♪♪ >> MAJOR CHANGES TO THE STATE'S >> MAJOR CHANGES TO THE STATE'S COVID-19 DASHBOARD.

A LAWSUIT AGAINST TODD ROKITA OVER PRESS ACCESS IS OVER.

PLUS, E-LEARNING LIMITS AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 1, 2022.

♪♪ INDIANA INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW INDIANA INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.

>> THIS WEEK, THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MADE MAJOR CHANGES TO ITS COVID-19 DASHBOARD - WHICH INCLUDES REMOVING INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN AVAILABLE FOR MUCH OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE STATE SAYS THE CHANGES TAKING EFFECT WEDNESDAY ARE PART OF ITS CONTINUED MOVE TOWARD SURVEILLANCE OF THE VIRUS, RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO TRACK EVERY CASE.

>> GONE WILL BE DAILY UPDATES - INSTEAD, THE DASHBOARD WILL UPDATE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY.

GONE, TOO, IS DATA THAT SHOWS HOW MANY HOSPITAL BEDS AND VENTILATORS ARE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STATE.

NOW, IT WILL FOCUS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID AND COMPARE THAT TO PREVIOUS PERIODS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE STATE HAS ALSO ELIMINATED POSITIVITY RATES WITH THE UPDATE.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THAT'S IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING STANDARDS.

BECAUSE OF THE PREVALENCE OF AT-HOME COVID TESTS AND NO REPORTING MECHANISM WHEN THOSE ARE POSITIVE, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION IS PUSHING STATES TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT METRIC.

IDOH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DOCTOR LINDSAY WEAVER SAYS THE DASHBOARD WILL FOCUS ON WHAT SHE CALLS A “BETTER MEASUREMENT” - THE IMPACT COVID IS HAVING ON THE STATE'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND HOSPITALS .

>> DO THESE CHANGES SIGNAL A LARGER SHIFT INTO A SORT OF POST-COVID WORLD?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

REPUBLICAN, ANN DeLANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

THAT WAS A LITTLE APRIL FOOL'S JOKE ON APRIL 1.

>> SOME WEEKS YOU CAN'T TELL, THOUGH.

>> ANN DELANEY, ARE THESE CHANGES A GOOD THING?

>> I THINK HE ARE.

I THINK THEY'RE A RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE MOVED BEYOND AND EVERYBODY HAS AT-HOME TEST KITS AND DON'T REPORT RESULTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

I ASSUME THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS TRACKING WHICH OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE COVID AS OPPOSED TO THE NUMBER OF BEDS OCCUPIED.

SO I THINK IT IS A PROGRESSIVE THING THAT REFLECTS THE CONCERN THAT EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE THAT THE SYSTEM NOT BE OVERWHELMED AGAIN IF THERE'S A NEW STRAIN OF THE VIRUS THAT COMES FORWARD.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IS THIS, LIKE I SAID, PART OF A LARGER SHIFT TO WE'RE MOVING BEYOND THIS CONSTANT FOCUS ON COVID?

>> YES, AND ALLELUIA.

>> AMEN.

>> WITH TEARS LATER.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS TWO-YEAR PROCESS NOW.

NATIONALLY WE HAVE 90% OF AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 65 FULLY VACCINATED, 70% IN THE 70s.

FOR THOSE UNDER.

THAT'S -- AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT.

AT SOME POINT THIS HAD TO SHIFT FROM THE GOVERNMENT KEEPING ITS FINGER ON YOU TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET SICK, CONTINUED HOSPITALIZATION FOR THE UNVACCINATED.

THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT ON YOURSELF AND NOT EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE PUTTING THESE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.

YOU LOOK AT OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, CHINA IN PARTICULAR GOING THROUGH MASSIVE LOCKDOWN, OPPRESSIVE LOCK DOWNS BECAUSE THEY WANT ZERO COVID.

THEY'RE FINDING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MANAGE.

WE'RE WELL BEYOND THAT.

>> NIKI, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TOOK AWAY WAS THE THIS IS THE PERCENTAGE OF AVAILABLE BEDS AND VENTILATORS.

AS JOURNALISTS, WE USED THAT TO REFLECT HOW BAD IT IS.

THEY CAN SEE IT, BUT WE CAN'T SEE IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL LEVEL.

TO GIVE HOOSIERS, AGAIN, IN THE CASE OF A FUTURE SURGE, THIS IS HOW BAD IT'S GOTTEN.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT.

