1 00:00:00,449 --> 00:00:04,730 Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. The YWCA of 2 00:00:04,730 --> 00:00:07,170 Speaker 1: McLean County says it will wind down a program that 3 00:00:07,170 --> 00:00:09,689 Speaker 1: has saved not for profit agencies in the community a 4 00:00:09,689 --> 00:00:14,479 Speaker 1: million dollars annually in recent years. YWCA Vice President Alicia 5 00:00:14,479 --> 00:00:18,889 Speaker 1: Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program coordinated volunteers for 6 00:00:18,889 --> 00:00:20,790 Speaker 1: 60 to 80 organizations. 7 00:00:20,860 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 2: I 8 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,930 Speaker 2: am not sure that there are many nonprofits in McLean 9 00:00:23,930 --> 00:00:25,930 Speaker 2: County who we are not working with through RSVP. 10 00:00:26,270 --> 00:00:27,270 Speaker 2: Capacity or another. 11 00:00:27,350 --> 00:00:30,510 Speaker 1: Whitworth says changes in federal grant guidelines made the program 12 00:00:30,510 --> 00:00:34,270 Speaker 1: not sustainable. Husband and wife Art and Camille Taylor are 13 00:00:34,270 --> 00:00:38,229 Speaker 1: joining the 2026 class of McLean County history makers. Camille 14 00:00:38,229 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: serves on the board of the YWCA of McLean County, 15 00:00:41,189 --> 00:00:43,389 Speaker 1: and both are active in the local chapter of Not 16 00:00:43,389 --> 00:00:45,990 Speaker 1: in Our Town. Art says together the two have stood 17 00:00:45,990 --> 00:00:47,708 Speaker 1: up as a voice for those who need to share 18 00:00:47,709 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: in a positive message, one that may not always be represented. 19 00:00:52,189 --> 00:00:56,250 Speaker 1: Represented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless for truth 20 00:00:56,250 --> 00:01:00,750 Speaker 1: and we've always been truth tellers. Other honorees include retired 21 00:01:00,750 --> 00:01:05,230 Speaker 1: ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former county board chair John McIntyre, 22 00:01:05,300 --> 00:01:09,269 Speaker 1: and counselor Fay Sebastian. The demand for child care in 23 00:01:09,269 --> 00:01:13,639 Speaker 1: Illinois remains high. Kayla Edwards, managing partner of a central 24 00:01:13,639 --> 00:01:17,110 Speaker 1: Illinois employment firm, says many parents unable to find or 25 00:01:17,110 --> 00:01:18,069 Speaker 1: afford childcare are. 26 00:01:18,180 --> 00:01:22,790 Speaker 1: Present at work in this case of either presenteeism or absenteeism, 27 00:01:23,190 --> 00:01:27,830 Speaker 1: employee productivity drops. Many parents reported being penalized due to 28 00:01:27,830 --> 00:01:30,830 Speaker 1: childcare problems. Edwards says this can lead to cuts in 29 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:33,989 Speaker 1: hours and pay or being fired as families try to 30 00:01:33,989 --> 00:01:37,509 Speaker 1: provide for their child. And former Governor Pat Quinn is 31 00:01:37,510 --> 00:01:40,830 Speaker 1: once again pushing for a millionaire's tax. And this time 32 00:01:40,830 --> 00:01:44,059 Speaker 1: he's enlisted help from State Representative LaShawn Ford, the 33 00:01:44,190 --> 00:01:48,169 Speaker 1: minted Democratic nominee for a congressional seat. Ford is carrying 34 00:01:48,169 --> 00:01:51,589 Speaker 1: a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot to create a 3% 35 00:01:51,589 --> 00:01:54,750 Speaker 1: surcharge on incomes above a million dollars. We're going to 36 00:01:54,750 --> 00:01:56,989 Speaker 1: do everything that we can to get the message out 37 00:01:56,989 --> 00:02:00,949 Speaker 1: about how important this is and provide the evidence that 38 00:02:00,949 --> 00:02:04,029 Speaker 1: there will be no unintended consequences, that this will provide 39 00:02:04,029 --> 00:02:08,250 Speaker 1: immediate relief. Illinois voters have twice approved ballot referendums recommending 40 00:02:08,250 --> 00:02:10,020 Speaker 1: the millionaire's tax. I'm Courtney Kahn.