>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," BLOOMINGTON RECEIVED A MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN LAST WEEKEND, FLOODING BUSINESSES AND DISPLACING A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS.

>> A LOT OF US ARE ASKING WHY THIS HAPPENED.

AND WE WENT THROUGH A BIG DIG YEARS AGO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN.

>> AHEAD, WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING TO COMBAT FUTURE FLOODING.

>> PLEXS WERE APPROVED IN NEIGHBORHOODS ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, HOWEVER SOME RESIDENTS LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS.

>> WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON IS GETTING BETTER REPRESENTATION OF TENANTS AND RENTERS.

>> EIGHT STUDENTS ARE SUING I.U.

OVER ITS VACCINE MANDATE FOR THIS FALL, BUT THE UNIVERSITY REMAINS CONFIDENT IN THE LEGALITY OF THE REQUIREMENT.

>>> THESE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M PERRY METZ IN FOR THE VACATIONING JOE HREN.

TORRENTIAL RAIN LAST FRIDAY NIGHT FLOODED AREAS OF DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON AND PORTIONS ALONG CLEAR CREEK AND CLAIMED ONE LIFE.

BUT WHILE THE CITY RECEIVED NEAR RECORD RAINFALL, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

IT WAS THE SECOND MAJOR FLOODING DOWNTOWN SINCE THE BIG DIG PROJECT IN 2000, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE AND IT LEFT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES SCRAMBLING TO RECOVER IN ITS AFTERMATH.

WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THE STORM STARTING TONIGHT WITH ADAM PINSKER.

>> WHAT STARTED AS A TYPICAL FRIDAY EVENING AT NICK'S ENDED WITH RISING FLOOD WATERS OWN KIRKWOOD AVENUE, SPILLING INTO THE POPULAR BLOOMINGTON RESTAURANT AND BAR.

MANAGER ZION BALLARD SUDDENLY WENT ELECTRIC FROM SERVING CUSTOMERS TO USHERING THEM TO HIGHER GROUND.

>> WE SENT THEM UPSTAIRS.

THEY WERE TRYING TO WATCH IT.

WE SAID PLEASE STAY UPSTAIRS AND STAY OUT OF THE WATER.

>> THEY WERE ABLE TO OPEN FOR BUSINESS AT 3 P.M.

BUT AROUND THE CORNER, AT BLOOMINGTON BAGEL, THE STORM PREVENTED THEM FROM OPENING.

>> WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE DID NOT LOSE OUR DOUGH AS WELL.

>> IT'S NOT JUST DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON.

AREA AREAS FELT THE STORM'S FURY.

>> THE COOL FRAMES YOU SEE BEHIND US WERE FOOL WITH NEWLY POTTED MANHATTANS.

THEY ARE COMPLETELY GONE -- PLANTS.

>> THEY ARE COMPLETELY GONE.

>> HUNDREDS OF PLANTS WERE ALSO DESTROYED DURING THE STORM.

THIS STORM WAS WORSE THAN THE ONE THAT FLOODED HIS GREEN HOUSES IN FEBRUARY 2019.

>> IT WAS 3-FOOT HIGHER THAN IT HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE, WHICH WAS ABOUT RIGHT EVEN WITH THE TOP OF TABLES, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS 6-FOOT HIGHER.

SO EVERYTHING ON TABLES FLOATED AWAY.

>> MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO REPORT DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY ONLINE AT IN211.ORG.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE 25 DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE AT LEAST 40% OF THE ASSESSED VALUE DAMAGE.

>> INDIANA'S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS ALSO DOING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IN COUNTIES HARDEST HIT BY THE STORMS.

BLOOMINGTON BAGEL OWNER SUE AQUILA SAYS IT THE TIMING COULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORSE AFTER HER BUSINESS WAS SHUT DOWN WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>> WE HOPE THE CITY, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECLARE THIS A DISASTER RELIEF AREA.

A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES AFTER 15 MONTHS OF PANDEMIC ARE AT RISK OF PERMANENTLY CLOSING.

