>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD'S DECISION TO REVISE ITS COVID-19 POLICY THREE WEEKS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO EVEN MORE QUESTIONS.

>> ARE SIBLINGS STILL ALLOWED TO GO TO SCHOOL IF YOU HAVE A SIBLING WHO IS A CLOSE CONTACT?

ARE YOU THEN A CLOSE CONTACT?

I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT PARENTS STILL DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON.

>> THIS COMES AS SOME PARENTS CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THE MASK MANDATE.

>> BRAD SWAIN SAYS THE COUNTY'S 37-YEAR-OLD DOWNTOWN JAIL HAS OUT LIVED ITS USEFULNESS AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.

>> TO BRING IT BACK UP TO SNUFF WOULD BE $50 MILLION.

>> AND WHILE MUCH OF THE STATE RELIES ON LARGE PRODUCERS FOR THEIR BEEF, SOME HAVE TURNED TO SMALLER CATTLE FARMS TO STOCK THEIR SHELVES AND SUPPLY THEIR RESTAURANTS.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, AFTER A TUMULTUOUS 18 MONTHS, SCHOOLS ARE HOPING TO RETURN TO SOME SORT OF NORMALCY THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.

LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ISSUED GUIDANCE ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING, QUARANTINING AND MASKING IN SCHOOLS, BUT THIS YEAR, HE'S LET THOSE DECISIONS TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

AND THAT HAS LED TO A PATCHWORK OF POLICIES ACROSS THE STATE.

ETHAN BURKS JOINS US NOW ON SET TO TALK ABOUT HOW MONROE COUNTY IS APPROACHING THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THANKS, JOE.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW HAVE LOTS OF DATA THAT SHOW IN-PERSON LEARNING IS MUCH BETTER FOR STUDENTS THAN VIRTUAL LEARNING.

THIS IS FORCING SCHOOLS TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT TWEAKING THEIR QUARANTINE POLICIES AND IN A LOT OF LOCAL DISTRICTS REQUIRING MASKS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THEIR BUILDINGS OPEN, BUT THAT CAN BE TRICKY BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE STILL QUESTION THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS, AND OTHERS WORRY THAT QUARANTINE POLICIES DOOR VAGUE TO REALLY PROTECT -- TOO VAGUE TO REALLY PROTECT VULNERABLE CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE NOR THAT VACCINE.

>> ALLTHE CDC HAS ADVISED THAT ALL STUDENTS WEAR THEM DURING CLOSE CONTACT.

A GROUP OF PARENTS WERE OUTRAGED THAT THEIR KIDS STILL HAVE TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS.

>> WHAT ABOUT PARENTS?

>> YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

>> ONE MEETING ATTENDEE REFUSED TO WEAR HER MASK AND A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FORCED HER TO LEAVE.

>> WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT ADULTS INTO TIME YOUTHS.

I'M HOPING WE CAN FOLLOW THE RULES AND WEAR THE MASKS AND SPEAK IN TURN SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> THE DISTRICT IS MANDATING MASKS FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF REGARDLESS OF THEIR VACCINATION STATUS.

PEOPLE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO FOLLOW A 3-FOOT SOCIAL DISTANCING RULE.

THE DISTRICT'S NEW COVID POLICIES ELIMINATE THE METRICS THAT WERE USED LAST YEAR, TO DETERMINE IF STUDENTS WERE LEARNING IN-PERSON OR ONLINE.

THOSE METRICS WERE BASED ON THE COUNTY'S OVERALL POSITIVITY RATE.

>> THAT PERCENT POSITIVITY NOW IS NOT AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE RISK IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING TESTED, AS WELL AS THE NATURE OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED.

>> COOPERMAN IS ALSO ON THE DISTRICT'S COVID-19 MONITORING AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALONG WITH PEDIATRICIANS FROM I.U.

HEALTH, LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS AND EDUCATORS.

IT WAS THIS GROUP THAT DECIDED THE OLD METRICS WERE OUTDATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

>> WHEN THESE METRICS WERE DESIGNED, WE DIDN'T HAVE VACCINES FOR EVERYONE OVER 12.

THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WEREN'T SORT OF SPEAKING INTO UNISON ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY'S POSITIVITY RATE AS A WHOLE, THE COMMITTEE WILL EVALUATE SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS INDIVIDUALLY BASED ON POSITIVE CASES AND CONDUCT CONTACT TRACING FROM THERE TO SEE WHO HAS TO QUARANTINE.

MCCSC SAYS THIS GIVES THEM EXTRA FLEXIBILITY TO MOVING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT BACK TO ONLINE LEARNING FOR UNRELATED COVID OUTBREAKS IN SEPARATE SCHOOLS.

>> I APPRECIATE THIS.

I KNOW THAT THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING BUT THE VAGUENESS DOES WORRY ME A LITTLE BIT.

>> SHURR AND FELLOW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER APRIL HENNESSY ARE CONCERNED THAT IT LACKS SPECIFIC DETAILS IN TERMS OF HOW THE DISTRICT WILL HANDLE POSITIVE CASES WHEN THEY OCCUR.

>> IF YOU HAVE A POSITIVE INDIVIDUAL IN A HOME, ARE SIBLINGS STILL ALLOW TO GO TO SCHOOL?

IF YOU HAVE A SIBLING WHO IS A CLOSE CONTACT, ARE YOU THEN A CLOSE CONTACT?

I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT PARENTS STILL DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON.

>> DISTRICT GUIDELINES SAY SCHOOLS WILL BE FOLLOWING THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S DEAF SIGNIFICANCE OF CLOSE CONTACT.

THE STATE DEFINES A CLOSE CONTACT OF SOMEONE WITHIN 6 FEET OF AN INFECTED PERSON FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES WITHIN A 24-HOUR PERIOD, AND THAT PERIOD STARTS 48 HOURS AFTER THAT PERSON STARTED FEELING SICK BECAUSE WE NOW KNOW THAT'S WHEN SYMPTOMS DEVELOP.

ONCE IT IS DECIDED THAT A CHILD MUST QUARANTINE, THEY MAY ONLY RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER A NEGATIVE PCR TEST, MEDICAL CLEARANCE FROM A DOCTOR STATING A DIFFERENT ILLNESS OR ISOLATE FOR TEN DAYS.

FULLY VACCINATED STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE OR BE CONSIDERED AS CLOSE CONTACTS.

>> OUR EXPERIENCE LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND THIS SCHOOL YEAR OUR MITIGATION MEASURES ARE PROVIDING A LOW-RISK ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THEY WILL CONTINUE TO REASSESS THE POLICY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED ESPECIALLY WITH THE EVOLUTION AND THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

MCCSC SAYS IT WILL NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSE QUARANTINE INFORMATION, BUT THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES DISTRICT-WIDE WILL BE REPORTED EVERY FRIDAY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND THE LATEST NUMBERS ARE SHOWING 44 CASES ACROSS 12 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THE STATE REPORTED ALMOST 4900 NEW POSITIVE COVID CASES TODAY.

THAT'S FIRST TIME IN THREE DAYS THE NUMBER HAS BEEN BELOW 5,000.

THE NUMBERS HAVEN'T BEEN THAT HIGH SINCE JANUARY 9th.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ALSO UP, CLIMBING TO OVER 2,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANUARY, AND THE STATE'S SEVEN DAY POSITIVITY RATE REMAINS ABOVE 10%.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY BRIAN TABOR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

HELLO, BRIAN.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

AS WE REPORTED, HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE STATE HAVEN'T BEEN THIS BIG SINCE THE WINTER.

HOW ARE HOSPITALS, DOCTORS, NURSES, AROUND THE STATE COPING WITH THIS NEW SURGE?

>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S TOUGH RIGHT NOW.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

OUR STAFF IS TIRED.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS.

THE LENGTH OF THIS PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ITS -- IT'S TAKEN ITS TOLL ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL, A PSYCHIC LEVEL.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW TO FULLY STAFF OUR FACILITIES, AND WE'RE JUST PRAYING THAT OUR VACCINATION RATES WILL INCREASE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WOULD -- THAT WILL HELP TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

>> I.U.

HEALTH IS SUSPENDING HALF OF ITS IN-PATIENT PROCEDURES, STARTING MONDAY.

DO YOU EXPECT MORE HOSPITALS TO DO THAT OR GETTING TO THE POINT OF JUST BEING UNABLE TO TAKE PATIENTS?

>> YEAH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT VIRTUALLY ALL HOSPITALS IN INDIANA ARE ALREADY MANAGING, DELAYING, REALLY PRIORITIZING NONURGENT PROCEDURES.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE WORLD "ELECTIVE" IS -- THE WORD "ELECTIVE" IS USED AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE USE THAT TERM IN OUR INDUSTRY.

IT COULD BE A BIOPENY BIOPSY FOR CANCER, AND IT COULD BE A HERNIA CAUSING SEVERE CHRONIC PAIN.

IT COULD BE REPLACING A HEART VALVE.

THESE ARE PROCEDURES THAT PEOPLE NEED.

THEY NEED THIS HEALTHCARE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE CRUSH OF PATIENTS WITH COVID IS STARTING TO CROWD OUT SOME OF THAT HEALTHCARE.

AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S REALLY NOT RIGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DELAY THAT CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH SOMETHING -- WE KNOW WHAT WORKS.

SO WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL THINK ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED, NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES BUT CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON OTHERS WHO NEED HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

>> WE JUST HAVE 30 SECONDS.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT PEDIATRIC PEDESTRIANS, ALWAYS AT A PREMIER -- BEDS.

ALWAYS AT A PREMIUM.

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU WITH COVID RISING, THAT RESPIRATORY VIRUSES WILL STRESS THE SYSTEM EVEN MORE.

>> WE ARE VERY WORRIED.

YOU KNOW, OUR FRONT-LINE HEROES, IS LIKE A BOXER.

THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE TAKING THESE BODY BLOWS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A COUPLE OF ROUNDS.

WE'RE IN ROUND TWO.

THEY ARE STILL STANDING.

AND I THINK THEY WILL WORK TO PROVIDE THE CARE FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS, FOR ALL PATIENTS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH ITTHIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THE FOLKS CAN GO TO THEIR CORNER AND GET A BIT OF A REST.

>> BRIAN, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A NEW STUDY BY INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND RAND CORPORATION RESEARCHERS SAY COVID-19 VACCINATIONS PREVENTED MORE THAN 139,000 U.S.

DEATHS FROM THE TIME THEY BECAME AVAILABLE TO EARLY MAY.

RESEARCHERS WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER BY COMPARING STATES VACCINATION RATES, CASE RATES AND DEATHS.

THEY THEN USED THOSE ASSOCIATIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE VACCINE INFLUENCED COVID-19 OUTCOMES.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO SORT OF TRACK THAT WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE DEATHS FROM COVID-19 HAD VACCINATIONS GONE TO ZERO.

THAT MEANS NOT EXISTENT AT ALL.

>> THE STUDY ESTIMATES THAT THE COVID-19 VACCINES PREVENTED 2800 HOOSIER DEATHS IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS OF THE VACCINE BECOMING AVAILABLE.

WELL, LAST WEEK WE SHARED WHY FARMERS AREN'T CASHING IN ON RISING MEAT PRICES, BUT NEITHER ARE THE RESTAURANTS AND THE FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS PREPARING IT.

BROCK TURNER HAS MORE ON WHY THE POST-CORONAVIRUS MEAT MARKET IS LEAVING THOSE IN THE PROTEIN BUSINESS OUT TO PASTURE.

>> 20 YEARS AGO WHEN DAVE FISCHER DECIDED TO GET BACK INTO FARMING, HE DID SO WITH A GOAL IN MIND.

>> WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL SOME THINGS AND NOT JUST BE SELLING A COMMODITY AND TAKING IT TO THE MARK MARKET AND HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU GET.

>> THEY RAISE CATTLE ON 750 ACRES IN SOUTHERN AREA.

HIS BALANCE SHEETS LOOK BETTER THAN MOST.

THAT'S IN LARGE PART BECAUSE FISCHER PROCESSES MANY OF THESE CATTLE JUST A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHERE THEY ROAM ON PASTURE.

>> THEY ALSO STUMBLE QUITE A BIT, THE BIG GUYS.

THEY GIVE US A LOT OF ROOM FOR OPPORTUNITY.

>> FOUR PACKERS WITH LARGE PLANTS PROCESSING THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS EVERY DAY SUPPLY MUCH OF THE NATION WITH ANIMAL-BASED PROTEINS.

MANY WERE TORMENTED BY CORONAVIRUS INFECTION AND FORCED TO SHUT DOWN.

>> I THINK IT'S AN EYE OPENER WHO DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEIR GROCERY STORE SHELF HERE IN INDIANA IS EMPTY BECAUSE A BIG PLANT IN IOWA HAD AN OUTBREAK IN COVID.

WAIT A SECOND!

YOU KNOW, INDIANA RAISES ALL OF THISPORK, BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING IT?

>> WHILE THEY ARE RELIANT ON LARGE PARKING PLANTS, FISCHER ISN'T.

HE'S PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS TO PROCESS ALL OF THESE CATTLE.

HE AND THE SANDER FAMILY HAVE BENEFITED FROM WORKING WITH A LOCAL PROVIDER AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING GROWTH NEITHER EXPECTED.

>> CUT.

[ CHEERS ] >> CELESTINE, POPULATION 250, MANY OF DUBOISE COUNTY CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF A MEAT MARKET.

>> WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS EXPANSION FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FISCHER FAMILY.

THEY CHOSE TO GO INTO BUSINESS WITH US 17 YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE OF THEM AND WITH THEM.

WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE COMES WITH THEM.

YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE NEW IDEAS AND WITH ALL THE NEW BUILDING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TRY TO EXPAND THINGS AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

>> BUT THIS OPENING BENEFITS MORE THAN JUST THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

ABOUT 75 MILES NORTH ON THE BLOOMINGTON CAMPUS OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY, CHEFS SERVING 20,000 MEALS TO STUDENTS EVERY DAY BENEFIT FROM RELYING ON A PROCESSOR SO CLOSE.

>> WE DON'T FALL SHORT ON WHAT FISCHER FARMS SUPPLIES US.

THE BROADLINERS, BUT THERE'S SOME BIG, BIG COMPANIES THAT WE WORK WITH, WE HAVE BEEN SHORTED A LOT AND WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF THAT TYPE OF FOOD TO SUPPLY TO THE STUDENTS.

>> SHRIVASTAV SAYS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING PROBLEM PRODUCT IS A PROBLEM THAT SOME DON'T COMPREHEND.

THE PRICES ARE MORE VARIABLE.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS DON'T PAY FOR THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF THE PRICING.

>> BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SEND THE CATTLE TO LARGE PACKAGING PLACES.

>> WE ARE GETTING WITH ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

>> WHILE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE WHETHER THE FOUR LARGE PACKERS SHOULD BE BROKEN UP FISCHER WON'T HOLD HIS BREATH.

INSTEAD HE AND HIS WIFE DIANA CONTINUE TO KEEP FOCUSED ON THEIR COWS.

>> EITHER YOU BREAK THEM APART OR WE WILL BE CHIPPING AT THEM WITH A CHRISLE FOR A LONG TIME -- CHISEL FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK PUBLIC'S EYE IS OPEN TO THAT MORE THAN EVER.

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

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL IS 37 YEARS OLD AND SHERIFF BRAD SWAIN SAYS IT'S PAST TIME FOR A NEW ONE.

>>> AND WE VISIT COLUMBUS WHERE ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE DISPLAYING THEIR WORK IN THIS YEAR'S EXHIBIT.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" HAS REPORTED U.S. OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING CAMP ATTERBURY NEAR EDINBURGH AS A TEMPORARY SITE FOR TEMPORARILY HOUSING AFGHANI REFUGEES.

JEFF LOWRY SAYS THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS AUTHORIZED FOUR MILITARY BASES TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR AT-RISK AFGHANS, BUT CAMP ATTERBURY IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

HOWEVER, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL VISA APPLICATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>>> 23030 YEARS FROM NOW, THE WAY WE FEED LIVESTOCK AND PETS MAY INCLUDE A LOT MORE BUGS.

REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, IUPUI IS PARTNERING WITH FOOD COMPANIES AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO RESEARCH INSECT FARMING.

>> DUE TO OVERPOPULATION, EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND IRREGULAR RAINFALL, AGRICULTURE IS EXPECTED TO FALL 40% SHORT OF THE WORLD'S FOOD SUPPLY.

FEEDING BUGS COULD REDUCE THE NEED TO WORK SO MUCH LAND FOR AGRICULTURE.

THAT MEANS LESS GAS FOR FARM EQUIPMENT AND LESS FERTILIZER RUNNING INTO RIVERS AND STREAMS, IMPROVING THE LAND, AIR AND WATER QUALITY.

IUPUI PROFESSOR CHRISTINE PICARD IS ONE OF THE LEAD RESEARCHERS IN THE PROGRAM.

>> SO WHY AREN'T WE FEEDING CHICKENS INSECTS?

WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT RATHER THAN RAISING CORN AND SOYBEAN FOR FEEDING CHICKENS WHICH IS AN UNNATURAL DIET.

>> THETHEY HOPE TO FIND INS THAT CAN BE FARMED THAT ARE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AND NUTRITIOUS.

>> WE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF LAND.

WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER AND ALL OF THESE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE THE ANIMALS THAT WE WANT TO RAISE WITHOUT MUCH CONSIDERATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF BRAD SWAIN SAYS THE COUNTY SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACING THE 37-YEAR-OLD COUNTY JAIL SOON.

BUT COUNTY OFFICIALS WANT TO EXHAUST ALL OTHER OPTIONS BEFORE GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE.

ADAM PINSKER REPORTS.

>> MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF BRAD SWAIN SAYS HIS JAIL DEPUTIES COULD WORK FIVE MILES IN A SHIFT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN.

>> THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL A LINEAR JAIL.

AND IT'S -- EVERYTHING IS LAID OUT IN LINES.

>> SWAIN WAS A DEPUTY WHEN THE CURRENT JAIL OPENED IN 1984 SAYS THE DESIGN WAS OBSOLETE FROM DAY ONE.

>> ONE OF THE TRAGIC THINGS IN HINDSIGHT IS THAT THE POD SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO, EXISTED THEN.

>> A POD SYSTEM ALLOWS THEM TO MONITOR INMATE MOVEMENTS FROM ONE CENTRALIZED AREA.

IT'S SAFER AND LESS TIME TO TRAVEL ON FOOT TO RESPOND TO A SITUATION.

SWAIN SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A NEW JAIL LOCATED OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.

>> WITH EXPANSION.

IF YOU THINK OF A HUB, WITH SPOKES ON A WHEEL, YOU WOULD JUST, AS YOU MIGHT NEED, ADD SPOKES.

>> SWAIN SAYS IT WOULD TAKE FEWER STAFF MEMBERS TO RUN A NEW JAIL, AND THAT WOULD SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY.

THE COUNTY WOULD ALSO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY ON MAINTENANCE EXPENSES.

HE SAYS IT COSTS A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO REPLACE AGING DOOR LOCKS ON CELL DOORS MAINTAIN THE ELEVATORS, ELECTRICAL AND SEWER SYSTEMS ARE ALSO COSTLY.

>> I THINK THE JAIL STUDY PUT TO REDO THIS ENTIRE BUILDING TO BRING IT BACK UP TO SNUFF WOULD BE $50 MILLION.

WELL, YOU'VE GOT A NEW JAIL.

>> MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONER LEE JONES THINKS THAT NUMBER IS CLOSER TO 60 MILLION, BUT SHE'S NOT IN A RUSH TO BUILD A NEW JAIL.

>> AND IT'S NOT EASY TO FIND ENOUGH PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO CREATE WHAT WOULD BE A MODERN JAIL.

>> JONES WAS PART OF A JAIL STUDY COMMITTEE THAT MET EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

THE PANEL FOCUSED SOME OF ITS EFFORTS ON WAYS TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION.

>> WE NEED TO ATTEMPT WHAT'S CALLED A WARM HANDOFF WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE JAIL, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED WITH SERVICES.

>> THAT COULD INCLUDE MEDICAL CARE, FOOD STAMPS OR HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS.

>> WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM GOING THAT BASICALLY PEOPLE ON PROBATION WILL INTERVIEW PEOPLE USUALLY WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BEING ARRESTED, AND MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY REALLY NEED TO BE HELD IN THE JAIL.

>> COUNTY JAIL STARTED SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF CARING FOR INMATES WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AS THE STATE CUT FUNDING TO HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT PROFESSIONAL CARE.

>> IT USED TO BE PART OF MY JOB, WHEN I WAS A NEW PATROL DEPUTY, THAT TRANSPORTING A PERSON FOR LONG-TERM CARE AT MADISON OR LOGANSPORT WAS PART OF YOUR JOB.

>> THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL HAS ONE FULL-TIME AND ONE PART-TIME MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ON STAFF, CONTRAST THAT WITH THE JAIL'S INMATE POPULATION WHICH CAN RANGE FROM 200 TO 250 INMATES OR MORE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

JONES ESTIMATED AS MUCH AS 70% OF THE INHALES IN THE MONROE COUNTY INMATE -- INMATES IN THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

>> THE SINGLE PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

>> JONES IS HOPING MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WILL PAY FOR MORE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO KEEP THE JAIL POPULATION DOWN.

SHERIFF SWAIN SAYS HE'S ON BOARD WITH DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL, BUT HE SAYS THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CRIMINALS AND THEREFORE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NEED FOR A JAIL.

AND AT SOME POINT, MONROE COUNTY WILL NEED A NEW ONE.

>> HERE, THE -- THERE IS GOOD FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO KEEP THE BUILDING IN AS GOOD OF SHAPE AS IT IS.

SO IT'S NOT AS IF THIS BUILDING THE COLLAPSE IN A HEAP THE MOMENT WE MOVE ALL INMATES OUT, BUT IT'S JUST TIRED AND WORN OUT.

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

>>> SWAIN SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY HE WILL BE AROUND TO OVERSEE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW JAIL, SINCE HIS TERM ENDS AT THE END OF 2022.

>>> WELL, THE SMALL SOUTHERN INDIANA CITY WITH THE WORLD REPUTATION FOR MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE IS CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE THIRD EXHIBIT COLUMBUS.

IT FEATURES MORE THAN A DOZEN NEW DOWNTOWN ART INSTALLATIONS.

OF THIS YEAR'S THEME EXPLORES THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE CITY.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH SOME OF THE ORGANIZERS AND ARTISTS WHO SAY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS PREPARING AN ART EXHIBIT FOR A CITY THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO DURING A PANDEMIC.

>> WE'RE SPREAD OUT ACROSS DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, AND MILL RAYS PARK BUT I THINK YOU WILL SEE -- SO THE PEOPLE, THE DESIGNERS, THE ARTISTS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WHO ARE REALLY PUSHING THE EDGES OF WHAT DESIGN MEANS TODAY.

>> THIS YEAR'S THEME IS CALLED NEW MIDDLES FROM MAIN STREET TO MEGAOPOLIS, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE CITY?

AND OUR PROGRAM INVITES DESIGNERS TO THINK ABOUT THE CONTEXT AND THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA.

IT'S KNOWN FOR ITS MODERN ARCHITECTURE.

>> MY PROJECT IS CALLED ARCHIVAL REVIVAL.

SO WHAT I DID WAS I KIND OF LOOKED AT SOME OF THE RESEARCH AND SOME OF THE FIRST EXHIBITS THAT TOOK PLACE WHEN THE LIBRARY OPENED IN 1970, AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS JUST LIKE AFRICAN ART EXHIBIT, AS WELL AS A SYMPOSIUM PUT ON BY THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE THAT LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, HAD BLACK ARTISTS, WRITERS, COPTERS.

COPTER -- SCULPTORS.

AS A PUBLIC ARTIST, YOU GO INTO A NEW CITY.

YOU TRY TO LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THE CITY, THE HISTORY, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE AND YOU TRY TO HAVE THAT RESONATE THROUGH THE WORK AND SO IT RESONATES WITH THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT'S TRANSPARENT AND AUTHENTIC.

AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER TO, LIKE, SEE, THAT REALIZED, SEE IT BUILT.

>> I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE USING IN THIS EXHIBITION IS HOW CAN WE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL AND THE VIRTUAL?

SO THE PHYSICAL DESIGN TEAM WITH OUR PROJECT TUNNEL VISION, IS CREATING SORT OF A MOVEMENT THROUGH TIME, IN THE KIND OF SHAPE OF A RIVER.

SO THE TUNNEL HAS A RIVER IN PANELS ON IT AND THEN EACH OF THOSE PANELS TAKES YOU TO A VIDEO THAT'S ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE IN COLUMBUS.

>> WE TRIED TO BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE DESIGNERS WHETHER THAT WOULD BE MINNEAPOLIS OR NEW YORK, AND COLUMBUS.

AND SO MAKING THAT VIRTUAL CONNECTION WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES BUT ALSO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES TO MAKE.

>> A MOMENT IN TIME, WHERE WE HAVE INVITED PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S TRANSPIRED OVER TWO YEARS, AND SORT OF HOW PUBLIC SPACE AND BEING TOGETHER IN THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT AND IT'S JUST A PERFECT TIME FOR THIS PROGRAM TO LAUNCH.

>> FIVE OF THE DESIGNERS ARE MILLER PRIZE RECIPIENTS AWARDED $70,000 TO CREATE THEIR EXHIBIT.

THERE ARE UNIVERSITY AND HIGH SCHOOL INSTALLATIONS CHOSEN THAT ALSO RECEIVE AWARDS.

THE EXHIBITION RUNS UNTIL NOVEMBER 28th.

WELL, 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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