>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," STATE HEALTH LEADERS ARE BEGGING HOOSIERS TO BE PATIENT AS THEY FINISH VACCINATING HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND DETERMINE WHO WILL BE NEXT IN LINE.

>> I WANT TO STRESS WE ARE MOVING IN AN INTENTIONAL ORDER OF ELIGIBILITY FOR VACCINE.

WE WANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINES BEFORE WE OPEN VACCINATIONS TO ADDITIONAL GROUPS.

>> THE GOVERNOR LIFTED THE PAUSE ON ELECTIVE SURGERIES THIS WEEK BUT EXTENDED THE STATEWIDE MASK ORDER AND SIZE OF GROUPS FOR ANOTHER THREE WEEKS.

>> WE WILL BE REVIEWING THIS TOMORROWEN ATHE NEXT DAY, WHETHER --TOMORROW AND THE HOLIDAY THE NEXT DAY.

>> EN AT.

>> AND THE CORONAVIRUS DOMINATED NEWS AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A HOOSIER TO THE SUPREME COURT.

COMING UP, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS OUR LOOK BACK AT THE BIGGEST STORIES OF 2020.

THOSE STORIES PLUS THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CONTINUING TO FOCUS VACCINATION EFFORTS ON FRONT-LINE HEALTH WORKERS AND RESIDENTS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

AS ETHAN BURKS REPORTS THE STATE HOPES TO HAVE UPDATED GUIDELINES NEXT WEEK INDICATING WHO WILL BE NEXT IN LINE FOR A VACCINE.

>> MORE THAN # 5,000 75 HOOSIERS HAVE RECEIVED FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE WITH MOST OF THE VACCINATIONS GOING TO THE FRONT-LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

THE STATE IS TELLING THE STATE TO VERIFY, AND THEY ARE IDENTIFYING PEOPLE MOST IN NEED RIGHT NOW.

>> WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS THE VACCINATION EFFORTS ON THE FRONT-LINE HEALTH WORKERS BECAUSE THEY ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF EXPOSURE.

>> WEAVER SAYS BY THE END OF WEEK, INDIANA WILL HAVE RECEIVE 146,000 VACCINES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE AND THEY WILL RECEIVE MODERNA VACCINE.

>> WE RECEIVED A SIZABLE INITIAL SHIPMENT OF VACCINE BUT THE WEEKLY ALLOCATIONS WILL BE LOWER GOING FORWARD.

>> MORE THAN 110,000 HOOSIERS HAVE SCHEDULED TO GET SHOTS NEXT WEEK AND CVS AND WALGREENS HAVE ADMINISTERED AN ADDITIONAL 40,000 FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

>> QUESTION WANTWE WANT TO SEURE CHE WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINES.

IT'S CREATES AN ONLINE DASHBOARD FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE VACCINATED AND UPDATED WEEKLY WITH THE LATEST VACCINATION INFORMATION.

WEAVER SAYS IN THE NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE DATA AND THE NUMBER OF DOSES AVAILABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINATION.

>> WHAT IS THE RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS AND DEATH.

WHAT IS THE RISK TO EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 AND THE EXPOSURE TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND WHAT IS THE SAFETY AND THE EFFICACY OF THAT PARTICULAR VACCINE FOR THAT POPULATION?

>> AND IN THE MEANTIME, WEAVER SAYS NO VACCINES WILL GO TO WASTE, AS LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE ON STANDBY FOR MORE DOSES.

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

>>> WELL, HOSPITALS ACROSS INDIANA CAN ONCE AGAIN SCHEDULE ELECTIVE SURGERIES.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ANNOUNCED THREE WEEKS AGO THAT HOSPITALS MUST HALT NONEMERGENCY SURGERIES THROUGH JANUARY 3rd.

NOW THE GOVERNOR SAYS AFTER TALKING WITH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND SEEING SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS, HE'S READY TO LIFT THE BAN.

>> BUT WE MONITOR THESE NUMBERS AGAIN EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK AND SO WHILE THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OUT THERE THAT GOES THREE WEEKS, WE'LL BE REVIEWING THIS TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY WHETHER IT'S A HOLIDAY OR NOT.

>> HOLCOMB'S LATEST EXECUTIVE ORDER EXTENDS GATHERING RESTRICTIONS IN COUNTIES EXPERIENCING THE HIGHEST RISK OF COVID SPREAD, NEARLY HALF OF THE STATE IS IN THAT WORST CATEGORY.

