From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. The town of Normal has extended its moratorium on allowing new short-term rentals like Airbnbs by one month. City manager Pam Reese says Normal needs time to adjust plans as state lawmakers pass any of the several proposed bills affecting these properties. We

From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. The town of Normal has extended its moratorium on allowing new short-term rentals like Airbnbs by one month. City manager Pam Reese says Normal needs time to adjust plans as state lawmakers pass any of the several proposed bills affecting these properties. We

want to make sure we understand that legislation, see if it gets passed, and

want to make sure we understand that legislation, see if it gets passed, and

See if it impacts anything pertaining to short term rentals before we ask council to take formal action on a short term rental

See if it impacts anything pertaining to short term rentals before we ask council to take formal action on a short term rental

ordinance.

ordinance.

The moratorium now lasts until July 1. Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen is taking another stab at improving fiber-based rural broadband internet access, even though the Trump administration favors commercially available satellite-based service.

The moratorium now lasts until July 1. Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen is taking another stab at improving fiber-based rural broadband internet access, even though the Trump administration favors commercially available satellite-based service.

Sorensen has reintroduced two bills to help small governments apply for grant money. Not every city in our district in Illinois 17 can afford to have or hire a grant writer. And so what this will do is allow our smaller hometowns to be part of the solution. The Trump administration has paused rural broadband payments in advance of rules changes that are expected to favor Elon Musk owns Starlink and other satellite internet companies.

Sorensen has reintroduced two bills to help small governments apply for grant money. Not every city in our district in Illinois 17 can afford to have or hire a grant writer. And so what this will do is allow our smaller hometowns to be part of the solution. The Trump administration has paused rural broadband payments in advance of rules changes that are expected to favor Elon Musk owns Starlink and other satellite internet companies.

Sorensen says fiber broadband is an investment in rural communities, something that many red state lawmakers should like. And if the availability of affordable child care is a barrier to attracting new businesses to McLean County, the community should do something about it. That's according to Bloomington Normal Economic Development Council director Patrick Hoben, who says there are best practice examples out there, including one called the Tri-state model which uses subsidies. The government, the major employers, and the parents split the tuition three ways.

Sorensen says fiber broadband is an investment in rural communities, something that many red state lawmakers should like. And if the availability of affordable child care is a barrier to attracting new businesses to McLean County, the community should do something about it. That's according to Bloomington Normal Economic Development Council director Patrick Hoben, who says there are best practice examples out there, including one called the Tri-state model which uses subsidies. The government, the major employers, and the parents split the tuition three ways.

And that's been uh successful from what I've seen that gets people to go back to the workforce. A new Economic Development council survey shows the cost of child care in many cases is higher than rent or mortgages. There's also still a shortage of daycare slots, particularly for infants. The average price of childcare in the Twin Cities is $1600 a month, and it can run as high as $2000 a month. Sunshine today, a high in the 70s. I'm John Norton, WGLT News.

And that's been uh successful from what I've seen that gets people to go back to the workforce. A new Economic Development council survey shows the cost of child care in many cases is higher than rent or mortgages. There's also still a shortage of daycare slots, particularly for infants. The average price of childcare in the Twin Cities is $1600 a month, and it can run as high as $2000 a month. Sunshine today, a high in the 70s. I'm John Norton, WGLT News.