>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," HOOSIERS AGED 60 TO 65 WILL SOON BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE, BUT THE STATE STILL HAS NO PLANS FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO GET THE SHOT.

>> THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THESE SECOND DOSES COVERED BEFORE EXPANDING FURTHER.

>> AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE RECEIVING THE VACCINE AT A LOWER RATE THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

MUCH OF THAT CAN BE TRACED TO DISTRUST IN MEDICINE DATING BACK DECADES.

>> SO WE HAVE A HUGE PANDEMIC OUT HERE RIGHT NOW THAT HAS ACTUALLY DRAWN ATTENTION TO WHAT HAS NOT HAPPENED OVER THE PAST 20-SOME ODD YEARS, IT'S RIGHT HERE IN OUR FACE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.

>> AND THE LATEST ON WHAT BILLS ARE AND ARE NOT MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AT THE INDIANA STATE HOUSE, INCLUDING A MEASURE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE LICENSE BEFORE BUYING A HANDGUN.

THOSE STORIES AND THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

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

INDIANA PLANS TO REDUCE THE AGE OF ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE TO 60 YEARS OLD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE DRAWING THE LINE THERE UNTIL SUPPLIES OF THE VACCINE INCREASE.

>> WHILE INDIANA ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THE STATE WILL LOWER THE AGE TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE TO 60-YEAR-OLDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THERE ARE NO PLANS TO VACCINATE TEACHERS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THAT'S BECAUSE INDIANA HAS HAJJ-BASED APPROACH.

THEY ARE RECEIVING ABOUT 100,000 DOSES A -- AGE-BASED APPROACH.

THEY ARE RECEIVING ABOUT 100 DOSES.

THE 60 TO 65-YEAR-OLD AGE GROUP INCLUDES MORE THAN 400,000 PEOPLE.

ONCE THAT GROUP IS VACCINATED THE NEXT STEP IS TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE TO 50 AND INCLUDE PERSONS UNDER 50 WITH FIVE SPECIFIC COMORBIDITIES THAT MAKE COVID-19 MORE DEADLY.

THESE ARE PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS, WITH SICKLE CELL, WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME, PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED POST-SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTS AND PEOPLE IN TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN CANCERS.

>> WE KNOW THESE CATEGORIES DO NOT INCLUDE ALL HOOSIERS WHO HAVE CONDITIONS THAT COULD PUT THEM AT GREATER RIIS ELECTRONIC COVID, BUT WE ARE WORKING -- RISK FROM COVID, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO EXPAND AS QUICKLY AS THE VACCINE SUPPLIES ALLOW US TO DO SO.

>> THE AGE-BASED APPROACH GOES AGAINST CDC GUIDELINES WHICH POST TEACHERS AND GROCERY STORE WORKERS.

>> THE WAY WE ARE SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS IS ACCOMMODATEs THE CONSUMER, THE PERSON WANTING TO GET IT IN THEIR ARM AND OUR SUPPLY.

>> SO FAR, ALMOST THREE-QUARTER OF A MILLION HOOSIERS HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINATION.

A THIRD OF THOSE HAVE RECEIVED BOTH DOSES.

THERE ARE 6.7 MILLION PEOPLE IN INDIANA.

THIS WEEK, THE STATE PASSED 12,000 COVID-19 DEATHS INCLUDING NEARLY 2,000 IN JANUARY.

THESE CONTRIBUTED TO AN 18% JUMP IN EXPECTED DEATH IN THE STATE LAST YEAR.

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

>>> BUT INDIANA'S RATES OF NEW COVID-19 INFECTIONS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS CONTINUES TO DECLINE, SINCE PEAKING IN EARLY DECEMBER.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS THIS WEEK LOWERED THE RISK LEVEL FOR COVID-19 SPREAD IN MORE COUNTIES.

ONLY SWITZERLAND COUNTY IN FAR SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA IS IN THE HIGHEST RISK RED CATEGORY.

ABOUT TWO-THIRDS STATE WAS IN THAT CATEGORY A MONTH AGO.

