WFYI, ITÂ ™S INDIANA WEEK IN >> CURTIS HILL RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

ILEARN RESULTS SHOW POOR SCORES.

PLUS, CORN GROWERS WORRIED ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND MORE.

FROM THE TELEVISION STUDIOS AT WFYI, ITÂ ™S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 14, 2023.

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

>> THIS WEEK FORMER INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL, WHOSE LAW LICENSE WAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED WHILE IN OFFICE WHEN THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED HE CRIMINALLY BATTERED FOUR WOMEN, IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

HILL JOINS A CROWDED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR THE OPEN SEAT.

>> HILL HAD BEEN SEEN AS A RISING REPUBLICAN STAR BEFORE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE GROPED FOUR WOMEN, INCLUDING A STATE LAWMAKER, AT A LATE-NIGHT PARTY IN 2018.

DESPITE FACING CALLS TO RESIGN AND HAVING HIS LAW LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR A MONTH, HILL REMAINED IN OFFICE BEFORE LOSING RE-ELECTION AT THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION TO CURRENT AG TODD ROKITA.

HILL ALSO LOST A BIT FOR CONGRESS LAST YEAR IN A PRIVATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO REPLACE THE LATE JACKIE WALORSKI.

IN A STATEMENT, HILL SAYS HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT A PROVEN CONSERVATIVE LEADER WHO IS NOT BEHOLDEN TO WASHINGTON D.C. OR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUZANNE CROUCH, AND FORT WAYNE BUSINESSMAN ERIC DODEN ARE AMONG THE OTHER ANNOUNCED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

>> WHAT IS HILL'S PATH TO THE GOP NOMINATION?

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

DEMOCRAT LARA BECK, REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN, OSEYE BOYD, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ED FOR FOR THE INDIANA STAR, AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR IN CHIEF FOR THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF BRANDON SMITH.

MIKE O'BRIEN, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE LANE TO SUCCEED.

WHAT'S HILL'S LANE HERE?

>> I THINK THE LANE RIGHT NOW IS THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT BASE, RIGHT, THAT WENT TO BAT FOR HIM IN THE CONVENTION THAT TRIED TO DEFEND HIM WHEN ALL THE ALLEGATIONS WERE FLYING AND NEITHER DISMISSED IT AS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL OR KIND OF SAID WHAT HE SAID THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED.

THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE IN A FOUR OR FIVE-WAY RACE, THOUGH, WITH A LOT OF MONEY IN IT, YOU DON'T NEED 51% OF THE VOTE TO GET THE NOMINATION.

YOU NEED, LIKE, 30%, RIGHT?

>> MAYBE NOT EVEN THAT.

WITH FOUR SERIOUS CANDIDATES.

>> YEAH, WITH SERIOUS CANDIDATES SPREAD ACROSS.

THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR THAT PART OF THE BASE DO THEY STILL HAVE GAS IN THE TANK TO KEEP DEFENDING THIS GUY AND THEY HOLD ON TO THAT AND THERE'S ENOUGH ENERGY TO RALLY AROUND HIM?

IF THEY DON'T SEE ANOTHER OPTION, WHICH MAY NOT BE TRUE EITHER.

MAYBE YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER OPTION IN MIKE BRAUN.

DODEN, MAYBE CHAMBERS COMES IN, BRAD CHAMBERS.

MAYBE HE COMES IN.

THOSE GUYS KIND OF FILL A BUSINESS ROLE, AND MIKE BRAUN IS CENTRAL TO THAT.

HE IS ALSO PRETTY FAR RIGHT AS FAR AS THE BASE IS CONCERNED.

SO IF THAT PART OF THE BASE DOESN'T SEE ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE, THEN THEY CAN RALLY AROUND CURTIS HILL.

I DON'T SEE THAT DELIVERING THE ELECTION FOR THEM, BUT THAT'S THE BEST SHOT HE HAS GOT.

>> IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT CURTIS HILL'S LANE, I AGREE THAT IT DOES FEEL LIKE THE FAR RIGHT OF THE PARTY, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE PARTY IN THIS STATE, DIDN'T HAVE AN OBVIOUS CANDIDATE YET.

MAYBE MIKE BRAUN.

NOT REALLY ERIC DODEN.

SUZANNE CROUCH HAS CERTAINLY TRIED TO LEAN THAT WAY IN HER SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THAT'S RELATIVELY NEW, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE HAS THE ROOTS IN THAT COMMUNITY THE WAY CURTIS HILL DOES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME -- I THINK IT WAS INTERESTING THE STATEMENT I GOT FROM THE HILL CAMPAIGN ON MONDAY WHEN HE ANNOUNCED, HE USED THE WORDS WASHTINGTON D.C.

I THINK THREE TIMES.

IS IT MIKE BRAUN THAT HE IS CLEARLY GOING AFTER RIGHT NOW?

>> POSSIBLY.

I MEAN, I HAVE TO SAY MY COMMENTS ON CURTIS HILL ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY BRIEF BECAUSE I HAVE CURTIS HILL FATIGUE, IF NOT CURTIS HILL EXHAUSTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I THINK THE MOST -- >> ON THAT WE AGREE.

>> YEAH.

I SPEND CONSIDERABLE TIME READING ALL OF YOUR TWEETS FROM HIS HEARINGS, BOTH OF YOUR TWEETS FROM HIS HEARINGS, AND THAT WAS ABOUT AS MUCH AS I'VE HAD OF CURTIS SINCE THEN.

I AGREE WITH MIKE ON THE FACT THAT HE IS GOING TO TRY AND GET THAT FAR RIGHT PIECE, AND STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

WE ALL KNEW WHEN RICHARD LUGER LOST, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THAT PRIMARY, AND WE KNOW HOW PRIMARIES CAN BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MASSIVE EGOS OFTEN OUTWEIGH COMMON SENSE, AND THEY -- >> SHAME.

>> SHAME.

YEAH, ALL THOSE THINGS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY THAT HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY I'M GOING TO 92 COUNTIES, THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT GRASSROOTS, BUT HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

HE IS GOING TO BE UP AGAINST SOME REALLY STRONGLY-FUNDED FOLKS IN THE PRIMARY, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT SUZANNE CROUCH WHO BASICALLY ROLLS OUT AN ENDORSEMENT EVERY DAY OR EVERY OTHER DAY.

>> GENERALLY JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY.

>> I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW HIS PATH IS GOING TO LOOK, BUT HE COULD COMPLICATE THINGS, AND THAT CAN BE REALLY A PAIN.

>> IT FEELS STRANGE AND SAD TO SAY THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK THE ALLEGATIONS AND THE LAW LICENSE SUSPENSION AND ALL OF THAT WILL BE THE THING THAT HURTS CURTIS HILL THE MOST IN THE PRIMARY.

NIKI, HE IS NOT JUST FACING THREE PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE MONEY, BUT HE IS FACING THREE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THEY HAVE A TON OF MONEY, AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP MOVING IN THIS LATE, WITH HAVING SOME BAGGAGE.

I DO THINK HE IS SORT OF BANKING ON -- YOU MENTIONED HIM MENTIONING THE WASHINGTON D.C. A LOT.

HE IS BANKING ON SORT OF THIS NATIONAL TENOR.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE IS RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE NATION INSTEAD OF GOVERNOR OF INDIANA.

HE IS ANNOUNCING ON FOX NEWS DIGITAL AND DOING ALL THESE NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE HITS, SO HE IS TRYING TO, I GUESS, IMPROVE HIS NAME ID AND MAYBE DRAW SOME MONEY FROM OUTSIDE INDIANA.

>> THAT GETS HIS FACE OUT THERE TO HOPEFULLY THE KIND OF AUDIENCE HERE IN INDIANA THAT HE IS SEEING.

MAKING USE OF THE FACT THAT HE DOESN'T RIGHT NOW AT LEAST HAVE AS MUCH MONEY.

