>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION UPDATED ITS COVID PROTOCOLS THIS WEEK TO MAKE IT EASE ERR TOER FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.

>> THAT IN GENERAL JUST TELLS ME THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH OMICRON IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> SOME PARENTS SAY MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.

>> WHILE THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESS IN BLOOMINGTON FIND PERMANENT PLACES TO LIVE, IT REMAINS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

>> FINDING A PLACE THAT'S AFFORDABLE LONG TERM IS LITERALLY MY HARDEST OBSTACLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> AHEAD WE VISIT ONE MAN WHO FOUND HOUSING THROUGH HOTELS FOR HOMELESS.

>>> AND MCCSC BUS DRIVERS STRESSED BY STAFF SHORTAGES ARE COME PLAINING OF BURNOUT AND A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION UNVEILED NEW COVID GUIDE LINES THIS WEEK, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER A POSITIVE TEST.

BUT AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS SOME PARENTS SAY THE GUIDELINES MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK.

>> NAVIGATING THE MAN PANDEMIC HAS BEEN STRESSFUL FOR MANY PARENTS BUT PERHAPS NONE MORE THAN BRITTONI BURTON.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LOCKDOWN, FOR OUR FAMILY, BEFORE COVID, WE WERE ALREADY ON A MILD LOCKDOWN AS IS.

>> BURTON HAS FOUR CHILDREN, ALL ENROLLED IN MCCSC, HER SECOND OLDEST ABIGAIL HAS A RARE FORM OF EPILEPSY THAT REQUIRES SPECIAL ATTENTION EVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> I HAVE SEEN ABBEY ALREADY UNFORTUNATELY ON A VENT DUE TO HER DISABILITY, BECAUSE SHE HAS GERVAIS SYNDROME.

SO ANY VIRUS, SLIGHT LITTLE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE CAN CAUSE PRETTY DRAMATIC UNCONTROLLABLE SEIZURES.

>> BURTON KEPT HER KIDS ONLINE AND AT HOME SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

ONCE VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE, SHE FELT COMFORTABLE SENDING THE OTHER THREE TO SCHOOL.

BUT ONCE THE OMICRON VARIANT HIT, SHE PULLED THEM BACK HOME.

AND THE RECENT CHANGES TO THE COVID PROTOCOLS MAKE HER WONDER WHEN THEY SHOULD RETURN.

>> IT WILL IMPACT OUR DECISION MAKING, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP HER SAFE.

>> MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS CHANGED THEIR COVID PROTOCOLS THIS WEEK.

THE NEW RULES ARE INTENDED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL, BUT ONE OF THE CHANGES IS TO STOP REPORTING CASES DIRECTLY TO PARENTS.

DISTRICT HAS PROVIDED A WEEKLY COVID REPORT TO PARENTS, BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBER OF CASES BY SCHOOL.

BURTON USED THOSE METRICS TO PULL HER KIDS OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>> ALL OF THAT IS ADAPTABLE BUT BEING REFUSED DATA, AT LEAST SOMETHING, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO GO ON, ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS LIKE ME.

>> SCHOOL CASE NUMBERS WILL STILL BE PROVIDED TO THE STATE, BUT BURTON IS CONCERNED ABOUT INCONSISTENT UPDATES TO THE STATE DASHBOARD AND THE DATA FOR ALL THE SCHOOLS WON'T BE IN ONE PLACE.

I.U.

EPIDEMIOLOGIST, ANNA BENTO QUESTIONS THIS.

>> NOT SHARING INFORMATION IS DANGEROUS FOR PARENTS, NOW THE JUST FOR THAT SAID PARENT BUT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

>> APRIL HENNESSY ECHOES BURTON'S CURRENTS THAT IF THEY WANTED TO -- CONCERNS THAT THEY WANTED TO THE STUDENTS TO RETURN, THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE IT HARDER FOR PARENTS TO GET THE NUMBERS.