THIS STATE, THEY RECORDED TWO NEW MILESTONES.

THE STATE SET A NEW SINGLE DAY RECORD OF NEW COVID-19 DEATHS.

THE STATE HAS CONFIRMED ABOUT 8,000 TOTAL COVID-19 DEATHS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

>>> WELL, EVERY TIME THIS YEAR'S INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM REACHES A NEW TIGHT, THE ACHIEVEMENT IS FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1967.

PAT BEANE LOOKS BACK AT THE 1967 HOOSIERS, STILL THE ONLY I.U.

TEAM TO PLAY IN THE ROSE BOWL.

>> THE YEAR WAS 1967.

U.S. HAD NEARLY A HALF MILLION TROOPS IN VIETNAM, THE GRADUATE TOPPED THE THEATER BOX OFFICE AND THE MONKEES WERE DAYDREAM BELIEVING AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE WAS IN FULL BLOOM.

IN BLOOMINGTON, THE INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM WAS COMING OFF A WINONE-WIN SEASON AND THERE WAS NO EXPECTATION THAT THE SEASON WOULD TURN OUT SO ROSY.

>> OH, GOLLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY FORESAW WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IN 1967.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T.

>> THE HOOSIERS HAD BEGUN JUST 1-8-1 IN 1966 AND FINISHED LAST.

BUT WAITING IN THE WINGS WAS THREE WAITING SOPHOMORES WHO WOULD PROPEL THE HOOSIERS TO THE ONE AND ONLY ROSE POLE ABEERANCE.

INDIANA UNVEILED A SPREAD OPTION WITH THE THREE SOPHOMORE, NONE OF WHOM COULD PLAY IN 1966 WHEN FRESHMEN WERE INELIGIBLE.

>> AT THE MOST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE OPEN OPENER, THAT THEY DECIDED TO GO WITH GONZALEZO AND EISBERGER.

HE'S LEARNING A WHOLE NEW POSITION BACK THIS.

BUT WHAT HE DID WAS GIVE THEM A QUARTERBACK BACK TO US.

SO THAT ATED THE THIRD OPTION, WHERE HE COULD -- SO THAT ADDED THE THIRD OPTION WHERE HE COULD TAKE DEFENSIVE, FULLBACK AND PASS.

>> THEY ALSO HAD A VETERAN DEFENSIVE BACK.

THEY CHANGED POSITION PLAYERS AND FIVES FROM A 5-3 FORMATION TO A 4-4.

>> THE COCKY SCOFF COULD HAVE SOPHOMORE GOT ALL THE MEDIA ATTENTION BUT THE PEOPLE ON THE DEFENSE WERE SENIORS AND JUNIORS THAT WERE JUST SPECTACULAR ATHLETES.

THEY WON OVER KENTUCKY AND THEN CAME A 20-7 WIN OVER ILLINOIS, SEALED BY A KAZ MERIC INTERCEPTION.

AND HIS BEARD WAS RUNNING AGAINST MY NECK, BUT ON THE WAY BACK FROM THAT GAME, WE GOT INTO BLOOMINGTON AND WE STOPPED AND HAD DINNER AND WHEN IT CAME INTO BLOOMINGTON, PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO GET THROUGH.

>> FIVE WEEKS LATER, THE HOOSIERS WERE UNDEFEATED AND NUMBER FIVE IN THE NATION.

>> EVERYTHING SEEMED SO IMPROBABLE AND THE CORRELATION WAS THIS YEAR WAS THE NATIONAL DISBELIEF THAT INDIANA REALLY IS LEGITIMATE TEAM.

>> BUT A LOSS AT MINNESOTA ENDED THE PERFECT SEASON.

OF INDIANA RESPONDED WITH A 19-14 WIN OVER PURDUE TO CLAIM A SHARE OF THE BIG TEN TITLE.

SEVEN OF THE HOOSIERS NINE WINS WERE BY A TOUCHDOWN OR LESS AND EIGHT OF THE FOUR GAMES WERE EARNED IN THE LAST FOUR MINUTES.

EARNING THEM THE NICKNAME CARDIAC KIDS.

>> IT WAS 14-13.

SO IT WAS ONE OF THOSE, THAT YOU JUST HELD YOUR BREATH AND EVERYBODY PLAYED.

AND THE END RESULT WAS GOOD.

>> GOOD ENOUGH TO EARN THEM A TRIP TO PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, WHERE THEY WOULD FACE NUMBER ONE SOUTHERN CAL.

IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE GAME, THEY WERE MORE TOURISTS THAN ATHLETES.

THEY HAD AN EATING CONTEST WITH THE TROJANS AT LOWRY'S STEAKHOUSE.

>> IT WAS LIKE GOING TO DISNEYLAND.

WE INTERACTED WITH U.S.C., BUT IT'S LIKE YOU ARE GOING OUT THERE FOR A PARTY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET READY FOR A TEAM, ESPECIALLY ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE END OF THE SEASON.

>> AND THEY WERE FACING A TALENTED TROJAN TEAM THAT HAD FIVE PLAYERS SELECTED FIRST ROUND OF THE 1968 NFL DRAFT AND THAT DID NOT INCLUDE JO.

O.J.

SIM.

SON WHO WAS -- O.J.

SIMPSON WHO WAS ONLY A JUNIOR.

>> WE ATTACKED THEM RATHER THAN LETTING THEM ATTACK US ON OFFENSE.

WE DID A LOT OF LISTENING.

A LOT OF GAP FILLING BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT O.J.

DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF RUNNING ROOM.

>> SIMPSON STILL FINISHED WITH 128 YARDS ON 28 CARRIES AND SCORED BOTH OF U.S.C.

'S TOUCHDOWNS.

HIS FIRST PUT THE TROJANS UP 70.

INDIANA GOT A 27-YARD FIELD GOAL IN THE SECOND BUT THEY NEVER FOUND THE END ZONE AND THEN IT WAS OVER.

SOUTHERN CAL WON 14-3.

INDIANA HAS NEVER MADE IT BACK TO THE ROSE BOWL, BUT AS A A MEMBER.

I.U.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES,EES GONZO HAS HAD A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS YEAR'S FOOTBALL TEAM.

>> I HOPE THAT THEY CAN CAPTURE THIS MOMENT, AND KEEP IT AND EXPAND UPON IT.

BECAUSE THAT WOULD REALLY BE FANTASTIC FOR I.U.

>> EVEN IF IT MEANS THE 1967 TEAM HAS TO SHARE SOME OF THE GLORY.

>> IT WAS KIND OF PROBABLY LIKE WHEN I WAS THERE AND ALL YOU HEARD ABOUT WAS THE 1945 TEAM.

NOW IT'S THE 1967 TEAM.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS TO GET MORE TEAMS AND WE CAN START COURTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF DATES.

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

♪ >> THIS YEAR'S INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM WILL FACE OLD MISS OUTBACK BOWL ON SATURDAY AND IT WILL BE BROADCAST ON ABC.

>>> AND EVANSVILLE ZOO IS THE FIRST TO NATURALLY BREED AN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF SALAMANDERS AS REBECCA THIELE REPORTS.

THE EASTERN HELLBENDER'S POPULATION.

>> IT'S NOT AN OTTER, MUDDOG, ALLEGHENY ALLIGATOR.

THOSE ARE JUST A FEW NAMES FOR THE HELLBENDER.

IT'S THE LARGEST SALAMANDER IN THE U.S. ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE IT'S FOUND IN INDIANA TODAY IS THE BLUE RIVER WATER SHED WHICH COVERS CLARK, CRAWFORD, FLOYD, HOWARD AND WASHINGTON COUNTRY.

ALTHOUGH OTHERS BRED THEM ARTIFICIALLY.

ROD WILLIAMS IS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR HELLBENDER.

HE SAYS BEING ABLE TO BREED THEM NATURALLY OPENS UP POSSIBILITIES TO GROW THEM IN THE WILD.

>> WE CAN RELEASE THE ANIMALS BACK INTO THE WILD THROUGHOUT THE HISTORIC RANGE HERE IN INDIANA.

>> LEE RAMON IS THE ASSISTANT ANIMAL CURE KATEOR CURATOR AT MUSKER PARK ZOO.

THEY HOPE TO HAVE A MORE VIABLE BATCH OF EGGS.

AS OF EARLY DECEMBER, ONLY ONE EGG FROM THE FIRST CLUTCH HAS SURVIVED.

>> HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, IT SHOULD BE CATCHING HATCHING OUT.

WE ARE MONITORING THAT REALLY CLOSELY AND AWAITING EVERY STEP.

>> LANDOWNERS CAN HELP HELLBENNERS BY WORKING TO KEEP FERTILIZER, PESTICIDE, OIL, LEAVES AND PET WASTE OUT OF STREAMS AND STORM DRAINS.

I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," 2020 WAS A YEAR UNLIKE MANY OTHERS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AHEAD, WE LOOK BACK ON A YEAR MARKED BY PROTESTS, ELECTIONS AND MUCH MORE.

AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS WRAPPING UP SEVERAL RENOVATION PROJECTS AT THE MUSICAL ARTS CENTER.

AHEAD, WHAT UPGRADES WERE MADE TO THE 50-YEAR-OLD FACILITY.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

NOW FOR HEADLINES WE GO OVER TO ETHAN BURKS WHO HAS THE LATEST ON THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

INDIANA U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN WON'T SAY WHETHER ELIMINATE VOTE TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE RESULTS OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WHEN CONGRESS MEETS NEXT WEEK THAT.

COMES AFTER THE BRAUN'S COLLEGE WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL OBJECT TO -- COLLEAGUE WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL OBJECT TO THAT VOTE TO FORCE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

>> I THINK WHAT I WILL DO IS LOOK AT THE MERITS OF WHAT HE'S GOT UNDERLYING HIS OBJECTIONS.

AND I THINK THERE WILL BE MANY OF US THAT LOOK AT THAT.

>> BRAUN SAYS ALLEGATIONS OF VOTER FRAUD SHOULDN'T BE DISMISSED AND THAT DOING SO WILL LEAD TO HALF THE COUNTRY TO NOT ACCEPT ELECTION RESULTS BUT ALLEGATIONS OF VOTER FRAUD IN THE 2020 ELECTION HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BY MULTIPLE LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

DOZENS OF STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, AND U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR HAVE ALL SAID THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF WIDE SPREAD VOTER FRAUD.

>>> REPUBLICANS ARE PREPARING TO ENTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THEIR LARGEST SUPER MAJORITY SINCE BEFORE THE 2016 RHEE2016ELECTION.

THEY GREW IT FROM 67 TO 71 SEATS.

ANDREW DOWNS SAYS THAT GIVES THE GOP A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY.

>> AT 67, THEY HAD TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING ONE OR TWO MEMBERS AND BEING OUT OF THE SUPER MAJORITY.

YOU ADD A COUPLE MORE IN, AND YOU CAN BE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE LESS CAUTIOUS SO TO SPEAK.

BUT DOWNS SAYS HE DOESN'T EXPECT THE GOP TO PUSH LEGISLATION MUCH FARTHER TO THE RIGHT.

IF IT DOES AT ALL.

>> BUSINESSES COULD STAND TO LOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM LAWSUITS RELATED TO COVID-19.

THE INDIANA CLAIM BETTERS CHAMBERS WILL BE TO PROVIDE BUSINESSES SOME PROTECTIONS.

BUSINESS OWNERS WORRY ABOUT LAWSUITS FROM EMPLOYEESEES CLAIMING THAT THEY BROUGHT HOME COVID-19 FROM WORK.

THIS WAS MADE IN IN ASBESTOSIS LITIGATION.

>>> THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CARRIES OUT FEDERAL EXECUTIONS.

MORE THAN 400 INMATES AT THE TERRE HAUTE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE COVID VIRUS, INCLUDING TWO MEN SCHEDULED TO BE JUST DAYS AHEAD OF THE INAUGURATION.

ATTORNEYS FOR INMATES DUSTIN HICKS AND CORY JOHNSON SAYS IT'S UNSAFE TO CARRY OUT EXECUTIONS NOW.

>>> A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ISSUED A STAY AT HOME -- A STAY IN EXECUTION OF LISA MONTGOMERY WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO BE EXECUTED ON JANUARY 12th.

MONTGOMERY'S ORIGINAL EXECUTION DATE OF DECEMBER 8th WAS POSTPONED AFTER BOTH OF HER ATTORNEYS CONTRACTED CORONAVIRUS.

A JUDGE SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTED ILLEGALLY IN RESETTING MONTGOMERY'S EXECUTION SINCE THE STAY WAS IN PLACE AFTER HER ATTORNEYS BECAME ILL. SHE WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING A PREGNANT WOMAN AND CUTTING A BABY OUT OF HER WOMB.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 50-YEAR HISTORY, THE MUSICAL ARTS CENTER IS GETTING A MAKEOVER.

WE REPORT ON THE RENOVATION PROJECTS.

>> SEVERAL PROJECTS AT THE I.U.

MUSICAL ARTS CENTER ARE WRAPPING UP AFTER OF A BUSY YEAR OF RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

DENVER WRIGHTSMAN THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES FOR THE JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC GAVE US A LOOK AT THE NEW FEATURES.

>> FOR YEARS ALL CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET, ESPECIALLY STATE INSTITUTIONS AND THINGS, AND WE ARE BEING ABLE TO GO BACK AND HAD FIX A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DEFER AT ONE TIME.

IT WAS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.

AS FUNDING INCREASES AND DONATIONS INCREASE, WE ARE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

>> THE SEATING IN THE STATE OF THE ART MUSIC HALL WAS REPLACED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BUILDING WAS BUILT NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.

WRIGHTSMAN SAID SEATING USUALLY HAS A 20 TO 25 YEAR LIFE.

THE RENOVATIONS ALSO QUADRUPLED THE AMOUNT OF SEATING FOR WHEELCHAIR BOUND AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND MADE POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO ACCESS THE STAGE.

THIS WAS AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENERS AND AUTOMATIC SINKS AND DOOR OPENERS IN THE BATHROOMS.

WRIGHTSMAN SAYS THE NEXT PROJECT WILL BE THE EXPANSION OF THE ELEVATORS SO IT CAN CARRY A GURNEY IN MOMENTS OF EMERGENCY.

IMPROVING SAFETY WAS ANOTHER MAIN GOAL.

MORE FIRE ALARMS AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED ALL AROUND THE BUILDING AND A NEWLY MADE FIRE RETARDANT CURTAIN WAS INSTALLED ON THE STAGE.

WRIGHTSMANSMAN SAID THE TIMING WAS NOT PURPOSEFULLY LINED UP WITH ALL IN-PERSON SHOWS BECAUSE OF COVID-19, BUT IT MADE IT EASIER TO SCHEDULE THE WORK.

THEY MADE THE CALL THAT THE MAX RENOVATION'S NEEDED TO BE A PRIORITY.

>> THEY HAVE TO PRIORITIZE WHERE THE MOST BENEFIT GOES FOR THE MONEY AT THE TIME, AND WHO NEEDS IT THE MOST.

AND SO IT JUST HAPPENS THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO US THIS YEAR.

>> THE WELL HOUSE SOCIETY A GROUP OF DONORS THAT ARE A PART OF THE I.U.

FOUNDATION FUNDED THE RENOVATION.

AS THE MAN WHO HAS DONE EVERYTHING FROM CHANGING LIGHTBULBS TO OVERSEEING THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS FOR THE MUSIC SCHOOL, WRIGHTSMAN IS PROUD OF THE STUDENTS AND THE FACULTY WHO WORKS WITHIN THE WALLSEN AT BUILDINGS HE MANAGES.

HE THINKS OF THE MACK AS A JEWEL, AND A BUILDING THAT DESERVES THE RENOVATIONS THAT THEY RECEIVED.

>> THEY CAN SEE ANY PERSON COMES HERE, THE SEATING EXPERIENCE WILL BE GREAT.

THE LIGHTING WILL BE GREAT.

SETS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THE PERFORMANCES, IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL OUR STUDENTS HAVE AND OUR FACULTY HAVE.

>> WRIGHTSMAN WILL SLEEP BETTER KNOWING THE FACULTY, THE STUDENTS AND PATRONS WHO WORK IN AND VISIT THE MACK WILL BE SAFER, MORE COMFORTABLE AND MORE ABLE TO ACCESS ALL OF THE MUSIC THAT WILL ONCE AGAIN RING THROUGH THE HALL WHEN COVID PRECAUTIONS END.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M LILY St. ANGELO.

>>> AND THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES.

BACK TO YOU, JOE.

>> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU, ETHAN.

>>> A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IS WORKING TO GET A COLUMBUS ICON BACK TO THE CITY.

MITCH LEGAN HAS MORE ON ATTARBURY THE PROJECT CHARRY 119.

>> IT'S BEEN NEARLY HALF A CENTURY THAT A PLANE LIKE CHARLIE WAS IN COLUMBUS.

>> I LIKE TO SAY IT'S LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE.

WE HAVE BEEN AT IT SIX MONTHS PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER.

IT'SING TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING.

>> CHARLIE IS A FAIRFIELD C-119, ALSO CALLED THE FLYING BOXCAR.

FROM 1942 TO 1970, COLUMBUS WAS HOME TO AN AIR FORCE BASE.

PILOTS TRAINING FOR WORLD WAR II, KOREA AND VIETNAM WERE STATIONED THERE.

>> THEY WOULD OPEN THE DOORS UP AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S LIKE A LOADING DOCK RIGHT THERE.

>> THE C-119 WAS AI COMMONLY USED TRANSPORT PLANE.

IT CARRIED TROOPS AND CARGO.

IN THE 1950s, COULD YOU OFTEN LOOK UP AND SEE THEM PATROLLING THE SKIES ABOVE COLUMBUS.

>> AND THROUGH THE MID-1990s THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WORKED TO GET A FULL-SIZED C-119 HERE.

THEY COULDN'T GET IT PULLED OFF.

>> THAT IS UNTIL TAYLOR AND THE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT RUN THE AIR MUSEUM FOUND A LISTING FOR CHARLIE IN WYOMING AND PULLED THE DRIGGERPULLEDTRIGGER TO BRING IT BACK TO COLUMBUS.

AND THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN THE AIR WAS 1990.

THEY HIRED SOMEBODY TO BREAK THE PLANE DOWN AND DRIVE FROM NORTHERN HAWAIINORTHERN WYOMING TO COLUMBUS PIECE BY PIECE.

THEY SPENT SIX MONTHS PUTTING CHARLIE BACK TOGETHER.

BUT THERE IS STILL A WAY.

>> WE HAVE TO KEEP THE BIRDS OUT.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THE BIRDS OUT AND NOT TAKE AWAY THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF THE PLANE AND THE DISPLAY.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS UNSURPRISINGLY CAUSED SOME HICCUPS FOR THE PROJECT.

AND IF EVERYTHING CONTINUES ACCORDING TO PLANE, IT WILL BE REFURBISHED AND BE OUTSIDE OF THE MUSEUM NEXT YEAR.

>> I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS AND THE YOUTH OF COLUMBUS TO COME OUT HERE AND INTERACT WITH THIS LARGE PIECE OF MILITARY HISTORY FROM OUR PAST.

>> AND WHEN THEY SAY INTERACT, THEY REALLY MEAN INTERACT.

MUSEUM VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO GO INSIDE THE PLANE TO LEARN HOW IT WORKS, THE HISTORY AND THE CONNECTION TO COLUMBUS.

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

>>> WELL, 2020 WAS A TRYING YEAR FOR MANY.

WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE YEAR.

♪ ♪ [ CHEERS ] ♪ ♪ >> WHY ARE WE DOING THAT WITH PUBLIC FORCE?

SPENDING OUR DOLLARS AND PAYING PEOPLE TO COME IN HERE AND DO WHAT NATURE IS ALREADY DOING.

>> WE DO NOT NEED TO PROSECUTE ANYBODY FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

>> YES!

[ CHEERS ] >> WHEN YOU WENT IN THERE, IT JUST -- IT MADE SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART OPEN UP WHERE YOU THOUGHT, GOD, I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS.

AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DOWNTOWN THAN JUST THIS LITTLE THEATER.

♪ >> IT'S COURAGE TO GET IN IT.

IT'S WISDOM TO KNOW WHEN THERE WAS NOT A PATH FOR VICTORY ANYMORE.

>> AT THIS TIME, NO COVID-19 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN INDIANA.

♪ >> I THINK WE'RE SERVING SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 200 TO 300 PEOPLE.

>> I LOVE TO SEW.

THAT'S MY SUPERPOWER.

AND I BELIEVE IN USING SUPERPOWERS FOR GOOD.

>> I SEE ALL OF YOUR CUTE FACES THIS MORNING.

♪ [ SHOUTING ] >> CHANNEL ALL OF MY ANGER INTO A PEACEFUL PROTEST.

BUT NOTHING ABOUT MY ANGER IS PEACEFUL.

>> IT'S A BIT OF AN UNFAIR NOTION TO THINK THAT WE CAN DISCOUNT BOTH EXPERIENCES BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO DOCUMENT THE ENTIRE ENCOUNTER.

>> THERE'S NO CLOSURE.

THERE NEVER WILL BE.

I WON'T GET MY DAUGHTER BACK.

♪ >> IT'S GOOD TO BE A HOOSIER!

[ CHEERS ] >> WE GOT TO FIGHT.

TOGETHER, WE WILL FIND A WAY.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM OR WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP.

>> I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT A U.S. ATTORNEY THINKS ABOUT EXECUTING A PERSON WHO WAS A VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

♪ >> WE ARE PART OF SOMETHING BIG THAT BRINGS JOY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> IT'S PART OF BEING SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.

>> AND AS ALWAYS, MUCH MORE ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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