>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," HOOSIERS 5 THROUGH 11 YEARS OLD BEGAN RECEIVING THE COVID-19 VACCINE THIS WEEK AFTER ITS APPROVAL BY THE FDA.

>> THE SPRING TERM FOR OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOL COULD LOOK VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

>> AHEAD, WE TALK WITH A PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT WHAT THE NEW VACCINE MEANS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

>>> AFGHAN EVACUEES BEGAN ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO.

NOW, THE PROCESS TURNS TO RESETTLING THEM IN A NEW COUNTRY.

>> WE'RE GETTING THE KIDS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.

WE ARE GETTING THE ADULTS INTO ENGLISH CLASSES IMMEDIATELY THAT WE OFFER.

>> RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS STATE ARE RAMPING UP TO MEET THE DEMAND.

>>> AND WITH TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS LOST TO POWER OUTAGES INCREASING, WE LOOK AT WHY MORE POWER LINES AREN'T BURIED.

THOSE STORIES, THE PLUS THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M PERRY METZ IN FOR THE VACATIONING JOE HREN.

IN WHAT STATE OFFICIALS ARE CALLING A GAME CHANGER, CHILDREN AGES 5 THROUGH 11 BEGAN RECEIVING COVID-19 VACCINE THIS WEEK.

THE FDA GAVE APPROVAL FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE ON TUESDAY.

THE CHILD-SIZED DOSE IS ONE-THIRD THAT OF THE ADULT DOSE.

>> THE SPRING TERM FOR OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOL COULD LOOK VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

WE KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED, AND YOU ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUARANTINE?

>> OFFICIALS CAUTION THAT PEDIATRIC VACCINE SUPPLIES MAY BE LIMITED INITIALLY AS SHIPMENTS ARRIVE ON A STAGGERED BASIS, BUT THEY URGE THE CHILDREN BE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

PARENTS AND GUARDENCES CAN REGISTER -- GUARDIANS CAN REGISTER AT OURSHOT.IN.GOV.

>> WE TALK WITH A PEDIATRICIAN.

DR. MOORE, WHAT DOES HAVING A VACCINE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE MEAN GOING FORWARD FOR KIDS IN SCHOOL?

>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR SHOW TODAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THE -- WE HAVE BEEN USING MANY DIFFERENT LAYERS OF PROTECTION TO TRY TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE AND KEEP THE EXTENDED FAMILY SAFE THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

WHETHER WASHING YOUR HANDS OR WEARING A MASK OR STAYING DETAINED, WE FOUND THOSE THINGS CAN BE -- DISTANCED, WE FOUND THOSE THINGS CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

VACCINE IS FOUND TO BE SAFER IN THIS AGE GROUP AND VERY PROTECTIVE AGAINST DEVELOPING SYMPTOMATIC ILLNESS WITH THE COVID DISEASE.

NOOSE WE ALL KNOW THAT -- WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME VACCINE HESITANCY WITH FOLKS.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THEM TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED?

>> WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH PARENTS AND THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT ALL THE VACCINES THAT WE GIVE, BUT HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PEDIATRICIAN, SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PARENT'S LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ARE GOOD.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT VACCINES AND THEIR SAFETY, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WORK AND REASSURE THEM THAT THESE ARE GOOD AND -- AND VERY GOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN THE LONG RUN.

>> WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS YOU GET FROM PARENTS?

>> I THINK FOR THIS VACCINE, SPECIFICALLY, MYOCARDITIS HAS BEEN A QUESTION AND THAT'S A VERY, VERY RARE OCCURRENCE, AND IT'S MUCH MORE COMMON FOR THAT SIDE EFFECT THAN FOR OTHER SIDE EFFECTS TO HAPPEN AFTER CHILDREN HAVE COVID DISEASE ITSELF, THAN AFTER THE VACCINE.

>> NOW, CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO GET A NUMBER OF VACCINES ALREADY TO GO TO SCHOOL.

DO YOU ENVISION THE COVID VACCINE JOINING THE LIST OF MEASLES, MUMPS, POLIO AND THE LIKE?

