>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," IU'S GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS VOTED TO SUSPEND THEIR STRIKE UNTIL THE FALL.

BUT THEY GOT A BIG SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY THIS WEEK.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE CLEARLY WHO ARE PASSIONATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE, BUT I THINK WHAT'S A VERY TRUE STATEMENT IS ALL OF US SUPPORT OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS.

>> FACULTY OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO SUPPORT THE GRAD STUDENTS FORMING A UNION.

>>> IF YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IS STOCKED IN THE FISHERY PONDS JUST NORTH OF MORTGAGE MARTINSVILLE, WE'VE GOT THE ANSWER.

>> THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF YOU GREW UP IN THE MIDWEST, YOUR GOLD FISH CAME FROM GRASSYFORK.

>> AND EARLY AND MID-1900s, THE PROPERTY WAS THE LARGEST GOLD FISH FARM IN THE WORLD.

AND WE TALK TO AN EXPERT ABOUT COVID-19 AS CASES BEGIN TO TICK BACK UP AND THE COUNTRY PASSES A DEADLY MILESTONE.

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

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO DECADES, IU'S CONVENED A FULL FACULTY MEETING ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK.

THE FACULTY GATHERED AT THE AUDITORIUM TO ADDRESS THE STRIKE BY GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS.

KAYAN TARA HAS THIS REPORT.

>> TEACHERS UNIT!

TEACHERS UNIT!

>> 625 FACULTY MEMBERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF UNION RECOGNITION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS.

THE VOTE OCCURRED DURING AN HISTORICAL SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BLOOMINGTON FACULTY ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.

HUNDREDS OF FACULTY MEMBERS WAITED TO VOTE IN A LINE THAT STRETCHED MORE THAN TWO CITY BLOCKS.

>> FACULTY, THEY SHOWED UP.

THEY WERE THERE AND THAT WAS EXTREMELY -- THAT WAS EXCITING.

IT WAS EXCITING IN THE SENSE THAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACT TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SAW.

SO IT WAS REALLY -- YEAH, IT WAS MOVING IN THAT WAY.

>> MORE THAN 700 FACULTY MEMBERS ATTENDED MEETING.

MEMBERS ALSO VOTED TO AFFIRM THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO RETALIATION AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN THE STRIKE.

A SECOND RESOLUTION WHICH ALSO PASSED URGED THE IU BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE WITH THE GRADUATE STUDENT COALITION, AND PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO UNION RECOGNITION.

FOLLOWING A FACULTY MEETING, GRADUATE STUDENTS VOTED TO SUSPEND THEIR STRIKE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26th.

KATIE SHEA, AN ENGLISH Ph.D. STUDENT SAYS THE COALITION WILL SPEND THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS FORMING A COHESIVE UNION.

>> WE GET TO DO, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXCITING THINGS LIKE CHOOSE OUR LOCAL NUMBER, ELECT OUR LOCAL LEAD LEADERSHIP, DECIDE THE BYLAWS THAT WILL STRUCTURE OUR UNION FOR THE NEXT YEARS TO COME.

>> GRADUATE WORKERS NEEDED TO SUBMIT FINAL GRADES FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER BY 8 P.M. ON MAY 10th, A DAY AFTER THE DECISION TO SUSPEND THE STRIKE WAS MADE.

GRADUATE STUDENTS WITH SUMMER TEACHING APPOINTMENTS ALSO MUST RESUME TEACHING CURRENT SUMMER SESSIONS.

MARIETTA SIMPSON, A PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FACULTY COUNCIL NOTED THAT 732 FACULTY MEMBERS ATTENDED MEETING, AND HAD SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A RESPECTFUL DISPLAY OF SHARED GOVERNANCE AMONGST OUR FACULTY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE, CLEARLY, WHO ARE PASSIONATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S A VERY TRUE STATEMENT IS ALL OF US SUPPORT OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS.

>> THE FACULTY DID NOT TAKE A VOTE ON NO CONFIDENCE IN THE PROVOST.

