>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," CAMP ATTERBURY IS NOW IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FOR THE MORE THAN # 7,000 EVACUEES WHO WERE HOUSED THERE SENSING LAST SEPTEMBER.

>> I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE CAMP.

IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE FOR MY LIFE.

>> WE SHARE THE STORY OF ONE AFGHAN MAN WHO WAS HOUSED AT THE BASE, AND THE CALS -- CHALLENGES HE WILL FACE STARTING A LIFE IN THE U.S. ONE SIDE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC IS MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO WORKING REMOTELY AND THAT HAS COMMUNITY LEADERS RETHINKING HOW THEY ATTRACT EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF AMERICANS, AN ABUNDANT NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO WANT TO LIVE IN A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE WITH DECENT SCHOOLS WHERE THEY CAN KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS.

INDIANA OUGHT TO BE THRIVING ON THAT.

>>> AND BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS CAN SUBMIT THEIR OWN PLANS FOR TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AROUND THE CITY.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

CAMP ATTERBURY IS NO LONGER HOUSING AFGHANS WHEN THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER AT THE END OF THE AUGUST.

ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF LOCATIONS ASSISTING IN RESETTLEMENT LOCATIONS.

MORE THAN 7,000 PEOPLE HAD BEEN TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT THE BASE.

OUR REPORTER MITCH LEGAN BRINGS US THE STORY OF ONE OF THE EVACUEES.

>> I MET UP FOR TEA WITH MASSAUD VIGHAGH.

HE'S 1 OF 200 PEOPLE FROM CAMP ATTERBURY WHO SETTLED HERE IN INDIANA.

HE'S BEEN HERE FOR TWO WEEKS NOT TOO FAR FROM HIS SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW.

IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY WERE USED TO IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> WE ARE LIVING IN OUR -- IN A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE IN AFGHANISTAN.

THEY ARE LIVING MY FATHER, MY PARENTS, MY BROTHER.

I HAVE TWO BROTHERS, AND THREE SISTERS.

>> BUT HE SAYS IT BEATS THE SITUATION AT CAMP ATTERBURY.

VIGHAGH WORKED FOR THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND LEFT SOON AFTER THE TALIBAN'S TAKEOVER.

>> FOR EIGHT NIGHTS, I DIDN'T SLEEP IN MY OWN HOUSE.

I WENT TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, BECAUSE TALIBAN, SOME OF THE TALIBAN, THEY KNOW WHO I AM.

>> HE LEFT HIS CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN KABUL AND BOARDED A PLANE WITH NOTHING BUT A PASSPORT AND THE CLOTHES THAT HE'S WEARING.

HIS PARENTS, WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE STILL THERE.

HE DOESN'T KNOW IF HE WILL SEE THEM AGAIN.

>> I KNOW THAT SHE IS SPENDING BAD TIMES FOR NOW.

SOMETIMES EVERY DAY, MAYBE EVERY DAY, I CALLING TO HER, AND WE ARE TALKING TOGETHER.

>> HE SPENDS HIS DAYS WITH THE FAMILY HE HAS HERE, CHATTING, TRYING NEW FOODS AND WAITING FOR WORK DOCUMENTS.

HE'S EAGER TO LEAVE THE LAST SIX MONTHS BEHIND HIM.

>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK -- THINK ABOUT THE CAMP ATTERBURY.

IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE FOR MY LIFE.

>> VIGHAGH WAS ONE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AT THE CAMP AND ONE OF THE LAST TO LEAVE.

HE SPENT FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS IN A BARRACKS, SLEEPING ON BUNK BEDS WITH ABOUT 30 OTHER MEN.

THEY PASSED THE TIME, TAKING WALKS, PLAYING CARDS AND PRAYING.

WHAT REALLY BOTHERED HIM WAS THE CONSTANT WAITING, HAVING NO CONTROL OVER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM OR HIS FAMILY AFFECTED HIS MENTAL HEALTH.

>> IT WAS LIKE A DARK HOLE, AND YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED, AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR -- FOR YOURSELF HERE.