>> I THINK TO HAVE THE SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN AND HOPEFULLY NOT WEAR MASKS SOMETIME THAT A HIGH VACCINATION RACE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED TO MAKE THAT OCCUR.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE DO THIS VOLUNTARILY SO THAT IT WON'T NEED TO BECOME A MANDATED VACCINE BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE OVER TIME.

AND WITH CONTINUED CIRCULATION OF THE VIRUS AND POTENTIAL VARIANTS IN THE FUTURE, IT MAY BE THAT REPEATED VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS WILL BE NECESSARY, BUT WE'LL ONLY KNOW THAT OVER TIME.

>> THANK YOU, DR. MOORE FOR SHARING YOUR VIEWS WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA IS SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HALT PRESIDENT BIDEN COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS.

ROKITA IN COOPERATION WITH GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB IS FILING THREE LAWSUITS, TARGETING POLICIES FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND COMPANIES WITH AT LEAST 100 EMPLOYEES.

>> ROKITA CALLS THE PRESIDENT'S COVID-19 VACCINE POLICY AN EGREGIOUS OVERREACH OF FEDERAL WORKPLACE POLICY.

>> IT'S NOT A WORKPLACE.

IT'S BEEN AT OUR HOMES AND OUR SPORTS TEAMS AND OUR KIDS' SCHOOLS.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.

>> THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, RULES FOR AT LEAST 100 WORKERS GIVE THEM A CHOICE.

EMPLOYEES GET VACCINATED OR REGULARLY TESTED AND MASKED UP.

ROKITA'S CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS THAT'S NOT A REASONABLE CHOICE.

>> A WEEKLY TEST TIMES THE MILLIONS WHO MAY NOT GET VACCINATED, I'M NOT EVEN -- WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE WHETHER THAT'S FEASIBLE.

>> ROKITA WILL WORK WITH OTHER STATES ON SOME OF THE LAWSUITS.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M BRANDON SMITH AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS SINCE AFGHAN EVACUEES BEGAN ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOW THAT MANY ARE NEARING THE END OF THEIR PROCESSING, OR HAVE COMPLETED IT ALL TOGETHER, THE FOCUS HAS TURNED TO RESETTLING THEM.

MITCH LEGAN SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE STATE'S REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ON WHAT THAT PROCESS IS LIKE.

>> MORE THAN 50,000 AFGHAN PEOPLE ARE AT U.S. MILITARY BASES, WAITING TO BE SETTLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ABOUT 600 ARE EXPECTED TO COME HERE TO INDIANA AND IT'S UP TO COLE VARGA TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSITION IS SMOOTH.

>> WE HAVE BEEN BUSY PREPARING, WE HAVE BEEN BUSY HIRING AND TRAINING STAFF AND WE HAVE BEEN BUSY TALKING TO LANDLORDS AND EMPLOYERS.

>> VARGA AND HIS TEAM AT EXODUS HAVE BEEN WORKING OVERTIME TO MEET DEMAND.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF OF THE AFTER GAP EVACUEES WHO WILL END UP MAKING INDIANA THEIR HOME.

>> IT'S A BIG ASK FOR A NETWORK THAT'S BEEN STRAPPED IN TRYING TO REBUILD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> RESETTLING ONE PERSON IS A TALL ENOUGH TASK, BUT 300 OR MORE, THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER THEY WOULD RESETTLE IN A FULL YEAR DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> IT'S NOT EVEN 0 TO 60.

IT'S MORE LIKE 0 TO 600.

>> VARGA USUALLY HAS PLENTY OF NOTICE BEFORE SOMEONE ARRIVES AT EXODUS.

SOMETIMES HE FINDS OUT AS MUCH AS A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

NOW, IT'S HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK AND NORMALLY ON SHORT NOTICE.

>> WE MIGHT NOT KNOW UNTIL 48 HOURS BEFORE THEY HIT THE AIRPORT THAT THEY ARE GOING -- WHAT DAY THEY ARE GOING TO ARRIVE.

