>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE REDOUBLING THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET COVID-19 SHOTS.

>> YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY UNTIL YOU MADE SURE THAT YOU HAVE MADE THE ACCESS APPROPRIATE.

>> AHEAD, THE PUSH TO REACH HOOSIERS WHO ARE RELUCTANT OR HESITANT ABOUT THE VACCINE OR CONCERNED ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS.

>>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS CONTINUING THE ANNEX PROCESS FOLLOWING YEARS OF DISPUTE WITH THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR.

COMING UP A LOOK AT THE ANNEXATION TIMELINE AND THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS.

AND THE EMERALD ASH BORER WAS FIRST DETECTED IN MONROE COUNTY ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO.

THE BEETLES TAKE OVER ASH TREES AND KILL THEM WITHIN THREE YEARS.

>> WHEN YOU LOSE A LARGE TREE, YOU LOSE THE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT LARGE TREE.

>> COMING UP, WE TALK TO EXPERTS ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE INVASIVE PESTS.

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

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

INDIANA LAGS BEHIND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR DISTRIBUTING COVID-19 VACCINES WITH JUST LESS THAN 27% OF THE STATE'S TOTAL POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED.

WHILE OFFICIALS HAVE YET TO SET A BENCHMARK FOR HERD IMMUNITY.

THE STATE'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER SAYS HERD IMMUNITY IS ACHIEVABLE FOR THE STATE THIS YEAR, BUT SHE SAYS THE CDC AND OTHER EXPERTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES IF THE STATE DOESN'T REACH THAT THRESHOLD.

>> BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER LARGE SPIKE IN THE FALL.

SO IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED, THEN, OF COURSE, YOUR RISK OF GETTING SICK, BEING HOSPITALIZED AND EVEN DYING IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

>> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING VACCINE PROVIDERS TO ACCEPT WALK-INS AND WORKING TO GET PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS ACCESS TO VACCINES.

>>> WELL, ALL HOOSIERS 16 AND OLDER HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINES FOR A MONTH NOW BUT AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS ACROSS THE STATE IS SLOWING, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, AND OFFICIALS ARE BECOMING CONCERNS ABOUT HESITANCY BY MANY TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> GETTING A CORONAVIRUS SHOT IS EASIER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN, BUT IN MANY AREAS AROUND STATE, THE DEMAND IS FALLING OFF.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE BEGGING TO GET ON THE WAIT LIST.

WE CAN'T GET ANYBODY.

>> STEVE LIDAY SPENT MOST OF APRIL PREPARING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORGAN COUNTY'S LARGEST VACCINATION CLINIC.

STATE PROVIDED 1200 DOSES AND HE WAS EXCITED TO OFFER THE RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM COVID, BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME, THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED.

THE COUNTY HAD TO CANCEL THE CLINIC SCHEDULED FOR LAST WEEKEND.

>> WE LOOKED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

THERE WERE 97 PEOPLE.

I HAD 40 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS GOING TO SHOW UP JUST TO CONDUCT THIS CLINIC.

>> DESPITE THE CANCELLATION IN MORGAN COUNTY, THE STATE PASSED AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE THIS WEEK.

A THIRD OF HOOSIERS 16 AND OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED BUT LIDAY SAYS HE'S NOT DOING AS MANY INITIAL SHOTS.

>> MOST THOSE COMING THROUGH ARE THOSE RECEIVING THE SECOND DOSE MODERNA AND VERY, VERY LOW FOR THE FIRST VACCINES.

>> THERE WERE UPDATES PROVIDED ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT AND TRENDS.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS JUST A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION TO SHARE.

AND A PLEA AND ASK THAT YOU HELP EVERYONE THAT YOU KNOW IN YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR COMMUNITY TO GET OUT THERE AND GET VACCINATED.

>> THE ISSUE, MANY OF THOSE WHO ORIGINALLY GOT THE VACCINE WERE OLDER ADULTS, MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIRUS.