LET ME SAY THIS, THOUGH.

WILL HE HAVE TO FACE HEAD-ON WHAT HAPPENED WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE?

THE FACT THAT THE COURT SAID HE CRIMINALLY BATTERED THESE WOMEN.

WILL HE HAVE TO FACE THAT HEAD-ON IN THIS PRIMARY, OR CAN HE LARGELY IGNORE IT, IF THAT'S THE ROUTE HE DECIDES TO GO?

>> I THINK HE CAN TRY, BUT IF I'M HIS OPPONENT, I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN, AND I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY A WEAK SPOT FOR HIM.

SO WHY WOULDN'T I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT?

BUT TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE WASHINGTON D.C., I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY STRANGE BECAUSE I WAS, LIKE, WHO IS HE TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY?

WHO IS HE SIGNALLING TO, BUT YOU'VE GONE ON FOX.

NOTHING YOU HAVE DONE IS ABOUT INDIANA, BUT YOU WANT TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF INDIANA.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT HIS PAST IS GOING TO COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.

HE CAN TRY TO IGNORE IT AS MUCH AS HE WANTS TO AND PRETEND THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST, BUT I THINK HIS OPPONENTS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO USE IT AGAINST HEM.

>> WE HAD A PRETTY CROWDED FIELD AT THIS POINT IN 2003.

MITCH CAME IN AND KIND OF CLEARED THAT FIELD.

MARY CLARK, ALL THESE GUYS, DAVID MCINTOSH WERE ALL KICKING THE TIRES.

THEY WERE ALL KIND OF KICKING THE TIRES ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHAT ERIC MILLER'S ENTRANCE INTO THAT KIND OF HAD THIS MOMENT WHY WHERE IT WAS, LIKE, OH, WE HAVE TO CONSOLIDATE THE SAME PEOPLE INTO ONE GUY.

MITCH WAS CLEARLY THE GUY THAT EVERYBODY WANTED TO CONSOLIDATE TO, SO CURTIS DOES BRING THIS ELEMENT OF LET'S GET TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND MAYBE CHAMBERS AND DODEN, HILL SITTING AT 20.

ALL THIS IS THEORETICAL.

SUZANNE AND BRAUN ARE DOING WELL AND COMPETING, BUT THERE COULD BE AN ARGUMENT LATER THAT, HEY, WE CAN'T SCATTER THIS VOTE FIVE WAYS.

>> TRUE.

>> WE COULD WIND UP WITH -- >> THE OTHER THING TOO IS HE COULD BE TRYING TO BURNISH HIS NATIONAL PROFILE.

HE MAY BE ANGLING FOR A SPOT ON FOX NEWS.

HE MAY BE TRYING TO BE A FOX NEWS COMMENTATOR AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION IF THAT HAPPENS.

>> YEAH.

TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POST AN UNSCIENTIFIC ONLINE POLL QUESTION, AND THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS WHO SHOULD BE THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR?

MIKE BRAUN?

SUZANNE CROUCH?

ERIC DODEN?

CURTIS HILL?

OR SOMEONE ELSE?

I'LL JUST NOTE, I PUT THAT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

THERE'S NO SENSE OF FAVORITISM OR ANYTHING IN THE ORDER OF THAT LIST.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION, SHOULD THE STATE INVESTIGATE UTILITY COMPANIES' STORM RECOVERY EFFORTS?

77% OF YOU SAY YES.

23% SAY NO.

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

INDIANA STUDENTS MISSED OUT ON WEEKS OR MONTHS OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND STATE TEST RESULTS RELEASED THIS WEEK SHOW THE DISRUPTION IS STILL TAKING A TOLL.

FROM YFYI'S EDUCATION DESK, DYLAN PEERS McCOY REPORTS THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE FARING BETTER THAN OTHERS.

>> JUST THREE OUT OF TEN INDIANA ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MET THE STATE GOALS FOR MATH AND ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ON THE SPRING ILEARN EXAMS.