SO THAT CREATES A SCRAMBLE FOR US TO TRY TO FIND HOUSING.

>> AFTER SOMEONE ARRIVES IN INDIANAPOLIS, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS FINDING SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.

HOTELS AND AIRBNBS WORK AS TEMPORARY OPTIONS AS CREWS WORK TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

VARGA SAYS THAT'S THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT SO FAR.

>> WE ARE JUST ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND AVAILABLE APARTMENTS AND JUMPING ON WAIT LISTS AND THE NEXT TWO MEDROOM MED DID, TWO-BEDROOM THAT COMES UP, WE WANT THEM.

THE NEXT FIVE TWO-BEDROOMS THAT COME UP, WE WANT THEM.

>> ONE THE EVACUEES HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, ATTENTION TURNS TO PREPARING FOR THEM FOR LIFE IN AMERICA.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF CULTURAL TOPICS AND WHAT THE FIRST TRIP TO THE SUPERMARKET WILL BE LIKE.

>> WE ARE GETTING THE KIDS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AND CULTURAL ORIENTATION SO THEY KNOW WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT HERE IN INDIANA.

>> CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN FORT WAYNE RESETTLEMENT DIRECTOR HAS A GOAL, GET PEOPLE IN PERMANENT HOUSING AND READY FOR EMPLOYMENT IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

>> I GENERALLY HAVE BEEN.

I HAVE GENERALLY HAVE BEEN.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG FEDERAL RESETTLEMENT FUNDS TYPICALLY LAST.

PRIVATE DONATIONS CAN HELP TO OFFSET THAT AND SOME EVACUEES DON'T NEED HELP FOR THAT LONG.

>> THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THEIR OWN FAMILY WITH THEIR EMPLOYMENT INCOME.

THEY WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE PUBLIC SYSTEM.

THAT IS THEIR DREAM.

>> BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE ARE EAGER FOR THE HELP.

VARGA AND CHAN GET CALLS EVERY DAY ABOUT AVAILABILITY.

AS SOON AS SAMEER ZUBARE HEARD THAT FORT WAYNE WOULD BE SETTLING EVACUEES, HE REACHED OUT TO CHAN.

HE HAS SEVEN WENCO WENDY'S IN THE AREA.

>> I SPOKE WITH THESE GENTLEMEN, WHO JUST SHOWED UP.

WE ARE WAITING ON SOME OF THEIR DOCUMENTS TO FINALIZE.

>> THE BUSINESSMAN IN ZUBAR WAS EXCITED TO FIND WORKERS BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT TO HIM.

OVER 20 YEARS AGO, HE FLED AFGHANISTAN AS A REF GEE.

>> I KNOW WHEN I FIRST -- REFUGEE.

>> I KNOW WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, ONE THE BIGGEST THINGS FOR US WAS TO GET A JOB.

IT'S A GREAT FEELING WHEN I OFFERED THEM AND SAID, HEY, AS SOON AS YOU GUYS GET YOUR DOCUMENTS, WE ARE ON STANDBY, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW BIG THEIR SMILES WERE ON THEIR FACES.

>> BUT THE AGENCY'S WORK DOESN'T END WHEN EVACUEES FIND WORK.

THEY WILL CONTINUE HELPING WITH THE TRANSITION AS LONG AS THEY ARE NEEDED.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MITCH LEGAN.

>> VARGA SAYS HE EXPECTS TO BE SETTLING PEOPLE THROUGH AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE NEXT YEAR.

>>> BLOOMINGTON PARKS AND RECREATION, BEGAN REDESIGNING GOAT FARM PARK IN 2013.

BUT PLANS WERE SET ASIDE UNTIL 2020.

THIS WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT UNVEILED ITS FINAL PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR.

HOLDEN ABSHIER HAS THE STORY.

>> GOAT FARM PARK IS A 33-ACRE PROPERTY DIRECTLY SOUTH OF THE ROUND DIDABOUT EAST WINSLOW ROAD AND SOUTH HIGH STREET.