SIMPSON SAID THAT SUCH A RESOLUTION IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH BFC'S CONSTITUTION.

MONDAY NIGHT'S MEETING WAS FIRST TIME IN 17 YEARS FACULTY MEMBERS PETITIONED THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL TO CONVENE A FULL BLOOMINGTON FACULTY MEETING.

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

>>> THE INDIANA GRADUATE WORKERS COALITION PLANS TO ELECTION UNION OFFICERS AND SET UP A NEW BARGAINING COMMITTEE BEFORE THE START OF THE FALL SEMESTER.

WELL, THE US HIS A GRIM MILESTONE THIS WEEK, TOPPING MORE THAN 1 MILLION DEATHS FROM COVID-19.

AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT HOPE THE PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US, AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS, AN OMINOUS WARNING THIS WEEK SAYS OTHERWISE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PREDICTS 1 MILLION NEW COVID CASES THIS FALL, BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF ANOTHER FALL SURGE, THE CDC CONTINUES TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE UP TO DATE ON VACCINES.

THAT MEANS FIRST AND SECOND BOOSTERS FOR ALL, BUT AS OF NOW, JUST A THIRD OF ELIGIBLE AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED EVEN A FIRST BOOSTER SHOT.

NOW, I SPOKE EARLIER WITH GRAHAM McKEEN, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY ABOUT THE RISE IN COVID-19 CASES AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE WARNING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THIS FALL.

SO CLEARLY THEY THINK -- OR CLEARLY THEY DON'T THINK THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

ANY UPDATES.

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT WARNING IS SOME OF THE EXPECTED SEASONAL SPREAD IN THE FALL AND WINTER.

IT'S THE WANING IMMUNITY OF THE VACCINES AND THE ABILITY OF VIRUS TO ESCAPE IMMUNITY.

IT'S THESE NEW AND ONGOING SUBVARIANTS OF OMICRON THAT ARE INSANELY INFECTIOUS.

WE ARE CLIMBING THE LADDER OF INFECTIOUSNESS WITH EACH ONE.

BA2.1, IS 25% MORE CONTAINOUS THAN BA1, AND IT WAS FOUR TIMES CONTAGIOUS THAN DELTA.

IT'S GETTING MORE FIT.

WE HAVE BA4 AND BA5 THAT WILL BE LATER ON THIS SUMMER.

OF COURSE, WE COULD GET A NEW VARIANT THAT COULD BE MORE CONTAGIOUS OR POTENTIALLY MORE SEVERE AS WELL.

AND SO THAT THREAT REMAINS NOW AND THIS FALL.

>> THE CDC IS REPORTING A LITTLE OVER 70,000 NEW CASES A DAY NATIONALLY THIS WEEK.

SO HOW ACCURATE IS THAT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE TESTING AT HOME?

>> NOT VERY.

BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, ABOUT 75% OF ALL TESTS IN THE US ARE AT-HOME TESTS.

THEY ARE NOT REPORTABLE IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS.

YOU DON'T SEE THOSE NUMBERS ANYWHERE, AND MANY DON'T GET TESTS AND IT'S A GROSS UNDERESTIMATE WE ARE ASSURE OF, AND THE CDC REPORTS A BIT OF A LAG TO CATCH ALL OF THOSE CASES.

WE HAD SOME DAYS THIS WEEK OF OVER 100,000 CASES CONFIRMED ALREADY.

>> A GROWING NUMBER EVER COVID DEATHS ARE OCCURRING IN VACCINATED PEOPLE.

THERE'S ONLY A THIRD OF THE POPULATION HAVING RECEIVED JUST AT LEAST ONE BOOSTER.

SO IS THAT TO BE EXPECTED?

>> YES, I THINK IT IS.

IT IS AS IMMUNITY WANES OVER TIME WITH THESE SPECIFIC VACCINES.

WE HAVE A VIRUS THAT EVOLVES, YOU KNOW?

AND WE HAVE PRETTY ABYSMAL RATES OF BOOSTER UPTAKE IN THE US AND WE'RE SEEING THAT NOW.

