>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF INTO THE PANDEMIC, HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE CONTINUE TO BE OVERWHELMED.

>> TO BE HONEST, DOES IT CARE ME A LITTLE?

YES, IT SCARES ME A LITTLE.

>> GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS DEPLOYED THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP AT SOME HOSPITALS BUT REMAINS RESISTANT TO IMPLEMENTING OTHER COVID RESTRICTIONS.

>> THE HOOSIER FAN FEST IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH.

INDIANA'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO CASH IN ON THE EVENT, THANKS TO THE NEW NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS POLICY.

>> IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

IT'S LONG OVERDUE, ESPECIALLY FOR OTHER ATHLETES THAT DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE ME.

>> THE EVENT IS ONE WAY THAT STUDENT ATHLETES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE NCAA RULE CHANGE.

AND MITCH LEGAN VISITS CAMP ATTERBURY TALKING WITH AFGHAN EVACUEES WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE STATE IS CONTINUING TO AVERAGE ABOUT 2500 NEW COVID-19 CASES A DAY THIS WEEK.

BREAKTHROUGH CASES, THOSE IN WHICH VACCINATED HOOSIERS HAVE GONE ON TO CONTRACT THE VIRUS ARE ALSO ON THE RISE.

OF THE 994,000 POSITIVE CASES IN THE STATE, ALMOST 49,000 HAVE BEEN BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

INDIANA HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSO ANNOUNCED 78 NEW DEATHS THURSDAY, BRINGING THE STATE'S TOTAL TO JUST UNDER 15,700 SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN 18 MONTHS AGO.

>>> WELL, FOR MONTHS HOSPITALS ACROSS INDIANA HAVE BEEN ENDURING A SURGE OF NEW PATIENTS.

IT'S HELPING TIRED AND OVERWHELMED HEALTHCARE WORKERS COPE WITH THE LATEST SURGE.

REPORTER BROCK TURNER VISITED MULTIPLE INDIANA HOSPITALS LAST WEEK, AND HAS MORE ON THE LATEST WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, JOE.

NOTHING CAN REALLY PREPARE YOU STEPPING INTO THE I.C.U.

OR A MED SURG UNIT AT A HOSPITAL.

THE FLOOR IS FULL OF LARGELY UNVACCINATED COVID PATIENTS.

THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS INSIST ON CARING FOR THEM IS AT A BREAKING POINT.

JAMIE SCHUTTE AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS ACROSS INDIANA ARE OVERWHELMED.

>> OUR WORKLOAD IS QUADRUPLED.

>> SCHUTTE IS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST.

THEY USUALLY CARE FOR 25 PATIENTS.

TODAY, THERE ARE NEARLY THAT MANY COVID PATIENTS ON THE FLOOR AND EVEN MORE WITH OTHER CONDITIONS REQUIRE HOSPITAL STAYS.

>> WE ARE KEEPING TWICE AND THREE TIMES THE NORMAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT WE ARE USED TO SEEING.

OUR INPATIENT VOLUME HAS BEEN VERY BUSY.

WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH STAFFING AND BEING ABLE TO FILL NURSING SHIFTS, RESPIRATORY SHIFTS, ISSUES WITH PROVIDER COVERAGE.

>> SCHUTTE IS JUST ONE OF A HANDFUL OF RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS HERE AND HAS SEEN A LOT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT SCARES ME IS SEEING -- SINCE I'M FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND SEEING FAMILY OR NEIGHBORS.

FRIENDS THAT COME IN AND I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, WHICH IN A SMALL COMMUNITY, YOU KIND OF KNOW EVERYBODY.

SO THAT KIND OF MAKES IT HARD.

>> THE PROBLEMS FACING INDIANA HOSPITALS AREN'T ISOLATED TO MARY MARGARET.

ACROSS THE STATE, AND COUNTRY, HEALTH CARE IS BEING PUSHED TO THE BRINK.

EXPERTS SAY UNVACCINATED COVID PATIENTS PAIRED WITH A NUMBER OF CLINICAL STAFFING SHORTAGES IS TESTING AN ALREADY TATTERED SYSTEM.

