>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," YOU CAN DITCH YOUR MASS INCOME MONROE COUNTY -- MASK IN MONROE COUNTY BEGINNING THIS WEEKEND AS THE LAST COUNTY MANDATE ENDS.

>> I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GETTING AND MOVING BACK TOWARDS A QUOTE/UNQUOTE NORMAL ROUTINE.

>> THE MOVE COMES AS THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE RAPIDLY DECLINED.

>>> PERMITLESS GUN LEGISLATION TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TURN THIS WEEK AS THE LANGUAGE WAS PLACED IN A BILL ABOUT DELTA 8THC.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE PLAYING CANDYLAND.

>> POLICE SAY IT WILL MAKE THEIR JOB HARDER BUT THE GOP CLAIMS A FIX IS POSSIBLE.

>>> AND MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE GATHERED FOR A RALLY IN MONROVIA THIS WEEK AS THE PEOPLE'S CONVOY MADE ITS WAY ACROSS THE STATE ON THE WAY TO D.C. THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

NOW, STATE'S LAST REMAINING COUNTY-WIDE MASK MANDATE ENDED WITH THE EXPIRATION OF MONROE COUNTY'S HEALTH EMERGENCY.

PAT BEANE REPORTS ON WHY NOW AND WHAT YOU SHOULD STILL DO TO COMBAT COVID-19.

>> THE MASK REQUIRED SIGNS ON DOORS AND STOREFRONTS WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST COME THIS WEEKEND.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN MANDATES YOU WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED TO MASK UP WHEN INSIDE SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, ANYWHERE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SIGNAL THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD STILL CALL 65,000 CASES A DAY IN THE U.S. AND 50,000 STILL IN THE HOSPITAL, AND 10,000 IN THE I.C.U.

AND 1800 DEATHS PER DAY ENDEMIC YET.

THAT'S NOT REALLY ENDEMIC.

WE VERY WELL COULD BE EXITING A PANDEMIC PHASE.

>> MCKEEN SAYS THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE MASK REQUIREMENT IS SET TO END, HE'S NOT READY TO DITCH HIS MASK.

>> I THINK I WILL STILL MASK IN CERTAIN INDOOR SITUATIONS LIKE GROCERY STORES OR ASSEMBLY HALL AND PLACES LIKE THAT WHERE LARGER AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE AND MAYBE I DON'T KNOW THE VACCINATION STATUS.

>> PEOPLE CONTINUING TO WEAR MASKS SHOULD USE ONLY USE THE HIGH FILTRATION, THE N-95 OR NK-95, RATHER THAN THE CLOTH MASK.

THEN OF THE COUNTY MASK MANDATE COINCIDES WITH THE END OF THE STATE'S HEALTH EMERGENCY.

AND IT COMES ATHE COMES AS THE COVID NUMBERS FALL.

JUST SIX WEEKS AGO 1900 CASES WERE REPORTED DAILY AND MORE THAN 70 WERE DYING DAILY FROM THE VIRUS.

TODAY THOSE NUMBERS ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 300 NEW DAILY POSITIVE CASES FEWER THAN 1,000 HOOSIERS HOSPITALIZED AND DAILY DEATHS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.

>> I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GETTING -- AGAIN, MOVING BACK TO A QUOTE/UNQUOTE NORMAL ROUTINE.

>> ONE THING THAT MAY WORK AGAINST THE STATE IS THE FACT THAT JUST MORE THAN 54% OF HOOSIERS ARE FULLY VACCINATED, AND WITH COVID NUMBERS DROPPING, SO TOO IS THE NUMBER OF HOOSIERS GETTING VACCINATED.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED, YOU SHOULD STILL GET THE SHOT.

THE BEST DEFENSE IS HAVING BEEN VACCINATED AND HAVING HAD THE VIRUS.

>> BUT IF YOU ARE PARTIALLY VACCINATED OR IF YOU ONLY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INFECTED, THE DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN SUGGESTS THAT YOUR IMMUNITY WILL NOT BE AS GOOD AS IF YOU ARE FULLY VAC VACCINATED.

