>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA HAS MORE THAN 200 CASES OF THE COVID DELTA VARIANT.

AHEAD, WHY HEALTH OFFICIALS CALL IT THE MOST DISTURBING VARIANT AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR HOSPITALS AND DEATHS THIS FALL AND WINTER.

>>> AS THE ECONOMY REOPENS, MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE RETURNING TO HOW THINGS WERE PREPANDEMIC.

>> WE ALL HOPED TO RIP OFF OUR MASKS AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL AND IT WAS LIKE WE ALL WOKE UP FROM A DREAM AND IT'S JUST NOT THAT WAY.

>> AHEAD, WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY AND HOW THAT'S INFLUENCING SOME COMPANY'S POLICIES AS THEY BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE OFFICE.

>>> IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO LOSE POWER DURING A STRONG SUMMER STORM.

WHY DOES IT SEEM TO HAPPEN TO SOME PEOPLE MORE THAN OTHERS?

>> THE GOD'S HONEST TRUTH IS MY ACROSS THE STREET NEIGHBORS HAVE NEVER LOST THEIR POWER IN ANY OF THESE STORMS.

>> THOSE STORIES PLUS LATEST NEWS HEADLINES, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE CDC IS NOW RECOMMENDING SCHOOLS FULLY OPEN THIS FALL, AND THAT FULLY VACCINATED STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO NOT NEED TO WEAR MASKS BUT THE NEW GUIDELINES COME AS COVID-19 INFECTION RATES HAVE BEGUN TO RISE.

INDIANA HAS SEEN A 52% INCREASE IN ITS POSITIVITY RATE SINCE REACHING ITS LOWEST LEVEL OF INFECTION LAST WEEK.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THAT COINCIDES WITH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE DELTA VARIANT, WHICH IS 40% MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

OFFICIALS ARE URGING ANYONE ALREADY NOT VACCINATED TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> IT'S HEART BREAKING AS AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME IN WITH COVID AND VERY SICK AND TO HEAR THEM SAY THEY WISH THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

I KIND OF WISH PEOPLE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THAT STORY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOBODY THINKS IT WILL BE THEM UNTIL IT'S THEM.

>> NEARLY 3 MILLION HOOSIERS ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED, BUT THAT'S STILL JUST 49% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE IN THE STATE.

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY DR. TOM HRISOMALOS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT WITH I.U.

HEALTH.

HELLO, DR. HRISOMALOS.

THE DELTA VARIANTA MUCH MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN THE COVID-19 VIRUS THAT WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT DO WE DO KNOW ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT AND DO YOU EXPECT MORE MUTATIONS OF VIRUS?

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VARIANTS, IT'S VIRUSES THAT HAVE MUTATED FROM THE ORIGINAL STRAIN THAT WAS PRESENT LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

THAT'S NOT UNEXPECTED.

WE EXPECT MORE OF THAT TO HAPPEN.

FLU DOES THAT EVERY YEAR.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE CDC CLASSIFY SOME OF THESE VARIANTS AS VARIANTS OF CONCERN BECAUSE THEY MAY BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, MORE SEVERE, THE VACCINE MAY NOT WORK AS WELL, AND THAT -- THE DELTA VARIANT THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW IS ONE OF THESE VARIANTS OF CONCERN.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE AND SO IT WILL BECOME -- IT IS ALREADY BECOMING THE DOMINANT VARIANT THAT'S SPREADING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN THE MIDWEST.

>> IN A RECENT STUDY OUT OF ISRAEL SAID SAYS THE PFIZER VACCINE IS LESS PROTECTIVE AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT THAN PREVIOUS THOUGHT.

NOW PFIZER IS TALKING ABOUT A NEED FOR A BOOSTER.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT THE VACCINE'S EFFECTIVENESS?

>> THIS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF VARIANCE IN RESULTS ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE PFIZER VACCINE IS AND WE WOULD INCLUDE MODERNA WITH THAT, AS SIMILAR.

THE PFIZER VACCINE WAS REPORTEDLY 95% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING ILLNESS FROM THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

SOME STUDIES FROM ISRAEL SUGGESTED IT WAS DOWN IN THE 60%, 65% RANGE OF PROTECTION.

