>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," CASES OF COVID-19 ARE ON THE RISE AGAIN, DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANT.

BUT INDIANA CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND THE NATION IN VACCINATIONS.

>> THE PROBLEM IS A GENERALIZED MISTRUST, A CRISIS OF TRUST IN OUR SCIENTIFIC -- OUR SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISES, OUR GOVERNMENT AND POLICY MAKING ENTERPRISES.

>> AHEAD, WHAT THE STATE IS DOING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT.

>>> HOOSIERS HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN $13 MILLION FROM FEMA SINCE APRIL TO HELP COVER COVID-RELATED FUNERAL EXPENSES.

>> IT'S A GREAT THING, BECAUSE VERY NOMINAL LIMITED INCOME.

>> WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROGRAM AND HOW YOU CAN APPLY.

>>> AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S PROUD HISTORY OF OLYMPIC SWIMMERS AND DIVERS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THIS YEAR'S SUMMER GAMES IN TOKYO.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

INDIANA HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED 786 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY, THE VAST MAJORITY ATTRIBUTED TO THE DELTA VARIANT.

IT'S FOURTH STRAIGHT DAY THE STATE HAS REPORTED AT LEAST 700 NEW CASES.

THE STATE'S SEVEN DAY POSITIVITY RATE TICKED UP 5.4%.

IT'S BEEN STEADILY INCREASING SINCE A LOW OF 1.9% ON JUNE 22nd.

>>> WELL, AS CASES OF MORE CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT CONTINUE TO RISE, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE GOING ALL-IN ON VACCINATING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

IN SOME PLACES, THE RESULTS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.

AND MOST OF THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO DEMOGRAPHICS, BROCK TURNER BRINGS US THE SECOND OF HIS TWO-PART STORE IR.

>> FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS TODAY IS A DASH OF NORMAL AFTER MORE THAN 18 MONTHS.

BUT FOR LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS IN ONE OF INDIANA'S LEAST VACCINATED COUNTIES RETURNING TO PREPANDEMIC NORMAL, IS NOT WITHOUT CONCERN.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST BIG GATHERING IN OUR COUNTY SINCE THAT, AND EVERYBODY IS ANXIOUS TO GET OUT AND HAVE FUN.

AND WITH THE VARIANTS THAT ARE COMING WITH COVID, IT'S VERY WORRISOME.

>> THAT'S WHY THE FRANKLIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PARTNERED WITH THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO HOST A COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC AT THE COUNTY FAIR.

>> I ACTUALLY HAD THE FLU WORSE THAN I HAD THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> THIS POP-UP CLINIC, WHICH SPANNED MULTIPLE DAYS VACCINATED 33 PEOPLE, A SUCCESS LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY AS DEMAND HAS DRIED UP.

EACH SHOT PROVIDES MORE PROTECTION FOR A COUNTY THAT HAS STRUGGLED TO REACH RESIDENTS.

ONE OF THEM WAS EVA GRIMM.

>> I'M PRETTY YOUNG.

I'M VERY HEALTHY, BUT LIKE I SAID, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK, INCLUDING MY ROOMMATE FROM COLLEGE.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT DOING IT SO I DON'T PUT THEM AT RISK THAN FOR ME.

I DID GET IT AND I WAS OKAY.

NOT TOO SICK, NOTHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED.

IT WAS MORE SO FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE.

>> GRIMM SAYS SHE'S WAITED TO BE VACCINATED BECAUSE SHE CAUGHT COVID-19 JUST BEFORE SHE WAS ELIGIBLE.

HEALTH OFFICIALS HOPE MORE LOWER RISK RESIDENTS WILL ADOPT THE SAME LOGIC, BUT THEY NOTE IN HIGHER RISK POPULATIONS, THE STAKES ARE EVEN GREATER.

>> THE REALITY IS, WE CAN ALSO DO SOMETHING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST AT RISK, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS SHIFTED FROM THE OLDER AGE DEMOGRAPHICS NOW BECAUSE THEY GET VACCINATED AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE, IN THE 75 TO 85% RANGE.

