>> INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WORDS SUCH AS TRANSFORMATIONAL, AND ONCE IN A LIFETIME ARE BEING USED TO DESCRIBE THE STATE'S NEW BUDGET, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE MONEY IT ALLOCATES FOR EDUCATION.

>>> LEAD,AHEAD, A LOOK AT THE STATE'S SPENDING PRIORITIES AND THE LAWMAKERS ADJOURN THE 2021 SESSION THIS WEEK.

OUR LEGISLATIVE REPORTER JOINS US.

>>> AND I.U.

'S GRADUATION CEREMONIES ARE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY.

WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE BOOKING A HOTEL FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

>> IF SOMEONE IS ONLY TAKING, YOU KNOW, CASH OR CHECK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BOY, THAT -- THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK.

>> AND SOME TREES WITH THE SHOWIEST SPRINGTIME BLOOMS ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO NATIVE PLANT SPECIES.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHY LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO PLANT THEM.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION HOOSIERS HAVE NOW BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

THAT'S A QUARTER OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

BUT NEW POSITIVE CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS HAVE CREPT BACK UP TO AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 1,000 A DAY IN THE STATE.

NOW, EARLIER THIS MONTH THE GOVERNOR LIFTED THE STATE'S MASK MANDATE AND OTHER COVID RESTRICTIONS.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES, HOWEVER, ARE STILL ALLOWED TO IMPOSE THE MANDATE.

MARION, MONROE, AND St. JOSEPH COUNTIES HAVE ALL EXPANDED MASK ORDERS BUT OTHER POPULOUS COUNTIES LIKE ALLEN, VANDERBERG AND VIGO COUNTIES HAVE NOT.

WHEN MONROE IS BACK IN THE YELLOW ADVISORY CATEGORY AFTER WEEKLY CASES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS ROSE ABOVE 120.

27% OF THE COUNTY'S POPULATION OVER 16 HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

BLOOMINGTON'S MAYOR SAYS THAT'S ONE.

SEVERAL NUMBERS SAY THAT'S ONE OF THE NUMBERS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT TO LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS.

>> ONE IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

WE WANT TO SEE THAT NUMBER GET UP TO THREE-QUARTERS ARE MORE.

AND THE OTHER MAIN NUMBER, I GUESS IT'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT SET OF NUMBERS, ARE WHAT DO WE SEE IN TERMS OF THE POSITIVITY RATE, THE DAILY CASELOADS, AND THE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> SO WHO HAS THE LOCAL AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE OR OVERTURN EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDERS WILL CHANGE UNDER LEGISLATION AGREED UPON THIS WEEK.

WE'RE JOINED BY INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATE HOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND OTHER ISSUES AS THE STATE WRAPPED UP ITS 2021 SESSION.

HELLO, BRANDON.

SO THE BILL WOULD ALLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS NOT COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDERS.

WHY THE CHANGE?

>> WELL, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO WERE THE ONES SPEARHEADING THIS LEGISLATION SAID THEY WANTED THOSE -- THAT AUTHORITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO REST WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR TAKES INPUT FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND FSSA, BUT ULTIMATELY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL MAKES THE FINAL CALLS.

NOW, WHAT OPPONENTS OF THIS LEGISLATION SAY IS THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY TYING THE HANDS OF LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO ARE BEST POSITIONED TO MAKE THOSE CALLS ABOUT HEALTH CASES.

WE'LL SEE IF THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT'S INTO LAW.

BUT THAT BILL WAS PASSED HERE IN THE FINAL WEEK OF SESSION WHICH WRAPPED UP THURSDAY WITH A SURPRISINGLY NEAR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF A NEW STATE BUDGET.

REPUBLICANS CALLED THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TRANSFORMATIONAL.