AND HONESTLY THE VIRUS HAS EVOLVED SO MUCH THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE VACCINES TO BETTER PREVENT TRANSMISSION WITH THE OMICRON SUBLINNAGES.

WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO.

THAT PRODUCTION WOULD NEED TO START NOW IF WE WOULD HAVE AMPLE SUPPLY FOR THE FALL OR WINTER SURGE.

>> LAST WEEK YOU BEGAN A FACEBOOK POST ABOUT COVID, WRITING, IF ANYONE STILL CARES.

AS SOMEONE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO WATCH THE NUMBERS, HOW FRUSTRATING HAS THAT ALL BEEN.

>> MAYBE THAT'S A BIT OF SNARK.

WE WILL HIT 1 MILLION CONFIRMED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.

1 IN 330 AMERICANS HAVE DIED OF COVID-19 IN JUST A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS, MILLIONS MORE DISABLED AND NOW JUST GETTING DATA ON CASES OR TRENDS IS BECOMING DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE OVER IT.

BUT THE VIRUS CLEARLY IS NOT OVER US.

IT WILL NOT BE ERADICATED AND WE NEED TO MONITOR.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CARE FOR OTHERS AND PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AND BE WILLING TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE SIMPLE PREVENTION MEASURES WHEN WE HAVE SURGES LIKE WE ARE NOW.

WISHING IT AWAY, IGNORING IT OR MINIMIZING IT, IT IS NOT GOING TO HELP OR STOP IT.

>> GRAHAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YES, THANK YOU, JOE.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY HOLDEN ABSHIER FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE AREA.

HI, HOLDEN.

>> HI, JOE.

INDIANA'S GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE NEEDS TO DO MORE TO ATTRACT TALENT.

BROCK TURNER EXPLAINS WHY THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS AT A CONFERENCE IN FRENCH LICK COULD INDICATE A SUBTLE SHIFT IN STATE POLICY.

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS STATE MUST DO MORE IF IT HOPES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT WORKERS.

>> YOU HAVE TO CREATE A DESTINATION WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CULTIVATE THE TALENT.

>> HE TOUTED THE STATE'S READI GRANTS PROGRAM WHICH FUNNELED $500 MILLION IN GRANTS TO REGIONAL AND LOCAL PROJECTS.

THE FUNDING COMES FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WHICH DREW NOW VOTES FROM HOOSIER REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON.

THAT'S NOT KEEPING HOLCOMB AND STATE OFFICIALS FROM TAKING CREDIT.

>> 500 MILLION STATE DOLLARS ATTRACTED $10 BILLION OFF THE SIDELINES THAT PROBABLY NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED -- MAYBE PARTS.

BUT I HAVE ALREADY PUBLICLY SAID I WANT TO GO BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND.

>> HOW THE NEXT ROUND DEVELOPS IS NOTEWORTHY.

WILL THE STATE DIP INTO RESERVES TO SEND MORE TO LOCAL OFFICIALS TO INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED REMOTE WORK AND QUALITY OF PLACE INVESTMENTS AS COMMUNITIES SEEK TO ATTRACT WORKS IN A TIGHT LABOR MARKET, HAVING A POOL OF AVAILABLE WORKERS IS INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT.

>> WHEN WE CLOSE THE BOOKS THIS JUNE 30, FISCAL BOOKS, I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME UNPRECEDENTED RECORD-BREAKING INVESTMENT NUMBERS.

>> IN THE ABSENCE OF FEDERAL DOLLARS, NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET MAY DEMONSTRATE WHETHER CONSERVATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE ON BOARD WITH RECORD STATE INVESTMENT.

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

>>> INDIANA DEMOCRATIC AND LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO OLD A SERIES OF TOWN HALLS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE EVENTS ARE ORGANIZED BY THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH IS ASKING HOOSIERS TO ASK QUESTIONS OF CANDIDATES AHEAD OF THIS FALL'S ELECTIONS.

>> DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATE, DESTINY WELLS SAYS THE TOWN HALLS ARE A RESPONSE TO WHAT SHE CALLS THE DIVISIVENESS IN POLITICS OVER LAST FEW YEARS.

>> WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND SHOW HOOSIERS THAT POLITICIANS AND CANDIDATES CAN WORK TOGETHER AND PLAY TOGETHER IN THE SANDBOX.

>> LIBERTARIAN U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE, JAMES SKENIAK.

>> I BELIEVE THAT ANY OFFICE WE HOLD IS A PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICE.

IF WE ARE NOT HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC, WE ARE NOT DOING OUR JOB.

>> AND JEFF MAURER SAYS THE TOWN HALLS ARE ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS HOOSIERS AND NEIGHBORS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> INDIANA REPUBLICANS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE, BUT CHOSE NOT TO.

>> CITY ATTORNEYS SAY AN ANNEXATION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST BLOOMINGTON IS INVALID DUE TO A LACK OF REMONSTRANT PETITIONS.

THEY FILED A PETITION IN MARCH AGAINST THE CITY AND MONROE COUNTY AUDITOR KATHERINE SMITH, CHALLENGING TWO AREAS UP FOR ANNEXATION, BUT LAST WEEK THE CITY RESPONDED IN COURT DOCUMENTS CLAIMING UNTIMELY, IMPROPERLY NOTARIZED AND INELIGIBLE PETITIONS WERE COLLECTED IN THE FOUR MONTH REMONSTRANT WINDOW.

THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT ALL WAIVERS SHOULD COUNT DESPITE A 2019 STATE LAW THAT INVALIDATE WAIVERS MORE THAN 15 YEARS OLD.

>> COMPLYING WITH THAT 2019 LAW VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND OTHERS.

THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT LAWSUITS.

>> COUNTING ALL THE WAIVERS DOES MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, ALL BUT TWO OF THE SEVEN PROPOSED AREAS WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY ANNEXED IN THAT CASE.

>>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ORDERED AT&T TO REMOVE ITS EQUIPMENT FROM THE JOHNSON CREAMERY SMOKE STACK BY MAY 31st OR FACE A $500 A DAY TIME.

IT'S PREVENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER FROM REDUCING THE SMOKE STACK TO A SAFE HEIGHT.

>> WHAT THIS ORDER WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO DO IS HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPOSE FINDS AGAINST AT&T IF THEY ARE NOT ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS OR UNREASONABLY DELAYING THE OWNER.

>> DIXON SAID THE CITY SET THE DEAD LINE FOR THE END OF MAY BECAUSE THE PROPERTY OWNER, COULD REDUCE THE SMOKE STACK FROM 144 FEET TO 60 FEET AS EARLY AS JUNE.

HE SAID AT&T'S LATEST ESTIMATE TO REMOVE THE EQUIPMENT IS BETWEEN JUNE AND JULY, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO THE MAY 31st DEADLINE.

>>> INDIANA RENTS ARE UP 13% COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM RENTAL PROPERTY HOSTING SITE DWELSIE.

THE COMPANY REPORTS THAT RESIDENTIAL RENT INCREASED BY ABOUT 24% WITH INCREASES IN BIGGER MARKETS IN NEW YORK CITY, SLOWLY CASCADING INTO MIDSIZED MARKETS LIKE INDIANAPOLIS.

INDY HAS ALREADY SEEN RENT INCREASE 10% OVER THE LAST YEAR.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS HOPING TO SOLVE A HOMICIDE THAT OCCURRED 18 YEARS AGO USING MODERN DNA DATA.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS CONTACTING A GENETIC GENEALOGY LAB TO IDENTIFY A SKULL WITH TWO BULLET HOLES DOWN NEAR LAKE LEMON IN 2004.

>> THIS IS AN INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS THAT COMPARES THE SUBMITTED DNA TO OPEN SOURCE DNA PROFILES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> THE COUNTY IS CONTRACTING A GENETIC GENEALOGY LAB TO OPEN SOURCE DNA DATABASES.

THEY APPROVED $5,700 FOR THE SERVICE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR HEADLINES, JOE, AND AGAIN BACK TO YOU.

>>> THANK YOU, HOLDEN.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>> THE FISH PONDS OFF I-69 JUST NORTH OF MARTINSVILLE ONCE MADE THE CITY KNOWN AS THE GO OLD FISH CAPITAL OF THE WORLD -- GOLD FISH CAPITAL.

OF THE WORLD.

>> AND AS ROAD CONSTRUCTION STARTS THIS SUMMER, WE SHOW YOU HOW TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROJECTS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES NORTHWEST OF BLOOMINGTON ON A ROUNDABOUT KIRKWOOD AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON REMAINS CLOSED FOR OUTDOOR DINING THROUGHOUT THE FALL.

ONE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO AVOID THESE TYPES OF CLOSURES AND HOLDEN ABSHIER HAS THE ANSWER FOR OUR CITY LIMITS PROJECT.

>> BLOOMINGTON SUMMERS ARE NO STRANGERS TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

LARGER PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES CLOSE TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY, HAVE TIGHT DEADLINES.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS THE SEVEN LINE PROTECTED BIKE LANE AND THIS YEAR'S IT'S PART OF A MULTIMODAL PATH ON 17th STREET.

>> THERE'S JUST ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN BLOOMINGTON.

AS SOON AS THE STUDENTS ARE OUT, IT'S LIKE, BAM!

ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE GOING ON.

>> HORN WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE'S AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BEING BUILT IN MONROE COUNTY.

SHE'S MOSTLY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT ROADS TO AVOID DURING CONSTRUCTION SEASON.

>> IF YOU COULD GO TO A MAP AND SAY THIS IS THE ROUTE I'M TAKING OR I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AND YOU CAN CLICK ON A SITE AND SAY, OH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW -- THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON HERE.

>> ALL THE INFORMATION HORN WANTS IS PUBLIC.

IT'S JUST NOT IN ONE PLACE.

MONROE COUNTY UPDATES A WEEKLY LIST AND THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON HAS A PROGRAM CALLED INROADS.

IT'S AN INTERACTIVE MAP WITH UP-TO-DATE ROAD, SIDEWALK AND PARKING CONDITIONS.

>> IT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER TO HAVE THE VISUAL ACCESS.

>> ONE DOWNFALL OF INROADS IS IT DOES NOT INCLUDE REPAVING PROJECTS ON BLOOMINGTON'S 237 MILES OF ROAD.

THE CITY KEEPS A SEPARATE MAP AND SCHEDULE FOR THESE SMALLER-SCALE PROJECTS.

THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE AN INTERACTIVE MAP FOR THESE REPAVING PROJECTS AT ALL.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO PAVE 725 MILES OF ROADWAY.

SO WE TRY TO STRETCH THOSE DOLLARS AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT IT TAKES ABOUT $100,000 PER MILE TO PAVE A ROAD.

>> BRIDGE SAYS THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO.

AND HIGH COSTS COULD MEAN LESS CONSTRUCTION SOON, BUT IT COULD ALSO MEAN MORE POTHOLES AND UNSAFE ROADS.

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

>> IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST GOLD FITCH HATCHERY START -- GOLD FISH HATCHERY STARTED RIGHT HERE IN INDIANA.

GRASSYFORKS HAD TURNED THE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE INTO THE GOLD FISH CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

MITCH LEGAN DIVES INTO THE HISTORY OF BOLD FISH GOLD FISH FARMING AND HOW THAT LEGACY CONTINUES TODAY.

>> I WAS ON A CREW THAT WOULD GET THE FISH OUT OF THE PONDS.

YOU KNOW, WE WORE HIP BOOTS.

WE GOT DOWN INTO THE PONDS.

>> ART BRILL STILL REMEMBERS THE FIRST TIME HE WAS PUT ON GOLDFISH DUTY AT GRASSYFORKS FISHERIES.

