>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," YOUNG VOTERS SHOWED OUT IN FORCE FOR THE 2020 ELECTION AND STUDENT GROUPS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO KEEP VOTER TURNOUT HIGH.

>> IT WASN'T A NORMAL ELECTION, WHERE IT WAS JUST ABOUT POLICY ISSUES.

IT WAS ABOUT JUST SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY IN GENERAL.

>> AHEAD, HOW UNIVERSITY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING STUDENTS TO VOTE IN THIS YEAR'S MIDTERMS.

>>> UTILITY COMPANIES ARE LOBBYING HARD TO END THE PRACTICE OF NET METERING, WHICH WOULD MAKE HAVING SOLAR POWER MORE COSTLY.

>> YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHO IS SUPPLYING YOUR ELECTRICITY.

AND SO IF YOU DECIDE TO PUT SOLAR ON YOUR ROOF, YOU BEGIN TO UNDERMINE THAT MONOPOLY STATUS.

>>> AND FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2019, THERE WILL BE FANS IN THE STANDS FOR THIS YEAR'S LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACES.

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

FIDUCIARY ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, YOUNGER AMERICANS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED AT THE POLLS.

THEY DON'T VOTE PROPORTIONATELY TO THEIR PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION.

THAT CHANGED WITH THE 2020 ELECTION, WHICH SAW A RECORD NUMBER OF BALLOTS CAST.

MITCH LEGAN REPORTS ON WHAT STUDENTS ARE DOING TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM UP, HEADING INTO THIS YEAR'S MIDTERMS.

>> THE COMMISSIONERS DID NOT STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.

>> IT'S A SOLID TURNOUT AT TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE I.U.

COLLEGE REPUBLICANS.

CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL AND STATEWIDE OFFICES ARE STOPPING BY TO PITCH THEMSELVES TO STUDENTS AND GIVE THEIR TAKES ON THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.

>> BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO MASK UP.

THAT'S NOT MY JOB TO TELL YOU TO MASK UP.

>> HOUSE BILL 1134.

>> ACROSS THE STREET, SHELLI YODER AND MATT PIERCE ARE RECAPPING THE PAST SESSION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHOO THAT BILL.

>> THAT BILL CAME THROUGH MY COMMITTEE.

>> THE CLUBS ARE BRINGING IN CANDIDATES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT NEXT MONTH'S PRIMARIES.

WHILE THEIR POLITICS MIGHT DIFFER, THE INTENT IS THE SAME.

>> WE REALLY WANT STUDENTS TO BE EXCITED TO VOTE AND TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO GO OUT AND I REALLY HOPE WE CAN KEEP UP THAT MOMENTUM.

>> MORE PEOPLE VOTED IN 2020 THAN ANY OTHER ELECTION IN U.S. HISTORY.

ACCORDING TO A NATIONAL STUDY FROM TUFTS UNIVERSITY, HALF OF AMERICANS AGES 18 TO 29 CAST A BALLOT.

AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S BLOOMINGTON CAMPUS, THAT NUMBER WAS EVEN HIGHER.

ALMOST 70% OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE ELECTION.

>> THE COVID ENVIRONMENT REALLY FORCES US TO BE CREATIVE IN THE WAY WE REACHED OUT TO VOTERS.

WE DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GO TO WELCOMING WEEK EVENTS, TO GO TO IN-PERSON EVENTS AND SIGN PEOPLE UP TO VOTE.

>> MARK FRALEY HELPS TO RUN I.U.

'S PACE PROGRAM.

PACE, THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS HAD TO GO DIGITAL, HOSTING VIRTUAL FORUMS OR VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES.

MEMBERS ENCOURAGED THEIR FRIENDS TO VOTE, EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> WE HAD TO BE CREATIVE AND I THINK THAT THAT CREATIVITY HAS HELPED TO FUEL OUR PROGRESS.

>> EXPERTS WHO STUDY YOUNG VOTERS SAY A DIRECT PLATFORM ENDED UP BEING A BOOST.

VOTING BECAME A NOTION OF SOCIAL SOLIDARITY, AS MOST PEOPLE SPENT MOST OF THE YEAR APART.

