>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," HOOSIERS 50 AND OLDER CAN NOW GET THE COVID VACCINE AND THERE'S AN AVENUE FOR TEACHERS TO GET THE SHOT AS WELL.

THEATEST VACCINE INFORMATION JUST AHEAD.

>>> A LOT OF HOOSIERS ARE GETTING AN UNPEASANT SURPRISE WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR ELECTRIC BILL.

>> AND THESE BILLS ARE STILL GETTING RIDICULOUS.

I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WILL I HAVE TO BUM TEMPERATURE DOWN -- BUMP IT DOWN TO 50 OR 55 DEGREES IN HERE?

>> WHY ARE CUSTOMERS PAYING MORE?

THOSE STORIES COMING UP.

AND BLACK LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR CHANGES AFTER SOME OF THEIR COLLEAGUES WERE SHOUTED DOWN AND BOOED BY SOME REPUBLICANS DURING A DEBATE.

>> PEOPLE WHO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HOW THOSE EXPERIENCES AFFECT THEIR DECISION MAKING, IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE HAS TO DO.

>> AHEAD HOW STATE LEADERS ARE ADDRESSING RACISM, EQUITY AND CIVILITY.

AND DOES THE NEW LEADER OF THE HOUSE HAVE CONTROL OF HIS CHAMBER?

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, TWICE THIS WEEK STATE EXPANDED ITS CRITERIA FOR WHO ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

HOOSIERS WHO ARE 50 AND OLDER CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

STATE'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER SAYS BY THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, SHE HOPES ANYONE AGE 40 AND ABOVE CAN START GETTING THE SHOT.

THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE HAS BEEN THE GAME CHANGER IN INDIANA.

THE STATE IS GETTING ABOUT 54,000 DOSES OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, AND UNLIKE THE OTHER APPROVED VACCINES, THIS VERSION ONLY REQUIRES ONE DOSE.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW VACCINE IS ALSO WHAT ALLOWED STATE TO CREATE THREE MASS VACCINATION SITES INCLUDING ONE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.

>> WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ALL THREE VACCINES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, AND SUCCESSFUL AT PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS AND THOSE ARE RESULTS WE WANT TO SEE WITH ANY VACCINE.

>> HOOSIERS WITH SPECIFIC COMORBIDITIES CAN REGISTER TO GET VACCINE.

THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS ON DIALYSIS, PEOPLE WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME, AND POST-ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS AND PEOPLE WITH SICKLE CELL AND PANCER -- CANCER PATIENTS WHO WERE TREATED IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

>> AND THEY WILL INCLUDE MORE CONDITIONS.

>> I WOULD BE THINKING THAT BY MID- TO LATE MARCH WE ARE TO 40 AND ABOVE.

>> HOOSIERS THAT HAVE COMORBIDITIES HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS RATHER THAN REGISTER FOR A VACCINE APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE STATE.

AFTER THAT, THEY'LL BE PROVIDED A SEPARATE REGISTRATION LINK.

AS FOR TEACHERS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE AIMED PRIMARILY AT GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB TO MAKE THE VACCINE AVAILABLE TO EDUCATORS, BUT THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE HEALTH LEADERS SAY THEIR AGE-BASED APPROACH TO VACCINE ROLLOUT IS WORKING AND THEY ARE STICKING WITH IT, EVEN THOUGH --EVEN THOUGH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN CALLED FOR EDUCATORS EDUCATORS TO BE VACCINATED.

>> WE WILL SAVE LIVES IN INDIANA.

>> TEACHERS YOUNGER THAN 50 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SHOTS AT KROGER, WALMART STORES.

>> THEY ARE SCHEDULING DIRECTLY WITH THOSE THREE ENTITIES AND SITES, NOT OUR WEBSITE.

>> JUST BEING ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE AT A PHARMACY IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR TEACHERS.

>> I KNOW WE ALL WANT TO TRY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COORDINATED EFFORT AMONG OUR PHARMACIES AND OUR EDUCATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

>> ABOUT 10% OF INDIANA RESIDENTS HAVE NOW BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE THE SHOTS FIRST BECAME AVAILABLE TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND OLDER RESIDENTS IN MID-DECEMBER.

