1 00:00:00,740 --> 00:00:04,869 Speaker 1: Congressman Eric Sorenson is pushing back on the proposed $200 2 00:00:04,869 --> 00:00:08,148 Speaker 1: billion aid package for the war in Iran. That's among 3 00:00:08,148 --> 00:00:11,420 Speaker 1: the stories you heard this week on WGLT. I'm Charlie 4 00:00:11,420 --> 00:00:14,869 Speaker 1: Schlinker with News and Review. The Democrat who represents parts 5 00:00:14,869 --> 00:00:16,590 Speaker 1: of Bloomington Normal says America 6 00:00:16,799 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: Families are the ones footing the bill. That money isn't 7 00:00:19,319 --> 00:00:23,129 Speaker 1: just coming from our, our pocketbooks. It's coming from our 8 00:00:23,129 --> 00:00:27,530 Speaker 1: children's pocketbooks, Sorenson says. The price tag hits especially hard 9 00:00:27,530 --> 00:00:30,879 Speaker 1: as everyday costs keep climbing. He says federal dollars should 10 00:00:30,879 --> 00:00:32,598 Speaker 1: be prioritized at home. 11 00:00:33,090 --> 00:00:36,490 Speaker 1: Governor JB Pritzker is calling on Congress to pass legislation 12 00:00:36,490 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: allowing the year-round use of E-15, the blend of ethanol 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,848 Speaker 1: and gasoline. State Agriculture Director Jerry Costello says the Republican 14 00:00:44,848 --> 00:00:48,129 Speaker 1: Congress seems receptive. Congress is saying the right things, but 15 00:00:48,130 --> 00:00:51,569 Speaker 1: there has not been action. Costello says he believes petroleum 16 00:00:51,569 --> 00:00:53,490 Speaker 1: industry lobbying is holding up the issue. 17 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,909 Speaker 1: Illinois lawmakers tried and failed last year to regulate homeowner 18 00:00:57,909 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 1: insurance rates. They are trying again, but it now also 19 00:01:02,279 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: includes auto insurance. The bill will allow the Illinois Department 20 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: of Insurance to deny rate increases if they find them exorbitant. 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: Sean Kevlin of the industry-funded Insurance Information Institute says there 22 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: are multiple drivers that increase insurance rates. We're just beginning 23 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:20,599 Speaker 1: to see some reaction. 24 00:01:20,934 --> 00:01:26,014 Speaker 1: that are maybe more populist or politically beneficial than what 25 00:01:26,014 --> 00:01:30,004 Speaker 1: the insurance companies rely on, which is just actuararily sound methods. 26 00:01:30,135 --> 00:01:33,375 Speaker 1: A proposal that could force insurers to issue rebates to 27 00:01:33,375 --> 00:01:36,464 Speaker 1: customers has passed in the Illinois House and awaits a 28 00:01:36,464 --> 00:01:37,394 Speaker 1: vote in the Senate. 29 00:01:37,940 --> 00:01:41,619 Speaker 1: Catholic churches in central Illinois have seen a significant increase 30 00:01:41,620 --> 00:01:44,940 Speaker 1: in attendance over the last year. That's according to Peoria 31 00:01:44,940 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: Diocese Bishop Louis Tilka. Tila says young people are contributing 32 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,059 Speaker 1: to the resurgence. He says they are looking to the 33 00:01:52,059 --> 00:01:53,819 Speaker 1: church for community. A 34 00:01:53,819 --> 00:01:54,870 Speaker 2: screen on a 35 00:01:54,915 --> 00:01:59,355 Speaker 2: A cell phone or a computer does not bring the 36 00:01:59,355 --> 00:02:02,934 Speaker 2: same experience of actually being in a room with somebody 37 00:02:02,934 --> 00:02:03,985 Speaker 2: and having a 38 00:02:03,985 --> 00:02:04,455 Speaker 2: conversation with them. 39 00:02:04,584 --> 00:02:08,835 Speaker 1: Dila says right of election ceremonies, which formally welcome people 40 00:02:08,835 --> 00:02:11,975 Speaker 1: as members of the church, have doubled since last year. 41 00:02:12,429 --> 00:02:15,389 Speaker 1: Husband and wife Art and Camille Taylor are joining the 42 00:02:15,389 --> 00:02:19,579 Speaker 1: ranks of other community servants as McLean County history makers. 