1
00:00:00,529 --> 00:00:04,889
Speaker 1: From the WGLT newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. The YWCA of

2
00:00:04,889 --> 00:00:07,309
Speaker 1: McLean County says it will wind down a program that

3
00:00:07,309 --> 00:00:09,850
Speaker 1: has saved not for profit agencies in the community a

4
00:00:09,850 --> 00:00:14,640
Speaker 1: million dollars annually in recent years. YWCA Vice President Alicia

5
00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,049
Speaker 1: Whitworth says the retired senior volunteer program coordinated volunteers for

6
00:00:19,049 --> 00:00:22,549
Speaker 1: 60 to 80 organizations. I am not sure that there

7
00:00:22,549 --> 00:00:24,930
Speaker 1: are many nonprofits in McLean County who we are not

8
00:00:24,930 --> 00:00:26,270
Speaker 1: working with through RSVP in some.

9
00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,959
Speaker 1: Capacity or another. Whitworth says changes in federal grant guidelines

10
00:00:29,959 --> 00:00:33,479
Speaker 1: made the program not sustainable. Husband and wife Art and

11
00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,959
Speaker 1: Camille Taylor are joining the 2026 class of McLean County

12
00:00:36,959 --> 00:00:40,278
Speaker 1: history makers. Camille serves on the board of the YWCA

13
00:00:40,279 --> 00:00:42,799
Speaker 1: of McLean County, and both are active in the local

14
00:00:42,799 --> 00:00:45,639
Speaker 1: chapter of Not in Our Town. Art says together the

15
00:00:45,639 --> 00:00:47,360
Speaker 1: two have stood up as a voice for those who

16
00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,159
Speaker 1: need to share in a positive message, one that may

17
00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,060
Speaker 1: not always be represented.

18
00:00:52,389 --> 00:00:56,409
Speaker 1: Presented throughout the community, but a voice nonetheless for truth

19
00:00:56,409 --> 00:01:00,909
Speaker 1: and we've always been truth tellers. Other honorees include retired

20
00:01:00,909 --> 00:01:05,379
Speaker 1: ISU softball coach Melinda Fisher, former county board chair John McIntyre,

21
00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:09,430
Speaker 1: and counselor Fay Sebastian. The demand for child care in

22
00:01:09,430 --> 00:01:13,790
Speaker 1: Illinois remains high. Kayla Edwards, managing partner of a central

23
00:01:13,790 --> 00:01:17,269
Speaker 1: Illinois employment firm, says many parents unable to find or

24
00:01:17,269 --> 00:01:18,230
Speaker 1: afford childcare are.

25
00:01:18,430 --> 00:01:22,940
Speaker 1: Present at work in this case of either presenteeism or absenteeism,

26
00:01:23,339 --> 00:01:27,979
Speaker 1: employee productivity drops. Many parents reported being penalized due to

27
00:01:27,980 --> 00:01:30,979
Speaker 1: childcare problems. Edwards says this can lead to cuts in

28
00:01:30,980 --> 00:01:34,139
Speaker 1: hours and pay or being fired as families try to

29
00:01:34,139 --> 00:01:37,660
Speaker 1: provide for their child. And former governor Pat Quinn is

30
00:01:37,660 --> 00:01:40,979
Speaker 1: once again pushing for a millionaire's tax. And this time

31
00:01:40,980 --> 00:01:44,259
Speaker 1: he's enlisted help from State Representative LaShawn Ford, the new.

32
00:01:44,489 --> 00:01:48,290
Speaker 1: Minted Democratic nominee for a congressional seat. Ford is carrying

33
00:01:48,290 --> 00:01:51,769
Speaker 1: a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot to create a 3%

34
00:01:51,769 --> 00:01:54,449
Speaker 1: surcharge on incomes above a million dollars.

35
00:01:54,569 --> 00:01:55,410
Speaker 2: We're going to do everything

36
00:01:55,410 --> 00:01:57,949
Speaker 2: that we can to get the message out about how

37
00:01:57,949 --> 00:02:01,209
Speaker 2: important this is and provide the evidence that that there

38
00:02:01,209 --> 00:02:04,489
Speaker 2: will be no unintended consequences, that this will provide immediate

39
00:02:04,489 --> 00:02:08,529
Speaker 1: relief. Illinois voters have twice approved ballot referendums recommending the

40
00:02:08,529 --> 00:02:10,250
Speaker 1: millionaire's tax. I'm Courtney Kahn.