>> FRANKLIN COUNTY IS ONE OF A HANDFUL IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HOSPITAL.

MANY SICK PATIENTS END UP TRAVELING NORTH TO RICHMOND FOR CARE.

THE MOST AT-RISK PATIENTS TEND TO BE YOUNGER BECAUSE THE VACCINATION UPTAKE IS LOWER.

>> IT'S THE PEOPLE IN THEIR 40s, 50s, 60s WHO ARE VACCINATING UNDER 50%.

THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MOST AT RISK AND I THINK IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT'S THE ONE THING WE CAN DO TO BASICALLY STOP HOSPITALIZATIONS TODAY, IT WOULD BE TO VACCINATE EVERY -- EVERYBODY ABOVE AGE 40, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE DIABETIC AND OVERWEIGHT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE COMMONALTIES.

>> THOSE TRENDS ARE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

YOUNGER POPULATIONS ARE VACCINATED AT LOWER RATES.

MORE THAN HALF OF HOOSIERS AGED 40 TO 49 REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

EVEN IN COUNTIES WHERE RATES ARE HIGHER, THE STORY IS THE SAME.

MONROE IS ONE OF THE MOST VACCINATED COUNTIES IN THE STATE.

WHILE ITS RATE IS LOWER THAN WHAT HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATOR PENNY CODEL WOULD LIKE, SHE SAYS SHE'S UNAWARE WHY COUNTY RATES VARY SO WIDELY.

>> I WISH I HAD THE EXACT ANSWER AND THE REASON FOR THAT.

BUT I DON'T.

I THINK THAT SOME OF IT IS EACH COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATION OR WHERE PEOPLE JUST FALL IN TERMS OF REGULAR VACCINATIONS.

MONROE COUNTY IS AMONG THE HIGHEST OF VACCINATED PEOPLE WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER VACCINATIONS.

>> ALL EXPERTS BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS AREN'T ROOTED IN AN INDIVIDUAL COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE, RATHER THE POPULATION'S TRUST.

>> I DO THINK MISINFORMATION AND MISTRUST, RIGHT, AND WHETHER IT'S MISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S MISTRUST OF MEDIA OR THIS -- THE CDC OR WHATEVER REPORT IT MIGHT BE, I THINK THAT THERE IS MISTRUST.

THERE'S ALSO JUST A LACK OF INFORMATION, FULL INFORMATION.

>> AND HUTH AGREES.

>> IT'S A CRISIS OF TRUST IN OUR SCIENTIFIC -- OUR SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISES, OUR GOVERNMENT AND POLICY MAKING ENTERPRISES, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN PERFECT.

>> WHILE THE NUMBER OF VACCINES ADMINISTERED IN FUTURE CLINICS WILL LIKELY PALE IN COMPARISON TO EARLIER ONES, HEALTH OFFICIALS AGREE EVERY SHOT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BROCK TURNER.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S NEW PRESIDENT HAS COVID DESPITE BEING VACCINATED.

PAMELA WHITTEN SAYS SHE'S EXPERIENCING MILD SYMPTOMS AND THE TWO DOSE COVID VACCINE BY PFIZER AND MODERNA WERE 95% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING ILLNESS, WHILE THE ONE SHOT, JOHNSON & JOHNSON WAS 72% EFFECTIVE, THOUGH DIRECT COMPARISONS ARE DIFFICULT, VACCINE EXPERTS SAY MOST PEOPLE WHO GET BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS EXPERIENCE MILD ILLNESS OR DON'T GET SICK AT ALL.

>>> NOW, WE GO OVER TO ETHAN BURKS IN THE NEWSROOM FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

A BLOOMINGTON MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FOUR CRIMES IN RELATION TO THE JANUARY 6th JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

ANTHONY VO IS ACCUSES OF KNOWINGLY ENTERING A RESTRICTED BUILDING WITHOUT AUTHORITY AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

THE 28-YEAR-OLD IS NOT CURRENTLY IN JAIL, BUT WILL APPEAR IN COURT JULY 26th.

VO GRADUATED FROM HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN HIGH SCHOOL IN 2011, AND LAST ATTENDED I.U.