IT WAS BIG PRESSURE ON THAT TIME.

YEAH.

>> HE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT HIS DECISION TO LEAVE AFGHANISTAN.

IT WAS THE SAFEST MOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER, BUT HE WORRIES FOR THEM NOW.

>> BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING.

I HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING IN AFGHANISTAN.

YEAH.

IT WAS A -- IT WAS A BIG DECISION, AND I THINK THAT WAS SO BIG PRESSURE.

>> VIGHAGH STUDIED THE CULTURE AND STUDIED ENGLISH.

HE WANTED TO SET HIMSELF UP FOR SUCCESS.

THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL BE CRUCIAL.

THEY NEED TO LEARN THE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE AND CONNECT WITH EMPLOYMENT, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSISTANCE COULD BE PSYCHOLOGICAL, NOT ECONOMIC.

>> THE SECOND WAVE OF EFFORT COMES AFTER THE 90-DAY MARK, WHEN THEY HAVE -- THEY NEED TO START PROVIDING COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED UNBELIEVABLE VIOLENCE.

>> VIGHAGH HAS A CREE IN ECONOMICS AND -- DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND MASTER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

HE'S REACHED OUT TO PROFESSORS ABOUT CONTINUING HIS EDUCATION AND WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A TEACHER.

>> FOR MANY AFGHAN EVACUEES, ONE OF THE KEYS IS RECERTIFYING IN THEIR PROFESSIONS, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS EASY TO DO IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> HIGHER QUALIFIED EVACUEES WILL LIKELY HAVE TO WORK LOWER WAGE JOBS AT FIRST, AND VIGHAGH IS FINE WITH THAT.

HE WILL WORK FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS BEFORE HE APPLIES FOR ASYLUM.

HE KNOWS HIS FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN, BUT HE'S MORE CONCERNED FOR HIS FAMILY.

HE HOPES ONE DAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RECONNECT.

BUT FOR NOW, HE'S FOCUSED ON IMPROVING HIS LIFE HERE.

>> I THOUGHT I AM HERE AND MY FUTURE IS ALSO VERY GOOD.

BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY HAVE NO FUTURE.

I ACCEPT THIS SITUATION.

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

>>> IN ALL, THE UNITED STATES HAS EVACUATED MORE THAN 75,000 AFGHANS SINCE THE COUNTRY FELL THROUGH OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME.

>>> NOW, WE'RE JOINED BY INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATE HOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

HELLO, BRANDON.

FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, INTO THE 2022 SESSION.

I JUST WANTED TO COLLECT IN ON SOME OF THE KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>> SO COVID CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE STATE.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THE HOUSE DID WAS TO EFFECTIVELY BLOCK PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM ENFORCING COVID-19 MANDATES.

>> YES.

WE HEARD IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON THIS BILL A LOT FROM HOOSIERS WHO SAY THEY WERE FACING GETTING FIRED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GET THIS SHOT.

IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WE HEARD FROM ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND AFTER A RECENT U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION, THIS BILL WOULD LIKELY NO LONGER HELP THEM, BECAUSE FEDERAL RULES TAKE PRECEDENT, BUT WE HEARD FROM THOSE WORKERS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE ARE RESPONDING TO SAYING NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY WON'T GET THIS SHOT.

NOW, EVERY MAJOR EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, RESTAURANT AND HOTEL LOBBY, THEY'RE ALL OPPOSED.

EVERY HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION, EVERY MAJOR HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, THEY ARE ALL OPPOSED.

AND BOTH IN COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE IN DEBATE OVER THIS BILL, WE HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS, A LOT OF ANTISCIENCE, ANTI-VACCINE, MISINFORMATION, BUT REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MATT LEHMAN WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL SAYS THAT IT'S NOT AIMED AT THAT SORT OF AUDIENCE.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE OR THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE.

THIS IS ABOUT THE RIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AS AN EMPLOYEE, WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.