THE JACKSONVILLE TRAIL CONNECTS TO SHERWOOD OAK PARK AND ALCOTT PARK.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST NOTABLE FEATURE OF THE PROPERTY IS THE OLD RED BARN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PRAIRIE.

THE PARKS DEPARTMENT PLANS TO INCORPORATE THE EXISTING BARN AND SILO INTO A NEW PLAZA AND PAVED TRAILS.

>> IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A LARGE GATHERING SPACE, BUT SOME PLANTINGS AND SOME PICNIC TABLES AND SEAT BENCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> THE DESIGN INCORPORATED FEEDBACK FROM A PUBLIC MEETING IN APRIL AND POLLINATOR GARDENS AND A RESTORATION OF THE MIDDLE THIRD OF THE PRAIRIE WITH NATIVE PLANTS.

THEY RESTORED THE NORTHERN PORTION A FEW YEARS BACK.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AMAZING RESULTS IN TERMS OF THE NATIVE FLOWERS AND GRASSES, SUPPORTING THE NATIVE WILDLIFE AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER WILDLIFE.

>> IT INCLUDES 10 PERMEABLE PARKING SPOTS OFF THE ROUNDABOUT AT WIN LOW ROAD.

AND FOUR WILL BE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE AND THE ENTIRE LOT WILL BE BLOCKED OFF WITH A TURNAROUND POINT.

WE ARE NOT PUTTING IN ANY TYPE OF BALLFIELDS OR PLAYGROUNDS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THE PURPOSE IS REALLY TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT AND ENJOY THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OF THIS PARK.

BUT TO INCREASE ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY AND SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK FOR SOME PATHS AND SEATING AREAS.

>> THE SHERMAN ROGERS FAMILY DONATED THE PROPERTY TO THE BLOOMINGTON PARKS FOUNDATION IN 2007, AND IT WAS DEEDED AS A CITY PARK IN 2009.

NOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M HOLDEN ABSHIER.

>>> NO CONSTRUCTION DATE HAS BEEN SET YET, BUT THE DEPARTMENT HOPES TO GET STARTED NEXT YEAR.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE AVERAGE TIME ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS WERE WITHOUT POWER ROSE IN 2019.

THAT LED ONE PERSON TO ASK OUR CITY LIMITS PROJECT, WHY AREN'T POWER LINES BURIED UNDERGROUND?

>>> AND THE INDIANA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM IS RANKED THE HIGHEST IT EVER HAS BEEN AS THE SEASON IS SET TO TIP OFF.

THESE STORIES AND MORE RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

FORMER INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL SAYS HE'S OPEN TO RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE AGAIN.

AS BROCK TURNER REPORTS, HILL HAS BEEN MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS SINCE HE LOST REELECTION LAST YEAR.

>> INDIANA'S EMBATTLED FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING A RUN FOR FUTURE MILL OFFICE, BUT SPEAKING -- POLITICAL OFFICE, BUT SPEAKING ABOUT RACE, AND COVID RESTRICTIONS HILL DECLINED TO SPECIFY A PARTICULAR RACE HE'S EYEING.

>> I HAVE BEEN FIRMLY IMPLANTED IN THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC SERVICE SINCE I WAS A PUBLIC ATTORNEY YEARS AGO.

>> HE WAS DEFEATED BY TODD ROKITA.

HILL'S LAW LICENSE WAS TEMPORARILY REVOKED AFTER IT WAS FOUND THAT HE GROPED FOUR WOMEN IN MARCH OF 2018.

A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR OPTED NOT TO PURSUIT CRIMINAL CHARGES.

NOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BROCK TURNER.

>>> BRUCE BOARDERS, THE LONG-TIME REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE FOR INDIANA HOUSE DISTRICT 45 RAN UNOPPOSED IN THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION, BUT IN 2022, HE'S HAVE AN UNEXPECTED PRIMARY CHALLENGER.

FELLOW REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JEFF ELLINGTON.