THAT'S IN LARGE PART WHY AN ORDER FROM GOVERNOR ERR I CAN HOLCOMB WHO HAS JOINED FELLOW REPUBLICANS WHO HAS RESISTS AND ALLOWED THE NATIONAL GUARD TO BE DEPLOYED TO A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS, ONE OF THEM IS CLARK MEMORIAL IN JEFFERSONVILLE.

>> IT'S BEEN A BOOST FOR US TO HAVE AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEEDED, WAS SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND AT LEAST GIVE US A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS TO HELP WITH THOSE THINGS THIS WE WANT TO DO BUT VICE PRESIDENT GOTTEN A CHANCE TO DO.

>> -- HAVEN'T GOTTEN A CHANCE TO DO.

>> GUARD MEMBERS CAN ONLY BE DEPLOYED AT A HOSPITAL FOR A TWO-WEEK PERIOD.

>> WE GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AND CONTINUE ON WITHOUT THE HELP.

EVERYBODY PICKS UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> WE WERE SUPPOSED TO VISIT THE E.R.

AS PART OF OUR VISIT BUT HOSPITAL STAFF TOLD US IT WAS TOO CROWDED.

SCHMIDT AND OTHER HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS ADMIT THE CARE PATIENTS ARE RECEIVING IS NOT ALWAYS AT THE LEVEL THEY WOULD DESIRE.

>> DOES IT SCARE ME A LITTLE?

YES, IT SCARES ME A LITTLE.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING FLEXIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF WHO WE CAN AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF, WE GET TO AN APPROPRIATE PLACE THAT THEY CAN GET CARE.

>> THE HOSPITAL IS EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE MORE INTENSIVE CARE ARE STRETCHED THIN TOO.

MANY INDIANAPOLIS AREA HOSPITALS ADMIT THEY SPENT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TIME ON DIVERSION, SOME LIKE THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM HAVE COLLECTED ALL ELECTIVE INPATIENT PROCEDURES.

>> IT'S THE STATE OF INDIANA, IT'S OUR TRANSFERRING FACILITIES IN INDIANAPOLIS AND IN CINCINNATI AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TRANSFER APPROPRIATELY.

>> THAT LACK OF STAFFING AND PHYSICAL SPACE CREATE RIPPLE EFFECTS FOR SMALL CRITICAL ACCESS LIKE MARY MARGARET.

>> THAT GETS SCARY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET PATIENTS APPROPRIATELY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

THE REALITY IS IF THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO, THEY ARE STAYING HERE.

>> THEY KEEP SICKER PATIENTS LONGER BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE TO TRANSFER THEM THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

THE FRONT-LINE STAFF EXPERIENCE IT DAILY.

>> NORMALLY WE HAVE PATIENTS COME IN, AND YOU ARE WITH THEM FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS, THEY GO HOME.

COVID PATIENTS, WE ARE WITH THEM EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH OR BETTER.

AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET TO GO HOME.

YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT THEM.

BEFORE THEY GET TOO SICK TO BE ABLE TO TALK.

THEY GET -- YOU GET TO KNOW THEM.

IT MAKES IT HARD.

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

>>> WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS FOR SO MUCH.

TO ACTUALLY SEE IT GIVES IT SO MUCH MORE MEANING.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS DEPLOYED?

>> YES, THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE PERSON IN THE STATE WITH THE AUTHORITY TO DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THAT'S THE GOVERNOR.

WHILE HOLCOMB'S OFFICE HAS ATTEMPTED TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THESE DEPLOYMENTS, INSISTING THAT THE ORDER THAT AUTHORIZED THEM IS NOT NEW, THAT REALLY ISN'T TRUE.

BEEN ROUTINELY RENEWED.

WHILE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE PLANNING, THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN WITHOUT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TASKS THEY WERE DOING?

>> IT VARIES BY HOSPITAL BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, THEY ARE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF SOLDIERS UNDER THIS DEPLOYMENT, ONE IS WORKING WORKING IN CRITICAL ROLES AND THE OTHER IN NONCLINICAL ROLES.

THOSE SOLDIERS WITH MEDICAL CREDENTIALS ARE PROVIDING ACTUAL PATIENT CARE FOR HOSPITALS SHORT STAFFED WITH HIGH PATIENT VOLUMES.