>> IN THE PAST WEEK, COULD SAY, FOR INSTANCE, IN DISTRICT 3, IN NORTHEAST INDIANA, THERE WERE ONLY 12ICU BEDS LEFT.

NOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, WE WON'T KNOW THE TOP NUMBER OF BEDS.

THEIR ARGUMENT IS WELL THAT NUMBER IS NOT STATIC, LIKE IT EBBS AND FLOWS, THEY CAN ADD AND TAKE BEDS AWAY.

THEY DON'T THINK IT IS VERY HELPFUL.

I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC IT IS MASSIVELY HELPFUL.

OTHERWISE HOW DO YOU PROPERLY EXPLAIN IF INDEED THE HOSPITAL IS OVERWHELMED IF YOU CAN'T SAY HOW MANY BEDS THEY HAVE AND HOW MANY THEY HAVE LEFT?

>> JON, IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HURTING ITSELF BY TAKING THAT NUMBER AWAY IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING IN A POTENTIAL FUTURE SURGE HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS?

>> I SUPPOSE IT WOULD BE GREAT IN AN IDEAL WORLD TO HAVE THAT.

>> THAT DATA IS THERE, WHY NOT USE IT?

>> MAKING IT AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS.

IT'S EASE OF USE, THE FACT THAT YOU CAN TAKE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA SETS AND CRUNCH THEM IF YOU WANT TO BE -- PLAY SOCIOLOGIST, YOU CAN LOOK AT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS, RACE, GENDER, IF YOU HAVE IT AVAILABLE, WHY NOT?

NO REASON NOT TO.

BUT AS WE TALK ABOUT MOVING BEYOND THIS, AND WE ALL ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT USED TO EMERGE FROM THESE DAILY UPDATES WAS THE NUMBER OF HOOSIERS WHO HAD PERISHED BECAUSE OF THIS.

AND FOR 22, 23,000 FAMILIES, WE MAY BE MOVING ON, BUT FOR THEM, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A HOLE IN THEIR LIVES AND WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT BEFORE WE CELEBRATE TOO ENTHUSIASTICALLY, I SUPPOSE.

>> YOU KNOW, IF WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SURGE, THERE IS NOTHING TO SAY THEY CAN'T COME BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION.

>> TRUE.

>> YOU HAVE HOSPITALS, AND THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, WHICH WAS VERY VOCAL, BACK IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY SOUNDING AN ALARM.

I'M SURE THEY WOULDN'T SIT THERE ON THEIR HANDS, I'M SURE WE WOULD HEAR FROM THOSE FOLKS IF THEY SENSED THERE WAS SOMETHING TO PANIC ABOUT.

>>.

>>.

>> A LAWSUIT AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA OVER PRESS ACCESS IS OVER.

ROKITA BACKED DOWN AFTER HE BARRED LONGTIME POLITICAL WRITER ABDUL-HAKIM SHABAZZ FROM ATTENDING HIS NEWS CONFERENCES.

>> ROKITA CLAIMED SHABAZZ WAS NOT A “REAL” JOURNALIST, CALLING HIM A GOSSIP COLUMNIST.

SHABAZZ HAS LONG HAD MEDIA CREDENTIALS THAT GIVE HIM ACCESS TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS.

AND NO OTHER POLITICAL OFFICIALS HAD BARRED HIM FROM THEIR EVENTS - INCLUDING ROKITA'S PREDECESSORS IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THE ACLU SUED ROKITA ON SHABAZZ'S BEHALF, ARGUING THE STATE'S HIGHEST LEGAL AUTHORITY WAS IN “CLEAR VIOLATION” OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

NOW, THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED TO END THE CASE, WITH ROKITA AGREEING TO ALLOW SHABAZZ TO ATTEND HIS NEWS CONFERENCES - LIKE ANY OTHER JOURNALIST.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, WHAT DID TODD ROKITA GET OUT OF THIS?

>> NOT MUCH.

THE SETTLEMENT WAS, ABDUL IS A MEMBER OF THE PRESS, HAS TO BE ADMITTED TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

I GET WE LIVE IN THIS WORLD RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE JOURNALISTS, ALLOW THESE PEOPLE PURPORTING TO BE JOURNALISTS ON TELEVISION ARE NOT, THE SHOCK JOCK ECHO CHAMBER MEDIA IN A LOT OF PLACES.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED OFFICIALLY, YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHO THE MEDIA IS OR ISN'T.