IN THE SPRING OF 2020.

>>> ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE FAMILY OF A LOUISVILLE WOMAN WHO DIED AT THE JACKSON COUNTY JAIL ARE LAUNCHING THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED.

TA'NEASHA CHAPPELL DIED JULY 16th, A DAY AFTER BECOMING SICK AT THE JAIL.

FAMILY ATTORNEYS ALLEGE JAILERS DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO SAVE CHAPPELL WHO ALSO HAD BRUISES ON HER BODY.

>> WE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FORMER INMATES.

WE TALKED TO SOME INVESTIGATORS.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND THAT'S HOW WE HAVE COME TO FIND HOW HEINOUS THE CONDITIONS IN JACKSON COUNTY JAIL HAVE BEEN.

>> BAKER SAYS CHAPPELL TOLD HER FAMILY FELLOW INMATES PHYSICALLY HARMED HER AND PUT A NOOSE IN HER CELL.

SHE LED THE STATE PLACE ON A CHASE THROUGH THREE COUNTIES.

A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THEY CAN'T COMMENT UNTIL THE RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION ARE COMPLETED.

>>> AN ENCAMPMENT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAS CROPPED UP UNDER B LINE TRAIL.

THEY ARE ALLOWING THE CAMP TO REMAIN.

HOLDEN ABSHIER REPORTS.

>> THE ENCAMPMENT UNDER THE B LINE BRIDGE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND.

IT'S ONE THE MORE VISIBLE.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS ARE CAMPING IN AREAS THAT ARE OUT OF PEOPLE'S VIEW AND BECAUSE ONCE THEY GET INTO PEOPLE'S VIEW, PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE THEM MOVE AND -- OR GET THEM ARRESTED OR WHATEVER.

>> GILMORE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEACON, ONE OF THE CITY'S SHELTERS FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

HE SAYS HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE THAT IS NOT NEW OR UNIQUE TO BLOOMINGTON.

>> SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 10 TO 20% OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS EXPERIENCE WHAT WE CALL LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS OR CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND MOST STREET HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.

>> GILMORE SAYS THERE'S NO WAY TO LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER THE BRIDGE WITHOUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE LACK OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THOSE PEOPLE.

>> HOUSING IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE MAIN -- THE MAIN SOLUTION NEEDED WHEN DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS.

BUT OFTEN THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH THAT AS WELL.

>> THE CAMP FALLS CITY COUNCILWOMAN ISABEL PIEDMONT-SMITH'S DISTRICT.

SHE SAYS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS DRAFTING A POLICY TO ADDRESS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ON CITY PROPERTY.

>> THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO MAKE CLEAR AND PUBLIC WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS, AND WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WOULD CLOSE AN ENCAMPMENT, HOW MUCH NOTICE THEY WOULD GIVE TO THE PEOPLE THIS, AND TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE.

>> BUT EVEN IF THERE WERE ENOUGH BEDS AND SHELTERS, FOREST GILMORE SAYS THERE'S NO WAY TO SHELTER OUR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

HE SAYS THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SEVEN TO INCREASE RAPID REHOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HOUSING.

WITHOUT THEM, THE PROBLEM WILL NEVER GO AWAY.

>> THE AVERAGE AGE OF DEATH OF A CHRONIC HOMELESS PERSON IS 47 YEARS OLD.

SO THEY DIE ON THE STREETS IF WE DON'T INTERVENE FOR THEM.

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

>> HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSECURITY ARE AMONG THE PRIORITIES BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER WHILE FUNDING MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

A PROPOSAL IS ALREADY ON THE TABLE TO USE OVER 3 MILLION OF THE CITY'S $22 MILLION ALLOTMENT THIS YEAR.

>> WE TRIED TO FIND THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE QUICKLY, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'LL BE ADVANCING THE GOALS THAT WE ALL SHARE.

YOU WILL SEE A LOT MORE ISSUES IN THE 2022 BUDGET THAT WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR ANOTHER AMOUNT.

>> THAT AMOUNT IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $6.4 MILLION.

MORE DETAILS ON THE SECOND ROUND OF RESCUE PLAN FUNDS WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING NEXT MONTH'S BUDGET HEARINGS.

AS FOR THIS FIRST ROUND, THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR $1.2 MILLION TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, $700,000 TO BLOOMINGTON UTILITIES TO REPLACE LEAD PIPE AND SERVICE LINES AND $500,000 TO REFURBISH THE WALDRON CENTER.

>>> NEW DATA FROM THE CDC SUGGESTS INDIANA EXPERIENCED A RECORD HIGH DRUG OVERDOSES LAST YEAR, AS MEECH MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND FENTANYL ARE TO BLAME.

>> MORE THAN 2200 HOOSIERS DIED OF DRUG OVERDOSES LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM THE CDC.

RESTRICTIONS AND LOCKDOWNS DESIGNED TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID ISOLATED DRUG USERS AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO GET TREATMENT.

DROP IN APPOINTMENTS AT TREATMENT CENTERS WERE NOT AN OPTION ANY MORE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE TURNED TO THE ONE THING THAT HELPED THEM NUMB MORE THAN ANYTHING LAST YEAR AND ISOLATION HAD A HUGE PART TO DO WITH IT.

>> STATE DRUG CZAR JASON HUNTINGER SAYS IT INCREASED INDIANA'S OVERDOSE DEATHS BY 33%.

>> WE ARE SEEING FENTANYL IN METHAMPHETAMINE AND IN COCAINE AND NOT JUST IN OUR LARGE POPULATION CENTERS.

IT IS VERY PERVASIVE STATEWIDE.

>> PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS WERE ONCE THE LEADING CAUSE OF OVERDOSES NATIONWIDE, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIRST BY HEROIN, AND NOW BY FENTANYL.

FENTANYL WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED TO TREAT INTENSE PAIN FROM THINGS LIKE CANCER BUT HAS BEEN MIXED AND SOLD WITH OTHER DRUGS.

SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS PLAYS A ROLE IN 70% OF THE OVERDOSES LAST YEAR.

>> THE POPULATION WE SERVE, THEY ARE ACTUALLY TELLING US, THEY ARE SEEKING FENTANYL.

IT IS NOT THAT THEY ARE ACCIDENTALLY GETTING FENTANYL, THEY ARE SEEKING IT.

>> ACCIDENTAL DEATHS HAVE CONTINUED TO CLIMB IN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF 2021.

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

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY PROSECUTOR DROPPED THE CASE AGAINST THE WOMAN CHARGED WITH RUNNING HER CAR THROUGH PROTESTERS IN BLOOMINGTON LAST SUMMER.

CHRISTIE JANE BENNETT WAS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN COURT ON MONDAY BUT THE PROSECUTOR DROPPED THE CHARGES AFTER SHE LEARNED THAT SHE WAS DEAD SINCE FEBRUARY.

SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT.

BENNETT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHEN SHE WAS FOUND DEAD IN A DENVER HOTEL ROOM ON FEBRUARY 6th.

>>> AND THE BIG 10 IS LEAVING IT UP TO ITS MEMBER SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE HOW TO HANDLE COVID-19 THIS FALL.

COMMISSIONER KEVIN WARREN SAYS THE CONFERENCE IS TAKING A QUOTE, DECENTRALIZED APPROACH TO HOW THEY HANDLE THE VIRUS AND THAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS AGREED LAST MONTH THAT UNIVERSITIES WILL DETERMINE THEIR OWN COVID POLICIES.

>>> OUR SCHOOLS ARE FINALIZING THEIR PROPOSED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE FALL.

WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION IN EARLY AUGUST.

WE'LL COMBINE IT AND THEN WE'LL GET TOGETHER WITH OUR CHANCELLORS AND PRESIDENTS AND OTHER KEY CONSTITUENTS TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS FAR AS HOW WE HANDLE THE FALL.

>>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES.

BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO, JOE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ETHAN.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," FEMA HAS BEEN REIMBURSING FUNERAL COSTS FOR FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES DIED OF COVID.

WE LOOK AT HOW THE PROGRAM IS HELPING HOOSIER.

>>> AND LILY KING HEADLINES A LARGE DINGENT OF CURRENT AND FORMER I.U.

-- CONTINGENT OF CURRENT AND FORMER I.U.

SWIMMERS COMPETING AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE PROPOSED A CLEAN ENERGY STANDARD THAT CALLS FOR GETTING THE COUNTRY'S ELECTRICITY FROM SOURCES THAT DON'T EMIT, OR CAN CAPTURE THEIR GREEN HOUSE GASES BY 2035.

BUT INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE THIELE REPORTS THAT COULD BE A TALL ORDER FOR A STATE LIKE INDIANA.

>> RIGHT NOW INDIANA GETS ONLY 9% FROM ITS ENERGY FROM SOURCES LIKE WIND AND SOLAR.

DAVID KONISKY.

THEY EXPECT TO SEE NINE COAL PLANT CLOSURES IN THE NEXT DECADE.

SOME UTILITIES PLAN TO REPLACE THEM WITH NATURAL GAS, AND IT WILL TAKE STRONG POLICY TO GET THEM TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

THE DEMOCRATS ATLANTA ENERGY DEMOCRATS CLEAN ENERGY PLAN IS THE FIRST ITEMS TO SOLVE THE CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SLOW TO REACT TO CLIMATE CHANGE, RIGHT?

>> THERE WILL LIKELY BE A ROLE FOR NATURAL GAS PLANTS TO CAPTURE THEIR CARBON EMISSIONS AND STORE THEM UNDERGROUND.

BUT KONISKY SAYS IT'S NOT A WELL-ESTABLISHED POLICY.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY BEGAN ITS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR FUNERALS OF PEOPLE WOULD DIED BECAUSE OF COVID.

MITCH LEGAN HAS MORE ON HOW THE PROGRAM IS HELPING HOOSIERS AND HOW YOU CAN APPLY.

>> IT'S HERE IN THE KITCHEN BECAUSE THIS IS HER ROOM.

SHE RULED THE KITCHEN.

>> AL KOESKI IS LEARNING TO MANEUVER THE WORLD WITHOUT HIS BEST FRIEND.

>> WE WENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL DANCE AND IT CONTINUED ON UNTIL WE WERE MARRIED IN 1959.

SO WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED 61 YEARS.

>> KOESKI'S WIFE SARA WAS A GREAT COOK AND MOTHER, EXPERT SEAMSTRESS AND HIDDEN ARTIST.

>> I KNOW SHE WAS DOING SOME WATER COLOR THINGS BUT SHE -- THE ONES THAT SHE DID, I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE!

>> BUT TOWARD THE END OF HER LIFE SHE WAS DECISIONED WITH THE NEUROLOGICAL ORDER THAT REQUIRED TIME IN THE NURSING HOME.

IN 2020, COVID ENTERED THE HOME AND SHE SARA PASSED AWAY AT 83 IN DECEMBER.

>> I DON'T -- I COULDN'T EVEN -- PHEW.

I COULDN'T EVEN HOLD HER HAND.

I WAS AT A WINDOW AND I COULD JUST HI.

KOESKI IS ONE OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A FAMILY MEMBER'S DESK FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

ON TOP OF THE GRIEF FROM LOSS OF LIFE THEY HAD TO DETERMINE HOW TO HONOR THE LOVED ONES.

>> FUNERAL COSTS IN INDIANA RANGE FROM $9,000 TO 13 OR $14,000.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD NOT PLANNED FOR THAT.

>> WHEN THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ANNOUNCED IT WOULD REIMBURSE FAMILIES FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES CAUSED BY COVID, APPLEGATE WANTED TO LET HER CLIENTS KNOW.

SHE EDUCATED THEM HOW TO APPLY.

>> THEY ARE ALREADY GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE AND THEN TO PILE ON A FINANCIAL BURDEN IS REALLY HARD FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE OF LIMITED MEANS.

AND THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES READILY AVAILABLE.

>> SO WHAT IS THE PROGRAM?

AND HOW DO YOU GET THE MONEY?

FEMA IS OFFERING UP TO $9,000 TO COVER FUNERAL COSTS FOR THOSE WHO DIED OF COVID AFTER JANUARY 20th OF LAST YEAR.

IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE DEATHS ON THE SAME APPLICATION, UP TO $35,500.

YOU MANITOBA MUST BE THE ONE WOULD PLAYED FOR THE FUNERAL.

YOU MUST CALL TO APPLY.

FEMA IS NOT TAKING ONLINE APPLICATIONS TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF SCAMS AND FRAUD.

WHEN YOU GET ON THE LINE WITH SOMEONE, THEY WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED.

THAT INCLUDES A DEATH CERTIFICATE OR OTHER DOCUMENT, PROVING COVID CAUSED THE DEATH.

YOU WILL ALSO NEED DOCUMENTATION PROVING HOW MUCH YOU PAID FOR THE FUNERAL, AND IF YOU RECEIVED FUNERAL ASSISTANCE FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> SO I CALL THAT 800 NUMBER, AND THEY ASKED ME A LOT OF QUESTIONS, A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

I ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS AND ABOUT, OH, A WEEK LATER, I GOT A LETTER SAYING YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM.

>> AFTER YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, FEMA SAYS IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 30 DAYS TO DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY.

THE FUNDS WILL BE SENT BY CHECK OR DIRECT DEPOSIT ACCORDING TO PREFERENCE.

KOESKI APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE IN EARLY MAY AND RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $4,000 IN EARLY JULY.

HE ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

>> IT'S A GREAT THING BECAUSE I'M ON A NOMINAL, LIMITED INCOME AND HAVING THINGS GOING ON, THIS REALLY HELPS DEFRAY SOME OF THE COSTS OF JUST DAY-TO-DAY LIVING.

>> FEMA HAS HANDED OUT OVER $700 MILLION IN FUNERAL ASSISTANCE SO FAR.

THERE'S CURRENTLY NO DEADLINE TO APPLY.

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

>>> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW COULD BENEFIT FROM THE FEMA FUNERAL PROGRAM, MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE WTIUNEWS.ORG.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY SWIMMING PROGRAM HAS A PROUD HISTORY IN THE OLYMPICS AND AT THE SUMMER GAMES IN TOKYO, THE HOOSIERS WILL AGAIN BE WELL-REPRESENTED.

PAT BEANE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> A DOZEN CURRENT AND FORMER I.U.

SWIMMERS AND DIVERS ARE COMPETING IN TOKYO NEXT WEEK, BUT NONE BIGGER THAN LILLY KING.

THE 2019 GRADUATE FROM EVANSVILLE IS A DEFENDING OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND WORLD RECORD HOLDER IN THE 100-METER WOMEN'S BREASTSTROKE.

IT WAS ONE OF TWO GOLD MEDALS THAT KING WON IN RIO.

SHE WAS PART OF THE 400 MEDLEY RELAY TEAM.

>> I'M READY TO GO.

I FEEL MUCH MORE EXPERIENCED AT THIS INTEREST POX I FEEL LIKE GOING IN IN 2016, I WAS A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.

>> KING QUALIFIED IN THE 100 AND 200 BREASTSTROKE AT LAST MONTH'S OLYMPIC TRIALS IN INDIANAPOLIS.

SHE WON THE 100 BUT WAS EDGED OUT BY TRAINING PARTNER, ANNIE LAZOR IN THE 200.

LAZOR BRIEFLY RETIRED AFTER FINISHING 7th AND 10th AT THE 2016 OLYMPICS BUT SHE CAME TO I.U.

TO TRAIN WITH KING UNDER RAY LUSE.

>> IF I'M GOING TO DO THIS I NEED TO DO IT RIGHT.

>> KING AND LAZOR HAVE DEVELOPED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP, BUT ALL BETS ARE OFF IN THE POOL.

>> I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS WE DO WANT TO BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF EACH OTHER BUT WE DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO BEAT EITHER ONE OF US.

WE WANT TO BE ONE, AND TWO.

WE JUST WANT TO BE THE ONE AND NOT THE TWO.

>> TOKYO GAMES WERE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 2020, BUT WERE POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>> WE ARE DRIVING TO INDIANAPOLIS, SWIMMING IN A ONE-LANE POOL FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN WE WERE SWIMMING IN A POND, WHICH I DID NOT LIKE.

AND THEN WE FOUND A POOL IN MARTINSVILLE THAT WE WERE TRAINING AT.

>> BY LATE LAST AUGUST, HER TRAINING SCHEDULE BEGAN TO RETURN TO NORMAL AND NOW KING IS READY TO GO FOR GOLD AGAIN.

SHE'S ONE OF 15 CURRENT OR FORMER ATHLETES COMPETING FOR FIVE COUNTRIES IN TOKYO OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

A DOZEN OF THOSE ARE SWIMMERS AND DIVERS, INCLUDING JESSICA PARRATTO.

SHE PLACED 10th ON THE PLATFORM AND SEVENTH IN THE SYNCHRONIZED PLATFORM WITH AMY COZAD.

PARRATTO WILL BE PAIRED WITH DELANEY SNELL OF ARIZONA.

>> WE THOUGHT WE HAD THE BEST CHANCE TO OBVIOUSLY GO TO THE TRIALS, WIN THERE AND OBVIOUSLY KIND OF FIGHT FOR A MEDAL IN TOKYO.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY, LIKE -- IF YOU ASKED ME A YEAR AGO, I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAPPEN.

>> PARRATTO LIVES AND TRAINS IN BLOOMINGTON WITH I.U.

DIVING COACH, DREW JOHANSON.

THERE WAS ONE ATHLETE IN EVERY SUMMER GAMES DATING BACK SINCE 1932 AND HAVE 104 OLYMPIC MEDALS, THE MAJORITY IN THE POOL.

>> WE GREAT PRIDE IN INDIANA SWIMMING AND DIVING, AS TESTAMENT WITH OUR 69 OLYMPIC MEDALS.

WE HOPE TO ADD TO THAT TOTAL.

>> TORE "INDIANAFOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> AND THE PERU CIRCUS HAS THE FIRST FEMALE TRAPEZE CATCHER EVER THIS SUMMER.

JOY MEN MENDOLIA HAS THIS REPORT FROM THE CIRCUS CAPITAL.

>> WESTERLY AT THE PERU CIRCUS BUILDING AND I'M A PERFORMER HERE AND THIS YEAR I DO SILKS, RUSSIAN SWING AND THE FLYING TRAPEZE.

THERE'S USUALLY THIS FEMALE FLYERS AND I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS, AND IT'S ALWAYS JUST FEMALE FLYERS AND MALE CATCHERS.

THIS YEAR, I'M CATCHING.

IT WAS A COOL OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIRST FEMALE CATCHER IN OUR CIRCUS.

I'M CERTAINLY HOME I'M NOT THE LAST, HOPEFULLY.

I JUST GREW UP HERE AND IT WAS I ABIG -- I WAS BIG HERE.

ALL OF THIS STUFF WAS JUST SUPER COOL TO ME AND I WAS LIKE, I WANT TO DO THAT!

THAT'S HOW I GOT INTO IT.

I JUST WANTED TO YOU SEE EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN AND SO I REALLY TRY NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP SO MUCH IN THE TRICK.

I TRY TO FOCUS ON THE HANDS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M AIMING FOR.

HANGING FROM MY KNEES OFF OF THE CRADLE, AND THEN MY KNEES -- MY LEGS ARE LOCKED IN AND THEN THEY DO A TRICK ACROSS AND THEN WE RETURN BACK TO THE PEDESTAL.

I PRETTY MUCH KEEP MY FEET FLEXED THE WHOLE TIME.

IT'S A LITTLE SCARY.

IT JUST GOES TO SHOW FOR JUST OVERALL CIRCUS AND FOR GIRLS AND BOYS, THAT THEY CAN REALLY BE A PART OF ANY ACT AND ANY POSITION THAT THEY WANT TO BE.

THEY JUST HAVE TO PUT THE WORK IN TO GET TO THAT POINT.

>> 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.

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