OTHERS ARE DOING MORE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CUSTODIAL WORK WHICH TAKES A LOT OF BURDEN OFF OF OTHER STAFF, THE HOSPITAL I ATTENDED FOR EXAMPLE, LAST WEEK, TALKED ABOUT A -- THEY HAD SOLDIERS ACINN SODIERS ASSIGNED TO ADMINISTERING COVID TESTS.

>> IS THERE ANY LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> THIS COULD BE.

BOTH NEW CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS APPEAR TO BE SLOWING, BUT KEEP IN MIND, THOUGH, HOSPITALIZATIONS DO TEND TO LAG ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEHIND NEW CASES.

WHILE THE STATE SURGE MIGHT BE WANING LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOOSIERS VACCINATED AND THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE LIKE FUTURE VARIANTS COULD EMERGE.

>> ALL RIGHT, BROCK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS A LOT, JOE.

>>> WELL, THE 2022 BLOOMINGTON CIVIL CITY BUDGET IS GOING BACK TO MAYOR HAMILTON ONE FINAL TIME.

THE BUDGET LACKS THEIR PRIORITIES.

HOLDEN ABSHIER HAS THE STORY.

>> WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA INCLUDED SEVEN VOTES.

THREE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCES TO SET THE CITY BUDGET, AND FOUR ORDINANCES TO SET SALARIES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TWO APPROPRIATION ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON UTILITIES AND BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT.

BOTH OF THESE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS ARE SEPARATE FROM THE REMAINING $107 MILLION CIVIL CITY BUDGET.

HOWEVER, COUNCIL RECESSED UNTIL OCTOBER 27th, BEFORE CASTING ANY ADDITIONAL VOTES.

ALMOST EVERY COUNCILMEMBER SAY THEY WOULD EITHER VOTE NO OR LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUDGET BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 2nd DEADLINE.

>> A NUMBER OF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SENT NARROW, LIMITED AND REASONABLE PRIORITIES THAT THEY ARE QUITE LEER THAT THEY NEED TO SEE IN THE BUDGET.

IT WAS THE MAYOR'S CHOICE NOT TO INCLUDE THESE.

>> IT INCLUDES A LACK OF A DIRECTOR LEVEL POSITION TO IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, AND A BASE PAY INCREASE FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

>> I'M SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THIS MAYOR'S BUDGETS MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY PASS.

THIS YEAR.

WE ARE SEEING OPEN REVOLT BY A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL.

>> HOWEVER, MAYOR HAMILTON SAYS THE 2022 CITY BUDGET REFLECTS A GREAT DEAL OF THE INPUT HIS ADMINISTRATION RECEIVED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

>> WE HAVE, IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, LISTENED TO A GREAT DEAL OF INPUT, FROM ALL NINE COUNCILMEMBERS, AS WELL AS WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC VOICES AND INSTITUTIONS INTERESTED IN OUR FUTURE, AS A COMMUNITY.

>> ON TUESDAY, MAYOR HAMILTON SENT COUNCILMEMBERS A MEMO OUTLINING FOUR ADVANTAGES OF ADOPTING THE BUDGET AND 14 DISADVANTAGES OF REJECTING IT.

HOWEVER, SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS FOUND THE MEMO TO BE MISLEADING.

>> I REALLY RESENT HAVING IT PRESENTED TO ME AS YOU EITHER DO THIS OR BAD STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE MINDS OF OUR OWN.

WE REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS WHO WE HEAR FROM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> SANDBERG SAYS THERE'S STILL TIME TO REWORK THE BUDGET BEFORE THE STATE DEADLINE ON NOVEMBER 2nd.

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

>> NOW, CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO REJECT THE PROPOSED 2022 BUDGET IN TWO WEEKS.

THE 2021 BUDGET ROLLS OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.

>>> OFFICIALS IN OWEN COUNTY ARE TIGHTENING THEIR FISCAL BELTS AS THEY GET READY TO FINALIZE THE 2022 BUDGET THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF A CONTROVERSIAL TAX INCREASE THAT PASSED EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

ADAM PINSKER REPORTS.

>> DON'T SETTLE FOR THE TAX INCREASE!

I'M A VERY UP POLITICAL PORTION.

I'M A NORMAL RESIDENT BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> RACHEL COLD.