>> ANOTHER THING, CHILDREN UNDER 5 ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE AND THE VIRUS IS NOT GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

>> I THINK REALLY WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST ARE ALL THE HIGH-RISK AND THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED WHO ARE HUNG OUT TO DRY A LITTLE BIT HERE AND I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF DISABLED AND SUFFERING PEOPLE FROM THIS, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, DEATH IS NOT THE ONLY OUTCOME.

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

>>> LEGISLATION TO ALLOW LAND GUNS TO BE CARRIED WITHOUT A -- HANDGUNS TO BE CARRIED WITHOUT A PERMIT APPEARS TO PASS AFTER LAST-MINUTE MANEUVERING.

INDIANA MAY SOON JOIN 21 OTHER STATES WHICH HAVE ADOPTED SIMILAR MEASURES.

AS BROCK TURNER REPORTS, ONE MAJOR PROBLEM WORRIES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, EVEN THOSE IN FAVOR OF PERMITLESS CARRY.

>> FOR DETECTIVES HADLEY GOODMAN AND CHRIS EGAN, NO DAY IS NORMAL.

THEY ROUTINELY SEE THE IMPACT OF GUN VIOLENCE ON THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> WE CAN GO FROM A VERY TRAGIC ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW, THEN THE NEXT RUN THAT WE GO TO COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A PERSON WITH A GUN THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW.

IT'S BARRICADED IN A HOUSE.

>> THEY ARE PARTNERS ON THE VIPER UNIT FOR EVANSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

GOODMAN AND EGAN TARGET ORGANIZED CRIME AND GANG VIRUS WHICH RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAN MANY OF THEIR PEERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THEY SPENT HOURS WAITING TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

>> THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE CARRYING PORE FIREARMS AND THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS OPPORTUNITY, FEWER TOOLS FOR US TO DETERMINE WHO IS PROPER AND WHO IS IMPROPER.

>> THE DEBATE HAS BEEN ONGOING AND CONTENTIOUS.

>> I WOULD SUGGEST RIGHT NOW, WE ARE INFRINGING ON SOMEONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

AND OTHERWISE, YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE DERELICT.

>> AFTER AN EIGHT-HOUR JUDICIAL COMMITTEE HEARING.

ERIC KOCH VOICED HIS DISPLEASURE AT THE CHANGES.

>> IN GUTS THE BILL COMPLETELY AND IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF A NO VOTE ON THE UNDERLYING BILL.

>> BUT UNDERLYING THE BILL WAS DEEMED INELIGIBLE.

DAYS LATER THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE RESURFACED IN KOCH'S COMMITTEE AND A BILL ABOUT DELTA 8-THC.

>> WELL, THE LANGUAGE HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF TURNS.

IT'S LIKE PLAYING CANDYLAND WITH LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS.

AND SOMETIMES YOU GET STUCK IN GUM DROP SWAMP AND SOMETIMES YOU GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS LANGUAGE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> MADEIRA IS A LAW PROFESSOR.

SHE STUDIED STATE GUN LEGISLATION AND SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE LOTION DURING COMMITTEE AND -- THE LEGISLATION DURING COMMITTEE AND SAYS ALL RIGHTS HAVE LIMITS.

EVERYONE AGREES ON THAT, BUT NOT MUCH MORE.

>> BECAUSE THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT IS A VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT BUT YET AT THE SAME TIME INVOLVES ITEMS AND TOOLS THAT CAN IMPLICATE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES, THEN I THINK THAT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES MIGHT BE HIGHER OR DIFFERENT FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT THAN FOR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

>> GUY RELFORD IS AN ATTORNEY DEDICATED TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

HE SEES IT DIFFERENTLY.

>> THERE'S A LICENSE OR A PERMIT IS SIMPLY THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT GIVES YOU PERMISSION TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

>> THOSE CONTRADICTING VIEW POINTS HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF YEARS' LONG DEBATE.

WHAT, IF ANY CHECK, IS JUSTIFIED?

MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AGREE WITH GOODMAN AND EGAN.

THEY ARGUE THE CURRENT SYSTEM BY QUICKLY AND CORRECTLY IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS.

IF PERMITLESS CARRY IS ADOPTED.

IT WILL CHANGE THE TRAFFIC STOPS FOR ANYONE DRIVING WITH A HANDGUN.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CREATED.

YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GOING TO COST MONEY, TIME, AND BASICALLY DO THE EXACT SAME THING THAT THE PERMIT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW DOES.

>> UNDER INDIANA LAW, A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN HANDGUNS AND LONG GUNS, LIKE RIFLES OR OTHER MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.

[ GUNFIRE ] ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO CARRY A HANDGUN CAN CARRY THOSE WEAPONS WITHOUT A PERMIT.

AND PROPONENTS OF PERMITLESS CARRY SAY TRAFFIC STOPS UNDER THE NEW LAW WOULD MIMIC THOSE STOPS.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TODAY WHEN SOMEONE GETS PULLED OVER WITH AN AK-47?

AND THEY KNOW THEY ARE.

THAT'S WHY THEY BLOW THAT OUT OF PROPORTION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH LONG GUNS IN VEHICLES OR LONG GUNS, YOU KNOW, IN PEOPLE'S POSSESSIONS FOR DECADES.

>> NEARLY EVERYONE RELFORD INCLUDED ADMITS TWEAKS OR CHANGES TO INDIANA LAW WOULD BE NEEDED TO GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

NO SUCH SYSTEM IS NOW CURRENTLY IN PLACE, AND THOSE AGAINST PERMITLESS CARRY SAY THOSE FIXES WOULD NEED TO OCCUR BEFORE THE BILL, NOT AFTER.

BUT NOT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREES.

>> AND SO REALLY THE ONUS IS ON US TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT PROCESSES TO PUT IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM MORE QUICKLY.

>> IT APPEARS ENOUGH MEMBERS OF THE GOP SUPER MAJORITY AGREE, DESPITE PARTY CHAIR KYLE HUPFER WRITING, REPUBLICANS WILL ALWAYS BACK THE BLUE AND, QUOTE, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE INDIANA STATE POLICE APPOINTED BY THEN GOVERNOR MIKE PENCE SAID OTHERWISE, IF THIS BILL PASSES.

>> THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUPER MAJORITY.

IT STIFLES, PROHIBITS, AND OFTENTIMES LIMITS PUBLIC DEBATE.

I SURE HOPE YOU CHOOSE TO SAY DEFERENCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS THAT UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE AND THE FRONT-LINE EFFECTS OF THIS LEGISLATION, RATHER THAN THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING REELECTED OR UNELECTED AT THE NEXT PRIMARY.

>> WHILE GOODMAN STOPPED SHORT OF USING CARTER'S WORDS, HE WOULDN'T FEEL SUPPORTED IF THE CURRENT LANGUAGE PASSES.

>> THERE ARE CITIZENS OF INDIANA WHO WANT TO EXERCISE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF WE CAN FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND WHERE WE CAN DO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST SOLUTION.

BUT JUST TO DO AWAY WITH IT ALL TOGETHER, NO, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE WOULD BE SUPPORTED.

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

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING EDUCATION REPORTER JEANIE LINDSAY.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

JEANIE, YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING -- BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR.

YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING A LOT OF BILLS.

TWO WE WANT TO GET TO.

BAN ON TRANSGENDER GIRLS COMPETING IN GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

TELL US ABOUT THE BILL AND YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT?

>> YES.

SO THIS BILL ACTUALLY APPLIES TO K-12.

SO HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY.

IT REQUIRES THAT SCHOOLS ESSENTIALLY DESIGNATE A GENDER FOR THEIR SPORTS WHETHER IT'S BOYS SPORTS, GIRLS SPORTS OR MIXED OR CO-ED.

AND IT BANS TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SCHOOL SPORTS.

IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT TRANSGENDER BOYS.

IT'S ONLY FOCUSED ON GIRLS.

AND SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK, A LOT OF CONCERNS, A LOT OF CONTROVERSY WITH IT, AND -- BUT REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED THE MEASURE.

SOME IN THE SENATE VOTED AGAINST IT, BUT IT GOT ENOUGH VOTES TO HEAD TO THE GOVERNOR AFTER NOT BEING CHANGED AT ALL IN THE SENATE.

AND THE MEDIA HAS ASKED GOVERNOR HOLCOMB IF HE WILL SIGN IT.

HE WAS ADAMANT OF GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SPORTS AND BOYS PARTICIPATING IN BOYS SPORTS.

GIVEN HIS STATUS AS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND THE SUPPORT FROM HIS PARTY, PEOPLE SEEM THAT IT'S LIKELY THAT HE WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW, BUT THE ACLU HAS ASSURED THAT THEY WILL SUE IF HE DOES.

SO IT'S NOT OVER EVEN IF HE DOES SIGN IT.

>> THE SENATE EFFECTIVELY KILLED THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND PARENT OVERSIGHT BILL.

WHY WAS THAT SO CONTROVERSIAL?

AND DOES THAT EVEN HAVE A CHANCE OF CONTINUING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT THIS.

>> YES.

SO PEOPLE HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONAL REASONING FOR THIS LEGISLATION.

IT WAS ALSO REALLY WIDE REACHING.

IT TALKED ABOUT CURRICULUM, PARENT OVERSIGHT.

IT TALKED ABOUT POSTING LEARNING MATERIALS.

PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE WORKLOAD IT WOULD PUT ON EDUCATORS.

IT TALKED ABOUT PARENTS HAVING TO SIGN OFF FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

NOT JUST THE FOUNDATION OR THE IDEAS BEHIND THE BILL, BUT THE FUNCTION OF IT AS WELL.

AND THE SENATE CHANGED IT TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THOSE -- ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE SENATE DECIDED TO KILL IT.

THE SENATE LEADERSHIP AND THE SENATE'S AUTHOR SPONSOR OF THE BILL SAID THEY WANTED TO MAYBE HAVE SOME PIECES OF IT IN -- TO OTHER LEGISLATION TO GET SOME CHUNKS OF IT, BUT THE HOUSE SAID YESTERDAY, SPEAKER TODD HOUSTON SAID THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ANY BITE-SIZED PARTS OF 1134.

THEY LIKED IT AS IT WAS PASSING THE HOUSE, AND SO WE'RE LIKELY NOT TO SEE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THIS BILL THIS SESSION, FROM WHAT THEY SAID TO FAR.

>> WE JUST HAVE 30 SECONDS.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BILL HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DECEMBER THAT CAN WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT AT SCHOOL -- DESK THAT WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

>> YES THIS WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT JUST REQUIRES THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS HEARD.

SOME SCHOOL BOARDS LAST YEAR CANCELED THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE OF THE TENSION AND AGGRESSION THAT CAME UP IN THEIR MEETINGS, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

>> THANK YOU, JEANIE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, JOE.

>> ANNEXATION REFORM WILL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR, AS INDIANA LEGISLATURE GRAPPLE OVER HOW CITIES CAN STRETCH THEIR BOUNDARIES WITHOUT LOSING PUBLIC SUPPORT.

A PROPOSED BILL ESSENTIALLY FLIPS THE CURRENT ANNEXATION PROCESS.

>> SENATE BILL 73 STATES INDIANA MUNICIPALITIES COULD PROCEED WITH ANNEXATION AFTER GAINING APPROVAL FROM 51% OF HOMEOWNERS IN THE ANNEXED AREA.

CURRENTLY RESIDENTS MUST GATHER SIGNATURES FROM 65% OF OPPOSING PROPERTY OWNERS TO STOP AN ANNEXATION, DURING A REMONSTRANTS PERIOD.

IF MORE THAN THAN 51% ARE OPPOSED THEY CAN CHALLENGE IT IN COURT.

>> COLBY WICKER SAYS OPPONENTS OF TWO AREAS IN BLOOMINGTON'S ANNEXATION NOW HAVE TO FIND A LAWYER.

>> YOU MUST BE A PRETTY FINE LAWYER BECAUSE HE WANTED $30,000 IN RETAINER FEES.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY AND SO THAT PUTS US AT A DISTINCT DISADVANTAGE WHEN CITIES CAN HAVE THEIR OWN LEGAL TEAMS.

>> STATE LAW DOES REQUIRE A CITY TO REIMBURSE $37,500 IN REASONABLE LITIGATION FEES, BUT ONLY IF REMONSTRATORS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN COURT.

BLOOMINGTON MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON SAYS CITIES NEED TO GROW RATIONALLY AND APPROPRIATELY.

>> I'M AFRAID THAT THE LEGISLATURE TENDS TO HAVE A KIND OF RURAL BENT THAT WANTS TO KEEP URBANIZED AREAS FROM JOINING THE CITY.

BUT I THINK IF RATIONAL MINDS PREVAIL, WE CAN DEVELOP A SYSTEM.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE BUT WAS TABLED IN THE HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.

SO LEGISLATORS COULD GATHER MORE INFORMATION.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MONROVIA BECAME A RALLYING POINT FOR THE PEOPLE'S CONJOYCONVOY AS IT MADE ITS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SKIERS SAY PAOLI PEAKS HAS GONE ONHILL SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BY VAIL RESORTS A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

AS RUSSIA'S MILITARY INVASION OF UKRAINE MOVES INTO THE SECOND WEEK, IT'S BECOMING A GLOBAL BATTLE OF WESTERN DEMOCRACIES AGAINST DICTATORSHIPS.

HOLDEN ABSHIER REPORTS.

>>> AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WHO STUDIED RUSSIA'S LEADER VLADIMIR PUTIN FOR TWO DECADES SAYS SHE'S SURPRISED BY THE INVASION OF UKRAINE, AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS ANYONE'S GUEST.

>> I WILL SAY HE DOES HAVE A HISTORY FROM THE MOMENT HE CAME TO POWER OF AN EXTRAORDINARY RUTHLESSNESS.

>> RUSSIA'S ONGOING ATTACK HAS LEFT UKRAINIAN CITIES IN RUBBLE AND CITIZENS IN HIDING.

HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN KILLED IN ANY EVENT WEEK OF FIGHTING: IT'S LATEST CHALLENGE TO A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.

I.U.

POLITICAL SCIENCE JACK BIELASIAK HAS BEEN TURNING AWAY FROM GOVERNMENTS DUE TO GLOBALIZATION.

>> THE ASSAULT THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE ENGAGED IN IS, I THINK, AN ATTEMPT TO BOTH CURTAIL THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS THAT THE UKRAINE HAS SHOWN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT ALSO TO RE-CONFIGURE THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STRUCTURES AROUND THE WORLD.

>> HE SAYS 20% OF THE WORLD LIVES UNDER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS AS OF 2022, COMPARED TO 50% IN 2005.

>> THIS IS BEYOND THE UKRAINE.

IT'S BEYOND THE REGION AND IT REALLY NEEDS, I THINK, TO BE A STRONG RESPONSE TO SAFEGUARD DEMOCRACY, BUT ALSO INTERNATIONAL LAWS OF BEHAVIOR.

>> ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE OR MORE THAN 2% OF UKRAINE'S POPULATION HAS BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

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

>>> PAOLI PEAKS SKI RESORT IS ENDING THE THIRD SEASON UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF VAIL RESORTS WHICH OPERATES MORE THAN THREE DOZEN RESORTS AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS YEAR, THE #VAILFAIL HAS BEEN TRENDING ON TWITTER BECAUSE OF LONG LINES, LIFTS NOT RUNNING, AND POOR CONDITIONS AT MANY VAIL RESORTS.

AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, LOCAL SKIERS SAY PAOLI TOO HAS GONE DOWNHILL.

>> PAOLI PEAKS IS CLOSING FOR THE SEASON ON SUNDAY, AND DAVID WILCOX HAS BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY HE GETS TO HIT THE SLOPES.

>> I BELIEVE I HAVE 20 DAYS I HAVE BEEN HERE THIS SEASON AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN OPEN 22.

IT MIGHT BE 21 DAYS, 23.

>> THIS IS WILL.

SO'S HOME HILL.

HE'S FROM BLOOMINGTON AND HE'S BEEN SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING HERE FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS AND HE WILL KEEP COMING BACK BUT NOT AS MUCH AS HE USED TO.

>> TWO YEARS AGO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 90 HOURS A WEEK AND NOW WE ARE DOWN TO 28 HOURS A WEEK.

>> SINCE VAIL BOUGHT THE REPORT, PAOLI IS DOWN TO ONE OR TWO LIFTS RUNNING A DAY, AND LINES CAN BE LONG AND THE TUBING HILL.

VAIL PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2019.

VAIL ANNOUNCED THE INTENTION TO PUMP $15 MILLION INTO IMPROVEMENTS AT THE RESORT IN TWO YEARS, BUT AS WITH MOST PANDEMICS SKI RESORTS WERE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF PANDEMIC.

>> WE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING STAFF THIS YEAR, DEFINITELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO ASSESS OUR OPERATIONS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF THAT.

WE OPENED WITH ONE LIFT, AND ABOUT 50% OF OUR TERRAIN OPEN AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND THAT THROUGH THE SEASON.

>> SOME CITE LOW STARTING PAY.

IT'S $11.25 PER HOUR.

AND VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR WORKERS AS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY ROUGH.

ESPECIALLY THE WALMART IN TOWN OFFERS MORE TO IS THAT RIGHT.

>> STEWART WINCHESTER IS THE EDITOR AND HOST OF STORM SKIING JOURNAL AND PODCAST.

BASED IN NEW YORK HE SERVED ON THE LIFT SKIED UNIVERSE, WHICH MEANS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE 450 SKI RESORTS IN THE U.S. >> VAIL DIVIDED DECIDED NOT TO INVEST IN LABOR AT THE NON-DESTINATION RESORTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST.

>> AND CONTRAST TO THE LAWRENCE SCOPE.

IT'S MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF HOURS NORTHEAST OF PAOLI AND THE ONLY OTHER SKI RESORT IN THE STATE.

>> THEY ARE STILL RUNNING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 12 HOURS A DAY, 1 AND14AND A HALF HOURS A DAY AND STAYING OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON THE WEEKENDS.

YOU EXPECT NIGHT SKIING AND SKIING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> PERFECT NORTH OPENED A MONTH EARLIER THAN PAOLI PEAKS.

IT'S FULLY OPENED TO SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS 89 HOURS A WEEK.

>> THIS YEAR WE HOPED IT WOULD BE MORE FORMAL BUT IT'S ANYTHING BUT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.

I THINK LONG TERM WE SEE PAOLI, IT ADDS VALUE.

IT'S CLOSE TO AN URBAN AREA.

THERE'S CERTAINLY PASSIONATE SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS THAT THERE ARE.

>> OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, VAIL HAS DONE MORE TO MAKE SKIING AFFORDABLE FOR FREQUENT SKIERS THAN ANY OTHER COMPANY OR ENTITY IN THE HISTORY OF SKIING.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THEIR EPIC PASS IS TO RESHAPE THE BUSINESS MODEL OF SKIING.

>> BUT STOCK AND VAIL RESORTS LOST A THIRD OF THEIR VALUE FOLLOWING ALL THE CRITICISM.

THEY ACCUSE RUNNING THE ONCE INDEPENDENT RESORT INTO GROUND AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE SAY THEY WON'T BE BACK.

>> WILCOX HAS NOT REACHED HIS BREAKING POINT.

HE'S FRUSTRATED BY SOME OF THE CHANGES BUT IT'S STILL A CONVENIENT PLACE FOR HIM TO GET OUTSIDE ON COLD WINTER DAYS.

>> THIS IS WHERE I COME TO SPEND TIME AND GET MY EXERCISE AND HAVE SOME FUN.

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

>>> A TRUCKER-LED CONVOY IS MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR A WEEKEND RALLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE GROUP IS PROTESTING TWO YEARS OF COVID VACCINE MANDATES AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

THE GROUP STOPPED IN MONROVIA FOR A RALLY WEDNESDAY AND MITCH LEGAN WAS THERE.

[ HORNS HONKING ] >> A GROUP CALLING ITSELF THE PEOPLE'S CONVOY ARRIVED TO A CROWD OF SUPPORTERS TUESDAY EVENING.

THE GROUP IS TRAVELING FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO PROTEST VACCINE MANDATES AND WHAT THEY SAY IS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S INSPIRED BY LAST MONTH'S TRUCKER PROTESTS IN CANADA.

>> IT'S TIME THAT THE TRUCK DRIVERS AROUND THE WORLD STAND UP FOR THEIR PEOPLE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

IT'S TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD LEARN THAT THEY WORK FOR US, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> ALTHOUGH CONVOY WAS STARTED BY TRUCKERS, OTHERS HAVE ALSO JOINED THE GROUP.

AT THIS POINT, MOST PARTICIPANTS AREN'T DRIVING TRUCKS.

KIM WEST DROVE FROM HER HOME IN IDAHO TO CALIFORNIA AND HAS TRAVELED WITH THE CONVOY SINCE IT STARTED LAST WEEK.

>> WE'RE TIRED OF THE CONSTITUTION BEING STOMPED ON AND WE THE PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.

>> ALTHOUGH MANY VACCINE AND MASK MANDATES WERE ROLLED BACK, THE CONVOY WERE FRUSTRATED WITH HOW THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS HANDLED THE PANDEMIC THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> I LOST MY PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS WHEN THEY DETERMINED I WAS NOT ESSENTIAL AND WE COULDN'T QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING.

WE ARE JUST -- WE ARE JUST TIRED OF THE GOVERNMENT TELLING US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THE CONVOY HELD A RALLY FOR A STANDING-ROOM ONLY CROWD AT A FARM EQUIPMENT AUCTION HALL.

>> US TRUCK DRIVERS, WE ARE JUST THE ONES WHO DECIDED TO START THIS OFF, RIGHT?

WE'RE THE ONES -- WE'RE LIKE THE CHAUFFEURS.

WE WILL OPEN THE DOORS FOR ALL OF YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD WHERE THEY NEED TO BE HEARD.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA MADE A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT THE RALLY.

HE PRAISED THE TRUCKERS AND THEIR BACKERS FOR SUPPORTING LIBERTY AND TAKING THE COUNTRY BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP AND GIVING US AS THE LAST SPEAKER SAID, GIVING US ALL SOME COURAGE TO STAND UP OURSELVES AND STAND UP FOR THIS GREAT NATION.

>> THE CONVOY IS CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO END THE COVID-19 NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

IT WANTS BIPARTISAN INVESTIGATIONS AND INTO HOW FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HANDLED THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S CALLING FOR AN END TO VACCINE MANDATES OF ANY KIND.

>> WE WANT TO HAVE LIBERTY AND FREEDOM GUIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF UNITED STATES.

>> THE PEOPLE'S CONVOY PLANS TO JOIN OTHER CONVOYS AT THE CAPITAL BELTWAY.

ORGANIZERS HAVE GIVEN MIXED SIGNALS ON WHETHER THEY WILL ENTER THE CITY.

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

>>> AND PERFECT NORTH'S SLOPES WELCOMED HOME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JUSTIN SCHOENFELD AND SILVER MEDALIST NICK GOEPPER LAST WEEKEND.

SEVERAL HUNDRED CHILDREN AND ADULTS LINED UP ARE NOT TO GET AUTOGRAPHS FOR THE TWO WHO GREW UP ON THE SLOPES.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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