THAT'S SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SCORES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

CHARITY FLORES IS THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WITH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE SAYS THE OVERALL PACE OF LEARNING HAS STABILIZED.

MANY STUDENTS, HOWEVER, ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

>> AS SYSTEMS HAVE RETURNED TO THOSE NORMAL RATES OF LEARNING, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO RETURNED AT LEAST TO THE NORMAL RATES OF LEARNING?

>> STATE OFFICIALS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

ABOUT 8% PASSED THE EXAMS THIS YEAR.

>> LARA, WHAT IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION FOR WHEN OR MAYBE EVEN IF STUDENTS WILL FULLY RECOVER FROM LEARNING LOSS FROM THE PANDEMIC?

>> I WISH I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL FOR THAT.

I REALLY DO.

I KNOW THERE ARE -- AS A PARENT WE KNOW HOW CHALLENGING IT IS, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO EDUCATE YOUR KID DURING COVID AND THEN ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE FACED.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE SOME VERY WORTHWHILE INITIATIVES UNDERWAY TRYING TO GET KIDS BACK TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE AT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, BUT I DO THINK THAT SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY, THEY ARE REALLY FIGHTING I DON'T WANT TO SAY A LOSING BATTLE, BUT THEY ARE FIGHTING WARS ON SEVERAL FRONTS, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE THE ACADEMIC PIECE AND EDUCATING KIDS, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE JUST THIS MASSIVE SOCIAL UPHEAVAL THAT'S TAKING PLACE, AND YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS UNDERWAY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES, AND IT RUNS THE GAMBIT FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT SCHOOLS ARE DEALING WITH AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FACE.

I THINK ONE OF MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS WAS THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON SOME REALLY MEANINGFUL COMMON SENSE APPROACHES THAT CAN GET KIDS AHEAD, WE HAD SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO DECIDED TO FIGHT CULTURE WARS.

SO THEY'RE BASICALLY BANNING BOOKS THAT A LOT OF KIDS CAN'T EVEN READ AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN, AND YOU KNOW THAT ON ALL DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE AISLE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES AND GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO DO THIS, BUT I FEEL LIKE WITH THE LEGISLATURE THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT HELPING THIS AT ALL IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS -- WE DIDN'T SEE, I DON'T THINK, DEDICATED MONEY IN THIS BUDGET FOR LEARNING LOSS, BUT WE SAW THAT IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC BOTH IN 2021 AND 2022 AS WELL.

THAT'S HELPED IN THAT THE RATE OF LEARNING HAS RECOVERED.

IT SEEMS LIKE SORT OF SYSTEMS ARE BACK WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE, BUT ARE THESE -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A COHORT OF STUDENTS THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO KIND OF BE A LITTLE BEHIND?

IS THAT OKAY TO A CERTAIN -- TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE OPEN BOOK BAR EXAM.

THAT'S KIND OF A MARK ON YOUR RECORD.

LEGISLATURE DID TRY TO APPROPRIATE AND DIRECT CATCH-UP MONEY.

I THINK THIS IS COVID GENERALLY, THE WAY COVID WAS HANDLED BLUNTLY AND WITHOUT ANY POSTMORTEM -- PARDON THE EXPRESSION, BUT WHAT DID WE DO RIGHT, AND IF THIS HAPPENS GO OR WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, WHAT SHOULD WE NEVER DO AGAIN OR DO DIFFERENTLY?

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I THINK WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THAT COHORT IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EXACTLY WHAT IT ALWAYS WAS.

IT'S GOING TO BE KIDS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND KIDS IN POORER URBAN COMMUNITIES THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY SYSTEM BUILT THAT ALLOWED THEM TO JUST GO HOME THE NEXT DAY.

MY KIDS GO TO AVON.

THEY ALREADY HAD VIRTUAL LEARNING.

THE KIDS KNEW HOW TO USE THAT SYSTEM.

YOU WERE IN-PERSON IN SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY.

WE'RE ALL GOING HOME ON THURSDAY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, AND NO PROBLEM.