S SAYS HER DECISION TO RUN FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS FUELED BY THE RECENT INCOME TAX INCREASE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

>> THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INCOME ALREADY HERE AND YOU ADD THOSE TAX INCREASES ON TOP OF IT, AND THAT WILL MAKE IT WHERE SOME PEOPLE'S ENDS CAN'T MEET.

>> THE TAX INCREASE FROM 1.6 TO 2.5%, IS PART OF A TWO I HAVE HAD PRONGED APPROACH TO DIG THE COUNTY OUT OF A $1.9 MILLION DEFICIT, AND MAINTAINING EMERGENCY SERVICES AT THE SAME TIME.

>> NORMALLY, IT WAS FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THIS WOULD FUND HIS DEPARTMENT WHICH WOULD FREE UP MONEY WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND OR OTHER EXPENDITURES.

>> OWEN COUNTY ENDED UP IN THE RED AFTER THE FORMER AUDITOR FAILED TO COLLECT $900,000 IN TAX REVENUE.

ON TUESDAY, COUNTY COUNCIL PRESENTED ITS 2022 BUDGET, WHICH IS $16.7 MILLION.

$1 MILLION MORE THAN THE 2021 BUDGET.

THIS DESPITE A 20% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT IN MOST COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

BUT THOSE CUTS ARE OFFSET BY OTHER EXPENSES.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ON MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR ALL OF OUR COUNTY OFFICES HAS WENT UP QUITE A BIT.

>> COLD.

S SAYS SHE HAS A HARD TIME BELIEVING THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS PROPERLY MAINTAINING THE BUDGET SINCE THIS IS THE THEIR TIME IN TWO YEARS THEY ARE RAISING TAXES ON RESIDENTS.

>> THE REASON THAT THEY ARE INCREASING THE TAXES IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO MONEY.

THEY HAVE MISMANAGED THE FUNDS.

>> COUNTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANDY WOOD VOWS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, STARTING WITH IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY SPEND.

>> THOSE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED, INTERNAL CONTROLS HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HITS THE COUNTY AGAIN.

>> FINAL ADOPTION OF THE BUDGE SET EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE -- BUDGET IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE OCTOBER 25th COUNCIL MEETING.

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

>>> THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR A CASINO IN TERRE HAUTE HAS PASSED.

FOUR COMPANIES HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING FULL HOUSE RESORTS WHICH SEPARATES THE CASINO IN RISING SON AND HARD ROCK.

TERRE HAUTE MAYOR DUKE BENNETT SAYS THE CITY HAS NO SAY IN WHICH COMPANY GETS A CASINO LICENSE BUT HE PREFERS HARD ROCK BECAUSE IT'S PARTNERED WITH TERRE HAUTE ENTREPRENEUR GREG GIBSON.

>> WE WOULD LOVE FOR A FIRST-CLASS CASINO TO COME HERE THAT WILL DRAW A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM MONEY AND BRING SOME LOCAL DOLLARS BACK HERE THAT WE CAN SPEND.

>> THE STATE SAYS IT WILL DECIDE ON WHICH COMPANY GETS A LICENSE BY NOVEMBER 17th.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," OUR MITCH LEGAN VISITED WITH AFGHANISTAN EVACUEES TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT CAMP ATTERBURY AND WILL JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE HEARD AND SAW.

>> AND I.U.

BASKETBALL PLAYERS WILL BE CASHING IN ON THE HOOSIER FAN FEST, THANKS TO THE NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS RULE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

OFFICIALS OVERSEEING THE NEARLY 7,000 AFGHAN EVACUEES HOUSED AT CAM.

ATTERBURY OPENED THEIR DOORS TO THE MEDIA ON THURSDAY.

OUR MITCH LEGAN JOINED TEN OTHER JOURNALISTS TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE INSIDE THE CAMP.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN THERE FOR A WHILE.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SAID THEY WANTED MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT THE CAMP TO GET THROUGH WITH MOST OF THEIR PROCESSING BEFORE THEY SHOWED UP.

SO WE SHOWED UP ON THURSDAY AND SPOKE WITH SOME OF THOSE DHS OFFICIALS, STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND MILITARY OFFICIALS WHO ARE OVERSEEING THE OPERATIONS THERE, AND THEN WE HOPPED IN A COUPLE OF VANS AND WENT ON A SIX-HOUR TOUR OF THE CAMP.

>> WOW!

SO THE BASE ITSELF, WHAT IS THAT LIKE.

>> IT'S A MILITARY BASE.

STARK, NON-DESCRIPT BUILDINGS.

BARRACKS WITH BUNK BEDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S BECOME A CITY OF SORTS.

BARRACKS HAVE CREATED ALMOST NEIGHBORHOODS AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MESS HALLS THAT SERVE SOMETHING LIKE 20,000 HALAL MEALS A DAY AND THE PEOPLE THERE ARE KIND OF JUST KILLING TIME LIKE YOU OR I WOULD.

THEY ARE ON THEIR CELL PHONES, WALKING AROUND AND, JOE, THERE ARE A TON OF KIDS AT THIS CAMP.

40% ARE 14 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER.

THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL PRETTY EARLY WITH SOME OF THE SOLDIERS.

THEY ARE GOING TO SCHOOL ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, LEARNING SOME BASIC ENGLISH AND CULTURAL THINGS AND SOME OF THE CAMP OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE TO UP THE CLASSES NOW THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROCESSED, BOTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

>> YOU SAID 40% ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14?

>> YES.

AND SO CAMP CAPACITY IS 7,000 PEOPLE AND WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE, MORE PEOPLE ARE BROUGHT IN.

SO 150 PEOPLE SHOWED UP ON THURSDAY.

I BELIEVE ANOTHER 100 ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND.

AND SO WITH ALL OF THAT SHUFFLING IN AND OUT, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE CAMP HAS STAYED PRETTY CONSTANT AT ABOUT 6,700 PEOPLE.

AND I SHOULD SAY -- OR NOT 3,000.

330 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO LEAVE THE CAMP SO FAR.

>> SO JUST GOING BACK A SECOND.

THE BARRACKS ACT AS NEIGHBORHOODS.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT MEANS?

>> SO THEY SHOWED US WHAT THEY CALL THE 500 BLOCK.

AND EACH BLOCK IS A GROUP OF BARRACKS THAT AS WE HAVE SAID HAVE ESSENTIALLY KIND OF BECOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

40 TO 120 PEOPLE LIVE IN EACH BARRACK DEPENDING ON THE SETUP.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN SLEEP TO GO AND THEN MEN SLEEP IN SEPARATE BUILDINGS.

THEY TRY TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, IN BUILDINGS KIND OF NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

SO THEY ARE CLOSE.

THEY KIND OF HAVE THAT FAMILIA EXPERIENCE, BUT THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SETUP THAT I FOUND WAS THAT EACH BUILDING CHOOSES AN ENGLISH SPEAKER WHO THEN PARTICIPATES IN WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY TOWN HALLS WITH THE SOLDIERS.

THREE TIMES A WEEK, THEY WILL COME AND BRING THEIR CONCERNS TO THE SOLDIERS.

SOLDIERS WILL GIVE THEM IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT THEY WILL THEN TAKE BACK TO THOSE BARRACKS AND SPREAD AMONGST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE.

I SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE SOLDIERS AND THEY SAID WOMEN ARE ACTUALLY STARTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MEETINGS, MORE THAN THEY WOULD AT THE BEGINNING.

A LOT OF THE HUSBANDS DIDN'T WANT WIVES AROUND.

SINGLE WOMEN STARTED SHOWING UP AT THESE MEETINGS AND NOW THEY ARE HOPING THAT THE CULTURE IS CHANGING A LITTLE BIT HERE ON BASE.

>> MITCH, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.

VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

>> THANKS, JOE.

>>> WELL, INDIANA BASKETBALL FANS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET UP CLOSE WITH THE MEN'S TEAM NEXT MONTH AND THANKS TO THE NCAA'S NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS RULE, THE HOOSIER PLAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO CASH IN.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> TICKETS WENT ON SALE TODAY FOR THE INAUGURAL HOOSIER FAN FEST, FEATURING THE INDIANA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 6th.

WHILE SOME OF THE FEATURED ETCHES MIRROR THOSE -- EVENTS MIRROR HOOSIER HYSTERIA, ONE THING WON'T.

THE FAN FEST WILL COST MORE THAN A CANNED GOOD TO GET IN?

>> ALL THE MONEY THAT IS POOLED TOGETHER FROM CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS, FROM TICKET SALES, FROM AUCTION SALES, THAT WILL GO INTO PAY POT THAT IS SPLIT UP AMONGST THE PLAYERS.

>> THE FAN FEST IS A BRAIN CHILD OF PANKOWSKI AND WARD ROBERTS, THE FOUNDER OF HOOSIER HYSTERICS, AND HOSTS THE HOOSIER HYSTERICS PODCAST.

PANKOWSKI SAYS FOR EVENTS SUCH AS THIS, IT WON'T BE NATURAL FOR THE MORE MARKETABLE PLAYERS TO EARN MORE.

>> THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WILL HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH THE REALITIES OF A FREE MARKET.

WHICH ARE SOME PEOPLE MAKE MORE MONEY.

>> INDIANA LAW PROFESSOR DENNETTE DAU-SCHMIDT CITED A UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS STUDY, SHOWED THAT STAR PLAYERS ARE WORTH MORE THAN $1 MILLION AND THE GUYS AT THE END OF THE BENCH IS $30,000.

>> THEY ARE PROBABLY BEING ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED BUT THE REAL STARS ARE WORTH MORE TO THE UNIVERSITY IN TERMS OF REVENUE THAN WHAT THEY ARE GETTING OUT OF THEIR SCHOLARSHIP.

>> DAU-SCHMIDT SAYS ANOTHER THING TO WATCH FOR IS ANY EFFECT ON PLAYER/COACH RELATIONSHIPS.

>> WE HAVE SOME COLLEGE COACHES THAT MAKE AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY, AND IF THEIR STAR ATHLETES ARE WORTH MORE THAN THEY ARE, THAT'S -- TO THE UNIVERSITY, THAT'S -- THAT, YOU KNOW, PORE PORTENDS BIG CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE NCAA NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS RULES, ALLOWING COLLEGE ATHLETES TO BE PAID AND THAT'S SOMETHING ENCOURAGED BY THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AT THE OUTSET.

>> WE ARE HAPPY THAT THIS IS TAKING PLACE.

WE ARE HAPPY THAT STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY AND ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> TRACE JACKSON DAVIS, THE FACE OF THE HOOSIER BASKETBALL HAS AN ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH INDIANA BANKS.

THEY ARE SELLING T-SHIRTS AND MAKING PERSONAL APPEARANCES.

>> THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB MAXIMIZING THEIR MARKETABILITY.

WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE, THE WAY THEY COMPORT THEMSELVES ON THE COURT OR FIELD OF PLAY, THEY MIGHT BE SOME OF THE OUR MOST MARKETABLE AND PROFITABLE ATHLETES.

>> AS A HOOSIER ALUM PANKOWSKI SAYS ONE OF THE REASONS HE PUTS ON EVENTS SUCH AS THIS IS TO PROMOTE THE UNIVERSITY.

>> AND EVENTS LIKE THIS IS OUR ATTEMPT TO SAY, TO PROSPECTIVE ATHLETES OUT THERE, LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO AT INDIANA!

LOOK AT WHAT IS WAITING FOR YOU IF YOU COME TO INDIANA.

>> SOME OKAY N.I.L.

COULD GIVE AN ADVANTAGE IN RECRUITING TO MARQUEE UNIVERSITIES LIKE INDIANA AND OTHER POWER FIVE COVERAGE SCHOOLS.

>> SCHOOLS IN LARGE CITIES PROBABLY WORTH MORE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORE POTENTIAL FOR YOUR NAME TO BE USEFUL BUT I.U.

IS NOT IN A LARGE CITY BUT THERE'S A LARGE FAN BASE.

>> ALABAMA FOOTBALL HAS A DIFFERENT WEIGHT ROOM, DIFFERENT FOOD BUDGET, DIFFERENT RECRUITING BUDGET, DIFFERENT TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS, DIFFERENT UNIFORM BUDGET THAN A TEAM OUT OF THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ALREADY.

>> DAU-SCHMIDT SAYS THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD AND TITLE IX THAT WILL LIKELY BE DEALT WITH BY THE COURTS BUT FOR NOW ONE THING IS CERTAIN.

>> A LOT OF THE ATHLETES WILL EARN SOMETHING OFF OF THIS.

OBVIOUSLY THE MOST TALENTED ATHLETES OR THE MOST IMPORTANT ATHLETES IN THE BIG MONEY SPORTS HAVE THE GREATEST CAPACITY TO EARN.

ATHLETES IN OLYMPIC SPORTS, I THINK WOULD ALSO BENEFIT A LOT FROM THIS AND THEN ALSO JUST ATHLETES THAT GRAB THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.

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

>>> THE WOMEN'S TEAM WON'T PARTICIPATE IN THE FAN FEST, BUT WILL HOST A BASKETBALL CAMP FOR 6 TO 14-YEAR-OLDS BEFORE THE FAN FEST AT ASSEMBLY HALL FOR WHICH THEY WILL BE COMPENSATED TOO.

>>> WELL, PUMPKIN GROWN IN OWEN COUNTY BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE BIGGEST GROWN.

DEVAN RIDGEWAY HAS THIS REPORT.

>> IT WAS JUST AN IDEA WE WERE THROWING AROUND AT WORK.

AND MY BROTHER AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS AT WORK, WE JUST ALL DECIDED IT WAS SOMETHING WE WOULD TRY TO DO.

WE STARTED WITH A GARDEN.

AND JUST START TRYING TO WORK THE SOIL AND GET IT BUILT UP.

THEN YOU'VE GOT TO GET A GOOD SEED.

AND THEN THE WATERING SYSTEM, WHICH YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, YOU'VE GOT TO TRY TO GET SOME SORT OF WATERING SYSTEM AND THEN YOU JUST TAKE CARE OF.

>> WHEN YOU ARE GROWING THE PUMPKIN, YOU HAVE TO BURY THE VINES.

THAT'S THE HARDEST PART OF IT, IS GETTING OUT HERE EVERY DAY, GETTING ALL THE VINES BURIED EACH DAY AND IT USUALLY TAKES PROBABLY AN HOUR PER PLANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE PLANTS AT THE PEAK GROWTH.

SOMEONE PROBABLY STOPS BY ONCE A WEEK MAYBE TO SEE IT.

LAST YEAR I DID GOOD, I WAS NUMBER ONE IN INDIANA LAST YEAR.

I PUT THE SEED IN HAD THE GROUND MAYBE AROUND THE 1st OF MAY.

AND I POLLENATED THE PUMPKIN ITSELF JUNE 12th AND THEN WE CUT IT OFF OCTOBER 7th.

TOOK IT TO THE WEIGH-OFF IN CINCINNATI, OHIO.

THE OLD RECORD WAS 1781 POUNDS.

>> THIS COULD BE INDIANA STATE RECORD.

[ CHEERS ] >> GLAD TO SEE I BROKE IT!

IT WASN'T ACTUALLY MEASURING.

YOU KNOW, YOU MEASURE IT TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW BIG IT WOULD BE.

IT WASN'T MEASURING THAT IT WOULD BREAK THE RECORD.

HAD IT TO WEIGH MORE THAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WEIGH IN ORDER TO BREAK IT.

SO IT DID.

I'VE GOT TO DO BETTER WITH WEEDS.

I HAD A LOT OF WEEDS THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'S A LESSON I LEARNED THIS YEAR THAT I WILL TRY TO DO BETTER FOR NEXT YEAR.

YES, I WILL GO AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND TRY TO BREAK 2,000 POUNDS WILL BE MY GOAL.

IT IS AT LARK RANCH IN LOOGOOTEE.

AND, YEAH, YOU CAN GO THERE AND SEE IT ANY TIME.

>>> AND THE SPENCER PRIDE FESTIVAL IS BACK IN DOWNTOWN SPENCER THIS WEEKEND AFTER GOING VIRTUAL LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

THE LAST TIME SPENCER PRIDE WAS HELD IN PERSON WAS JUNE 2019.

THAT FALL THE OWEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT MANY RESIDENTS SAW AS AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL FROM HAPPENING, BUT PROHIBITS ANYONE FROM USING THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE FOR SPECIAL EVENT.

NOW, BECAUSE OF THE ORDINANCE, THE FESTIVAL IS BEING HELD AROUND THE COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN SPENCER.

THERE WILL BE A VACCINE CLINIC AT THE FESTIVAL TOO.

COVID-19, FLU AND OTHER VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE.

>>> 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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