1 00:00:00,620 --> 00:00:05,289 Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. Illinois business leaders 2 00:00:05,289 --> 00:00:09,340 Speaker 1: are calling for more childcare assistance. The nonprofit Ready Nation 3 00:00:09,340 --> 00:00:13,439 Speaker 1: Illinois reports the state economy is losing $6 billion annually 4 00:00:13,439 --> 00:00:17,979 Speaker 1: because of the childcare crisis. Springfield area parent Tiffany Saunders 5 00:00:17,979 --> 00:00:20,139 Speaker 1: says her daughter was on multiple waitlists. 6 00:00:20,260 --> 00:00:20,500 Speaker 2: I 7 00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:23,340 Speaker 2: lost count of how many I called, and she never 8 00:00:23,340 --> 00:00:25,579 Speaker 2: rose to the top of the list for most. 9 00:00:26,024 --> 00:00:28,754 Speaker 2: She sat on one wait lists for over a year 10 00:00:29,055 --> 00:00:29,594 Speaker 2: before getting 11 00:00:29,594 --> 00:00:30,045 Speaker 2: in. 12 00:00:30,295 --> 00:00:33,174 Speaker 1: Saunders says being a salaried employee allows her to be 13 00:00:33,174 --> 00:00:37,654 Speaker 1: more flexible. Former Illinois State University softball coach Melinda Fisher 14 00:00:37,654 --> 00:00:41,404 Speaker 1: is among the 2026 class of McLean County history makers. 15 00:00:41,814 --> 00:00:45,525 Speaker 1: Fisher says despite retiring, she is always a Redbirds supporter. 16 00:00:45,694 --> 00:00:48,735 Speaker 2: I give my advice when or my opinion when it's asked, 17 00:00:48,775 --> 00:00:50,775 Speaker 2: and sometimes when it's not. 18 00:00:51,069 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: Um, but I, I still support Redbird Athletics through and 19 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,759 Speaker 1: through. Other honorees include former county board chair John McIntyre, 20 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:02,470 Speaker 1: counselor Fay Sebastian, and community advocates Art and Camille Taylor. 21 00:01:02,799 --> 00:01:07,059 Speaker 1: The YWCA of McLean County is ending its second oldest effort, 22 00:01:07,279 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: the retired senior Volunteer Program. CEO Liz German says new 23 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: federal guidelines to qualify for a federal grant would require 24 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:16,819 Speaker 1: the volunteers to offer direct service instead. 25 00:01:17,015 --> 00:01:20,856 Speaker 1: Of administrative support and the high average age of volunteer 26 00:01:20,856 --> 00:01:23,416 Speaker 1: means that's not a good fit. German says the new 27 00:01:23,416 --> 00:01:26,176 Speaker 1: requirements don't fit with what the nonprofits want the volunteers 28 00:01:26,176 --> 00:01:27,975 Speaker 1: to do either, and they said, you know, we would 29 00:01:27,975 --> 00:01:30,295 Speaker 1: love for you to do X, Y, Z, but working 30 00:01:30,295 --> 00:01:33,526 Speaker 1: directly with our participants isn't really, it's not really covered 31 00:01:33,526 --> 00:01:36,655 Speaker 1: under our insurance. It's not really safe. The program coordinated 32 00:01:36,655 --> 00:01:40,965 Speaker 1: volunteers for up to 80 nonprofit organizations for about 40 years, 33 00:01:41,456 --> 00:01:42,896 Speaker 1: and a museum drawing. 34 00:01:43,022 --> 00:01:46,060 Speaker 1: Route 66 travelers in Logan County has been cited for 35 00:01:46,061 --> 00:01:50,151 Speaker 1: violations to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The American Giants 36 00:01:50,152 --> 00:01:53,512 Speaker 1: Museum has agreed to make two dozen improvements to expand 37 00:01:53,512 --> 00:01:56,711 Speaker 1: access for people with mobility devices. The museum opened in 38 00:01:56,711 --> 00:02:01,111 Speaker 1: 2024 in Atlanta, 30 miles southwest of Bloomington Normal, featuring 39 00:02:01,111 --> 00:02:05,692 Speaker 1: a collection of restored fiberglass statues. Assistant US Attorney Joshua 40 00:02:05,692 --> 00:02:08,870 Speaker 1: Grant commended the museum for its prompt renovations. I'm.