>> SO BRANDON, THE HOUSE APPROVED A TAX CUT PACKAGE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY COST THE STATE $1 BILLION A YEAR IN REVENUE.

WHAT'S IN THE BILL?

WHY ARE DEMOCRATS OPPOSED?

>> FIRST, IT'S NOT JUST DEMOCRATS WHO ARE OPPOSED AT THIS POINT ON THE BILL.

WHAT'S IN IT IS A RANGE OF TAX CUTS.

MOSTLY AIMED AT BUSINESSES ON A VARIETY OF LEVELS BUT ALSO THERE ARE SOME UTILITY TAX CUTS THAT RATEPAYERS SEE ON THEIR BILLS SO THAT THE AVERAGE HOOSIER WOULD NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY.

IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE A CUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATE THAT BY THE TIME IT FULLY TAKES EFFECT, WHICH WOULD TAKE A FEW YEARS, IT WOULD MEAN ABOUT $128 LESS IN TAXES PER YEAR FOR THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN INDIANA WHICH IS ABOUT $56,000.

YES, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY COST THE STATE THE RANGE OF TAX CUTS MORE THAN $1 BILLION A YEAR.

NOW, REPUBLICANS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY SAY INDIANA'S GOT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SURPLUS, RECORD LEVELS OF REVENUE IN SURPLUS EVERY YEAR.

WE CAN AFFORD TO SEND SOME BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS SAY THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON PROGRAMS TO HELP CHILD CARE AND STUDENT DEBT AND HEALTHCARE COSTS AND A MILLION OTHER THINGS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHO SAY WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO TAX CUTS BUT WE SHOULD WAIT A YEAR UNTIL NEXT SESSION WHEN WE WRITE A NEW STATE BUDGET TO TAKE A FULL LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC PICTURE TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT OUR REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE AND THEN MAKE A CALL.

>> THE HOUSE HAS APPROVED A CONTROVERSIAL SCHOOL CONTENT AND CURRICULUM BILL.

IT PROVIDES SOME GUIDELINES ON WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT AND HOW.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BILL, WHAT IT DOES, WHAT IT DOESN'T DO?

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT TRIES TO DO IS EMPOWER PARENTS TO TAKE MORE OF AN ACTIVE ROLE IN WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE LEARNING.

SO IT WOULD CREATE A PARENT-LED CURRICULUM ADVISORY COMMITTEES THAT WOULD WORK WITH SCHOOL BOARDS.

IT WOULD REQUIRE TEACHERS TO POST THEIR LESSON PLANS AND MATERIALS ONLINE.

AND I WANT TO READ THIS ONE BECAUSE I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PART OF THE BILL IS AS YOU SAID IT WOULD ADDRESS CONTENT.

IT SAYS ONE OF THE MAIN FEATURES OF BILL IS THAT IT WOULD PROHIBIT THE PROMOTION OF EIGHT DIFFERENT CONCEPTS FOCUSED ON SEX, RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION FROM DISKIM BASED ON THOSE TRAITS TO STUDENT -- DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THOSE TRAITS TO STUDENTS AND THEIR OWN FEELINGS AND THOSE WHO MIGHT SHARE SOME ASPECT OF THEIR IDENTITY.

THAT'S BEEN THE PART THAT'S A REAL STICKING POINT.

WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE BILL LIKE CAROLINE JACKSON WHO JUST SAYS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUTTING TOO MUCH ON TEACHERS THE LAST FEW YEARS AS IT IS.

>> OKAY, BRANDON.

WE GOT TO GO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COVERAGE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE AS THE SESSION CONTINUES.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," CIVIC LEADERS ARE TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO LURE EMPLOYEES BY HIM PROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND BLOOMINGTON IS NOW ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO PROPOSE TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES AND MAKING THEM EASIER TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE PANDEMIC FORCED A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION INTO REMOTE WORK, WHICH EXPERTS EXPECT TO PERSIST EVEN AFTER COVID-19 SUBSIDES.

AS BROCK TURNER REPORTS, MANY CITIES ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON QUALITY OF PLACE INVESTMENTS TO ATTRACT REMOTE WORKERS BUT THEIR LIMITED BUDGETS COULD BE STUNTING GROWTH.

>> SULLIVAN, INDIANA'S TOWN SQUARE LOOKS LIKE SO MANY OTHERS.

LAW OFFICES, RESTAURANTS AND STORES SURROUND THE COURTHOUSE BUT BEHIND THESE MODEST MARQUEES IS A TRANSITION LARGELY OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW.

SULLIVAN AND DOZENS OF OTHER INDIANA CITIES HAVE SUTLEY SHIFTED THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENTS.

IT STARTED YEARS AGO AND LIKE SO MANY OTHER THINGS, THE PANDEMIC HAS ONLY ACCELERATED IT.

>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO RE-INVENT THE WHEEL.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO RE-INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATISTICS ARE TELLING US HERE IN THE CITY OF SULLIVAN THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A DECLINE IN POPULATION OVER THE DECADE, FROM 2010 TO 2020, WE HAVE ACTUALLY GAINED POPULATION EVERY SINGLE YEAR 2017, 2018, 2019, '20 AND '21.

>> AND A PLACE LIKE SULLIVAN, STOPPING THE BLEEDING IS SIGNIFICANT.

THE CITY IS IN TRANSITION AS ONE THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS, A COAL PLANT IS SET TO CLOSE NEXT YEAR.

INSTEAD OF THROWING MONEY AT INCENTIVES AT ANOTHER LARGE EMPLOYER, LAMB IS HOPING TO REDUCE BLIGHT AND REDUCE PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PLACE.

>> WHAT YOU HEAR IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES AND I'M SURE I CAN SPEAK FOR A LOT OF MAYORS IS SOMEBODY NEEDS TO COME IN AND DO SOMETHING WITH THAT BUILDING.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO COME IN AND INVEST AND GIVE ME A JOB.

>> SINCE ASSUMING OFFICE TEN YEARS AGO, LAMB HAS CREATED A CIVIC CENTER AND ENCOURAGES BUSINESSES TO RELOCATE TO THE TOWN SQUARE.

HE'S HOPING TO LURE RESIDENTS HERE TO THE SQUARE AND RECREATE A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT'S CONNECTED TO OTHER AMENITIES.

AN AQUATICS CENTER AND TRAILS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, A STONE'S THROW AWAY.

>> THE POLITICAL IDEOLOGY NEVER LINES UP EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T LIKE LEACHES.

WE DON'T WANT HANDOUTS BUT BY GOLLY, WE WANT SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME IN HERE AND INVEST.

>> BALL STATE ECONOMICS PROFESSOR MICHAEL HICKS SAYS THAT IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT APPROACH, ESPECIALLY POST-COVID.

>> SULLIVAN DOESN'T NEED TO BE LIKE CARAMEL, DOESN'T NEED TO BE LIKE MANHATTAN.

IF YOU WANTED TO LIVE IN MANHATTAN, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE TO SULLIVAN, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF AMERICANS, AN ABUNDANT NUMBER OF AMERICANS WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE WITH DECENT SCHOOLS WHERE THEY CAN KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS.

INDIANA OUGHT TO BE THRIVING ON THAT.

>> BUT THAT'S AT ODDS WITH THE APPROACH SOME STATE LAWMAKERS ARE TAKING.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS LARGELY FOCUSED ON CUTTING TAXES IN HOPES OF ATTRACTING THOSE BIG FISH EMPLOYERS.

INDIANA HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX RATES IN THE COUNTRY AND LOTION BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW -- LEGISLATION BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW WOULD CUT TAXES EVEN MORE.

THAT'S WHILE IT EXCEEDS THE SURPLUS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

LOWER BUSINESS TAX RATES MEAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE LESS MONEY TO WORK WITH.

AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE METRICS ARE SUFFERING.

FEWER THAN 50% OF COLLEGE STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME AND DATA SHOWS INDIANA RANKED 39th IN THE NATION FOR K-12 FUNDING PER STUDENT.

LATE LAST YEAR, INDIANA FUNNELED A LARGE SHARE OF FEDERAL DOLLARS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THROUGH ITS READI GRANT PROGRAM.

>> ONE OF OUR NUMBER ONE THINGS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS POPULATION SCARCITY AND HOW DO WE ATTRACT MORE TALENT TO THE STATE OF INDIANA?

>> RIGHT.

>> OUR READI APPROVALS ARE COMPLETE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I WOULD PROJECT RIGHT NOW THAT THERE ARE -- THERE'S ANOTHER $500 MILLION READY TO GO.

IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD $800 MILLION, WE COULD HAVE FUNDED $800 MILLION OF QUALITY PROJECTS RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> MOST ECONOMIC POLICY EXPERTS SEE A FINE LINE BETWEEN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ATTRACTS BOTH WORKERS AND BUSINESSES, WHILE PROVIDING RESOURCES TO RETAIN THEM.

>> WE NEED MORE TALENT, MORE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS.

>> LOW TAXES CAN BE GOOD FOR ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO AN AREA, BUT LOWER TAXES CAN LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO INVEST IN QUALITY OF PLACE AND EDUCATION, WHICH ARE KEY TO ATTRACTING AND RETAINING OUTSIDE INVESTMENT.

WHILE LAMB APPRECIATES STATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE CREATED UNIQUE SPACES HERE, HE AND OTHER MAYORS ALWAYS WISH THERE WERE MORE.

>> GRANTS ARE GREAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO COUNT ON EVERY SINGLE YEAR SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO UPTICK YOUR POPULATION AND THEN IT ALL TAKES CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> THAT'S WHY HICKS SAYS STATE OFFICIALS SHOULD TAKE NOTICE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>> FOR INDIANA TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE BIG GROWING METRO AREA, THAT'S INDIANAPOLIS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF CITIES AROUND THE STATE THAT ARE LIKE FISHERS, LIKE SHELBYVILLE, LIKE SULLIVAN, THAT ARE GROWING AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE THE -- SOME LOCAL FISCAL FLEXIBILITY THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

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

>> NOW, GRELLER AND OTHER EXPERTS SAY STATE TAX CUTS AFFECT INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES IN VASTLY DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE EACH HAS A DIFFERENT MIX OF BUSINESSES, HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, AND MANUFACTURING.

WHILE THAT DEBATE CONTINUES WORK IS ALREADY BEING DONE IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE STATE'S REGIONAL, ECONOMIC ACCELERATION AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, WHICH AWARDED $500 MILLION TO 17 REGIONS AROUND THE STATE.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY TINA PETERSON, THE PRESIDENT AND THE C.E.O.

OF REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVES INC.

THEY AND THEIR PARTNERS HELP SECURE $30 MILLION IN READI GRANTS FOR THE UPLANDS REGION.

WELCOME, TINA.

THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SO LET'S JUST START.

TELL US ABOUT THE READI PROGRAM AND WHAT THE STATE IS REALLY HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH BY THIS.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, HE'S VERY FOCUSED ON POPULATION GROWTH, AND SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS REGION REALLY TO GROW THE POPULATION WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT I THINK THE STATE BELIEVES IS NECESSARY.

SO READI IN AND OF ITSELF WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS POPULATION GROWTH TO FOCUS ON TALENT, ON QUALITY OF PLACE, ON INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, REALLY AS THOSE KEY ELEMENTS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR STATED THAT, YOU KNOW, HE REALLY WANTS TO LEAD THE NATION IN REGIONAL COLLABORATION, AND SO I THINK THAT FOCUS ON REGIONALISM WAS VERY DELIBERATE ON HIS PART.

>> SO YOUR GROUP LED THE PROPOSAL FOR THE UPLANDS REGION THAT.

INCLUDES MONROE AND TEN SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

HOW DID THAT PROPOSAL COME TOGETHER?

HOW DO YOU GET TEN COUNTIES TALKING TOGETHER?

