1 00:00:00,550 --> 00:00:05,229 Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. Illinois business leaders 2 00:00:05,230 --> 00:00:09,329 Speaker 1: are calling for more childcare assistance. The nonprofit Ready Nation 3 00:00:09,329 --> 00:00:13,449 Speaker 1: Illinois reports the state economy is losing $6 billion annually 4 00:00:13,750 --> 00:00:18,049 Speaker 1: because of the childcare crisis. Springfield area parent Tiffany Saunders 5 00:00:18,049 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: says her daughter was on multiple waitlists. 6 00:00:20,350 --> 00:00:23,229 Speaker 2: I lost count of how many I called, and she 7 00:00:23,229 --> 00:00:25,649 Speaker 2: never rose to the top of the list for most. 8 00:00:26,159 --> 00:00:29,409 Speaker 2: She sat on one waitlist for over a year before 9 00:00:29,409 --> 00:00:29,750 Speaker 2: getting 10 00:00:29,750 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: in. 11 00:00:30,409 --> 00:00:33,330 Speaker 1: Saunders says being a salaried employee allows her to be 12 00:00:33,330 --> 00:00:37,849 Speaker 1: more flexible. Former Illinois State University softball coach Melinda Fisher 13 00:00:37,848 --> 00:00:41,639 Speaker 1: is among the 2026 class of McLean County history makers. 14 00:00:42,009 --> 00:00:45,769 Speaker 1: Fisher says despite retiring, she is always a Redbirds supporter. 15 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:49,009 Speaker 1: I give my advice when or my opinion when it's asked, 16 00:00:49,049 --> 00:00:51,028 Speaker 1: and sometimes when it's not. 17 00:00:51,409 --> 00:00:54,459 Speaker 1: Um, but I, I still support Redbird Athletics through and through. 18 00:00:54,580 --> 00:00:58,900 Speaker 1: Other honorees include former county board chair John McIntyre, counselor 19 00:00:58,900 --> 00:01:03,459 Speaker 1: Fay Sebastian, and community advocates Art and Camille Taylor. The 20 00:01:03,459 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: YWCA of McLean County is ending its second oldest effort, 21 00:01:07,699 --> 00:01:11,940 Speaker 1: the retired senior Volunteer Program. CEO Liz German says new 22 00:01:11,940 --> 00:01:15,180 Speaker 1: federal guidelines to qualify for a federal grant would require 23 00:01:15,180 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: the volunteers to offer direct service instead. 24 00:01:17,545 --> 00:01:21,386 Speaker 1: Of administrative support and the high average age of volunteer 25 00:01:21,386 --> 00:01:23,944 Speaker 1: means that's not a good fit. German says the new 26 00:01:23,944 --> 00:01:26,735 Speaker 1: requirements don't fit with what the nonprofits want the volunteers 27 00:01:26,736 --> 00:01:28,545 Speaker 1: to do either, and they said, you know, we would 28 00:01:28,545 --> 00:01:30,904 Speaker 1: love for you to do X, Y, Z, but working 29 00:01:30,905 --> 00:01:34,136 Speaker 1: directly with our participants isn't really, it's not really covered 30 00:01:34,136 --> 00:01:37,305 Speaker 1: under our insurance. It's not really safe. The program coordinated 31 00:01:37,305 --> 00:01:41,655 Speaker 1: volunteers for up to 80 nonprofit organizations for about 40 years, 32 00:01:42,146 --> 00:01:43,625 Speaker 1: and a museum drawing. 33 00:01:43,781 --> 00:01:46,781 Speaker 1: Route 66 travelers in Logan County has been cited for 34 00:01:46,781 --> 00:01:50,912 Speaker 1: violations to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The American Giants 35 00:01:50,912 --> 00:01:54,272 Speaker 1: Museum has agreed to make two dozen improvements to expand 36 00:01:54,272 --> 00:01:57,512 Speaker 1: access for people with mobility devices. The museum opened in 37 00:01:57,512 --> 00:02:01,952 Speaker 1: 2024 in Atlanta, 30 miles southwest of Bloomington Normal, featuring 38 00:02:01,952 --> 00:02:06,552 Speaker 1: a collection of restored fiberglass statues. Assistant US Attorney Joshua 39 00:02:06,552 --> 00:02:09,832 Speaker 1: Grant commended the museum for its prompt renovations. I'm.