>> JUST FACEBOOK ADS AND BANNERS, THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE EFFECTIVE, BUT WHEN YOU ADD THE POSTS WHICH OF YOUR FRIENDS VOTED AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE VOTED, THAT STARTS TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE.

EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THAT IS FRIEND-TO-FRIEND, PEER-TO-PEER MOBILIZATION ONLINE.

>> OF COURSE, BENNION SAYS WHO WAS ON THE BALLOT LIKELY HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON TURNOUT.

PEOPLE FELT STRONGLY ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHETHER THEY LOVED HIM OR HATE HIM.

IF YOU ASK CURRENT STUDENTS, IT WAS AT THE TOP OF THEIR MINDS.

>> IT WASN'T A NORMAL ELECTION WHERE IT WAS JUST ABOUT POLICY ISSUES.

IT WAS JUST ABOUT SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY?

GENERAL.

>> THE I.U.

REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON JIB.

JOE BIDEN.

THEY HOPE THEY CAN FLIP SOME COUNTY OR CITY OFFICES RED.

>> I THINK LOCALLY, JUST BEING PRESENT.

LETTING TOWNIES, LOCALS, PROFESSORS KNOW WE ARE HERE.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE HIGHING THE HOUSE DISTRICT AND THE 9th 9th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR CHANCES.

>> IT GIVES THE DEMOCRATS A LITTLE BIT MORE CHANCE TO GET IN THERE WHEN THEY ARE NOT FACING AN INCUMBENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT.

>> AND I.D.

NUMBER, THE LAST FOUR OF YOUR SOCIAL.

>> THE GROUPS HAVE BEEN TABLING ON CAMPUS TO REGISTER VOTERS AND THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE PRIMARIES NEXT MONTH.

THEY ARE COMBINING SOME OF THE DIGITAL STRATEGIES THEY LEARNED WITH THE ABILITY TO GET BACK TO IN-PERSON EVENTS.

VOTER TURNOUT IS USUALLY LOWER DURING MIDTERMS, SO BENNION SAYS WE LIKELY WON'T BE ABLE TO DRAW ANY MAJOR CONCLUSIONS, BUT SHE WILL BE LOOKING TO SEE IF YOUNG VOTERS CONTINUE THE TREND.

>> IT IS HABIT FORMING.

AND SO IF WE CAN DEVELOP A CIVIC IDENTITY WHERE PEOPLE THINK OF THEMSELVES AS VOTERS, EVEN IF ELECTIONS ARE NOT TERRIBLY COMPETITIVE, THEY WILL STILL GO TO THE POLLS BECAUSE THAT'S A PART OF THEIR SENSE OF IDENTITY, THAT THEY ARE VOTERS.

MONROE COUNTY WILL HAVE 28 POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE PRIMARIES MAY 3rd, INCLUDING ONE AT THE I.U.

MEMORIAL UNION.

AND THE COUNTY'S NEW ELECTION CENTER IS OPEN FOR EARLY VOTING.

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

>>> WE'LL CONTINUE OUR ELECTION COVERAGE NEXT WEEK WHEN MITCH WILL CHAT WITH THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR INDIANA'S HOUSE DISTRICT 45, BRUCE BORDERS AND JEFF ELLINGTON.

WELL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY HOLDEN ABSHIER FOR LATEST HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

HELLO, HOLDEN.

>> CAL ALENT ANNOUNCED A $350 MILLION EXPANSION IN BLOOMINGTON.

THEY PLAN TO HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES.

THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR THE NEW JOBS WOULD BE $32 PER HOUR, AND THAT'S MORE THAN $60,000 EACH YEAR.

CATALENT ACQUIRED COOK PHARMA FOR $950 MILLION AND AT THE TIME, COOK HAD 750 EMPLOYEES BUT CATALENT HAS INCREASED THAT NUMBER TO 3200.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO RECRUIT LOCAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE MAY HAVE TO GO BEYOND THE BORDERS OF BLOOMINGTON CITY PROPER.

>> CURRENTLY 52% OF CATALENT'S EMPLOYEES LIVE IN MONROE COUNTY.

>>> THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS LAUNCHING A STATEWIDE TOUR TO PROMOTE CANNABIS LEGALIZATION.

COINCIDING WITH THE LAUNCH ON 4/20 AN UNOFFICIAL WEED HOLIDAY.

DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE, TOM McDERMOTT RELEASED AN AD WHERE HE SMOKES A JOINT.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS FOR MEDICINAL USE.

STATE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE REFUSED TO HEAR LEGISLATION ON CANNABIS LEGALIZATION.

>>> COOK MEDICAL HAS PURCHASED 62 ACRES OF LAND TO HELP REACH THE GOAL OF BUILDING 300 HOMES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA.

THE MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURER PLANS TO BUILD 90 HOMES FOR ITS EMPLOYER AT THE SPENCER LOCATION.

>> THE GOAL IS TO START CONSTRUCTION IN THE FALL AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2025.

RON WALKER IS THE PRESIDENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING LLC, A COOK-OWNED COMPANY.

HE SAYS THE COMPANY'S WORKERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WANTED TO FIND WAYS TO HELP.

>> WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ACROSS THE COOK COMPANIES IN BUILDING AND IN MANAGING REAL ESTATE, AND WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO HERE WAS TO BE THE DEVELOPER.

>> WALKER SAYS EMPLOYEES ARE MOSTLY INTERESTED IN OWNING SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, WHICH IS WHAT THEY PLAN ON BUILDING IN OWEN COUNTY.

IT WILL BE GEARED TO MIDDLE-INCOME HOURLY PAGE WORKERS.

>> -- WAGE WORKERS.

WE ARE ALSO IN A TOUGHER EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, WHERE WE ARE COMPETING WITH OTHERS FOR LIMITED NUMBER OF WORKERS AND WORKERS ARE COMMUTING FROM QUITE FAR DISTANCES OFTEN.

THAT PUTS THEM AND US AT RISK, BEING RECRUITED FROM ANOTHER EMPLOYER OR ANOTHER COMMUNITY.

>> WALKER IS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE FILLED DUE TO EMPLOYEE SURVEYS.

THEY HOPE TO KEEP THE HOMES UNDER $200,000, THOUGH IT WILL DEPEND ON THE MARKET.

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

>>> GRADUATE STUDENTS DEMANDING I.U.

RECOGNIZE THEIR UNION VOTED TO EXTEND THEIR LABOR STRIKE FOR ANOTHER WEEK.

THE GRADUATE STUDENTS WANT TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS.

AROUND 1,000 -- >> THIS IS WHAT A UNION LOOKS LIKE.

>> AROUND 1,000 GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS HAVE BEEN ON STRIKE FOR ALMOST A WEEK NOW.

IT COMES AFTER THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION HAS REFUSED TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE THE UNION.

BUT THE SCHOOL DID ANNOUNCE A TASK FORCE WOULD BE FORMED TO STUDY ISSUES LIKE WAGES AND STUDENT FEES.

>> I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THIS ISN'T GOING TO KEEP GOING UNTIL THE I.U.

ADMINISTRATION DECIDES TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION.

>> AS AN UNDERGRAD, BELL SAYS GRADUATE STUDENTS TEACH MANY 100 AND 200 LEVEL CLASSES AND HAVE BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN HIS UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE.

>> THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID WHAT WE'RE PAYING THE UNIVERSITY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING INTO THE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS SALARIES THAT THEY ARE PAYING I.U.

ADMINISTRATION.

THEY CONTRIBUTE NOTHING TO MY UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION.

>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON PASSED A RESOLUTION THIS WEEK SUPPORTING THE GRADUATE STUDENTS' CAUSE.

>>> AND I.U.

IS TAKING BIDS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE POPLARS BUILDING ON 7th 7th STREET IN BLOOMINGTON.

THE 1960 ERA BUILDING WAS USED AS A WOMEN'S DORMITORY AND HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER.

MOST RECENTLY IT HOUSED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.

NO TIME HAS BEEN SET FOR THE DEMOLITION AND THEY PLAN TO LEAVE IT AS A GREEN SPACE FOR NOW.

THE POPLAR'S PARKING GARAGE ON 6th STREET WILL REMAIN.

>>> COLUMBUS LEADERS HOPE A NEW $40 MILLION HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING MORE FOOT TRAFFIC AND GROCERY OPTIONS DOWNTOWN.

OFFICIALS BROKE GROUND THURSDAY, EAST OF CITY HALL.

THE PROJECT WILL ADD 200 APARTMENTS, PARKING AN URBAN GROCER.

>> THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN WALK TO WORK, WALK TO YOUR RECREATION, AND WALK TO A GROCERY STORE.

AND SO THE ADDITION OF THE GROCERY STORE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

>> BLOOMINGTON -- BLOOMINGFOODS HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVELOPER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT HAS YET TO CONFIRM.

LIENHOOP SAYS THERE IS A $10 MILLION BOND.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR HEADLINES THIS WEEK BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT FOR COLUMBUS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, HOLDEN.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," UTILITY COMPANIES ARE LOBBYING HARD AT THE STATE HOUSE TO DEINCENTIVIZE CUSTOMERS MOVING TO SOLAR POWER.

AND WE VISIT TEAMS FROM BLOOMINGTON SOUTH COMPETING AT THE STATE'S FIRST ROBOTICS CHAMPIONSHIP.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, IN FEBRUARY, WE SPOKE TO JOSHUA NORTH, A BLOOMINGTON RESIDENT WHO SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE INCARCERATED ABOUT CHALLENGES OF FINDING HOUSING WHEN YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

>> I'VE GOT A FEW THINGS IN THE MAIL THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, HERE'S SOME LOCATIONS FOR ME, BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BUS SYSTEM.

IT'S VERY CONFUSING FOR ME.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF DIFFICULT, RIGHT, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OR HELP.

>> NORTH HAD BEEN STAYING AT ROBIN AND TRICIA'S HOUSE AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED LAST SPRING THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE LOW BARRIER HOUSING.

NOW, HE SAID ACHIEVING SOME OF HIS GOALS WOULD TAKE TIME AS HE ADAPTED TO LIFE ON OUTSIDE, GOING TO WORK, GETTING A G.E.D., LEARNING HOW TO USE A SMARTPHONE, BUT NORTH HAS SINCE BEEN REINCARCERATED FOR TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS OF HIS PAROLE.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY BENTE BOUTHIER WHO SPOKE WITH JOSH THIS WINTER FOR MORE ON THE SITUATION.

WELCOME.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> WHAT IS THE LATEST ON JOSHUA'S CASE?

>> I SPOKE WITH HIS IF FIANCE THIS WEEK.

HE MET WITH THE PAROLE BOARD ON TUESDAY.

THEY REVIEWED HIVIEWED HIS VIOLATIONS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO NEXT.

THEY DECIDED HE WOULD REMAIN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND AFTER THAT, THEY WILL MEET WITH HIM AGAIN TO REVIEW.

>> SO HOW COMMON IS TO FOR SOMEONE ON PAROLE TO BE RE-INCARCERATED FOR TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS INSTEAD OF PICKING UP A NEW CHARGE.

>> IT'S PRETTY COMMON IN INDIANA.

IN 2020, THE ADULT RECIDIVISM RATE WAS MORE THAN 38% FOR PEOPLE WITH NEW CONVICTIONS AND VIOLATING PAROLE.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP FROM 33.78% IN 2018.

AND OF PEOPLE REINCARCERATED WITHIN THREE YEARS OF A RELEASE, MORE THAN 65% OF THESE WERE BECAUSE OF A TECHNICAL VIOLATION.

AND THAT CAN BE A LOT OF THINGS IF GOING OUT OF COUNTY WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM YOUR PAROLE OFFICER TO NOT SEEKING TREATMENT FOR SOMETHING AGREED UPON LIKE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL STATISTICS, 45% OF ANNUAL PRISON ADMISSIONS WERE BECAUSE OF PAROLE OR PROBATION REVOCATION.

>> HOW IS THE FAMILY COPING WITH THE SITUATION THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE RELEASED AND NOW BACK IN JAIL.

>> HIS FIANCE IS REALLY UPSET.

SHE DESCRIBES HOW SYSTEMIC SHE THINKS THE ISSUES ARE.

>> WE SEE THIS HAPPENING.

THE PEOPLE WANT A BETTER LIFE.

THEY WANT A CHANCE.

AND WHEN THEY MESS UP, INSTEAD OF SOMEONE STEPPING IN AND SAYING, HEY, WE SEE THAT YOU ARE STRUGGLING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU?

INSTEAD, WE SEND YOU BACK.

>> WHERE'S JOSHUA NOW?

>> HE'S AT THE PUTNAMVILLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME HE CAN BE KEPT THERE IS UNTIL JULY OF 2024.

>> ALL RIGHT, BENTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> INDIANA UTILITIES HAVE MORE INFLUENCE ON POLITICS IN THE STATE THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.

NET METERING IS A GOOD EXAMPLES.

IT CREDITS PEOPLE WITH SOLAR PANELS GET FOR DELIVERING EXTRA ENERGY BACK TO THE GRID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE IT, AND MAKES SOLAR MORE AFFORDABLE BUT AS REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, THOSE CREDITS ARE GETTING PHASED DOWN THIS YEAR.

>> FORMER REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON BAKE RON BACON LIVES A FEW MINUTES EAST OF EVANSVILLE.

>> WE GET TWICE AS MANY, BECAUSE ALL THE CANADIAN GEESE COME.

IT ET CETERA GOODS GETS PRETTY WILD OUT THERE.

>> HE GOT BACON INSTALLED ON THIS STORAGE BARN IN 2015.

IT POWERS THE FAMILY'S HOME AND BARN WHICH HOUSES A GREENHOUSE AND THEIR TWO CLASSIC CARS.

>> IT'S STILL CUSTOMIZED TO THE POINT OF WHAT WE CALL -- >> HE LIVES FAR ENOUGH OUT THAT HIS HOME DOESN'T HAVE NATURAL GAS HEAT, WHICH UP UNTIL THIS WINTER WAS CHEAPER FOR A LOT OF HOOSIERS THAN ELECTRIC.

>> OUR BILL WAS RUNNING BETWEEN $600 AND $700 A MONTH.

AND SO I DECIDED THAT WAS WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME AT THAT TIME.

AND STARTED LOOKING IN SOLAR.

>> NOW HIS BILL IS AROUND $160 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!

HE ALSO FEELS LIKE HE'S DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> I'M NOT AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, AND AS PEOPLE WOULD SAY, OH, YOU KNOW -- BUT I'M NOT DOING AGAINST WHAT WE CAN.

EVERYONE SHOULD DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

>> BUT BACON SAID HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CREDITS AND THE FEDERAL TAX CREDIT AT THE TIME.

SOLAR PANELS TAKE MOST HOOSIERS ABOUT 12 YEARS TO PAY OFF.

WITH HIGHER NET METERING RATES GOING AWAY THIS YEAR, IT'S LIKELY THAT PAYBACK PERIOD WILL GET EVEN LONGER AND DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING SOLAR.

ROOF TOP SOLAR IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS LIKE IT AND IT GIVES RURAL RESIDENTS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

IT HELPS BUSINESSES MEET THEIR CLIMATE GOALS AND IT CREATES JOBS.

IT'S ALSO SLOWLY BECOMING SOMETHING THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN AGREE ON.

>> THE LAW TO PHASE OUT HIGHER NET METERING RATES PASSED IN 2017.

SINCE THEN, LAWMAKERS HAVE PROPOSED SEVEN BILLS TO OVERTURN IT OR CHANGE IT.

HALF OF THEM GOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BUT NONE OF THEM EVEN GOT A HEARING, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION WHO DOESN'T WANT NET METERING?

THE ANSWER, INDIANA UTILITIES.

>> WIND AND SOLAR ARE GREAT.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

WE SUPPORT THAT, BUT NOT TO THE ECONOMIC DETRIMENT TO THE MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT OR DO NOT WANT IT.

>> WHEN YOU PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, IT GOES TO MAINTAIN POWER PLANTS AND LINES.

BUT IF YOU GET SOLAR PANELS AND DELIVER MORE ENERGY TO THE GRID THAN YOU USE, McGRATH SAYS THOSE COSTS COULD GET SHIFTED ON TO YOUR UTILITY'S OTHER CUSTOMERS.

UTILITIES' PROBLEM HAS LESS TO DO WITH CUSTOMER FAIRNESS AND MORE TO DO WITH PROFITS.

>> THEY BASICALLY HAVE GUARANTEED CUSTOMERS, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF PLACES YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHO IS SUPPLYING YOUR ELECTRICITY.

AND SO IF YOU DECIDE TO PUT SOLAR ON YOUR ROOF, YOU BEGIN TO UNDERMINE THAT MONOPOLY STATUS.

>> RON BACON SAYS THE UTILITIES WERE WORKING HARD TO GET RID OF THE INCENTIVE.

>> THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS OF THE SESSION, I THINK THEY HIRED EVERY LOBBYIST THEY COULD FIND IN INDIANA.

>> SINCE THE START OF 2017, INDIANA UTILITIES AND UTILITY GROUPS HAS SPENT MORE THAN $3.5 MILLION ON LOBBYISTS TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS.

DUKE ENERGY SPENT THE EIGHTH MOST OF ANY GROUP IN THE STATE.

THE INDIANA ENERGY ASSOCIATION RANKED 11th.

OVER TIME, UTILITIES HAVE ALSO DONATED $70,000 TO THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE UTILITY COMMITTEE'S CAMPAIGN, AND $50,000 TO THE UTILITY CHAIR FOR THE HOUSE.

ALL OF THIS MAKES IT HARDER FOR SOLAR ADVOCATES TO BE HEARD.

ENERGY POLICY RESEARCHER LEAH STOKES SAYS THE FACT THAT BILLS ADVOCATING FOR ROOF TOP SOLAR ARE GETTING MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SHOWS ROE GRESS.

BUT -- PROGRESS, BUT IT MIGHT TAKE HEARING MORE FROM EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO GET THEM PASSED.

>> THE POWER OF PEOPLE IS STILL REALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO WRITE TO THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATORS AND SAY, I WANT SOLAR TO BE AN OPTION IN INDIANA.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR ME AND MY NEIGHBORS TO GO CLEAN AND GREEN.

>> WE REACHED OUT TO THE LAWMAKERS THAT SHARE BOTH STATE UTILITY COMMITTEES, AND NEITHER COULD BE REACHED FOR COMMENT.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> SEMI AUTONOMOUS BALL THROWING, BAR CLIMBING ROBOTS ARE SOMETHING WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM A BIG ENGINEERING COMPANY LIKE NASA, BUT INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE PROGRAMMING AND BUILDING THE BOTS ALL BY THEMSELVES.

KELLYCALI LICHTER REPORTS ON A TEAM COMPETING AT THE ROBOTICS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> SINCE JANUARY, THEY HAVE BEEN CRAFTING A ROBOT THAT SEEMS TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.

THE ROBOT MUST OUT SHOOT, OUTCLIMB AND OUT DRIVE THE COMPETITION TELL FIRST INDIANA ROBOTICS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A HOPE TO MAKE IT TO NATIONALS.

FOR MANY STUDENTS ON THE TEAM, THIS WILL BE THEIR FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DUE TO COVID BUT THAT DOESN'T INTIMIDATE THEM.

>> WE LIKE TO SAY HERE THAT THESE TOURNAMENTS IS THE HARDEST FUN YOU WILL HAVE EVER.

>> MONTHS OF RESEARCH, PROGRAMMING AND BUILDING GO INTO THE ROBOTS.

PART OF THE DESIGN STRATEGY IS STEAL THE BEST, INVENT THE REST OR BE INSPIRED FROM THE BEST.

COLEAD DESIGNER, BROCK TEGARDEN SAYS THE TEAMS ALWAYS DRAW INSPIRATION FROM PAST ROBOTS.

AFTER PLANNING AND DESIGNING, THE TEAM MOVES ON TO BUILDING AND PROGRAMMING.

ROBOTS THIS YEAR HAD TO NOT ONLY SHOOT BALLS INTO A TALL-CENTERED BASKET, BUT ALSO CLIMB STAGGERED MONKEY BARS AND DRIVE SEMIAUTONOMOUSLY.

>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX PROCESS TO MAKE A MACHINE LIKE THIS, THAT DOES EVERYTHING THAT IT DOES.

IT COMES A VERY LONG WAY ELECTRIC KICKOFF BACK IN JANUARY.

>> THE TEAMS USE 3D PRINTERS TO MAKE SOME OF THE PARTS AND THEN THEY SOLDER AND DRILL TO GET IT IN TIPTOP SHAPE.

THE STUDENTS DO THIS ALL ON THEIR OWN.

>> AND IN SOME CAPACITY, I'M TECHNICALLY A PROGRAM MENTOR BUT I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY HAD TO WRITE A SINGLE LINE OF CODE FOR THE ROBOT, THE STUDENTS HAVE DONE THAT.

>> THIS IS ENTICING TO THE HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO PARTICIPATE.

BUT VON HOENE SAYS THE COMPETITION GIVES THEM MORE THAN JUST ATROPHYY.

>> THIS PROGRAM SEEMS TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE -- JUST A TROPHY.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS SEEMS TO BE EFFECTIVE TO CONNECT THE STUDENTS TO THE THING THEY ARE INTERESTED IN AND RESOURCE IT AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LEARN AND ACCOMPLISH IN THAT.

>> THE BLOOMINGTON SOUTH TEAM DIDN'T PERFORM WELL ENOUGH IN THE TOURNAMENT TO ADVANCE TO NATIONALS BUT THEY ARE ALREADY PLANNING HOW THEY CAN OUT BUILD THE COMPETITION NEXT YEAR.

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

>>> AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019, THERE WILL BE FANS IN THE STANDS FOR THE LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACES AT I.U.

'S BILL ARMSTRONG STADIUM.

IT MARKS A RETURN TO NORMALCY FOR WHAT IS BILLED AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST COLLEGE WEEKEND.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> PABLO FEIRST GARCIA IS A BLOOMINGTON KID BUT HE NEVER ATTENDED A MEN'S LITTLE 500 RACE UNTIL HIS FRESHMAN YEAR IN I.U.

>> I HAD A FRIEND IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHOSE SISTER WENT.

I WENT TO THE WOMEN'S RACES FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> AFTER GRADUATING FROM BLOOMINGTON NORTH IN 2018, HE JOINED THE SIGMA PHI EPSILON FRATERNITY AND HE WENT TO THE FIRST MEN'S RACE AND HE WAS HOOKED.

HE JOINED THE TEAM AS A SOPHOMORE AND TRAINED ALL YEAR FOR THE 2020 RACE AND THEN COVID HIT AND IT WAS CANCELED.

>> WE HAD A SENIOR WHO WAS DEVASTATED.

IT MEANT A LOT TO HIM AND EVERYONE OUT HERE.

IT WAS REALLY SAD FOR FOR THEM.

>> BUT FOR GARCIA, IT WAS BACK TO TRAINING.

THEY AVERAGE 150 TO 200 MILES A WEEK.

>> WE GO ON LONG RIDES IN THE SUMMER AND FALL AND ENJOY THE BACKROADS AROUND BLOOMINGTON.

COME WINTER AND SPRINGTIME, WE START SERIOUSLY TRAINING.

WE GET ON OUR LITTLE FIVE BIKES AND DO SOME INTERVALS.

SO THE INTENSITY DOESN'T REALLY START UNTIL JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.

>> THOSE LONG RIDES AROUND BLOOMINGTON ARE REMINISCENT FROM THE SCENES THE MOVIE "BREAKING AWAY."

IT WAS FOUR WORKs CLASS KIDS WHO RIDE IN.

IT'S A FILM THAT FIERST GARCIA HAS SEEN MANY TIMES.

>> I PICTURE MYSELF IN THAT.

>> NOW HE'S PICTURING WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO RACE IN FRONT OF A CROWD.

SIGMA PHI EPSILON FINISHED IN THIRD LAST YEAR.

>> I THINK I WILL GET PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT TOO EXCITED AT FIRST AND THEN SETTLE IN.

JUST HEARING PEOPLE IN THE STANDS.

LAST YEAR WAS SILENT.

I COULD HEAR THE TEAMS ACROSS THE TRACK BUT NOW I FEEL LIKE THE COLISEUM -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, HONESTLY.

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

>>> SATURDAY'S RACE WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON THE I.U.

STUDENT FOUNDATION'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO DO THAT TOO WITH HIGHS IN THE 80s.

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!

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