THEY FLIPPED THE COMPUTER ON, JUMPED ON THE INTERNET, AND THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO DO.

SO THE KIDS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE FAR MORE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP.

THE RESOURCES REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO THOSE AREAS THAT WE ALWAYS KNOW KIDS ARE BEHIND.

>> TO THAT END, SOMETHING LARA TALKED ABOUT, MY WIFE WORKS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS, AND WHAT YOU THINK A LIBRARIAN DOES IS -- THE TIMING IS PART OF WHAT A LIBRARIAN DOES, WHICH IS SHE'S A SOCIAL WORKER AND HELPING PEOPLE WITH JOB APPLICATIONED AND BENEFIT APPLICATIONS AND A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOOKS THAT ARE IN THE LIBRARY.

ARE IS THAT PART OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS THE TEACHERS ARE BEING EXPECTED TO DO SO MUCH MORE THAN TEACH, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AND POOR URBAN COMMUNITIES WHERE THE RESOURCES AREN'T THE SAME ANYWAY.

ISN'T THAT JUST MAKING ALL OF THIS HARDER AND HARDER?

>> I THINK IT'S MAKING IT HARDER, BUT I ALSO THINK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE LAWS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DECIDING WHAT TEACHERS DO DON'T KNOW WHAT TEACHERS ACTUALLY DO, AND SO, YES, IN SOME PLACE LIKE AVON MAYBE YOUR STUDENT DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS AND TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT TEACHERS IN IPS OR WARREN OR WAYNE ARE DEALING WITH.

WHO IS MAKING THE LAWS?

WE HAVE THE PARENTS IN HAMILTON COUNTY THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BOOKS.

YOU DON'T SEE THE PARENTS IN IPS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BOOKS BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION OF WHO HAS THE POWER AND THE SQUEAKY WHEEL ALWAYS GETS THE GREASE, SO NOW WE'RE CHANGING BECAUSE OF PARENTS IN COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE ISSUES, AND THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO DO.

SO WILL WE SEE THIS GROUP IMPROVE?

I DON'T KNOW.

DID WE ACTUALLY SET EXPECTATIONS ON WHAT THAT IMPROVEMENT SHOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

DID WE ACTUALLY SAY, OKAY, HERE'S WHERE THEY ARE.

HERE'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

WHAT DID WE DO TO ACTUALLY -- WHAT STRATEGY DID WE DO THAT MADE SENSE AND ACTUALLY WORK BECAUSE YOU SAID WE DIDN'T DO ANY KIND OF LOOKING BACK POSTMORTEM TO SAY WHAT THAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T WORK.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A REAL PLAN THAT I KNOW ABOUT TO SAY, OKAY, AND LET'S EVEN GO BACK FURTHER.

WE WERE ALREADY -- WE TALK ABOUT -- >> THIS WASN'T SOME -- >> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE WHEN I WAS ON THIS SHOW.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD ISSUES, AND I COVER EDUCATION, AND I ALWAYS WONDERED, WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE TEACHING INDIANA STUDENTS INDIANA STANDARDS AND THEY STILL DON'T DO WELL ON THE TEST MADE FOR INDIANA?

I NEVER HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME.

SO IF THEY'RE TEACHING THIS, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IS THAT -- WE'VE SEEN SO MANY CHANGES IN EDUCATION POLICY IN THIS STATE OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO WHERE AT TIMES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FATIGUE OF THAT, OF TRYING TO CONSTANTLY JUST CONSTANTLY MOVING THE TARGET, BUT RIGHT NOW -- >> WE'RE STILL CONSTANTLY MOVING THE TARGET.

WE ARE.

>> IS IT ALSO GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER TO EVALUATE WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WHEN THE SCORES ARE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC LOWER THAN WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE ANYWAY?

IS IT GOING TO BE HARD FOR US, AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE, TO GO IS THIS WORKING, OR ARE WE JUST TRYING TO CATCH UP?

>> WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE MOVED FROM ISTEP TO ILEARN, WHICH IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TEST.

