1 00:00:00,289 --> 00:00:04,579 Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. The YWCA of 2 00:00:04,579 --> 00:00:07,070 Speaker 1: McLean County says it will wind down a program that 3 00:00:07,070 --> 00:00:09,609 Speaker 1: has saved not for profit agencies in the community a 4 00:00:09,609 --> 00:00:14,399 Speaker 1: million dollars annually in recent years. YWCA Vice President Alicia 5 00:00:14,399 --> 00:00:18,809 Speaker 1: Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program coordinated volunteers for 6 00:00:18,809 --> 00:00:22,309 Speaker 1: 60 to 80 organizations. I am not sure that there 7 00:00:22,309 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: are many nonprofits in McLean County who we are not 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:25,850 Speaker 1: working with through RSVP. 9 00:00:26,184 --> 00:00:29,704 Speaker 1: Capacity or another. Whitworth says changes in federal grant guidelines 10 00:00:29,704 --> 00:00:33,223 Speaker 1: made the program not sustainable. Husband and wife Art and 11 00:00:33,223 --> 00:00:36,702 Speaker 1: Camille Taylor are joining the 2026 class of McLean County 12 00:00:36,703 --> 00:00:40,022 Speaker 1: history makers. Camille serves on the board of the YWCA 13 00:00:40,023 --> 00:00:42,543 Speaker 1: of McLean County, and both are active in the local 14 00:00:42,543 --> 00:00:45,382 Speaker 1: chapter of Not in Our Town. Art says together the 15 00:00:45,383 --> 00:00:47,104 Speaker 1: two have stood up as a voice for those who 16 00:00:47,104 --> 00:00:49,903 Speaker 1: need to share in a positive message, one that may 17 00:00:49,903 --> 00:00:51,943 Speaker 1: not always be represented. 18 00:00:52,118 --> 00:00:56,178 Speaker 1: Presented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless for truth 19 00:00:56,178 --> 00:01:00,638 Speaker 1: and we've always been truth tellers. Other honorees include retired 20 00:01:00,638 --> 00:01:05,148 Speaker 1: ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former county board chair John McIntyre, 21 00:01:05,197 --> 00:01:09,197 Speaker 1: and counselor Fay Sebastian. The demand for child care in 22 00:01:09,197 --> 00:01:13,568 Speaker 1: Illinois remains high. Kayla Edwards, managing partner of a central 23 00:01:13,568 --> 00:01:17,038 Speaker 1: Illinois employment firm, says many parents unable to find or 24 00:01:17,038 --> 00:01:17,958 Speaker 1: afford childcare are. 25 00:01:18,122 --> 00:01:19,012 Speaker 1: Present at work 26 00:01:19,012 --> 00:01:24,732 Speaker 2: in this case of either presenteeism or absenteeism, employee productivity drops. 27 00:01:24,931 --> 00:01:29,291 Speaker 2: Many parents reported being penalized due to childcare problems. Edwards 28 00:01:29,291 --> 00:01:31,972 Speaker 1: says this can lead to cuts in hours and pay 29 00:01:31,972 --> 00:01:34,972 Speaker 1: or being fired as families try to provide for their child. 30 00:01:35,281 --> 00:01:38,652 Speaker 1: And former Governor Pat Quinn is once again pushing for 31 00:01:38,652 --> 00:01:41,891 Speaker 1: a millionaire's tax. And this time he's enlisted help from 32 00:01:41,891 --> 00:01:44,012 Speaker 1: State Representative LaShawn Ford, the 33 00:01:44,136 --> 00:01:48,066 Speaker 1: minted Democratic nominee for a congressional seat. Ford is carrying 34 00:01:48,066 --> 00:01:51,545 Speaker 1: a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot to create a 3% 35 00:01:51,545 --> 00:01:54,666 Speaker 1: surcharge on incomes above a million dollars. We're going to 36 00:01:54,666 --> 00:01:56,905 Speaker 1: do everything that we can to get the message out 37 00:01:56,905 --> 00:02:00,685 Speaker 1: about how important this is and provide the evidence that 38 00:02:00,695 --> 00:02:03,426 Speaker 1: that there will be no unintended consequences, that this will 39 00:02:03,426 --> 00:02:07,746 Speaker 1: provide immediate relief. Illinois voters have twice approved ballot referendums 40 00:02:07,746 --> 00:02:09,945 Speaker 1: recommending the millionaire's tax. I'm Courtney Kahn.