BORDERS SAYS ELLINGTON NEVER REACHED OUT TO HIM TO LET HIM KNOW HE WAS ENTERING THE RACE.

>> IT'S A PART OF IT.

DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE, PEOPLE MOVE, AREAS GAIN IN POPULATION, AREAS LOSE IN POPULATION.

I MEAN, I HAVE NEVER -- I HAVE NEVER RAN FROM A TOUGH FIGHT.

>> ELLINGTON CURRENTLY REPRESENTS DISTRICT 62, WHICH INCLUDES MOST OF GREEN COUNTY AND A PORTION OF MONROE, BUT AFTER NEW DISTRICT MAPS WERE APPROVED BY THE GOP THIS SUMMER, DISTRICT 62 NO LONGER INCLUDES GREEN COUNTY.

IT'S NOW IN DISTRICT 45.

ELLINGTON ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH HE WAS MOVING FROM SOUTH OF BLOOMINGTON TO BLOOMFIELD, OUT COUNTY SEAT IN GREEN COUNTY.

>>> REPUBLICAN JACKSON COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER DAVE HALL SAYS HE WILL RUN TO FILL THE DISTRICT 62 SEAT LEFT VACANT BY ELLINGTON.

HE'S LIKELY TO FACE DEMOCRAT PENNY GITTENS, A CURRENT MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO IS ALSO SEEKING THE SEAT.

CANDIDATES CANNOT OFFICIAL DECLARE WITH THE STATE UNTIL JANUARY 5th.

>>> AS SOME PARENTS AND OTHER ACTIVIST GROUPS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE USE OF SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING CONCEPTS IN SCHOOLS, EXPERTS SAY THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LYNNDIEJEANIE LINDSAY EXPLAINS HOW THEY DESCRIBE THE S.E.L.

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS.

>> SOME WORRY ABOUT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED TIES TO CRITICAL RACE THEORY, BUT SANDY WASHBURN SAYS THOSE CONCERNS ARE ROOTED IN MISINFORMATION.

SHE'S A RESEARCH SCHOLAR AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND FORMER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.

INSTEAD, SHE SAYS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING HELPS KIDS DEVELOP THEIR OWN IDENTITY, AND RECOGNIZE THEIR VALUES.

IT DOESN'T TEACH THEM WHICH VALUES TO HAVE.

>> ALSO, IDENTIFYING AND MANAGING EMOTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, STRATEGIES, IT -- TO DEAL WITH STRESS.

>> WASHBURN SAYS S.E.L.

ALSO HELPS KIDS COMMUNICATE THEIR NEEDS AND WORK WITH OTHERS.

>> THE EYES ARE OPENED, YOU KNOW, EARS ARE LISTENING.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS.

LIKE, I'M AWARE OF HOW WHEN MY BODY MOVES, SOMETIMES THAT HELPS ME BE PAY ATTENTION.

AND SOMETIMES IT HELPS ME NOT TO PAY ATTENTION.

>> AND TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TEACHERS TO EXPLAIN HOW THEY USE S.E.L.

TOOLS WITH THEIR STUDENTS.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M JEANIE LINDSAY.

>>> THE AVERAGE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPERIENCED EIGHT HOURS WITHOUT POWER IN 2020, WHICH IS MORE THAN TWICE OF WHAT IT WAS HALF A DECADE AGO.

THAT LED ONE BLOOMINGTON RESIDENT TO ASK CITY LIMITS SERIES WHY HOW MANY POWER LINES ARE ABOVE GROUND AS ELECTRICAL LINES BECOME INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE TO STORMS AND OUTAGES.

BENTE BOUTHIER HAS THIS REPORT.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING REGULAR POWER OUTAGES SINCE THEY BOUGHT THEIR HOME IN THE FRITZ TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY LIVED THIS FOR FOUR YEARS WITH THEIR TWO DOGS AND A LIZARD.

POPE SAYS THIS YEAR THEY HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY OUTAGES, BUT IS WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THEY COULD RETURN AND HOW FREQUENT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> THE PAST THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS, QUITE A BIT.

