>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WORKER SHORTAGES IN HOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS NOT LIMITED ONLY TO NURSES.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE STAFF FACED SOME OF THE SAME DANGERS FROM COVID-19 AND LEFT IN DROVES.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TURNOVER BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRIGHTENED TO COME IN HERE AND WORK.

>> HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS HAVE BEEN RAISING WAGES WAGES OF NONCLINICAL STAFF.

>>> CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON SOUTH SIDE OF BLOOMINGTON FOR WHAT WILL BE THE CITY'S THIRD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> WE CAN REACH OUT TO OTHER PORTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T REALLY REACH NOW, JUST BECAUSE OF LOGISTICS.

>> THE $13 MILLION PROJECT NEXT TO BATCHELOR MIDDLE SCHOOL IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN EARLY 2024.

>>> AND THE FRIENDS OF THE FOREST HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT TIMBER HARVESTING TAKING PLACE AT A CAMPGROUND IN THE OWEN-PUTNAM STATE FOREST.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, THE DAYS OF HAVING TO WEAR A MASK ON PLANES AND AIRPORTS AND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS EXPECTED TO COME TO AN END WHEN THE FEDERAL MANDATE EXPIRES APRIL 18th.

IT WILL BE A WELCOMED RELIEF FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MASK MANDATES SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO.

BUT INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA JOINED 19 OTHER STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS IN SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY WANT THE MASK MANDATE ENDED IMMEDIATELY AND THE GOVERNMENT BARRED FROM EVER ISSUING A MASK MANDATE IN THE FUTURE.

WE'RE JOINED BY DR. MICHAEL WEINER, A SCIENTIST.

HE'S COAUTHORED A PAPER THAT USES EVIDENCE-BASED CRITERIA TO GUIDE WHEN MASKS SHOULD BE REQUIRED INDOORS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, DOCTOR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO YOUR PAPER PROPOSES FIVE CRITERIA THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD USE BEFORE DECLARING INDOOR MASK MANDATE.

CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY GUIDE US THROUGH THAT CRITERIA?

>> SURE.

OUR FIVE CRITERIA ARE THE FOLLOWING: THE FIRST IS CONTAGIOUSNESS, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO WHOM ONE PERSON CAN TRANSMIT THE INFECTION.

THE SECOND IS VULNERABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO INFECTION.

THIS IS THE GROWTH IN THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT'S INFECTED.

NUMBER THREE IS HARM CAUSED BY THE DISEASE.

AND THIS IS THE CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF DEATHS PER WEEK.

NUMBER FOUR IS THE DIRECTION OF HARM, WHICH IS THE CHANGE IN THAT NUMBER OF DEATHS.

AND NUMBER FIVE IS THE SEVERITY OF HARM WHICH IS THE INFECTION/FATALITY RATIO, AMONG ALL INFECTED INDIVIDUALS.

>> HOW DOES YOUR DATA DIFFER FROM WHAT THE CDC USES TO MAKE ITS MASKING DECISIONS.

>> WE SEE TWO MAIN DECISIONS BETWEEN OUR CRITERIA AND THE CDs.

CD -- CDCs.

WHILE IT FOCUSED ON THE INPATIENT HOSPITAL SETTING, OUR CRITERIA FOCUSED MORE ON COMMUNITIES, WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY TRANSMIT THE INFECTION OR ACQUIRE THE DISEASE WITHOUT BEING HOSPITALIZED.

SECOND, WHEREAS THE CDC FOCUSES ON CASES OF DISEASE, WE FOCUS ON THE CASES AS WELL AS DEATHS, INCLUDING CHANGES TO DEATHS AND WE THINK INCLUDING DEATHS IN DECISION-MAKING LIKE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THE MASK MANDATES HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE BOARD THROUGHOUT THE MAN DEMIC.

-- PANDEMIC.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A STANDARD SYSTEM LIKE THIS.

>> WE THINK APPROACHING OUR COMMUNITIES IS IMPORTANT BUT THE APPROACHES TO PROTECTION CURRENTLY HAVE LARGELY BEEN ARBITRARY AND SOMETIMES EVEN SEEM TO BE RANDOM.

SOMETIMESCAN SORT OF SEED ANTIMASKING SENTIMENT.

WE BELIEVE A MORE RIGOROUS APPROACH MAY ENHANCE THE PREDICTABILITY OF MASKING AND ALSO WE KNOW WHEN TO RELAX THE REQUIREMENTS.