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

>> MONROE COUNTY'S DISASTER DECLARATION REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL WEDNESDAY.

IT NOT ONLY AFFECTED DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON BUT ALSO THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE.

SOME RESIDENTS LOVE EVERYTHING.

MITCH LEGAN REPORTS.

>> PERSONAL BELONGINGS LITTER YARDS OUTSIDE HOMES ON PINEWOOD DRIVE AS THEY PICK UP THE PIECES OF LAST WEEK'S DEVASTATING FLOOD.

>> STUFF WAS ALREADY FLOATING AND IN THE WATER.

AS SOON AS I OPENED THE DOOR IT STARTED POURING OUT.

>> CHRISTINA ROBINSON RENTS A DUPLEX NEXT TO CLEAR CREEK.

SHE HAS SEEN THE CREEK FLOOD BEFORE, BUT NOTHING TO THE DEGREE OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND.

>> THERE IS, NOW HE, TRASH CANS, CITY TRASH CANS, LOGS, ALL SORTS OF STUFF FLYING BY US.

SO IT WAS REALLY DANGEROUS.

>> AROUND MIDNIGHT LAST FRIDAY, HEAVY RAINS CAUSED CLEAR CREEK TO OVERFLOW AND WATER BEGAN RUSHING UP THE STREET.

BEFORE LONG, THE WATER WAS WAIST HIGH, HOUSES WERE FLOODED AND RESIDENTS NEEDED TO BE RESCUED.

>> IT WAS JUST LIKE IF THIS TRUCK DOESN'T COME SOON, WE'RE GONE.

THOSE PEOPLE CAME AND HELPED US OUT BIG TIME.

AND I MEAN, THEY SAVED OUR LIVES.

>> WHEN THEY RETURNED THEY FOUND THEIR LIVES UP ENDED.

THEIR BELONGINGS TRASHED AND HOMES COMPLETELY FLOODED.

>> THE WATER WAS COMING IN THE FRONT DOOR FIRST, AND THEN IT STARTED COMING IN THE BACK DOOR LATER.

>> NOW, MANY NEED A NEW PLACE TO LIVE.

>> I JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE LITTLE BIT THAT I CAN KEEP.

FIND A NEW PLACE TO LIVE, HOPEFULLY SOON.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S A CHALLENGE THATCHALLENGE IN BLOOMINGTON WHICH IS A COLLEGE TOWN.

HOPEFULLY FIND SOMETHING DECENT AND REBUILD FROM THERE.

>> IT'S IMPACTED 45 HOMES IN MONROE COUNTY ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

THE RED CROSS SET UP A TEMPORARY SHELTER AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS TRAVELING TO AFFECTED AREAS OVER THE WEEK TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH!

>> DO YOU HAVE A -- >> NICE!

THERE'S SHAMPOO IN THERE!

>> MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA ARE RENTERS AND SOME RECEIVE HOUSING VOUCHERS.

ALMOST NO ONE HAS FLOOD INSURANCE.

WITH MANY HOUSES TRASHED AND INUNDATED WITH SUN SAFE FLOOD WATER, SOME LAND LORDS HAVE MOVED TO NULLIFY LEASES FOR THE NEXT YEAR EITHER BECAUSE THE HOUSES WON'T BE READY OR TO CUT THEIR LOSSES.

>> I SIGNED A WHOLE NEW LEASE FOR A WHOLE NEW YEAR STARTING IN AUGUST.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE.

WE HAD NO PLANS OF MOVING WHATSOEVER.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTING THE DAMAGE TO HOMES.

>> LEGALLY, THAT DOCUMENT OR WHATEVER AGREEMENT THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD HAVE IS REALLY BETWEEN THEM AND THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIP THERE IS ONE THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER, RIGHT?

SO THAT THE TENANT REALLY HAS TO LOOK AT WHAT THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS ARE.

>> LANDLORDS IN THE AREA ARE IN A TOUGH SPOT TOO.

ZEALA.

TAYLOR HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES AS MANY RENTAL COMPANIES IN TOWN.

>> SO WE'RE ACCRUING THOUSANDS DAILY.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST RACKING.

IT'S RACKING UP.

>> PERRY TOWNSHIP IS HELPING DISPLACED RESIDENTS SUCH AS TONYA GRAHAM WITH HOTEL VOUCHERS FOR A WEEK.

>> OH, GOOD!

WHERE IS THAT AT?

OKAY.

AWESOME.

>> THE RED CROSS HAS BECOME CASE WORK TO HELP FIND FUTURE HOUSING BUT BLOOMINGTON IS A TOUGH PLACE TO FIND A HOME, EVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> I CALLED TO A FEW PLACES YESTERDAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THEM HAD ANYTHING AVAILABLE.

PLUS, YOU KNOW, BEING ON SECTION 8, THAT MAKES IT TEN TIMES HARDER.

INSTEAD OF HAVING 100%, YOU KNOW OF THE TOWN, HAVE YOU MAYBE 1%.

>> OFFICIALS ARE SURVEYING DAMAGE AROUND THE AREA, BUT MANY ON BLOOMINGTON'S SOUTH SIDE ARE FEELING FORGOTTEN AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THEIR LIVE'S NEXT STEPS.

ROBINSON SAYS SHE KEEPS REMINDING HERSELF IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GLASS HALF FULL.

WHEN YOU GOT BARELY NOTHING, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE GLASS HALF FULL.

WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES.

OH, MANY MY GOD!

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

>> WELL, LET ME KNOW HOW THAT GOES.

SHE WANTS ME TO BE HER NEIGHBOR.

>> KIRKWOOD AVENUE SAW THE WORST FLOODING IN NEARLY TWO DECADES.

PAT BEANE REPORTS ON THE CITY'S.

PLANATION OF HOW -- EXPLANATION OF HOW IT HAPPENED AND WHY THE BIG DID OF 2000 DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.

>> BEFORE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, KIRKWOOD AVENUE IMMEDIATELY WEST OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY WAS PRONE TO FLOODING, BUT IN 2000, THE CITY UNDERTOOK WHAT WAS TO BE CALLED THE BIG DIG.

THE MONTHS LONG PROJECT REPLACED PIPELINES UNDER THE KIRKWOOD AND DUNN STREET INTERSECTION.

IT ALLEVIATED THE ISSUE SOMEWHAT BUT TORRENTIAL RAIN IN EARLY JUNE FLOODED THE AREA WITH A COUPLE OF FEET OF WATER.

THEN LAST WEEKEND, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

>> A LOT OF UTZ ARE -- A LOT OF US ARE ASKING WHY THIS HAPPENED.

WE WENT THROUGH A BIG DIG YEARS AGO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN.

>> CITY OFFICIALS SAY MUCH OF THE BLAME GOES TO MOTHER NATURE.

9 CITY RECEIVED MORE THAN 4.5 INCHES OF RAIN LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE MONTHLY AVERAGE FOR JUNE IN THE AREA.

>> IT WAS REALLY AN EXTRAORDINARY DELUGE THAT WAS OVERWHELMING THE -- BASICALLY THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE BUILT WORLD.

>> HAMILTON ALSO POINTED A FINGER AT THE INTAKE CULVERT WHICH FUNNELS THE WATER FROM CAMPUS RIVER INTO THE BIG DIG.

>> THE BASIC PROBLEM IS THE RIVER CHANNEL, IF YOU WELL, IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO CARRY A HUGE RAIN.

SO IT RISES UP FROM 6th AND INDIANA AND FLOWS DOWNHILL, WHICH IT DID TO CROSS KIND OF WESTERN, ACROSS DOWNTOWN AND KIRKWOOD.

>> BUT THE BIG DIG OF 2000 REPLACES ONLY PART OF THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE DOWNTOWN WHICH FURTHER COMPLICATES THE ISSUE AS NEWER LARGER PIPES CONVERGE WITH CENTURY OLD SMALLER PIPES.

