WCBU Newscasts - 3:04pm 6-30-2026

It's NPR. From the WCBU Newsroom, I'm Courtney Conroy. 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Park District is gearing up for a major overhaul of the Owens Ice Center brought about by the need to replace the outdated system that keeps the ice on the rinks.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 facilities 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 see community fundraising to help cover some of the project costs. She says the bulk of work is targeted for 2028. 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. A $90,000 grant is helping Girl Scouts of Central Illinois send girls who couldn't otherwise afford it 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. 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 Top Owingo near Metamora. The trip covers tuition, gear, and transportation. And Illinois farm bankruptcies are forecasted to rise for the third straight year, Capitol News Illinois reported. In 2025, there was a 55% increase in Illinois, and the numbers are expected to rise in state and nationwide this year after a bankruptcy-ridden April. Farm debt is credited as a major factor in bankruptcy as land rent and interest continue to rise. I'm Courtney. 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 see. Follow NPR's Planet Money wherever you get your podcast and start seeing how the economy really works.