IF YOU'RE CREDENTIALED WALKING INTO THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THEN DON'T HAVE THE PRESS CONFERENCE OR DO A SITDOWN INTERVIEW WITH SOMEBODY YOU THINK IS GOING TO WRITE A BETTER STORY, OR MIBLG THE QUESTIONS ON THE FRONT END -- MANAGE THE QUESTIONS, OR IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE COVERAGE, YOU CAN TRY TO INFLUENCE.

IF YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU DON'T GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO GETS TO BE IN THE ROOM.

>> THEY SAY ALL PUBLICITY IS GOOD, IS THAT TRUE HERE?

>> I MEAN, ROKITA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE SAY WHAT A GREAT JOB HE'S DOING, BECAUSE HE'S DOING A TERRIBLE JOB REPRESENTING INDIANA, FRANKLY.

BUT TO HIS BASE, YOU KNOW, HE STOOD UP TO A BLACK JOURNALISTS WHO WASN'T BEING FAIR TO HIM.

AMONG HIS BASE THAT PROBABLY EARNED HIM BROWNIE POINTS, HAD HE NO LEG TO STAND ON.

MIKE IS RIGHT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE, EVERYBODY WHO HAS CREDENTIALS WHETHER THEY WRITE GOOD STORIES ABOUT YOU OR NOT.

THEY GET TO GO.

THEY WASTED TIME AND RESOURCES, TIME AND RESOURCES HE COULD HAVE PUT TO USE IN A MORE DESTRUCTIVE WAY.

>> HE'S ALSO A CONSERVATIVE REPORTER.

>> THAT'S THE FUNNY PART.

>> RACHEL MADOW.

> ATTORNEY GENERAL ROKITA LOST THE BATTLE.

HE'S A REPUBLICAN.

REPUBLICAN/LIBERTARIAN, ABDUL ISN'T.

SO HE COULDN'T SAY, WELL I'M KEEPING THE BIG BAD LIBERAL MEDIA OUT.

SO I'M NOT SURE HE GAINED ANYTHING.

FRANKLY, IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST SORT OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

WE DON'T WANT ABDUL IN HERE, THEY DIDN'T THINK IT THROUGH THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP, WHEN HE GOT THE ACLU TO FILE THE LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF THEM, I'M SURE THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHOCK.

>> I WANT TO ASK THIS.

THE STATEMENT THAT HIS OFFICE SENT OUT AFTERWARDS CELEBRATING THE END OF THE LAWSUIT, NO LONGER SPENDING TAX DOLLARS.

IT CONTINUED TO PUSH THIS LINE THAT WE CAN BAR ANYBODY WE WANT FROM OUR PRIVATE PRESS CONFERENCES, SO THE FACT THAT THIS LAWSUIT WASN'T RESOLVED IN A WAY THEY WERE FORCED, IT WAS A SETTLEMENT.

ARE WE GOING TO FACE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TODD ROKITA OR ANOTHER INDIANA POLITICAL OFFICER IN THE FUTURE?

>> WE MAY WELL.

AND IT PROBABLY WOULD BE LITIGATED AGAIN.

IT IS SUCH A CLEAR CUT CASE THAT ANYBODY WHO HAS A LAW DEGREE, AND I PRESUME THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LAW LICENSE IS STILL ACTIVE.

IT WOULD BE PERHAPS MALPRACTICE TO ENGAGE WILLINGLY IN THIS KIND OF LAWSUIT KNOWING WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE AND THE EXPENSE ASSOCIATED.

YOU ASK WHAT TODD ROKITA WOULD GET OUT OF IT.

THERE IS NOTHING AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, OF COURSE.

IF YOU LOOKED AT THAT STATEMENT, BRANDON, IT WAS A CHANCE TO BANG ON THIS BOOGEYMAN, THIS SORT OF THAT -- AND WE SAW WITH DONALD TRUMP, TOO.

HE DIDN'T USE THE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE WORD TRUMP USED ENEMY OF THE MEDIA, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS FROM THE PLAY BOOK.

WITH TECHNOLOGY WE CAN TALK DIRECTLY TO VOTERS, AND WE THE PEOPLE, WAS REFERENCES TO DEFENDING THE PUBLIC.

