>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN EVACEVACUEES ARE ARRIVING IN INDIANA, THE STATE IS PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES BEFORE THEY ARE RESETTLED IN A FEW WEEKS.

>> THESE ARE THE SAME FOLKS WHO FOR DECADES HAVE ASSISTED AND AIDED US.

>> AN INDIANA SOLDIER WAS AMONG 13 U.S.

TROOPS KILLED IN A SUICIDE BOMBING LAST WEEK AT THE KABUL AIRPORT.

>> MY HEART TOLD ME THAT MY KID WAS ONE OF THEM.

>> THE FAMILY OF MARINE CORPORAL HUMBERTO SANCHEZ JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS TRAGIC DEATH.

>> AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT INDIANA'S LEGAL WEED.

HOW PRODUCERS ARE USING HEMP TO CREATE DELTA H-THC.

>> BECAUSE IT'S COMES FROM A HEMP PLANT, IT'S CATEGORIZED AS HEMP.

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

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

A THOUSAND REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN HAVE BEGUN ARRIVING AT CAMP ATTERBURY OUTSIDE OF EDINBURGH.

THEY ARE AMONG THE MORE THAN 120,000 AFGHANS WHO WERE EVACUATED IN A FRANTIC TWO WEEKS AFTER THE COUNTRY FELL TO THE TALIBAN LAST MONTH.

IT WILL BE THE FINAL VETTING PROCESS FOR THE REFUGEES IN THE U.S. GENERAL DALE LYLES SAYS THE STATE IS BRINGING RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL FROM OUTSIDE INDIANA TO MEET THE NEEDS AT THE CAMP.

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT FOLKS WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH INDIANA AS MUCH AS WE HAVE.

AND I HOPE SOME OF THIS TALENT STAYS CLOSE.

>> WE'RE JOINED ON SET NOW BY MY COLLEAGUE MITCH LEGAN WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY.

MITCH, WHAT'S THE LATEST.

>> YES, JOE, SO AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, INDIANA GOT ITS FIRST WAVE OF AFGHAN EVACUEES ON THURSDAY.

THEY THROUGH IN THE INDIANAPOLIS AIRPORT AND HOPPED ON A BUS AND MADE THE HOUR OR SO TRIP DOWN SOUTH TO CAMP ATTERBURY.

INDIANA OFFICIALS SAID THEY WERE EXPECTING ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH.

CAMP ATTERBURY HAS SPACE FOR ABOUT DOUBLE THAT, 2500.

IN TOTAL, OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 5,000 REFUGEES TO COME THROUGH IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> NOW, SENATOR MIKE BRAUN TWEETED EARLIER THIS WEEK HIS CONCERNS WITH THE VETTING PROCESS AND KEEPING HOOSIERS SAFE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT?

>> YES SO THE HEAD OF THE INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD HAS SAID THAT THE KIND OF PERCEIVED SAFETY RISK WITH THESE PEOPLE, REALLY SHOULD ALL BE BUT ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF THE VETTING PROCESS THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.

THE PEOPLE AT CAMP ATTERBURY, THEY WILL QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS AND GET VETTED FOR THE FOURTH AND FINAL TIME.

THEY HAD TO GET SECURITY CHECKS JUST TO GET ON THE PLANES IN AFGHANISTAN TO GET OUT OF THERE.

THEY GOT CHECKED AGAIN IN HOLDING AREAS IN EUROPE OR MIDDLE EAST, AND THEN THEY GOT CHECKED AGAIN WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES AND ARE UNDERGOING THAT FOURTH AND FINAL SECURITY ANALYSIS.

SO THE OFFICIALS SAY THAT WE KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

THERE'S NOT REASON TO BE CONCERNED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, COLUMBUS MAYOR JIM LYNUP, ABOUT 20 MINUTES SOUTH, HE SAID SIMILAR TO GOVERNOR HOLCOMB, HE HOPES THESE PEOPLE STICK AROUND ONCE THEY GET CLEARED.

>> WE HAVE ALREADY HAD EMPLOYERS FROM FROM SOME OF THE INDUSTRY HERE IN COLUMBUS CONTACT US, JUST MAKING US AWARE THAT IF THERE IS APRIL OPPORTUNITY, THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THESE IMMIGRANTS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD BE CANDIDATES FOR A JOB.

>> GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS STRESSED THIS WOULD BE A TEMPORARY HOME FOR THESE PEOPLE.

HOW LONG WILL THEY STAY?

>> SO, THE FINAL VETTING PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT.

AND WHEN PEOPLE CAN LEAVE IS DEPENDENT ON THEIR VISA STATUS.

THOSE WITH SVIs, OR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS, THEY COULD HAVE A FAMILY OR FRIEND PICK THEM UP.

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN OKAYED.

THOSE WHOSE STATUS IS NOT AS CLEAR, THEY WILL HAVE TO STICK AROUND AND GET THAT FIGURED THAT OUT AND ONCE THEY DO, THEY WILL GET CONNECTED WITH REFUGEE ORGANIZATIONS AND CONNECT THEM WITH FAMILIES IF THEY HAVE FAMILY IN THE STATES AND IF NOT, THEY WILL FIND THEM A PLACE HERE IN INDIANA OR ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

OFFICIALS HAVE SAID AFTER THE 14-DAY QUARANTINE PERIOD, THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE THERE FOR SINGLE DIGIT WEEKS.

>> ALL RIGHT, MITCH THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>>> NEARLY ALL OF INDIANA COUNTIES ARE IN THE HIGHER RISK CATEGORIES FOR COVID-19 AS THE LATE SUMMER SPIKE IN CASES CONTINUES.

AND AFTER MONTHS OF COVID DEATHS, SLOWING TO A TRICKLE, THE STATE'S DAILY DEATHS HAVE BEGUN TO CLIMB AND THIS WEEK SURPASSED 14,000.

STILL GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB MAINTAINS THE STATE IS FOLLOWING THE RIGHT APPROACH AND HE HAS NO INTENTION OF IMPOSING ANY STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS.

>> THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER THIS WEEK THAT ERASES QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IF ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL ARE MASKING UP.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A CARROT TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO REQUIRE MASKS BUT HOLCOMB SAYS HE'S LEAVING IT TO LOCAL OFFICIALS TO IMPOSE ANY MANDATES.

>> FULLY SUPPORT IT.

I UNDERSTAND IT.

IT'S REGRETTABLE THAT SO MANY OF OUR KIDS ARE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM ON ANY GIVEN ONE DAY.

>> THE NUMBER OF HOOSIERS UNDER AGE 18 WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 INCREASES MORE THAN 600% FROM JULY TO AUGUST.

CASES ARE SURGING STATEWIDE, AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IT'S LIKELY TO GET WORSE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

ACROSS STATE, HOSPITALS ARE ON DIVERSION, AND MANY ARE ALSO SUSPENDING ELECTIVE SURGERIES, AS COVID CASES ARE PUSHING THEM TO THEIR LIMITS.

THE CURRENT COVID-19 SURGE HAS BOOSTED INDIANA HOSPITALIZATIONS TO ABOUT 2,300 PATIENTS.

DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS FROM TWO WEEKS AGO.

HOLCOMB SAYS HE WORKED WITH HOSPITALS TO ENSURE HIS NEW ORDER BEST SUPPORTS THEM.

>> BUT THERE'S NO DRACONIAN MEASURES WHERE WE ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO SUSPEND NONEMERGENCY PROCEDURES AS AN EXAMPLE.

>> THE ORDER WHICH RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER MANDATES HOSPITALS REPORT TO THE STATE WHEN THEY ARE DIVERTING PATIENTS TO OTHER IF A SATELLITITIES.

THAT WILL -- FACILITIES.

THAT WILL HELP INDIANA OFFICIALS MANAGE OTHER FACILITIES STATEWIDE.

THEY EXTEND PRIOR ORGANIZATIONS FOR NONEMERGENCY PROCEDURES BEING POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 SURGE.

AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES TO PROVIDE CARE ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE.

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

>>> COMPLIANCE WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S VACCINE MANDATE VARIES WIDELY DEPENDING ON THE CAMPUS.

THE LARGEST STUDENT VACCINATION RATES ARE AT THE LARGEST CAMPUSES IN BLOOMINGTON AND INDIANAPOLIS, WHICH ARE BOTH AROUND 90%.

BUT NONE OF THE FIVE OTHER PRINCIPLED REGIONAL CAMPUSES ARE HIGHER THAN 76% WITH THE LOWEST AT THE CAMPUSES IN RICHMOND AT 65% AND KOKOMO AT 68%.

THE UNIVERSITY FACES AN ONGOING FEDERAL COURT CHALLENGE TO REQUIRING STUDENT VACCINATIONS ALTHOUGH JUDGES REACHING TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT REFUSED TO BLOCK THE POLICY BEFORE THE FALL SEMESTER BEGAN.

>>> WELL WARNING MONTH INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, CHILDREN IN THE -- WELL, ONE MONTH INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, CHILDREN IN THE MCCSC HAVE MORE TO DEAL WITH THAN WEARING MASKS EVERY DAY.

SOME ARE FACING LONGER THAN NORMAL BUS RIDES OR LONG WAITS TO EVEN GET ON THE BUS.

PAT BEANE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> KAREN FASSINO HAS THREE CHILDREN IN THE MCCSC, ALL AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

ONE DAUGHTER IS IN THE ALPS PROGRAM, AND JUST GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL HAS BEEN A DAILY GRIND.

>> THEY WILL PICK HER UP BETWEEN ABOUT 8:15 AND 8:30 IN THE MORNING.

SHE'S NOT GETTING TO THE SCHOOL UNTIL 9:30, A HALF HOUR AFTER SCHOOL STARTS.

>> GETTING HOME IN A TIMELY FASHION HAS BEEN AN EVEN BIGGER ISSUE.

SHE SAID IT WAS COMMON FOR HER DAUGHTER TO GET HOME AS LATE AS 5:30 OR 5:45 IN THE EVENING.

>> I FINALLY CALLED THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHERE SHE WAS, AND I MADE THEM STOP THE BUS AND DROVE TO HER AT TRINORTH AT 6 P.M., OTHERWISE SHE HAD FOUR MORE STOPS BEFORE THEN.

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HOME UNTIL 6 P.M. >>> BETH BUGGENHAGEN HAS TWO STUDENTS AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

>> EVEN IF I WANTED TO PICK AIDA UP AT UNIVERSITY, THE LINE AND THE NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO PICK THEIR KIDS UP IS SO LONG THAT IT COULD BE 40 MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO PICK YOUR KID UP ANYWAY.

>> MCCSC HAS A WEB AND MOBILE APP CALLED HERE COMES THE BUS THAT ASUPPOSED TO TRACK THEIR CHILD'S LOCATION AT ALL TIMES.

>> IT WAS DOWN FOR A WHILE, AND THEN IT WAS UP.

WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH IT YESTERDAY.

SO I WOULD SAY IT'S STILL VERY ROCKY USING THAT TO KNOW WHERE THE KIDS.

>> THAT'S ASHLEY PIRANI THEY GO TO HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY BUT SHE'S NOT SEEING THE ISSUES THAT OTHER PARENTS.

>> BUSES ARE RUNNING A LITTLE LATE FOR US, COMPARED TO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT NOT TERRIBLY LATE.

WELL WITHIN A MANAGEABLE TIME FRAME FOR US.

I IN, THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR EVERYONE AND THAT THERE'S A LOT LONGER WAIT TIMES.

>> BOUGHTEN HAGEN HAS SEEN BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AT HER HOUSEHOLD.

THE BUS AT TRINORTH RUNS PRETTY MUCH ON TIME, BUT THE ONE FOR UNIVERSITY RARELY DOES.

TUESDAY, HER CHILD DIDN'T GET HOME UNTIL 7:00.

>> ADEN'S BUS WAS LATE.

SHE RAN THREE ELEMENTARY ROUTES, ONE AFTER ANOTHER.

>> BUGGENHAGEN SAYS GETTING A TEXT MESSAGE OR EMAIL ABOUT HER CHILD'S WHEREABOUTS AFTER HER CHILD'S SCHOOL IS CLOSED.

>> SENDING A MESSAGE AT 5:20 SAYING THAT THE BUS HAS LEFT, IT'S TOO LATE.

>> MCCSC DID NOT RESPOND TO SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS BUT SUPERINTENDENT JEFF HAUSWALD BRIEFLY ADDRESSED THE CONCERNS DURING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

HE SAYS THEY WERE SHORT 14 DRIVERS FOR EXISTING ROUTES.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING HARD TO BE MORE RELIABLE, AND THAT RELIABILITY, IN TERMS OF TIME.

SO OUR FAMILIES KNOW WHEN -- WHEN THE BUS IS EXPECTED AND TO COMMUNICATE WHEN THERE'S CHANGES IN THAT.

>> HAUSWALD SAYS WITH SCHOOLS RETURNING TO IN-PERSON.

>> WE HAVE 2700 ADDITIONAL RIDERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT IN A WAY IN WHICH OUR RUN AND ROUTE EFFICIENCY AND WE CAN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE EXPECT.

>> THEY CAN EARN BETWEEN ROUGHLY $19 AND $22 BASED ON EXPERIENCE.

THEY SYMPATHIZE WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF DRIVER AND STAFF IN GENERAL BUT WORRIES ABOUT THE EFFECTS ON STUDENTS.

>> HOW ARE WE EXPECTING KIDS TO, LIKE, DO WELL IN SCHOOL AND THRIVE AND LEARN WHEN THEY ARE LITERALLY ON THE BUS FOR HOURS EVERY SINGLE DAY?

>> AND WITH LEARNING LOSS A CONCERN DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT'S TIME STUDENTS CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE.

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

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I TALKED TO THE MOTHER OF A MARINE FROM LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, WHO WAS AMONG THOSE KILLED DURING THE SUICIDE BOMBING DURING THE EVACUATION OF AFGHANISTAN.

>>> AND DELTA H-THC IS A SLIGHT VARIATION OF MARIJUANA BUT HAS PSYCHOACTIVE EFFECTS AND IS LEGALLY SOLD IN INDIANA.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

A LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, SOLDIER WAS AMONG THE 13 U.S.

TROOPS KILLED IN A SUICIDE BOMBING LAST WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE MOTHER OF MARINE CORPORAL HUMBERTO SANCHEZ SAYS HER SON WAS A TROUBLE MAKER GROWING UP, EVEN EARNING THE NICKNAME, PA RANA.

HIS PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND HIS MOM TOLD ME DURING A ZOOM INTERVIEW YESTERDAY, HER SON AND DAUGHTER MEAN EVERYTHING.

>> WE WERE TOGETHER ALL THREE.

WE ACTUALLY -- MY FIRST TATTOO WAS WITH HIM AND MY DAUGHTER.

>> WHAT DID HE WANT TO BE WHEN HE GREW UP?

>> WHEN HE WAS LIKE, 10, 11 YEARS OLD, HE ALWAYS SAID HE WANTS TO BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT PUTS GAS ON YOUR CAR.

AND THINK I HEAR SOMEBODY ESSAYING HE WANTS TO BE A CASHIER AT McDONALD'S.

AND YEAH, THAT WAS MY KID WHEN HE WAS LITTLE.

AND THEN IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR, ONE DAY, I SHARED THE STORY BEFORE AND I WILL NOT BE TIRES OF SHARING THIS.

HE WAS THINKING ABOUT DECISIONS.

HE WAS BEING A TEENAGER, A WILD TEENAGER, AND PEOPLE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT SOMEHOW I ALWAYS SAID NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU, I'M PROUD OF YOU.

YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU.

AND ONE DAY HE SHOWS UP AFTER HIGH SCHOOL WAS DONE, AND HE'S LIKE, HEY, MOM, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO AROUND 4:00?

I SAID NO, WHAT DO YOU NEED?

HE'S LIKE, I -- I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY NEED YOU TO GO IN.

I SAYS, APPOINTMENT?

WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT DID YOU DID?

AND THEN HE SAID, I JOINED THE MARINES.

AND I'M 17 AND THEY NEED YOUR SIGNATURE.

I KNOW THAT MY KID WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING AND BE SOMEBODY, AND I KNOW IT WAS THE RIGHT WAY.

HE WAS PROBABLY WAS GOING TO DO WELL BY HIMSELF.

I WAS PROUD SINCE THE FIRST DAY.

I WENT AT 4 P.M. AND I SIGNED THOSE PAPERS PAPERS.

>> WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU HEARD HE WAS BEING DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THEN WATCHING THAT UNFOLD ON TV?

>> JUST FOR ME TO HEAR THE NAME AFGHANISTAN MAKES MY HEART BEAT REALLY FAST.

I WAS PLAYING FOR MY SON, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY.

AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEAR NEWS, I CAN -- I WOULD AND SAY, PLEASE, BRING MY KID BACK.

NOT JUST ALIVE, BUT PLEASE, COVER HIS HEART, HIS MIND, AND THERE ARE REALLY BAD THINGS GOING ON.

EVEN IF MY KID COMES BACK ALIVE, IT WAS GOING TO BE REALLY TRAUMATIC FOR HIM.

AS A MOTHER, THAT DAY WHEN I READ THE NEWS ABOUT THE 13, MY HEART TOLD ME THAT MY KID WAS ONE OF THEM.

EVEN WHEN I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE MARINE CORPS, MY HEART WAS PREPARED SINCE THAT DAY.

>> WAS THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK TO HIM WHILE THERE?

AND IF SO, WHAT DID HE TALK ABOUT?

>>> HE TEXT ME THE 23rd AND THE FIRST MESSAGE WAS, MOM, I'M ALIVE.

AND I JUST SAID, THANK GOD.

I LOVE YOU.

HE WAS JUST TELLING ME THAT HE WAS SUPER TIRED.

HE SAID, MOMMY, I DIDN'T SLEEP FOR FIVE NIGHTS AND HE TOLD ME, I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

I AM TIRED.

I AM SICK.

MY BELLY HURTS.

AND THEN IT WAS SO HARD, THE LAST DAY WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION THAT THEY HAVE TO EVACUATE PEOPLE REALLY FAST BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE.

AND I KNOW THAT HE WAS PROBABLY HAVING IT WORSE ON HIS HEAD.

MY MIND TOLD ME TO SAVE PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO.

>> THE FAMILY HAS SET UP MEMORIAL AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND-RAISERS AT SECURITY FEDERAL BANK OR THROUGH THE CASS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OR THEIR GO FUND ME ACCOUNT.

>>> WELL, INDIANA HAS LONG BEEN OPPOSED TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA AS SURROUNDING STATES LIKE ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN HAVE OKAYED THE DRUG FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

STATE LEADERSHIP HAS DEFERRED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR GUIDANCE.

AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, HOOSIERS HAVE FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE, BY USING HEMP TO CREATE DELTA 8THC.

>> STIMLINE VARIETY HAS BEEN THE HEMP SHOP.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY THAT THEY COULD OFFER THE CUSTOMERS SOMETHING TO SMOKE.

>> WE SELL THEIR WAXES AND MOON WRAPS WHICH IS DELTA 8.

>> STIMLINE IS ONE OF MANY STORIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAS BEGUN OFFERING DELTA 8THC PRODUCTS.

SMOKE SHOPS, AND CBD DISCIPLINARIES ADVERTISE DELTA 8 CARTRIDGES AS LEGAL ALTERNATIVES TO MARIJUANA.

>> IT'S NOT QUITE AS POTENT OF A PSYCHOACTIVE AS DELTA 9.

IT'S NOT -- YOU DON'T HAVE THE OH, WOW FACTOR AS I LIKE TO CALL IT WITH THE DELTA 9.

>> DELTA 9 THC IS THE CHEMICAL COMPONENT OF MARIJUANA THAT GETS YOU HIGH.

IT'S THE PLANT'S MAIN SIKH SEW ACTIVE CABBABINOID, ITS WEED LIKE, BUT IT STILL GETS USERS HIGH.

>> 25 MILLIGRAMS IS A GOOD DOSAGE TO GET GOING AND GET YOUR FEET WET.

>> MANSON AND HIS FATHER SAYS THEY GET PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AGES ASKING ABOUT DELTA 8.

>> I RECOMMEND THEM FOR THE CANCER PATIENTS THAT COME?

>> AFTER YEARS OF FALLING HEMP PRICES, GROWERS DISCOVERED CBD OIL COULD BE CONVERTED TO DELTA 8.

THEY TOOK TWO YEARS TO GET THEIR PROCESS RIGHT BEFORE THEY BEGAN PRODUCING DELTA 8 PRODUCTS.

THEY BEGAN SELLING THE DELTA 8 EDIBLES AND CARTRIDGES AND THEY ARE ALREADY IN 65 STORES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE HAD OUR ATTORNEYS LOOK INTO IT.

WE TALKED WITH THE MIDWEST HEMP COUNCIL AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THERE TO ENSURE THE LEGALITY OF IT.

AND ONCE WE WERE CONFIDENT THAT IT WAS A LEGAL PRODUCT WE COULD BRING IT MARKET, THEN WE STARTED TO GATHER THE MATERIAL, THE RAW MATERIALS AND THE PROCESSES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> DELTA 8 ADVOCATES POINT TO THE 2018 FARM BILL AS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS.

THE BILL ALLOWED FOR HEMP, AND CANNABIS PLANTS WITH DELTA 9 BELOW .1 OF A PERCENT.

>> THEY MADE ANYTHING WITH OVER .3 POINT DELTA 9THC AND ITS PRECURSORS ILLEGAL.

THE FARM BILL DID NOT ADDRESS DELTA 8 AND BECAUSE IT DOES COME FROM A HEMP PLANT, IT'S CATEGORIZED AS PART OF HEMP.

>> STATE OFFICIALS WE REACHED OUT TO ABOUT DELTA 8'S LEGALITY WEREN'T KEEN ON DISCUSSING IT.

THE INDIANA PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S COUNCIL DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED AS DID MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THE STATE OFFICE OF DRUG PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND ENFORCEMENT REFERRED US TO THE INDIANA STATE POLICE WHICH ALSO DECLINED AN INTERVIEW.

THE STATE POLICE SAID THAT DELTA 8 COULD BE COVERED UNDER INDIANA'S CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT.

>> IT'S A GRAY AREA.

THE STATE SENATORS AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES THAT I HAVE TALKED TO, WHICH THERE ARE SEVERAL, HAVE ALL -- THEY -- THEY'RE ALL ARGUING TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST AVENUE TO GO DOWN.

>> THE MANSONS SAY THAT GRAY AREA AND LACK OF REGULATION COULD CREATE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS.

THEY VET THE COMPANIES THEY WORK WITH AND ONLY CONSIDER ONLY CARRY WHAT THEY CONSIDER REPUTABLE BRANDS.

>> THERE'S FLY-BY-NIGHT.

>> CHRISTIAN SAYS IT'S DERIVED SOLELY FROM HEMP PLANTS WITHOUT CUTTING AGENTS AND METALS AND HE SENDS THEM TO A THIRD PARTY TO TEST FOR SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE.

>> WE WOULD LOVE IT IF THIS WAS A CLEAR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR WHAT THEY WANTED.

IT ONLY REALLY GETS RID OF THE BAD ACTORS AND MAKES SURE EVERYTHING IS SAFE AND TESTED.

>> THEY COULD CONSTRICT A POTENTIAL GOLD MINE.

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

>>> THE INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM OPENS THE 2021 SEASON SATURDAY IN IOWA.

THE HOOSIERS ENTER THE NEW YEAR RANKED NUMBER 17 IN THE NATION AND WITH EXPECTATIONS HIGHER THAN EVER.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> THE 2020 I.U.

FOOTBALL SUBPOENA WAS UPENDED IN MY WAYS.

THE HOOSIERS PLAYED SEVEN REGULAR SEASON GAMES AND HAD THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET GAME AGAINST PURDUE POSTPONED BUT THEN CANCELED.

BUT THEY ENDED WITH A SECOND STRAIGHT BOWL APPEARANCE.

>> WE CAME HERE WITH A VISION TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE EXPECTATION AND CREATE BELIEF.

THAT PROCESS IS ONGOING, AND SO, YEAH, WE'RE EMBRACING IT.

>> IT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE PAST WHEN THE HOOSIERS WERE ALMOST AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL WORLD.

BEFORE 2019, INDIANA HAD NOT BEEN RANKED IN THE TOP 25 FOR 25 YEARS!

>> IN THE PAST, THE DISTRACTIONS HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE DISTRACTIONS.

PEOPLE TELLING YOU WHAT YOU CAN'T DO AND JUDGING YOU BASED ON YOUR PAST AND NOW YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BLOCK OUT THE POSITIVE DISTRACTIONS.

>> ONE POSSIBLE DISTRACTION COMING INTO THE SEASON WAS THE HEALTH OF MICHAEL PENIX.

HE MISSED THE SEASON FINALE AND THE BOWL GAME LAST YEAR AFTER TEARING AN ACL IN HIS RIGHT KNEE AGAINST MARYLAND.

IT WAS THE THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON THAT PENIX HAD CUT SHORT DUE TO INJURY.

HE SAID HE'S GOOD TO GO THIS YEAR.

>> I'M 100% CONFIDENT I WILL HAVE A GREAT SEASON THIS YEAR, AS FAR AS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE INJURIES AND STUFF.

I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

I JUST WANT TO GO OUT AND PLAY FOOTBALL.

>> PENIX WILL HAVE HIS FAVORITE TARGET BACK, ALL-AMERICAN, TY FRYFOGLE.

HE FLIRTED WITH THE NFL DRAFT BUT IN THE END CHOSE TO RETURN FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON.

ALLEN SAYS HE'S BEEN IMPRESSED WITH FRYFOGLE'S FOCUS.

>> THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS AND THEY START PRESSING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE MORE PLAYS AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT APPROACH TO PRACTICE, YOU KNOW, AND I NEVER SENSE THAT FROM HIM.

IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS FULL SPEED AHEAD, EVERY PRACTICE.

>> THE HOOSIER BACKFIELD WILL BE LED BY U.S.C.

TRANSFER, STEVEN CARR.

HE'S ONE OF SEVERAL GRAD TRANSFERS THAT COULD MAKE A BIG IMPACT FOR THE HOOSIERS THIS YEAR.

LIKE THE OFFENSE, THE HOOSIER DEFENSE RETURNS NEAR RETURNS NEARLY EVERY STARTER THEY WERE SECOND IN SACKS AND FOURTH IN POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME.

FORCING TAKEAWAYS IS SOMETHING THAT ALLEN ENFORCES.

>> TAKE AWAYS IS THE VERY FIRST ONE.

IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE AND I BELIEVE IN THAT.

>> ALL-AMERICAN CORNERBACK TAIWAN MULLEN LEADS THE WAY IN THAT CATEGORY.

HE HAD THREE OF THE TEAM'S SEVEN INTERCEPTIONS AND FORCED ARE A FUMBLE.

MULLEN IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER BIG YEAR IN BLOOMINGTON.

>> WE WILL ATTACK THE SEASON LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR IT AND WHAT'S AHEAD.

IT WILL BE A SPECIAL JOURNEY FOR THE INDIANA HOOSIERS.

>> AND AFTER A MOVE PRACTICE, THAT JOURNEY FINALLY BEGINS THIS WEEKEND.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BOUGHTPATBEANE.

>> INDIANA'S FIRST HOME GAME IS AT 7 P.M. NEXT SATURDAY AGAIN IDAHO.

>>> THE BUSKIRK-CHUMLEY THEATER IS REQUIRING ALL TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 OR GET TESTED.

THE REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ANYONE OLDER THAN 12 YEARS OLD.

ALL CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 12 WILL NEED TO HAVE A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST.

THE POLICY MIRRORS, ONE, THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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