From the WGLT Newsroom, I'm Ben Howell, a former District 87 teacher hopes to meet a big need in the community by opening her own childcare center later this year. Shelley Lehman plans to open the Joshua Tree Childcare Center by December in a remodeled building on Bell and Clinton Streets in Bloomington. Lehman says she saw the need for more childcare options firsthand during her 20 years as a teacher.

From the WGLT Newsroom, I'm Ben Howell, a former District 87 teacher hopes to meet a big need in the community by opening her own childcare center later this year. Shelley Lehman plans to open the Joshua Tree Childcare Center by December in a remodeled building on Bell and Clinton Streets in Bloomington. Lehman says she saw the need for more childcare options firsthand during her 20 years as a teacher.

Oftentimes I had 2nd graders that were watching infant brothers and sisters at night.

Oftentimes I had 2nd graders that were watching infant brothers and sisters at night.

And exhausted in the morning, Lehman

And exhausted in the morning, Lehman

says Joshua Tree will be a nonprofit offering both childcare and assistance to help her clients get out of poverty.

says Joshua Tree will be a nonprofit offering both childcare and assistance to help her clients get out of poverty.

Advocates for transgender people in Bloomington Normal are gearing up for a long fight over health care rights. Included in the big reconciliation bill in the Senate is a provision to ban gender affirming care for trans people on Medicaid. Bloomington Normal transwoman Renee Micheler says it's terrifying. Gender affirming care saved my life. I

Advocates for transgender people in Bloomington Normal are gearing up for a long fight over health care rights. Included in the big reconciliation bill in the Senate is a provision to ban gender affirming care for trans people on Medicaid. Bloomington Normal transwoman Renee Micheler says it's terrifying. Gender affirming care saved my life. I

Don't know if I would be sitting here talking to you right now without Planned Parenthood, Micheler says that care is never a frivolous thing. Body positivity was never something she felt she was allowed to have, and it lets her love the person she sees in the mirror.

Don't know if I would be sitting here talking to you right now without Planned Parenthood, Micheler says that care is never a frivolous thing. Body positivity was never something she felt she was allowed to have, and it lets her love the person she sees in the mirror.

Connect Transit expanded service to rural McLean County launches tomorrow. The service called Connecto provides door to door transportation for McLean County residents living outside Bloomington Normal and Tawanda. The service is currently offered at no cost to customers.

Connect Transit expanded service to rural McLean County launches tomorrow. The service called Connecto provides door to door transportation for McLean County residents living outside Bloomington Normal and Tawanda. The service is currently offered at no cost to customers.

And a bill that grants qualifying students automatic admission to select Illinois public universities was signed into law today. The direct admission program aims to streamline the college admissions process and reduce application fees. Students who opt in can earn automatic admission based on their GPA. Democratic state Representative Sharon Chung from Bloomington co-sponsored it. She says it will be especially meaningful to those who previously did not consider college an option. You know, it's something I think that we

And a bill that grants qualifying students automatic admission to select Illinois public universities was signed into law today. The direct admission program aims to streamline the college admissions process and reduce application fees. Students who opt in can earn automatic admission based on their GPA. Democratic state Representative Sharon Chung from Bloomington co-sponsored it. She says it will be especially meaningful to those who previously did not consider college an option. You know, it's something I think that we

On the Higher Education Committee, that it was a bipartisan co-sponsorship as well that I think that we really see it as a way to boost enrollment here in Illinois. The program includes 9 public universities, including ISU. It will be available to students starting with the 2027 to 28 academic year. I'm Ben.

On the Higher Education Committee, that it was a bipartisan co-sponsorship as well that I think that we really see it as a way to boost enrollment here in Illinois. The program includes 9 public universities, including ISU. It will be available to students starting with the 2027 to 28 academic year. I'm Ben.