AND REALLY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO INFER MUCH THAT IT WAS WE WERE THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, JOURNALISTS WERE SOMEHOW NOT ONLY IRRELEVANT BUT AN OBSTACLE TO THE SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

THAT KIND OF RED MEAT TO THROW, EVEN THOUGH IT IS B.S.

>> AND CLEARLY NOT LEGAL.

HE WOULD DO IT ANYWAY.

>> THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, HEY, THANKS FOR STANDING UP.

>> I SUPPOSE HE ALREADY HAD THOSE PEOPLE ON HIS SIDE.

>> PROBABLY DID.

>> TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: WHO CAME OUT THE WINNER IN ABDUL-HAKIM SHABAZZ'S LAWSUIT AGAINST ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA OVER PRESS ACCESS?

A. ABDUL-HAKIM SHABAZZ.

B. TODD ROKITA.

C. BOTH.

D. NEITHER.

I KNOW HOW I WOULD VOTE.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD THE U.S. MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME >> WILL GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S BILL GIRL'S SCHOOLS VOTE.

33% SAY YES, 60% NO.

I'M SURPRISED AT THAT ONE.

IF YOU WOULDLIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

SCHOOLS WILL BE LIMITED TO USING SORRY ABOUT THAT.

SCHOOLS WILL BE LIMITED TO USING JUST THREE E-LEARNING - OR VIRTUAL LEARNING - DAYS EACH YEAR UNDER A NEW INDIANA LAW.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS, SCHOOLS WERE SURPRISED BY THE CHANGE, AND ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAYS SOME WILL BE CHALLENGED BY IT MORE THAN OTHERS.

>> THE NEW LAW INCLUDES REQUIREMENTS FOR WHAT A VIRTUAL LEARNING DAY LOOKS LIKE, AND IF SCHOOLS NEED MORE THAN THREE OF THEM A SCHOOL YEAR, THEY'LL HAVE TO APPLY FOR A WAIVER.

BUT THE SUDDEN CHANGE BY LAWMAKERS HAS LEFT MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT WILL WORK.

FORT WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SPOKESPERSON KRISTA STOCKMAN SAYS, DISRUPTIVE WEATHER, LIKE SNOW, MEANS SOME SCHOOLS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE LIMIT MORE CAREFULLY THAN OTHERS.

>>KRISTA STOCKMAN: IT REALLY HITS THE SCHOOLS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE MUCH MORE THAN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

>> MORE INFORMATION IS COMING SOON THOUGH - THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS IT'S BUILDING A VIRTUAL LEARNING DAY CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR SCHOOLS IF THEY NEED MORE FLEXIBILITY.

>> JON SCHWANTES, IS THIS TYING THE HANDS OF SCHOOLS TOO MUCH?

>> CERTAINLY THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE SAYING, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE WHERE THEY'RE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ICE AND SNOW AND OTHER SORTS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT MAKE IT UNWISE TO HOLD SCHOOL, TRADITIONAL CLASSES.

THE OTHER THING THAT STRIKES ME -- WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WORD TO USE.

BUT THERE IS SOME MAYBE CONFUSION ABOUT THE MESSAGING HERE, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THIS BILL, WHICH SURPRISED THIS LAW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, THERE WAS A BILL INTRODUCED THAT WOULD HAVE DONE THIS.

BUT IT NEVER GOT A HEARING.

IT WAS ASSIGNED A COMMITTEE, NEVER GOT A HEARING.

AT THE SAME SESSION, YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS TELLING SCHOOL BOARDS THEY NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT, AND THESE SORTS OF FORMAL PROCESS, SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN WEIGH IN ON DECISIONS BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTES.

YOU HAVE A MEASURE THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT NEVER HAD A HEARING, NEVER -- THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYBODY PRO, CON, TO WEIGH IN ON IT AT ALL.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BLIND-SIDED.

AND IT WAS JUST ONE OF MANY TIMES OF THINGS.

YOU HAVE A SESSION WHERE PEOPLE THAT WERE LAWMAKERS WHO SAID WE NEED TO RETURN MORE POWER TO SCHOOLS.

THEY CAN SET THEIR OWN LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, OR DISPENSE WITH THEM.

AND THEN THIS, WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT CONSTITUTES A VIRTUAL AND TRADITIONAL LEARNING DAY AND YOU'RE GOING TO ADHERE TO IT.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY SCHIZOPHRENIC, BUT IT IS CONFUSED.