>>> DATA REVEALS A LOWER PROPORTION OF BLACK HOOSIERS ARE CHOOSING TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

EXPEARLSEXPERTS SAY IT'S A SYMPTOM OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.

PRODUCTBROCK TURNER REPORTS.

>> AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO COVID-19 FROM THEIR WORKPLACES AND ANOTHER STUDY FOUND THAT BLACK, HISPANIC AND OTHER RACIAL MINORITIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED AFTER CONTRACTING THE VIRUS.

WHILE BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE MAKE UP NEARLY 10% OF INDIANA'S POPULATION, THE DEMOGRAPHIC ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR 4% TOTAL VACCINES ADMINISTERED.

STATISTICS LIKE THESE ARE NOT SURPRISING TO TARA MORRIS WHO HEADS THE MINORITY HEALTH COALITION OF ELKHART COUNTY BUT THEY DO CREATE A SENSE OF URGENCY.

>> WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND IN ADDRESSING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US WHEN THEY LOOK AT THESE HEALTH DISPARITIES.

WE HAVE A HUGE PANDEMIC OUT HERE RIGHT NOW THAT HAS DRAWN ATTENTION TO WHAT HAS NOT HAPPENED OVER THE PAST 20-SOME ODD YEARS.

SO IT'S RIGHT HERE IN OUR FACE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.

>> TONY GILLESPIE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC POLICY AND ENGAGEMENT AT INDIANA'S MINORITY HEALTH COALITION AGREES.

>> YOU CAN'T ADDRESS 100 YEARS OF MISTRUST OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE, PERIOD.

YOU CAN'T ADDRESS THAT IN A WEBBY THAT.

>> FOR GILLESPIE, MUCH OF THE DISTRUST COMES FROM HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT ERODED IT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

HE SAYS THE DECADES LONG UNETHICAL MEDICAL RESEARCH IN TUSKEGEE, DROVE A WEDGE AND THOSE AND OTHER SYSTEMIC BARRIERS MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR BLACK AND OR MINORITY PEOPLE TO TRUST THE HEALTH SYSTEMS.

LATE LAST YEAR A BLACK INDIANAPOLIS PHYSICIAN, DR. SUSAN MOORE PUBLISHED A SERIES OF POSTS AND A VIDEO LYING IN HER BED IN AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY HEALTH HOSPITAL DESCRIBING HOW SHE WAS TREATED BY A WHITE DOCTOR.

TWO WEEKS AFTER POSTING THE VIDEO SHE DIED.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, I.U.

'S HEALTH PRESIDENT DENNIS MURPHY ISSUED A STATEMENT ENSURING IT WOULD CONDUCT AN OUTSIDE REVIEW, BUT DEFENDED THE CARE DR. MOORE RECEIVED, SAYING I'M FULLY CONFIDENT IN OUR MEDICAL TEAM AND EXPERTISE TO TREAT COMPLEX MEDICAL CASES.

I DON'T THINK WE FAILED THE DELIVERY OF DR. MOORE'S CARE.

I'M CONCERNED THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE SHOWN THE LEVEL OF COMPASSION AND RESPECT WE STRIVE FOR IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT MATTERS MOST TO PATIENTS.

GILLESPIE RECOGNIZES EXAMPLES LIKE THESE REINFORCE DISTRUST, ESPECIALLY WITH A NEW VACCINE.

>> HEALTHCARE IS A BIG DECISION, AND A VACCINE THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE A FEW MONTHS AGO, IS -- THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> CLYDE POSELY, IN INDIANAPOLIS, HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS.

HE KNOWS FIRSTHAPPEN HOW SEVERE THIS VIRUS CAN BE.

>> MY 95-YEAR-OLD FATHER, I PREACHED HIS FUNERAL SIX WEEKS AGO.

HE WAS WALKING AND HEALTHY, AND JOKING ON THANKSGIVING.

BY THE SATURDAY FOLLOWING THAT THANKSGIVING, HE WAS DEAD!

AND HE DIED ALONE.

NONE OF HIS FOUR CHILDREN COULD -- HIS REMAINING CHILDREN WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE HIM.

I'M HIS PASTOR.

I COULDN'T SEE HIM IN THE HOSPITAL.

THE NEXT TIME I SAW MY FATHER WAS IN A PINE BOX.

AND SO THAT IS A REALITY.

SO SOME SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

>> THAT'S WHY AFTER READING UP ON CLINICAL TRIALS AND CONDUCTING HIS OWN RESEARCH, POSELY BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR HIS CONGREGATION AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE THEIR SHOTS.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND WE NEED TO HIT IT.

WE CAN'T SIMPLY TALK ABOUT IT.

WE WASTED -- WHATEVER A PERSON'S POLITICAL VIEWS, WE DID NOT ATTACK THIS COVID THE WAY WE NEEDED TO.

WE NEED TO ATTACK IT THE WAY WE NEED TO NOW, AND SO IF THE LORD WOULD HAVE CALLED ME HOME TODAY, I WANT TO GO HOME KNOWING THAT I WAS GIVING MY LIFE TO THINGS THAT WERE MOST RELEVANT AT THIS MOMENT.

>> HE SINCE RECEIVED BOTH DOSES WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS, BUT ADMITS THERE WAS TREPIDATION WHEN HEADING TO HIS FIRST APPOINTMENT.

>> THESE THINGS ARE REAL.

IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM, IT WOULDN'T MEAN THAT THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN BUT YES, THERE WAS TREPIDATION.

IN MY MIND, I WAS TRYING TO BE COURAGEOUS.

>> MORRIS RECEIVED HER FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE A FEW WEEKS AGO AS WELL.

SHE TOO WAS HESITANT AND WANTED TO READ UP ON THE CLINICAL TRIAL RESEARCH BEFORE COMMITTING.

ALL AGREE VACCINE ACCESS WHEN SUPPLIES DO INCREASE DISPELLING MISINFORMATION AND QUELLING ANXIETY ARE IMPORTANT STEPS.

GILLESPIE SAYS INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THE VACCINE GO A LONG WAY IN REMOVING FEAR.

>> HOWEVER MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WE NEED TO BRING TOGETHER IN A COLLECTIVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, AND TO WORK THROUGH THE FEAR AND THE ANXIETY, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

>> MORRIS SAYS THE ANXIETY SHE FELT RECEIVING HER FIRST SHOT IS GONE.

SHE'S NOW AJUSTING HER FOCUS TO OTHERS -- ADJUSTING HER FOCUSING TO OTHERS IN HER COMMUNITY TO GET VACCINATED.

>> II DON'T HAVE THAT ANXIETY.

>> HER HARDEST SELL MIGHT BE HER 85-YEAR-OLD FATHER, BUT MORRIS ISN'T GOING TO STOP TRYING.

>> HE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, OKAY?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BROCK TURNER.

>>> WELL, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS DRIVING UP THE DEMAND FOR USED CARS AROUND INDIANA.

PART OF THE REASON IS FEWER NEW CARS ARE BEING MANUFACTURED.

ADAM PINSKER REPORTS.

>> IT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE ANOTHER DAY IN THE HOSPITAL AT HUBLER HONDA IN COLUMBUS.

THE SHOWROOM MAY LOOK A LITTLE EMPTY BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF DEMAND FOR USED CARS.

>> IF YOU WANTED TO TRADE IN A USED CAR, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S WORTH MORE THAN IT WILL EVER BE WORTH.

>> THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER SAYS INCREASE IN USED CARS INCREASED AFTER THEY OPENED THE DEALERSHIP?

JULY.

>> WE ARE LUCKY WE GET LEASE TURN INS FROM HONDAS.

THEY ARE USUALLY IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE AND THE RESIDUAL VALUE IS WHAT IT'S WORTH AFTER THE LEASE IS USUALLY LESS THAN WHAT IT'S WORTH.

>> ANOTHER FACTOR FUELING THE USED CAR CRAZE IS THE LACK OF NEW VEHICLES IN STOCK.

SEVERAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURING PLANTS AROUND INDIANA SHUT DOWN LAST VING STRING DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND SOME WERE CONVERTED INTO ASSEMBLY LINES FOR VENTILATORS.