DEMOCRATS WERE NOT QUITE SO EFUSSIVE WITH THEIR PRAISE BUT EVERYONE AGREES IT WAS A SESSION NO ONE WILL LIKELY FORGET, IMPACTED IN EVERY WAY BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THEY LAMENTED THE LACK OF CONNECTION AMONG LAWMAKERS DRIVEN BY THE PANDEMIC, BUT HE SAYS COVID-19 ALSO BROUGHT POSITIVE CHANGE.

>> REALLY FORCED COMMUNICATION AMONG MEMBERS ON THEIR BILLS TO BE FAR BETTER, AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR SENATOR BRAY AND I MOVING FORWARD IS HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THAT?

>> THE SESSION ENDED WITH THE PASSAGE OF A NEW $37 BILLION BUDGET.

IT GIVES A BIG BOOST ON K-12 SPENDING AND INCLUDES $5 BILLION IN ONE-TIME SPENDING, FOCUSE ON PAYING DOWN DEBT AND INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

STILL, SENATE MINORITY LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAYS SOME PRIORITIES WERE MISALIGNED.

HE CITES A DECISION NOT TO MIRROR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND ALLOW HOOSIERS TO DEDUCT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FROM THEIR 2020 TAXES.

>> BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE P.P.P.

LOANS THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAW, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE FORGIVEN, WE DON'T TAX AS INCOME IN INDIANA.

I THINK THAT'S A STARK CONTRAST.

>> COVID-19 IS ALSO CHANGING THE WAY THE SESSION ENDED.

TECHNICALLY, THE SESSION WILL KEEP GOING UNTIL THIS FALL, WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN FOR REDISTRICTING.

>> AND BRANDON, THE EDUCATION SPENDING MAKES UP ABOUT HALF OF THE STATE'S TOTAL BUDGET.

WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING?

>> YEAH, THE BILLIONS OF DOLLAR, LITERALLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT BOLSTERED THE STATE BUDGET IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF SESSION, A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO EDUCATION, IN AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE, 1 BILLION NEW DOLLARS FOR K-12 EDUCATION.

NOW DEMOCRATS ARE HAPPY AND UPSET ABOUT FOR ONE, THEY ARE A LITTLE UPSET THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF THE STATE'S PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, BUT A LOT OF THAT K-12 MONEY IS GOING TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AS RODERICK BRAY POINTS OUT, THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET THAT DIRECTS SCHOOLS TO DEDICATE AT LEAST 45% OF THEIR PER PUPIL FUNDING TO TEACHER SALARIES.

>> WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT HELPS THOSE DOLLARS GET INTO THE CLASSROOM AND GET INTO THE TEACHERS' POCKETS WHERE WE REALLY TRULY WANT THEM TO BE.

>> AND BRANDON, LAWMAKERS PASSED A BAN ON COVID-19 VACCINE PASSPORTS IN THE WANING HOURS OF THE SESSION.

WHAT'S BEHIND THAT BILL?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY VACCINE PASSPORTS HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE STATE HOUSE THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

WHAT THE FINAL LANGUAGE SAYS IS THAT THE STATE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT ISSUE OR REQUIRE VACCINE PASSPORTS FOR COVID-19, WHICH WOULD SHOW PROOF OF I IMMUNIZATION STATUS.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT DEMOCRATS, LIKE REPRESENTATIVE ED DELANEY SAYS IT'S SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> UNDER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 2021, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN IMMUNIZATION PASSPORT.

THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT HEALTH.

>> BRANDON, WE HAVE JUST A FEW SECONDS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR TAKEAWAYS DURING A SESSION -- DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH.

EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT.

THE WAY THEY MET, THE WAY THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, THE PROCESS ITSELF.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SESSION CHANGED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT STAYS CHANGED FOREVER.

>> ALL RIGHT, BRANDON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR REPORTING DURING THIS SESSION.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>> WELL, THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL IS DEBATING WHETHER TO ALLOW MULTIPLEX HOUSING AS PART OF ZONING CHANGES TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

FOR OUR CITY LIMITS COVERAGE, ETHAN BURKS WALKED THE STREETS OF SOME OF BLOOMINGTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THESE CHANGES COULD HAVE.