SO ADDING THIS KIND OF STRUCTURE COULD ACTUALLY MAKE FOR A MORE COHERENT DISCUSSION AND HELP US RESOLVE TRADEOFFS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION.

>> SO YOU USE THE FLU SEASON AS A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR YOUR STUDY.

WHY IS THAT A GOOD BASELINE?

>> INFLUENZA IS A PRETTY GOOD BASELINE OR BENCHMARK FOR A PANDEMIC, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE DEVELOPED A SENSE OF COMFORT WITH THE PROTECTIONS THAT THEY PUT INTO PLACE TO PREVENT A CONDITION LIKE INFLUENZA.

SO THIS CAN HELP US CREATE SOME BENCHMARK OR BASELINE FOR THRESHOLDS FOR MASKING THAT MAY ACTUALLY BE USEFUL.

OF COURSE, MASKING HASN'T BEEN VERY COMMON IN THE UNITED STATES TO PREVENT INFLUENZA BUT SARS-COVID HAS A FATALITY THAT'S TEN TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT OF INFLUENZA.

>> DOCTOR, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SHORTAGE OF NURSES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED.

HOSPITALSARE SHELLING OUT MORE CASH TO PAY HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR CLINICAL STAFF FROM AGENCIES BUT MANY ARE DEALING WITH OTHER LABOR SHORTAGES THAT ARE EVEN HARDER TO FILL.

BROCK TURNER HAS THE STORY.

>> IT'S EASIER NOW FOR CRYSTAL JEFFERIES TO LOOK BACK ON THE IMPACT THAT COVID-19 HAS HAD ON HER AND HER TEAM.

>> THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT COVID WAS ON THE NEWS, AND IT WAS HITTING CHINA.

AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S NEVER GONNA REACH HERE!

BUT SURE ENOUGH, IT DID.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND IT GOT HERE QUICK!

>> AND IN OTHER NEWS AN OUTBREAK OF VIRAL KNEW MEANIA PNEUMONIA HAS SPREAD TO THE UNITED STATES.

A SEATTLE AREA MAN BROUGHT THE VIRUS BACK FROM CENTRAL CHINA.

>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WAS WELL DOCUMENTED.

IN PART DUE TO QUARANTINES AND THE NEW DEMANDS OF WORKING IN HEALTHCARE DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TURNOVER BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRIGHTENED TO COME IN HERE AND WORK.

>> HER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COWORKER, DENISE AGREES.

>> LAST YEAR HAS BEEN HECTIC.

OUR WORKLOAD HAS BEEN LIKE DOUBLE IF NOT MORE.

>> JEFFERIES SAYS THOSE EFFECTS ARE STILL PRESENT, BUT AREN'T ALWAYS JUSTIFIED, AT LEAST FROM HER PERSPECTIVE.

>> THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

WE USE OUR PRECAUTIONS.

WE ARE SAFE.

>> THOSE PRECAUTIONS INCLUDE CONSISTENT MASKING, DONNING A FULL ENSEMBLE OF PERSONAL PROAL TECHIVE EQUIPMENT, WHEN ENTERING -- PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WHEN ENTERING INFECTED PERSONS AREAS.

>> HOW IT'S AFFECTED THE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CHANGED THE STRESS LEVEL OF JOBS.

I THINK THAT'S A BIGGER PICTURE REASON THAN THE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS THEMSELVES.

>> BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES.

>> I DO.

YES.

I DO.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN OUTLOOK ON THINGS.

SO, YES, I DO.

I THINK THAT HAS A WHOLE LOT TO DO WITH IT.

>> CHRIS WOOD, WHO MANAGES THE TEAM SAYS ALL OF HER STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED OR APPLIED FOR AN EXEMPTION.

>> WE ASK A POTENTIAL NEW HIRE THEIR FEELINGS AROUND IT.

>> ONE-THIRD NEEDS TO BE START OR BE HIRED AND WHIM SIMILAR LABOR CHALLENGES ARE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY, THE PREREQUISITES IN HOSPITALS ARE UNIQUE.

THIS IS THE C.E.O.

IN RUSHVILLE.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REEVALUATE THEIR WAGES AND WE ACCELERATED THEIR WAGES A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING THE PANDEMIC, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD KEEP THAT TURNOVER REALLY LOW.

>> WHILE THE SHORT AMES OF NURSES, DOCTORS AND PHYSICAL SPACE DOMINATED MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION, BEHIND-THE-SCENES OTHER STAFFING SHORTAGES WERE PRESENT.