I WOULD SAY AT THE MOST MAYBE THE WORST WAS LIKE TEN A YEAR.

AND THEY WOULD JUST BE SO SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD BE OFF FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS, I WOULD SAY.

NOTHING LONGER THAN 24, BUT -- >> YEAH.

>> SO PRETTY LONG ONES.

>> HE WONDERS WHAT IS LEADING TO THE POWER GETTING KNOCKED OUT SO EASILY IN SUCH LOCALIZED AREAS.

>> SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST BE A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, OR A TINY WIND GUST AND THEN IT WILL JUST BE OUT, JUST COMPLETELY OUT.

>> POPE DOES SUSPECT THAT LIVING IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LOTS OF VEGETATION DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

ACCORDING TO THE INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS, THE DURATION OF OUTAGES IN INDIANA INCREASED FROM 2019 TO 2020.

BUT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTAGES THAT OCCURRED WENT DOWN.

THESE ARE TRACKED THROUGH STANDARDS THAT MEASURE MINUTES AND NUMBERS OF OUTAGES PER CUSTOMER.

THE AVERAGE PERSON LOST POWER IN 2020 FOR 294 MINUTES.

MORE THAN THE 266 IN 2019.

BUT THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTAGES OCCURRING DECREASED TO 1.31 IN 2020, FROM 1.5 IN 2019.

BRUCE CALLOWAY IS WITH DUKE ENERGY.

HE SAYS A MAJORITY OF POWER OUTAGES ARE VEGETATION RELATED.

LIKE, TREES AND BRANCHES INTERFERING WITH LINES AND TRANSFORMERS.

HE ADDS THAT MOST POWER LINES IN THE STATE ARE OVERHEAD, RATHER THAN BURIED UNDERGROUND.

>> WE OFTEN GET THE -- THE MAJOR CAUSES OF OUR OUTAGES ARE VEGETATION.

>> BUT IN THAT CASE, WHY NOT JUST BURY THE POWER LINES.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT DESIGNING A LINE, WE LOOK TO DESIGN IT IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE COSTS ARE BORE BY ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT GOES INTO RATES.

SO WE WANT TO DO THAT IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.

>> BOTH HE AND DOUG CHILDS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UTILITIES DISTRICT OF WESTERN INDIANA REMC SAY BURYING THE LINES IN SOUTHERN INDIANA IS COMPLICATED BY ROCKY SOIL, WHICH CHILDS SAYS CAN MAKE UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION EVEN MORE TRICKY.

THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT OUTAGES IS TO LOOK AT MAINTENANCE.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT WAYS OF MODERNIZING AND UPDATING THE GRIDS WHICH MEANS REPLACING OLD PORCELAIN WITH POLYMER.

THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE WILL TEND TO HAVE MORE OUTAGES.

>> MOST UTILITIES IN THE COUNTRY, WHERE THEY ARE INVESTOR OWNED, MUNICIPALS, REMCs, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GETTING OLDER EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DO.

UNDERGROUND MAY BE COSTLY, BUT THEN IT COMES DOWN TO HOW MANY MILES CAN YOU DO IN A YEAR.

>> DUKE ENERGY HAS BEEN WORKING TO MODERNIZE THEIR GRID AND MAKING IT EASIER TO DETECT ISSUES WHEN THIS THEY COURT.

CHILDSAN CALLOWAY SAY IN NEWER NEIGHBORHOOD LINES ARE BURIED.

>> OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO INVEST MORE MONEY INTO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, DO A LOT OF REPLACEMENT, A LOT OF UPGRADES.

THERE'S NO CHEAP WAY AROUND THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT INCLUDES DOING MORE AND MORE TREE TRIMMING.

>> INDIANA RANKED 18th IN THE NATION FOR THE LONGEST POWER OUTAGES IN 2018.

MAINE WAS THE WORST.

POPE JUST WANTS HIS POWER TO STAY ON AND THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS IT AFFECTS HIS FAMILY AND OTHERS.