>> FOR MORE ON HOW VACCINES ARE WORKING IN THE STATE, WE ARE JOINED BY REGAN STREET INSTITUTE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O., DR. PETER EMBEE.

DOCTOR, THINGS ARE REALLY MOVING QUICKLY WITH THE STATE ALLOWING MORE AND MORE TO GET VACCINATED.

WHAT IMPACT WILL HAVING THE THIRD VACCINE, THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON DOSE APPROVED THIS WEEK, ALREADY MEAN TO THE PUBLIC?

>> I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

IT WILL ALLOW US IMMEDIATELY TO VACCINATE A LOT MORE PEOPLE.

THE NEW VACCINE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS ARE THE OTHERS IN PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE ADDITION OF THAT.

NOT ONLY THE ADDITIONAL DOSES, BUT THE FACT THAT IT IS A ONE-TIME SHOT.

IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL FOR GETTING OUT TO A LOT OF POPULATIONS AND BEING ABLE TO VACCINATE PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE VULNERABLE AND GETTING IT OUT IN MASS VACCINATION SITES LIKE THE ONES THAT WERE SET UP THIS WEEK BY THE STATE.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP US ADVANCE AND ACCELERATE VACCINATION AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW.

>> CAN YOU TELL HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM ANYONE WHO WANTS A VACCINE BEING ABLE TO GET ONE?

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY CONNECTED TO THIS OTHER NEWS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY MOVING MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN IT HAD BEEN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

SO IT'S LOOKING INCREASINGLY LIKE ADULTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED HOPEFULLY BY THE SUMMER.

RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT ESTIMATES ARE THAT PERHAPS AS EARLY AS THE SEND OF MAY IF EVERYTHING CONTINUES ON THE CURRENT PACE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE FOR THE MAJORITY OF ADULTS IN THE COUNTRY.

REALISTICALLY THINGS CHANGE AND IT COULD PUSH INTO THE SUMMER A BIT, BUT I'M CONFIDENT WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HIT THAT TARGET AND THAT'S REALLY EXCELLENT.

OF COURSE, THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER GROUP OF 16 AND YOUNGER WHERE THERE ARE STILL STUDIES ONGOING AND ONCE WE HAVE MORE EVIDENCE THAT IT'S SAFE IN THAT POPULATION, WHICH I THINK WE ALL EXPECT WILL BE THE CASE, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO INTO VACCINATING EVEN MORE PEOPLE.

>> I KNOW YOU TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE VACCINE BEING BETTER THAN ANOTHER.

WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT ON THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD TO COMPARE THESE TO ONE ANOTHER.

I THINK THE THING I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON IS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PANDEMIC.

WE WANT TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL AND EVERY ONE OF THESE APPROVED VACCINES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S TRULY A DIFFERENCE IN EFFECTIVENESS BETWEEN THE ONE OR THE OTHER OUT IN THE REAL WORLD, I THINK WILL PLAY ITSELF OUT OVER TIME, BUT COMPARING THE STUDIES TO ONE ANOTHER IS VERY CHALLENGING BECAUSE THEY WERE CONDUCTED AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITH DIFFERENT TRAINS AND VARIANT -- STRAINS AND VARIANTS OUT THERE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE EFFECTIVE VACCINE AND MY ADVICE IS TO GET THE ONE THAT YOU CAN GET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE HAVE JUST UNDER 30 SECONDS- LEFT.

SOME STATES ARE ENDING THEIR MASK MANDATES DESPITE ONLY HAVING A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATIONS VACCINATED.

IS IT TOO SOON?

>> I DO THINK IT'S TOO SOON.

I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

WE KNOW THAT EVEN WITH VACCINATION, PEOPLE CAN STILL CARRY THE VIRUS AND WE ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT THIS AND FRANKLY A LOT OF VIRUS IS STILL OUT THERE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS, AND NOT LET OUR GUARD DOWN TOO QUICKLY.