>> THE BODIES REQUIRES TO DO THAT TYPE OF CONTACT TRACING, TO PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF DATA AND TRACK ALL OF THAT STUFF, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND EFFORT.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARILY THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO.

I JUST THINK THAT THE DISTRICT ITSELF IS JUST KIND OF STRAPPED AT THIS POINT.

>> BURTON WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE SENDING HER KIDS BACK WHEN THE NEARBY HOSPITALS OPEN UP A BIT, IN CASE ABIGAIL GETS TREATMENT.

BUT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND DATA FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, QUESTION THEIR GRASP ON THE VIRUS.

>> BUT IN GENERAL THAT TELLS ME WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OMICRON IN THE SCHOOLS.

>> I KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS TRACKING DATA ON A DAILY BASIS, RIGHT, LIKE IN TERMS OF TALKING TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LOOKING AT COUNTY DATA, LOOKING AT HOSPITALIZATION RATES.

>> OTHER DISTRICT CHANGES ALLOW STUDENTS AND STAFF TO RETURN TO SCHOOL FASTER THAN BEFORE.

THE PREVIOUS RETURN TO SCHOOL GUIDELINES LED TO EXTENDED ABSENCES FOR MANY.

>> DUE TO THE NUMBER OF STAFFING LEVELS, MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT PROCEDURES HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE.

>> INDIVIDUALS NOW ONLY HAVE TO ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS TEN.

THEY ARE ABLE TO RETURN ON DAY SIX WITH A NEGATIVE TEST.

THE TYPE OF ACCEPTABLE TEST HAS ALSO BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS.

MCSSC, ACCEPTED THE MORE ACCURATE ANTIGEN TESTS BUT FINDING A TEST IS DIFFICULT.

>> WE ARE BALANCING WHAT IS ACCESSIBLE LOCALLY, TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

>> BURTON SAYS SHE UNDERSTANDS THE NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

HER KIDS ARE GETTING A BIT STIR CRAZY AT HOME, BUT MAKING THAT DECISION HAS JUST BECOME MORE DIFFICULT.

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

>>> WELL, JUST UNDER 3,000 HOOSIERS REMAIN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19.

THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN CREEPING DOWNWARD FROM THE RECORD HIGHS WE SAW TWO WEEKS AGO.

ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE OPTIZED WITH THE VIRUS OR UNVACCINATED AND THAT NUMBER JUMPED TO AROUND 90% FOR THOSE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

HEALTH EXPERTS CONTINUE TO STRESS VACCINES ARE THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST THE VIRUS AS POSITIVE CASES REMAIN HIGH, DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY DR. SHAUN GRANNIS, THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR DATA AND ANALYTICS AT REGAN STREET INSTITUTE AND PROFESSOR OF FAMILY MEDICINE AT THE I.U.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> THERE WAS A VACCINE EFFICACY WITH THE BOOSTER.

TELL US ABOUT THE STUDY AND WHAT IT FOUND.

>> SURE.

SO WE COMPARED INDIVIDUALS WHO DID NOT HAVE A BOOSTER TO THOSE WHO DID.

AND WHAT WE SAW OVER TIME IS DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE TWO-DOSE VACCINE, EFFECTIVENESS FOR OMICRON WENT DOWN QUITE A BIT.

AFTER SIX MONTHS, IT DROPPED BY ANOTHER 10%.

SO EFFECTIVENESS FOR OMICRON FOR THE TWO-DOSE SERIES WAS DOWN IN THE 30 PERCENTILES.

WITH THE BOOSTER SHOT, WE ACTUALLY SAW THE EFFECTIVENESS INCREASE BY ABOUT 40 PERCENTAGE POINTS, BACK UP INTO THE 80s AND 90%, AND THIS IS EFFECTIVENESS FOR PREVENTING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO THE EFFECTIVENESS WITH THE BOOSTER ACTUALLY PUTS THE -- THIS BACK IN THE RANGE OF A DELTA EFFECTIVENESS.