SMITH SAYS HIS GREATEST CHALLENGE IS HIRING NONCLINICAL STAFF, BECAUSE THE COMPETITION FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES IS SO GREAT.

>> WHEN TESTIMONY KOZ TO COMES TO EVS OR OTHER NONCLINICAL POSITIONS, WE MIGHT LOSE THAT TO THE COURTHOUSE OR THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OR MAYBE EVEN THE NEAREST AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

THAT'S WHERE WE LOSE THOSE POSITIONS TO.

>> ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING AND TRANSITIONING PATIENT ROOMS AND MANY HOSPITALS, THEY'LL SPEND AS MUCH TIME WITH PATIENTS AS DOCTORS AND NURSES.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, COVID-19 UPENDED LONG ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS.

>> WE HAVE ONE FLOOR THAT'S SET UP FOR COVID AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER FLOORS THAT HAS COVID PATIENTS BUT THE NEXT PATIENT MAY NOT BE COVID.

>> THAT'S A SETUP JEFFERIES KNOWS WELL.

GRETCHEN SMITH, THE V.P.

OF OPERATIONS AT RUSH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SAYS THOSE CHALLENGES ARE WIDE SPREAD.

HER EVS STAFF MORE THAN TRIPLED DURING COVID'S PEAK, ABSORBING EMPLOYEES FROM OTHER SERVICE LINES FOR THE INCREASED CLEANING.

>> IT WOULD BE NOTHING FOR THEM TO CLEAN 20 ROOMS A DAY.

IT WAS EXHAUSTING.

AND BE IN A SMALL CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL, THAT'S QUITE A BIT FOR OUR STAFF.

>> THERE'S BEEN A NEW FOCUS, A NEW LIGHT PUT ON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR ROLE IS CRUCIAL, AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT MORE SO THAN EVER DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> DESPITE ALL OF THE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES ARE NEITHER JEFFERIES, NOR HER COWORKERS SAY THEY EVER THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING THE HOSPITAL AND FINDING WORK ELSEWHERE.

THEY SAY THE SERVICE AND THE DESIRE TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY KEEPS THEM CLEANING.

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

>>> WE ARE JOINED BY HOLDEN ABSHIER FOR LATEST HEADLINES.

>> THANKS, JOE.

BLOOMINGTON MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON ANNOUNCED HIS PLAN TO RAISE THE MONROE COUNTY LOCAL INCOME TAX BY 64%.

THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS MORE THAN 1.3% AND THE NEW PROPOSED RATE IS 2.2%.

HAMILTON SAID THE PROPOSED INCREASE WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $18 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, $11.4 MILLION FOR MONROE COUNTY, $1.4 MILLION FOR ELLETSVILLE AND $44,000 FOR STINESVILLE.

>> OUR COUNTY LIT IS LOW NOW.

LOWEST AMONG OUR SEVEN CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES.

LOW STATEWIDE.

WE HAVE NOT RAISED THE BASIC LIT FOR 30 YEARS.

>> THE INCREASE WOULD MOVE MONROE COUNTY UP FROM 67th 67th TO 22nd FOR THE HIGHEST INCOME TAX AMONG INDIANA'S 92 COUNTIES.

>>> AFTER MONTHS OF DISCUSSION, DELAYED VOTES AND AN EXTENDED CLOSURE, PART OF THE B LINE TRAIL, THE JOHNSON'S CREAMERY SMOKESTACK IS COMING DOWN TO 60 FEET BY MIDWAY.

BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED WEDNESDAY TO ESTABLISH AN HISTORIC DISTRICT AROUND THE JOHNSON'S CREAMERY BUILDING AND STOKESTACK.

THE HISTORIC DISTRICT STATUS MEANS THE PROPERTY OWNER, CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PARTIAL DEMOLITION.

THE 144 TALL STACK CANNOT BE SAVED BUT ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC DISTRICT ALLOWS THE CITY TO MAINTAIN IT AT 60 FEET.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HOUSES ONE OF 1919 NALOXONE VENDING MACHINES.

THE MACHINE WAS INSTALLED LAST WEEK, AND IS ALREADY BEING USED.

>> MONROE COUNTY JAIL COMMANDER SAM CROWE SAYS THEY ALREADY CONTRIBUTED 20 DOSES OF NALOXONE FROM THE MACHINE.

