>>> MONROE COUNTY IS ENDING THE LEASES FOR A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT.

TENANTS AND BUSINESSES, OWNERS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT LOSING WHAT HAS BEEN AFFORDABLE SPACE.

>>> THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF BLOOMINGTON HAS OUTGROWN ITS CURRENT LOCATION JUST SOUTH OF THE I.U.

CAMPUS AND LOOKING TO PURCHASE ADJACENT LAND OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITIES.

AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT CHANGES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ON YOUR TAXES.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

MONROE COUNTY IS ENDING LEASES FOR RENTERS ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SECOND STREET AT COLLEGE AND BLOOMINGTON.

THE COUNTY BOUGHT THE LAND FOR A CONVENTION CENTER, BUT THAT PROJECT HAS CHANGED.

THERE'S NO SPECIFIC PLAN FOR WHAT'S NEXT.

ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS.

>> IN ONE OF INDIANA'S MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSING MARKETS, A TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT DOWNTOWN FOR UNDER $1,000 SEEMS LIKE A FAIRY TALE.

BUT WHEN HANNAH ODOM AND HER DAD LOST THEIR HOME SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THEY FOUND THAT IMPOSSIBLE SPOT AT SEMINARY POINT.

>> IT WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

IT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE B LINE AND NEXT TO CAMPUS.

>> THE BLOCK AT SECOND STREET AND COLLEGE CAMPUS CONTAINS 25 LOW RENT APARTMENTS FOR AS LOW AS $400, AS WELL AS A NONPROFIT AND SUCCESSFUL LOCAL BUSINESSES, A FRIENDLY BAR, AND JEFF'S WAREHOUSE.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CITY SAYS IT WANTS TO SEE.

RENT IS LOW BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS ARE OWNED BY COUNTY.

THAT'S HOW RESIDENTS LIKE ODOM AND JEFF'S WAREHOUSE HAVE KEPT A FOOTHOLD.

BUT THAT COMES WITH A CATCH.

>> THEY HAVE NEVER RAISED THE RENT AND THE RENT HAS BEEN VERY REASONABLE BECAUSE FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, EVERY YEAR THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN.

>> THE COUNTY BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 2010 WITH FUNS FROM AN INNKEEPERS TAX, SPECIFICALLY FOR EXPANDING THE NEARBY CONVENTION CENTER.

NOW THAT EXPANSION IS BEING BUILT ELSEWHERE AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD MANAGING THE PROJECT IS TAKING OVER THE LAND.

>> WE MADE A PROMISE ALONG WITH THE CITY, WHEN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD WAS FORMED THAT WE WOULD PLEDGE OUR PROPERTIES AND OUR COLLABORATION AND SO WHEN THE C.I.B.

CALLS FOR THE PROPERTY, WITH HE HAVE TO DELIVER THAT PROPERTY.

>> MOST RENTERS WERE TOLD THEIR LEASES WILL END ON JULY 7.

IT PROMPTED STRONG EMOTIONS IN COUNTY MEETINGS.

INITIALLY COUNTY AND CITY LEADERS PLANNED FOR THAT AREA TO BECOME PART OF A CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS BUT AS PLANS MOVED IN FITS AND STARTS OVER 15 YEARS, THE FOCUS OF THE PROJECT MOVED NORTH.

PLANNERS CHOSE A SPOT SEVERAL BLOCKS NORTH FOR THE EXPANDED CENTER AND DECIDED THE BUNGER AND ROBERTSON PROJECT IS A BETTER SPOT FOR THE HOTEL.

>> WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SOUTH, SOUTH, THAT FAR END, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE MOVING FARTHER AWAY FROM CONNECTIVITY TO THE RESTAURANTS TO THE GALLERIES AND THE PERFORMANCE SPACES.

>> THAT LEAVES OUT SECOND AND COLLEGE, WITH THE HAND OVER AND LEASE TERMINATIONS ARE SET.

>> WE KEEP WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE LIKE A PARKING LOT OR A PARKING GARAGE.

THEY WILL NOT TELL US.

>> SOME MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE C.I.B.

HAVE PROPOSED A NOVEL SOLUTION.

SINCE 2024, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE NO LONGER WANTS TO DONATE THE BUNGER AND ROBERTSON PROPERTY TO A HOTEL OWNER, HOPING TO RECOUP THE $7 MILLION THE LAST ADMINISTRATION SPENT ACQUIRING IT, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO IS EXPECTED TO PAY.

THAT'S WHERE THE EXCHANGE COMES?

>> WOULD THEY CHANGE THE SOUTH, SOUTHWEST PROPERTIES FOR THE BUNGER ROBERTSON.

>> NO WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SWAPPING LAND.

>> THOMSON RAN ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT THE CITY IS NOT INTERESTED IN THOSE APARTMENTS AS WELL.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CLARIFY THAT PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE IN DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUST A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD AND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY ADEQUATE.

>> SEMINARY POINT APARTMENTS HAVE A NUMBER OF STRUCTURAL ISSUES.

THEY HAVE LOST HEAT LAST WINTER AND RENTERS CONE WITH A SLEW OF ONGOING PROBLEMS.

>> EVERY TIME IT RAINS, MY DAD'S BEDROOM HAS ONE OR TWO HOLES IN THE CEILING AND TONS OF WATER WILL GET ON HIS BED.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH THE HOTEL BE BUILT AND, OF COURSE, THOSE RESIDENTS GET TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE ULTIMATELY.

BUT ON THOSE PROPERTIES, WE CAN DO MORE THAN 25 UNITS AND THOSE 25 UNITS IN PARTICULAR, THEY REALLY NEED TO BE REHABILITATED.

>> WEICKER SAYS IT'S NOT OPTIMAL BUT IF THE CITY WON'T AGREE TO THE CHANGE, THE C.I.B.

MIGHT OFFER THAT LAND TO A HOTEL DEVELOPER.

>> THE INCENTIVE WE HAVE IS LAND FOR YOU TO BUILD ON.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER INCENTIVES.

>> WITH THE MOVE OUT DATE APPROACHING AND TO PLAN FOR THE LAND, RENTERS PREPARE FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE THE INEVITABLE.

>> I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THE STUFF.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO RETIREMENT, I WILL HAVE TO LIQUIDATE A LOT OF -- THERE'S A LOT OF MERCHANDISE HERE.

>> IT REALLY DISHEARTENS ME LIKE HOW MANY HOUSING OPTIONS IN BLOOMINGTON ARE CATERED TOWARDS STUDENTS.

SO THEY'RE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE OR THEY'RE JUST THINGS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN RUN BY LIKE SLUM LORDS.

>> LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RENTAL BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN PREPARING ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS TO RELOCATE.

THE MONROE COUNTY APARTMENT ASSOCIATION IN COOPERATION WITH RALEIGH AGREEMENT PROPERTY COMPANIES SAYS IT WILL CONSTANT RESIDENTS ABOUT SIMILAR PROPERTIES, WAIVING APPLICATION FEES AND DEFERRING SECURITY DEPOSITS AND FIRST MONTH'S RENT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING OFFERS ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>>> WHILE SOME RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR THEIR APARTMENT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A LAND TRUST, THE COUNTY SAYS IT'S NOT LEGALLY POSSIBLE TO DO SO.

>>> TAXES ARE DUE IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH, AND IF YOU ARE LIKE MOST AMERICANS, YOU STILL HAVEN'T FILED YOUR TAXES YET, AND THIS YEAR FILERS WILL SEE SEVERAL CHANGES TO THEIR DEDUCTIONS DUE TO LAST YEAR'S PASSAGE OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

FOR THE LATEST ON THE CHANGES TO THE TAX CODE, WE ARE JOINED BY ALYSSA HAGGERTY, A CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME CHANGES THAT WILL IMPACT INDIVIDUALS.

>> WELL, ONE BIG ONE, THE CAP ON OUR STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS WAS INCREASED TO $40,000.

WE HAVE SEVERAL NEW INDIVIDUAL DEDUCTIONS, YOU CAN DEDUCT UP TO $25,000 IN QUALIFYING TIPS.

YOU MAY DEDUCT UP TO $12,500 OF OVERTIME PAY, THAT'S IN EXCESS OF YOUR REGULAR RATE OR $25,000 IF YOU ARE MARRIED FILING JOINTLY.

IF YOU PURCHASED A VEHICLE IN THE LAST YEAR AND FINAL ASSEMBLY WAS IN THE U.S., YOU CAN DEDUCT UP TO $10,000 OF THE INTEREST ON YOUR AUTO LOAN.

FINALLY FOR THE TAXPAYERS OVER 65, WE HAVE A NEW SENIOR DEDUCTION OF UP TO $6,000 PER ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK REQUIREMENTS AND PHASE OUT TO ENSURE THAT YOU QUALIFY.

>> WHEN SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT, OH, I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN OR I NEED HELP WITH ALL OF THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL OF THESE CHANGES.

>> ABSOLUTELY, WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT IF -- DEPENDS HOW COMPLEX YOUR TAX SITUATION IS.

IF YOU ARE PRIMARILY DEALING WITH W2 WAGES, YOU DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT TIPS OR OVERTIME PAY AND YOU ARE PLANNING ON CLAIMING THE STANDARD DEDUCTION, YOU CAN PROBABLY STILL FILE A RETURN YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EFILE OPTIONS.

IF YOUR TAX SITUATION GETS MORE COMPLEX.

IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL.

I TYPICALLY RECOMMEND CONSULTING A TAX PROFESSIONAL EVERY THIRD YEAR, JUST IN CASE YOU ARE MISSING ANY DEDUCTIONS OR CREDITS, YOU ARE STILL WITHIN THE WINDOW TO FILE A CLAIM FOR REFUND IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

SOMETHING ELSE I DIDN'T KNOW, IT'S CALLED TAX TORPEDO, WHERE IF YOUR INCOME IS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS CAN BE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE.

HOW DO YOU AVOID THAT?

>> I CAN ONLY GIVE GENERAL ADVICE, BUT EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.

THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THE TAX TORPEDO IS TO SHIFT INCOME INTO RETIREMENT VEHICLES WHERE WITHDRAWALS WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS THAT PROVISIONAL INCOME.

THAT WILL DETERMINE THE PROPORTION OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY THAT WILL BE TAXED.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ROTH I.R.A.s OR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, FOR QUALIFYING MEDICAL EXPENSES.

ONE PARTICULARLY POWERFUL STRATEGY IF YOU HAVE A TRADITIONAL I.R.A.

IS TO CONVERT THEM INTO A ROTH I.R.A.

EARLY IN RETIREMENT.

IT WILL ACCOMPLISH A FEW THINGS.

WHEN YOU CONVERT, THAT'S WHEN THE FUNDS WILL BE TAXED AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN YOUR TAX RATE IS LOWER.

IT WILL REDUCE THE REQUIRED MINIMUM TRADITIONS FROM THE TRADITIONAL I.R.A.

WHICH WOULD HAVE INCREASED THAT PROVISIONAL INCOME AND INCREASED THE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS THAT COULD BE TAXABLE.

AND YOU CAN GET WITHDRAWALS FROM YOUR ROTH I.R.A.

WHICH WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR PROVISIONAL INCOME.

>> ARE YOU SEEING ANY ISSUES SINCE THE D.O.G.E.

CUTS.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT EARLY TO TELL.

I WILL SAY THAT I.R.S.

IS OPERATING WITH FEWER PERSONNEL THIS SEASON, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE ALSO INVESTED IN A LOT OF MODERNIZATION EFFORTS TO TRY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.

I WOULD SAY MY BIGGEST ADVICE TO AVOID DELAYS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE EFILING EARLY AND MAKE SURE YOUR RETURN IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE.

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE I.R.S.

TO GO APP OR REACH OUT TO LOCAL TAX ASSISTANCE OPTIONS AS I.R.S.

CALL CENTER WAIT TIMES WILL LIKELY BE LONGER.

>> WE HAVE TO GO.

IF YOU HAVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR ANYONE FOR TAX SEASON, WHAT WOULD THAT?

>> IT WOULD BE JUST START.

YOU CAN FILE AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE IF YOU NEED, IT BUT IT'S NOT AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO PAY.

SO MAKE SURE YOU PAY BY APRIL 15th.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY AUBREY WRIGHT FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, AUBREY.

>> HEY, JOE.

THE EXTREME TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS WE ARE SEEING THIS WEEK IS THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR POTHOLES.

AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, THE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IS GEARED UP FOR POTHOLE SEASON.

POTHOLES FORM WHEN WATER SEEPS INTO CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT AND REPEATEDLY FREEZES AND THAWS EXPANDING THE CRACK UNTIL IT STARTS BREAKING THE PIECES OF PAVEMENT LOOSE.

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE A POTHOLE SEASON WHEN WE START TO GET A LOT OF WATER AND THE TEMPERATURES GO UP AND DOWN AND WE RUN FROM 70 DEGREES BACK DOWN TO 20 DEGREES.