>> HOW MUCH DOES THIS POTENTIAL WAIVER PROCESS MAYBE BLUNT THE IMPACT OF THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT DOE SAYS.

JUST BECAUSE -- SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

>> THERE WERE HEARINGS ON THAT BILL.

PEOPLE COULD SPEAK ON THAT PART OF THE BILL THROUGHOUT SESSION.

JUST BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL BILL DIDN'T GET A HEARING, DIDN'T MEAN PEOPLE DIDN'T COME AND SPEAK ON IT IN THE BILL IT WAS IN.

SECONDLY, I'M JUST OLD SCHOOL HERE.

WE SOMEHOW DEALT WITH SNOW DAYS BEFORE, YOU PAD A COUPLE ON TO YOUR SCHOOL YEAR, AND THIS STILL GIVES THEM AN ADDITIONAL THREE FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN.

SO, AND I THINK IT RECOGNIZES THAT WHILE WE SEE E-LEARNING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME TIMES, WE ALSO SAW WHEN WE USED IT TOO MUCH THAT IT RESULTS IN SOME LEARNING ISSUES.

>> THE THING THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THIS BILL.

AFTER WE HAD TO USE IT SO MUCH, WE LEARNED SO MUCH, THERE WERE MORE RESOURCES FOR E-LEARNING BECAUSE THERE HAD TO BE ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE PUSH FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION.

WE NEED THESE RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS.

YET THOSE SAME THINGS IT SEEMS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE REASON FOR THE BILL, WHICH IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK IT ALSO REFLECTS THE SCISM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO DO SOME KIND OF A BALANCE, I DON'T THINK IT WAS GIVEN ENOUGH ATTENTION.

IT WAS DUMPED IN WITH A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT DREW MORE ATTENTION.

IT IS COMPLETELY COUNTER TO ALL OF THEIR THINGS ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK COMPLETELY TO E-LEARNING NOW, ANYWAY.

AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT IT'S BEEN ABUSED.

>>...A LOT OF DISTRICTS WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH BUS DRIVERS.

SO THEY WOULD GO E-LEARNING CONSTANTLY.

THAT WAS HAPPENING MORE.

WHETHER IT BE DIFFERENT REASONS, THEY WOULD BE LIKE, WE'LL DO AN E-LEARNING DAY, NO PROBLEM.

>> COVID IN THAT FACTOR.

>> NO.

I'M TALKING RECENTLY.

>> EVEN RECENTLY, THOUGH.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT TRYING TO FIND -- I THINK THE GOAL IS ALWAYS BALANCE, RIGHT?

IS JUST THREE DAYS A LITTLE TOO MUCH IN ONE DIRECTION, WOULD IT BE MORE LIKE YOU CAN'T HAVE X PERCENTAGE OF YOUR DAYS ELEANING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK THE DOE IS GOING TO MAKE A WAY TO MAKE IT PRACTICAL.

I THINK THIS IS -- I AGREE WITH NIKI, I THINK IT IS A REFLECTION OF WE'RE STATEHOUSE -- WHERE STATEHOUSE SESSIONS WERE WHERE SCHOOLS WERE RELYING HEAVILY ON E-LEARNING, COVID WAS CERTAINLY THE INITIALLY DRIVER.

THEY'VE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO AKE SURE SCHOOLS WERE AKE SURE SCHOOLS WERE PENALIZED, WHEN DOING THE DAILY COUNTS, THEY DO YOUR STUDENT COUNT AND BASE YOUR FUNDING ON IT.

TWICE A YEAR, FIRST IN SEPTEMBER.

IF YOU HAD A COVID OUTBREAK, AND YOU EXCEEDED THE ACCEPTABLE PERCENT, YOU GOT KNOCKED DOWN TO 85% FUNDING, YOU WERE CONSIDERED VIRTUAL LEARNING -- TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SITUATION WASN'T PENALIZING SCHOOLS UNFAIRLY.

>> I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO DO -- IF THE DOE GETS THIS RIGHT.

JUST IMPLEMENT IT IN A WAY THAT IS PRACTICAL AND BALANCES IT OUT.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

THIS IS AN OVERREACTION, THEY WASTED 100 MILLION IN MARIAN WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPERVISION, NOW THEY'RE GOING THE OTHER WAY, WAY TOO FAR.

THE PENDULUM WILL SWING BACK.

>> I'M OLD FASHIONED, YOU MENTIONED THIS, TOO.