NOW WE HAVE STREAMLINED THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE TEST AGAIN.

I WILL SAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID PUT SOME FUNDS INTO REMEDIATION AND TUTORING, BUT IT WAS KIND OF ALL VOLUNTARY, RIGHT?

SOME KIDS HAVE PARENTS WHO AREN'T GOING TO SIGN THEM UP FOR THAT AND AREN'T GOING TO SIT NEXT TO THEM AND DO THAT AT NIGHT AND DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT.

SO I DO WONDER, GOD, I DON'T WANT TO DO COMPULSORY STUFF, BUT WE KEEP PASSING THESE KIDS FROM ONE GRADE TO THE OTHER WHEN THEY CAN'T DO BASIC MATH AND BASIC ENGLISH, AND THEN WE THROW THEM INTO CALCULUS IN SEVENTH GRADE.

>> IT'S GOING TO CATCH UP TO THEM AT SOME POINT IN A REALLY SERIOUS WAY.

IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE NOW IT'S EITHER TIME FOR COLLEGE OR THE WORKFORCE.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WHEN THEY GET THERE AND ARE NOT AS PREPARED AS THEY NEED TO BE?

ETHANOL PRODUCERS, CORN GROWERS WORRY THAT A FEDERAL RULE ON TAILPIPE EMYINGS COULD LEAVE THEM OUT OF THE TRANSITION TO CLEANER CARS.

WHILE CARMAKERS COULD USE ANY TECHNOLOGY TO COMPLY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ESTIMATES UP TO 67% OF NEW CARS SOLD BY 2032 WOULD HAVE TO BE FULLY ELECTRIC.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS THAT COULD HAVE BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIANA, ONE OF THE TOP ETHANOL PRODUCERS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> SEVERAL INDUSTRY GROUPS AND STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OPPOSE THE RULE.

THEY SAY THE EPA DIDN'T CONSIDER THE ROLE A NUMBER OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES COULD PLAY, LIKE HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS, HYBRIDS, OR CARS THAT CAN USE GAS WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS OF ETHANOL.

SOME OF THESE CARS ARE ALREADY ON THE MARKET AND ADVOCATES SAY THESE FUELS WOULDN'T REQUIRE OVERHAULING THE COUNTRY'S ELECTRIC GRID.

DAN BYERS IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CLIMATE AND TECHNOLOGY WITH THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT THESE PROPOSED STANDARDS GO TOO FAR TOO FAST AND MAKE THE MISTAKE OF PUTTING ALL THE TRANSITION EGGS INTO THE EV BASKET.

>> ETHANOL ADVOCATES SAY THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH CRITICAL MINERALS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THOSE EVs AND THE EPA DIDN'T CONSIDER THE EMISSIONS THAT COULD COME FROM MINING THEM.

THOUGH ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE SAID THE AGENCY OFTEN DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LAND USE CHANGES NEEDED TO MAKE ETHANOL AND OTHER BIOFUELS.

>> OSEYE, THE MOVE TOWARD ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON ITS FACE SHOULD BE A REALLY GOOD THING, BUT IS INDIANA AT RISK HERE?

>> I WILL TELL YOU WHAT.

I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

BUT NOW THAT YOU MADE ME THINK ABOUT IT, YES.

I THINK INDIANA PROBABLY WILL BE AT RISK BECAUSE WE PRODUCE.

WE'RE A CORN STATE, RIGHT?

ETHANOL IS A BIG DEAL, BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WANTED TO ANSWER, ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD IS, WE KNOW THAT THING ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE DO THIS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE.

SO AS WE STARTED SEEING MORE AND MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THAT BECAME THE TREND, WHY WASN'T THERE A PLAN IN PLACE TO MOVE MORE TOWARDS THAT?

WHY DO WE WAIT UNTIL WE'RE BEHIND THE GUN?

NOW WE HAVE TO, OH, NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

NOW WE'RE PANICKING, AND WE DON'T WANT PROGRESS NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW -- IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY INDIANA PROBLEM.

NOW WE DON'T WANT PROGRESS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HARM US, BUT WE SAW THIS COMING.

YOU COULD READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT SOONER OR LATER.

SO WHAT DO WE DO TO ACTUALLY BE PROGRESSIVE BUT STILL MAINTAIN I GUESS THE STATUS QUO TO SOME EXTENT BECAUSE ETHANOL IS IMPORTANT.

THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY, RIGHT?

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO HERE?

>> AGRICULTURE IS SUCH A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA, SO WE CAN'T -- EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A FARM EVER, IT AFFECTS YOUR LIFE MORE THAN YOU REALIZE.

TO THAT POINT THAT SHE JUST MADE, ARE THEY -- SHOULD THEY HAVE STARTED THESE CONVERSATIONS A HECK OF A LONG TIME AGO?

>> SURE.

I MEAN, I THINK IN THIS CASE THEY DO HAVE TO TAKE AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH, AND IT DOES SEEM THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO FOCUS ONLY ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND NOT ANY OTHER OPTIONS.

I WILL SAY THAT WHILE ETHANOL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ECONOMY, I MEAN, IF YOU LISTEN TO GOVERNOR HOLCOMB, AND THE IEDC WE GET A $50,000EV BATTERY PLANT, THEN -- THERE ARE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AS WELL.

WHILE WE MIGHT GO DOWN IN ONE AREA -- CORRECT.

>> THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HELP THOSE INDIVIDUAL FARMERS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THOSE FARMERS AREN'T GOING TO BE HAPPEN.

>> IT DOESN'T HELP THE INDIVIDUAL FARMERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN THE EV BATTERY INDUSTRY.

YOU'VE GOT $3 BILLION PLANT COMING INTO NEW CARLISLE.

THOSE ARE AREAS -- THAT'S COAL COUNTRY, RIGHT?

THAT'S HELPING MAKE A TRANSITION.

YOU HAVE KOKOMO, $2.5 BILLION PLANT.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, AND IT'S NOT JUST INVESTMENT IN THE EV BATTERY.

IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND HAVE LUNCH AFTER ON THEIR SHIFT CHANGE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO STOP AND HIT THE McDONALD'S.

IT REALLY HAS A MAJOR ECONOMIC SPILLOVER.

AGAIN, YES, THOSE CONVERSATIONS PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO.

>> OR THERE USED TO BE A GAS STATION.

>> A GREAT INDUSTRY FOR THE FIREWORKS.

>> THERE'S REAL POLICY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

ON THE POLITICAL LEVEL BECAUSE SOME OF THIS IS POLITICAL, IT FEELS LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE STUCK BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATS WHO WANT TO PUSH FORWARD NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE WE NEED MAJOR CHANGES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, AND REPUBLICANS WHO IN SOME CASES DENY THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING, OR ARE, LIKE, WELL, WE CAN'T MOVE TOO FAR TOO FAST, SO LET'S NOT GO REALLY FAR AT ALL.

WHERE IS THE MEDIUM?

CAN WE FIND IT?

>> IT'S A PRETTY BLUNT GOAL, RIGHT?

BECAUSE IT'S BLUNT, IT EXCLUDES ALL THESE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, HYDROGEN CELLS, HYBRIDS, AND THINGS THAT ARE VERY LOW EMISSION OR NO EMISSION AND REALLY PUTS THE FOCUS ON BATTERY PLANTS AND GOING AND FINDING THE RAW MATERIALS THAT IT TAKES TO BUILD BATTERIES DOMESTICALLY AND THE CHIP MANUFACTURERS.

AS YOU PUSH TOWARDS A NEW TECHNOLOGY BEING THE STANDARD, OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE INDUSTRIES AROUND THAT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE'S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO ALL OF THESE THINGS, OR INTENDED.

THE CAFE STANDARDS WILL HAVE TO BE UPDATED TO COORDINATE WITH THE EPA THROUGH THE DOT.

>> IT EVEN GOES TO INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING LIKE IN A STATE LIKE THIS, WE ARE LARGELY DEPENDENT ON THE GAS TAX TO FUND ROADS AND BRIDGES.

>> LEGISLATURES ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT SERIOUSLY.

>> THEY ARE.

>> THE CAFE STANDARDS AFFECTS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND ELIMINATES PRODUCTION OF SMALL VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY BASE THE EFFICIENCY ON THE SIZE OF THE CAR.

EVERYONE STARTED MAKING PICKUP TRUCKS.

>> INDIANA'S REVENUE SITUATION IT IS BEGINNING TO NORMALIZE AFTER YEARS OF MAJOR FLUCTUATIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT.

THE STATE CLOSED THE BOOKS ON ITS FISCAL YEAR THIS WEEK WITH NEARLY $3 BILLION IN RESERVES.

>> STATE COMPTROLLER TERA KLUTZ SAYS THE STATE'S FINANCIAL POSITION IS THE RESULT OF STRONG FISCAL LEADERSHIP.

>> WE HAD ANOTHER VERY PRODUCTIVE YEAR WITH TAXPAYER REFUNDS GOING OUT, HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR CRIS JOHNSON SAYS WHILE STATE REVENUES SEEM TO HAVE FOUND THEIR NEW NORMAL IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE ARE WORRYING SIGNS IN PEOPLE'S POCKET BOOKS.

HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS IS GOING DOWN, AND HOUSEHOLD DEBT IS GOING UP.

>> WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN TO SALES TAX, WHICH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE REPORT, IS ABOUT 50% OF OUR TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

>> DESPITE STRONG RESERVES, THE STATE DID NOT COLLECT ENOUGH TO TRIGGER AN AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND.

THAT'S IN LARGE PART BECAUSE LAWMAKERS SPENT $3 BILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDING IN THE NEW BUDGET.

>> NIKI, YOU AND I HAVE COVERED A LOT OF THESE CLOSE-OUTS.

IS THIS THE FIRST ONE THAT FELT NORMAL IN, LIKE, FOUR YEARS?

>> IT FELT PRETTY NORMAL.

IT WAS PRETTY HO-HUM.

YOU STILL HAVE TO DIG INTO THOSE NUMBERS, RIGHT?

I THINK LAWMAKERS WERE GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF PEOPLE BEING, LIKE, YOU GOT $5 MILLION, $6 MILLION IN THE BANK.

THEY DID A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT LOOKS BETTER.

A, THEY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT B, WE WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND EXCEPT THAT THEY CHANGED THE LAW THIS YEAR TO NOT COUNT THE EDUCATION RESERVES.

THEY DID A LITTLE FINAGALING SO IT LOOKS BETTER ON PAPER.

OUR REVENUES ARE COMING IN MORE NORMAL.

WE'RE NOT ABOVE PROJECTIONS ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW, JUST DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, AND THERE'S STILL SOME NEWS THERE.

>> TWO YEARS FROM NOW WHEN ANOTHER AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND COULD HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED, THEY'VE CHANGED THE LAW THAT IT CANNOT BE TRIGGERED IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE ANYTHING OVER $3 BILLION IN RESERVES -- >> GOES TO PENSION.

>> GOES TO PAYING DOWN THE TEACHER PENSION FUND.

NO TAXPAYER REFUNDS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE IN INDIANA.

>> THEY DIDN'T TECHNICALLY TAKE THE LAW OUT, BUT THEY JUST CHANGED IT A LITTLE.

>> REAL QUICK, WE WANT TO WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MS. NIKI KELLY.

THIS IS A BIG ONE.

I BELIEVE YOU'RE TURNING 30 TODAY, IS THAT -- >> YEAH, YEAH, 30.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

>> THAT IS "INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT LARA BECK, REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN, OSEYE BOYD OF THE INDYSTAR, AND NIKI KELLY OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

YOU CAN FIND "INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW"'S PODCAST AND EPISODES AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR ON THE PBS APP.

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