>> THE NEW CAR INVENTORY GOT REALLY, REALLY LOW.

PEOPLE STILL WANTED TO BUY CARS, NEEDED TO BUY CARS AND THEY END UP BUYING USED CARS.

>> WAYNE LEACH IS THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER.

HIS DEALERSHIP IS SEEING A JOLT IN USED CAR DEALERSHIPS.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

TRUCKS ARE VERY POPULAR.

>> ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS.COM WHICH IS AN ONLINE RESOURCE, INTEREST RATES WERE AT 7.8%, COMPARED TO 8.6% IN JUNE OF 2019.

SO FINANCING A USED VEHICLE GOT EVEN CHEAPER.

>> IT WAS THE BEST YEAR WE EVER HAD LAST YEAR.

>> HE SAYS THE PANDEMIC ALSO BROUGHT ABOUT A CHANGE IN DRIVING HABITS, THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE INCREASED SALES.

>> I DO KNOW THAT MORE PEOPLE BOUGHT CARS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO RIDE WITH SOMEBODY OR THEY DON'T WANT TO GET ON A BUS WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

>> AS CAR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES ADJUSTED TO LIFE DURING THE PANDEMIC, PRODUCTION OF NEW VEHICLES AT SUBARU HAS RETURNED TO FULL PRODUCTION.

HONDA SAYS SALES OF THE CR-V ARE STRONG AND THE PLANT IS FULLY OPERATIONAL.

THOSE SAME LOW INTEREST RATES ARE STARTING TO FUEL A BUYING FRENZY WITH NEW CARS.

FORECASTS SHOW AN INCREASE IN NEW CAR SALES OF 6.5% FROM 2020 TO 2021.

SO MORE CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS EQUALS BETTER PRICES.

>> IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO BUY A NEW CAR.

I MEAN, THEY GOT REBATES AND EVERYTHING GOING, BUT NOW THE USED CARS ARE COMING BACK DOWN ON PRICE.

SO THERE ARE GOOD DEALS ON USED CARS ALSO.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ADAM PINSKER.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA LEGISLATORS ARE DEBATING A BILL THAT WOULD NO LONGER REQUIRE HOOSIERS TO GET A HANDGUN LICENSE.

THE STATUS OF THAT BILL AND OTHER BILLS PROGRESSING THROUGH COMMITTEES AT THE STATE HOUSE.

AND WITH VALENTINE'S DAY APPROACHING, WE TAKE A LOOK AT MORE THAN A SEC CENTURY'S OLD CONFECTIONARY STORE THAT'S PREPARING FOR ITS BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, HOMICIDES IN BLOOMINGTON JUMPED IN 2020 DESPITE AND OVERALL DECREASE IN CRIME, THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON'S PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR ANNUAL REPORT.

THE REPORTS SHOWED THAT HOMICIDES ROSE BY 150% AFTER FIVE HOMICIDES WERE REPORTED IN 2020.

THERE WERE JUST TWO IN 2019.

OTHER MAJOR CRIMES SUCH AS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, KIDNAPPING, SEX OFFENSES AND SIMPLE ASSAULT ALL SHOWED LOWER NUMBERS.

THERE WAS ONE REPORT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THE SAME AS 2019.

BLOOMINGTON POLICE CHIEF ATTRIBUTED THE DECREASE IN AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS TO THE REDUCTION OF STUDENTS IN BLOOMINGTON AND PARTICULARLY AT BARS AMID THE BAN DEMIC.

>>> WELL, -- PANDEMIC.

>>> WELL, AN INDIANA HOUSE COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING A BILL TO DROP THE LICENSE TO GET A HANDGUN.

AS BRANDON SMITH REPORTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

>> THE PROCESS TO GET A HANDGUN LICENSE TAKES A FEW DAYS, THOUGH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IT'S TAKEN AS MUCH AS A FEW MONTHS.

THE BURDEN OF WAITING TO LEGALLY CARRY A HANDGUN IN PUBLIC IS OUTWEIGHED BY THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE LICENSES TO POLICE.

>> PLEASE DON'T PUT THEM IN JEOPARDY.

>> NOTHING SHOULD GET IN THE WAY OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS DEFENDING THEMSELVES.

>> THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE YOUR PLAN A FOR PROTECTION OR SELF-DEFENSE.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OUR SAVIOR.

>>> BRANDON SMITH NOW JOINS US FOR MORE FROM INDIANAPOLIS.

HI, BRANNON.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR -- BRANDON, WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS BILL?

>> WELL, THE BILL HAS TO PASS COMMITTEE.

THAT WAS JUST A HEARING THIS WEEK, AND THEN JUST TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR, THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT IN INDIANA IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET A LICENSE TO CARRY A GUN IN PUBLIC.

IF YOU WANT TO GET A HANDGUN RIGHT NOW AND YOU ARE OF AGE AND PROPER PERSON, YOU CAN DO THAT AND ONLY KEEP IT IN YOUR HOME.

WE WILL SEE, THERE IS A COMMITTEE HEARING SCHEDULED ON MONDAY.

THERE WON'T BE TESTIMONY LIKELY TAKEN.

IT SHOULD BE JUST AMENDMENTS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, AND A VOTE ON THE BILL, WE'LL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE IF IT DOES ON MONDAY.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS HITTING THE HALFWAY MARK OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO WE'LL DO A QUICK UPDATE SINCE WE HAVE YOU.

THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PRIORITIZES INCREASES FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND VIRTUAL SCHOOLS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BUDGET PRIORITIES TOO?

>> WELL, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEY WOULD GET LESS MONEY UNDER THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET THAN GOVERNOR HOLCOMB PROPOSED IN HIS, IN TERMS OF AN INCREASED FUNDING, WHICH IS LONG BEEN AN ISSUE OF FRICTION BETWEEN SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES AND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES SENATE, ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST EXPANSION EVER VOUCHERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN SOMETIME, BUT THAT HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AS IT FIRST HAS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THEN GO OTT SENATE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT THE END OF SESSION WHICH IS STILL MONTHS AWAY.

IN TERMS OF OTHER BUDGET PRIORITIES THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PRIORITIZING IN SPENDING ONE-TIME DOLLARS OUT OF BUDGET RESERVES IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SPEND $700 MILLION THIS YEAR PAYING DOWN STATE DEBT.

INSTEAD HOUSE REPUBLICANS PROPOSE SEVERAL ONE-TIME PROGRAMS, GRANTS TO HELP KIDS RECOVER FROM LEARNING LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SMALL BUSINESS RESTART PROGRAM TO HELP BUSINESSES THAT STRUGGLED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS NEW FACILITIES AT THE INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY WHICH TRAINS MOST OF THE POLICE IN INDIANA.

>> 9 CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SAID HE WOULDN'T HOLD HEARINGS ON ANY BILLS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

IS THAT COMMON FOR COMMITTEES?

AND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES ISSUES NOT BEING HEARD.

>> THIS IS THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND ONE THING THE CHAIRMAN DID SAY IS THERE WERE SOME BILLS IN THE HOUSE THAT ARE DUPLICATES OF BILLS IN THE SENATE, AND THOSE SENATE BILLS ARE ON THEIR WAY OVER TO THE HOUSE.

SO WE WILL SEE COMMITTEE HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION, BUT HE ALSO SAID THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ISSUES LIKE LEAD PIPES AND OTHERS THAT THE FEDERAL EPA IS TAKING A LOOK AT AND HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO BEFORE THE STATE TAKES ANY ACTION.

>> THE HOUSE EASILY PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD SOMEWHAT TIE THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT AND ANY INDICATION IT WILL PASS THE SENATE?

>> I DO THINK IT WILL PASS THE SENATE, FOR SURE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY ADD MORE THINGS IN OR NOT.

WHAT THE HOUSE BILL DOES IS IT ALLOWS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CALL ITSELF INTO A SESSION, WHICH THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO UNDER CURRENT LAW OR THE INDIANA CONSTITUTION, IF THE GOVERNOR DECLARES AN EMERGENCY LIKE HE DID DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

SO THEY COULD POTENTIALLY, WELL, QUITE FRANKLY STOP THE GOVERNOR FROM DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT HE DID DURING COVID-19.

IT ALSO SAYS GOING FORWARD, THE GOVERNOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THAT MATTER CANNOT ISSUE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE WORSHIPING AT CHURCH, WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE.

FIRST EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, HE SHUT DOWN CHURCHES ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER PUBLIC PLACES, AND THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC AND THEN HE REQUIRED SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASK WEARING AND THAT SORT OF THING.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S BILL SAID HE COULD NO LONGER THAT OR ANY GOVERNOR COULD DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.

WE WILL SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE SENATE.

>> BRANDON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> COLUMBUS IS HOPING BLOOMING FOODS WILL COME TO THE DOWNTOWN.

THE CITY IS WORKING WITH DEVELOPER, FLATTERY AND COLLINS TO BUILD A $39 MILLION MIXED USED BUILDING WITH 200 APARTMENTS, BARKING AND RETAIL SPACE.

>> -- PARKING AND RETAIL SPACE.

>> IT REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT MARKET THAN KROGER OR WALL MART MART -- WALMART.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL RECEIVED HERE IN COLUMBUS.

AND IT WOULD PROVIDE HEALTHY CHOICES FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE.

>> THE LOCATION EAST OF THE COUNTY JAIL IS VACANT.

MOST OF THE LAND WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY BY IRWIN SWEENEY MILLER INTERESTS.

BLOOMING FOOD OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS ON THE NEW PROJECT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

>> WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD -- PRETTY GOOD STATE, WHERE.

WE'RE IN A STRONG POSITION TO BE ABLE TO EVEN TAKE A LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS, AND CONSIDER THEM.

>> THE CO-OP IS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC STRONGER THAN IT WAS HEADING INTO IT.

HE SAYS THE STORE HAS LESS TRAFFIC BUT SHOPPERS ARE BUYING MORE.

CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT WON'T START BEFORE MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.

MORE THAN CENTURY OLD COVERED BRIDGE IN GREEN COUNTY IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED AFTER SUSPECTED ARSON FIRE LAST WEEKEND.

>> THE RICHLAND PLUMBER COVERED BRIDGE SITS ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTH OF BLOOMFIELD ON SOUTH BASELINE ROAD AT 102 # FEET LONG, THE BURR ARCHED TRUSS BRIDGE IS THE ONLY ONE IN GREEN COUNTY.

VISITORS TRAVEL FAR TO SEE THE WHITE ONE-LANE BRIDGE SPANNING RICHLAND CREEK EVERY YEAR.

MANY LOCALS USE IT EVERY DAY.

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA THAT TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS.

THEY COME DOWN AND THEY ROUTINELY PICK UP THE TRASH.

THEY KEEP ME VERY WELL INFORMED ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRIDGE.

>> ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1883, IT WAS ONE OF 58 BRIDGES BUILD BY A.M. KENNEDY AND SON.

TODAY NEARLY 75% OF THE KENNEDYS BRIDGES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

SEVERAL OF THEM WERE VICTIMS OF ARSON.

THE GREEN COUNTY BRIDGE ALMOST JOINED THAT LIST ON SUNDAY MORNING, HOWEVER THE FAIR DAMAGE IS MINIMAL.

>> WE HAVE HAD SOME DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGE THROUGH VANDALISM, WITH THE SIDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, KNOCKING THE SIDING OFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT NEVER ANYTHING TO THIS DEGREE.

>> THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.

THE INDIANA STATE FIRE MARSHAL IS CONDUCTING A FULL ARSON INVESTIGATION.

THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD FAR BEYOND ONE INDIVIDUAL BEAM ON THE STRUCTURE'S NORTH SIDE BUT OFFICIALS ARE UNSURE EXACTLY HOW LONG IT BURNED.

>> IT'S VERY HARD TO START A FIRE WITH -- WITH THAT TYPE OF ANOTHER.

OF SO, I THINK THE FIRE BURNT A LONG TIME BEFORE IT WAS EVER -- ANYBODY EVER FOUND IT.

>> THE BRIDGE WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THE DAMAGE CAN BE ASSESSED AND REPAIRED BY AN ENGINEER.

NOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK"."

>> AND SUNDAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY AND THAT HAS A CANDY STORE IN JEFFERSONVILLE PREPARING FOR THE BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

LILY St. ANGELO REPORTS.

>> AS VALENTINE'S DAY APPROACHES, THIS 130-YEAR-OLD CANDY STORE HAS BEEN BUSY!

>> WE'RE MAKING RED HOT ARTS TODAY.

>> IT'S IN JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, AND IT'S RUN BY JILL AND WARREN CHIMPS, FOURTH HAD GENERATION CANDY MAKERS WITH A PASSION FOR HANDMADE SWEETS.

CHRISTMAS IS THEIR BIGGEST SEASON, EASTER THEIR BIGGEST WEEK AND VALENTINE'S DAY THEIR BIGGEST DAY.

>> VALENTINE'S DAY SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MEN.

THEY WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT AND THEY ALL COME IN SAYING, JUST GIVE ME SOMETHING THAT LOOKS PRETTY.

>> LAST SPRING, THEY HAD TO SELL EASTER CANDY FOR 75% OFF AS THE PANDEMIC HIT.

ALTHOUGH SALES HAVE BOUNCED BACK, THEY ARE NOT UP TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

BUT THE FAMILY-OWNED CANDY BUSINESS HAS SURVIVED ROCKY TIMES BEFORE, INCLUDING THE 1918 PANDEMIC, THE OHIO RIVER FLOOD OF 1937, WARS AND THE DEPRESSION.

>> WE HAVE SUFFERED A LOT BUT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN AS WE WENT ALONG.

>> WARREN AND JILL LIVED IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE TAKING OVER THE FAMILY SHOP 31 YEARS AGO.

WARREN, A CHEMIST BY TRAINING ANALYZED THE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR 20 YEARS.

AND JILL WAS ENGLISH AS A WILL SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHER AT CLAIREMONT McKENNA COLLEGE.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS LOVED CANDY.

THEY FUND RAISED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CENTER WHERE JILL WORKED BY MAKING CANDY IN THEIR GARAGE.

OF MANY OF JILL'S INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LEARNED TO MAKE CANDY WITH THEM.

CHIMP'S SPECIALIZES IN HARD CANDY AND HAND-DIPPED CHOCOLATES.

THEIR HARD CANDY IS MADE ON EQUIPMENT FROM WHEN THE SHOP OPENED IN 1891.

WARREN SAYS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT MAKING CANDY IS THE INSTANT FEEDBACK HE GETS FROM CUSTOMERS.

>> I SAY THIS FACETIOUSLY BUT SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK AND THEY SAY, DAMN, THAT'S GOOD!

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF FEEDBACK FROM THE CUSTOMER, NOT EVERY JOB GIVES YOU THAT FEEDBACK.

>> IN NORMAL TIMES JILL HERDS GROUP OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH THE STORE, DEMONSTRATING THE PROCESS AND TEACHING THEM SHOP HISTORY.

EVEN THOUGH TOURS ARE NOW CLOSED TO LARGE GROUPS, THEY STILL DO SMALL PRIVATE TOURS FOR FAMILY.

FOR WARREN AND JILL, CARRYING ON THE TRADITION FOR LOCAL FAMILIES IS ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING PARTS OF THEIR WORK.

>> IT'S THE REPEAT CUSTOMERS, THE COMMUNITY PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS, AND PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, CAME HERE AS CHILDREN WITH THEIR GRANDMOTHER, THEIR GREAT GRANDMOTHER, AND NOW ARE BRINGING THEIR -- SO THAT'S THE FUN OF IT.

>> THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR CINNAMON RED HOTS, CHOCOLATE PECAN TURTLES AND TURTLES AND CARAMEL COVERED MARSHMALLOWS.

THEY CAN FILL THEIR OWN BOXES WITH WHATEVER THEIR HEARTS DESIRE.

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

>> NOW OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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