1 00:00:00,059 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: Makers from the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. The YWCA 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:07,250 Speaker 1: of McLean County says it will wind down a program 3 00:00:07,250 --> 00:00:09,689 Speaker 1: that has saved not for profit agencies in the community 4 00:00:09,689 --> 00:00:14,189 Speaker 1: a million dollars annually in recent years. YWCA Vice President 5 00:00:14,189 --> 00:00:18,969 Speaker 1: Alicia Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program coordinated volunteers 6 00:00:18,969 --> 00:00:22,350 Speaker 1: for 60 to 80 organizations. I am not sure that 7 00:00:22,370 --> 00:00:24,809 Speaker 1: there are many nonprofits in McLean County who we are 8 00:00:24,809 --> 00:00:25,969 Speaker 1: not working with through RSVP. 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,079 Speaker 1: In some capacity or another, Whitworth says changes in federal 10 00:00:29,079 --> 00:00:32,959 Speaker 1: grant guidelines made the program not sustainable. Husband and wife 11 00:00:32,959 --> 00:00:36,119 Speaker 1: Art and Camille Taylor are joining the 2026 class of 12 00:00:36,119 --> 00:00:39,278 Speaker 1: McLean County history makers. Camille serves on the board of 13 00:00:39,279 --> 00:00:42,439 Speaker 1: the YWCA of McLean County, and both are active in 14 00:00:42,439 --> 00:00:45,119 Speaker 1: the local chapter of Not in Our Town. Art says 15 00:00:45,119 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 1: together the two have stood up as a voice for 16 00:00:46,959 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: those who need to share in a positive message, 17 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: one that may not always be represented. 18 00:00:52,150 --> 00:00:56,490 Speaker 2: Represented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless for truth 19 00:00:56,490 --> 00:00:59,069 Speaker 2: and we've always been truth tellers. 20 00:00:59,229 --> 00:01:03,639 Speaker 1: Other honorees include retired ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former 21 00:01:03,639 --> 00:01:08,349 Speaker 1: county board chair John McIntyre, and counselor Fay Sebastian. The 22 00:01:08,349 --> 00:01:12,268 Speaker 1: demand for child care in Illinois remains high. Kayla Edwards, 23 00:01:12,389 --> 00:01:15,849 Speaker 1: managing partner of a central Illinois employment firm, says many 24 00:01:15,849 --> 00:01:18,110 Speaker 1: parents unable to find or afford child care. 25 00:01:18,220 --> 00:01:19,379 Speaker 1: Present at work 26 00:01:19,379 --> 00:01:25,059 Speaker 2: in this case of either presenteeism or absenteeism, employee productivity drops. 27 00:01:25,260 --> 00:01:29,059 Speaker 2: Many parents reported being penalized due to childcare problems. 28 00:01:29,169 --> 00:01:31,860 Speaker 1: Edwards says this can lead to cuts in hours and 29 00:01:31,860 --> 00:01:34,580 Speaker 1: pay or being fired as families try to provide for 30 00:01:34,580 --> 00:01:38,529 Speaker 1: their child. And former governor Pat Quinn is once again 31 00:01:38,529 --> 00:01:41,699 Speaker 1: pushing for a millionaire's tax. And this time he's enlisted 32 00:01:41,699 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: help from State Representative LaShawn Ford. 33 00:01:44,290 --> 00:01:47,970 Speaker 1: Newly minted Democratic nominee for a congressional seat. Ford is 34 00:01:47,970 --> 00:01:51,029 Speaker 1: carrying a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot to create 35 00:01:51,029 --> 00:01:54,809 Speaker 1: a 3% surcharge on incomes above a million dollars. We're 36 00:01:54,809 --> 00:01:56,610 Speaker 1: going to do everything that we can to get the 37 00:01:56,610 --> 00:02:00,010 Speaker 1: message out about how important this is and provide the 38 00:02:00,010 --> 00:02:03,239 Speaker 1: evidence that that there will be no unintended consequences, that 39 00:02:03,239 --> 00:02:06,849 Speaker 1: this will provide immediate relief. Illinois voters have twice approved 40 00:02:06,849 --> 00:02:10,288 Speaker 1: ballot referendums recommending the millionaire's tax. I'm Courtney Kahn.