>> JUST SOUTH OF I.U.

'S CAMPUS IS THE ELM HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S ONE OF THE DOZEN OR SO RESIDENTIAL AREAS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE CORE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S ALSO THE PLACE LOCAL RESIDENT JIM ROSEN ROSENBARGEER HAS CALLED HOME FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

>> THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SMARTER THAN WE ARE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS BUILT UP, EMBEDDED PATTERN.

>> HE'S ALSO A LOCAL ARCHITECT WHO NOSE BLOOMINGTON'S HOUSING MARKET.

HE STRONGLY OPPOSES THE CHANGES TO THE U.D.O.

>> WHEN YOU INSTITUTE SOMETHING IN POLICY FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S ALREADY SLIDING TOWARD ALL RENTAL, HOMEBUYERS, I THINK, WILL JUST BE TURNED OFF.

>> ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL MEASURES BEING CONSIDERED, IS LEGALIZING DUPLEXES IN MOST OF THE CORE NEIGHBORHOODS.

ROSENBARGEER AND OTHERS AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGES DON'T WANT THE NEIGHBORHOODS EXPOSED TO MORE TURNOVER OR ATTRACT OUTSIDE INVESTORS.

>> RENTAL HOUSE, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, KNOWN NATIONALLY.

STUDENT MARKETS, THE RENTS ARE HIGH.

COMES IN AND SAYS I WILLILL DUPLEX THIS.

I WANT 30 HOUSES.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE U.D.O.

PROPOSAL PROCESS.

PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AGREES THAT BLOOMINGTON NEEDS MORE HOUSING AND MUCH OF IT SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE BUT THEY DISAGREE ON WHERE THAT HOUSING SHOULD GO.

>> OUR CORE IS THE OLD NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REALLY EXEMPLIFY HOW OUR CITY GREW.

HOW WE BECAME A CITY, AND SO THEY ARE VERY PRECIOUS.

>> SORBEY BELIEVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND THIS CHANGE WILL ONLY MAKE IT EASIER IT INCREASE RENTALS.

IT COULD BE A WAY TO CREATE A MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET BUT PLACING THEM IN EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AREAS IS A PROBLEM.

>> THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE SCATTERED EVERYWHERE.

THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY AND A HIGHER, TALLER BUILDING.

>> BOTH SORBEY AND ROSENBARGER, LIKE THIS ONE, IS A BETTER MODEL.

>> IT MAKES SENSE.

PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN A HIGHER DENSITY AREA, THEY ARE HAPPY TO DO IT FOR THE TRADEOFF OF HAVING A COFFEE SHOP NEXT DOOR.

>> ALTHOUGH THE CITY DOES FAVOR DENSIFYING AREAS WITH VILLAGE CENTERS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE POTENTIAL U.D.O.

CHANGES EXTEND WELL BEYOND THAT.

IN 2019, THE SAME PROPOSAL TO APPROVE PLEXES IN THE CORE NEIGHBORHOODS WAS REJECTED AFTER STRONG COMMUNITY OPPOSITION.

>> IT'S BEEN SAID ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND THAT CITY COUNCIL MAKEUP HAS CHANGED.

>> SINCE THAT REJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL UNDERWENT AN ELECTION CYCLE.

THE VOTING MAKEUP HAS CHANGED, AS IT LOST MEMBERS WHO WERE AGAINST PLEXES, AND GAINED NEW ONES WHO FAVOR IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME CITIZENS WHO AGREE.

>> IF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD INCREASES BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT, ALLOWABLE DENSITY SHOULD INCREASE BY THAT AMOUNT.

>> THESE WERE SUPPORTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE PLAN COMMISSION DURING DELIBERATIONS THIS SPRING.

>> THE U.D.O.

IS LIVING AND BREATHING AND WE CAN CHANGE THIS, BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, LET'S GIVE IT OUR ALL AND SEE IF IT WORKS.

