>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM COVID-19 ARE AT LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE JANUARY, AND THAT HAS OFFICIALS CONCERNED AS THE HOLIDAYS APPROACH.

>> NO MATTER WHAT I SAY, NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS ON TV, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

THEY WILL INTERMINGLE.

>> WE TALK WITH AN EXPERT ABOUT THE LATEST NUMBERS AND THE OMNICRON.

>> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

AND 60 MORE DAYS WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT LOT FULL AGAIN.

IS IT POSSIBLE?

>> WHILE THE COST OF EQUIPMENT HAS URGED, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT DEMAND REMAINS SKY HIGH.

AND WHAT BLOOMINGTON'S PLAN TO OVER 85% OF THE CITY WITH FIBER OPTIC CABLE MEANS FOR YOU.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE OMNICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19 HAS NOT YET BEEN DETECTED IN INDIANA, BUT THE DELTA STRAIN IS CAUSING ANOTHER SURGE OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE STATE.

BROCK TURNER HAS THIS REPORT.

>> COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS THIS WEEK REACHED LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE JANUARY, WHEN THE VACCINES WERE IN EXTREMELY LIMITED SUPPLY.

THE VIRUS IS MORE CONTAGIOUS, DELTA VARIANT IS FUELING THE SURGE THAT FORCED THE NUMBER HOSPITALIZED PAST 2700.

80 NEW DEATHS FROM THE VIRUS WERE REPORTED ON WEDNESDAY ALONE.

WHILE A VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE HOSPITALIZED REMAIN UNVACCINATED, THERE'S A GROWING CONCERN A HIGH NUMBER OF CASES COULD FUEL EVEN MORE INFECTIONS AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES.

DR. JOSH CULLISON, THE MEDICAL TRENTOR AT THE RURAL HEALTH CLINICS ENCOURAGES THOSE WHO REMAIN UNVACCINATED TO REEVALUATE THEIR PLANS.

>> NO MATTER WHAT I SAY, NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS ON TV, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

VAC SIPPATED PEOPLE ARE GO -- VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.

>> CULLISON HAS SKIPPED FAMILY GATHERINGS FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED.

>> I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE ARE YOU BEING -- THE RISK.

>> MANY ADMIT THEY ARE BURNT OUT, AND HALF HOOSIERS REMAIN UNVACCINATED.

OFFICIALS FEAR THIS SURGE COULD RIVAL LAST YEAR'S.

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

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY BRIAN DIXON, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS AT THE REGANSTREET INSTITUTE IN INDIANAPOLIS.

HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF THE OMNICRON VARIANT WAS FOUND IN THE U.S. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT NOW THAT WE DIDN'T THEN?

>> WELL, EARLY DATA SUGGESTS THE VIRUS IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, MEANING THAT IT'S SPREADING MORE QUICKLY THAN EARLIER VARIANTS, INCLUDING THE DELTA VARIANT, WHICH IS PLAGUING US HERE IN INDIANA.

HOWEVER, IT REMAINS KIND OF TOO EARLY TO CONCLUDE WHETHER THE VIRUS IS MORE VIRULENT, MEANING IT CAN CAUSE MORE SEVERE DISEASE THAN THE OTHER VARIANTS.

SO MANY OF THE PATIENTS AND SOME OF THE EARLY COUNTRIES ARE UNDER 50 YEARS OF AGE, WHICH WE WOULD NOT EXPECT ANYWAY TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL.

SO MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED THERE.

>> NOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME STUDIES THAT SHOW THE PFIZER VACCINE'S EFFICACY DROPS FAIRLY SIGNIFICANTLY AGAINST OMNICRON, WOULD A BOOSTER HELP AGAINST THAT?

>> A BOOSTER MAY BE HELPFUL IN NEUTRALIZING OMNICRON.

THESE EARLY STUDIED LOOKED PRIMARILY AT PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION, NOT SEVERE OUTCOMES AND HOSPITALIZATION.

AND STUDIES THAT WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE VACCINES CONTINUE TO PERFORM VERY WELL AGAINST DELTA AND THE OTHER VARIANTS.

SO WE WOULD EXPECT THAT THE VACCINES GIVE YOU PROTECTION AGAINST OMNICRON AS WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES OF COVID.

THAT SAID, OUR STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT EFFECTIVENESS DROPS OVER TIME.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET A BOOSTER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE -- IF YOU HAVE AN IMMUNO COMPROMISED CONDITION OR RISK FACTORS LIKE HYPERTENSION OR DIABETES OR OLDER ADULTS ARE ALSO MORE VULNERABLE TO CORONAVIRUS.

>> A SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT BOOSTER TO GET, DOES IT MATTER.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.

I THINK MOST OF OUR STUDIES SHOWED THAT MRNA, THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES, HAVE SLIGHTLY HIGHER EFFICACY, OR EFFECTIVENESS THAN THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

I THINK ANY OF THE VACCINES WILL GIVE YOU SOME PROTECTION.

BUT IF IT WAS MY LOVED ONES, I WOULD RECOMMEND THEY GET THE PFIZER OR THE MODERNA BOOSTER.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS REACHING NUMBERS NOT SEEN SINCE LAST WINTER.

IS THERE A WAY TO TELL HOW LONG THE SURGE COULD LAST?

>> AH, IT'S -- IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW LONG IT WILL LAST.

THESE TRENDS, THOUGH, ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW LAST WINTER.

SO WE SHOULD ANTICIPATE HIGH LEVELS OF HOSPITALIZATION THROUGH JANUARY.

AT THAT TIME, WE THINK THE HOPPIZATIONS WILL BEGIN TO RECEDE.

THE -- THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WILL BEGIN TO RECEDE.

THE WILD CARD IS OMNICRON.

IT MAY BOOST NUMBERS EVEN HIGHER BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WILL BECOME INFECTED.

SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE HOSPITALIZATION RATES, ALL THINGS EQUAL TO START COMING DOWN IN THE SPRING, THAT'S THE PATTERN THAT APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CORONAVIRUSES.

>> BRIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> MANY EMPLOYEES ARE TURNING TO RELIGIOUS EXCEPTIONS.

EXEMPTIONS ARE FEDERALLY PROTECTED UNDER THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, BUT WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THESE EXEMPTIONS AND WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

LAUREN CHAPMAN REPORTS.

>> IMAM AHMED ALAMINE SPEAKS TO HIS MOSQUE IN INDIANAPOLIS ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED.

IN FACT, HE'S TRYING TO SET UP A VACCINE CLINIC AT THE MOSQUE.

FOR HIM, GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED, IT'S JUST AS MUCH ABOUT FAITH, AS IT IS PERSONAL.

HE HAD COVID IN 2020.

>> MY EXPERIENCE WITH MALARIA WAS TERRIBLE, BUT COVID WAS WORSE.

EVERY DAY THAT PASSED BY OR NIGHT, I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE MY LAST DAY OR NIGHT.

>> A HANDFUL OF VACCINES, SOME MMR, SHINGLES USE PIG TECHNOLOGY AS A STABILIZER.

THAT AGAINST DIETARY RESTRICTIONS FOR SOME JEWS AND MUSLIMS WHICH ARE A COMMON REASON FOR RELIGIOUS VACCINE EX.

IONS.

ALAMINE SAYS THE KORAN MAKES AN EXCEPTION FOR MEDICINE.

>> IT DOES ALLOW YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS NORMALLY FORBIDDEN, USE IT AS A MEDICATION.

IT IS GOING TO BE AN ACCEPTED WAY TO TREAT, AS LONG AS IT HELPS SAVING SOMEBODY'S LIVE.

>> NON-OF THENONE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINES IN THE U.S. USE THE PORCELINE JELLY.

WITH MORE PEOPLE PUSHING FOR BROADER EXCEPTIONS, HE SAYS ALL FAITH TRADITIONS SHOULD ENCOURAGE VACCINES.

>> WE HAVE TO USE THE FAITH TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WE SHOULD NOT USE FAITH TO DESTRUCT HUMANITY, TO CAUSE HARM TO HUMANITY.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE VACCINE, THAT'S YOUR CHOICE.

BUT PLEASE, DO NOT USE FAITH AS A WEAPON.

>> THERETHERE'S A LONG HISTORY OF PROTECTION RELIGIOUS EXCEPTIONS.

RACHEL OLIVERY, LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SAYS THESE ARE IN A SECTION CALLED TITLE VII WHICH DISCUSSES EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

>> THE COURTS ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO INTRUDE TOO DEEPLY ON WHAT A PERP'SPERSON'S SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS CAN BE.

IT BE A MORE PERSONALIZED BELIEF SYSTEM.

WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS FOR COURTS DECIDING WHAT COUNTS AS RELIGION AND WHAT DOESN'T.

>> AND SO COURTS HAVE GIVEN WIDE BIRTHS TO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

TITLE VII SAYS EMPLOYERS DON'T NEED TO CREATE ACCOMMODATIONS WHERE THERE'S AN UNDO BURDEN.

THAT'S WHERE THE LIMITATIONS LIE FOR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FOR COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.

>> IT'S VERY CLEAR WHEN IT COMES TO THE TITLE # VII MANDATES THE RELIGIOUS EXCEPTION IS NOT A GIANT LOOPHOLE YOU CAN JUST WALK THROUGH.

>> PANE THERE'S A REASON NOR THAT.

EX.

IONS -- EXEMPTS CAN HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES.

HE SAYS WITH ANY NONMEDICAL EX.

ION TO VACCINES, IT REQUIRES A GOLDILOCKS APPROACH.

IF EXEMPTIONS ARE TOO HARD TO OBTAIN, OMER SAYS PEOPLE WILL FIND OTHER WAYS TO NAVIGATE AROUND MANDATES.

>> AND IF THEY ARE FREELY AVAILABLE, WE KNOW THAT THEY TEND TO CLUSTER, AND WE HAVE SHOWN AGAINST MULTIPLE DISEASES NOW, THAT THEY CAN IMPACT THE LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DISEASE AND CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH OUTBREAKS.

>> THOSE CLUSTERS HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE SINUATED AND VACCINATED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE MRNA COVID-19 VACCINES POSTED A 90% EFFICACY.

BUT NO VACCINE IS 100%.

>> THAT INCREASES EVERYONE'S RISK.

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR FOLKS.

>> THERE WERE HEALTH EXPERTS THAT WERE INVITED TO TALK TO HIS MOSQUES ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND VACCINES.

HE CALLED THIS A JIHAD.

THEY KNOW ABOUT THE EXTREME VIOLENCE BUT JIHAD SIMPLY MEANS A STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE AND THIS IS OUR JIHAD, IT'S OUR RESISTANCE AGAINST A VIRUS THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCAST, I'M LAHRI'M LAUREN CHAPMAN.

>> MIKE BRAUN DOESN'T SUPPORT VACCINES.

BRAUN IS CURRENTLY A BIPARTISAN FIGHT IN CONGRESS TO FIGHT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RULE TO EITHER GET THE WORKERSERS VACCINATED OR UNDERGO WEEKLY TESTING.

BRAUN DOES NOT SUPPORT MEASURES THAT WOULD PREVENT COMPANIES FROM REQUIRING THE VACCINE ON THEIR OWN.

THE INDIANA STATE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE CURRENTLY PUSHING A BILL THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY DO JUST THAT.

>> I'M A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ON THAT HAPPENING, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN TO WHERE YOU TRY TO IMPACT BUSINESSES AND THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON OTHER ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD, THE PRECEDENT IT MIGHT SET.

>> BRAUN ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE, CALLING IT A MIRACLE.

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

>> SUPPLY ISSUES AND INFLATION ARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR FARMERS TO FIND AND AFFORD NEW AND USED EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR FIELDS.

>>> AND BLOOMINGTON HAS PLANS TO COVER MUCH OF THE CITY WITH FIBER OPTIC CABLE.

AHEAD, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WTIU NEWS HAS RECEIVED BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM INDIANAPOLIS POLICE VAUHXX BOOKER'S ARREST EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF AN INDIANAPOLIS BAR AND GRILL AFTER WHAT BOOKER DESCRIBED AS ANOTHER RACIAL INCIDENT.

MITCH LEGAN REPORTS.

>> THEY LITERALLY CALLED ME A BOY.

>> FORMER BLOOMINGTON ACTIVIST VAUHXX BOOKER WAS ARRESTED FOR SHOVING A POLICE OFFICER.

IT HAPPENED AFTER INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN POLICE RESPONDED TO A DISTURBANCE CALL AT A RESTAURANT.

>> IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME.

IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO OLLIE.

IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE, PERIOD.

AND I APOLOGIZE TO YOU THAT THAT HAPPENED.

>> AND ONE BODY CAM VIDEO, OFFICER ALLEN HOPKINS SPEAKS WITH BOOKER ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND SAID HE'S UNABLE TO ARREST PEOPLE FOR SAYING THINGS.

>> THE BARTENDER, DO YOU KNOW HIS NAME?

>> I TOLD YOU, HE'S THE DISTRICT OFFICER.

HE'S THE DISTRICT OFFICER.

BYE-BYE.

>> BOOKER FOLLOWS HOME KINS, ASKING FOR -- HOPKINS ASKING FOR HIS I.D.

BACK.

>> GET OPEN THE SIDEWALK.

>> HE HAS MY I.D.

>> DON'T PUSH ON ME.

>> DID YOU REALLY JUST PUSH ME?

THREE OFFICERS WERE PRESENT AT THE SCENE BUT ONLY ONE BODY CAM SHOWS THE INCIDENT.

HE HAS A PRETRIAL HEARING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 1st.

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

>> WERE NOT GOING TO BUMP THROUGH ME.

>> BOOKER INTENDS TO ENTER THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS REGARDING AN INCIDENT AT LAKE MONROE LAST SUMMER.

THE AGREEMENT SAYS IF BOOKER COMPLETES THE PROCESS, CHARGES WILL BE DROPPED.

BOOKER SAYS HE WAS NEARLY LYNCHED BY WHITE MEN AS HE WAS CELEBRATING THE 4th OF JULY AT THE LAKE.

THE TWO SIDES AGREE TO TRY TO SETTLE THE ISSUE USING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BUT BOOKER WITH DREW FROM THE PROCESS IN AUGUST.

>>> WELL, INFLATION AND CHALLENGES WITH THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN ARE PUSHING THE PRICE OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HIGHER.

FOR FARMERS, THE SITUATION IS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.

BROCK TURNER HAS MORE ON WHAT'S CAUSING SOME USED TRACTORS TO SELL FOR MORE THAN WHAT THEY COST WHEN NEW.

>> BROCK KEESLER IS NO STRANGER TO EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS.

>> SOLD!

>> CEASE LETTER IS HEREKEESLER IS LOOKING FOR A NEW HEAD UNIT FOR HIS CROP.

HE'S YOUNG AND GETTING A START IN AGRICULTURE.

GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> BANKS WON'T HARDLY LEND ME ANY MONEY ON USED THINGS.

IT PRETTY MUCH LIMITS YOUR GROWTH.

>> KEESLER WILL LIGHTNINGLY HAVE HAVE -- WILL LIKELY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING THINGS FOR NEXT SPRING.

>> WE EXPECT SPRING OF 2023.

A LOT OF THOSE MODELS ARE COMING UP JUNE 2023, FEBRUARY 2023.

>> PROBLEMS ACQUIRING STEEL, AND COMPUTER CHIPS FOR LARGER MODELS MAKE IT EVEN HARDER TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF SERVICE THEY ARE CUSTOMED TO.

>> WE ARE PROBABLY 25 UNITS BEHIND RIGHT NOW.

SO BY THE TIME WE GET CAUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, WE WILL PROBABLY BE HALFWAY THROUGH 2022, AND WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AGAIN.

>> McCLURE SAYS MANY OF THE TRACTORS ON HIS LOT ARE ALREADY SOLD AND AWAITING FINAL ACCESSORIES BEFORE THEY CAN BE SHIPPED.

WHILE THESE TYPE OF SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES AFFECT EVERYTHING FROM THE MORNING CUP OF COFFEE TO YOUR CAR, THE SITUATION IS UNIQUE TO FARMERS.

MANY PURCHASED SEED, FERTILIZER AND OUR INPUTS BEFORE TODAY'S CHALLENGES THAT.

COMPARED TO A STRONG HARVEST THIS YEAR, MANY FARMERS ARE SITTING ON LARGER THAN NORMAL PROFITS.

THE PRICE OF USED FARM EQUIPMENT AT AUCTION CAN BE UP TO 30% HIGHER.

[ AUCTIONEER ] >> FARMERS HAVE DISPOSABLE.

SO THEY HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.

TAX LAWS REALLY -- REALLY FAVOR PURCHASING EQUIPMENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT MOST FARMERS WRITE OFF THEIR EQUIPMENT USING EXCEPTION 179 EXPENSING AND PRETTY FAST DEPRECIATION RATES PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO IF THEY WANT TO SHELTER ANY OF THIS 2021 INCOME, THEY NEED TO DO IT WITH A CAPITAL PURCHASE.

>> SHH KNIT CAN ISHHHE IT'S IT'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

>> PRIOR TO THAT, IT'S SUPPLY PROBLEMS WITH THE CHIP MANUFACTURING -- THE CHIP SHORTAGES THAT WE SAW.

SO THERE'S THOSE ISSUES AND THEN THERE'S JUST THE LABOR ISSUES WHICH IS IMPACTING EVERYBODY.

>> KEESLER HAS ATTENDED EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS FOR YEARS BUT THIS IS FIRST TIME HE'S GONE WITH THE HOPE OF DRIVING HOME ONE OF THESE COMBINES.

[ AUCTIONEER ] >> BUT THE HIGHER PRICES WERE BEYOND HIS BUDGET.

>> A YEAR AGO, IT WAS PROBABLY 30% LESS THAN IT IS NOW.

BUT JUST DUE TO THE FARMING ECONOMY CURRENTLY, AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS GOT PLENTY OF MONEY.

IF YOU FIND A REALLY CHERRY PIECE OF USED EQUIPMENT, THINGS ARE BRINGING TOP DOLLAR.

ALMOST AS MUCH OR MORE THAN WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT NEW.

>> WHILE NEARLY EVERYONE AGREES THIS ISN'T SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM, CURRENTLY THE MARKET IS SHOWING FEW SIGNS OF COOLING.

KURT EVERETT IS A BUYER AT ONE OF THE INDIANA'S LARGEST FARM EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS.

>> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT.

IN 60 MORE DAYS, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT LOT FULL AGAIN.

IS IT POSSIBLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I HOPE SO.

I MEAN, WE ALWAYS SAY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE, AND WE ALWAYS MADE IT.

BUT IT'S GETTING TOUGHER.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT.

>> MANY FARMERS ALREADY SEE THE END OF THIS BOOM IN PROFITS COMING, INPUTS LIKE SEED AND FERTILIZER COST TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE THAN LAST YEAR, BUT RIGHT NOW, IN THE SHORT RUN, MANY SEE DOLLAR SIGNS, THE PRICE OF CORN IS UP 75% SINCE MARCH.

>> WHEN GUYS START SEEING THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR CORN, EVEN IN THE USED MARK, EVERYBODY NOW THINKS THEY WANT TO BE A BIG-TIME FARMER AND MAKE A LITTLE MONEY.

>> EVERETT WORRIES ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN THE MARKET DOES SLOW.

>> WE ARE WAY OUT HERE ON THE LIMIT.

WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT THING TO BREAK OFF.

AND I HOPE I DIDN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF INVENTORY WHEN IT DOES BREAK.

>> NEARLY EVERYONE INTERVIEWED AGREES THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

>> DO YOU THINK A LOT OF FARMERS ARE OVERPAYING FOR STUFF NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

>> AND I'M OVERPAYING FOR STUFF, YOU KNOW?

EVERYTHING IS WAY OUT OF TOUCH.

WAY OUT OF TOUCH.

WILL IT COME BACK?

I DON'T KNOW.

I KIND OF LIKE FOR IT TO GO BACK THE WAY IT WAS, YOU KNOW, BUT WHO KNOWS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, EVERETT SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE SCOURING DEALERSHIPS ACROSS INDIANA AND NEIGHBORING STATES TO PUT AUCTIONS TOGETHER.

A TASK THAT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

KEESLER IS NOT LOSING HOPE EITHER.

HE WILL HAVE TO TINKER WITH THE CURRENT COMBINE TO ENSURE IT'S READY FOR HARVEST NEXT YEAR.

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

>>> LAST MONTH, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ANNOUNCED PERHAPS TO BUILD A FIBER NETWORK TO BRING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET TO AT LEAST 85% OF RESIDENTS WITH GLOBAL INVESTOR ME MERIDIAN.

NO FORMAL AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BUT IT WILL BOOST EQUITY.

>> MOST INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY USE TO PROVIDE INTERNET ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES.

THIS CAN RESULT IN COMPANIES SELECTIVELY LAYING FIBER IN HIGH-INCOME OR DENSE AREAS.

BLOOMINGTON IS SOLVING THE PROBLEM BY MAKING INTERNET MORE ACCESSIBLE WITH AN OPEN ACCESS MODEL.

THIS MEANS A THIRD-PARTY COMPANY WILL LAY DIGITAL FIBER THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE CITY AND LOCAL INTERNET SERVICE COMPANIES WILL LEASE THE SPACE.

>> ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF INTERNET PROVIDERS, AT THE SAME TIME BEING THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS, IS THAT THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE CONTENT YOU PROVIDE AND THE INTEREST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> MERIDIAN IS THE GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTOR THAT BLOOMINGTON SIGNED AN AGREEMENT BADGE IN OCTOBER.

THE COMPANY'S EXPERIENCE -- BACK IN OCTOBER.

THE COMPANY'S EXPERIENCE IN FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIES COMBINE TO MAKE A UNIQUE BUSINESS STRATEGY.

>> DESIGN THE STRATEGY OF INVESTING IN THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE, AND IT'S HELPING SOCIETY.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU ARE A LONG-TERM INVESTOR IF YOU ARE KNOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND BROADBAND PROJECT IN INDIANA, BUT THE SECOND IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY PLAN TO INVEST IN SIMILAR PROJECTS GIVEN THE RECENT IMPACTS OF COVID-19.

>> LEARNING FROM HOME AND WORKING FROM HOME REQUIRES GOOD INTERNET ACCESS.

AND NOT HAVING THAT GOOD INTERNET ACCESS CREATES AN INEQUALITY.

>> BEFORE OPENING THE NETWORK TO MULTIPLE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS AT&T, AND COMCAST, MERIDIAN WILL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ONLY ONE INITIAL PROVIDER FOR AN UNDISCLOSED PERIOD OF TIME.

>> MANY MANY OF US HAVE AT&T AND COMCAST -- MANY OF US HAVE AT&T AND COMCAST HOME SPEEDS WHICH IS 25 MEGA BITES, MAYBE 5, MAYBE 50, MAYBE 75 MEGA BITES 75 MEGABYTES UP AND DOWN.

DIGITAL FIBER ALLOWS YOU TO GET 1,000 MEGA BYTES UP AND DOWN.

>> THEY EXTENDED THE DATE UNTIL JANUARY 31st TO BETTER DEVELOP OUTREACH TO LOW-INCOME AREAS.

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

>> AND YOU MAY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A CHRISTMAS TREE THIS YEAR.

THAT'S DUE TO CLIMATE AND SHIPPING ISSUES.

>> THIS TREE FARM PRESIDENT SAYS THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND DROUGHTS HAVE BEEN TAKE TAKING A TOLL ON THE INDUSTRY.

IF YOU HAVE TWO YEARS OF DROUGHT IN A ROW, YOU WILL HAVE DECREASE OF FOR YEARS.

GROWING FRASIER FIRS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO GROW IN INDIANA BECAUSE OF WARM WEATHER.

AND SPRUCE TREES TREES HAVE A FUNGUS.

>> IF YOU CUT A ROSE AND YOU WANT TO USE IT A MONTH FROM NOW.

THE TRUES CAN'T HOLD THE MOISTURE THAT LONG.

>> THEY HAVE TO COME FROM PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE STABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, MAKING IT EXPENSIVE FOR FARMERS TO GET THEM SHIPS AND DRIVING SELLING PRICES UP.

IT TAKES 7 TO 9 YEARS TO GROW THE TREES AND KEEPING THEM BUSY MONTHS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON STARTS.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ONLY WORK AT CHRISTMAS, BUT WE ARE WORKING ALL YEAR LONG.

WE HAVE TO TRIM EVERY TREE, EVERY YEAR.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT MOWED, TO KEEP THE DISEASE AND THE FUNGUS DOWN.

>> IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO TAKE OUT OF THIS SHORTAGE.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M NICOLE QUIMBO.

>> OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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