NOW, MANY OF THOSE LEFT ARE YOUNGER HOOSIERS, AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING THE VACCINE.

>> THERE'S STILL A SENSE OF ININVINCIBILITY IN -- INVINCIBILITY IN YOUNGER ADULTS, EITHER THEY HAVE IT SCHEDULED OR THEY ARE WAITING IT OUT.

>> NOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID ARE IN THEIR 20s AND 30s.

BRIAN DIXON HAS BEEN TRACKING COVID DATA ALL PANDEMIC AND SAYS TWO POPULATIONS WERE THE WEARIEST OF GETTING VACCINATED, YOUNG BLACKS AND YOUNG CONSERVATIVES.

CONSIDERING THE STATE'S DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP, THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE.

>> IT IS CONCERNING, PARTICULARLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN RURAL AREAS, WHERE WE KNOW THAT THOSE AREAS ALSO HAVE A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO LEAN CONSERVATIVE.

>> AND LARGELY RURAL MORGAN COUNTY, LIDAY SAYS TRUSTING THE VACCINE HAS PLUMMETED.

>> WHEN THEY HIT THE PAUSE ON THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON, THE BOTTOM JUST FELL OUT.

>> NOW THOSE WORKING THE CLINIC IN MARTINSVILLE END THEIR DAYS SCOURING FACEBOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT THE SHOT.

IT'S LARGELY BEEN EFFECTIVE, BUT LIDAY'S CONCERN, MANY OF THOSE WHO WANT A VACCINE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN ONE.

>> WE HIT A WALL AND GETTING THE TRUST BACK IS BEYOND THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, MORGAN COUNTY AND SHELBY COUNTY, WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES LIKE THE OTHER HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DO TO RUN PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGNS.

>> STATE OFFICIALS SAID WEDNESDAY, THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO INCREASE RURAL PARTICIPATION.

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH THE RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, WITH PURDUE EXTENSIONS AND FARM BUREAU TO DETERMINE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO INCREASE THAT VACCINATION RATE IN OUR RURAL POPULATION.

>> THE SLOWDOWN CONCERNS DIXON BUT HE WOULDN'T SAY THE STATE HAS HIT A WALL YET.

HE WAS EXPECTING A LULL, CONSIDERING THE MASS RUSH AT THE BEGINNING WHEN PEOPLE WERE SCHEDULING SHOTS MONTH OUT.

>> IF YOU HAVE SOME HOT NEW PRODUCT ON THE MARKET, PEOPLE RUSH INTO THE STORES TO BUY IT AND THEN AFTER IT'S BEEN ON THE MARK FOR A FEW MONTHS, YOU START TO SEE DECLINING SALES.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT THIS PHENOMENON THAT WE ARE OBSERVING RIGHT NOW IS REALLY ANY DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THOSE OTHER CITY NAIRIOS.

-- SCENARIOS.

>> HITTING THE PROVERBIAL WALL IS POSSIBLE, THOUGH.

HE SAYS THE CONVENIENCE OF WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS SHOULD HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER HOOSIERS BUT BUSINESSES REQUIRING VACCINES COULD BE KEYS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL LIFE.

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

>> INDIANA RANKS JUST 45th IN THE NATION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF ITS POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

>>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB IS SUING THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

MANY LAWMAKERS FELT SIDELINED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AS THE GOVERNOR ISSUED DOZENS OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, SOME OF WHICH LEGISLATORS OPENLY OPPOSED.

TO GIVE THEMSELVES MORE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE IN THE FUTURE, LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL ALLOWING THEM TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION DURING A PUBLIC EMERGENCY, BUT HOLCOMB SUPPORTED BY SOME CONSTITUTIONALLAL EXPERTS BELIEVES THE INDIANA CONSTITUTION EXCLUSIVELY GIVES THE GOVERNOR THAT POWER AND HE'S SUING TO FIND OUT FOR SURE.

>>> THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A CONTROVERSIAL BILL INTO LAW THIS WEEK, THAT TAKES AWAY STATE PROTECTIONS FOR MANY OF INDIANA'S WETLANDS.

WETLANDS PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE, HELP REDUCE FLOODING IN THE STATE, AND PURIFY INDIANA'S FRESH WATER.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE IS HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT CHANGES TO THE INDIANA WETLANDS LAW.

HELLO, BECKY.

FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAW.

WHAT IS IT?

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

>> SO BASICALLY, IT PROTECTS ANYTHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T PROTECT.

AND BECAUSE OF CHANGES WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S MOST WETLANDS IN INDIANA.

>> THE BILL AIMED TO GET RID OF THE WHOLE INDIANA WETLANDS LAW.

SO WHAT WERE THE REASONS BEHIND THAT AND THEN HOW WAS THE BILL CHANGED.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THREE CLASSES OF WETLANDS.

YOU HAVE THE CLASS THREE WETLANDS WHICH HAVE LOTS OF WATER AND LOTS OF WILDLIFE, BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM, YOU HAVE THE CLASS RUN WETLANDS AND THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A WET SPOT IN THE FIELD, SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY NOT THINK OF AS A WETLAND.

AND THEN CLASS TWOS ARE ANYTHING BETWEEN THOSE.

SO FARMERS AND DEVELOPERS REALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CLASS ONE, THOSE SMALLER WETLANDS.

HOME DEVELOPERS DONE LIKE TO BUILD OVER TOP OF THEM AND FARMERS WERE GETTING INTO DISPUTES WITH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OVER WHAT WAS A WETLAND.

SO THIS BILL REALLY TOOK AWAY PROTECTIONS FOR CLASS ONES AND TWOS AND THOSE TOGETHER -- WELL, I SHOULD SAY SOME CLASS TWOS, THOSE TOGETHER MAKE UP MOST OF INDIANA'S WETLANDS.

>> I KNOW THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, AND NATURAL RESOURCES WERE OPPOSED TO THIS BILL.

YOU REPORTED MORE THAN -- WAS IT 100 DIFFERENT GROUPS ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO IT.

SO WHAT WERE HIS REASONS THEN FOR SIGNING IT?

>> YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR HOLCOMB ORIGINALLY WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL.

BUT IN THIS CURRENT VERSION, HE SAID HE TRUSTS HOME DEVELOPERS AND FARMERS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND BE STEWARDS OF THE LAND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS I DON'T BELIEVE AGREE WITH HIM.

THE INDIANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAID THEY WISHED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD LET LAWMAKERS STUDY THE ISSUE BEFORE MAKING THESE CHANGES.

>> ALL RIGHT, REBECCA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>>> SENATOR TODD YOUNG HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION HE HOPES WILL HELP THE UNITED STATES REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH CHINA.

ADAM PINSKER REPORTS.

>> THE ENDLESS FRONTIERS BILL WOULD INVEST BILLIONS INTO NEW AREAS OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, ACCORDING TO A SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION.

THE BILL CREATES A NEW DIRECTORATE AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOCUSING ON INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION RELATED TO KEY TECHNOLOGY AREAS.

>> THINGS LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND QUANTUM COMPUTING, GENOMICS, THE VERY PLATFORMS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

>> THE COSTS OF THE BILL WOULD BE $100 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

IT DESIGNATED $10 BILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO DEVELOP TEN TECHNOLOGY HUBS FOR CENTERS OF WORKFORCE TRAINING.

>> WE ARE AN INFORMATION-DRIVEN, KNOWLEDGE-DRIVEN ECONOMY.

SWEAT DOESN'T PAY WHAT IT USED TO.

>> NOR "INDIANA.

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

>> NOW SEVERAL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE SIGNED ON TO THE BILL, INCLUDING CHUCK SCHUMER.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE EMERALD ASH BORER CONTINUES TO BE A PEST FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE DAMAGE THAT THE SMALL GREEN BEETLE CAN CAUSE.

>>> AND THE LITTLE 500 IS BACK THIS YEAR AFTER LAST YEAR'S RACE WAS CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19, BUT A CHANGE IN THE RACE DATE MEANS SOME TEAMS HAD TO DROP OUT.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

BLOOMING TO BE ANNEXATION PROCEEDINGS ARE RETURNING IN MAY FOLLOWING YEARS OF DISPUTE WITH THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE CITY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THE CITY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW ANNEXATION PLANS AND VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS BY SEPTEMBER.

>> MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON HINTED TO THE RETURN OF ANNEXATION DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS TWO MONTHS AGO.

HE SAYS THE CITY WILL BE RELEASING AN ANNEXATION, FISCAL ANALYSIS NEXT WEEK.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHT NEXT TO A CITY BOUNDARY, FOR THEM, THIS FEELS LIKE WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME TO BE IN THE CITY?

I THINK THE QUESTION REALLY IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OF BLOOMINGTON?

>> HE SAYS THE ANNEXATION MAP CAN ONLY SHRINK ONCE THE PROCESS BEGINS, AND WILL CHANGE AS CITY COUNCIL SEES FIT.

PUBLIC INPUT WILL BE ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WITH POSSIBLY IN-PERSON MEETINGS.

>> INDIANA LAW ESTABLISHES CITIES AND TOWNS AS GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT ARE MEANT TO GOVERN AND REPRESENT URBANIZED AREAS.

COUNTIES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTION AND OVERSIGHT FOR ALL THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY.

>> HAMILTON'S 2017 PLAN TO ANNEX NEARLY 10,000 ACRES OF MONROE COUNTY WAS HALTED BY AN AN ADDITION TO THAT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET BILL.

THE STAY BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AGAINST GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB TO PROVE THE UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE MEASURE, THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT RULED IN FAVOR OF THE CITY IN DECEMBER 2020.

HAMILTON SAYS THE APPROVED ANNEXATION WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2024.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROTEST AGAINST ANNEXATION.

THERE'S A NEW LAW IN 2019 THAT LOOSENS RESTRICTIONS ON WAIVERS.

THAT'S A CONTRACT PROHIBITING OWNERS CHALLENGING ANNEXATION FOR EXTENDED BLOOMINGTON CITY SERVICE.

>>> THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROHIBIT DUPLEXES IN THE CORE NEIGHBORHOODS THIS MEASURE WOULD GO AGAINST WHAT THE CITY AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAVE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE FEW MONTHS OF TRYING TO CHANGE ITS ZONING CODE THROUGH THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

>> I THINK THE POINT IS DO NO HARM.

THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG.

LET'S TAKE A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THIS.

LET'S NOT PUT DUPLEXES IN THE CORE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

>> NOW, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CITY HAS BEEN ROLLING OUT ITS PLANS TO MAKE DUPLEXES LEGAL IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE MORE HOUSING AT REASONABLE RATES.

BUT MANY IN THE COMMUNITY FEAR THAT OVER TIME, IT COULD TURN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS INTO RENTALS AND DISRUPT THE PRICE OF HOMES.

CITY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

>> WHEN TWO UNITS SHARE THE COST OF ONE PLOT OF LAND THAT NATURALLY MAKES THEM LOWER COSTS WHETHER THEY ARE RENTED OR OWNED.

ALSO THAT THERE'S LESS SPACE TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS, HEAT, COOL, ET CETERA, TYPICALLY WITH A SMALLER UNIT IN THE DUPLEX.

>> THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO DEBATE THE ISSUE DURING A SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY.

THAT MEETING WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY THROUGH THE AT THE'S WEBSITE, START -- AT THE CITY'S WEBSITE STARTING AT 6:30 P.M. >>> WHEN MORE HOOSIERS ARE GETTING OUTSIDE, LAWMAKERS HAVE MADE BUDGET CUTS TO INDIANA'S CASH-STRAPPED AGENCIES THAT LIKELY MEANS POLLUTERS WILL FACE LESS STATE OVERSIGHT.

BUT AS INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, INDIANA COULD BE MISSING OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER GROW THE OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY.

>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MORE TIME OUTSIDE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S LED TO CROWDING AND SOME OF INDIANA'S TRAILS AND CAM.

GROUNDS AND MORE PEOPLE BUYING BIKES AND R.V.s.

TIM MALONEY WITH THE HOOSIER ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL SAYS THERE'S A DEMAND FOR QUALITY OUTDOOR SPACES AND MORE OF THEM.

>> INDIANA IS NOT EQUIPPED TO MEET THAT DEMAND, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO UNDER INVESTED IN OUR NATURAL RESOURCES OVER THE YEARS.

>> MORE THAN HALF OF ALL INDIANA COUNTIES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACRES SET ASIDE FOR LOCAL PUBLIC PARKS.

ACCORDING TO GUIDELINES BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION.

STATE LAWMAKERS DID APPROPRIATE SOME DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE FOR TRAILS, BUT IT'S UNCLEAR IF THE STATE IS ALLOWED TO USE THAT MONEY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S JANET McCABE WILL OFFICIALLY BECOME THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

U.S. SENATE CONFIRMED HER APPOINTMENT TO THE SECOND HIGHEST POSITION AT THE AGENCY THIS WEEK.

McCABE IS THE DIRECTOR OF I.U.

'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE INSTITUTE, WHICH WORKS TO HELP COMMUNITIES ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

SHE'S ALSO A PROFESSOR IUPUI McKINNEY SCHOOL OF LAW WILL.

ON A PRESS RELEASE, McCABE SAYS THE CHALLENGES INDIANA FARMERS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES FACE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE BEING FELT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE EMERALD ASH BORER CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE IT FIRST APPEARED AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

HOLDEN ABSHEER REPORTS ON THE SMALL METALLIC GREEN BEETLE KILLING ASH TREES.

>> CLIFFORD SAYS THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN A DEAD ASH TREE IS A DEAD ASH TREE IN YOUR HOUSE.

HE IS AN ENTOMOLOGY PROFESSOR AND EXTENSION SPECIALIST STUDYING PEST MANAGEMENT AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

HE SAYS DEAD ASH TREES ARE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS.

NOT ONLY ARE THEIR LIMBS HEAVY, BUT THEY ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS STYROFOAM AND FALL OFF DEAD TREES.

>> I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE LIMBS OF THE DEAD TREE JUST BURIED -- THEY WILL FALL IN.

THEY ARE BURIED DEEP, ABOUT A FOOT INTO THE GROUND.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE WALKING BY THAT, IT WILL KILL YOU.

>> MOST EMERALD ASH BORER COLONIES WILL GO UNNOTICED WITH WOODPECKER HOLES IN THE SECOND YEAR.

E.A.B.

CAN KILL A TREE IN THREE YEARS.

CERTIFIED ARBORISTS ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO TREAT LARGE TREES WITH INSECTICIDE INJECTIONS.

>> THE COST OF REMOVING THESE SMALL TREES AND REPLACING THEM IS MUCH SMALLER THAN WHAT YOU WOULD FOR A LARGE TREE.

BUT WHEN YOU LOSE A LARGE TREE, YOU LOSE THE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT LARGE TREE.

>> THE EMERALD ASH BORER HAS EXPANDED TO MORE THAN 30 STATES SINCE FIRST APPEARING IN MICHIGAN IN 2002, BUT INDIANA'S WORST DAYS ARE IN THE PAST.

>> IT'S BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KILL MOST OF THE ASH TREES.

THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF ASH TREES THAT ARE LEFT BUT THE INITIAL WAVE OF DESTRUCTION HAS PRETTY MUCH GONE THROUGH MOST OF THE STATE.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT E.A.B.

INDIANA.INFO.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M HOLDON ABSEHR.

>> THE COST OF CUTTING DOWN A MATURE ASH TREE CAN BE AS HIGH AS $2,000.

>> TOYOTA IS EXPANDING THE FACILITY IN PRINCETON.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB HAS SAID THE PLANT HAS COME A LONG WAY OF STARTING ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO IN A CORN FIELD.