>> BUT NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED THAT THE CITY CAN WALK THIS BACK IF IT DOESN'T WORK.

>> THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM TALKING WITH A LAWYER, THE WAY IT WORKS IS ONCE AN INVESTOR STARTS TO INVEST IN THAT DIRECTION, THEY GET TO KEEP GOING.

SO IT'S -- IT SEEMS A LITTLE FUZZY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SAY YOU CAN SHUT IT OFF.

>> THE DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE.

THE CITY COUNCIL STILL HAS TIME TO MAKE LAST-MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ZONING PROPOSAL, BEFORE IT WILL CAST ITS FINAL VOTE ON THE MEASURE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

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

>> NOW OVER THE COURSE OF MANY PUBLIC CITY MEETINGS THIS SPRING, IT'S CLEAR THE CITY COUNCIL IS DIVIDED OVER ADDING PLEXES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AMENDMENTS COULD BE COMES AS THE U.D.O.

PROCESS CONTINUES.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE BRADFORD PEAR TREE HAS BEEN POPULAR WITH CITY PLANNERS AND LANDSCAPERS FOR THE PAST HALF CENTURY BUT OFFICIALS ARE NOW ENCOURAGING THEM NOT TO PLANT THE INVASIVE SPECIES.

AND WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY GRADUATION APPROACHING, WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING A HOTEL.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

MIDWESTERN SPRING TIME IS HERALDED BY THE RETURN OF BIRDSONG AND SUNSHINE, BUT WARMER TEMPERATURES ALSO MARK NEW GROWTH CYCLES FOR INVASIVE AND SOMETIMES STINKY PLANT SPECIES.

EMMA ATKINSON REPORTS.

>> BRADFORD PEAR TREE IS EASILY IDENTIFIABLE BY THE TIGHTLY BUNCHED WHITE FLOWERS IT PRODUCES IN EARLY SPRING.

IF YOU HAVE EVER COME WITHIN SMELLING DISTANCE OF THE BLOOM, THE BRADFORD PEAR IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON SPECIES IN PUBLIC PARKS AND ALONG THE STREETS ACCORDING TO A 2019 CITY TREE INVENTORY.

THE TOWN HAS MORE THAN 1200 BRADFORD PEAR TREES.

>> THEY GROW UP AND OUT COMPETE THE UNDERSTORY AND THEN THEY ARE A WEAK TREE.

SO THEY WILL START BREAKING IN BAD WEATHER.

ONCE THEY GET TO A CERTAIN HEIGHT, MAYBE ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD, THEY WILL BREAK IN HALF OR SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

>> THE BRADFORD PEAR'S ABILITY TO GROW SO QUICKLY MADE IT ATTRACTIVE TO THEM.

BY THEMSELVES CALORIE PEAR TREES CAN'T SELF-POLLENATE AND REPRODUCE.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN FERTILE SEEDS THOSE ARE SPREAD WIDELY AND QUICKLY BY HUNGRY BIRDS AND EASILY CROWD OUT NATIVE SPEECHYS.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN IN COLD STORAGE AND NOW THEY ARE COMING OUT OF DORMANCY AND SO WE ARE GETTING THEM -- WE ARE GETTING THEM IN THE GROUND.

>> THAT'S JILLIAN FIELD A MEMBER OF MONROE COUNTY IRIS.

EVEN AS SHE PLANTS A NATIVE SAPLING, SHE NOTICES AN INVASIVE SPECIES.

>> YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE CALORIE PEAR AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF A SPROUT COMING UP OVER HERE.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S URBAN FORRESTER ERIN HATCH SAYS THAT'S WHAT THE BRADFORD PEAR DOES BEST, IT SHOWS UP WHERE IT DOESN'T WANT TO.

>> THE ABILITY TO SURVIVE ANYWHERE MEANS THEY CAN SPREAD ANYWHERE THAT HAS CONDITIONS THAT THEY CAN OUT COMPETE NATIVE SPEARIES AS WELL.