IT WAS THE SPRING OF 1950 AND BRILL HAD MOVED TO INDIANA TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION.

EARLY MORNINGS AT GRASSYFORK HELPED TO PAY THE WAY.

>> YOU WOULD DIP OUT THE GOLDFISH, WITH LARGE DIPPERS, AND THEN YOU CARRIED THEM.

>> NOW BRILL IS 92.

AND HE STILL LIVES IN MARTINSVILLE.

BUT HE SAYS THE TOWN IS SLOWLY FORGETTING ONE OF ITS MOST UNIQUE HISTORICAL ASPECTS.

>> NOT FAR FROM MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA, IS GRASSYFORK, ONCE BUT WASTE MARSH BUT DEVELOPED BY EUGENE C SHIREMAN IN THE LARGEST GOLDFISH FARM IN THE WORLD.

40 YEARS AGO HE BEGAN AND NOW -- >> GRASSYFORKS FISHERY WAS FOUNDED IN 1899, AFTER EUGENE SHIREMAN INHERITED FARMLAND THAT WASN'T VERY GOOD FOR FARMING.

>> FIRST THEY ARE FED POWDERED EGG YOKES AND WHEAT FLOUR AND CORN MEAL.

>> FORMER MORGAN COUNTY HISTORIAN SAID IT WAS TOO WET AND SWAMPY FOR CROPS.

>> I'M SURE HE THOUGHT, GREAT DEAL!

I HAVE JUST INHERITED A WHITE ELEPHANT.

BUT EUGENE HAD BEEN TO THE WORLD'S FAIR IN CHICAGO IN 1893.

>> THERE, GOLDFISH WERE ON EXHIBIT FROM THE EAST.

AND SHIREMAN HADN'T FORGOTTEN THEIR DAZZLING DISPLAYS.

THE LAND ALREADY HAD SOME PONDS FOR GAME FISH SO SHIREMAN DECIDED TO GIVE GOLDFISH A TRY.

>> I READ THAT THE FIRST 200 OR 250250 GOLDFISH QUICKLY DIED.

HE HAD TO LEARN HOW TO RAISE GOLDFISH.

BUT THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR AND TALKING WITH PEOPLE, HE EVENTUALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO RAISE GOLDFISH.

>> LEGEND HAS IT THAT GRASSYFORKS' BIG BREAK CAME WHEN AN INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESSMAN WANTED TO INCREASE THE SOAP POWDER SALES AND HE SUGGESTED INCLUDING A PET GOLDFISH WITH ANY PURCHASE.

THE IDEA WAS A HIT AND THE BUSINESS CONTINUED GROWING.

BY LATE 1930s, GRASSYFORK WAS PRODUCING AN ESTIMATED 75% OF ALL COMMERCIAL GOLDFISH.

>> AS THE NET COMES UP, LIFE FOR THE FISH BECOMES A GOLDEN SHIMMER AND THE INDIANA FARM A GOLD MINE!

>> THEY WOULD HAVE SOLD THEM TO WOOL WORTHS AND KRESGE AND MURPHIES AND ALL OF THE BIG CHAINS.

IT WAS VERY POPULAR TO HAVE A GOLD FISH POND IN YOUR BACKYARD, EVEN MORE SO THAN TODAY.

>> WHEN ART BRILL ARRIVED IN 1950, MARTINSVILLE WAS KNOWN AS THE GOLDFISH CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

THE SHOWROOM WAS AN ATTRACTION.

THEY OFFERED PET SUPPLIES, AQUARIUMS.

>> IT WAS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN 1950, IN THE COUNTY.

EVERY DAY THERE WERE TRUCKS COMING IN HERE HAULING FISH OUT.

SO '53, IT WAS STILL GOING GANG BUSTERS.

>> BY THE 19 1960s, GRASSYFORKS WAS ON THE DOWNSLOPE, AND EUGENE SHIREMAN HAD DIED AND TRAFFIC WAS DIVERTED AWAY FROM THE SHOWROOM.

MISSOURI-BASED OZARK FISHERIES PURCHASED THE FARM IN 1970.

JOE CLEVELAND IS NOW THE FOURTH GENERATION OF HIS FAMILY TO RUN IT.

>> AND SO WE'LL OFF-LOAD A TRUCK THAT CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUILDING AND OFF-LOAD THESE FISH INTO THESE -- INTO THESE TANKS.

>> THE LOCATION SPANS 255 PONDS WHERE EIGHT VARIETIES OF FISH ARE PRODUCED.

THE FARM HAS IDENTIFIED COY KOI AS AN OPTION AND PRODUCE A LOT OF FISH IN A YEAR.

>> SHE'S SHORTING THROUGH A VARIETY OF WHAT WE ARE CALLING COMMON GOLDFISH AND SHE'S PICKING OUT SOME OF THE ALL WHITES OR ALL BLACK.

>> NEW COMPETITORS HAVE ENTERED THE MARK AND DE -- MARKET AND DEMAND FOR THE FISH IS NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

THERE ARE NOW 10 EMPLOYEES.

BUT GRASSYFORK'S IMPACT ON THE GOLDFISH STILL CONTINUES.

>> WE ARE NOT THE ONLY GOLDFISH PRODUCERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF YOU GREW UP IN THE MIDWEST, YOU KNOW, YOUR GOLDFISH CAME FROM GRASSYFORK OR OZARK.

>> BRILL IS HOPING ONE DAY GRASSYFORK'S LEGACY WILL BE COMMEMORATED IN SOME OFFICIAL WAY, EITHER THROUGH A SIGN OR HISTORICAL MARKER OF SORTS.

FOR HIM, THIS FISH STORY IS WORTH REMEMBERING.

>> I HATE TO SEE IT PASSING, BUT JOE AND THE OZARK GROUP, I THINK, WILL KEEP IT ALIVE, AS LONG AS THERE'S A MARKET FOR GOLDFISH.

YOU KNOW, HOW LONG ARE PEOPLE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE LITTLE BOWLS IN THEIR HOUSE OF GOLDFISH SWIMMING AROUND?

IT -- YOU KNOW, THINGS PASS.

NICHES PASS.

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

>>> THE MARTINSVILLE GOLDFISH ARE SHIPPED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND CANADA.

WELL, AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT CLIMATE CHANGE'S IMPACT ON THE STATE, ONE VIEWER ASKED IF THERE ARE MORE TREES OR ACRES OF FOREST IN INDIANA THAN THERE WERE A DECADE AGO.

DESPITE A PUSH BY THE STATE FOR MORE TREES, INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED, BUT THE ANSWER IS STILL A LITTLE SURPRISING.

>> WHILE THE NUMBER OF FOREST ACRES IN INDIANA WENT UP SLIGHTLY, THE NUMBER OF TREES WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY.

JOHN SEEFORTH DIRECTS THE DNR FORESTRY.

HE SAYS INDIANA'S FORESTRIES ARE AGING.

>> AS TREES GET BIGGER, THEY SHADE OUT OTHER TREES, IT'S JUST THE SURVIVAL OF THE STRONGEST, SO TO SPEAK.

>> GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS AN INITIATIVE TO PLANT 1 MILLION TREES IN INDIANA BY 2025.

THE CENTRAL INDIANA LAND TRUST PLANS TO MATCH THAT, BUT OVER A LONGER TIME FRAME.

TOGETHER, THEY PLANTED ABOUT 445,000 TREES SO FAR.

BUT SEEFORTH SAYS THESE INITIAL FIVES PALE THIS COMPARISON TO HOW MUCH PRIVATE LAND PLANT TREES IN THE STATE.

>> IT'S A SMALL PIECE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

VERY SILENTLY BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY FARM PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING TREE PLANTING INITIATIVES.

>> THE DNR'S NURSERY SELLS ABOUT 3 MILLION TREES TO THE PUBLIC EACH YEAR.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> 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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