THE SYSTEM EVENTUALLY DRAINS INTO CLEAR CREEK.

HAMILTON SAYS THE ORIGINAL BIG DIG PLANS CALLED FOR REPLACE PIPE THAT RUNS FROM THE KIRKWOOD AVENUE TO ROUGHLY SECOND AND WASHINGTON.

THE CITY RESURRECTED THE PLANS IN 2018 AND INCREASED THE STORMWATER FEE TO CITY RESIDENTS.

>> SO THAT FEE INCREASE WAS -- PART OF THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY SO THAT WE COULD UNDERTAKE THIS HIDDEN RIVER PROJECT AND COMPLETE THAT DESIGN WAY BACK FROM WHEN WE DID THE FIRST BIG DIG.

>> THE CITY BEGAN WORK ON THE HIDDEN RIVER PATHWAY PROJECT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE $13 MILLION UNDERTAKING WILL REPLACE CULVERTS WITH LARGER BOX SHAPED CULVERTS TO MOVE MORE WATER AWAY FROM THE CITY.

>> THAT THE MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN, DOWNTOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE IMPROVED UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM AND THIS IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO AS MUCH AS BIG DIG 2000 IMPROVED KIRKWOOD, HAVING THIS PIPE REALLY BE ABLE TO CARRY THAT WATER AWAY IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL.

>> HOMEOWNERS ALONG CLEAR CREEK WORRY THAT INCREASED FLOW FROM THE CITY WILL ONLY WORSEN AN ALREADY BAD SITUATION.

SEVERAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALONG CLEAR CREEK WERE DAMAGED BY LAST WEEKEND'S FLOODS.

>> AND THIS CREEK CANNOT HOLD -- WE HAVE OWNED THESE APARTMENTS FOR 38 YEARS.

WE FLOODED IN 2019, AND '21 AND WE NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM BEFORE EVER.

>> AFTER THE HIDDEN RIVER PATHWAY PROJECT IS COMPLETED, HAMILTON SAYS THE CITY HOPES TO TACKLE THE CAMPUS RIVER INTAKE CULVERT BUT THE ONE THING THE CITY HAS NO CONTROL OVER IS THE CLIMATE.

>> SCIENTISTS TELL US AND WE SEE MORE OF THESE 100-YEAR EVENTS HAPPENING NOT EVERY 100 YEARS BUT MORE FREQUENTLY.

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

>>> WE'RE JOINED FOUL BY JOINED NOW BY TRAVIS O'BRIEN FOR MORE ON HOW CLIMATE CHANGE COULD BE LEADING TO MORE SEVERE STORMS.

HELLO PROFESSOR O'BRIEN.

>> HELLO, PERRY.

>> SHOULD WE EXPECT MORE OF THESE UNUSUAL AND DAMAGING WEATHER EVENTS IN THE FUTURE?

WHAT DOES THE -- WHAT DO THE STUDIES TELL US?

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YEAH, WE SHOULD BANK ON MORE OF THESE.

FROM A FUNDAMENTAL ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE POINT OF VIEW, WARMING ADDS MORE MOISTURE TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

AND ALL ELSE -- ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, MORE MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN THAT'S LIFTED, THAT MEANS MORE RAIN.

THAT'S INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY, THERE'S 7% MORE WATER IN THE AT MOSS FOR EVERY DEGREE OF WARMER -- ATMOSPHERE FOR EVERY DEGREE WARMER WE GET.

WE HAVE SEEN MORE OF THIS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND MIDWEST AND CLIMATE MODEL SIMULATIONS WHICH ARE MODELS THAT SIMULATE SEQUENCES OF WEATHER AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATIONS IN GREENHOUSE GASES THEY SUGGEST WE SHOULD SEE INCREASES IN THE FREQUENCY OF THESE BEYOND WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

SO SHOULD WE EXPECT 100 YEAR STORM TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN 100 YEARS?

NO.

WE SHOULD -- FIRST OF OFF, IT'S JUST RANDOM, AND ALSO THE FREQUENCY OF THESE STORMS IS INCREASING.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE 100 YEAR STORMS BECOMING 50.

>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU DID SOME SPECIFIC RESEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR RAINFALL.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> SO THIS PARTICULAR EVENT PU OUT ABOUT 6 INCHES OVER ABOUT AN 8-HOUR PERIOD.

IF WE LOOK BACK AT THE RECORD OF OBSERVATIONS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE HERE IN INDIANA, WHICH INCLUDES DAILY RAINFALL, WE LOOK AT TWO-DAY RAINFALL TOTALS, AND LOOK AT THAT FROM 1895 TO PRESENT THIS WAS THE THIRD LARGEST EVENT ON RECORD AND IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, AND IT'S THE LARGEST THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.

>> ALL OF US HAVE HEARD INDIVIDUALS WE KNOW SAY, MY INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS WON'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> WELL, SO FIRST OFF, I GOT TO GIVE A DISCLAIMER HERE AND THIS IS GETTING INTO MY OPINION AND THIS IS JUST MINE AND NOT THOSE OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY OR MY SPONSORS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

I THINK IMPLIED IN THAT QUESTION, WHEN PEOPLE ASK THAT, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE ASKING IF WE DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, IS THAT GOING TO REDUCE MY QUALITY OF LIFE?

AND THERE'S A REPORT THAT CAME OUT A FEW YEARS AGO CALLED PATHWAYS TO DEEP DECARBONIZATION, THAT REUSES CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS DOWN TO LEVELS THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS CHANGES.

OFFICIALENCEY IS IS ONE OF THOSE -- EFFICIENCY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

WE NEED NO -- WE NEED TO DECARBONIZE ENERGY SOURCES AND USING MORE WIND ENERGY AND SOLAR ENERGY AND WE NEED TO USE LESS CARBON DIOXIDE-INTENSIVE FUELS LIKE FOSSIL FUELS AND MOVE MORE TO BIO FUELS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS REQUIRE LARGE GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT OF THE LEVEL THAT WE JUST DID WITH COVID.

SO IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IT REQUIRES PUBLIC SUPPORT.

SO THAT'S -- IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT, I THINK THE REAL IMPACT THERE IS PUSHING ON CORPORATIONS, PUSHING ON OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US TO ACTUALLY ENACT POLICIES THAT CAN GO IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT IS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PROFESSOR O'BRIEN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT, PLEXES HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR CERTAIN CORE NEIGHBORHOODS IN BLOOMINGTON.

AHEAD HOW SOME HAD ISSUES WITH THE PROCESS.

AND FOURTH STREETS FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AND CRAFT IS RETURNING THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND AFTER LAST YEAR'S EVENT WAS CANCELED DUE TO COVID.

THESES AND MORE RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

INDIANA'S CURRENT LEGISLATIVE MAPS ARE MORE SKEWED TOWARDS ONE PARTY, IN THIS CASE REPUBLICANS THAN 95% OF ALL LEGISLATIVE MAPS IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

BRANDON SMITH REPORTS THAT THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE GROUP WOMEN 4 CHANGE INDIANA.

>> HOOSIER REPUBLICANS TYPICALLY GET BETWEEN 54 AND 59% OF THE VOTE IN STATEWIDE RACES.

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER WARSHAW SAYS THAT SHOULD MEAN THAT REPUBLICANS HOLD LEGISLATIVE MAJORITIES OF AROUND 60%.

>> INSTEAD THEY HAVE 78% OF THE SEATS IN CONGRESS AND ALMOST 80% OF THE SEATS IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> INDIANA HAS UNDERGONE A POLITICAL SHIFT OVER THE LAST DECADE BUT WARSHAW SAYS THOSE SORTS OF TRANSITIONS TYPICALLY TAKE TIME WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATIVE SEATS.

>> BUT WE SAW IN INDIANA WAS NOT A LONG, GRADUAL SHIFT, IT WAS EXACTLY WHEN THE NEW MAP WENT INTO PLACE IN 2012, THAT THE LEVEL OF BIAS IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY SHIFTED.

>> WOMEN 4 CHANGE INDIANA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RIMA SHAHED SAID THAT SHOULD MATTER TO EVERY HOOSIER.

>> NO MATTER WHAT ISSUE YOU CARE ABOUT, FIRST STEP TO MAKING CHANGE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA IS BY HAVING FAIR MAPS.

>> INDIANA LAWMAKERS WILL DRAW NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS LATER THIS YEAR AND SHAHED SAYS HOOSIERS ARE ASKING FOR THAT TO BE OPEN, FAIR AND COMPETITIVE BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE EXPECTS.

>> AND THEY WILL NOT GET BETTER, IN MY OPINION, THEY MIGHT GET WORSE.

HOW MUCH WORSE CAN WE GET?

>> INDIANA REPUBLICANS HAVE REPEATEDLY REJECTED EFFORTS AT REDISTRICTING REFORM OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M BRANDON SMITH AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE UDO LAST MONTH, THAT WILL ALLOW PLEXES IN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONED NEIGHBORHOODS WITH RESTRICTIONS.

AFTER GOING TO MANY MEETINGS ONE RESIDENT ASKED CITY LIMITS WHAT MORE THE CITY COULD DO IN THE FUTURE TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS.

BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS.

>> CATHI CRABTREE HAS LIVED IN BLOOMINGTON FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

SHE'S A LOCAL GROUP THAT PROMOTES FOR AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING.

SHE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THE PLEX AMENDMENT, PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS HELD BY THE PLANNING AND THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE AMENDMENT WAS SENT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR VOTE.

>> THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT THE CITY PUT OUT WAS PRETTY PROGRESSIVE, AND HAD A LOT OF DUPLEXES IN IT AND HAD A LOT MORE ZONES THAT WERE R4.

AND THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF BACKLASH.

>> CRABTREE SAYS MOST OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THESE VIRTUAL MEETINGS CAME FROM HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE PART OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BUT BLOOMINGTON'S HOUSING IS MADE UP OF 60% OF RENTERS AND SHE DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAS REPRESENTED THEY MEETINGS.

WHEN THE CITY INITIATES AN UPDATE TO ZONING CODE, STATE LAW REQUIRES SENDING WRITTEN NOTICE TO LANDOWNERS.

>> AND WE DON'T DO THAT FOR ANY OTHER PROJECT IN THE CITY.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S VERY UNIQUE.

WE HAVE DONE THAT THREE TIMES NOW WITH THIS UPDATE PROCESS TO THE UDO.

EVERY PROPERTY OWNER IN THE CITY RECEIVED A NOTICE.

>> JACKIE SKINLYNN WORKS WITH ROBINSON IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

THE PLEX PLAN, WAS TO HELP THE RENTERS.

THEYSHE SAYS THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE OUTREACH TO THESE GROUPS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB OF TARGET THOSE GROUPS.

MOST OF THOSE WHO HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH US WERE HOMEOWNERS.

WE HAVE TO SEND NOTICE TO PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTY.

>> ROBINSON SAYS THEIR DEPARTMENT HAS TALKED ABOUT HOW TO BETTER REACH ALL RESIDENTS ON THE HOUSING SPECTRUM AND IT'S A MATTER OF OVERCOMING A VARIETY OF BARRIERS RANGING FROM INTERNET ACCESS AND TIME AVAILABILITY AND WORK SCHEDULES.

ON JUNE 13th, SHE AND OTHER MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS UNITED ORGANIZED A CALL OUT FOR LOCAL RENTERS WITH PLANS TO START A BLOOMINGTON RENTERS ASSOCIATION.

>> WE HAVE GOT OTHER INITIATIVES TOO, BUT THE ONE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON IS GETTING BETTER REPRESENTATION OF TENANTS AND RENTERS IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE.

WE WERE ABLE DURING THE UDO TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SOME RENTERS BUT WE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY REACH OUT AS FAR AS ORGANIZING THEM.

>> AROUND 20 PEOPLE GATHERED AT BUTLER PARK TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY LIKE HOUSING AVAILABILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR RENTERS TO CHANGE.

CRABTREE HOPES SOME OF RENTERS WHO CAME TO THE CALL OUT MEETING WILL TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SHAPING THE BLOOMINGTON RENTERS ASSOCIATION, SINCE MOST OF THE MONROE COUNTY NEIGHBORS UNITED, ONE RENTER WHO ATTENDED WAS BOOKER.

>> I THINK WE SAW A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF HOMEOWNERS.

ONE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE TIME AND THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL MEETINGS.

AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT COULD INFORM THEM.

>> ANOTHER MEETING PARTICIPANT ANDREW GUNTER HAS BEEN RENTING NOT GUILTY BLOOMINGTON SINCE 20 -- RENTING IN BLOOMINGTON SINCE 2015.

HE SAYS BLOOMINGTON DOES A GOOD JOB OF CREATING SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE BUT FALLS SHORT ON MARGINALIZED GROUPS.

>> WE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS.

>> BOTH BOOKER GUNTER SAYS THEY EXPECT THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE IT AND TREAT IT EQUALLY TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>> THE FOURTH STREET FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AND CRAFTS IS SET TO RETURN THIS LABOR DAY WHACK.

-- WEEKEND.

HOLDEN ABSHIRE REPORTS.

>> ARTISTS CREATE A PIECE, SOMEONE SEES IT AND THEN THE ARTIST LETS IT GO.

BUT WITH ART SHOWS CANCELED DURING COVID-19, THE PROCESS WAS INCOMPLETE.

AT ARTISTS HAD LITTLE TIME TO INTERACT WITH PATRONS AND MORE TIME TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW IDEAS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE GOING TO AN ART FAIR AGAIN AND GETTING FEEDBACK.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT THE ART FAIRS ARE REALLY WONDERFUL FOR.

YOU GET TO SIT THERE AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR WORK.

>> LUCKILY FOR ADAMS, IN-PERSON FAIRS ARE RETURNING INCLUDING THE FOURTH STREET FAIR OF ARTS AND CRAFTS IN BLOOMINGTON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

THEY ARE DOWNSIDING DOWNSIZING FROM 125 TO 80 ARTISTS.

SPOKEN WORD AND MUSIC STAGES WILL BE VIRTUAL.

>> YOU MIGHT SEE TOTALLY DIFFERENT BODIES OF WORK AND BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A SHAKE UP IN TERMS OF WHO APPLIES IT WILL BE A REALLY DIFFERENT LOOKING SHOW.

SO FOR THE PATRON WHO COMES, IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

>> ADAM SAYS A LOT OF OLDER ARTISTS RETIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT OTHERS TOOK TIME TO EXPERIMENT AND EXPAND THEIR CRAFT.

LIKE POTTER REBECCA LOWRY.

LOWRY IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FOURTH STREET FESTIVAL AND WORKS OUT OF HER HOME STUDIO.

THEY BEGAN DOING WHOLESALE ORDERERS DURING THE PANDEMIC IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SECOND INCOME.

LOWRY USES OL' DESIGNS FOR WHOLESALE BUT SAID SHE STILL HAD TIME TO EXPAND HER STYLE.

>> MY WORK -- MY NEW WORK IS A LOT OF -- A LOT MORE TEXTURES AND A LOT MORE PAINTING ON IT AND DARKER.

WHICH MAY BE AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> SHE EXPERIMENTED FOR 18 MONTHS BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE HAS 18 MONTHS WORTH OF THINGS TO SALE.

SHE WORKS FULFILLING WHOLESALE ORDERS.

SHE HAVE TO BE MORE PARTICULAR ABOUT THE SHOWS SHE GOES.

>> I PREFER GOING TO TOWNS WHERE PEOPLE LIKE MY WORK, YOU KNOW?

AND I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO GET A GOOD RESPONSE AND BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH AN ART-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY, WHICH BLOOMINGTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M HOLDEN ABSHIRE.

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

GOOD NIGHT.

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