>> BOTH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM NOT TO PLANT BRADFORD PEARS, THE CITY CERTAINLY WON'T BE PLANTING ANY MORE.

IT'S ON A LIST OF PROHIBITED PLANT SPECIES IN BLOOMINGTON UNIFIED ORDINANCE DOCUMENT.

HATCH SAYS PEOPLE HAVE MANY OTHER OPTIONS FOR FLOWERING TREES.

>> THE SERVICE BERRY, DOGWOOD TREES ARE ALSO A NICE FLOWERING ALTERNATIVE AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE WHITE.

THE RED BUD IS ANOTHER FLOWERING ALTERNATIVE.

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE MORE ADAPTIVE TO OUR ECOSYSTEM.

>> HATCH SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF REMOVING THE TREE AND WHAT MIGHT GROW IN ITS PLACE.

>> I PROBABLY PERSONALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO REMOVE THE TREE AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER.

BUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT YOU ARE REMOVING A MAYBE 12 TO 20-INCH TREE AND REPLACING IT WITH A 2-INCH TREE, YOU MIGHT NEED TO REPLACE MORE THAN JUST ONE.

>> THE BRADFORD PEAR IS NOT YET ON INDIANA'S LIST INN VASIVE PLANT SPECIES BUT THE GROWING OPPOSITION TO THE TREE AND AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE PLANTS COULD CHANGE THAT WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M EMMA ATKINSON.

>> THE BRADFORD PEAR WAS FIRST CULTIVATED FROM THE CALORIE PEAR AND NOW FOR HEADLINES, ETHAN BURKS JOINS US FROM THE NEWSROOM.

>> INDIANAPOLIS FEDEX EMPLOYEES RETURN TO WORK A WEEK AFTER A SHOOTING CLAIMED THE LIVES OF EIGHT OF ITS WORKERS.

HALF THE EMPLOYEES KILLED WERE MEMBERS OF SIKH COMMUNITY.

AN 8 TO 10,000 SIKHS CALL INDIANA HOME, BUT THEY ARE CALLING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER THE SHOOTER, 19-YEAR-OLD BRANDON SCOTT HOLE HAD ANY TIES TO HATE GROUPS.

HOLE USED TO WORK AT THE FEDEX FACILITY AND TOOK HIS LIFE.

HOLE'S COMPUTER HISTORY SHOWED THAT HE BRIEFLY BROWSED WHITE SUPREMACY WEBSITES.

AS THE SIKH COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO WERE KILLED, THEY ARE CALLING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER HATE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE MASS SHOOTING.

>> THE LOSS OF LIFE HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS IS REAL.

IT'S REAL IN BOULDER.

IT'S REAL IN ATLANTA.

AND IN COUNTLESS OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE A PART OF A NATIONWIDE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE.

>> CARSON AND OTHER OFFICIALS ARE CALLING FOR COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY AND STRICTER GUN LAWS TO PREVENT FUTURE MASS SHOOTINGS.

>>> A HEAVY METAL GUITARIST FROM COLUMBUS HAS BECOME THE FIRST DEFENDANT TO PLEAD GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARG IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY 6th JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

JOHN RYAN SCHAFFER HAS AGREED TO SURRENDER HIS FIREARMS, SUBMIT TO SUPERVISION AND ABIDE BY A NUMBER OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

HE HAS AGREED TO TESTIFY AND AID INVESTIGATORS IN OTHER CASES.

SHOWING A VIDEO INTERVIEW OF SCHAFFER FROM A NOVEMBER RALLY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, FEDERAL ATTORNEYS ARGUED SCHAFFER CONTEMPLATED VIOLENCE BEFORE HE ENGAGED IN THE INSURRECTION.

>> THERE ARE DIVIDE AND CONQUER TACTICS.

IT'S ALL NONSENSE AND GARBAGE.

THEY ARE GOING DOWN.

THEY MADE THE MOVE.

THEY ARE MESSING WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE.

TRUST ME ON THAT.

>> SCHAFFER ADMITS TO BEING A LIFETIME FINDING MEMBER OF THE OATH KEEPERS.

HE FACES UP TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

AROUND 400 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIOT AT THE CAPITOL.

>>> THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE SIGMA PI FRATERNITY ALONG WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY HAVE AGREED TO CLOSE ITS BLOOMINGTON CHAPTER.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN CITED FOR HAZING AND VIOLATING COVID-19 GUIDELINES.

THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE HOUSE CLOSED ITS FACILITY LAST SEMESTER AT THE URGING OF THE MONROE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR HOSTING MULTIPLE PARTIES.

SIGMA PI WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO I.U.

UNTIL 2023.

>>> THE INDIANA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IS EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR FILING THE FEDERAL APPLICATION FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID OR FAFSA.

THERE'S NO NEW DEADLINE FOR STUDENTS TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS.

INSTEAD THE COMMISSION SAYS LIMITED AWARD FUNDING WILL BE ISSUED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.

SO IN OTHER WORDS PEOPLE SHOULD FILE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OFFICIALS SAY THE CLASS OF 2021'S FAFSA FILING RATE IS DOWN BY AT LEAST 6%.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON-BASED UPLAND BREWING COMPANY IS EXPANDING ITS DISTRIBUTION INTO CHICAGO.

THE BREWERY ALREADY DISTRIBUTES IN MAJOR CITIES LIKE ATLANTA AND WASHINGTON, D.C. PRESIDENT OF UPLAND'S SAYS THE BREWERY GETS REGULAR REQUEST FROM I.U.

ALUMNI TO START SELLING ITS BEER IN THE WINDY CITY.

THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH HEARTLAND BEVERAGE, THE LAST INDEPENDENT CRAFT BEER DISTRIBUTOR IN CHICAGO.

>> WE ARE REALLY INVESTED IN BECOMING PART OF CHICAGO, NOT JUST IN A TRANSACTIONAL WAY, NOT JUST A PERIODICALLY SELL THEM BEER, BUT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE RETAILERS AND TO, AS I SAID FURTHER DEVELOP THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR WHOLESALER.

>> THERE WILL BE NO FANS AT THIS YEAR'S INDIANAPOLIS 500.

NO FANS WERE ALLOWED AT LAST YEAR'S RACE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

THE SPEEDWAY WILL ALLOW APPROXIMATELY 135,000 PEOPLE TO ATTEND THE MAY 30th RACE, FILLING THE FACILITY AT 40% CAPACITY.

IT WILL BE THE COUNTRY'S MOST ATTENDED SPORTING EVENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

THE SPEEDWAY WILL BE OPEN TO SPECTATORS EVERY DAY THAT CARS ARE ON THE TRACK, BEGINNING WITH THE MAY 15th ROAD COURSE EVENT.

>>> AND THAT'S ALL FOR HEADLINES.

BACK TO YOU, JOE.

>>> ALL RIGHT, ETHAN THANK YOU.

A LYLE MORE LITTLE MORE FROM A MONTH FROM NOW, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMAS OF THE LAST YEAR'S IN-PERSON GRADUATION WAS CANCELED.

PARENTS AND FRIENDS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

ADAM PINSKER TELLS US WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER.

>> THE DAYS ARE LONGER AND THINGS ARE LOOKING GREENER OUTSIDE, A SURE SIGN IT'S GRADUATION DAY AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

EVEN THOUGH ONLY STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

MIKE McAFEE HOPES IT DOESN'T DETER FAMILIES FROM TRAVELING TO BLOOMINGTON FOR GRADUATION.

>> THERE WILL BE MANY PARENTS AND PEOPLE COMING INTO TOWN THAT WEEKEND TO PICK UP THEIR STUDENTS OR, YOU KNOW TO CELEBRATE IN A SAFE WAY, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WILL STILL BE OPEN.

WE WILL STILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

>> BUT FOR THOSE CONSIDERING CANCELING THEIR HOTEL RESERVATIONS AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE LAST-MINUTE RESERVATIONS, THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER, INCLUDING ROOM RATES WHICH SKYROCKET THIS TIME OF YAO ERR.

>> COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH BIG TEN FOOTBALL GAMES.

YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE -- YOU KNOW, THE LARGE -- I'M QUOTING, THE LARGEST REVENUE PRODUCING WEEKENDS OF THE YEAR FOR THE AREA.

>> IN THE SPRING OF 2020, MOST OF THE COUNTRY WAS ON A LOCKDOWN AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WITH I.U.

'S 2020 GRADUATION CANCELED, PARENTS AND RELATIVES SCRAMBLED TO CANCEL THEIR HOTEL RESERVATIONS BUT MANY DIDN'T GET REFUNDS INCLUDING A LONG ISLAND WOMAN WHO TOLD US TT THE COMFORTH INN WOULD NOT REFUND HER DIDN'T.

THEY REQUIRED HER TO PAY THE DEPOSIT IN CASH.

>> IF SOMEONE IS ONLY TAKING, YOU KNOW, CASH OR CHECK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BOY, THAT -- THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK.

>> MOST CREDIT CARD COMPANIES WILL REFUND YOUR MONEY OVER A TRANSACTION THAT'S IN DISPUTE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CONSUMERS READ THE FINE PRINT IN THEIR PROSPECTIVE HOTEL'S CANCELLATION POLICIES.

>> MOST HOTELS HAVE KIND OF STANDARD CANCELLATION POLICIES.

IN FACT, I THINK MARRIOTT HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO CHANGED THEIRS FROM 24 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL, TO 48 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL.

BUT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS, LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT CANCELLATION POLICY.

>> THE COMFORT INN CUSTOMER SAID SHE WAS OFFERED A CREDIT FOR A FUTURE STAY BUT ONLY AT THE COMFORT INN LOCATION IN BLOOMINGTON AND WITH HER DAUGHTER ALREADY GRADUATED, SHE DOESN'T ANTICIPATE RETURNING TO BLOOMINGTON.

>> ANOTHER PARENT SENT HER THIS LETTER IN DECEMBER, SAYING THAT HE PUT DOWN $900 IN DEPOSIT MONEY AT THE HOLIDAY INN FOR THE ILL FATED 2020 GRADUATION AND STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED HIS REFUND.

>> THE HOLIDAY INN AND COMFORT INN ARE OWNED BY TRISTAR PROPERTIES.

TRISTAR ALSO OWNS THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ON FRANKLIN ROAD.

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND DISAPPOINTING TO, YOU KNOW, ALL -- YOU KNOW, ANYONE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE MARKET WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

>> SO AVOID HIGH PRICES AND STRICT CANCELLATION RULES, THEY SUGGEST TRYING HOTELS IN MARTINSVILLE OR INDIANAPOLIS WHERE THE RATES AREN'T AS HIGH.

>> HOTEL CHAINS TRACK THIS STUFF.

THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY KNOW THE EVENTS THAT ARE THERE.

THEY HAVE GOT COMPUTER MODELS THAT CAN PREDICT THAT, PREDICT WHAT THE DEMAND IS GOING TO BE.

>> WITH THIS BEING BLOOMINGTON'S SECOND GRADUATION GO-AROUND, VISIT BLOOMINGTON IS HOPING THERE WILL NOT BE ANY PROBLEMS SHOULD CUSTOMERS HAVE TO CANCEL THEIR ROOMS.

>> HOTELS KNOW GOING INTO THIS YEAR THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO, AGAIN, THERE ARE -- YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE HOTELS ARE COMMUNICATING REGULARLY WITH THEIR GUESTS ON THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

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

>>> AND COMMENCEMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 8th.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM.

OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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