WCBU Newscasts - 7:04am 7-1-2026

From the WCBU Newsroom, I'm Rich Drager. The Peoria Park District is gearing up for a major overhaul of the Owens Ice Center, brought about by the need to replace the outdated system that keeps the ice on the rinks. Park District Executive Director, Emily Cahill, says the estimated $18 to $20 million project includes updating the nearly 50-year-old facility's locker rooms, spectator areas, and traffic patterns. We see more than 200,000 people through that facility every year, so it's important for us to... provide them with a positive experience while they are spending time with us. Kayhill says the Park District expects to seek community fundraising to help cover some of the project cost. She says the bulk of the work, including the ice plant replacement, is targeted for 2028. Fifth District Peoria City Council member Dennis Sears taking an extended leave of absence following a recent medical procedure. In a statement issued through the city, Sear says the leave is necessary for him to focus on his recovery. Sear will be away from his duties through the end of September. Fellow council member Zach Euler, John Kelly, and Karen Velpula have agreed to assist district residents in his absence. A $90,000 grant is helping Girl Scouts of Central Illinois send girls who otherwise couldn't afford to overnight summer camp. Camp director Sarah Tate says the Central Illinois Council is using the grant to make sure every girl who wants to camp can. We want them to be able to have that Girl Scout experience and learn new things and feel like they're really part of the community as well. The Girl Scouts are partnering with Dream Center Peoria to send 20 Peoria area girls for a week at Camp Tampa Wingo near Metamora. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says the struggle to improve dental care for low-income people is going the wrong way. During an appearance in Bloomington, Dick Durbin said that's particularly true for children. And I found some terrible things. 24% of the dentist licensed to practice in the state of Illinois actually treat a Medicaid patient, any Medicaid patient. About 14% of the dentist in our state treat one a week. Dick Durbin says a trillion dollar cut to Medicaid will cause a health care crisis in the nation. Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a question. What happens if we refund tariffs? Why are groceries so expensive? At NPR, we stand for your right to be curious because the forces shaping our world can be hard to seek. Follow NPR's Planet Money wherever you get your podcast and start seeing how the economy really works.