>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE 90-DAY WINDOW TO REMONSTRATE AGAINST BLOOMINGTON'S PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF MORE THAN 14,000 PEOPLE IS OPEN.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT ANNEXATIONS GOING ON.

AND THAT MIGHT CONFUSE PEOPLE.

>> IF 65% OF LANDOWNERS IN AN AREA REMONSTRATE, THAT ANNEXATION WOULD BE INVALIDATED.

>>> BLOOMINGTON-BASED COOK MEDICAL IS PARTNERING WITH GOODWILL TO BRING A FRESH FOOD MARKET TO A NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS NO GROCERY STORES.

>> IT'S HARD TO GET FOOD.

THERE'S NO BUS LINE TO THE NEXT GROCERY STORE.

SO WHERE DO PEOPLE GET THEIR FOOD FROM?

GAS STATIONS.

FAMILY DOLLARS, DOLLAR GENERAL.

>> THE STORE WILL BE BUILT NEXT TO A NEW COOK MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

>>> AND A BLOOMINGTON RESTAURATEUR IS KEEPING HIS SON'S MEMORY ALIVE BY SHARING THE MUSIC HE MADE WITH THE PUBLIC.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, THE CDC HAS NOW APPROVED BOOSTER SHOTS FOR ALL THREE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINES, MUTT MANY HOOSIERS -- BUT MANY HOOSIERS REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

HEALTH EXPERTS CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR EVERYONE TO GET THE VACCINE.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN 49 CASES OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

THEY ARE POSITIVE CASES IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 14 DAYS AFT FINAL VOICE OF THE VACCINE.

WHILE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LARGE NUMBER, IT'S JUST 1.5% OF THE NUMBER OF FULLY VAC SIPPATED HOOSIERS AND IT'S OUT -- VACCINATED HOOSIERS AND IT'S OUT OF MORE THAN 1 MILLION POSITIVE CASES IN THE STATE 18 MONTHS AGO.

>> THERE ARE ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE MORE PEOPLE BEING HOSPITALIZED WITHOUT BEING VACCINATED THAN WHO ARE VACCINATED.

>> THE STATE HAS RECORDED 531 BREAKTHROUGH DEATHS BUT THAT'S ONLY 3% OF THE TOTAL COVID-19 DEATHS IN THE STATE WHICH ARE CLOSING IN ON 16,000.

GRANNIS SAYS THERE'S A MONETARY REASON TO GET VACCINATED AS WELL.

>> MERCK PILL THAT WILL BE COMING OUT COSTS ABOUT $700 FOR A REGIMEN.

THE ANTIBODY INFUSIONS, THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES THEY COST ABOUT $2,000.

A HOSPITALIZATION COSTS OVER $20,000.

AND THAT VACCINE TO US IS FREE.

>> STILL, VACCINE HESITANCY REMAINS HIGH IN THE STATE.

THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS GETTING THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS IS CURRENTLY OUTPACING THOSE GETTING THEIR FIRST AND SECOND SHOTS AROUND A TWO TO ONE MARGIN.

>> THE DATA CLEARLY SHOWS YOU ARE MUCH MORE PROTECTED WITH THE VACCINE THAN WITHOUT.

AND SO I JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE DATA, AND IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, REACH OUT TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

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

>>> HOSPITALS ARE NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THE INCREASED PATIENT LOAD DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN FACING AN INCREASE IN CYBER ATTACKS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE COLUMBUS REGIONAL HOSPITAL WENT ON HIGH ALERT AFTER A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED IN NEARBY HOSPITALS, INCLUDING JOHNSON MEMORIAL HEALTH IN FRANKLIN, AND SCHNECK MEDICAL CENTER IN SEYMOUR.

AND IN AUGUST, INDIANAPOLIS-BASED HE HE HE ESKENAZI EXPERIENCED AN ATTACK THAT REQUIRED AMBULANCES TO BYPASS THE CITY'S SAFETY NET HOSPITAL.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY APU KAPADIA, WITH THE LUDDY SCHOOL OF INFORMATICS, HELLO, PROFESSOR AND WELCOME.