BUT OTHER STUDIES THAT ARE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE SCIENTIFICALLY VALID, PROJECT IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO 88% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING INFECTION BY THIS DELTA VARIANT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROBABLY ABOUT 96% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATION OR SERIOUS ILLNESS.

>> HMM.

>> SO EVEN IF YOU GET IT, THE ILLNESS WOULD BE MILDER.

>> INDIANA CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND MUCH OF NATION IN VACCINATIONS.

CDC JUST RECOMMENDING SCHOOLS FULLY OPEN IN THE FALL, AND, YOU KNOW THE DELTA VARIANT OUT THERE.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT ANOTHER OUTBREAK?

>> WELL, I THINK GIVEN THAT THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REMAIN UNVACCINATED, WE WILL SEE A SURGE IN CASES.

WE SHOULD NOT SEE THE KIND OF SURGE THAT WE SAW IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, ABOUT 50% OF THE POPULATION HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED, AND THAT'S A BIG BUFFER AGAINST THAT FROM OCCURRING.

I THINK IT'S FORTUNATE THAT BOTH STUDIES IN THE U.K. AND IN ISRAEL SHOW THAT ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SURGES OF THE DELTA VARIANT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MARKED INCREASED NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS THAT WE SAW BACK IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

SO WE ARE HOPEFUL IN THAT REGARD.

>> ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR, SORRY TO OUT CUTCUT YOU OFF BUT I KNOW WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH MUCH MORE LATER.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WINDS DOWN, PEOPLE DISCOVER THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WORKING FROM HOME THAN THEY WERE AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE MAY NOT BE AS EASY AS THEY THOUGHT.

ADAM PINSKER TELLS US HOW EMPLOYERS ARE ADJUSTING.

>> WHAT COMES AFTER D?

>> LIKE MANY PARENTS WHO WORKED AT HOME DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ABBEY RECKARD GOT TO KNOW HER SON REALLY WELL.

>> I SPENT SO MUCH TIME OVER THE LAST YEAR, HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> ABBEY IS THE DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INFORMATION.

LAST MONTH SHE RETURNED TO THE OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

>> I MISSED MY COWORKERS AND JUST MISSED ENCOUNTERS WITH STRANGERS AND RANDOM FOLKS.

>> RECKARDS BOSS AT WELL DON'T ALLOWED HER EMPLOYEES AFTER MARION COUNTY LIFTED THE MASK MANDATE IN JUNE.

IN JANUARY, VIELEE OPENED HER BUSINESS ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AS LONG AS THE EMPLOYEE TOOK TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND WORE MASS SNOOZE WE SAY -- MASKS.

>> WE WIRE ADULTS AND AS LONG AS THE WORK IS GETTING DONE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU DO THE WORK FROM.

>> WELL DONE IS A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM.

SHE DEVELOPED THE GET OUT OF THE VOTE CAMPAIGN DURING THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> HALF OF OUR TEAM SITS OVER HERE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CREATIVE DEPARTMENT.

>> VIELEE SAYS EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HER EMPLOYEES HAD THE OPTION OF WORKING REMOTELY OR SPLITTING TIME BETWEEN THE OFFICE AND HOME.

>> WE HAVE A MEETING, WE HAVE GOT TO A BRAINSTORMING SESSION, COME INTO THE OFFICE.

IF YOUR HEAD IS DOWN AND YOU ARE ON A DEADLINE AND WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF THEM, IT'S OKAY, STAY HOME.

WORK FROM A COFFEE SHOP.

>> KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PROFESSOR, KELLY MALATESINIC SAYS IT WON'T BE EASY GOING BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AFTER ALL, MOST OF THE WORLD WORKED FROM HOME DURING THAT TIME.

>> WE ALL HOPED THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW -- IN A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE WOULD RIP OFF OUR MASSES AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE BACK TO FORMAL AND IT WAS LIKE WE ALL WOKE UP FROM A DREAM, RIGHT AND IT'S JUST NOT THAT WAY.

>> MALATESINIC EXCITES SEVERAL STUDIES SHOWS THAT WORKERS WERE MORE PRODUCTIVE DOING THEIR JOBS FROM HOME.

PEOPLE THAT ONCE BRAVED LONG COMMUTES AND GIVING THAT UP IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF HYBRID, ACTUALLY, WHERE PEOPLE MAYBE NEED TO BE IN THE OFFICE THREE DAYS A WEEK AND CAN WORK FROM HOME TWO DAYS WEEK.

>> VIELEE POLLED THE WORKERS HOW THEY WANTED THE POST-CORONA WORK TO LOOK LIKE?

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE THE OPTION TO WORK REMOTELY.

>> WHEN SCHOOL GETS BACK TO SESSION, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE KIDS' SPORTING EVENTS THAT ALWAYS SEEM TO START AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

>> FOR RECKARD, BALANCING HER WORK AND FAMILY LIFE IS NUMBER ONE.

>> I LOVE MY WORK.

IT'S INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING AND MOTIVATING BUT I KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, I CAN FOCUS ON MY FAMILY IF I NEED TO.

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

>> AND VIELEE, WHO RUNS WELL DONE MARKETING SAYS OTHER COMPANIES HAVE ASKED HER FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO BEST ACCOMMODATE EMPLOYEES WHO STILL WANT TO WORK FROM HOME.

>> NOW, FOR HEADLINES, WE GO OVER TO ETHAN BURKS WHO HAS THE LATEST ON THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES.

>> THANKS, JOE.

PEOPLE NO LONGER HAVE TO WEAR A MASK ON ANY OF I.U.

'S CAMPUSES IF THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

THAT POLICY TOOK EFFECT TUESDAY.

THE UNIVERSITY ATTRIBUTES THE DECISION TO LOWER COVID-19 RATES, AND HIGHER VACCINATION RATES AMONG STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY.

ACCORDING TO I.U.

'S WEBSITE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 20th, UNIVERSITY COMPLETED MORE THAN 2200 MITIGATION TESTS.

OUT OF THOSE 2200 TESTS, THERE WAS ONLY ONE RECORDED POSITIVE.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION UPDATED ITS MASK-WEARING POLICY IN A SIMILAR WAY.

MCCSC EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED DON'T NEED TO WEAR MASKS AT WORK.

EMPLOYEES MUST BE TWO WEEKS PAST THEIR FINAL COVID VACCINATION AND SUBMIT PROOF OF INOCULATION IN ORDER TO MOVE MASKS INSIDE.

THEY ARE DISCUSSING POLICIES FOR VACCINATED STUDENTS AND THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

>>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER EMERGENCY POWER LEGISLATION IS MOVING FORWARD.

STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED A MEASURE THIS YEAR THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION DURING A PUBLIC EMERGENCY.

HOLCOMB CONTENDS THAT POWER BELONGSLONGS FULLY TO THE GOVERNOR, BUT A JUDGE RULES THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO E DID END IF THE OFFICE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA IS APPEALING THAT RULING.

>>> CITIZEN ADVOCACY GROUPS WANT INDIANA'S TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO VOTE FOR THE FEDERAL VOTING REFORM BILL CURRENTLY BEFORE CONGRESS, AND THEY LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD THIS WEEK.

INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S BRANDON SMITH REPORTS.

>> DEMONSTRATORS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE INDIANAPOLIS OFFICES OF SENATOR TODD YOUNG AND MIKE BRAUN ON TUESDAY IN A BID TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR CAUSE, PASSAGE OF THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT.

SENATE BILL 1 WOULD NATIONALIZE MANY ELECTION STANDARDS.

IT WOULD, FOR INSTANCE, ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT REDIS STRICTING COMMISSIONS FOR ALL STATES.

IMPOSE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION NATIONWIDE AND SET ELECTION DAY AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

COMMON CAUSE INDIANA'S JULIA VAUGHN SAYS SHE'S SAD TO SEE THE LEGISLATION BECOME A DEMOCRATS vs. REPUBLICANS ISSUE.

>> VOTING RIGHTS WHEN IMPROVE ETHICS WHEN REDUCING THE INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY ON POLITICS, THOSE SHOULD NEVER BE PARTISAN ISSUES.

>> THEY CHEERED THE EXPANSION OF MAIL-IN VOTING AND PREREGISTRATION OF 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS AND ENACTMENT OF SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE USED THE FILIBUSTER TO HALT THE BILL, DECRYING IT AS A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF ELECTIONS.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M BRANDON SMITH.

>>> AND A SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP IN BLOOMINGTON MADE FAMOUS BY FORMER I.U.

STUDENT JARED FOGLE HAS CLOSED.

THE STORE GAINED POPULARITY AFTER FOGLE LOST 245 POUNDS EATING TO A SELF-DESIGNED SUBWAY DIET.

HE BECAME A SUBWAY SPOKESPERSON FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS BUT IN 2015 FOGLE WAS CHARGED WITH SEVERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES AND SEX CRIMES.

HE'S SERVING A 15-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE.

THE STORE FRONT ON SOUTH WOODLAWN AVENUE WILL BE HOME TO A NEW INKWELL BANKERRY INKWELL BAKERY CAFE.

AND NOW BACK TO YOU, JOE.

>> THANK YOU, ETHAN.

>>> COLLEGE ATHLETES WILL BE ABLE TO CASH IN ON THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES GOING FORWARD.

>>> AND THE NEW SEVEN LINE PROTECTED BICYCLE PATH IS MAKING IT SAFER FOR BIKES ON 7th 7th STREET, BUT IT'S A TIGHT SQUEEZE FOR LARGE VEHICLES.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WHEN BLOOMINGTON, THE INITIAL PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE SEVEN LINE PROTECTED BIKE PATH BETWEEN WOODLAWN AND INDIANA AVENUES IS FINISHED.

HOLDON ABSHIER HAS THIS REPORT.

>>> BIKE LANES USED TO BE PAINTED ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROAD.

CARS COULD AVOID LARGE ONCOMING VEHICLES BY SWERVING INTO THE BIKE LANE.

THE NEW SEVEN LINE PATH SOLVES THIS ISSUE BY COMBINING THE BIKE LANES AND SEPARATING BICYCLES FROM TRAFFIC WITH THE PHYSICAL BARRIER.

THE NEW TRAFFIC LANES NOW MEASURE 20 FEET WIDE FROM CURB-TO-CURB.

NEIL KOPPER IS A SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

>> THERE'S A DESIRE TO HAVE NARROWER LANES FOR THINGS LIKE SPEED LIMIT COMPLIANCE AND FOR REDUCING PEDESTRIAN CROSSING DISTANCES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF SAFETY BENEFITS FOR HAVING NARROWER LANES AS LONG AS THE VEHICLES CAN GET THROUGH.

>> LARGE VEHICLES LIKE BUSES WILL STILL FIT ON THE ROAD.

>> THE DESIGN, ACTUALLY ASSUMES THAT A BUS WILL ACTUALLY PULL IN, KNOW, SWING WIDE INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND THEN GO INTO THEIR LANE.

>> TECHNICALLY THE REDESIGNEDSIGNED SEVENTH STREET.

DOUBLE YELLOW LINES ARE A SINGLE MARKING.

THEY BEGIN AT THE MIDPOINT BETWEEN THEM.

REMOVING THE WIDTH OF THE CENTER LANE, EACH LANE IS 9 AND A HALF FEET WIDE.

THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REQUIRES TRAFFIC LANES TO BE BETWEEN 9 AND 12 FEET WIDE.

IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE MAXIMUM VEHICLE WIDTH OF EIGHT AND A HALF FEET.

HOWEVER THIS MEASUREMENT EXCLUDES REAR-VIEW MIRRORS.

>> A BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT BUS IS JUST OVER 8 FEET WIDE AT 99 INCHES.

>> BUT WITH THE ADDED MIRROR HANGING OFF THE SIDE, IT ADDS ANOTHER 13 INCHES TO THE BUS.

THE MIRROR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE EXTENDS TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK AND DOES NOT POSE A THREAT TO THE OTHER LANE.

THEY ARE UNDER 114 INCHES WIDE MEANING A BUS WILL HAVE ONE INCH OF WIGGLE ROOM BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE YELLOW LINES.

IT MEANS THAT PASSING BUSES WILL HAVE 14 INCHES BETWEEN THEM.

BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT LEW MAY.

175 BUSES CARRY MORE THAN 3,000 PASSENGERS.

HE SAYS THE REDESIGN OF THE CORRIDOR AND THE REMOVAL OF ONSTREET PARKING.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THE CARS WERE NOT PARKED ALL THE WAY AGAINST THE CURB.

IN FACT, SOMETIMES IF SOMEBODY DID A BAD PARKING JOB, THEY MAY BE A FOOT OR TWO AWAY FROM THE CURB AND THE TRAVEL LANES WERE ALREADY 10 FEET WIDE.

>> SEVEN LINE CONSTRUCTION IS NOT CREATING MORE ROOM FOR BUSES TO DRIVE, BUT IT IS REDRAWING MORE CONSISTENT BOUNDARIES INSTEAD OF THE THREAT OF PARKED CARS, BUSES ARE NOW CONFINED BETWEEN THE CURB AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

>> THERE WILL BE TIMES, THOUGH, WHEN A BUS IS ENCOUNTERING ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE OPPOSITE LANE.

IT COULD BE ANOTHER BUS OR IT COULD BE A TRUCK, YOU KNOW, REALLY WIDE VEHICLE LIKE THAT.

THEY WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL SLOWER.

>> IN TERMS OF OTHER LARGE VEHICLES, BLOOMINGTON DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, JAYME WASHEL SAYS IT'S LARGE ENOUGH FOR A STANDARD FIRE ENGINE WHICH MEASURES 8 FEET 4 INCHES WIDE.

TURNING INTO THE LANE IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

WASHEL SAYS DRIVERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS AND STOP AT DESIGNATED LINES ESPECIALLY ON NARROW ROADS.

>> THAT BIG, BOLD WHITE LINE IS MEASURED FOR THAT -- FOR THAT ONCOMING BIG TRUCK.

SOME PEOPLE GO PAST THAT AND WHAT THAT DOES, IS IT ESSENTIALLY BOTTLENECKS US.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M HOLDON ABSHIER.

>>> NCAA OFFICIALS WILL NOW ALLOW COLLEGE ATHLETES TO PROFIT FROM THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

NOW THAT MEANS I.U.

PLAYERS CAN USE THEIR PERSONAL BRANDS TO MAKE MONEY.

ETHAN BURKS HAS THE STORY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THOSE WHO PLAYED ON THE GRIDIRON THAT CAN MAKE A PROFIT, WHETHER YOU PLAY WATER POLO, CROSS COUNTRY, TENNIS, SOFTBALL, YOU NAME, IT ALL I.U.

ATHLETES CAN NOW MAKE MONEY.

THE RULE CHANGE ESSENTIALLY ENDS AMATEURISM IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, COMPANIES BE BRANDS, BOOSTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS NOW MAY COMPENSATE PLAYERS.

>> LET'S SAY THERE'S A DINNER SPECIAL AT A RESTAURANT.

YOU CAN GET AN ATHLETE TO DO AN INSTAGRAM POST TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT THE FOOD IS AT THE RESTAURANT AND HIGHLIGHTING WHAT THE DEAL IS ON TUESDAY.

>> GRAY SAYS ATHLETES MAY RECEIVE PAYMENTS FOR EVENTS, SUCH AS ATTENDING A KID'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, COMPANY BANQUETS AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES WITH FANS ONLINE.

>> THERE'S ALSO APPEARANCES.

IT COULD BE APPEARANCES AT A BUSINESS, AUTOGRAPH SIGNING, THAT TYPE OF STUFF IN ORDER TO DRIVE BUSINESS INTO A STAR STORE FRONT AND BLOOMINGTON IS UNIQUELY WELL POSITIONED FOR THAT.

>> STAR QUARTERBACK, MICHAEL PENIX,, JR., IS ALREADY TAKING CARE OF THE NEW RULES.

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW OPENDORSE.

>> IT'S A DIGITAL PLATFORM AND I. U.

PARTNER WHICH HELPS THE ATHLETES MONETIZE AND PROTECT THEIR PERSONAL BRANDS BY CHARGING PEOPLE FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES, STARTING AT $200, MICHAEL PENIX WILL CRAFT A PERSONAL TWEET, FACEBOOK POST OR A VIDEO MESSAGE FOR YOU OR MAYBE GIVE A SPEECH AT YOUR NEXT CORPORATE EVENT.

THE COMPANY ALSO CREATES INTERESTING VIDEOS AND PHOTOS IN REALTIME FOR ATHLETES TO USE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PLAYER ON THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HITS A BUZZER BEATER TO WIN A BIG GAME.

>> FOR THREE ON THE WAY.

OH!

SIGNAL THAT CONTENT WILL BE READY TO GO FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> BEFORE HE WALKS OFF THE COURT, HE ALREADY HAS THE CELEBRATION PHOTO IN HIS PHONE.

HE PRESSES TWEET.

HE GOES VIRAL.

THAT BUILDS HIS MAT FORM.

-- PLATFORM.

MAKES HIM MORE ATTRACTIVE TO ENDORSERS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE NCAA DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO EARN A SALARY TO PLAY A SPORT.

>> THE SCHOOLS CANNOT PAY SOMEONE DIRECTLY.

THEY STILL CANNOT PAY THEM FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE ON THE FIELD, EVEN THE THIRD PARTY CAN'T DO THAT BUT THEY CAN ENGAGE IN THE THIRD PARTY ARRANGEMENTS.

>> HE SAYS THE RULES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY DEPENDING ON WHICH STATE YOU LIVE IN.

THE CURRENT POLICY HAS BEEN LEFT VAGUE UNTIL CONGRESS PASSES UNIFIED FEDERAL GUIDELINES WHICH COULD TAKE PLACE AS SOON AS THIS FALL.

>> IT'S EXPERIMENTAL, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT IT'S EXPERIMENTAL IS THAT LATER ON THEY WILL BRING MORE CLARITY.

THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY.

>> WHAT HAS ALSO BEEN LEFT VAGUE IS HOW THE NCAA WILL ENFORCE THE NEW RULES WITHOUT A FEDERAL SET OF GUIDELINES.

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

>>> WELL, POWER OUTAGES ARE ALMOST ASSURED WHEN A STORM ROLLS THROUGH THE AREA, BUT FRUSTRATION SETS IN WHEN IT'S NOT RESTORED QUICKLY OR YOU ARE THE LAST TO GET IT BACK AND THAT LED LISTENERS TO ASK CITY LIMITS WHY ARE MY LIGHTS OFF WHEN MY NEIGHBOR'S IS ON?

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> WHENEVER A STRONG STORM ROLLS INTO TOWN, IT'S A GOOD BET PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE POWER.

FOR SOME, IT'S MORE OFTEN THAN OTHERS.

>> EVERY TIME AS I LOOK ACROSS THE STREET, AND THE HONEST'S TO GOD'S TRUTH IS, MY ACROSS THE STREETS NEIGHBORS HAVE NEVER LOST THEIR POWER IN ALL OF THESE STORMS.

I WONDER WHY IT IS THAT SOME OF US LOSE POWER AND OTHERS DON'T.

>> HE'S NOT ALONE.

HIGGS LIVES IN THE BRYAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD BUT IT'S ON ISSUE THAT HOMEOWNERS FACE ALL AROUND TOWN.

>> PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER BY THE HOSPITAL.

A FRIEND OF MINE IN HYDE PARK HAS TOLD ME ABOUT IT.

I HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TOWN, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT SOME OF US ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME SERVICE THAT OTHERS ARE.

>> BRUCE CALLOWAY IS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER FOR DUKE ENERGY.

HE SAYS IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF ONE CUSTOMER IS GETTING BETTER SERVICE THAN THE OTHER.

YOU NEED TO VIEW THE POWER GRID THE SAME AS YOU DO YOUR HOUSE.

WHERE THERE ARE BREAKERS FOR DIFFERENT ROOMS.

SO WHILE YOUR KITCHEN LIGHTS MIGHT BE OUT THE DINING ROOM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL COULD STILL HAVE POWER.

>> SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THAT PARTICULAR LINE, FEEDING YOUR NEIGHBOR AND THEIR LIGHTS GO OUT, YOURS MIGHT STAY ON OR VICEA VERSA.

>> CALLOWAY SAYS THE OTHER THING IS WEAR AND TEAR.

>> THE POLES ARE DIFFERENT AGE AND THE CONDUCTORS AND THE TRANSFORMERS.

IF THE TRANSFORMER FAILS, WE WILL GO OUT AND CHANGE THAT.

SO NOW YOUR TRANSFORMER IS BRAND NEW AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S IS MAYBE 15 YEARS OLD.

>> AS FAR AS GETTING THE POWER BACK ON AFTER A STORM, CALLOWAY SAYS THERE'S A HIERARCHY FROM TRANSMISSION LINES TO SUBSTATIONS TO DISTRIBUTION LINES TO POWER POLES DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES.

HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FACILITIES TAKE PRIORITY.

>> IF WE CAN PICK UP 1500 CUSTOMERS, WE WILL DO THAT PRIOR TO GETTING TO ALL THE -- WHAT WE CALL THE ONESYS.

HIGGS UNDERSTANDS HIS BLOCK IS LOW ON THE PRIORITY LIST AFTER A STORM.

WHAT BOTHERS HIM IS HIS POWER ALMOST ALWAYS GOES OUT DURING A STORM AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PREEMPTIVELY.

>> WHY NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS?

YOU KNOW THEY ARE THERE.

YOU KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM ON THIS SIDE OF STREET AND NOT A PROBLEM ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET?

WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC.

>> MIKE MULLET IS A RETIRED ATTORNEY FROM COLUMBUS, INDIANA.

HE REPRESENTED CITIZENS ACTION COALITION IN LITIGATION AGAINST PUBLIC SERVICE INDIANA IN THE 1980s.

HE SAYS DUKE'S SIZE, HEADQUARTERED IN NORTH CAROLINA AND SERVES SIX STATES INCLUDING INDIANA, MAKES IT PROHIBITIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS GRIEVANCES ABOUT A SPECIFIC TRANSFORMER OR PERCEIVED INEQUALITY IN SERVICE.

MULLET SAYS BEFORE YOU REACH OUT TO DUKE'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT'S BEST TO GATHER AS MUCH SPECIFIC INFORMATION AS YOU CAN.

>> IT'S CRITICAL AS ELECTRICITY IS, PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO JUST RISE UP, ORGANIZE, AND, YOU KNOW, TELL THESE MEGA INSTITUTIONS YOU JUST HAVE TO ADAPT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO CHANGE, BECAUSE YOU EXIST TO SERVE US.

WE DON'T EXIST TO SERVE YOU.

>> CALLOWAY WOULD SAY DUKE'S ROLE IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WHICH INCLUDES MORE THAN 60,000 CUSTOMERS IN THE BLOOMINGTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

HE POINTS TO THE CUSTOMER'S TEXT AND EMAIL SYSTEMS THAT NOTIFIES THEM OF OUTAGES, THE REASONS BEHIND THEM AND WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT POWER BACK.

THE COMPANY RECENTLY COMPLETED INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS FOR ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS THAT ALLOWS DUKE TO CHECK POWER GOING INTO EVERY RESIDENCE AND REACT MORE QUICKLY TO MORE OUTAGES.

>> OUR PRIOR DE, WITHOUT A DOUBT -- PRIORITY WITHOUT A DOUBT IS SAFETY, SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND THE EMPLOYEES.

>> NO ONE WANTS TO BE LEFT OUT IN THE DARK, FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> AND THE BUZZ OF THE CICADAS IS GONE BUT THEIR LINGERING EFFECTS ARE STILL VISIBLE.

MANY TREES IN SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA HAVE SMALL CLUSTERS OF DEAD LEAVES AND BRANCHES.

THIS IS KNOWN AS FLAGGING AND SHOWS WHERE CICADAS LAID THEIR EGGS.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN PRUNING.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S HARMFUL TO THE TREES AND SOME TREES IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL, THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL GET BUSHED HERE BECAUSE YOU CUT THE TIPS OFF.

THAT ALLOWS MORE BUDS TO COME OUT.

>> HAND GARTNERHANGARTER SAYS THE EGGS WILL MAKE THEIR GROUND IN SEPTEMBER.

AND THEY WILL COME OUT IN 2038.

THAT'S THE END OF OUR PROGRAM AND WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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