>> WE ARE THE LARGEST SINGLE JAPANESE INVESTMENT STATE IN AMERICA PER CAPITA.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF DAYS LIKE TODAY THAT KEEP US IN THAT POLE POSITION.

>> THE M.P.

MONEY WILL GO TO ADD PRODUCTION TO TWO NEW SUVs AT THE FACILITY AND HIRE AN ADDITIONAL 1400 WORKERS.

NEW AUTOMOBILES PART OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PLANS.

ONE WILL BE UNDER THE TOYOTA BRAND AND THE OTHER WILL BE PART OF LEXUS LINE, A FIRST FOR THE FACILITY.

THIS IS THE INDIVIDUAL THIRD MAJOR INVESTMENTS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AT THE PRINCETON PLANT.

>>> SEVERAL LARGE BEAMS ARE BEING DELIVERED TO THE I-69 CONSTRUCTION ZONE IN MARTINSVILLE.

FIRST UP, A TOTAL OF 14 BRIDGE BEAMS FOR A STATE ROAD 44 OVERPASS THAT WILL BE PLACED OVER WHAT EVENTUALLY WILL BE I-69.

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER BRIDGES THAT WILL HAVE BEAM DELIVERIES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> WORK WILL BE DONE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS ON OTHER OVERPASSES, LINKING DOWNTOWN MARTINSVILLE TO THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT EAST OF TOWN.

THE MARTINSVILLE PHASE OF I-69 IS STILL EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>>> THE LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACES ARE BACK THIS YEAR AFTER BEING CANCELED IN 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT THEY WILL TAKE PLACE A MONTH LATER THAN USUAL, WHICH MEANS THERE WON'T BE THE NORMAL 33 TEAMS IN THE STARTING GRID FOR THE MEN'S AND THE WOMEN'S RACES.

PAT BEAN REPORTS.

>> THE SOUND OF BICYCLE TIRES CRUNCHING ON THE CENTER TRACK AGAIN FILLS THE SPRINGTIME AIR AT BILLOW ARMSTRONG STADIUM.

LAST YEAR, THE STADIUM SET EMPTYITY AS COVID-19 FORCED CANCELLATION OF THE LITTLE 500 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE IT BEGAN IN 1951.

>> WE SPENT THE WHOLE YEAR TRAINING AND WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A NORMAL LITTLE 500 RACE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A MONTH, TWO MONTHS BEFOREHAND, IT'S JUST ALL PULLED OUT FROM UNDER YOU.

>> THE RACES THIS YEAR WILL TAKE PLACE A MONTH LATER THAN NORMAL AND BOTH WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 26th RATHER THAN THE THIRD WEEKEND OF APRIL DATES.

BECAUSE OF THE RACE WILL COME WELL AFTER THE END OF I.U.

'S SPRING SEMESTER AND GRADUATION, SOME TEAMS HAD TO DROP OUT.

>> THE ARMY TEAM, I THINK THEY HAD LIKE THREE OF THEIR TEAMMATES, THEY GET CALLED IN FOR LIKE THEIR TRAINING OVER THE SUMMER.

SO THEY COULDN'T DO IT.

>> FOR THE CHRISTIAN STUDENT FELLOWSHIP WOMEN'S TEAM AN INTERNSHIP IN NEPAL FOR JUAN OF THE RIDERS WAS -- ONE OF THE RIDERS WAS THE FINAL STRAW.

SHE HAD TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY ON MAY 24th.

>> WE TRAIN FOR IT SO HARD BUT IT WAS JUST SOMETHING WE COULDN'T NOT SUPPORT HER AND TELL HER TO GO, AND YOU NEED TO DO THIS.

AND YOU NEED TO GO GET THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> WANGER AND HER TEAMMATES HAVE BEEN TRAINING SINCE THE FALL FOR THE RACE, BUT AN INJURY TO ONE RIDER IN DECEMBER LED THEM WITH THREE RIDERS FOR THE TEAM.

THEN CAME THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON MARCH 4th THE RACE HAD BEEN POSTPONED.

>> WE JUST DID THIS HARD WORKOUT AND THEN THEY JUST, LIKE, MOVED THE RACE.

WE'RE JUST LIKE THIS IS CRAZY!

SO IT'S JUST LIKE A LOT OF HARD FEELINGS AND THAT FIRST, LIKE, INITIAL, LIKE, BLOW WAS HARD AND THAT FIRST WEEK WAS HARD.

WE JUST -- WE STOPPED TRAINING AS HARD AS WE WERE.

THOSE FEELINGS WERE JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME.

>> THE STUDENT FOUNDATION MADE THE DECISION ALONG WITH THE I.U.

'S MEDICAL RESPONSE TEAM AND THE MONROE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THEY FELT HOLDING THE EVENT EVEN WITHOUT FANS WOULD BE SAFER AFTER CLASSES HAD ENDED AND A NUMBER OF THE STUDENTS HAD LEFT TOWN FOR THE SUMMER.

ANDREA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE I.U.

STUDENT FOUNDATION AND A FORMER RIDER KNEW THE DECISION WOULD BE UNPOPULAR WITH SOME AND MEAN SOME TEAMS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE.

>> OUR GOAL WAS TO BE ABLE TO HOST THE LITTLE 500 DURING THE SPRING OF 2021 SOMEHOW, SOME WAY.

TEAM PURSUIT, MISSING OUT, INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIALS ARE EVENTS THAT WE RUN HISTORICALLY EVERY SPRING.

WE WERE ABLE TO HOST THIS YEAR.

>> HAMILTON WOUND THE MISSING OUT EVENT AND HOPED THAT HER TEAM ON THE POLE FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE.

SHE'S EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO RACE THIS YEAR, BUT WILL MISS HAVING FANS.

>> AFTER HAVING YOUR ROOMMATES AND YOUR FRIENDS BEING ABLE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOU IS ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, JUST AN ADDED LEVEL OF, LIKE, PRESSURE, I GUESS TO PERFORM.

YOU KNOW, ANOTHER EXCITEMENT LEVEL.

>> BOTH FIELDING WILL BE AT THEIR SMALLEST EVER.

25 MEN'S TEAMS AND 18 WOMEN'S TEAM WILL TAKE THE GREEN FLAG MAY 26th.

SO THIS YEAR BASICALLY ANYONE WHO COULD PUT A TEAM TOGETHER COULD ENTER THE RACE.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN JOKES ABOUT THAT, ABOUT GETTING A TEAM OF TOWNIES TO GO AND HAVING THEM CREATE A TEAM.

>> YES, BREAKING AWAY, WHICH WON THREE OSCARS IN 1969 REMAINS RELEVANT.

>> IT'S STILL A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

>> AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE LITTLE 500 IS BANKING ON THINGS BEING BACK TO NORMAL NEXT YEAR.

>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL LOOK MUCH MORE LIKE 2019 AS OPPOSED TO 2020 OR 2021.

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

>> NO FANS ARE ALLOWED ON MAY 26th, BUT BOTH RACES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED AT BROADCAST.IU.EDU.

>>> WELL, THE ACHE PEOPLE KILLED IN A MASS SHOOTING AT A FEDEX WAREHOUSE WILL BE REMEMBERED SATURDAY DURING A PUBLIC CEREMONY AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM IN INDIANAPOLIS.

THE EVENT EXPECTED TO DRAW THOUSANDS COMES TWO WEEKS AFTER A FORMER FEDEX EMPLOYEE FATALLY SHOT THE EIGHT PEOPLE, INCLUDING FOUR MEMBERS OF INDIANAPOLIS SIKH COMMUNITY.

NOW WHILE THE SIKH COMMUNITY IS HOSTING THE EVENT, THE HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE WILL JOIN TO SUPPORT THE AFFECTED FAMILIES.

THE FREE EVENT IS SCHEDULED FROM 1 TO 4 P.M. SATURDAY AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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