>> ALL RIGHT,, DOCTOR, I KNOW YOU ARE BEIGY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH -- I KNOW YOU ARE BUSY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> INDIANA'S SEVEN DAY ALL TEST POSITIVITY RATE CONTINUES TO DECLINE AND IS NOW AT ITS LOWEST POINT SINCE EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC AT 3.3%.

WELL, LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, THE MAYOR OF THE COLUMBUS SAYS HIS CITY HAD AN EDGE ON RECOVERY EFFORTS DUE TO ITS BUSINESS PROFILE.

THE MAYOR SAYS HE REMEMBERS THINKING THIS WAS GOING TO BE SERIOUS, BUT DIDN'T ANTICIPATE IT WOULD LAST THIS LONG.

HE SAYS HE RECEIVED EARLY INFORMATION FROM BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS IN CHINA THAT THE CORONAVIRUS WAS THE REAL DEAL.

THE CITY'S FIRST COVID TASK FORCE MEETING WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2020.

>> OUR FIRST PREACTION WAS TO SEND -- REACTION TO WAS SEND SOME PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO THE WUHAN FRIENDS WE HAVE.

IT WASN'T TOO MUCH AFTER THAT, THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR THEM -- ASKING THEM FOR HELP IN REVERSE.

SO THEY SENT BOXES, UPON BOXES OF MASKS AND HAND CLEANER AND OTHER P.P.E.-TYPE ITEMS.

>> HE SAYS HE THINKS THE EARLY RESPONSE CONTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTY'S RELATIVELY LOW CASE NUMBERS COMPARED TO THE REST OF INDIANA.

HE SAYS IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THROUGH THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

HE SAYS HERD IMMUNITY IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY MEANS ABOUT 70,000 VACCINATED.

AS OF THIS WEEK, ABOUT 8,000 ARE VACCINATED.

>>> WELL, THE AHEAD OF INDIANA'S HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAID HE WON'T TOLERATE UNRULY BEHAVIOR FROM HIS GOP COLLEAGUES.

THIS IS AFTER A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS HECKLED MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS LAST MONTH, WHILE THEY WERE SPEAKING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

DEMOCRATS ARE PRESSURING THE GOP TO TAKE ACTION, AND AMONG OTHER THINGS, REQUIRE LAWMAKERS TO GO THROUGH RACIAL BIAS TRAINING.

MY COLLEAGUE ADAM PINSKER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY.

HE JOINS US NOW FROM THE STATE HOUSE WITH MORE ON THE ONGOING TENSIONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE ROBIN SHACKLEFORD WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE INDIANA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS SAID SHE HAD A PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH SPEAKER TODD HOUSTON ABOUT THE INCIDENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BUT SAYS THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.

WHAT STARTED OUT AS A DEBATE OVER A SCHOOL DEANNE DEANNEXING BILL SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.

>> HERE WE GO AGAIN, DISCRIMINATION AND SEGREGATION, THE THINGS LIKE THAT IS -- EXCUSE ME.

I HAVE A RIGHT.

MR. SPEAKER, I WILL STOP MY REMARKS.

NO, IT'S NOT -- IT'S -- >> GO RIGHT AHEAD.

>> IT'S IMMUNING ME AS A LEGISLATOR TO TAKE WHEN I FEEL.

>> THE BILL WOULD ALLOW GREEN TOWNSHIP TO BREAK AWAY FROM SOUTH BEND SCHOOL CORPORATION AND JOIN THE JOHN GLEN SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TESKCA SAYS A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL IN SOUTH BEND AND DEANNEXING MAKES SENSE.

>> THERE ARE 400 KIDS IN GREEN TOWNSHIP.

SOUTH BEND IS ED EDUCATING 88 OF THOSE.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE PLAN.

THE VOTERS IN GREEN TOWNSHIP WOULD HAVE TO PASS A REFERENDUM BEFORE DEANNEXING.

THEY WOULD NOT LOSE OUT ON PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR AT LEAST A DECADE IF THE DEANNEXATION IS SUCCESSFUL.