IT'S THE FREEZE-THAW PERIOD WHEN WE START TO GET THE HOLES.

>> THE COUNTY RECEIVES FIVE OR SIX POTHOLE REPORTS EACH DAY ACROSS THE 600 MILES OF ROAD IT PLANS.

SINCE THE ASPHALT PLANTS ARE NOT OPEN DUE TO THE COLD, THEY HAVE COLD MIX, WHICH SOMETIMES HAS TO BE APPLIED MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL WARMER WEATHER ALLOWS FOR PERMANENT FIXES.

UNTIL THEN, SOME POTHOLES NEED TO BE FILLED MULTIPLE TIMES.

>> SOMETIMES THEY GET SO BIG THEY START CAUSING DAMAGE.

THEY PRIORITIZE LARGER POTHOLES THAT COULD CAUSE VEHICLE DAMAGE, AND LEAVE THE OTHERS FOR SMALLER ONES.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT AND GET SOME HOT MIX IN THOSE SMALLER AREAS OR SOME OF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AREAS THAT WE KNOW THE MATERIAL WE HAVE NOW IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> TURNER SAYS CREWS TYPICALLY REPAIR REPORTED POTHOLES WITHIN 24 HOURS.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WITH REPORTING FROM ELYSE PERRY, I'M PAT BEANE.

>> TO REPORT A POTHOLE, TURNER SAYS RESIDENTS CAN CALL THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT OR SUBMIT A REPORT ONLINE.

>>> A LAW TAKING EFFECT JULY 1st WILL INCREASE PENALTIES FOR ANIMAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE STATE TO FELONY STATUS.

IT WILL ALSO REMOVE PARTIAL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES WHEN A PERSON REMOVES A DOMESTIC ANIMAL FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MORE.

>> WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS ACTUALLY FILLS THOSE GAPS.

IT GIVES LANGUAGE AND CONSISTENT VOCABULARY TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY COME UPON IT, AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO PROSECUTE.

>> THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES HOARDING AND ANIMAL ABUSE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.

>>> GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK A $1 BILLION INVESTMENT TO EXPAND VARIOUS AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCE JOB IN CENTRAL INDIANA IN THE COMING DECADE.

IT WILL BRING IN MORE THAN 100,000 JOBS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

>> THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT WILL EMPOWER REGION-LED GROWTH, BRING IN MORE JOBS WITH HIGHER WAGES AND FURTHER ESTABLISH INDIANA AS A STATE FOR CUTTING EDGE LIFE SCIENCES.

>> BRAUN SAYS THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MEANT TO SIGNAL TO GLOBAL INDUSTRIES TO DO BUSINESS IN INDIANA.

>>> HOUSING INVENTORY AND OVERALL HOME AFFORDABILITY IN INDIANA WERE BOTH UP IN FEBRUARY.

STATEWIDE HOME SALES ROSE BY 17% OVER JANUARY.

MONROE COUNTY WAS AN EXCEPTION.

IT SAW A 9% DROP IN HOME SALES LAST MONTH.

>>> IN MONROE COUNTY, YOU TEND TO SEE MORE OF A SLOW START TO THE YEAR, BUT A LARGER SPIKE IN THE SPRING TIME, ESPECIALLY IN MARCH AND APRIL.

>> OWEN JOHNSON AND BROWN COUNTIES ALL SAW FEWER SALES LAST MONTH THAN AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

>>> INDIANA ATTORNEYS ARE FIGHTING EFFORTS TO ALLOW COLLEGE STUDENT I.D.s TO BE USED FOR VOTING.

THE STATE BANNED USING THOSE I. D.s IN ELECTIONS LAST YEAR BUT AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDENT AND TWO PRO DEMOCRACY GROUPS SUED SAYING THE LAW PLACES AN UNDUE BURDEN ON YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE PLAINTIFFS FILED FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO USE COLLEGE I.D.s.

MONROE COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS ESTIMATE TWO-THIRDS OF I.U.

'S STUDENTS VOTING IN 2024 DID SO USING THEIR STUDENT I.D.s.

>>> A PLAN TO BUILD A $4 BILLION, 130-ACRE DATA CENTER ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF MARION COUNTY WAS APPROVED WEDNESDAY BY THE METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

THAT'S DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.

FOR MONTHS, THEY HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE, ENERGY DEMAND, WATER USE, LACK OF JOBS AND THE PROJECT IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES.

>> THIS DATA CENTER DOESN'T BELONG IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA FOR THE IMPACTS ON HEALTH AND PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT OF YOUR PROPERTY FROM NOISE.

>> DATA CENTERS ARE A GROWING INDUSTRY.

MORE PROPOSALS ARE IN THE WORKS AROUND INDIANA, BUT, JOE, LIKE IN DECATUR TOWNSHIP, MANY OF THEM ARE FACING BACKLASH FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS.

>> YEAH, I'M SURE WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE ABOUT DATA CENTERS IN THE FUTURE.

AUBREY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," BLOOMINGTON MAYOR KERRY THOMSON TALKS FLOCK CAMERAS, KIRKWOOD AVENUE AND TREE REMOVAL.

AND THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF BLOOMINGTON IS LOOKING TO BUY ADJACENT PROPERTY TO EXPAND ON TO.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, I SPOKE WITH BLOOMINGTON MAYOR KERRY THOMSON FOR THIS WEEK'S ASK THE MAYOR INSTALLMENT.

SHE ADDRESSED A NUMBER OF ISSUES FACING THE CITY, ONE IS THE CITY COUNCIL'S REQUEST FOR THE CONTRACT AND INTERACTIONS WITH FLOCK.

THE COMPANY PROVIDING AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READINGS TO THE CITY.

SHE SAYS SHE'S IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE REPORT, AND WILL HAVE IT READY BY THE APRIL 15th DEADLINE.

>> WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME PRACTICES WE CAN PUT INTO PLACE, LIKE INTERNAL AUDITS ON WHO -- WHO IS LOOKING AT OUR DATA ONLINE, WHO IS PRODUCING REQUESTS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CONTROLS SET AS TIGHTLY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH WE ALREADY DID.

BUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS INVESTIGATION TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH FLOCK.

WE ARE -- WE ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH WHAT COUNCIL HAS JUST ASKED FOR.

SO REGULAR REPORTING AND -- AND WE WILL PRODUCE A REPORT FOR THEM ON THE -- BY THE DEADLINE THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND IT HAS CAUSED US TO HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH FLOCK AND INTERNALLY ABOUT OUR -- ABOUT OUR CONTROLS INTERNALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PROVIDING ANYONE'S DATA.

WE ARE NOT SURVEILLING OR OBSERVING FOLKS AND WE'RE NOT LETTING OTHERS DO THAT.

>> THE DECISION TO NOT CLOSE KIRKWOOD AVENUE TO TRAFFIC THIS YEAR FOR STREET DINING REMAINS A TOPIC OF DEBATE.

CITY COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED A VOTE TO MAKE CLOSING KIRKWOOD TO TRAFFIC PERMANENT, BUT HAS YET TO TAKE ACTION.

RESIDENTS SAY CLOSING KIRKWOOD PERMANENTLY FROM INDIANA TO WALNUT WOULD PROTECT AND BENEFIT PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES.

HERE'S WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY ABOUT KIRKWOOD.

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE WON'T HAVE A TEMPORARY CLOSURE THIS YEAR, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS REALLY A -- WE STUDIED THE DATA AND HOW IT WAS WORKING.

KIRKWOOD SERVES MANY, MANY PURPOSES.

IT -- IT SERVES AS, OBVIOUSLY, BUSINESS THOROUGHFARE, BUSINESSES NEED DELIVERIES.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SAFE ACCESS, PARKING, ET CETERA.

AND SO AS WE STUDIED IT, THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS DECIDED NO TEMPORARY CLOSURE THIS YEAR AND THAT WE WOULD DO PARKLETS AND -- AND THAT IS A -- YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY BE DISAPPOINTED TO NOT HAVE THAT SORT OF PARISIAN FEEL OF SORT OF EATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

I TOO ENJOY THAT.

AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY FOR FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE KIRKWOOD SORT OF THE -- EVEN MORE OF THE GATEWAY TOURIST EXPERIENCE AND -- AND QUALITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT MANY OF US TREASURE ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM SAMPLE GATES ALL THE WAY TO THE B LINE.

AND SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES OF KIRKWOOD.

THAT MAY MEAN A PERMANENT CLOSURE.

THAT'S NOT OFF THE TABLE ENTIRELY.

BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER SOLUTIONS TOO.

SO WE ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THOSE.

>> AND LAST MONTH, THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCED AS PART OF THE PLAN WORK, STATE ROAD 45 AND PETE ELLIS DRIVE, THAT 50 INDUSTRIES WOULD BE REMOVED -- TREES WOULD BE REMOVED BUT AFTER PUSHBACK FROM RESIDENTS, THE CITY AND IN-DOT AGREED TO LOWER THAT NUMBER BY TEN.

THOMSON PRAISED THE AGREEMENT.

>> THANKS TO LOTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, WE WERE ABLE TO ADVOCATE WITH IN-DOT TO SAVE MORE THAN HALF OF THE TREES ON PETE ELLIS DRIVE.

AND SO THERE WERE 15 THAT WERE PLANNED TO BE TAKEN DOWN, AND -- AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM TO GET THAT DOWN TO JUST SEVEN.

>> AND THAT CAME FROM A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTCRY.

>> A LOT OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ON THAT, AND -- AND I HAVE TO SAY OUR LEGAL AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS DID A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH THEM TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY ENTIRE ASK THE MAYOR CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR THOMSON.

PAST EPISODES WITH HER, MAYORS OF TERRE HAUTE AND COLUMBUS ON OUR WEBSITE, WTIUNEWS.ORG.

>>> THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF BLOOMINGTON IS OUTGROWING ITS SPACE ON ATWATER JUST SOUTH ID OF THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND AS NATALIE FITZGIBBONS REPORTS, THEY ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE VACANT LAND OWNED BY I.U.

NEXT TO THE MOSQUE.

>> IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AN INCREASING NUMBER OF I.U.

STUDENTS HAVE COME TO THE MOSQUE.

>> THE CAPACITY OF THE BUILDING IS LIKE 250 PEOPLE.

OUR CONGREGATION NOW IS MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE.

THE REGULAR ATTENDEES ARE MORE THAN 750 PEOPLE.

>> THE CENTER CREATED A PETITION IN DECEMBER TO SEEK COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE EXPANSION.

SAED SAYS THEY PLAN TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL TO I.U.

NEXT WEEK.

THE MOSQUE'S MAIN SERVICE ON FRIDAYS HAS BEEN SPLIT INTO TWO SERVICES TO HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR PRAYER AND PARKING, BUT STILL HAS BEEN OVERCROWDED.

>> I WOULD SAY EVERY OTHER SERVICE, I HAVE TO CUT THE SERVICE IN THE MIDDLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THERE IS A CAR PARKING SOMEWHERE IN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SHOULDN'T BE PARKING.

>> FOR RAMADAN, THEY PLACED MEALS.

THEY PLACED TENTS OUTSIDE TO SERVE ABOUT 450 PEOPLE, WHICH CREATES ITS OWN ISSUES WITH THE WEATHER AND TENT STABILITY.

FOOD IS NOT ALLOWED.

>> IT IS NOT HOLY, AND ONE OF THE TENTS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TWO DAYS AGO FELL DOWN.

AND NOW WE HAVE TO SQUEEZE PEOPLE INSIDE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE WAY HERE TO SHARE.

>> HE SAYS EXPANDING TO THE LOT I.U.

OWNS ADJACENT TO THE MOSQUE, WOULD KEEP IT ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE CARS AND WALKING TO THE CAMPUS.

>> WE WANT TO BE HERE FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THIS HELP AND AWAY FROM HOME.

I WOULD SAY ALMOST ALL THE STUDENTS ARE AWAY FROM HOME AND FOR THEM, THIS IS A SECOND HOME.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M NATALIE FITZGIBBONS.

>> AND INDIANA FOOTBALL COACH CURT CIGNETTI WILL BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR THE HONORARY PACE CAR AT THIS YEAR'S INDIANAPOLIS 500.

HE WILL DRIVE A CHEVROLET CORVETTE, ZR1K THAT'S TOUTED AS THE MOST ADVANCED CORVETTE EVER MADE AT THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN RACING.

THAT'S MAY 24th.

CIGNETTI LED THE HOOSIERS TO THE UNDEFEATED SEASON LAST SEASON.

HE'S WON THE A.P.

COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD IN EACH OF HIS TWO SEASONS AT INDIANA.

WELL, 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.

ENJOY THIS WEATHER!

♪ >> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE