>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," NEW MAPS FOR INDIANA'S LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WERE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK, BUT MANY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS.

>> THIS IS ONCE AGAIN DILUTING THE BLACK AND MINORITY VOTE IN ANOTHER FORM OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.

>> THE NEW MAPS ARE EXPECTED TO ONLY STRENGTHEN THE GOP SUPERMAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> U.S. FORESTRY PERSONNEL ARE COMBING THROUGH THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST LOOKING FOR NONNATIVE TREES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN DOWN.

>> THE WHITE PINE IS SHADING IT OUT AND THE OAK SPECIES NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUN LIGHT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SURVIVE.

>> BUT SOME WORRY THAT LOGGING THE AREA WILL UPSET A DELICATE BALANCE.

>>> AND WE VISIT WITH AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR WHO HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING IRREGULARITIES INTO THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR NEW PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTON.

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

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

WELL, INDIANA'S 2021 REDISTRICTING PROCESS IS OFFICIALLY OVER AFTER GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SIGNED THE BILL SIGNING NEW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS TOO LAW THIS WEEK, BUT AS INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S BRANDON SMITH REPORTS, SOME QUESTION THE PROCESS AND THE END RESULT.

>> THE MAPS REPUBLICANS CREATED FOR THEMSELVES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS LIKELY ELIMINATE ANY COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND VIRTUALLY GUARANTEE THE GOP WILL MAINTAIN OR EVEN GROW THE SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE STATE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB, WHO DID NOT PUBLICLY INVOLVE HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS APPLAUDED THEMSELVES FOR BEING ORDERLY.

MANY ARGUED THAT THE PROCESS WAS NOT TRANSPARENT.

THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME AFTER THE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED THEIR MAPS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND EVALUATE THEM AND THEY NOTED THE ONLY PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED DISTRICTS WERE DURING THE WORKDAY AT THE STATE HOUSE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENTIST CHRISTOPHER WARSHAW SAYS REPUBLICANS TYPICALLY WENT ABOUT 60% OF THE VOTE STATEWIDE BUT WILL LIKELY WIN 70 TO 80% OF THE SEATS IN THE NEW MAPS.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME GERRYMANDERS IN HISTORY AND EVEN THOUGH IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE EXTREME, THAT REALLY DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXTREMITY OF THIS PLAN.

>> THE NEW DISTRICTS WON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL NOVEMBER 8th, 2022, ELECTION DAY.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M BRANDON SMITH AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>>> AND WE'RE JOINED NOW BY VANESSA CRUZ NICHOLS WHO IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOR MORE ABOUT REDISTRICTING IN INDIANA.

HELLO, PROFESSOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

GERRYMANDERING HAS A LONG HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY AND HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THIS PARTISAN?

>> YES, I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH MY STUDENTS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT REALLY, ALIGNED WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON IN REAL LIFE IN INDIANA.

AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A PRACTICE, YOU NOYOU KNOW THAT'S BEEN ESPECIALLY PROMINENT IN 1910, AND THIS CAME FROM A POLITICIAN IN JERRY.

THEY COMBINED THE GAME JERRY AND SALAMANDER, BECAUSE HIS DISTRICT LOOKS LIKE A SALAMANDER, AND WE HAVE GERRYMANDERING.

AND THE PREVALENCE, THE EXISTING POLARIZATION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COULDN'T TRY, REDISTRICTING AND GERRYMANDERING HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT POLARIZATION, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS BECOME -- POLITICIANS HAVE BECOME MORE TECHNICAL AND HIRE DATA SCIENTISTS TO CREATE MORE FAVORABLE DISTRICT LINES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT ARE DOING BETTER JOBS AT, YOU KNOW, REMOVING SOME OF THOSE PARTISAN INCENTIVES.

SO IT IS NOT THE WAY IT HAS TO BE.

>> YEAH.

NOW AS WE HEARD REPUBLICANS GET ABOUT 60% OF THE VOTE IN INDIANA, BUT WITH THE MAPS WILL CONTROL ABOUT 70 TO 80% OF THE SEATS.

SO WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR DISTRICT MAPS TO REFLECT THE POPULATION?

>> RIGHT.

AND SO OUR DISTRICT MAPS WOULD HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE.

AND SO DISTRICT 5, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMPETITIVE.

IT WAS A LITTLE LESS RED, LESS DEEP RED WHEN YOU LOOK AT PREVIOUS MAPS.

THERE'S SOME GREAT RESOURCES, YOU KNOW WHERE I LOOKED AT THESE MAPS THROUGH 538, AND THEY ARE TRACKING ALL THE NEW MAPS THAT ARE COMING OUT FROM VARIOUS STATES BUT DISTRICT 5 IS VERY MUCH APPARENTLY -- WAS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE PREVIOUS MAP THAN IT IS NOW.

AND SO THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOME OF THE GEOGRAPHIC, THE NATURAL GEOGRAPHIC SORTING THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO POLARIZATION.

THEY ARE LIVING IN THE SUBURB AND RURAL AREAS AND MORE DEMOCRATS ARE LIVING IN MORE URBAN AREAS.

BUT, YEAH DISTRICT 5 IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE IT'S A MUCH SAFER SEAT FOR RED -- FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

>> PROFESSOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> light up with joy when they put the platanoids on the table.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S ALREADY FULL.

OPPONENTS SAY THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE JAIL'S AGREEMENT TO HOUSE FEDERAL INMATES.

HOLDEN ABSHIER REPORTS.

>> THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MADE AN AGREEMENT TO HOUSE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OR I.C.E.

INMATES IN 2015.

IT'S THE ONLY FACILITY IN INDIANA WITH SUCH AN AGREEMENT.

THE JAIL OPENED IN 2006, WITH 176 BEDS.

AS OF MONDAY, ONE OF THE 168 ARE I.C.E.

THEY MAYBE $55 PER DAY FOR EACH FEDERAL INMATE.

THE PROPOSED EXPANSION WOULD ADD MORE THAN 250 BEDS TO THE JAIL, AND MORE THAN DOUBLE ITS SIZE.

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OPPOSE THE EXPANSION DURING MONDAY'S COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S MEETING.

THEY SAID THE JAIL IS ONLY FULL BECAUSE OF ITS AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S.

MARSHAL SERVICE.

>> WE DON'T STAND FOR -- IN ADDITION TO THIS JAIL BECAUSE THAT MEANS MORE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE WALKING THESE HALLS OF CLAY COUNTY.

>> THIS WOMAN'S FATHER WAS ARRESTED IN 2017 FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

HE WAS WE DETAINED IN THE CLAY COUNTY JAIL BEFORE BEING DEPORTED TO MEXICO 10 MONTHS LATER.

SHE SAYS THE JAIL EXPANSION IN CLAY COUNTY ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO BE DETAINED BY I.C.E.

FOR MINOR OFFENSES.

>> IT IS A RIGHT TO SEEK REFUGE AND IT'S A RIGHT TO COME HERE AND LIVE OUR LIFE AS WE WANT TO.

>> DURING MONDAY'S MEETING, SHE SAYS MORE THAN 78% OF I.C.E.

DETAINEES DO NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.

AND AN EXPANSION RUNS A RISK OF STAINING CLAY COUNTY'S REPUTATION.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO BECOME KNOWN FOR THAT OUTSIDE OF YOUR COUNTY.

YOU ARE ALREADY KNOWN FOR THAT.

>> COMMISSIONERS DID NOT VOTE ON THE EXPANSION MONDAY, HOWEVER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ENCOURAGED THE BOARD TO HOST ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS WHEREINGS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROJECT DEVELOPER.

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

>>> CHILD WELFARE PAYMENT COMPLIANCE ROSE.

THE INCREASE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED IN PART TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO COLLECT MONEY PEOPLE OWED FROM THEIR FIRST STIMULUS CHECK.

>> THE INCREASE IN CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS LOCALLY IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE TREND, SINCE SAYS MONROE DEPUTY ATTORNEY.

>> THE OVERALL COLLECTION IN OUR CASES IS UP.

EVERY FAMILY'S CIRCUMSTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND THERE ARE CASES WHERE PAYMENTS HAVE GONE DOWN, WHERE FOLKS HAVE LOST JOBS OR WHATEVER, BUT OVERALL, OUR COLLECTIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN UP OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>> $7.3 MILLION WAS COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY'S CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM IN THE 2020 FISCAL YEAR.

THAT'S UP $800,000 FROM 2019.

CLARK SAYS ALONG WITH THE MONEY GARNISHES FROM STIMULUS CHECKS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ALSO HELPED TO INCREASE COMPLIANCE.

MONROE COUNTY AND MANY OTHERS DID NOT CHARGE ANYONE WITH A FELONY DURING THE PANDEMIC IF THEY OWED CHILD SUPPORT FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

>> ONE IS OBVIOUSLY THE UNCERTAINTY THAT FOLKS HAVE FACED.

ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES THAT MAY HAVE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED FOR A FELONY THAT NOW UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE COMING IN AND THE FOLKS HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME AND IT NO LONGER QUALIFIES.

>> BUT CLARK SAYS HER DEPARTMENT WILL START CHARGING PEOPLE AGAIN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS WORK BECOMES MORE AVAILABLE AND PEOPLE CAN AT LEAST MAKE PART OF THE PAYMENT.

SHE SAYS THOSE CHARGED WITH THE NONSUPPORT FELONY HAVE PROVIDED ESSENTIALLY NO SUPPORT FOR THEIR CHILD.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>>> NOW, CLARK SAYS PEOPLE CAN APPEAL THE AMOUNT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY IN CHILD SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO HER OFFICE.

>>> RESIDENTS OF LAKE VILLAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE WON A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OVER A LARGE ORGANIC DAREY IN NEWTON COUNTY -- DAIRY IN NEWTON COUNTY.

REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, A FEDERAL COURT RULES THAT THE AGENCY DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF INVESTIGATING NATURAL PRAIRIE DAIRY FOR A WETLAND.

>> NATURAL PRAIRIE DAIRY IS A CONFINED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION THAT SITS ON A DRIED UP BED OF BEAVER LAKE ON THE EDGE OF THE FORMER KANKAKEE MARSH WHICH WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST INLAND WETLANDS.

THE HOOSIER ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL CALLS IT ONE OF THE MOST ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE IN THE STATE.

THE GROUP'S ATTORNEY SAYS NATURAL PRAIRIE DAIRY WAS ONLY INVESTIGATED FOR A FEDERAL WETLAND PERMIT AFTER IT FILLED DRAINAGE DISHES AND DID OTHER WORK ON THE PROPERTY.

THE ARMY CORPS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THOSE INTO ACCOUNT.

>> THE ARMY CORPS HAS TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING TABLE AND DO A PROPER WETLAND INVESTIGATION.

>> SHE SAYS IF THE AGENCY FINDS THAT THERE ARE WETLANDS OR WATERS THAT SHOULD BE FEDERALLY PROTECTED AT THE FARM.

>> WELL, IT JUST MEANS THAT NATURAL PRAIRIE WENT AHEAD AND VIOLATED THE CLEAN WATER ACT VERY CLEARLY.

>> AND THAT WOULD GIVE THE PLAINTIFFS AMMO FOR THEIR OTHER PENDING LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DAIRY ITSELF.

THE FARM WAS NOT ABLE TO COMMENT IN TIME FOR AIR.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WE TALK WITH AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR WHOSE INVESTIGATION INTO THE UNIVERSITY'S SEARCH PROCESS FOR A NEW PRESIDENT PAM WHITTON HAS RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS.

AND THE U.S. FORESTRY SERVICE IS LOOKING AT WAYS TO ELIMINATE NONNATIVE TREES FROM THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST, BUT DOING SO COULD UPSET A DELICATE BALANCE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

A TENURED MEMBER OF THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL FACULTY SAYS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IGNORED ITS OWN SEARCH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS IN HIRING PAMELA WHITTON AS I.U.

'S RES.

STEVE SANDERS SAYS HIS REPORT IS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH EIGHT PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE SEARCH PROCESS, HOWEVER NONE OF HIS SOURCES ARE NAMED IN THE STORY.

NOW, I. U.

SPOKESMAN CHUCK CARNEY SAYS UNIVERSITY WILL NOT, BUT WANTS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I.U.

IS COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING ALL POLICIES AND LAWS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT AND HIRING.

WE'RE JOINED BY PROFESSOR STEVE SANDERS WHO IS REPORTING ON THE STORY CANNING FOUND AT MEDIUM.COM/@STEVESAND.

WE WILL HAVE THAT ONLINE TOO.

I GUESS FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT LED TO THIS INVESTIGATION?

SOMETHING CLICKED.

>> YES, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PRESIDENT WHITTON'S APPOINTMENT, I STARTED HEARING IS STRANGE THINGS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE SEARCH.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND I.U.

FOR YEARS, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOURCES AND YOU PICK UP THINGS.

AND I DECIDED THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMED SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT THEY DESERVED SOMEBODY WHO COULD INVESTIGATE THEM IN A SYSTEMIC WAY.

I WAS TRAINED BOTH AS A JOURNALIST AND THEN LATER AS A SCHOLAR.

I HAVE BEEN PART OF I.U.

FOR 40 YEARS.

I THINK I PROBABLY HAVE SOURCES THAT NO ONE ELSE WHO -- THAT WOULD NOT TALK TO ANYONE ELSE.

AND SO, IT JUST SORT OF EVOLVES THAT I DECIDED I WOULD WRITE WHAT WAS A SORT OF COMBINATION OF A PIECE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM, WITH THE PERSPECTIVE AND THE ANALYSIS OF AN ACADEMIC ARTICLE.

EXAMINING THE SEARCH.

>>> WHAT DID YOU DID YOU FIND?

>> I FOUND THAT THE SEARCH COMMITTEE DID WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TODAY DO, TO INTERVIEW CANDIDATES AND NARROW DOWN FINALISTS.

THEY SENT A LIST OF TRUSTEES TO THE BOARD IN JANUARY AND FOR ONE REASON TORE OR ANOTHER, THEY DECIDED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD AND THEN THEY HIRED A SECOND SEARCH CONSULTANT AND STRUCK OUT ON THEIR OWN AT THE 11th HOUR TO LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.

>> SO YOU HAVE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE'S A HIGH-PROFILE LAW FIRM REQUESTED SOME OF YOUR EMAILS PERTAINING TO YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THE SEARCH.

IS THIS NORMAL?

>> WELL, I HOPE NOT.

AT LEAST IF INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS BEHIND IT.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY HAS DECLINED EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY I AND OTHERS HAVE GIVEN THEM TO JUST DENY THAT THEY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

EMAILS OF UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES ARE PUBLIC RECORDS, BUT I THINK MOST FACULTY WOULD CONSIDER IT A CHILL ON THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM IF THE UNIVERSITY ITSELF WAS SEEKING TO INTIMIDATE A FACT CALLITYFACULTY,OR SEE HOW I KNEW WHAT I KNEW.

THEY TARGETED CERTAIN EMAILS, FACULTY AND THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE UNIVERSITY.

THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP THE TRUSTEES FIND A PRESIDENT.

I KNOW A GOOD NUMBER OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE PROCESS.

>> I WANTED TO GET TO THIS PAYMENT TO FORMER PRESIDENT MCROBBIE FOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU CAME ACROSS.

>> YEAH, BRIEFLY WHAT HAPPENED IS THE TRUSTEES GOT NERVOUS THE SEARCH WOULD FAIL AND THAT PRESIDENT MCROBBIE MIGHT NEED TO STAY IN OFFICE FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.

THAT TURNED OUT NOT TO BE NECESSARY.

BUT ESSENTIALLY -- AND I DETAIL THIS IN THE STORY, WHAT THE TRUSTEES DECIDED IS THEY HAD A GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT WITH McROBBIE THAT THEY WOULD HONOR ANYWAY, SINCE HE HAD AGREED TO REMAIN AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

OF COURSE WE HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS ONLINE.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU, JOE.

>>> THE U.S. FORESTRY SERVICE IS EVALUATING SEVERAL PATCHES OF LAND WITHIN THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOME OF THE TREES NEED TO BE REPLACED.

ADAM PINSKER EXPLAINS WHY THIS IS A DELICATE PROCESS.

>> THE FOREST RESERVICE CLAIMS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS THAT THEY WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH OUR MANAGEMENT PLAN HERE AT HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST.

>> HICKORY NUTS.

OVER HERE WE HAVE PECANS.

THIS IS OUR LITTLE ORCHARD.

WE HAVE PEACHES AND PEARS.

>> ANDY MALLER CLIMBED OUT HIS OWN SLICE OF HEAVEN OUTSIDE OF PAOLI SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT HE WORRIES ABOUT WHAT THIS AREA MAY LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOURNING FOR OVER 30 YEARS ABOUT THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WAS COMING AND SADLY, THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS NO LONGER COMING.

IT IS UPON US.

>> MARLO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE FOREST SERVICE MANAGEMENT PLAN MAY HAVE IN STORE FOR THE AREA.

THE PLAN IS BROKEN DOWN INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OR AREAS OF INTEREST.

FOREST MANAGERS SAY THERE'S SEVERAL ISSUES THEY ARE HELPING TO ADDRESS.

>> LOGGING IS A TOOL THAT WE NEED TO MEET THOSE OBJECTIVES.

WE ARE LOOKING AT MULTI DIVERSE USE AND THAT'S ONE OF MANY TOOLS THAT WE COULD USE.

>> AND IT'S ONLY A TOOL THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE FOREST, SUCH AS MANAGEMENT AREA 2.8, ALONG THE REMOTE STRETCH OF THE PARK NEAR PATOKA LAKE.

FORMERS ABANDONED THIS L.A.

IT WAS RAVAGED BY A DROUGHT.

TO FEND OFF EROSION AT THE TIME, FOREST MANAGERS REFORESTED THE AREA WITH NONNATIVE EASTERN WHITE PINE WHICH THRIVES ON NUTRIENT POOR SOIL.

NOW THESE TREES ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FULLY ADAPT TO SOUTHERN INDIANA'S CLIMATE.

>> YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE DISEASES ATTACKING THEM.

WE HAVE PINE CANKER, WHICH FORMS THOSE SCARS LIKE THE ONE YOU SEE BEHIND ME.

>> TRAVIS IS A SILVER CULTURIST WHICH MEANS HE STUDIES TREES AND SAYS THIS SECTION IS A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR LOGGING BECAUSE THE DYING WHITE PINES ARE CROWDING OUT THE NATIVE HARDWOODS.

>> THIS IS A SMALL WHITE OAK AND LIKELY CAME FROM A SMALL ACORN ON THE MATURE WHITE OAK BACK THERE.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S GROW RIGHT UNDER THIS NONNATIVE EASTERN WHITE PINE.

THE WHITE PINE IS SHADING IT OUT AND THE OAK SPECIES NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUN LIGHT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SURVIVE.

>> SWAIN SAYS THERE'S NO LACK OF DYING TREE PATCHES AROUND THE FOREST, DUE TO INSECT AND DISEASE ISSUES AS WELL.

>> I THINK SOME OF THIS IS PROBABLY CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED.

WE ARE SEEING PATHOGENIC FUGNI ATTACKING OUR TREES.

25 CENTS PER EVERY 100 CUBIC FOOT OF TIMBER SALES GOES INTO THE FEDERAL TREASURY.

WHILE THE REST OF THE REVENUE IS BEING INVESTED INTO THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST.

MONEY GENERATED FROM TIMBER SALES CAN VARY IN AMOUNT DEPENDING ON THE TYPES OF TREES AND MARK CONDITIONS.

>> THERE ARE NATURAL BARRIERS TO MANAGEMENT WORK INSIDE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST, INCLUDING MILES OF CAVE SYSTEMS LIKE THIS AREA OFF THE SPRINGS VALLEY TRAIL.

>> WE HAVE LARGE MATURE SEED-PRODUCING OAKS.

>> FURTHER DOWN THE TRAIL, SWAIN SHOWS US AN AREA OF THE FOREST WHERE HE MIGHT RECOMMEND BURNING TO THIN OUT BEACH TREES IN THE AREA AND HELP TO MAKE OAK TREES MORE COMPETITIVE.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE 350 SPECIES OF LEPODOPDRA.

LIKE MOTH AND BUTTERFLY THAT PREFER OAK OVER OTHERS.

>> GUT HARDWOOD TREES LIKE BEECH AND OTHERS ARE HOME TO BATS.

TWO OF THOSE SPECIES OF BATS ARE ON THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED LIST AND ONE IS LISTED ON THE STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.

>> YOU ARE CUTTING DOWN ALL THE LIVE TREES IN AN OTHER OR THE DEAD TREES, YOU WILL PROBABLY CUT DOWN A ROOST TREE OF ONE OF THESE BATS WITH A LOT OF FEMALES AND PUPS IN IT.

WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND, IT KILLS THE PUPS AND THE MOTHERS TOO.

>> JEFF STANT IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIANA FORESTRY ALLIANCE.

>> HE HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT PLAN BEGINNING WITH THE LOGGING AND BURNING.

HE WORRIED IT WILL LEAVE TOO MANY OAK TREES AND NOT ENOUGH OTHER SPECIES OF TREES.

>> IT'S ALL OF THE SPECIES TOGETHER THAT CREATE THE ECOSYSTEM, THE COMMUNITY, AND WHEN YOU JUST CUT ALL OF THOSE OTHER SPECIES OUT, YOU ARE ONLY LEAVING THE FOOD SOURCES FOR JUST THE INVERTEBRATES THAT FEED ON OAK HICKORY AND THE ANIMALS THAT FIELD ON THOSE INVERTEBRATE.

>> HE SAYS THE FOREST TURNS OVER ON ITS OWN.

WHEN DEAD TREES FALL AND KNOCK OVER OLDER TREES CREATING OPENING IN THE CANOPY.

HE WORRIES REMOVING TOO MANY TREES WILL NOT BE GOOD.

>> REMOVING THAT MUCH CANOPY AND TEARING UP THE GROUND IS A RECIPE FOR INVASIVE PLANTS.

>> SWAIN CONTENDS THE FOREST SERVICE USES SCIENCE-BASED METHODS LIKE STOCKING TABLES WHICH RECOMMENDS HOW MANY TREES CAN EXIST IN AN ACRE WITHOUT BEING OVERCROWDED.

>> AND THERE'S BASICALLY ONE OF THESE STOCKING TABLES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT FOREST TYPES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WE HAVE ONE SPECIFIC TO OUR CENTRAL HARDWOODS, OUR UPLAND CENTRAL HARDWOODS HERE IN INDIANA.

>> AND SWAIN ADDS THAT THEY WANT TO PRESERVE AND PLANT AS MANY OAK TREES AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THOSE SPECIES CAN WEATHER CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WE'RE SEEING MORE EXTREME WEATHER, WHETHER IT'S EXTREME RAINS OR LONGER, HOTTER, DRIER SUMMERS.

>> THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT HISTORY IS MUCH DEEPER AND RICHER.

>> MAULER SAYS THE MORE TIME HE SPENDS IN THE FOREST, THE MORE HE'S ABLE TO THINK CLEARLY ABOUT SOME OF THE LIFE'S CHALLENGING QUESTIONS.

BUT IF YOU ASK HIM WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST, HE WILL TELL YOU.

>> THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN PROTECT THE LAND IS BY KNOWING, IT LOVING IT, AND TAKING ACTION TO DEFEND IT.

>> THE FOREST SERVICE SAYS IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL 2023, WHEN THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY BEGINS.

PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS MAY NOT HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE SOME FORESTRY OFFICIALS ARE OUT WEST BATTLING WILDFIRES OUT THERE.

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

>> AS THE TEMPERATURE STARTS DROPPING, IT'S NOT ONLY PEOPLE IN BLOOMINGTON PUTTING ON EXTRA LAYERS.

KATHERINE PATTERSON REPORTS ON TREES AROUND TOWN GETTING SWEATERS TO MIDDLE WAY HOUSE.

>> THIS WAS THE MIDDLE WAY HOUSE WRAPPED IN LOVE PUBLIC ART DISPLAY AND A CELEBRATION MARKED THE 50th YEAR OF SERVICE IN MONROE COUNTY.

BETWEEN OCTOBER AND MARCH, THE TREES WILL BE WRAPPED IN ABOUT 60 SWEATERS PROVIDED BY 36 DIFFERENT ARTISTS.

EACH SWEATER INCLUDES MIDDLEWAY HOUSE'S CRISIS LINE NUMBER.

CINDY HOUSTON HAS WORKED AT MIDDLEWAY HOUSE FOR 34 YEARS.

>> YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE FAMILIES WE SERVED OVER THE YEARS AND ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING IN PEACE AND SAFETY, BECAUSE MIDDLEWAY WAS THERE.

>> HOUSTON'S WORK AT MIDDLEWAY WAS COMMEMORATED BY THE RENAMING OF ITS SHELTER AFTER HER.

HOUSTON SAYS SHE HOPES ONE DAY THEY CAN CLOSE THE SHELTER, BECAUSE EVERY HOME IS A SAFE ONE.

UNTIL THEN, SHE PLANS TO CONTINUE WORKING TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WRAPPED IN LOVE, MIDDLEWAY HOUSE AND WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN SERVICE, VISIT MIDDLEWAYHOUSE.ORG.

I'M KATHERINE PATTERSON.

>>> AND THE INDIANA BASKETBALL TEAMS WELCOME BACK FANS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF FOR HOOSIER HYSTERIA.

PAT BEANE HAS THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE EVENT.

♪ [ CHEERS ] >> LAST YEAR WAS INCREDIBLE ON SO MANY FRONTS.

TO BE IN THE SWEET 16, AND ONE CAME FROM THE FINAL FOUR.

AND THAT'S THE GOAL, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE GOAL.

[ CHEERS ] >> AND AS I SAID, AT THE END, THE CONCLUSION, WE LOST TO A RALLYREALLY GOOD ARIZONA TEAM, THAT WE WILL BE BACK.

WE WILL BE BACK.

♪ >> IT FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME.

[ CHEERS ] >> YOU HAVE TO BE ESPECIALLY PROUD AND SAYING YOU WERE AT SCHOOL WHEN THE JOURNEY STARTED AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF YOU WILL STILL BE IN SCHOOL WHEN THE JOURNEY ENDS WITH A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

[ CHEERS ] ♪ >>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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