I THINK YOU WOULD FARE BETTER IN THE CLASSROOM, I DID LEARN BETTER IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> REALLY?

>> TO THE EXTENT I LEARNED.

WE WILL SEE THE DAMAGE DONE NOT THROUGH THE FAULT OF -- TEACHERS TRIED, SOME DIDN'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

A NUMBER OF -- I'M NOT BLAMING, KIDS DO BETTER IN A CLASSROOM.

>> STATE POLICE THIS WEEK SAY THEY APPREHENDED FOUR TEENAGERS WHO ALLEGEDLY VANDALIZED THE INDIANA STATEHOUSE.

>> NEWS REPORTS SAID THE HOUSE CHAMBERS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING WERE DAMAGED SUNDAY.

AND A BENCH WAS THROWN FROM A BALCONY.

STATE POLICE SPOKESPERSON RON GALAVIZ SAID THREE GIRLS AND ONE BOY — AGES 13 AND 14 — ENTERED THE BUILDING ABOUT 4 P.M.

THROUGH ONE OF THE DOORS.

THEY WERE CAUGHT AFTER TRYING TO FLEE FROM CAPITOL POLICE.

PLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING HOW THEY GOT INSIDE.

THE BUILDING IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON SUNDAYS.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO FOCUS ON THE VANDALISM.

FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY JUVENILE.

ARE THERE SERIOUS QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED ABOUT SECURITY AT THE STATEHOUSE?

>> THE THING THAT IS BOTHERING ME, WE'RE FIVE DAYS AFTER IT.

THEY KNOW WHAT ENTRANCE THEY CAME IN, BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW THEY GOT IN.

IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS EASY -- I GO IN THIS ENTRANCE EVERY DAY.

MAYBE THE DOOR DIDN'T SHUT ALL THE WAY.

SOMETIMES YOU LET IT SWING AND IT JUST CATCHES.

ALSO THE HOUSE CHAMBER HAS ITS OWN LOCKS, TOO.

SO THE HOW THEY GOT IN, I AT LEAST HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REASONABLE EXPLANATION YET.

>> THIS ISN'T IN A VACUUM.

A FEW YEARS AGO WE SAW SOMEONE WITH A GUN ABLE TO GET INTO THE STATEHOUSE AND GO AFTER THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT.

THAT SITUATION WAS THANKFULLY RESOLVED PEACEFULLY.

THIS ISN'T JUST A RANDOM BUILDING.

THIS IS A GOVERNMENT BUILDING AT A TIME WHEN VIOLENCE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT IS IN VOGUE AMONG SOME FOLKS.

ARE THERE SERIOUS QUESTIONS?

>> I THINK SO.

NIKI HIT IT ON THE HEAD.

IF PEOPLE KNEW HOW THEY HAD GOTTEN IN.

AND THERE WAS SOME LAPSE, WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

THE NOTION OF HOW DID THIS HAPPEN OPENS THE DOOR TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE EGREGIOUS THAN BREAKING FURNITURE AND DEFACING PROPERTY, AS BAD AS THAT IS.

CERTAINLY IT IS A DEPARTURE FROM WHAT I REMEMBER, UNLESS YOU WERE TRYING TO GET THERE AFTER BUSINESS HOURS, THAT'S THE ONLY TIME YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER ANYBODY ASKING YOU WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

THE REST OF THE TIME ANY ENTRANCE WAS OPEN, COME, GO, YOU COULD COME FROM THE TUNNELS FROM ADJACENT BUILDINGS.

AND THOSE WERE SIMPLER DAYS.

IT IS A SHAME -- IT IS LOGICAL WHY WE HAVE THE SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE NOW.

SAD THAT THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE HAS TO BE A FORTRESS OF SORTS.

>> NIKI AND I WORK AT THE STATEHOUSE ALL OF THE TIME, YOUR HUSBAND WORKS OUT OF THE STATEHOUSE PRETTY REGULARLY.

DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT SEE SIGNIFICANT SECURITY MEASURES PUT IN PLACE?

BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY MORE THAN IT USED TO BE.

EVEN COMPARED TO OTHER STATE HOUSES, IT IS NOT THAT STRINGENT.

>> IT STRUCK ME AS SOMEWHAT INCONSISTENT.

IN THE TUNNELS THAT FEED INTO THE STATEHOUSE.