>> HI.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE CYBER ATTACKS CONTINUE TO BE A THREAT.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THESE ATTACKS?

>> YEAH, ESSENTIALLY THE GOAL OF RANSOMWARE IS TO EXTRACT MONEY FROM YOU, ESSENTIALLY TO GET YOU TO PAY A RANSOM.

AND HOW COULD THEY DO THAT?

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE HACKERS CAN GET INTO -- CAN GET INTO YOUR SYSTEMS, AND THEN THEY CAN ENCRYPT YOUR DATA.

NOT ALL OF IT.

MAYBE SOME OF IT, THE CRUCIAL FILES AND NOW YOU CANNOT ACCESS YOUR OWN DATA.

AND THEN THEY DEMAND A RANSOM AND ONCE YOU HAVE PAID THE RANSOM, THEY UNLOCK YOUR FILES FOR YOU.

AND THAT'S A TYPICAL WAY IN WHICH RANSOMWARE WILL OPERATE, AND THAT'S HOW THE HACKERS AND THE CYBER CRIMINALS WILL MAKE THEIR MONEY.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ABOUT ENCRYPTING YOUR DATA.

SOMETIMES THEY CAN STEAL DATA AND THEN TRACKING TO RELEASE DATA LIKE HOSPITAL MEDICAL RECORDS, THEY CAN SAY WE WILL RELEASE ALL OF THIS SENSITIVE DATA INTO THE PUBLIC IF YOU DON'T PAY UP.

>> NOW, THE FBI WANTS COMPANIES TO CONTACT THEM WHEN THEY ARE HIT WITH CYBER ATTACKS BUT MANY JUST PAY THE RANSOM THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR SYSTEM BACK.

SO WHAT'S THE BEST OPTION FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TOUGH QUESTION.

TOUGH ETHICAL QUESTION, RIGHT?

SO IT'S EASY FOR US TO SAY, WELL, YOU SHOULD NOT PAY UP.

BY SOME ESTIMATES MORE THAN HALF OF THE VICTIMS DO PAY UP.

SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE PAID UP.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST TOUGH.

YOU KNOW, THE DOWNSIDES OF PAYING IT MAY NOT ALWAYS WORK.

SOMETIMES ONLY PART OF YOUR DATA GETS RECOVERED.

AND SUCH TYPES OF PAYING UP FOR RANSOMWARE CAN JUST ENCOURAGE MORE ATTACKS.

THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY THAT THIS IS THE REASON WHY YOU SHOULDN'T PAY.

NOW, THE DOWNSIDE OF NEVER PAYING, IS THAT NOW YOU CAN CAUSE ATTACKERS TO REALLY GO AFTER, YOU KNOW, HIGH-VALUE TARGETS AND THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS.

BUT BASICALLY, THE ADVICE IS TAKE GOOD BACKUPS AND BE ABLE TO -- AND YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR SYSTEM TO SEE THAT YOU CAN RESTORE YOUR DATA QUICKLY.

BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T RESTORE YOUR DATA QUICKLY, THEN TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE -- THE COMPANIES SEE THE BETTER OPTION AS JUST PAYING UP WHICH IS SAD BUT TRUE.

>> OKAY, PROFESSOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> SURE.

NO PROBLEM.

>>> WELL, THE 90-DAY REMONSTRATE PERIOD TO PETITION AGAINST BLOOMINGTON ANNEXATION IS UNDERWAY.

CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED SEVEN AREAS OF LAND FROM THE CITY'S CONTROVERSIAL ANNEXATION PROPOSAL.

NOW IF 65% OF LANDOWNERS IN AN AREA REMONSTRATE, THAT ANNEXATION WOULD BE INVALIDATED.

IF 51% REMONSTRATE, THEY CAN FIGHT THE ANNEXATION THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

LOCAL LEADERS SAY THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE A COMPLICATED PROCESS SEAMLESS TO RESIDENTS.

>> THE OFFICIAL REMONSTRATE'S RECORD IS KEPT BY MONROE COUNTY AUDITOR KATHERINE SMITH'S OFFICE.

>> IN ORDER TO HAVE IT COUNT, WE HAVE TO HAVE SIGNATURES THAT ARE NOTARIZED OR YOU HAVE TO SIGN IN FRONT OF ME.

>> THERE ARE SOME CAVEATS.

FOR EXAMPLE, A LANDOWNER WHO OWNS MULTIPLE PARCELS IN THE SAME ANNEXED AREA CAN ONLY SIGN ONE PETITION FOR ONE PARCEL.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT ANNEXATIONS GOING ON.

AND THAT MIGHT CONFUSE PEOPLE, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO WE'RE HERE TO HELP.

I MEAN, THAT'S OUR JOB.

>> THERE ARE OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO REMONSTRATE.

THE LANDOWNER MUST HAVE PAID PROPERTY TAXES ON THE PETITIONED PROPERTY, THE SIGNATURE MUST BE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, ONLY ONE PETITION SIGNATURE IS ALLOWED PER PARCEL, AND SIGNATURES MUST BE DATED AFTER OCTOBER 8th, AND ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 6th.

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE, RITA BORROW SAYS SHE'S BEEN HELPING RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING HOW THEY CAN FIGHT ANNEXATION.

>> WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, OR DISABILITY, OR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE JUST PURCHASED A HOME AND RAISING A FAMILY.

>> A DATABASE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE ESTIMATES HOW MUCH A LANDOWNER COULD PAY IN TAXES IN 2025, AFTER ANNEXATION TAKES EFFECT.

FOR SOME, IT COULD BE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS MORE, BUT SOME PROPERTIES COULD SEE A REDUCTION.

>> YOU ARE NOT GIVING ME ANYTHING EXCEPT A HIGHER TAX BILL.

>> PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ANNEXATION PROCEEDINGS TURNED UGLY AND SOMETIMES HEATED AS RESIDENTS CALLED THE PROPOSAL A POWER GRAB, TOO LARGE AND TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

>> MAYOR HAMILTON, I BELIEVE IF HE WANTED TO GET HIS TRUE CONSTITUENTS, HE WOULD HAVE WENT OUT DOOR-TO-DOOR AND ASKED, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ANNEXED?

>> WE DID OUR PART OF THAT BARGAIN AND WE THINK THE PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD BE PART OF THE CITY.

THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING SEWER SERVICE FOR YEARS MOST OF THEM.

>> I'M SORRY I DIDN'T EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU BURROW SAYS VOLUNTEERS WON'T STOP COLLECTING SIGNATURES DURING THE REMONSTRATION PERIOD.

>> I THINK THEY WILL HAVE A RUDE AWAKENING.

>> SMITH SAYS SHE HAS FIVE DAYS TO CHECK THE VALIDITY OF THE PETITIONS AND THEN SENDS THEM TO THE CITY.

THE CITY THEN CHECKS FOR PROPERTY WAIVERS THAT COULD EXEMPT THEM FROM REON MONDAY STRAIT.

WAIVERS ARE ITEMS THAT THE LANDOWNERS SIGN IN EXCHANGE FOR CITY SERVICES SUCH AS WATER AND SEWER.

>> IF I FIND OUT YOUR PROPERTY COULD NOT BE IN THE REMONSTRATES, I WILL CALL YOU MYSELF, OR BY LETTER TO KNOW THAT YOUR CITY WILL NOT COUNT.

>> THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED 3200 PARCELS SUBJECT TO THOSE THOSE WAIVERS.

THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF THE NUMBERS.

>> EVERYONE WILL BE SAYING KATHY, CAN YOU MOVE A LITTLE FASTER?

CAN YOU MOVE A LITTLE FASTER?

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS I DO IT CONNECT.

EVERY I DOTTED AND EVERY T CROSSED AND 90 DEGREES ON THOSE T'S AND IN THE END, THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY AND THE ANSWER IS ACCURATE.

>> SHE COULD HAVE THE RESULTS AS EARLY AS THE END OF JANUARY.

>>> PLANNERS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ROUTE SELECTION FOR A NEW ROAD CONNECTING NORTHERN KENTUCKY WITH INDIANAPOLIS.

PROPONENTS SAY IT WILL DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA BUT RESIDENTS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THE PROJECT.

ADAM PINSKER REPORTS.

>>> NESTLED IN THE WOODS OFF NORTH COUNTY ROAD 350 NEAR ORLEANS, THE WESLEY GOLF OFFERS A RARE GLIMPSE INTO AN UNDERGROUND CAVE SYSTEM THAT EXTENDS FOR MILES UNDER SOUTHERN INDIANA.

>> UNDER ALL OF THIS IS LIMESTONE.

LIMESTONE IS AN ABSORBENT TYPE OF ROCK.

IT'S GYPSUM AND ONE OTHER KIND.

>> IT'S LIKE A SPONGE.

>> ELLEN PERCIFIELD LIVES IN ORANGEVILLE, A SMALL COUNTY IN ORANGE COUNTY THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT.

IT'S TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY CONNECT THRIFT THROUGH SOUTHERN INDIANA BY BUILDING A NEW ROAD OR ADDING ON TO AN EXISTING ONE AT THE KENTUCKY/INDIANA BORDER IN ROCKPORT IT WOULD EXTEND NORTH AND EVENTUALLY LINKING WITH I-65.

THERE ARE FIVE POTENTIAL ROUTES BEING CONSIDERED BY PLANNERS.

TWO THE PROPOSALS WOULD BRANCH OFF TO THE WEST, CONNECTING TO I-69 NEAR WASHINGTON.

ANOTHER WOULD SIMPLY MODIFY 231 INTO AN EXPRESSWAY OR SUPER FREEWAY.

A FOURTH OPTION FROM 231, ALONG ROUTE 450.

OPPONENTS ARE CONCERNED FIFTH OPTION, ROUTE O, WHICH COULD COULD INCLUDE THROUGH ORLEANS AND PAOLI.

THEY WARREN WORRY IT WOULD DISRUPT THE CAVE SYSTEM.

>> THIS IS THE ORANGEVILLE RISE IN 1973 WAS DESIGNATED AS A NATURAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY HERE SAY IT'S REALLY UNIQUE FOR THAT REASON BECAUSE IT CONNECTS TO SOME CAVE SYSTEMS UNDERGROUND.

SO BUILDING A ROAD NEARBY, THEY SAY, IS THE WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT THE STATE CAN DO.

>> SO YOU WOULD HAVE MACE OF -- MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SINKHOLES INCLUDING ON THE HILLS IN THE HOLLERS, IN THE VALLEYS, IN THE FARMLANDS, ALL OVER.

>> PERCIFIELD SAYS WITH HIGHWAY 36 GOING NORTH TO SOUTH, EVENTUALLY CONNECTING TO I-69 IN BLOOMINGTON AND U.S. HIGHWAY 150 GOING EAST-WEST, THERE'S SIMPLY NOT ANOTHER NEED FOR A ROAD.

>> WE LIKE THE ROLLING HILLS, AND THE SCENIC DRIVES AND JUST THE BEAUTY OF ALL OF THIS.

>> NOWOTARSKI SAYS HE'S GATHERED 600 SIGNATURES FROM DUBOISE COUNTY RESIDENTS OPPOSING THE PROJECT.

>> WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO PROGRESS.

WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WE JUST FEEL THAT THERE ARE A LOT SMARTER WAYS TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

>> BEYOND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, PERCIFIELD IS WORRIED ABOUT THE MIDSTATE'S CORRIDOR WOULD DO TO THE CHARACTER OF SOUTHERN INDIANA.

>> IT WOULD NOT LOOK THE SAME.

PARTS OF HOOSIER NATIONAL WOULD NEVER, EVER BE THE SAME IT.

THEY WOULD BE DESTROYED, THE FARMLANDS.

THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 200 YEARS.

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

>>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR MIDSTATE'S DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED UNTIL A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT IT RELEASED RECOMMENDING A PREFERRED ROUTE.

THAT'S EXPECTED TO COME EARLIER NEXT YEAR.

>>> COMING UP NEXT, ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," COOK MEDICAL IS BUILDING A FOOD MARKET NEXT TO ITS NEW PLANT IN NORTHEAST INDIANAPOLIS TO HELP FILL A COMMUNITY NEED.

AND THE OWNER OF BUFFALOUIE'S IS KEEPING HIS SON'S MEMORY ALIVE THROUGH MUSIC.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY THIS WEEK LAID OUT HOW IT PLANS TO ADDRESS PFAS.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING' REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, EXPOSURE TO THE TOXIC MANMADE CHEMICALS HAS BEEN LINKED TO A NUMBER OF HEALTH ISSUES.

>> PFAS WAS FOUND IN EVERYTHING FROM CARPETS, FIREFIGHTING FOAMS ON MILITARY BASES.

IT INCLUDES LIMITING TWO KINDS OF PFAS IN DRINKING WATER AND DESIGNATING SOME OF THEM AS TOXIC SUBSTANCES.

EPA ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL REGAN ANNOUNCED THE ROADMAP IN HIS FORMER HOME STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WHERE A CHEMICAL COMPANY CALLED CALLED CHEMOURS.

>> THERE WAS NO ONE KEEPING CHEMOURS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> SOME RESEARCHERS SAY THE ROADMAP IS A GOOD FIRST STEP, BUT THAT THE EPA SHOULD ACT FASTER AND MAKE BROADER PFAS RULES.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH PFAS, FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 20 YEARS OR MORE.

AND SO IT'S -- IT'S A WELCOMED STEP TO HAVE THE ROADMAP.

AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE -- TO SEE SOME OF THESE STEPS EARLIER.

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

>>> A STUDY BY IUPUI SHOWS NEARLY A QUARTER OF MARION COUNTY RESIDENTS LIVE IN APHESES A FOOD DESERT, MEANING THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL SEVERAL TIMES TO HEALTHY FOOD.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FILL THE VOID.

ADAM PINSTER TELLS US HOW A BLOOMINGTON -- ADAM PINSTER TELLS US HOW BLOOMINGTON IS HELPING TO FILL THAT VOID.

>> PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST INDIANAPOLIS WILL TELL YOU THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

>> THE LIQUOR STORE WAS I CAR DEALERSHIP, CALLAHAN.

THE LAUNDROMAT WAS A BOWLING ALLEY.

THE BLUE BUILDING WAS A PAINT STORE.

>> AND MORE CHANGES ARE COMING TO THE CORNER OF 38th STREET AND NORTH ARLINGTON AVENUE, A NEW GROCERY STORE, THE INDY FRESH MARKET WILL OPEN NEXT YEAR.

>> WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORE.

WE WILL HAVE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND WE'LL HAVE A FULL-SERVICE MEAT DEPARTMENT.

WE WILL HAVE HOT FOOD, JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU COULD FIND IN ANY OTHER GROCERY STORE IN ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> MICHAEL McFARLAND AND MARCUS WILLIAMS WILL OWN AND OPERATE THE STORE.

THEY BOTH GREW UP IN THE COMMUNITY AND KNOW FULL WELL HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD.

>> IT'S HARD TO GET FOOD.

THERE'S NOT A BUS LINE TO THE NEXT GROCERY STORE.

WHERE DO PEOPLE GET THEIR FOOD FROM?

GAS STATIONS.

FAMILY DOLLARS.

DOLLAR GENERALS.

THERE'S NO PRODUCE.

THERE.

SO WE ARE AIMING FOR HEALTHY EATING.

>> THE GROCERY STORE PROJECT IS A JOINT ENDEAVOR BETWEEN GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AND BLOOMINGTON-BASED COOK MEDICAL.

COOK IS ALSO BUILDING A MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE GROCERY STORE THAT WILL CREATE 100 JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> OUR PARTNER GOODWILL WILL RUN AND OPERATE THAT FACILITY SO THEY CAN PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE HOUSING STABILITY OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR.

PLOYEESPLOY -- FOR EMPLOYEES WHO NEED THAT.

>> THE INDY FRESH MARKET WILL EMPLOY UP TO 30 PEOPLE.

>> WE ARE JUST RETURNING DIGNITY BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO THEIR HOME, WHERE THEY CAN GET HEALTHY FOOD, YOU KNOW.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

>> COOK OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS BEYOND PLAN AND BLOOMINGTON AND COULD HAVE BUILT THEIR FACILITIES FASTER, BUT THEY WANTED TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE AREA OF TOWN THAT NEEDED IT THE MOST.

>> WHEN WE STARTED REALLY BECOMING NEIGHBORS AND PARTNERS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING NEW JOBS AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES.

>> SUPPLY CHAIN INITIATIVES HAVE PUSHED THE SCHEDULE BACK A LITTLE ABOUT.

WILLIAMS AND McFARLAND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THEIR DREAMS BECOME A REALITY.

>> I WILL BE EXCITED AND ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.

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

>>> WELL, ED SCHWARTZMAN'S SON BEN DIED BY SUICIDE 14 YEARS AGO.

BEN'S MUSIC WILL LIVE ON.

DEVAN RIDGEWAY HAS THE STORY.

>> HE WAS A VERY GIFTED SINGER/SONGWRITER.

HE DIED BY SUICIDE AT THE AGE OF 19.

AND HE DIED ON OCTOBER 25th, 2007.

A DAY THAT EVERYBODY SAYS LET'S GO OUTSIDE AND ENTIE LIFE.

WHEN YOU ARE IN A DEEP, DARK DEPRESSION AND YOU ARE BIPOLAR AND POSSIBLY SCHIZOPHRENIC AND ON MEDS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY.

HIS SUICIDE WAS NOT A TOTAL SURPRISE.

HE TALKED ABOUT DEATH.

HE LIKED TALKING ABOUT -- HE WAS NOT A DARK KID.

WHEN I SAY TALK ABOUT DEATH, HE JUST LIKED TO TALK ABOUT LIFE IN THE AFTERLIFE, DAD, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S LIFE AFTER DEATH?

THOSE ARE NORMAL QUESTIONS.

HE WAS A VERY -- HE WAS A THINKER.

HE LOVED TO THINK AND HE LOVED TO PROBE AND ASK QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF THEM WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ANSWERS AND EVER SINCE THEN, I THINK WHAT CAN I DO WITH HIS MUSIC?

I NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

TYPICALLY THE COMMENTS WERE, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO TELL YOU, WHEN YOU TOLD ME THE STORY.

I WAS THINKING, OKAY, IT'S A SAD STORY.

A DAD LOST HIS SON AND WANTS TO KEEP HIS MUSIC ALIVE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT HOLY COW!

WHEN I LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, THIS IS GOOD FREAKING MUSIC!

THOSE KINDS OF FEEDBACKS THAT I WOULD GET OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND AGAIN, COMPELLED ME TO SAY DON'T GIVE UP.

DON'T GIVE UP.

ALL I GOT TO DO IS FIND THE RIGHT CONNECTION, AND SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THREE YEARS AGO, A MOVIE PRODUCER WALKED INTO MY RESTAURANT AND ASKED ME FOR A CONTRIBUTION TO FEED HIS STAFF.

AND LO AND BEHOLD, ABOUT 60 DAYS AGO, HE WALKED FOOT RESTAURANT AND SAID, ED, I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.

I HAVE ONLY SEEN THIS GUY A HANDFUL OF TIMES.

HIS NAME IS JOHN ARMSTRONG.

I SAID WHAT TYPE OF SURPRISE?

REMEMBER THREE YEARS AGO YOU GAVE ME BEN'S MUSIC.

HE SAYS I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT ITEN I HAVE A TREND WHO OWNS AIRTIME STUDIOS.

TWO DAYS LATER WE DROVE UP AND THERE WAS A BAND IN THE STUDIO GETTING READY TO RECORD.

IT'S A BAND CALLED THE HIGHLANDERS AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, ONE OF THE KIDS FROM THE BAND CALLED ME AND SAID, ED, YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

I'M ONE THE GUYS IN THE BAND.

I WAS MOVED BY YOUR STORY.

HE SAID, I WANT TO HELP YOU RELEASE THESE SONGS.

HE SAYS LET'S RELEASE TWO.

I SAID WHATEVER TWO YOU THINK MAKE SENSE.

I THINK HE PICKED -- NOT THE TWO BEST BUT THE TWO MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE STORY WHICH IS MY APOLOGY AND LET ME GO.

♪ NO, I CAN'T SLEEP ♪ >> WHEN BEN WAS GOING THROUGH ALL OF HIS STRUGGLES, THE THING -- WE ALWAYS FELT THAT IF WE COULD AT LEAST KEEP HIM WRITING, KEEP HIM PERFORMING.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR THING.

FOR BEN IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MUSIC.

HE WAS JUST SO GIFTED.

SO GIFTED, AND SO BEAUTIFUL AND THE WAY HE WOULD PLAY THAT GUITAR AND THE WAY HE WOULD SING.

♪ BUT IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT HE'S ENTERTAINING PEOPLE.

AND SO I NOW LISTEN TO IT EVERY DAY IN THE CAR AND I'M SINGING ALONG AND I'M HUMMING THE SONG AND SINGING THE WORDS WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE FOR 14 YEARS.

♪ YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING FROM HERE, BUT WE ARE GOING SOMEWHERE.

WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING SOMEWHERE.

♪ ♪ LET ME GO ♪ >> BEN'S MUSIC CANNING FOUND ON SPOTIFY, AMAZON AND APPLE MUSIC.

>>> THE SPENCER PRIDE FESTIVAL RETURNED LAST WEEKEND, DRAWING THOUSANDS TO THE RURAL CENTRAL INDIANA COMMUNITY.

IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF TWO YEARS' WORK.

LOCAL COMMISSIONERS TRIED TO DERAIL THE EVENT IN 2019 AND THEN ORGANIZERS HAD TO CANCEL IT LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

MITCH LEGAN REPORTS.

♪ >> DOWNTOWN SPENCER WAS ONCE AGAIN FULL OF MUSIC, FOOD AND VISITORS FOR THE 14th SPENCER PRIDE FESTIVAL.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR OF BEING HERE.

SO FAR IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

KOURTNEY WARREN CAME OUT TO HER PARENTS AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AROUND THE SAME TIME THE PANDEMIC HIT THE U.S. SPENCER PRIDE WAS FIRST PRIDE EVENT SHE EVER ATTENDED.

>> I BATTLED A LOT OF VERY DARK FEELINGS BECAUSE OF GROWING UP IN A CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLD AND BEING GAY.

IT'S A HARD -- YOU KNOW, AND COMING OUT MEANT A LOT TO ME.

AND BEING ABLE TO BE MYSELF AND BE OPEN IS PRETTY AWESOME.

>> THE LAST TIME THE PRIDE FESTIVAL WAS HELD WAS JUNE 2019.

THAT FALL, OWEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT MANY SAW AS TRYING TO STOP THE PRIDE FESTIVAL FROM BEING HELD DOWNTOWN.

THE ORDINANCE PROHIBITS ANYONE FROM USING THE COURTHOUSE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

SPENCER PRIDE HELD IT ON THE STREETS SURROUNDING THE COURTHOUSE.

>> WE ARE STAYING IN THE STREETS.

WE ARE GOOD HERE.

>> THE SPENCER PRIDE PRESIDENT, JONATHAN BALASH SAYS IT ALLOWED FOR THE BIGGEST PRIDE FESTIVAL.

>> I'M PROUD OF THE COMMUNITY'S TURNOUT AND OUR VOLUNTEERS.

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING AND HERE WE ARE SEEING FRUITS OF THOSE LABORS FOOT SPENCER POPULATION ALMOST TRIPLED OPEN SATURDAY, 6,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED FESTIVAL.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SPENCER PRIDE WAS OFTEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR BUSINESSES AND IT WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR AFTER A ROUGH 2020.

>> IT'S A BIG WEEKEND AND IT'S SO THRILLING JUST TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE, DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS HERE IN DOWNTOWN SPENCER.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

>> HOSTING THE EVENT IN PERSON WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR BALASH.

ISOLATION AND LACK OF CONNECTION LED NEARLY HALF OF LGBTQ YOUTH TO CONSIDER SUICIDE LAST YEAR.

BALASH SAYS AFTER OVERCOMING RECENT OBSTACLES, THE SPENCER PRIDE FESTIVAL HAS PROVEN IT'S STAYING IN DOWNTOWN SPENCER.

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

>>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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