>> HMM.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION ABOUT HOW LONG THE EFFICACY OF THE BOOSTER WILL STAY AT THAT LEVEL OR MAYBE HOW SOON TO BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER BOOSTER?

>> SURE.

SO WE ARE TRACKING THAT DATA.

WE ARE -- SOME OF THE PUBLICATIONS THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT RIGHT NOW, THAT PUBLICATION LAST WEEK WAS WITH -- HOT OFF THE PRESS DATA.

WE WILL BE MONITORING WANING.

WHAT WE DO KNOW AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BOTH WITH DELTA AND WITH OMICRON IS THAT THE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS HAS WANED BY ABOUT 10% OVER EVERY SIX MONTHS.

SO WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THAT MAY LIKELY BE THE CASE WITH THE BOOSTER AS WELL, BUT WE NEED MORE DATA TO SAY FOR CERTAIN.

>> 3.6 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE CONSIDERED FULLY VACCINATED BUT LESS THAN HALF THAT NUMBER HAVE GOTTEN THE BOOSTER.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET THE BOOSTER, ESPECIALLY AS NUMBERS DIP AROUND THE COUNTRY?

>> SURE.

WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

OUR RECENT PUBLICATION, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK, PROVIDES IMPORTANT NEW INDICATEA FOR THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING -- DATA FOR THOSE WHO ARE WONDERING IN THE BOOSTER IS RIGHT FOR THEM.

I THINK THE IT PROVIDES STRONG EVIDENCE, AND KNOW THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

>> SO IS THERE ANY OTHER POSITIVE NEWS TO TALK ABOUT.

ARE WE STARTING TO SEE WHAT WE CALL THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALL HOPING THAT THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT MAKING PREDICTIONS WITH COVID, BECAUSE IT HAS FOOLED US SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.

I HOPE THAT WE ARE IN THE WANING PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT ULTIMATELY ONLY, YOU KNOW, ONE BOOSTER SHOT WILL BE NEEDED HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY BECAUSE COVID HAS SURPRISED US SO MANY TIMES.

>> ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> SURE.

THANK YOU.

>> DEMOCRATS AND VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE OBJECTING TO A REPUBLICAN-BACKED PROPOSAL THAT WOULD REQUIRE INDIANA VOTE ORES WHO REQUEST MAIL-IN BALLOTS TO WEARBALLOTSSWEAR UNDER POSSIBLE PERJURY THAT THEY THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO VOTE BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

IT PUTS A GREATER BURDEN ON VOTERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH FEW EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

AND HE QUESTIONS WHY THE CHANGE IS NECESSARY.

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS APPARENT.

THE ANSWER IS WE WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VOTERS.

OKAY.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU PUT YOUR GOAL IN THE BILL?

>> THE BILL PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE ALONG PARTY LINES SENDING IT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR CONSIDERATION.

>>> STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE PLACED ON TRANSGENDER GIRLS' PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL SPORTS UNDER A BILL APPROVED BY INDIANA LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK.

JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS, PROTESTS ERUPTED DURING DEBATE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

[ SHOUTING ] >> THAT'S WHAT THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARD FOLLOWING THE APPROVAL OF HOUSE BILL 1041.

THE BILL AUTHORIZED BY MICHELLE DAVIS WOULD BAN TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SCHOOL SPORTS.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY MOSTLY OPPOSED THE BILL, KIT MALONE WITH THE ACLU OF INDIANA SAYS IT WILL HURT VULNERABLE KIDS WOULD WANT A SENSE OF BELONGING.

>> THIS BILL SEEKS TO SOLVE A PROBLEM WHERE ONE DOES NOT EXIST, AND DEMONIZES TRANS CHILDREN UNNECESSARILY.

>> CHRIS PAULSEN FROM INDIANA YOUTH GROUP JOINED SEVERAL OTHERS WHO POINTED OUT MENTAL HEALTH RISKS THAT TRANSGENDER YOUTH FACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR IDENTITY IS TARGETED BY POLITICIANS.

>> THE TREVOR PROJECT'S 2021 SURVEY OF NEARLY 35,000 YOUTH AGES 13 TO 24 SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 50% OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR.

>> IHSAA COMMISSIONER PAUL NEIDIG SAYS THE ASSOCIATION DEVELOPED A POLICY MORE THAN A DECADE AGO TO ADDRESS GENDER AND PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS.

>> POLICY IS BASED UPON WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE IN FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY OF INTEREST.

AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR CONSIDERATION WAS THE IHSAA'S SUBMITMENT TO TITLE IX.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JEANIE LINDSAY.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE BY A 66-30 MARGIN.

IT NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," PROGRAMS SUCH AS HOTELS FOR HOMELESS ARE WORKING TO FIND UNHOUSED PERSONS PERMANENCE RESIDENT IN BLOOMINGTON.

>>> AND A BALD EAGLE HAS BEEN REHABILITATED AND SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

MCCSC BUS DRIVERS SAY THEY ARE OVERWHELMED AND BURNED OUT.

AND AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, SOME ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT.

>> PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC AND THIS BOARD NEED TO HEAR OUR TRUTH BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>> ROCKY LASTER ATTENDED THE MCCSC BOARD MEETING TO BRING ATTENTION TO WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS A BUS SYSTEM IN FLAMES.

>> THE DRIVER FEEL DISRESPECTED, UNDER APPRECIATED AND AFRAID.

THERE'S A CLIMATE OF FEAR THAT PERMEATES OUR DEPARTMENT.

MANY DRIVERS HAVE LEFT BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> ACCORDING TO LASTER, OVER 40 BUS DRIVERS HAVE LEFT THE SYSTEM IN THE LAST YEAR.

AND MORE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER JOBS.

MANY ARE BEING ASKED TO DRIVE MULTIPLE UNKNOWN ROUTES.

WHILE THEY ARE LOOKING TO UPGRADE EFFICIENCY, THE CONCERNS ARE UNHEARD.

THEY HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP THE SAME ISSUES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS EXTREMELY BUSY, BUT AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF THIS CORPORATION IS IN FLAMES.

WE BESEECH YOU TO COME SPEND ONE DAY WITH US AT THE BUS LOT.

>> MCSSC TOOK US ABOUT DRIVER CONCERNS INTO CONSIDERATION AS THEY BARGAINED FOR A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE UNION.

THEY APPROVED THE CONTRACT DURING TUESDAY'S MEETING.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.

WE WANT TO CREATE A CULTURE AND A CLIMATE THAT'S INCLUSIVE AND THAT CELEBRATES AND RECOGNIZES THE HARD WORK OUR BUS DRIVERS DO.

>> LASTER DECLINED TO TALK AFTER MAKING HIS COMMENTS BUT HE REQUESTED THAT THEY GIVE THE BUS DRIVERS TEN MINUTES TO FULLY EXPLAIN THEIR CONCERNS.

>> DOOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MITCH LEGAN.

>> THE NEW CONTRACT FOR BUS DRIVERS BUMPS THE MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE TO $13.75, UP FROM ABOUT $11 AN HOUR.

THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON DREW CRITICISM A YEAR AGO, WHEN THEY CLEARED A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT DURING THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

BENTE BOUTHIER SAYS MORE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT THE COMMUNITY STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> JACE MOVES TO BLOOMINGTON OVER THE SUMMER, AND STARTED OUT STAYING AT FRIENDS' PLACE.

BEFORE THAT, HE HAD BEEN LIVING IN COLUMBUS AND STAYED AT A SHELTER THERE.

>> IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS BEING HOMELESS.

SO I HAVE BEEN IN MULTIPLE TOWNS AND BLOOMINGTON WAS ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT HAD OPTIONS LEFT.

>> JACE IS A TRANSGENDER MAN AND IS DISABLED.

HE SAYS BOTH FACTORS HAVE MADE FINDING SHELTER AND HOUSING DIFFICULT.

WHEN HE GOT TO BLOOMINGTON, HE WAS ACCEPTED FOR SECTION 8 HOUSING, BUT EVEN WITH THAT, FINDING A LANDLORD WAS DIFFICULT.

>> I HAVE RUN INTO BEING DENIED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE I DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH.

I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH, AND -- OR I DIDN'T QUALIFY.

SO WITH PUTTING IN ALL THE EFFORT AND THE WORK, I JUST KEPT GETTING IN THE SAME ANSWER.

>> THEN HE HEARD ABOUT HOTELS FOR HOMELESS, A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT HELPS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THROUGH FACEBOOK, HE CONTACTED THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDER KATIE NORRIS.

HER GROUP ARRANGED A HOTEL AND HELPED HIM FIND AN APARTMENT WHICH HE MOVED INTO IN DECEMBER.

>> THEY WERE REALLY WORKING HARD TO GET ME INTO A PLACE, BECAUSE THEY SAW I WAS PUTTING IN THAT WORK AS WELL.

>> NORRIS ALSO FOUNDED ROBIN AND TRICIA'S HOUSE LAST SPRING.

IT'S A COMMUNION LIVING HOME FOR MEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND FOCUSES ON SOBRIETY.

>> WE WANT THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR PROGRAM TO WORK THROUGH THEIR RESOURCES AND USE EVERY RESOURCE AVAILABLE AND EVERY SUPPORT SYSTEM AND GAIN THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS AND NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.

>> NORRIS SAYS HER PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED 130 PEOPLE OBTAIN STABLE LONG-TERM HOUSING.

A WOMEN'S SHELTER IS PLAN PTSD FOR THIS SPRING.

THESE -- PLANNED FOR THIS SPRING.

THE RESOURCES WERE NOT HERE A YEAR AGO BUT THE ONGOING PANDEMIC DOESN'T MAKE MATTERS EASIER.

AND NORRIS SAID FINDING TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DIFFICULT.

EVEN IF THEY GET A JOB, THEY STILL HAVE TROUBLE FINDING AN AFFORDABLE PLACE WITH A LANDLORD THAT WOULD TAKE THEM.

>> AND FINDING A PLACE, AN AFFORDABLE PLACE, THAT'S AFFORDABLE LONG TERM IS LITERALLY MY HARDEST OBSTACLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> DAN McNEELY WITH CENTERSTONE SAYS FINDING WAYS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE LOW BARRIER HOUSING OPTIONS WAS DIFFICULT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THEY OPENED KINSER FLATS.

YOU HAVE TO BE EVALUATED AS HIGH RISK AND A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

IT HOUSES ABOUT 70 PEOPLE WHO WERE HOMELESS.

HE SAYS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES KNOW HOUSING FIRST IS CRITICAL AND WORKED WITH THE CITY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE KINSER FLATS A REALITY, BUT GETTING THE APARTMENT READY TOOK FOUR YEARS.

>> TO HAVE TO SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HEY, WE'RE WORKING ON THIS.

AND IN THREE YEARS WE WILL HAVE AN OPTION FOR YOU, IF IN THREE YEARS YOU ARE STILL VERY NEEDY.

THAT'S NOT REALLY A GOOD -- A GOOD OPTION TO GIVE SOMEBODY.

>> HE SAYS THE FLATS MADE A DENT IN THE POPULATION EXPERIENCING STREET HOMELESSNESS BUT JUST A SMALL ONE.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FORREST GILMORE AGREES.

THEY SET UP A LOW BARRIER SHELTER FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BUT THIS YEAR, THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE.

HE SAYS THE EFFECT OF THE VIRUS ITSELF WAS RELATIVELY LOW BUT HE HAS OTHER CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FUTURE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED FROM THE RECESSION BACK IN 2008-2009, IS THAT HOMELESSNESS LAGGED IN TERMS OF -- IT TOOK A FEW YEARS TO REALLY PEAK, AND SO -- SO I'M EXPECTING THE PROBLEMS TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO BE REALLY CHALLENGING.