THERE IS A STATE TROOPER THERE, EVERYBODY WHO GOES INTO THAT TUNNEL -- EVERYBODY HAS TO SCAN THEIR CARD, WHETHER FIVE OF Y'ALL OR NOT, YOU HAVE TO SCAN YOUR CARD, IF YOU DON'T, THEY CALL YOU ON IT.

THERE IS LIKE FIVE OTHER DOORS THAT MY KEY CARD WORKS ON THAT THERE IS NOBODY.

JUST LIKE -- I'M NOT TRYING TO -- WE DID WITH THE PENCE ADMINISTRATION, HE HAD IT LOCKED DOWN, TROOPERS AT EVERY DOOR.

CHECK EVERYBODY'S ID, IF YOU WERE BYPASSING SECURITY.

STRUCK ME -- I'VE BEEN THERE 22 YEARS, STRUCK ME AS DIFFERENT AND INCONSISTENT OVER TIME.

>> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS, IT WAS JUST VANDALISM.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THOSE OF US WHO WORK AND SPEND TIME AT THE STATEHOUSE NOTICED BEFORE, THE INCONSISTENCY WITH SECURITY.

DOES MORE NEED TO BE DONE?

>> I THINK YOU PROBABLY NEED TO IN THIS CLIMATE.

WHEN YOU GO INTO THE -- FEDERAL BUILDING, YOU CAN'T GET IN A DOOR THAT DOESN'T HAVE MASSIVE SECURITY AND GUARDS.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

EITHER WITH THE PASS, WITH PEOPLE BEING POLITE AND HOLDING THE DOOR FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM.

IT HAPPENS.

AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, IT SEEMS TO ME, WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF EACH ENTRANCE WERE GUARDED.

AND THAT PROBABLY IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN.

>> IF EVERYONE IN THE STATEHOUSE WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE A HANDGUN.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO GET -- >> BECAUSE YOU HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT -- >> THEY COULD SHOOT IT OUT WITH THE 14-YEAR-OLD.

>> THAT'S APRIL FOOL'S.

>> SOMEBODY MIGHT THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THERE ARE CHANGES.

FINALLY, ALL THE INDIANA TEAMS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENTS .

SO, TOO, WAS OUR PICK FOR THE MEN'S CHAMP, GONZAGA.

THEY WERE BOUNCED BEFORE, I THINK MOST OF US THOUGHT.

MIKE O'BRIEN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

MIKE O'BRIEN, WHO WILL BE THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S 2022 FINAL FOUR CHAMPIONS?

>> BEGRUDGINGLY DUKE.

IT'S BEEN TOO RIGGED.

>> I WANT NOVA, A TEAM THAT ISN'T UNDER SOME KIND OF INVESTIGATION.

[LAUGHTER].

>> YEAH, I CAN'T ROOT FOR ANYONE LEFT.

I'M JUST STILL ON THE SAINT PETERS BANDWAGON.

I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND A WAY.

>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WONDERFUL STORY.

AMONG THE STORIES THAT EXIST, THE COACH K GOING OUT ON A HIGH NOTE WOULD BE ABOUT THE BEST STORY YOU CAN WRITE.

>> I THINK HATE IS A WORD USED A LITTLE TOO OFTEN.

I DON'T CARE FOR DUKE.

I HATE KANSAS ON THE OTHER HAND, SO I'M ROOTING FOR VILLANOVA.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE?

>> YUKON.

>> NO.

I WANT SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> YUKON.

>> YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY THE CASE.

HER PICK PROBABLY IS THE ONE TO GO WITH.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO RAN THE WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR WHEN IT WAS IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>> THAT GIVES ME INSIGHT.

>> IT GIVES YOU SPECIAL INSIGHT.

>> I'M ACTUALLY RIGHT WITH YOU.

I THINK SOUTH CAROLINA HAS LOOKED EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD ALL YEAR.

AND YUKON'S HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS.

>> I DON'T LIKE THAT COACH.

>> YEAH.

HE REMINDS ME A LITTLE OF COACH K, ACTUALLY.

INCREDIBLE SUCCESS.

>> BUT NOT LIKABLE.

>> CHECKED HIS VOTING RECORD?

>> NO, I HAVEN'T.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS POLITICS.

IT'S PERSONALITY.

>> WE'LL SEE IF OUR PICKS DO BETTER.

WE ALL HAD IU GOING DEEP INTO THE TOURNAMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY OF THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

♪♪ >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.