1 00:00:00,209 --> 00:00:04,570 Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. The YWCA of 2 00:00:04,570 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: McLean County says it will wind down a program that 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,529 Speaker 1: has saved not for profit agencies in the community a 4 00:00:09,529 --> 00:00:14,319 Speaker 1: million dollars annually in recent years. YWCA Vice President Alicia 5 00:00:14,319 --> 00:00:18,729 Speaker 1: Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program coordinated volunteers for 6 00:00:18,729 --> 00:00:22,229 Speaker 1: 60 to 80 organizations. I am not sure that there 7 00:00:22,229 --> 00:00:24,610 Speaker 1: are many nonprofits in McLean County who we are not 8 00:00:24,610 --> 00:00:25,829 Speaker 1: working with through RSVPN. 9 00:00:25,996 --> 00:00:29,635 Speaker 1: Capacity or another. Whitworth says changes in federal grant guidelines 10 00:00:29,635 --> 00:00:33,154 Speaker 1: made the program not sustainable. Husband and wife Art and 11 00:00:33,155 --> 00:00:36,636 Speaker 1: Camille Taylor are joining the 2026 class of McLean County 12 00:00:36,636 --> 00:00:39,956 Speaker 1: history makers. Camille serves on the board of the YWCA 13 00:00:39,956 --> 00:00:42,476 Speaker 1: of McLean County, and both are active in the local 14 00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:45,316 Speaker 1: chapter of Not in Our Town. Art says together the 15 00:00:45,316 --> 00:00:47,035 Speaker 1: two have stood up as a voice for those who 16 00:00:47,034 --> 00:00:49,834 Speaker 1: need to share in a positive message, one that may 17 00:00:49,835 --> 00:00:51,835 Speaker 1: not always be represented. 18 00:00:51,981 --> 00:00:56,102 Speaker 1: Represented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless for truth, 19 00:00:56,181 --> 00:01:00,582 Speaker 1: and we've always been truth tellers. Other honorees include retired 20 00:01:00,582 --> 00:01:05,061 Speaker 1: ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former county board chair John McIntyre, 21 00:01:05,141 --> 00:01:09,110 Speaker 1: and counselor Fay Sebastian. The demand for child care in 22 00:01:09,111 --> 00:01:13,501 Speaker 1: Illinois remains high. Kayla Edwards, managing partner of a central 23 00:01:13,501 --> 00:01:16,942 Speaker 1: Illinois employment firm, says many parents unable to find or 24 00:01:16,941 --> 00:01:17,861 Speaker 1: afford childcare are. 25 00:01:17,998 --> 00:01:18,938 Speaker 1: Present at work 26 00:01:18,938 --> 00:01:24,678 Speaker 2: in this case of either presenteeism or absenteeism, employee productivity drops. 27 00:01:24,858 --> 00:01:28,678 Speaker 2: Many parents reported being penalized due to childcare problems. 28 00:01:28,767 --> 00:01:31,487 Speaker 1: Edwards says this can lead to cuts in hours and 29 00:01:31,487 --> 00:01:34,208 Speaker 1: pay or being fired as families try to provide for 30 00:01:34,208 --> 00:01:38,127 Speaker 1: their child. And former Governor Pat Quinn is once again 31 00:01:38,127 --> 00:01:41,288 Speaker 1: pushing for a millionaire's tax. And this time he's enlisted 32 00:01:41,288 --> 00:01:43,907 Speaker 1: help from State Representative LaShawn Ford, the 33 00:01:44,033 --> 00:01:47,994 Speaker 1: minted Democratic nominee for a congressional seat. Ford is carrying 34 00:01:47,994 --> 00:01:51,473 Speaker 1: a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot to create a 3% 35 00:01:51,473 --> 00:01:54,594 Speaker 1: surcharge on incomes above a million dollars. We're going to 36 00:01:54,594 --> 00:01:56,833 Speaker 1: do everything that we can to get the message out 37 00:01:56,833 --> 00:02:00,573 Speaker 1: about how important this is and provide the evidence that 38 00:02:00,624 --> 00:02:03,353 Speaker 1: that there will be no unintended consequences, that this will 39 00:02:03,353 --> 00:02:07,674 Speaker 1: provide immediate relief. Illinois voters have twice approved ballot referendums 40 00:02:07,674 --> 00:02:09,873 Speaker 1: recommending the millionaire's tax. I'm Courtney Kahn.