NALOXONE OR NARCAN IS USED TO REDUCE OPIOID OVERDOSE.

THEY UNVEILED THE MACHINE TO THE PUBLIC ON MONDAY.

>> THE MORE WE CAN GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THE BETTER OFF EVERYONE IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE.

>> HE ADDS PEOPLE LEAVING JAIL ARE AT A MUCH HIGHER RISK FOR OVERDOSE AFTER RELEASE.

SO HAVING THE VENDING MACHINE IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY LOBBY IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE.

HE SAYS IT CAN NOW TAKE UP TO THREE DOSES TO TREAT SOMEONE FOR AN OVERDOSE, WHICH THE VENDING MACHINE NOTES.

JUSTIN PHILLIPS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OVERDOSE LIFELINE INC. SAYS THERE ARE BARRIERS TO GETTING THE MACHINES UP AROUND STATE AND WANTS HOOSIERS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DYING.

>> THE TRUTH IS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE STANDING NEXT TO YOU IN THE GROCERY LINE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE HAVING AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.

IT'S NOT THOSE PEOPLE.

>> SHE ADDED INDIANA SAW 32% INCREASE IN FATAL OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM APRIL 2020 TO APRIL 2021.

SHE SAID AN INDIVIDUAL IS UP TO 130 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE AN OVERDOSE DEATH WITHIN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING INCARCERATION.

COMPARED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

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

>> GRAVITY DIAGNOSTICS WHICH HAS PROVIDED COVID TESTING FOR THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2021 HAS CLOSED ALL THE TESTING SITES IN THE STATE, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT TESTING IS NOT AVAILABLE.

>> YOU GET THE -- THE -- I GUESS THE MONROE COUNTY WEBSITE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEBSITE, THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE SEVEN LOCATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THOSE TYPE OF SERVICES.

>> HE SAYS IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROSE AND THE D.O.H.

REQUESTED, GRAVITY COULD SUPPORT TESTING EFFORTS AGAIN.

GRAVITY HAS CONDUCTED NEARLY 3.5 MILLION TESTING SITES ACROSS INDIANA AND KENTUCKY.

>>> A BLOOMINGTON-BASED SENIOR LIVING COMPANY HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE U.S.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.

THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS HEART OF CARDON VIOLATED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WHEN IT WOULDN'T REPOSITION AN EMPLOYEE AFTER SHE WAS INJURED AT WORK.

THE COMPANY AGREED TO PAY THE EMPLOYEE $115,000 AND COMPLETE AN A.D.A.

TRAINING.

HEART OF CARD OP CARDON OPERATES 20 SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES, INCLUDING BELL TRACE IN BLOOMINGTON.

>>> JURASSIC QUEST RETURNS TO BLOOMINGTON.

IT'S THE MOST REALISTIC DINOSAUR EXHIBIT.

IT HAS ANAMOTRONIC, RIDES, LIVE SHOWS AND EXHIBITS AND MORE FOR KIDS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES.

IT RUNS FROM 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

THROUGH SUNDAY.

TICKETSCAN BE PURCHASED AT JURASSICQUEST.COM.

>>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR HEADLINES, JOE, BUT I'M CURIOUS, WILL YOU GO TO SEE THE DINOSAURS THIS WEEKEND?

>> THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

SOMETHING TO DO INSIDE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A NEW LIBRARY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON BLOOMINGTON'S SOUTH SIDE HAS BEEN A DECADE IN THE MAKING.

>>> AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP IS QUESTIONING DNR PROCEDURES ALLOWING TIMBER HARVESTING IN THE OWEN-PUTNAM STATE FOREST.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AS DIPLOMATS AND EXPERTS GATHERED AT I.U.

THIS WEEK FOR AN ANNUAL FOREIGN POLICY CONFERENCE AT THE HAMILTON LUGAR SCHOOL.

KAYAN TARA HAS THIS STORY.

>>> A FORMER U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE SAYS THE COUNTRY'S NOT JUST FIGHTING TO SAVE ITSELF, BUT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC POWERS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR US.

THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR OWN FREEDOM, THE VALUES, THEIR IDENTITY, THAT SHE TALKED B.FREEDOM IS THAT IDENTITY, BUT THOSE ARE OUR VALUES.

>> TAYLOR WAS THE AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE FROM 2006 TO 2009, AND THEN AGAIN UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2019.

HE WAS ONE OF THE SEVERAL PANELISTS AT THE RECEIVE SEVENNED AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD CONFERENCE.

WITH RUSSIA IN RETREAT IN SOME AREAS, TAYLOR EXPECTS UKRAINE TO ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.

>> THEY WILL WIN.

THEY WILL EITHER SIT DOWN AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH PUTIN HAVING DECIDED -- HAVING REALIZED, HAVING CONCLUDED THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIN ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND THEY WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT THAT WILL TAKE THEM FORWARD.

>> BUT MARIANA BUDJERYN, A RESEARCHER FROM HARVARD SAYS THERE'S A RISING RISK OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS BEING USED ESPECIALLY IF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BELIEVES HE'S LOSING THE WORLD.

>> FOR HIM TO BE SEEN LOSING TO UKRAINE, IS UNACCEPTABLE.

HE MIGHT RESORT TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> FORMER U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND NONPROLIFERATION, TOM COUNTRYMAN NOTED THERE'S OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AT RUSSIA'S DISPOSAL.

>> WHAT I WORRY ABOUT AS A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD EVENT IS THE USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS BY THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY EFFECTIVE IN THE BATTLEFIELD SENSE, BUT BECAUSE RUSSIA HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS CAPABILITY OF USING THOSE WEAPONS AGAINST ITS OWN CITIZENS.

>> THE PANELISTS AGREE THAT THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS WHO ARE PROVIDING MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN AID TO UKRAINE NEED TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN THE WAR.

>> UNITY OVER DIVISION, YOU KNOW, PRINCIPLE OVER PARTY, THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE CHANGE.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO BUILD UNITY AROUND VERY, VERY STRONG PRINCIPLES, AND THAT'S HOW YOU SUSTAIN CHANGE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M KAYAN TARA.

>>> CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON LOAN'S SOUTH TIDE FOR A THIRD BRANCH OF THE -- BLOOMINGTON'S SOUTH SIDE FOR A THIRD BRANCH.

LIBRARY.

PLANNING FOR THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR ALMOST A DECADE.

>> WORKERS ARE BUSY BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE NEW BUILDING INTO A SLOPE OF A LITTLE NEXT TO BATCHELOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR SAYS THE LOCATION FOR THE NEW BRANCH MAKES IT PERFECT FOR A NEW COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE.

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ASKED FOR DURING THE 2018-2019 FEASIBILITY STUDY.

>> AND SO THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASKED FOR FROM THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS CLOSE TO AMENITIES.

CLOSE TO SCHOOLS.

CLOSE TO PARKS.

WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TOGETHER TO LEARN, TO HAVE REAL COMMUNITY.

>> SHE SAYS IT'S HIGH TIME FOR ANOTHER LOCATION, BECAUSE THE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY IS GROWING.

>> WE DO KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY HIGHLY POPULATED AND GROWING AREA.

AND WE CAN REACH OUT TO OTHER PORTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE -- THAT WE DON'T REALLY REACH NOW, JUST BECAUSE OF LOGISTICS, PARKING DOWNTONE AND SOME OTHER BARRIERS.

>> THERE'S BEEN HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY.

RUNNING INTO LIMESTONE WHEN DIGGING THE FOUNDATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT PUSHED THE BUDGE BUDGET FROM $10 MILLION TO $13 MILLION.

BUT THE PLANS HAVEN'T ADJUSTED MUCH.

GRIER CARSON SAYS THE NEW LIBRARY WILL ALLOW FOR NEW TYPES OF PROGRAMMING LIKE A COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND AMPHITHEATER.

>> WE WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND CONNECT THAT FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE TRAIL TO THE AMPHITHEATER PROGRAMMING.

HAVING AN OUTDOOR SPACE LIKE THAT, IN GENERAL IS JUST -- IT JUST OPENS US FOR DOING THINGS OUTSIDE THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE.

>> HE SAYS THE NEW BRANCH WILL ALSO GAIN A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC FROM THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> IT MEANS WE ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE COMING INTO THE LIBRARY, WHO ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR HOPES FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMMING.

>> GRIER SAYS THEY TALKED WITH BATCHELOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AROUND GENERAL CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND TYPES OF THINGS THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE LIBRARY.

THE SCHOOL HAS KNOWN PLANS FOR THE LIBRARY WERE IN THE WORKS SINCE BEFORE HE STARTED THREE YEARS AGO.

THE SCHOOL ALREADY HAS A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOWNTOWN BRANCH.

>> WITH THE NEW BRANCH SPECIFICALLY, THE BIG PRO WITH IT BEING SO CLOSE IS WE WILL BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE ON A LOT OF PROGRAMMING, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO GET A BUS, DRIVE DOWNTOWN, BUT NOW THAT IT'S A TWO OR THREE MINUTE WALK, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE PROGRAMS TORE STUDENTS.

>> -- FOR STUDENTS.

HE THINKS THE LIBRARY WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE AREA WHICH WILL BRING MORE RESOURCES TO THE SCHOOL.

PERRY TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE JAMES COMSCOOMBS SAYS IT COULD RESULT IN MORE PEOPLE TO THE AREA AND RESULT IN HIGHER HOME PRICES.

>> THE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS A SELLING POINT AND THERE'S THE WORKER HOUSING THAT IS DOWN IN THERE, AND THE LOWER INCOME, PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING STOCK THAT WILL BECOME DESIRABLE.

IF NOT FOR THE EXISTING HOUSING, AT LEAST FOR THE LAND THAT HOUSING SITS ON.

>> BUT COOMBS SAYS IT'S AN OVERALL POSITIVE, PROVIDING EQUAL NO BARRIER ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

>> HAVING ACCESS TO A LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE THINGS I THINK THAT REALLY MAKES A COMMUNITY.

A GOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> THE NEW BRANCH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY 2023.

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

>>> AND A CAMPGROUND IN THE OWEN-PUTNAM STATE FOREST IS BEGINNING TO HARVEST TIMBER, NEARLY A DECADE AFTER GETTING THE GO-AHEAD BUT THAT HAS ONE GROUP CRYING FOUL.

>> CALI LICHTER.

>> THERE'S PLACES THAT WE ARE SAVING.

>> THIS IS A GROUP DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE NATURAL HERITAGE, THE RECREATION AND THE SHEER BEAUTY.

RATTLESNAKE CAMPGROUND IN THE HEART OF FOREST HAS STARTED THE PROCESS OF TIMBER HARVESTING.

>> I GO THE A ONE SENTENCE ANSWER, YES FOR TIMBER SALE.

>> HE LOOKED EXTENSIVELY AT THE DNR'S RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GUIDES FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE FOREST AND THE TIMELINE FOR THE AVERAGE RMG RELEASE TO THE TIMBER SALE.

THE DATA FOR THIS AREA ARE ANYTHING BUT NORMAL.

>> THE AVERAGE WAS 2.2 YEARS OR 808 DAYS,.

WE'RE CURRENTLY AT EIGHT YEARS, OR 3,056 DAYS.

>> ONCE AN INVENTORY IS TAKEN, THE DNR HAS A SET NUMBER OF YEARS TO TAKE ACTION.

FOR RATTLESNAKE CAMPGROUND, THE TIME ALLOTTED IS 20 YEARS.

BUT ANOTHER RMG DOES NOT NEED TO BE MADE, NOR DOES IT HAVE TO BE UPDATED.

>> WE CANNOT RECONCILE THE HARVEST AMOUNTS THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE WITH THIS TRACK'S ABILITY TO SUSTAIN THAT, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW CURRENTLY WHAT IS HERE.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE DNR SAYS THAT HARVESTING CERTAIN TREES CREATES HEALTHIER FOREST, SOME SAY IT IS NOT NECESSARILY AND IT'S PURELY FOR PROFIT.

>> CHAIRPERSON LORA KEMP BELIEVES GOING THROUGH THIS PLAN WILL CREATE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

>> ANY CHANGES THAT MAN MAKES TO A NATURAL HABITAT AND THE NATURAL AREAS IS -- IS A TRAVESTY.

>> SHE SAYS THE CAMPGROUND WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER.

>> THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE CAMPGROUND, BUT THEY ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF THE AREA AROUND THIS CAMPGROUND.

AND IT WON'T BE THE SAME PLACE.

>> THE DNR HASN'T REPLIED TO WTIU'S REQUEST FOR COMMENT, BUT DURING PREVIOUS COMMUNICATIONS,, IT SEEMS THE PLAN FOR HARVEST WILL CONTINUE.

THAT WON'T STOP THE FRIENDS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WILL PERSIST AND HOPEFULLY CHANGE TO WHAT'S DONE TO THE FOREST BECAUSE.

>> THERE ARE SPECIAL PLACES WE ARE SAVING AND WE BELIEVE TRULY THIS IS ONE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CALI LICHTER.

>>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM.

OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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