43 00:02:19,910 --> 00:02:23,110 Speaker 1: Camille serves on the board of the YWCA of McLean County. 44 00:02:23,389 --> 00:02:25,740 Speaker 1: Both are active in the local chapter of Not in 45 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:28,910 Speaker 1: Our Town. Art Taylor says he and Camille have always 46 00:02:28,910 --> 00:02:31,029 Speaker 1: been a team standing up for those who need. 47 00:02:31,119 --> 00:02:34,279 Speaker 1: To share in a positive message, one that may not 48 00:02:34,279 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: always be represented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless 49 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,580 Speaker 1: for truth. We've always been truth tellers. Other honorees include 50 00:02:42,580 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: retired ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former county board chair 51 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 1: John McIntyre, and counselor Philae Sebastian. 52 00:02:50,330 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: The YWCA of McLean County says it will wind down 53 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,419 Speaker 1: a program that has saved not for profit agencies in 54 00:02:57,419 --> 00:03:00,309 Speaker 1: the community a million dollars a year in recent years. 55 00:03:00,740 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: YWCA Vice President Alicia Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program. 56 00:03:06,029 --> 00:03:10,350 Speaker 1: Coordinated volunteers for 60 to 80 organizations. I am not 57 00:03:10,350 --> 00:03:13,350 Speaker 1: sure that there are many nonprofits in McLean County who 58 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:15,829 Speaker 1: we are not working with through RSVP in some capacity 59 00:03:15,830 --> 00:03:19,389 Speaker 1: or another. Whitworth says changes in federal grant guidelines made 60 00:03:19,389 --> 00:03:21,549 Speaker 1: the program no longer sustainable for the Y. 61 00:03:22,300 --> 00:03:25,710 Speaker 1: An agency providing legal support to immigrants in central and 62 00:03:25,710 --> 00:03:29,070 Speaker 1: southern Illinois is grappling with a severe reduction in a 63 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:34,710 Speaker 1: sixty-year Department of Justice initiative. The recognition and accreditation program 64 00:03:34,710 --> 00:03:38,509 Speaker 1: allows anyone to become a Department of Justice rep, providing 65 00:03:38,509 --> 00:03:42,550 Speaker 1: legal advice to immigrants. The Immigration Project's legal director Danielle 66 00:03:42,550 --> 00:03:43,130 Speaker 1: De Winter. 67 00:03:43,445 --> 00:03:45,645 Speaker 1: says it will be harder for immigrants to get the 68 00:03:45,645 --> 00:03:47,845 Speaker 1: legal help they need. It caused quite a bit of 69 00:03:47,845 --> 00:03:51,606 Speaker 1: panic in my office, and I'm not sure how many 70 00:03:51,606 --> 00:03:54,485 Speaker 1: clients know the difference between a DOJ rep and a 71 00:03:54,485 --> 00:03:58,145 Speaker 1: legal aid until they're engaged with us. The Immigration Project 72 00:03:58,145 --> 00:04:02,276 Speaker 1: has 30 DOG reps. Eastview Christian Church plans to donate 73 00:04:02,276 --> 00:04:04,565 Speaker 1: its community center to Home Sweet Home Ministries. 74 00:04:04,662 --> 00:04:09,102 Speaker 1: Expanding the nonprofit's campus near Oakland Avenue, Home Sweet Homes 75 00:04:09,102 --> 00:04:13,462 Speaker 1: CEO Matt Burgess says he's already dreaming big about opportunities 76 00:04:13,462 --> 00:04:17,221 Speaker 1: that may come from the donation. Supporting families experiencing homelessness 77 00:04:17,221 --> 00:04:20,342 Speaker 1: is a very significant need in our community. An official 78 00:04:20,342 --> 00:04:22,462 Speaker 1: plan for the building is not yet locked in, while 79 00:04:22,462 --> 00:04:25,782 Speaker 1: Home Sweet Home continues to have discussions with community partners. 80 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: Find more on these and other stories at WGLT.org. I'm 81 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:30,238 Speaker 1: Charlie Schlink.