>> WELL, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, RIGHT, IN THAT REGION.

THE INDIANA UPLANDS IS A REGION THAT WAS FORMED, GOSH, IN 2015, OUT OF A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE LILLY ENDOWMENT, SIMILAR TYPE OF INVESTMENT $42 MILLION, THAT THESE 10, 11 COUNTIES WORKED TOGETHER DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

I DON'T WANT TO KID YOU, GETTING ALL OF THOSE VOICES HEARD LAST SUMMER, RIGHT, THEY ANNOUNCED IT IN MAY.

WE HAD TILL JUNE TO DECIDE WHAT OUR REGION WAS, WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW, AND THEN WE HAD TWO MONTHS TO PUT TOGETHER FOR WHAT FOR US WAS A $150 MILLION PROPOSAL TO THE STATE, HOPING THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE 50 AND THRILLED THAT WE RECEIVED 30.

SO I WOULD SAY WE ANALYZED, WE ENGAGED.

WE LOOKED AT OUR NUMBERS.

WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE REALLY HAVE GREAT STRENGTH IN THE REGION, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE KEY SECTORS THAT BRING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROSPERITY.

WE DID A S.W.A.T.

ANALYSIS AND WE WROTE A PLAN.

>> WE JUST HAVE 30 SECONDS.

WHERE DOES SOME OF THAT MONEY GO.

>>> WE DON'T NOTE EXACTLY YET.

STATE HAS DECIDED THAT THE SOURCE OF FUNDING IS ARPA.

THE FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER IN THE YEAR.

IT WILL HAVE TO ALIGN WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL RESCUE PLAN MONEY.

SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT STRATEGY.

>> ALL RIGHT, TINA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> BLOOMINGTON IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS THIS MONTH FOR RESIDENT-LED TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECTS.

THE CITY IS DEDICATING ANOTHER $50,000 TO THE INITIATIVE.

HOLDEN ABSHIER REPORTS.

>> TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL IN BLOOMINGTON.

OPINIONS VARY, WHETHER IT'S THE SERPENTINE CURVES ON WEST THIRD STREET, OR NEIGHBORHOOD SPEED BUMPS OR BACK IN PARKING SPACES NEAR THE POLICE STATION.

THE GOAL OF THESE PROJECTS IS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY REDUCING ILLEGAL SPEEDING.

>> NOT ONLY DOES IT INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF CRASHES, BUT IT ALSO INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE WILL BE CRASHES.

>> PROJECTS ON BUSY STREETS OFTEN ARE INITIATED BY CITY STAFF, HOWEVER, RESIDENTS CAN REQUEST SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS SUCH AS SPEED BUMPS ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.

BEFORE FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION, THE RESIDENTS MUST COLLECT SIGNATURES FROM AT LEAST 30% OF AFFECTED HOUSING UNITS.

LAST YEAR THE PROCESS REQUIRED A MAJORITY OF NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO APPROVE THE PROJECT, BUT RICKBELL SAYS THIS THRESHOLD WAS TOO HIGH.

>> ILLEGAL SPEEDING, IT IS ILLEGAL.

IT'S A BEHAVIOR THAT IT SHOULDN'T PUT THE BURDEN OF POPULARITY ON SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WILL REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HARM.

>> AFTER REVIEWING APPLICATIONS, CITY STAFF COMPILED DATA FOR EACH AREA.

THEY LOOK AT SPEED AND CRASH REPORTS, AS WELL AS HOW MANY CHILDREN, ELDERLY, DISABLED AND POOR PEOPLE LIVE IN AN AREA.

EACH PROJECT IS THEN SCORED AND RANKED AND THE STAFF MOVES FORWARD WITH THE TOP SCORING PROJECT.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WHERE -- WHERE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN GET MORE SIGNATURES THAN ANOTHER.

IT IS -- IT IS VERY MUCH BASED ON GROUPS.

>> BUT ROBERT DEPPERT DOUBTS THE WISDOM OF MOST TRAFFIC CALMING SOLUTIONS.

>> ALL I CAN THINK IS YOU ARE PUTTING A CEMENT BARRIER IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD!

TO HOPEFULLY SLOW PEOPLE DOWN BUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO IS END UP RUNNING INTO IT.

>> THREE SUMMERS AGO, A 16-YEAR-OLD DRIVER CAME SPEEDING OVER HIS HILL, LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR, AND DAMAGED TWO CARS IN DEPPERT'S DRIVEWAY.

>> I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR HAD THAT SPEED BUMP NOT BEEN THERE, RIGHT, KIND OF OVER A HILL.

>> BUT CITY STAFF KNOWS NOT EVERYBODY ENJOYS NEW TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES AROUND TOWN, DESPITE IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN.

>> I HAVE NO DELUSIONS THAT TRAFFIC CALMING IS POPULAR WITH EVERYONE.

THERE IS -- THERE IS EVIDENCE -- THERE IS SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE THAT TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND MOST COST EFFICIENT WAY TO REDUCE SPEEDS.

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

>>> CITY STAFF USES THE HIGH PRIORITY NETWORK IN THE BLOOMINGTON TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO DECIDE WHERE TO INSTALL LARGER PROJECTS SUCH AS CURB EXTENSIONS AND CHANGES TO STREET PARKING.

>>> FOR CHILDREN WHOSE STUFFED ANIMALS HAVE BEEN INJURED, THE STUFFY REPAIR CLINIC AT THE MONROE COUNTY HUMANE ASSOCIATION CAN PATCH THEM UP.

BENTE BOUTHIER HAS THIS REPORT.

>> MAY I SEE YOUR BABIES?

HERE'S SPOT.

LIKE I SAID, I COULDN'T REATTACH -- >> VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN, COLLEEN SEAL SAYS IT'S MEANT TO TEACH CHILDREN TO MAINTAIN A LOVE OF ANIMALS.

>> WE WANT TO FOSTER LOVE AND EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS FROM A YOUNG AINGE.

>> SEAL -- YOUNG AGE.

>> SEAL SAYS THEY CARE JUST AS MUCH ABOUT THEIR STUFFED ANIMALS AS THEIR REAL PETS.

>> THEY ARE WELL LOVED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I LIKE THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST THROWING THEM AWAY, YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE FIXING THEM.

>> SOME PATIENTS JUST NEED TO BE RESTUFFED AND STITCHED, WHILE OTHERS NEED AN EYE REPLACED OR MORE EXTENSIVE TREATMENT.

SEAL SAYS MOST OF THE DAMAGE COMES FROM FAMILY PETS.

>> LIBBY, OUR PUPPY.

>> THAT 6-YEAR-OLD ELLIE BUCHANAN, SHE WAS AT THE CLINIC WITH HER MOTHER PICKING UP TWO DISCHARGED PATIENTS, BALLERINA BUNNY AND A CHEETAH NAMED SCOTT.

MELISSA SAYS THEY HAD BALLERINA BUNNY SINCE SHE WAS A BABY.

>> SHE WAS THE FIRST FIRST PLUSHY SHE HELD ON TO.

>> THE MOST REWARDING PROCESS IS THE JOY SHE SEES IN CHILDREN WHO ARE REUNITED WITH THEIR STUFFED ANIMALS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND THEY JUST SPRING TO LIFE WHEN THEY COME IN AND THEY GET THEIR ANIMAL BACK.

I REALIZE THEY ARE JUST AMPREHENCIVE.

IT'S LIKE IF WE ARE DROPPING OFF A PET FOR SURGERY.

>> THROW THE CLINIC HAS MOSTLY HAD CHILDREN PATIENTS.

SHE HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS WHOSE STUFFED LION IS MISSING AN EYE.

THE STUFFED ANIMAL WAS A GIFT FROM HER LATE HUSBAND.

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

>>> THE STUFFY REPAIR CLINIC HAS APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE TUESDAY AFTERNOONS AT MONROEHUMANE.ORG.

THERE'S A $20 DONATION FEE.

AND 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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