reported being penalized due to childcare problems. Edwards 28 00:01:29,358 --> 00:01:32,017 Speaker 1: says this can lead to cuts in hours and pay 29 00:01:32,017 --> 00:01:35,027 Speaker 1: or being fired as families try to provide for their child. 30 00:01:35,328 --> 00:01:38,717 Speaker 1: And former governor Pat Quinn is once again pushing for 31 00:01:38,718 --> 00:01:41,917 Speaker 1: a millionaire's tax. And this time he's enlisted help from 32 00:01:41,917 --> 00:01:44,078 Speaker 1: State Representative LaShawn Ford, the new. 33 00:01:44,344 --> 00:01:48,124 Speaker 1: Minted Democratic nominee for a congressional seat. Ford is carrying 34 00:01:48,124 --> 00:01:51,583 Speaker 1: a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot to create a 3% 35 00:01:51,583 --> 00:01:54,744 Speaker 1: surcharge on incomes above a million dollars. We're going to 36 00:01:54,744 --> 00:01:56,984 Speaker 1: do everything that we can to get the message out 37 00:01:56,984 --> 00:02:00,723 Speaker 1: about how important this is and provide the evidence that 38 00:02:00,734 --> 00:02:03,503 Speaker 1: that there will be no unintended consequences, that this will 39 00:02:03,503 --> 00:02:07,823 Speaker 1: provide immediate relief. Illinois voters have twice approved ballot referendums 40 00:02:07,823 --> 00:02:10,104 Speaker 1: recommending the millionaire's tax. I'm Courtney Kahn.