>> YOU KNOW, I I I I HAVE A LIZARD.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT, IF IT GOES OUT, IT WILL STAY 90 DEGREES IN THERE FOR HIM TO LIVE.

IF IT GOES BELOW 60 AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING A KID OR HAVING A KID THAT NEEDS THINGS HOOKED UP AND RUNNING AT ALL TIMES OR A FAMILY MEMBER THAT NEEDS THAT.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>>> THE INDIANA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM REACHED THE ELITE EIGHT LAST YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

AND WITH ALL THE FIVE STARTERS BACK THE HOOSIERS HAVE THEIR SIGHTS SET EVEN HIGHER.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> LAST YEAR WAS ONE LIKE NONE OTHER FOR THE INDIANA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE HOOSIERS WENT 21-6, FINISHED SECOND IN THE BIG TEN AND CLIMBED AS HIGH AS NUMBER NINE WITHIN THE NATIONAL POLLS AND CAME WITHIN A GAME OF REACHING THE NCAA FINAL FOUR.

>> LAST YEAR WAS GREAT, BUT NONE OF THAT REALLY MATTERS GOING INTO THIS YEAR.

WE ARE STARTING WITH KIND OF A BLANK SLATE AND WE HAVE EVEN BIGGER GOALS IN MIND AND BIGGER ASPIRATIONS.

>> HOLMES WILL BE A BIG PART OF HOW FAR INDIANA GOES THIS YEAR.

THE ALL-AMERICAN JUNIOR AVERAGED JUST UNDER 16 POINTS AND EIGHT REBOUNDS A GAME LAST SEASON.

SHE AND SENIOR GUARD GRACE BERGER WORE BOTH NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN.

BERGER ALSO PLAYED FOR TEAM U.S.A. >> I WAS THREE WEEKS STRAIGHT, PRACTICING TWICE A DAY, AGAINST THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY AND SEEING WHERE I STAND WITH THEM AND SEEING WHAT I NEED TO WORK ON, I THINK THAT WAS VALUABLE FOR ME.

>> THEY ARE JOINED BY ALLEY PATBERG, AND ALEXEI AND HILLARY AND THE STARTING LINEUP.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LUXURY TO HAVE, THE VETERANS, YOU DO THEM A DISSERVICE IF YOU ARE NOT STILL HOLDING THEM THE WAY WE ALWAYS HELD THEM AND THAT'S TO THE RISE STANDARD.

>> THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ON THE RISE UNDER MORAN.

NCAA HAS APPEARED IN THE NCAA TOWN -- INDIANA HAS APPEARED IN THE NCAA THREE TIMES.

INDIANA ENTERS THE SEASON RANKED NUMBER EIGHT, THE HIGHEST RANKING EVER.

THEY WILL BE TESTED AGAINST NUMBER 3 STANFORD AND NUMBER 5 N.C. STATE AND KENTUCKY AND MARYLAND IS RANKED NUMBER 4.

>> IT WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO, ONE, PLAY AGAINST THAT TYPE OF COMPETITION, AND TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR WHAT THE BIG TEN IS GOING TO OFFER, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN THIS YEAR.

>> AND WHILE THE TEAM REACHED NEW HEIGHTS LAST SEASON, THEY KNOW THERE'S MORE TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> WE HAVEN'T WON A BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE FINAL FOUR.

I THINK IN ALL OF OUR MINDS, WE ARE STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> THE INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYS AT NUMBER 9 MICHIGAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT, LOOKING TO END A FOUR-GAME LOSING STREAK AND THEY WILL BE RELYING ON DONOVAN McCAULEY AT QUARTERBACK.

>> A YEAR AGO, HE WAS PLAYING FOR A SECTIONAL TITLE.

SO THAT'S REALITY WHERE IT IS AND HE HAD TO GROW UP REALLY, REALLY FAST.

I THINK HIS POISE AND NATURAL CONFIDENCE IS STARTING TO SHOW.

>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY.