>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA SENATOR MIKE BRAUN DROPPED HIS OBJECTION TO JOE BIDEN'S PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY AFTER A MOB STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL, BUT ABOUT HALF OF INDIANA'S HOUSE DELEGATION DID VOTE AGAINST CERTIFYING THE ELECTION RESULTS.

THE LATEST FROM D.C., JUST AHEAD.

THE STATE IS OPENING UP COVID-19 VACCINES TO MORE PEOPLE.

OLDER HOOSIERS ARE GETTING PRIORITY.

>> SO WE ARE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT OUR PROCESS AND IT'S SUFFICIENT.

AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, IT'S SAFE.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SPACE PEOPLE OUT WHEN THEY ARE COMING TO GET THEIR VACCINES.

>> THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKED OFF THIS WEEK.

REDISTRICTING IS STILL A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC LEADERS.

>> NOW WE'RE OPERATING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST SOME STANDARDS SET IN PLACE FOR REDISTRICTING.

>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST NEW HEAD LINES FROM ACROSS STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, FOUR HOOSIER REPUBLICANS VOTED THIS WEEK TO BLOCK JOE BIDEN FROM BECOMING PRESIDENT.

INDIANA REPRESENTATIVES JACKIE WALORSKI, JIM BANKS AND JIM BAIRD VOTED TO OBJECT TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS IN KEY STATES, AND REPRESENTATIVE GREG PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE'S BROTHER, VOTED TO OBJECT TO PENNSYLVANIA'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.

INDIANA U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN BACKED OFF A PLAN TO OVERTHROW THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION ON WEDNESDAY AFTER INSURRECTIONISTS STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL.

>> GET DOWN!

GET DOWN!

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> EARLIER IN THE DAY, BRAUN SAID HE WOULD JOIN SOME GAP COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE'S RESULTS.

THAT PUT HIM ALONGSIDE THE CAUSE OF MANY OF THOSE WHO VIOLENTLY BROKE INTO THE CAPITOL, SENDING LAWMAKERS AND STAFF INTO LOCKDOWN AND LEADING TO AT LEAST FIVE DEATHS.

REPUBLICAN TODD YOUNG, THE SENIOR HOOSIER SENATOR, ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD NOT OBJECT TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE RESULTS.

PROTESTERS CORNERED HIM IN WASHINGTON EARLY IN THE DAY WEDNESDAY, AND A MOMENT CAPTURED ON TWITTER BY A "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTER.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAW, OUR OPINIONS DON'T MATTER.

THE LAUGH LAW MATTERS.

THE LAW MATTERS.

I VALUE THE LAW!

>> I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS.

I SHARE YOUR CONVICTION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD REMAIN PRESIDENT.

I SHARE THAT CONVICTION.

>> THE LAW MATTERS.

>> I SHARE THAT CONVICTION.

>> BUT THE LAW MATTERS.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

>> I TOOK AN OATH UNDER GOD.

UNDER GOD!

OKAY?

I TOOK ANETTE AN OATH.

DO WE STILL TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> I DO!

>> INDIANA NINTH DISTRICT, TREY HOLLINGSWORTH WAS ONE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHO VOTED TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS.

WELL, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN DEFINED OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS BY ITS LOYALTY TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE PARTY'S USUAL EXCUSES FOR TRUMP FELL SHORT AGAINST THE SCENES OF MOBS OCCUPYING SOME OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY'S MOST SACRED SPACES.

PAUL HELMSKI, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS JONES AFFAIRS JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON AND THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE, WHAT LED TO WHAT TRANSPIRED AT THE CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY?

>> WHAT A HORRIBLE DAY.

WHAT A SAD DAY FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND IT REALLY DEALS WITH CHALLENGING THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.

AND THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION WERE FINAL BY ANY CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGAL MEASURE WHEN THE HOUSE OF -- OR WHEN THE ELECTORS VOTED ON DECEMBER 14th.

PEOPLE FORGET, 20 YEARS AGO IN THE BUSH vs. GORE, THE SUPREME COURT SAID ALL OF YOUR CONTESTS, ALL OF YOUR OBJECTIONS, ALL OF YOUR LEGAL FIGHTS HAVE TO BE DONE BEFORE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES.

ANYONE WHO TRIED TO CONVINCE PEOPLE -- AND THAT INCLUDES PRESIDENT TRUMP, SOME OF OUR ELECTEDS THAT THERE WAS STILL A CHANCE, THEY WERE GOING AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION.

THEY PLANNED THIS SESSION ON JANUARY 6th.

THEY HAD A RALLY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD THEM TO GO TO THE CAPITOL, AND TO FIGHT, AND WE SAW THE CONSEQUENCES.

>> THERE'S TALK OF INVOKING THE 25th AMENDMENT OR IMPEACHMENT TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE.

DO YOU SEE EITHER OF THOSE HAPPENING LESS THAN TWO WEEKS REMAINING IN TRUMP'S TERM?

>> THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT TO DO EITHER.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY -- MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO LET THE PRESIDENT KNOW THAT FOLKS HAVE THEIR EYE ON HIM AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO STRAY ANY FURTHER.

BUT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE PERHAPS BY THE HOUSE STARTING THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS QUICKLY.

THE 25th AMENDMENT WORKS MORE QUICKLY THAN IMPEACHMENT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING IF TRUMP OBJECTS TO IT, IT GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A VOTE AND THAT WOULD DELAY THINGS TOO.

CONGRESS NEEDS TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT THIS BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT UNTIL JANUARY 20th.

THIS IS' DANGEROUS TIME FOR US.

>> -- THIS IS A DANGEROUS TIME FOR US.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE HISTORY WILL JUDGE THE ACTIONS OF PRESIDENT THAT LEAD TO THE INSURRECTION THAT WE SAW AT THE CAPITOL?

>> I THINK JANUARY 6th IS GOING TO DEFINE THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY NOW.

ANY GOOD THINGS WE MIGHT HAVE DONE, OTHER BAD THINGS HE MIGHT HAVE DONE ARE GOING TO PALE IN COMPARISON TO ASKING A MOB, BASICALLY TO TRY TO UNDO THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS, TRY TO UNDO THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN JAILED FOR LESS INCENDIARY THINGS THAN THE PRESIDENT SAID ON WEDNESDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, PAUL HELMKE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE SINCE THE HOLIDAYS, BUT 550,000 HOOSIERS HAVE NOW CONTRACTED THE VIRUS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THE NUMBER OF HOOSIERS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 RELATED ILLNESS IS NOW BACK ABOVE 2800.

>> WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PRACTICE GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES, AND, YOU KNOW, VIGILANCE IS JUST AS KEY AS THE VACCINE IS.

SO ONE DOESN'T REPLACE THE OTHER.

>> THE STATE ADDED A DOZEN MORE INDIANA COUNTIES THIS WEEK TO ITS LIST OF THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK OF COVID-19 SPREAD.

57 OF THE STATE'S 92 COUNTIES UNDER THE MOST DANGEROUS RED CATEGORY, ALL OTHER COUNTIES ARE IN THE NEXT RISKIEST ORANGE LEVEL.

THE STATE IT BEGINNING THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS VACCINATION CONTRIBUTION TODAY.

THOSE AGES 80 AND OLDER ARE NOW ALLOWED TO BEGIN GETTING THE VACCINE.

INDIANA HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND STAFFERS STARTED GETTING THE VACCINE LAST MONTH.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IN THE COMING WEEKS, THEY WILL START OFFERING VACCINATIONS NEXT TO THOSE 70 AND OLD AND THEN 60 AND OLDER.

THOSE AGE GROUPS MAKE UP 93% OF INDIANA'S MORE THAN 8700 CORONAVIRUS-RELATED DEATHS SINCE MARCH.

>> BY TAKING AN AGE-FOCUSED APPROACH, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TWO TASKS, PROTECTING THOSE AT GREATEST RISK FOR DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION AND THEN REACHING OLDER WORKERS WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE COMORBIDITIES.

>> NOTIFICATION POSTCARDS ABOUT SCHEDULING VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS ARE GOING OUT TO OLDER HOOSIERS.

INDIANA HAS ABOUT A QUARTER MILLION RESIDENTS 80 AND ABOVE AND 1.5 MILLION OLDER THAN 60.

NOW, HOW QUICKLY THE VACCINE IS EXPANDED TO AGE GROUPS WILL DEPEND IF THE STATE RECEIVES THE 78,000 VACCINE WEEKLY DOSES EXPECTED THROUGH JANUARY, AND HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE HOPES THAT'S A MATTER OF WEEKS, NOT MONTHS.

>>> WELL, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 70 YEARS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING TO EXECUTE A WOMAN.

50-YEAR-OLD LISA MONTGOMERY IS SCHEDULED TO DIE BY LETHAL INJECTION AT THE U.S. PENITENTIARY IN TERRE HAUTE JANUARY 12th AFTER THE EXECUTION WAS POSTPONED FROM DECEMBER 8th, BECAUSE MONTGOMERY'S ATTORNEYS CONTRACTED THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

ADAM PINSKER HAS MORE.

>> ON DECEMBER 16th, 2004, PROSECUTORS SAY THAT LISA MONTGOMERY WALKED INTO THIS HOME, IN SKIDMORE, MISSOURI, AND STRANGLED BOBBY JO SINNETT TO DEATH AND THEN CUT HER OPEN AND TOOK HER BABY WITH HER.

NOW 16 YEARS LATER, SHE'S FACING THE DEATH PENALTY.

LONG-TIME SKIDMORE RESIDENT, CHERYL HESTON HAS A CLEAR MEMORY OF THE DAY WHEN BOBBIE JO WAS MURDERED.

>> WHEN I CAME THROUGH TOWN, I WENT STRAIGHT TO BOBBIE JO AND BIKER BILL, HE MET ME ON THE CORNER.

HE SAID, BOBBIE JO'S GONE.

>> THE MURDER AND THE ABDUCTION OF HER OWN BORN CHILD ROCKED THIS SMALL NORTHWEST MISSOURI TOWN.

>> S IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST THINGS I HAVE SEEN DONE TO A HUMAN BEING.

>> HE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI INTERAGENCY TEAM RESPONSE OPERATION OR NITRO.

HOURS AFTER THE MURDERS, STRONG SAYS HIS INVESTIGATORS CAME ACROSS A HUGE LEAD.

>> THAT CAME ABOUT BY A PERSON THAT WAS WATCHING A WEBSITE FOR BAD TERRIER DOG, A BREEDING BUSINESS.

>> THE I.P.

ADDRESS TOOK THEM TO MELBOURNE, KANSAS, NEARLY THREE HOURS AWAY FROM SKIDMORE.

STRONG AND ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR DROVE TO MONTGOMERY'S HOME.

LISA WAS HITTING ON THE TOUCH, WATCHING FOR THE AMBER ALERT FOR THE BABY.

>> SHE WAS VERY COOL ABOUT IT.

SHE WAS SMILING AND HOLDING A BABY LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE A NEW MOTHER HOLING A BABY.

>> AFTER CALLING AN AMBULANCE FOR THE BABY, WHO ENDED UP SURVIVING THE ARE DEAL, LISA WENT FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

STRONG SAID LISA INITIALLY LIED WITH KILLING STINNETT, WE GOT BITS AND PIECES OF IT AND THEN SHE STARTED TALKING.

SHE SAID SHE ACTED ALONE AND SHE BROUGHT A ROPE IN HER COAT POCKET AND A KNIFE IN THE COAT POCKET.

SHE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL MURDER PER SE, CUTTING THE BABY OUT.

>> MONTGOMERY ENDED UP IN THE WYANDOT COUNTY JAIL BEING BEFORE MOVED OVER TO MISSOURI FOR A FEDERAL CHARGE OF KIDNAPPING RESULTING IN DEATH.

THE JUDGE AT THE TIME WAS ONE OF THE ASSISTANT U.S.

ATTORNEYS WHO PROSECUTED THE CASE.

MONTGOMERY GAINED ACCESS TO STINETT'S HOME UNDER THE GUISE OF BUYING A PUPPY.

>> IT WAS SO MUCH ON WHAT HER FINGER STROKES WERE ON HER COMPUTER ON THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE KIDNAPPING, RESULTING IN DEATH BY HER TARGETING AND BY -- BY HER SPECIFICALLY PREYING ON BOBBIE JO.

>> IN 2007, THE JURY SENTENCED MONTGOMERY TO DEATH, BUT ONE OF HER ATTORNEYS KELLY HENDLEY SAYS KEY EVIDENCE ABOUT LISA'S MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT HELD DURING THE TRIAL.

>> THE CENTER PIECE OF THE DEFENSE WAS A MAN BY THE NAME OF DR. RAMA SHANDRIN WHO IS FROM INDIA.

SHE'S NOT LICENSED IN THIS STATE.

IT APPEARS THAT THE TRIAL ATTORNEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT, BECAUSE HE REFERRED TO HIM AS A PSYCHIATRIST DURING HIS TESTIMONY AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO CORRECT HIM.

>> HENRY WHO CONTRACTED COVID-19 AFTER VISITING MONTGOMERY IN PRISON SAID LISA WAS RAPED BY HER STEPFATHER WHEN SHE WAS A TEEN.

HER MOTHER BEAT HERREN HER AND ALLOWED OTHER MEN TO SEXUAL ABUSE HER.

>> I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT A U.S. ATTORNEY THINKS ABOUT EXECUTING A PERSON WHO WAS A VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND THAT'S SUCH A PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RIGHT NOW.

>> LISA'S HALF SISTER, DIANE MATTINGLY WAS PULLED OUT OF THE HOME BY SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE ABUSE AND SAID LISA SUFFERED FROM THE BRUNT OF IT.

>> I SEE MYSELF AS BEING BRUISED, BUT SHE IS BROKEN.

AND SHE -- IT WAS JUST PERPETUATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THERE WAS NO ONE THERE THAT HELPED HER.

>> A GROUP OF 40 FORMER AND CURRENT PROSECUTORS HAVE WRITTEN PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKING HIM TO COMMUTE'S LISA SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON.

FOR INDIANA NEWS DESK, I'M ADAM PINSKER.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE 2020 CENSUS REDISTRICTING WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER AT THE INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE LOOK AT HOW PARTISAN POLITICS WILL PLAY A ROLE IN THE REDRAWING OF DISTRICT MAPS.

AND BLOOMINGTON OFFICIALS HAVE GIVEN THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT TO REMOVE THEIR TENTS FROM SEMINARY PARK AND SECRETER ELSEWHERE.

AHEAD, WHAT ROLE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE PLAYING.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

STATE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK OUTLINED THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE 2021 SESSION.

A LOT OF THEM TOUCH ON ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, HOUSE DEMOCRATS, LIKE THEY HAVE FOR YEARS, ARE URGING REPUBLICANS TO ENACT RESTRICTIONS ON REDISTRICTING, BUT IT'S LIKELY TOO LATE.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS BACK IN SESSION, WHICH MEANS JULIA VAUGHN IS BACK AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>> TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TYPICALLY WORKS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY A FULL-TIME JOB.

>> VAUGHN HAS SPENT OVER TWO DECADES PUSHING REDISTRICTING REFORM FOR THE NONPROFIT COMMON CAUSE INDIANA AND SAYS IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> THE PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REDISTRICTING AND HOW MUCH IT IMPACTS ELECTIONS, THAT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

>> REPUBLICANS WERE IN CONTROL WHEN THE STATE COMPLETED REDISTRICTING BACK IN 2011.

BY 2012, THEY SECURED A SUPER MA JO ARITYMAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND HAVEN'T LOOKED BACK SINCE.

>> YOU SEE THAT AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SUPER MAJORITY AND KEEP IT AND EXPAND IT TO SOME DEGREE.

>> AFTER CENSUS DATA ARE COLLECTED EACH DECADE, THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES STATES DRAW NEW ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES FOR U.S. CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

14 STATES GIVE REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS PRIMARY CONTROL OVER DRAWING LINES.

IN INDIANA, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS IN CHARGE.

>> INDIANA'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEWEST RESTRICTIONS EITHER CULTURALLY OR LEGALLY IN HAD -- ON WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN THEY ARE DRAWING THE LINES.

>> ADVOCATES LIKE VAUGHN SAY WHEN REPUBLICANS RUN STATEWIDE, SUPPORT RUNS 50%.

BUT GERRYMANDERING PA LOUS GERRYMANDERING ALLOWS THEM TO KEEP THE LEGISLATURE AT 70% REPUBLICAN AND AVOID ANY REAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES.

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, LIKE THEY CLEARLY ARE IN INDIANA, WILL DRAW THE LINES TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

>> VAUGHN IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THAT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING ALLOWS LEGISLATORS TO PICK THEIR CONSTITUENTS, NOT THE ERR WAY AROUND.

SO COMMON CAUSE AND OTHER VOTER ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE CREATING A MULTIPARTISAN CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMISSION FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE INPUT AND MAKE THIRD-PARTY MAPS TO COMPARE WITH THOSE DRAWN BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> OUR IDEA IS TO MAKE A PUBLIC PROCESS FOR REDISTRICTING SO THAT THE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST DRIVING INSTEAD OF PARTISAN POLITICAL INTERESTS.

>> REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN HESITANT TO EMBRACE SUCH A STRATEGY, SAYING THAT A TRULY NONPARTISAN COMMISSION IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE, AND THEY ARE EVEN LESS KEEN ON A FULLY INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND LOTS OF PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST THAT ARE ACROSS THE STATE.

SO THAT WE ARE CAREFUL ABOUT WHERE WE DRAW OUR LINES AND NOT DIVIDE THOSE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.

>> IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT POLITICIAN DOESN'T WANT TO SAY THAT I WILL JUST GIVE THAT POWER UP AND THEN HOPE IT COMES OUT OKAY FOR ME.

NO, I'M GOING TO STICK HERE WITH MY BUDDIES.

WE WILL DRAW THE LINE TO MAKE SURE IT COMES OUT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> BUT THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN 2019 THAT PARTISAN REDISTRICTING IS AN ISSUE BEYOND THE COURTS.

WHEN IT BOILS DOWN TO IT, IT'S POLITICS.

>> IF IT WAS A DEMOCRAT IN CHARGE, THERE MIGHT BE SOME DIFFERENT MAPS GERRYMANDERED FOR DEMOCRATS BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT TO DO IT.

JUST BECAUSE I DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S BAD.

>> AS THEY ADVOCATE FOR THIRD-PARTY APPROACHES, THEY WILL TRY TO GET A REFORM BILL PASSED BEFORE REDISTRICTING OCCURS AT THE END OF THIS SESSION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROCESS WILL LIKELY BE RUSHED.

CENSUS INFORMATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH, JUST A MONTH BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS.

>> IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A COMMISSION.

IT'S TOO LATE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.

NOW WE ARE OPERATING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST SOME STANDARDS PUT IN PLACE FOR REDISTRICTING.

>> RESTRICTIONS WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE KEEPING DISTRICTS COMPACT AND NOT DIVIDING CITIES AND COUNTIES BETWEEN DISTRICTS.

BUT BRAY DOESN'T EXPECT THEM TO PASS.

>> THERE ARE REASONS IF WE DON'T DO OUR JOB WELL, THAT THE COURT CAN THROW THEM OUT.

THOSE THINGS UNDER PLACE THROUGH CASE LAW AND WE WILL ADHERE TO THEM.

>> THEY HOPE THE CITIZENS COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE HOOSIERS WITH A LOOK AT HOW A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION WOULD TAKE A LOOK, BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE TAKES ANOTHER CRACK IN ABOUT THE YEAR 2031.

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

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

>> THANKS, JOE.

INDIANA LAWMAKERS ARE FAST TRACKING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE SCHOOLS FULL FUNDING FOR STUDENTS LEARNING REMOTELY BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

THE BILL IS ESSENTIALLY REDEFINING WHAT CONSTITUTES A VIRTUAL STUDENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SCHOOL-YEAR SO THAT IN-PERSON SCHOOLS WON'T SEE ANY REDUCTION IN BASIC PER STUDENT FUNDING.

IT'S TEMPORARY FIXES BECAUSE THEY WOULD EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE SPRING 2021 SEMESTER.

>>> LEGISLATION PROPOSED THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM EVER DECREASING BUDGETS FOR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THE MEASURE IS A RESPONSE OF THE DEBATE RAISED IN 2020 OVER DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

SENATOR MIKE BORTERX, SAYS THE BILL AIM TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT ANY DECREASE TO PUBLIC FUNDING CAN EVER BECOME A POLITICAL BARGAINING CHIP.

>> THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO ALLOW THAT TO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE THREATENED OR USED AS A THREAT OR AS -- AS JUST A -- A FORM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

>>> THEY COULDN'T NAME AN INDIANA COMMUNITY THAT HAS DEFUNDED THE POLICE, NOR COULD THE INDIANA SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR OTHERS.

THIS WOULD DEINCENTIVIZE TO REDUCE COSTS THAT DON'T PROMOTE THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

>>> INDIANA HAS NOT ANNOUNCED WHEN WILL SEND OUT AN ADDITIONAL $300 IN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THE SO-CALLED CONTINUED AIST ISANCE ACT WOULD START ADDITIONAL PANDEMIC COMPENSATION BENEFITS AT A LOWER RATE.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY AT $600 AND EXTENDS THE LENGTH OF TIME AN UNEMPLOYED WORKER CAN BE ELIGIBLE NOR THOSE BENEFITS.

ABOUT HALF A MILLION HOOSIERS ARE STILL FILING OR CONTINUING CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

AS WINTER CONTINUES PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN BLOOMINGTON'S PARKS HAVE BEEN CAMPING OVERNIGHT IN TENTS TO KEEP WARM BUT THE PROBLEM IS IT VIOLATES PARK POLICY.

THE CITY HAS ISSUED A NOTICE TO REMOVE ALL TENTS BY NEXT WEEK.

>> THERE ARE ABOUT 25 CAMPING STRUCTURES SET UP AT SEVEN OR EIGHT PARKS SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN, WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE SLEEPING FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

CITY PARK RULES DO NOT ALLOW OVERNIGHT OCCUPANTS BETWEEN 11 P.M. AND 5 A.M.

SO THOSE TENTS HAVE BEEN MOVED A FEW FEET OVER TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN THE PARK PROPERTY AND THE STREET.

>> NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO OCCUPY THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AT ANY TIME, 24/7, BUT WE HADN'T BEEN ENFORCING THAT, ALTHOUGH WE FELT THAT THAT WAS NOT A SAFE SITUATION.

>> CARMICHAEL SAYS AFTER MEETING WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS, AND FOLKS STAYING IN THE PARK, THE CITY DECIDED PEOPLE NEEDED MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT THEIR NEXT STEPS, BEFORE REQUIRING THE REMOVAL OF TENTS.

>> THERE'S NOT A GOOD, YOU KNOW, SOLUTION OR ALTERNATIVE AND I THINK TO KIND OF GET THROUGH THIS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT WHICH AGENCY CAN DO WHICH, WHICH SHELTERS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE IN THE PARK.

>> BUT BOTH MAY AND CARMICHAEL SAY IT'S NOT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE PARK UNDER THE HARSH WINTER ELEMENTS.

>> YOU RUN INTO ISSUES LIKE FROSTBITE, HYPOTHERMIA AND OTHER COLD-RELATED ILLNESSES AND NOT TO MENTION JUST BEING IN A PUBLIC SPACE, DURING A PANDEMIC WHERE EVERYONE IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.

>> FOREST GILMORE RUNS A LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS SHELTER THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND TRIES TO PROVIDING SERVICES.

THEY ARE ABOUT 30 OR SO INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE ENCAMPMENT AND TRYING TO FIND PROPER LIVING ARRANGEMENTS IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IS VERY COMPLICATED.

>> MY CONCERN, OF COURSE IS THAT IN THAT TIME, WILL DISPERSE AND BE HARDER TO ACCESS AND THEY WILL BE LESS VISIBLE AND MORE HID AND WE WILL BE LESS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> GILMORE SAYS HE HOPES AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE FIND SAFE SHELTER IN THE SHORT TERM, BEFORE THE CITY BEGINS TAKING DOWN THE ENCAMPMENT.

>> WE HAVE A MAJOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS MISS OUR CRISIS?

OUR CITY AND WE ARE PRETENDING THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST AND CERTAINLY NOT DOING ANYTHING TO CHANGE TO PREVENT IT FOR CREATE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO.

>> PEOPLE WILL HAVE UNTIL MONDAY, JANUARY 11th AT 11 P.M. TO VACATE THEIR TENTS AND SEEK SHELTER ELSEWHERE, BUT AT THAT SAME TIME, THERE WILL BE STREET OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVES WORKING TO FIND PEOPLE A PLACE TO STAY.

>> GILMORE'S REQUESTING THE CITY TO PUSH BACK THE REMOVAL DATE UNTIL THEY CAN FIND A PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN THE PARK TO STAY.

HE SAYS RIGHT NOW, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE IN LOCAL SHELTERS.

>> ONE OF THE NEWEST HOOSIER STATE SENATORS AND THE FIRST MUSLIM AMERICAN TO SERVE AS A STATE LAWMAKER IN INDIANA HISTORY.

KADURA SAYS HE'S PROUD TO BE THE FIRST MUSLIM LAWMAKER BUT HE'S AWARE OF HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH IT.

>> ESSENTIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG GENERATION TO FEEL THAT AND KNOW THAT WHETHER YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IN YOUR CITY, IN YOUR STATE, IT IS POSSIBLE EVEN IF YOUR NAME IS FADI, EVEN IF YOU ARE A MUSLIM AND EVEN IF YOU ARE AN IMMIGRANT.

>> KADURA, SAYS HE WILL WORK TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND EDUCATION.

THE NCAA NORTH KOREA N.C.A.A.

ANNOUNCED THAT THE ENTIRE MARCH MADNESS WILL BE PLAYED IN INDIANA.

IT WILL BEGIN MARCH 18th.

TINKLE FIELDHOUSE AND INDIANA FARMER'S COLISEUM IN INDIANAPOLIS WILL BE USED AS WELL AS PURDUE'S MACKIE ARENA.

SO JOE, THE TOURNAMENT IS COMING BACK TO BLOOMINGTON FOR FIRST TIME IN A LONG THYME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ETHAN.

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: