INDIANA NEWSDESK MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> COMING UP ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

THIS WEEKEND MARKS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON AMERICAN SOIL.

WE VISIT WITH A RESPONDER WHO WORKED AT GROUND ZERO IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> WE DIDN'T FIND ANY SURVIVORS.

WE DID, HOWEVER, FIND MOSTLY PARTS OF PEOPLE.

>> SATURDAY A PIECE OF LIMESTONE FROM THE PENTAGON WILL BE UNVEILED AT A CEREMONY AT THE INDIANA WAR MEMORIAL IN INDIANAPOLIS.

A MONROE COUNTY RESIDENT GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN AN EFFORT TO STOP WHOMMINGTON'S ANNEXATION.

>> TO ME, IT WILL BOIL DOWN TO HOW CRAFTY WAS THE MAUR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IN DRAWING UP THE LINE.

>> WHILE MONROE COUNTY REMAINS IN THE YELLOW ADVISORY FOR COVID-19, SEVERAL SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE MOVED INTO THE RED.

AHEAD, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR AREA HOSPITALS.

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

WELCOME TO INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'M JOE HREN.

THE NUMBER OF DAILY POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES IN THE STATE TOPPED FIVE THOUSAND ON THURSDAY, THE FIRST TIME SINCE NOVEMBER 2020 IT HAS BEEN THAT HIGH.

HOSPITALIZATIONS CLIMBED ABOVE TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED THURSDAY.

THAT'S THE MOST HOOSIERS HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VRUS SINCE EARLY JANUARY.

THE STATE HAS ALSO ADDED FIFTY NEW DEATHS, BRINGING THE TOTAL COVID-19 DEATHS TO JUST OVER FOURTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED.

MONROE COUNTY REMAINS JUST ONE OF THREE COUNTIES IN THE STATE IN THE YELLOW ADVISORY.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY BRIAN SHOCKNEY, THE PRESIDENT OF IU HEALTH SOUTH CENTRAL REGION.

HELLO, BRIAN, YOU WERE ON THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER TODAY.

DID ANY NEW RECOMMENDATIONS COME OUT OF THAT BASED ON RISING COVID NUMBERS OR WHAT WERE THE MAIN CONCERNS?

>> NO ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

OUR MAIN CONCERNS ARE VACCINATIONS, GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE HAD TO POSTPONE SURGERIES AGAIN.

WE HAVE HAD TO REDUCE SERVICES TO OUR PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO REALLY NEED THEM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE CAREGIVERS TO THE BEDSIDE TO CARE FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS VERY, VERY SICK.

>> YOU MENTIONED SUSPENDING ELECTIVE SURGERIES DUE TO THE INCREASED COVID HOSPITALIZATION.

JUST HOW STRESSED ARE THE HOSPITALS AT THIS POINT?

>> VERY STRESSED.

YOU KNOW, THIS COVID VARIANT IS VERY, VERY VIRULENT, AND IT'S MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN WE SAW IN THE FIRST WAVE.

IT'S TAKING MORE CAREGIVERS AT THE BEDSIDE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 54 HOSPITALIZED INDIVIDUALS, AND 11 OF THOSE ARE IN ICU JUST IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION.

WE HAVE EIGHT OF THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ON VENTILATORS.

YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF CAREGIVERS AT THE BEDSIDE.

WE -- IN OUR SOUTH CENTRAL REGION, YOU MENTIONED MONROE COUNTY AND HOW WE HAVE A HIGHER VACCINATION RATE.

WE ARE SEEING LESS INCIDENTS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN MONROE COUNTY.

BUT OUR OTHER COUNTIES, WE ARE SEEING A HIGH NUMBER OF PATIENTS BEING ADMITTED AND WHO ARE VERY SICK WITH THIS VIRUS.

>> DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT BURNOUT, LOSING STAFF.

ARE YOU LOSING STAFF?

>> YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE BURNOUT IS REAL ACROSS THE NATION, AND WE ARE SEEING -- WE ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM THAT IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP OUR SPIRITS UP, TRYING TO KEEP OUR TEAM MEMBERS WITH THE SPACES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CAN.

TRYING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THE BEST CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS, WE ARE SEEING THE ONE IN FOUR NEW CASES ARE CHILDREN.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT INCREASE IN CHILD PATIENTS AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE SYSTEM?

>> YES, WE ARE SEEING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, OUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS SEEING ADMISSIONS THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE IN THE FIRST WAVE.

HERE IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION, OUR SPEED ATTIC OFFICES ARE SEEING A LOT OF INFECTIONS.

WE STOOD UP TESTING SITE AT OUR MILLER DRIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH FACILITY JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> BRIAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>>> BLOOMINGTON'’S ANNEXATION PROPOSAL MOVES TO PROCEEDINGS NEXT WEEK AS CITY COUNCIL DECIDES WHETHER TO ACCEPT, LIMIT, OR REVOKE ANY OF THE EIGHT AREAS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THE REMONSTRANCE PERIOD THAT TAKES EFFECT AFTER COUNCIL'’S VOTE COULD GET INTERESTING.

BLOOMINGTON MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON SAYS THANKS TO PUBLIC INPUT -— HE'’S RECOMMENDING NORTHERNMOST AREA 7 BE DROPPED FROM THE ANNEXATION PROPOSAL.

BUT HE'’S ALSO OPTIMISTIC MOST PEOPLE AREN'’T AGAINST ANNEXATION.

>> WE HAD SOMETHING IN THE ORDER OF 70 OR 80 COMMENTERS.

SO THAT'S OUT OF ABOUT 14,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED POTENTIALLY BY THE ANNEXATION.

SO THAT IT'S THAT SAYS, OBVIOUSLY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF NOT WEIGH IN ON THAT.

PEOPLE DID NOT WEIGH IN ON THAT.

>> HAMILTON IS PROPOSING ANNEXING 9,200 ACRES AND 14,300 PEOPLE INTO CITY LIMITS BY 2024.

BUT NOT IF MONROE COUNTY RESIDENT DON CREEK HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

HE'’S BEEN GOING DOOR TO DOOR GATHERING SIGNATURES TO STOP ANY APPROVED ANNEXATION.

HE SAYS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IS AGAINST ANNEXATION.

>> I CAN'’T STRESS THAT ENOUGH, I MEAN I RUN INTO TWO PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY, AND THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THERE'’D BE SOME MONEY FOR THE ARTS -— HE HADN'’T MADE UP HIS MIND YET.

>> CREEK LIVES IN WESTERN AREA 1 A OF THE ANNEXATION PROPOSAL AND IS WORKING WITH THE VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP OFFICE IN GETTING ADDRESSES AND CURRENT DATA.

IF 65-PERCENT OF THE LANDOWNERS REMONSTRATE, THEN THE ANNEXATION IS INVALIDATED.

IF 51-PERCENT OF THE LANDOWNERS REMONSTRATE, THEN THEY CAN FIGHT IT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

BUT THERE'’S A CATCH.

CERTAIN PROPERTIES HAVE ANNEXATION REMONSTRANCE WAIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM -— THE WAIVERS PROHIBIT THE OWNERS FROM CHALLENGING ANNEXATION IN EXCHANGE FOR CITY SERVICES, SUCH AS WATER AND SEWER.

MANY OF THEM DATE BACK YEARS, AND STILL STAND EVEN IF THE PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS.

BUT IN 2019, THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE PUT A 15-YEAR CAP ON THOSE WAIVERS.

SO, ANY WAIVER BEFORE 2006 WOULD BE INVALID.

THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED 3,200 PARCELS SUBJECT TO THOSE WAIVERS, ABOUT HALF OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARCELS UP FOR ANNEXATION.

BUT THE CITY'’S ANNEXATION WAIVER DATABASE DOESN'’T DELINEATE THESE INVALID WAIVERS.

I SPOKE WITH MAYOR HAMILTON ABOUT THIS ON A RECENT "“ASK THE MAYOR"” SHOW: >> THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO ANNEX WERE INTENDED FOR ANNEXATION.

NOW THE STATE TOOK THIS STEP WHAT WE THINK IS ACTUALLY ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM US BEFORE AND WE HATE TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT WE WERE RIGHT THE LAST TIME AND WE THINK THEY'VE ILLEGALLY INTERFERED WITH THAT AGREEMENT BY SAYING, WELL, YOU CAN'T ENFORCE THAT AGREEMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE DID OUR SIDE OF THE BARGAIN.

>> ISN'’T THAT MISLEADING THOUGH NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK, TO NOT FOLLOW THE 2019 LAW AND HAVE THOSE INVALIDATED WAIVERS LISTED?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S MISSED - I MEAN, WE'RE JUST SHARING WHAT THE WAIVERS ARE.

THERE IS A DISPUTE ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE LAW, BUT THEY'RE WAIVERS.

THEY'RE IN EXISTENCE, AND WE'RE JUST REPORTING WHAT THEY ARE.

I DO THINK IT'LL ULTIMATELY PROBABLY TAKE A COURT TO UNPACK THIS.

>> IF IT DOES COME DOWNS TO WAIVERS, THE CITY WOULD TAKE THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE BACK TO COURT?

>> IF IT COMES TO LITIGATION, IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT IT WOULD, IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE STATUS IS A PIVOTAL FACTOR, IT WILL PROBABLY END UP IN COURT SOMEHOW.

>> CREEK SAYS HE'LL PICK UP MORE.

>> IT WILL BOIL TOWN TO HOW CRAFTY WAS THE MAYOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IN DRAWING UP THE LINES AND DECIDING HOW CAN WE DRAW THIS UP TO PUT THE NUMBERS IN OUR FAVOR.

>> THAT'S IF CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO APPROVE IN ANNEXATION ORDINANCES DURING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 15.

THE OFFICIAL REMONSTRANCE RECORD WILL COME FROM MONROE COUNTY AUDITOR CATHERINE SMITH'’S OFFICE.

SHE SAYS SHE'’LL FOLLOW THE STATE'’S 2019 LEGISLATION -— SHE SAYS HER OFFICE IS IRONING OUT THE DETAILS ON HOW TO PRESENT REMONSTRATION TO THE PUBLIC ON FRIDAY.

RESIDENTS IN THE APPROVED ANNEXATION AREAS WILL HAVE 90-DAYS TO REMONSTRATE AND SMITH SAYS SHE COULD HAVE RESULTS AS EARLY AS MID-JANUARY.

>>> FORMER BLOOMINGTON ACTIVIST VAUHXX BOOKER IS AWAITING A HEARING FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN LAST YEAR'’S INCIDENT AT LAKE MONROE.

HE WAS ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND FOR ALLEGEDLY BATTERING A POLICE OFFICER.

AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, THE ARREST CAME AFTER WHAT BOOKER DESCRIBES AS ANOTHER RACIAL INCIDENT.

>> INDIANAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO CALLS AFTER 6 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING AT DOWNTOWN OLLY'’S BAR AND GRILL IN INDIANAPOLIS.

THEY WERE MET THERE BY VAUHXX BOOKER.

BOOKER, WHO MOVED TO INDIANAPOLIS LATE JULY, WAS COMPLAINING THAT STAFF MEMBERS WERE DRUNK AND MAKING RUDE AND RACIST COMMENTS TO HIM.

ACCORDING TO THE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT, BOOKER WANTED POLICE TO MAKE ARRESTS.

WHEN THE OFFICERS TOLD HIM THEY WERE UNABLE TO, HE BECAME UPSET AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR.

AFTER THE SUPERVISING OFFICER SAID THEY'’D FILE A POLICE REPORT BOOKER ALLEGEDLY APPROACHED THE OFFICERS TALKING ABOUT HIS ID.

THE AFFIDAVIT SAYS BOOKER THEN SHOVED AN OFFICER, PROMPTING HIS ARREST.

BOOKER SAYS THAT ISN'’T TRUE, AND THAT THE LABOR DAY INCIDENT IS NOT INDICATIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST FOURTH OF JULY.

THAT'’S WHEN HE SAYS A GROUP OF WHITE MEN JUMPED HIM NEAR LAKE MONROE AND THREATENED TO LYNCH HIM.

HE AND TWO OF THE WHITE MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THEIR ROLES IN THAT INCIDENT.

BOOKER'’S INITIAL HEARING FOR THIS CASE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 21ST.

FOR INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'M MITCH LEAGUAN.

>>> A PROPOSED PIPELINE UNDERNEATH THE OHIO RIVER WOULD BRING NATURAL GAS TO TWO SMALL PLANTS CENTERPOINT ENERGY PLANS TO BUILD IN SOUTHERN INDIANA.

BUT THE STATE HASN'’T APPROVED THOSE PLANTS YET.

AND INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SAY THE PIPELINE -— AND THE NATURAL GAS PLANTS -— AREN'’T NEEDED.

>> CENTERPOINT PLANS TO REPLACE SOME OF ITS COAL UNITS WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY AND BUILD THE TWO NATURAL GAS PLANTS AS A BACKUP -— LOWERING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

BECAUSE OF THIS, THE PIPELINE COMPANY -— TEXAS GAS TRANSMISSION -— SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'’T NEED TO LOOK INTO HOW THE PIPELINE WOULD AFFECT THE CLIMATE.

BUT TONY MENDOZA WITH THE SIERRA CLUB SAYS THAT'’S NOT TRUE BECAUSE CENTERPOINT WAS GOING TO RETIRE ITS COAL UNITS WHETHER THE PIPELINE GOT BUILT OR NOT.

>> THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE REPLACE THEM WITH?

DO WE NEED MORE NEW POLLUTING GAS UNITS OR CAN WE DO AN ENTIRELY NEW CLEAN ENERGY REPLACEMENT LIKE NIPSCO IS DOING?

>> MENDOZA SAYS THE NATURAL GAS PLANTS AND PIPELINE WOULD HARM THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA WHO ALREADY BREATHE IN MORE POLLUTION THAN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALSO SAYS CONSTRUCTING THE PIPELINE COULD HARM ENDANGERED MUSSELS AND BATS IN THE STATE.

>> THIS IS A REGION THAT HAS SUFFERED A HISTORIC AMOUNT OF POLLUTION COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

AND SO ADDITIONAL AIR, WATER AND LAND POLLUTION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED.

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

>> TEXAS GAS TRANSMISSION SAID IN A STATEMENT IT "HAS A DECADES-LONG TRACK RECORD OF PROVIDING SAFE AND QUALITY SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE REGION."

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.•.

WE VISIT WITH A FIRST RESPONDER WHO WORKED AT GROUND ZERO AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEKEND.

AND THE MAYOR AND THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL ARE AT ODDS OVER INCREASING PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON INDIANA NEWSDESK!

>> STAY CLOSE AS WE TRACE EDUCATION ISSUES ALL THE WAY FROM THE CAPITOL TO YOUR CHILD'S CLASSROOM.

SO MANY TOPICS THAT ARISE EACH YEAR IN THE STATEHOUSE AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE.

THE WTIU NEWS TEAM IS COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE.

KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED, TUNE IN TO INDIANA NEWS DESK, YOUR SOURCE FOR REGIONAL AND STATE IN DEPTH NEWS.

>> READY TO WATCH THE BEST OF PBS ANY TIME, ANYWHERE ON NEARLY ANY DEVICE?

IT'S EASY WITH A PBS VIDEO APP.

SIMPLY DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR MOBILE OR STREAMING DEVICE.

NOW YOU CAN WATCH THE LATEST EPISODES OR CATCH UP ON THE SHOWS YOU MISSED, DISCOVER NEW FAVORITES FROM PBS AND LOCAL CONTENT FROM YOUR PBS STATION.

>> WELCOME BACK TO INDIANA NEWSDESK.

20 YEARS AGO SATURDAY, THE COUNTRY CHANGED FOREVER AFTER TERRORISTS FLEW COMMERCIAL JETS INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THE PENTAGON AND A RURAL PENNSYLVANIA FIELD KILLING THOUSANDS.

WITHIN HOURS OF THE ATTACKS, AN INDIANAPOLIS FIREFIGHTER WAS ON HIS WAY TO GROUND ZERO TO HELP WITH RESCUE EFFORTS.

WE CAUTION SOME OF THE IMAGES IN THIS STORY COULD BE DISTURBING: ADAM PINSKER HAS HIS STORY: >> GREG GATES WAS AMONG THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHO SAW THE HORRIFYING IMAGES ON THEIR TV SCREENS ON SEPTEMBER 11TH.

HE WAS AT WORK WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN HIS WIFE CALLED HIM, NOT KNOWING AT THE TIME HE WOULD SOON BE AT GROUND ZERO IN NEW YORK.

>> AND WHEN THE TOWERS FIRST COLLAPSED, I GOT A CALL BACK FROM HER.

AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE CALLED OR NOT.

AND MOMENTS LATER, WE WERE DEPLOYED.

>> GATES SERVED ON TASK FORCE 1, A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL OUTFIT OF FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO USUALLY HELP WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER A HURRICANE OR EARTHQUAKE.

BUT THIS WAS DIFFERENT: >> AS FAR AS THE SIZE OF AN EPISODE, IT ABSOLUTELY HAS BEEN THE WORST.

AND THERE'S NOTHING BEEN AS LARGE OF AN EPISODE SINCE.

>> THE TEAM USED A CAMCORDER TO DOCUMENT THEIR TRIP TO GROUND ZERO.

FOOTAGE SHOWS PILES OF TWISTED METAL AND CONCRETE.

THEIR MISSION TURNED INTO A 10 DAY RECOVERY EFFORT.

>> WE DID NOT FIND ANY SURVIVORS, WE DID, HOWEVER, FIND MOSTLY PARTS OF PEOPLE.

>> IT WAS A HAZARDOUS JOB.

GATES RECALLED A TIME WHEN HIS CREW ENTERED AN UNDERGROUND ROOM THAT CONTAINED A 60,000 GALLON VAT OF DIESEL FUEL FOR THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM.

>> BRIAN MULHERN, WHO WAS OUR TEAM LEADER, ORDERED ME OUT OF A HOLE.

AND AS I GOT UP TO THE TOP OF A HOLE, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BLACK SMOKE CAME UP, AND THEN THE SMOKE IGNITED.

>> THE ENSUING FIREBALL INJURED THREE OF HIS COLLEAGUES, ALL OF WHOM WERE LUCKY TO SURVIVE.

THERE WERE OTHER MOMENTS THAT STICK IN GATES'’ MIND FROM THOSE DAYS COMBING THROUGH THE RUBBLE IN NEW YORK: >> AS I WAS WALKING ALONG, THERE WAS A PIECE OF PAPER THAT WAS STAMPED WITH A STAMP THAT SAID, MOST IMPORTANT, AND I WONDERED WHOSE PAPER THAT WAS AND WHAT THEY MUST THINK NOW.

>> WHILE THOSE MEMORIES OF THAT TRAGIC DAY ARE SEARED IN GATES'’ MIND, HE ALONG WITH OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS AND MILITARY VETERANS WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUNGER AMERICANS NEVER FORGET THE HEROISM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED THAT DAY.

RETIRED U.S. AIRFORCE GENERAL STUART GOODWIN HEADS UP THE INDIANA WAR MEMORIAL.

HE'S OVERSEEING A FACELIFT TO INDIANA'S 9-11 MEMORIAL.

ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, A CHUNK OF LIMESTONE DONATED BY THE PENTAGON WILL BE UNVEILED AT A CEREMONY MARKING 20-YEARS SINCE THE ATTACKS: >> THE 800 PIECES PER POUND OF LIMESTONE THAT CAME RIGHT WHERE THE IMPACT OF THE PENTAGON WAS.

AND THAT'S WHERE GENERAL LIEUTENANT GENERAL TIM MAUDE WAS THE SENIOR PERSON MILITARY PERSON KILLED THAT DAY, HIS OFFICE WAS JUST IN IN THAT SAME SCRIPT.

>> LIKE GOODWIN, MAUDE WAS A NATIVE HOOSIER.

THE LIMESTONE DISPLAY WILL HONOR THE 7,015 MEN AND WOMEN KILLED IN THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS.

>> THIS IS A TIME IN OUR COUNTRY, WHERE THIS SINGLE EVENT CHANGED THE WAY WE LIVE.

THINK ABOUT GOING TO AN AIRPORT, THINK ABOUT GOING TO A SPORTING EVENT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T JUST WALK IN AND YOU JUST DON'T YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE CHECKED, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WHO YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE.

>> WE SLEPT BASICALLY IN THE SAME QUARTERS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> MEMORIES AREN'’T THE ONLY THING GATES CARRIES WITH HIM FROM 9-11.

HE SUFFERS FROM A CONDITION CALLED REACTIVE AIRWAY DISEASE WHICH HE CONTRACTED FROM WORKING IN THE RUBBLE OF THE TRADE >> THERE WAS A LOT OF DUST AND A LOT OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE DUST.

THOSE CONTAMINANTS MADE A LOT OF US SICK.

AND -- UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WAS SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS ARE MUCH SICKER THAN I AM.

>> WHILE GATES SAYS THERE'’S NOTHING, HE CAN DO TO CURE HIS CONDITION, THE NOW SEMI-RETIRED FIREFIGHTER WANTS TO SPEND HIS TIME EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THE 9-11 ATTACKS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER: >> THIS TERRIBLE ACT WAS NOT DONE BY A RELIGION BY A RACE, BUT BY MURDEROUS THUGS.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WORKING ON THE PILE OF THAT SAME NATIONALITY.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WORKING THAT RELIGION.

PILE FROM THAT SAME RELIGION.

>> GATES SAYS IF HE HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, HE WOULD HAVE GONE TO GROUND ZERO TO ANSWER THE CALL LIKE HUNDREDS OF FIRST RESPONDERS DID ON THAT DAY 20 YEARS AGO.

FOR INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'’M ADAM PINSKER.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY TODD BURKHARDT, A RETIRED INFANTRY LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE U.S. ARMY AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF IU'S R-O-T-C PROGRAM WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN.

HE'S CURRENTLY WORKS IN IU'S CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT.

HELLO, TODD, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEINGGER, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST ATTENTION ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE TALIBAN BACK IN CONTROL.

YOU SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN, HOW DID IT FEEL TO SEE THE WAR END AS IT DID?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES.

IT WAS INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL.

DISBELIEF, FRUSTRATION, ANGER.

SADNESS.

I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY THE ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T HAVE A COHERENT WITHDRAWAL STRATEGY AND EXIT PLAN.

I THINK THAT KIND OF COMPOUNDED SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SAW UNFOLD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THIS WEEKEND AS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY FOR 9-11, WILL BE INCREDIBLY SAD AND SOMBER.

I THINK IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT WHEN WE TURN ON THE NEWS AND WE SEE INCA BOOL OR ACROSS AFGHANISTAN TALIBAN FORCES IN OUR VEHICLES HAVING PARADES.

AND SO IT'S -- IT'S SAD.

>> THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MY 9-11 TYPE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

IS THERE MORE DANGER OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING AGAIN IN THE U.S.

SINCE THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK LIKE MANY PEOPLE, I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.

HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

HOWEVER, I THINK THIS OWNS IT UP TO UNCERTAIN TIMES.

WITHOUT HAVING A PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN, OUR INABILITY FOR HUMAN INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS CRITICAL AT ANY TIME IN OTHER TO DISRUPT DEFEAT AND DISMANTLE ANY TYPE OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IS -- IS DEFINITELY HINDERED AND OUR EFFECTIVENESS IS ALSO MITIGATED BECAUSE OF THAT.

NOW, WE HAVE HORIZON STRIKE CAPABILITIES, THAT IS DEFINITELY TRUE, NOT HAVING BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND ASSETS READILY AVAILABLE CAN POTENTIALLY NOT ALLOW US TO CATCH THINGS AS THEY EMERGE.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THE TALIBAN WHO IS A THUG-LIKE ORGANIZATION, USING BRUTE FORCE, COULD VERY WELL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ISIS AND OTHER OFFSHOOTS OF THE TALIBAN GROW AND FLOURISH AND TRAIN IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> YOU WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE AFGHAN ARMY DURING YOUR TIME THERE, WERE AFGHANS YOU WORKED WITH ABLE TO GET OUT, ARE THERE STILL MANY THERE IN THE COUNTRY?

>> SADLY, NO.

I WORKED WITH FIVE FAMILIES IN PARTICULAR.

FIVE AFGHAN, A COUPLE OF THEM WERE AFGHAN OPERATIONS IN THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY, A COUPLE WERE INTERPRETERS, TWO OF THE FIVE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, I'M STILL CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THREE OF MY AFGHAN COUNTERPARTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET THEM OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THIS WHERE THERE SORT OF WASN'T A PLAN IN ORDER TO GET OUT OUR AFGHAN COUNTERPARTS WHERE A LOT OF VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS STOOD UP IN THE ABSENCE OF A COHERENT STRATEGY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET THEM OUT.

TEAM AMERICA AND NO ONE LEFT BEHIND ARE THREE VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS DOING JUST THAT.

>> TODD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC VISITATION AND FUNERAL NEXT WEEK IN LOGANSPORT FOR MARINE CORPORAL HUMBERTO SANCHEZ.

THE 22-YEAR-OLD SANCHEZ WAS ONE OF 13 MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN A SUICIDE BOMBING AUGUST 26 AT THE AIRPORT IN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN.

PUBLIC VISITATION WILL BE MONDAY FROM 1 TO 7 P.M. AND THE FUNERAL TUESDAY AT 11 A.M.

BOTH EVENTS WILL BE AT LIFEGATE CHURCH.

SANCHEZ HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO AFGHANISTAN TO HELP IN THE MASS EVACUATION LAST MONTH AFTER THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT FELL TO THE TALIBAN.

>>> BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK APPROVED A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A $5,000 INCREASE IN POLICE OFFICER BASE PAY IN THE 2022 BUDGET, BUT HOLDEN ABSHIER REPORTS, THE MAYOR IS NOT ON BOARD WITH THE PROPOSAL.

>> THE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGES CITY ADMINISTRATION TO RENEGOTIATE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE STARTING NEXT MONTH.

THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2022.

MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON AND POLICE CHIEF MIKE DIEKHOFF SAY IT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED TO RAISE BASE PAY OUTSIDE THE BARGAINING CYCLE.

HOWEVER, COUNCILMEMBER RON SMITH, WHO CO-SPONSORED THE RESOLUTION, SAYS ONGOING RETENTION ISSUES WITHIN BPD MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

>> TURNOVER AND RETENTION RATES ARE THE CANARIES IN THE COAL MINE.

MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS IS ANOTHER.

>> JEFF RODGERS, UNION REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BPD, SAYS OFFICERS DO NOT ENJOY COMING TO WORK AND MORALE IS LOW.

HE SAYS IT IS DIFFICULT TO COMPARE POLICE COMPENSATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

HOWEVER, BPD CONTINUES TO LOSE OFFICERS TO THESE AGENCIES.

>> WE'’VE ALREADY LOST TWO OFFICERS THIS YEAR TO WESTFIELD, AND CURRENTLY HAVE AN OFFICER IN FISHER'’S PROCESS.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

LAST YEAR WE LOST TWO OTHER OFFICERS TO WESTFIELD.

SO, WHETHER THE MAYOR'’S OFFICE WANTS TO COMPARE US TO THAT OR NOT, OUR OFFICERS ARE MAKING THAT COMPARISON.

>> GIVEN THE RESOLUTION IS NON-BINDING, IT IS ONLY AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE CITY ADMINISTRATION'’S ATTENTION AND LET THEM KNOW THERE IS STILL TIME TO RENEGOTIATE POLICE PAY BEFORE THE 2022 BUDGET IS APPROVED.

>> WE ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS.

THAT IS NOT OUR JOB.

OUR JOB IS TO MANAGE THE BUDGET AND MAKE SURE IT'S HITTING ON ALL THE BURNERS WITH RESPECT TO THE BASIC CITY SERVICES OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT US TO SUPPLY.

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

>> THE COUNCIL PASSED THE RESOLUTION BY A 7-1-1 VOTE.

COUNCILMEMBER KATE ROSENBARGER ABSTAINED AND MATT FLAHERTY VOTED '‘NO.'’.

>>> THE INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM MAKES ITS HOME DEBUT SATURDAY NIGHT AGAINST IDAHO.

THE HOOSIERS ARE LOOKING TO REBOUND FROM A 34-TO-6 LOSS AT IOWA LAST SATURDAY THAT SAW THEM FALL OUT OF THE NATIONAL RANKINGS.

SATURDAYING'S GAME PICKS UP OF OFF AT 10 P.M. THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIU NEWS DOT ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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