>> THIS WAS A REFERENDUM PASSED LAST YEAR AND IF THIS MONTHS FORWARD AND IF GREEN TOWNSHIP WOULD DEANNEX, THEY WOULD PAY ON THAT REFERENDA, THROUGH THE TEN-YEAR COURSE.

>> THE >> THE SAME LEGISLATION PASSED THE SENATE TWICE LAST YEAR WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BUT WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN IN LAST MONTH'S HOUSE SESSION, THE MEMBERS OF THE BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS SAID A BILL PAVING THE WAY FOR A MOSTLY WHITE TOWNSHIP TO BREAK AWAY FROM A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RACIST OVERTONES.

>> GENTLEMAN CARE HOW YOU -- I DON'T CARE HOW YOU TWIST IT, HOW YOU PAINT IT, HOW DISGUISE IT, HOW YOU CAMOUFLAGE IT, IT'S RACISM.

YOU CAN BOO IF YOU WANT TO.

>> THE TENSIONS SPILLED OUT INTO THE HALLWAY WHERE STATE REPRESENTATIVE VANESSA SUMMERS SAYS REPUBLICAN!SUMMERSSAYS A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR LUNGED AT HER.

THEY REQUESTED THAT NOR INDIANA STATE POLICE BE POSTED AT THE LEGISLATIVE CENTER.

>> DURING THAT INCIDENT, THE INDIANA STATE POLICE JUST HAPPENED TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR DETAIL RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE CHAMBER.

SO WE GOT TO TALK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT CARTER.

I SPOKE TO HIM PERSONALLY.

HE'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOMEONE AT ALL TIMES SECURING THE CHAMBER.

>> SHACKLEFORD WANTS THE MEMBERS WHO WERE HECKLING TO BE CENSURED AND SHE WANTS ALL LAWMAKERS TO GO THROUGH ANTIRACISM TRAINING SNAG WHETHERTRAINING.

>> FIV OR TEN PEOPLE CAN GET TO GO AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THEIR DECISION MAKING AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE HAS TO DO.

>> SHACKLEFORD AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS ORGANIZED A SILENT PROTEST CALLED DAYS OF ACTION TO BRING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY SAY IS PLACENT DISRESPECT BEING SHOWN -- BLATANT DISRESPECT BEING SHOWN BY THE HOUSE MAJORITY.

>> WHEN YOU ARE BIGGER THAN THE LITTLE GUY, YOUR TONE IS NOT RESPECTFUL ALWAYS.

AND I -- AND THAT'S THE WAY I VIEW WHAT IS HAPPENING DOWN HERE.

>> VICE CHAIR OF THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CORDELIA BURKS SERVED AS A LOBBYIST IN THE '80s AND '90s.

SHE SAID REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TOGETHER DURING THAT TIME.

BRIAN BOSMA, WHO RETIRED LAST YEAR WOULD NOT HAVE TOLERATED WHAT OCCURRED IN THE CHAMBER LAST MONTH.

>> I KNOW WE HAVE A NOVICE IN THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE AND THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST HIM.

I THINK THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIM.

I THINK IF BRIAN WAS STILL AROUND, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED.

>> THE CURRENT SPEAKER DID NOT RESPOND OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW.

HE SAID HE WILL STRICTLY ENFORCE RULES OF DECORUM.

>> WOULDN'T TO BE HEAVY HANDED IN ENFORCEMENT, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE MOVING FORWARD, THAT WILL BE THE CASE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE SHACKLEFORD SAID THAT THE CURRENT STATE OF NATIONAL POLITICS AND THE CONSTRAINTS OF HOLDING A LEGISLATURE UNDER COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE TENSIONS BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> AND I WENT UP TO REPRESENTATIVE SMITH AND PORTER AFTER THE WHOLE THING HAPPENED ON THE FLOOR AND EXTENDED MY HAND TO THEM AND YOU COULD TELL THAT -- THAT THE EMOTION IN THEIR EYES IS GENUINE.

>> THE CALL TO ACTION DAYS WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK HERE AT THE STATE HOUSE.

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

>> INDIANA REPUBLICAN TODD YOUNG OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED HIS BID FOR ANOTHER SIX YEARS IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> I ALSO PLEDGE TO YOU THAT I WOULD WORK ON BEHALF OF ALL HOOSIERS TO DELIVER CONSERVATIVE RESULTS.

I BELIEVE I LIVED UP TO MY OATH AND KEPT MY WORD BUT MORE WORK REMAINS.

>> YOUNG FORMALLY BEGINS HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN WITH A SIZABLE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE WITH úMORE THAN $2 MILLION IN HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.

THE HOOSIER LAWMAKER HAS SERVES IN CONGRESS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, INCLUDING THREE TERMS IN THE HOUSE BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 2016.

HE ALSO LED THE FUND-RAISING WING FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," CUSTOMERS ARE SEEING SOARING ENERGY BILLS THIS WINTER, BUT THE ELECTRIC COMPANY SAYS BLAME THE COLD.

AND AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE PROTECTIONS TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FAILED IN CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK.

AHEAD, WHAT'S NEXT FOR BLOOMINGTON'S UNHOUSED PERSONS.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

EARLIER THIS WEEK, BLOOMINGTON'S CITY COUNCIL DEBATED FOR NINE HOURS OVER AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROTECT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE SLEEPING IN CITY PARKS.

BUT AS ETHAN BURKS REPORTS, THAT MEASURE DIDN'T PASS.

>> ORDINANCE 20-06 WAS A VERY POLARIZING ISSUE FOR THE COUNCIL.

IT AIMED TO PROTECT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS LIKE THE ONE IN SEMINARY PARK FROM BEING REMOVED IF OTHER SHELTER OPTIONS WERE NOT.

>> AN UNHOUSED PERSON HAS NO PLACE TO GO.

LITERALLY NO BED ANYWHERE IN THIS TOWN WHERE THEY CAN SLEEP, INCLUDING IN SHELTERS SHOULD THEY HAVE A LEGAL PLACE TO SLEEP.

>> THAT WAS THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THAT FLAHERTY AND OTHER SUPPORTERS WANTED TO ADDRESS.

THEIR STATED GOAL WAS TO DECRIMINALIZE SLEEPING IN PUBLIC SPACES.

>> IT'S NOT MY INTENTION THAT THE CITY CREATE TENT CAMP IN OUR CITY.

THAT'S NOT MY INTEREST.

I HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THAT.

WHAT I AM INTERESTED IN IS THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF SLEEPING.

>> BUT THE COUNCIL WAS GRIDLOCKED WITH OTHER MEMBERS SAYING THE LEGISLATION WAS FLAWED.

>> THIS HAS ALL BEEN DONE WITHOUT PROPER COMMUNICATION WITH OR CONSIDERATION OF THE EMPLOYEES OF OUR CITY WHO ARE GOING TO BE TASKED WITH THE EXECUTION OF THIS.

>> SANDBERG SAYS THE PROPER RESEARCH AND VETTING WERE NOT DONE IN THE AREAS OF FUNDING, STAFFING AND MAINTENANCE OF AN ENCAMPMENT IN A CITY PARK.

>> IT IS UNDEVELOPED.

IT'S ILL CONCEIVED, IT'S AMBIGUOUS.

IT CODIFIES HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN PARKS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN A FALL -- FATALITY.

THEY SAID SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS, BUT THIS IS NOT IT.

THEY SHOULD WORK ON NEW PROBLEMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE ARE SWEEPING THE PROBLEM UNDER THE RUG AGAIN.

THIS IS A VERY URGENT PROBLEM.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE ANOTHER TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS TO DO, TO DEAL WITH.

>> SUPPORTERS OF MEASURE WORRY THAT WHEN THE EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTERS CLOSE FOR THE SPRING, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE FACED WITH THE ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN AND TENTS WILL BE BACK IN CITY PARKS.

>> ETHAN JOINS US FROM THE NEWSROOM TO TELL US HOW THIS WHOLE THING PLAYED OUT.

ETHAN, YOU SAT THROUGH THAT LONG NINE-HOUR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY?

>> WELL, SIMPLY PUT THIS WAS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A DIVIDED ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU HAD FOUR MEMBERS ON ONE SIDE SUPPORTING IT, AND THEN FOUR ON THE OTHER SIDE OPPOSING IT.

NOW, I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE UNUSUAL TO HAVE AN EVEN NUMBER, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE COUNCIL PRESIDENT JIM SIMS COULD NOT ATTEND THE MEETING THIS WEEK DUE TO A FAMILY MATTER.

>> WHAT FACTOR DID THE UNEVEN NUMBER OF COUNCILMEMBERS MEAN FOR ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE ALL WERE TAUGHT IN CLASSES, THAT MAJORITY RULES AND IT'S TRUE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THE SIDE WITH THE MOST VOTES, THEY WIN AND BECAUSE IN THIS INSTANCE, IT WAS 4-4 ON BOTH SIDES, THE VOTE WAS SPLIT, AND SO IT COULD NOT PASS.

>> CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MAIN DISAGREEMENT THE COUNCIL HAD OVER THE ISSUE?

>> WELL, THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND REALISTICALLY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AGREES HOMELESSNES IS A BIG PROBLEM IN THE CITY.

IT NEEDS ATTENTION.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION.

AND THAT SOLUTION IS VERY COMPLEX, BUT THERE ARE VARYING OPINIONS ON HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.

THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THIS ORDINANCE SAY THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME SORT OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY, AND PEOPLE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

AND FOR WHATEVER THOSE REASONS ARE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN'T GO TO A SHELTER OR ANYWHERE ELSE SO THEY NEED SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP.

TOGETHER IN THE SAME AREA WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND NOT BE -- AND NOT LIVE IN FEAR OF BEING KICKED OUT?

NOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT'S NOT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY BELIEVE THE ORDINANCE WASN'T FULLY THOUGHT OUT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT 24 HOURS A DAY.

NOW YOU ALSO HAD LOCAL PUSHBACK FROM BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WHO DIDN'T WANT ENCAMPMENTS ANYWHERE IN TOWN.

THE SOLUTION TO THEM WOULD BE TO COORDINATE WITH THE RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

>> SO WHAT IS NEXT NOW WITH THE ORDINANCE?

>> RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO OTHER KIND OF LEGISLATION COMING FROM THE CITY.

IF THE COUNCIL WANTED TO WRITE UP ANOTHER ORDINANCE, THIS HE WOULD HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN AND THAT COULD TAKE MONTHS.

>> ALL RIGHT, ETHAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS, JOE.

>> IN HOOSIERS HAVE NOTICED HIGHER ENERGY BILLS THIS WINTER AND LOOK TO ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS FACEBOOK GROUPS FOR ANSWERS.

COLDER TEMPERATURES AND A RECENT RATE INCREASE COULD BE BEHIND THE SPIKE.

LILY St. ANGELO REPORTS.

>> BLOOMINGTON RESIDENT MELISSA BROOKS KEEPS THE THERMOSTAT IN HER TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT AROUND 60 TO 64 DEGREES.

IT'S ONE WAY SHE CAN LOWER HER ENERGY USE AND KEEP HER BILL DOWN.

BUT HER EFFORTS HAVEN'T PAID OFF THIS WINTER.

>> WHEN I SAW THAT I WAS KEEPING IT, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 60 AND 64 AND THESE BILLS WERE STILL GETTING RIDICULOUS, I WAS LIKE, OKAY.

WELL, AM I GOING TO HAVE TO BUMP IT DOWN TO 50, 55 DEGREES IN HERE?

>> IN DECEMBER, BROOK'S BILL WAS $214.

$78 MORE THAN HER 2019 DECEMBER BILL.

BROOKS SAYS SHE ALREADY HAD HER WEATHER STRIPPING AND WINDOW SEALANT CHECKED AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE HER HEATER LOOKED AT, BUT SHE DOESN'T THINK HER APARTMENT IS THE PROBLEM.

>> IT STILL DOESN'T ANSWER TO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTICED THESE MASSIVE INCREASES.

>> DUKE ENERGY, BROOKS' ELECTRIC PROVIDER BLAMES IT ON THE COLD TEMPERATURES.

>> WE JUST DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH EXTRA FUEL IT TAKES TO KEEP US WARM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS SO COLD.

>> AND DUKE SPOKESPERSON LOU MIDDLETON SAYS A HOME'S AGE MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW ENERGY EFFICIENT IT IS.

IN BLOOMINGTON, MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN AGING HOMES AND APARTMENTS.

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE THIS WINTER IN INDIANA HAS BEEN SEVERAL DEGREES COLDER THAN LAST YEAR.

>> THIS WINTER SEASON WAS ALMOST 5 DEGREES COLDER COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S WINTER SEASON FOR THE THREE MONTHS.

>> METEOROLOGIST SAM LASHLY SAYS EVEN THOUGH THIS WINTER'S TEMPERATURES WERE AVERAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PAST 30 YEARS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A COLDER WINTER SINCE 2014 TO 2015.

>> IF WE QUICKLY FORGET WHAT IT WAS LIKE A FEW WINTERS AGO, YOU KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHER, WE TEND TO REMEMBER JUST THE MOST RECENT EVENTS.

AND IT ALL STARTS TO BLUR TOGETHER THE FARTHER BACK YOU GO.

>> BUT BROOKS DOESN'T BELIEVE THE WEATHER ALONE IS DRIVING HER BILL UP.

UNDER THE DUKE ENERGY RATE INCREASE, APPROVED IN JUNE, AN AVERAGE BILL FOR 1,000-KILOWATT HOURS WILL BE $15 HIGHER.

THAT INCREASE IS PHASED OVER TWO YEARS.

80% OF IT CAME IN JULY AND THE LAST 20% WILL COME SOMETIME IN 2021.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RATE INCREASE.

SO WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING IS LEGAL BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT, NOR DOES IT MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE OR REALISTIC.

AND IT'S, FRANKLY, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GETTING PRICED OUT OF THIS AREA.

>> BROOKS SAID THE ONLY REASON SHE HASN'T HAD TO DIP INTO SAVINGS IS BECAUSE HER LOAN PAYMENTS AREPAYMENTS ARE ON HOLD DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> DUKE SAYS THEY WILL BUILD OUT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 50,000 NEW CUSTOMERS.

>> IF YOU THINK OF THAT IN TERMS OF HOAXES AND BUSINESSES -- HOMES AND BUSINESSES, THAT MEANS IT WILL TAKE MORE UTILITY POLES, úMORE POWER LINES, MORE TRANSFORMERS, MORE OF A LOT OF EQUIPMENT.

>> BROOKS SAYS SHE WISHES DUKE WAS MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE CUSTOMERS' MONEY GOES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COST OF LIVING IS RISING IN MORE THAN ONE ARENA.

>> THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS INSANE IN THIS TOWN AND NOW THE UTILITIES ARE BECOMING EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC.

>> AFTER A FRIGID FEBRUARY, BROOKS EXPECTS AN EVEN HIGHER BILL THIS MONTH.

FOR WFIU NEWS, I'M LILY St. ANGELO.

>> THE INDIANA WOMAN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WRAPS UP ONE OF ITS BEST REGULAR SEASONS IN HISTORY THIS WEEKEND.

THE HOOSIERS ARE RANKED NUMBER 10 IN THE NATION AND HAVE TIED THE SCHOOL RECORD FOR BIG TEN.

THEY CAN BREAK THE RECORD WITH A WIN OVER PURDUE.

THEY ARE 17-4 OVERALL, 15-2 IN THE BIG 10 AND HAVE CLINCHED THE NUMBER TWO SEED IN NEXT WEEK'S CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT.

>>> AND THE LITTLE 500 IS RETURNING THIS SPRING TO I.U.

IT'S SET FOR MAY 26th AT BILL ARMSTRONG STADIUM.

THE EVENT WAS CANCELED LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WILL BE NO FANS ALLOWED THIS YEAR BUT YOU CAN WATCH THE RACES ON A UNIVERSITY LIVESTREAM FEED.

RIDERS WILL FOLLOW COVID HEALTH PROTOCOLS.

OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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