>> A STUDY FROM U.C.

DAVIS WHICH SURVEYED PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOUND THAT MOST RATED THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF THE PANDEMIC AS A GREATER CHALLENGE THAN THE VIRUS ITSELF.

HEATHER LAKEN AND MARK TELLER ARE LEADERS OF THE BLOOMINGTON HOUSING COALITION.

THEY SAY NOTHING HAS IMPROVED FOR PEOPLE STILL LIVING IN THE STREETS AND IN TENTS.

>> EVERY FEW WEEKS WE GET REPORTS OF SEVERAL PEOPLE GETTING COVID AND HAVING TO BASICALLY FIND THEIR OWN LITTLE NOOK OF A FOREST TO HIDE OUT IN TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE EXPECTED TO STAY IN ISOLATION OUT IN THE WILDERNESS.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE TO STAND IN LINE FOR FOOD.

>> THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED FOR THE COLD MONTHS AHEAD AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR PEOPLE STILL UNHOUSED.

JACE CREDITS NORRIS FOR HIS STABLE HOUSING AND IS BLOWN AWAY THAT SHE AND HER PEOPLE THAT RUN HOTELS FOR HOMELESS AND ROBIN AND TRICIA'S ARE VOLUNTEERS.

NOW THAT HE'S HOUSED, JACE WANTS TO BE AB ADVOCATE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHARE HIS STORY.

HIS ALL-TIME BIGGEST GOAL IS BE TO A TWITCH STREAMER FOR GAMES LIKE CALL OF DUTY.

>> IT DOESN'T HURT TO TRY TO JUST BE KIND AND LOVING AND CARING AND SHOW THAT YOU UNDER SOMEBODY OR YOU DON'T JUDGE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, SHARING MY STORY, YOU KNOW, JUST ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO THAT MAYBE SAVES A LIFE.

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

>>> PERU HAS BEEN A CIRCUS STOP SINCE THE LATE 1800s.

WHILE THE CIRCUS STILL COMES TO TOWN, ONE OF THE MAIN BUILDINGS IS IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIRS.

PHYLLIS CHA REPORTS.

>> INTRICATELY CARVED WAGONS AND DICKDECADES OLD CIRCUS POSTERS ARE A FEW OF THE ITEMS.

MANY LOCALS FIND THEIR FAMILY HISTORY IS INEXTRICABLY TIED TO THE CIRCUS.

>> YOU WOULD SAY MOST EVERY FAMILY WHO LIVED HERE FOR A WHILE HAS SOME KIND OF CONNECTION TO THE CIRCUS, THAT THEY HAVE GOOD MEMORIES OF IT.

>> THE HALL OF FAME IS HOUSED IN AN OLD BARN THAT WAS ONCE USED AS WINTER CORNER TO STORE AND REPAIR CIRCUS WAGONS.

BUT AS THEY PREPARE THE CELEBRATE THE 100th AN 100th ANNIVERSARY IN JUNE.

THE BUILDING NEEDS REPAIR, THE MAIN BEAM IS ROTTING AND MULTIPLE WINDOWS NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THE MAIN BEAM WILL COST UPWARDS OF $4,000 TO REPLACE AND SHE EXPECTS THE COST FOR OTHER REPAIRS TO BE EXTENSIVE.

>> LAST FALL, AS WE RECEIVED SOME VERY HEAVY RAINS, AND VERY STRONG WINDS ALL ON THE SAME WEEKEND, WE BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOT OF RAIN COMING IN ALONG A MAJOR BEAM THAT'S A NORTH-SOUTH BEAM THAT SUPPORTS THE WHOLE OF THE BARN.

>> GRIFFIN SAYS MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN PERU, WERE EMPLOYED BY THE CIRCUS, WHETHER IT WAS FARMING FEED FOR THE ANIMALS, TAKING BUCKETS OF WATER TO THE ELEPHANTS, PERFORMING OR FIXING UP THE EQUIPMENT.

>> BUT IT STILL CONTINUED TO BE CONSIDERED THE CIRCUS WINTER QUARTERS.

JUST BECAUSE THE BARNS WERE HERE.

MANY OF THE BUILDINGS WERE HERE THEN, AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY TO HAVE THE CIRCUS HERITAGE.

>> THE BARNS ARE NATIONAL HISTORICAL LANDMARKS AND ONE OF THE FEW REMAINDERS WHEN THE CIRCUS INDUSTRY IN PERU WAS BOOMING.

WITHIN THE WALLS OF PEELING WHITE BARN IS A RICH VISITTUAL HISTORY WITH MODELS OF THE ELEPANTS AND LINE RINGS THAT ONCE EXISTED AND POSTERS OF DIFFERENT PERFORMERS.

PERU HOSTS THE CIRCUS FESTIVAL EVERY SUMMER WHICH KEEPS ALIVE THE CIRCUS TRADITION IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT LOVE THE CIRCUS, I THINK, MADE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO BECOME PERFORMERS.

MANY OF THE ONES THAT NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PART OF THE AMATEUR CIRCUS WILL SAY, MY GRANDPARENTS WERE IN THE CIRCUS.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PHYLLIS CHA.

>>> THE TWO CIRCUS BARNS WERE PLACED ON INDIANA LANDMARKS TEN MOST ENDANGERED LIST IN 2019.

>>> AND THE BALD EAGLE IS ONCE AGAIN BACK IN ITS NATURAL HABITAT AT CRANE AFTER SPENDING THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS IN CAPTIVITY BEING NURSED BACK TO HEALTH.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> CHRISTMAS FINALLY CAME TO THE CRANE WARFARE CENTER ON TUESDAY.

ALMOST TWO MONTHS AFTER BEING FOUND INJURED ON THE BASE BY WORKERS, A FEMALE BALD EAGLE WAS RELEASED BACK FOOT WILD.

>> I LOOK OVER TO MY RIGHT AND I SEE THE OTHER EAGLE NEST AND THERE'S TWO EAGLES UP IN THE NEST, ABOVE THE NEST.

SO IT'S GOT A GOOD AREA TO GO, AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY.

>> BASE PERSONNEL CONTACTED THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AFTER THE EAGLE WAS DISCOVERED.

THEY TOOK IT TO VINCENNES WHERE ROBERT LANGE AND HIS WIFE JOANNE HAVE BEEN NURSING WILDLIFE BACK TO HEALTH.

LANGE, A STATE AND FEDERAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR SAID HE AND HIS WIFE HAD ALMOST 30 EAGLES OVER THE YEARS.

>> WE PUT IN SANCTUARIES.

WE SOME IN DETROIT, JUST DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

>> WHEN CHRISTMAS ARRIVED AT THE LANGES, SHE HAD AN INK AND A HALF PUNCTURE WOUND AND INFECTION IN HER WINGS.

>> THE GUY UP HERE SAYS THERE'S TWO OTHER ACTIVE TESTS UP NESTS UP HERE.

-- THEY COULD HAVE BEEN FIGHTING OVER TERRITORY OR WHATEVER.

>> WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS READY, SHE WAS DELIVERED BACK TO CRANE.

BRADY MILLER, THE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER AT CRANE, SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN TWO NESTING BEARS OF EAGLES THERE SINCE THE 19 -- NESTING PAIRS OF EAGLES THERE SINCE THE 1990s, THEY MIGRATED FROM MONROE.

>> YES, IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A SUCCESS STORY FOR THE NATION AND FOR INDIANA, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AS MANY EAGLES AS WE HAVE AND FOR MOST FOLKS IT'S PRETTY COMMON TO SEE AN EAGLE IF YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT.

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

>> ACCORDING TO THE ANNEACCORDING THE INDIANA DNR, THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 NESTING PAIRS OF EAGLES IN THE STATE.

WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

"INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: