>>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A YEAR AFTER BLOOMINGTON'S MAJOR FLASH FLOOD, RESIDENTS ALONG CLEAR CREEK ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CAPACITY IN CLEAR CREEK AND TO KEEP ADDING TO IT WITH BUILDINGS AND THAT'S GOT TO HAPPEN.

DEVELOPMENT HAS GOT TO GO ON, BUT THEY GOT TO CONSIDER WHAT IT'S DOING TO THE NEIGHBORS DOWN HERE.

>> WHY THEY SAY CLIMATE CHANGE AND CONSTRUCTION IN BLOOMINGTON WILL MAKE THINGS WORSE.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF COVID TESTING BEING DONE AT HOME, ONE WAY TO TRACK SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IS TO TEST WASTEWATER.

>> ALSO YOU CAN USE THIS TO TELL US WHEN WE PEAKED, AND WHEN WE ARE ON A DECLINE.

THAT'S REALLY INFORMATIVE TOO.

>> A LOOK AT HOW THE CITY HAS BEEN TESTING WATER AT THE TWO TREATMENT PLANTS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>>> AND THE JANUARY 6th JANUARY 6th COMMISSION HEARINGS TAKING PLACE IN WASHINGTON.

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

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS FOOT JANUARY 6th ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL IN AN EFFORT TO OVERTURN THE 2022 ELECTION BEGAN LAST NIGHT.

VIOLENT VIDEO OF THE SIEGE AND CLIPS OF TESTIMONY SCAMMING EXAMINING THE WEEKS BEFOREHAND WHEN TRUMP SPREAD WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

THE COMMITTEE IS TRYING TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW IT HAPPENED AND TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

THE MADE-FOR-TV HEARING COME AS SOME REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE MEDIA HAVE WORKED TO DELEGITIMIZE THE COMMITTEE AND ITS FINDINGS.

FOR MORE ON THE HEARING WE ARE JOINED BY STEVEN WEBSTER AT I.U.

AND THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK "AMERICAN RAGE: HOW ANGER SHAPES OUR POLITICS" WELCOME TO THE SHOW, PROFESSOR.

AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIONS, JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE HEARINGS BEGAN LAST NIGHT.

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

>> SO THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS THE PUBLIC UNVEILING OF WHAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS FOUND IN ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS HAD THE POWER TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS IN ORDER TO COMPEL TESTIMONIES AND THEY HAD A TEAM OF LAWYERS COMB THROUGH THE EVIDENCE THEY ACCUMULATED.

AND SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THIS IS LIKELY TO BE THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNTING WE WILL EVER HAVE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

>> WHAT HAS STOOD OUT SO FAR?

>> I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS, FIRST WOULD BE THE SORT OF FOREGROUNDING OF LIZ CHENEY PRESENTING MOST OF THE EVIDENCE THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF ONLY TWO REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE.

AND SO THIS MAKES IT APPEAR LESS EXPLICITLY PARTISAN.

AND THE SECOND WOULD BE THE DELIBERATE AND THE CONSISTENT USE OF VIDEO TO REMIND AMERICANS WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

I THINK PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE IN THAT MANNER IS LIKELY TO LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT.

>> NOW, MANY REPUBLICANS, SOME CONSERVATIVE MEDIA CALLED THEM I LITTLEILLEGITIMATE HEARINGS.

>> PEOPLE TEND TO VIEW THE WORLD THROUGH A PARTISAN LENS.

AND SO DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALREADY HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY.

IF WE ARE GOING TO SEE ANY OPINION CHANGE, IT'S LIKELY TO BE AMONG A SMALL SLIVER OF INDEPENDENTS.

>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS OF THIS.

>> THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE HEARINGS AND THEY WILL METICULOUSLY LAY OUT THE EVIDENCE.

THEY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO ISSUE ANY INDICTMENTS AND THAT'S LARGELY WHAT THE IN THE IS -- COMMITTEE IS TRYING TO DO THAT THERE ARE CASES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> WHEN THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE PEOPLE LOOK BACK AT WHAT WILL HISTORY TAKE?

>> I THINK AS PEOPLE READ ABOUT THIS CURRENT ERA OF AMERICAN POLITICS, THEY WILL SEE A COMMON THREAD OF ANGER AND DIVISION.

I THINK THAT'S UNLEEKLY UNLIKELY TO ABATE ANY TIME SOON.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE A MILE APART ON ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

>>> LAST JUNE'S MAJOR FLOODS SWAMPED BUSINESSES, ONE MAN DROWNED AND SOME RESIDENTS WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES.

PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG CLEAR CREEK ARE WORRIED THAT FLASH FLOODS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND POWERFUL.

>> THE WATER GOES DOWN ROGER STREET AND EVENTUALLY GOES THAT WAY BACK INTO CLEAR CREEK.

>> MEMORIES OF LAST YEAR'S FLASH FLOOD ARE STILL FRESH FOR LONNIE BAKER.

HE GETS ANXIOUS ANY TIME THERE'S A REPORT OF AN INCOMING STORM.

>> I LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE STORMS.

IS IN THE NIGHT THAT IT'S GOING TO FLOOD.

YEAH, YOU GET THOSE IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

>> LAST JUNE, BAKER WATCHED AS CLEAR CREEK FLOODED HIS BACKYARD.

THE WATER KEPT RISING AND EVENTUALLY POURED INTO HIS HOUSE.

BAKER HAD GOTTEN WATER IN HIS GARAGE, BEFORE, BUT NOT LIKE LAST YEAR.

>> THAT LAST FLOOD, THE WATER WAS THIS HIGH.

I BARELY COULD EXIT MY HOME.

>> HE LIVES ALONG CLEAR CREEK.

FLASH FLOODS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE BUT HE AND OTHERS ARE WORRIED THEY ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT ANYMORE.

I HAD TWO MAJOR FLOOD, THE FLOOD OF '91 '19 AND THE FLOOD OF '21.

IT'S HIKE STARTING OVER -- LIKE STARTING OVER.

>> WE JUST HEARD THUNDER.

>> YEAH, IT'S IRONIC.

>> LAST YEAR'S FLOOD WAS A TRUE FLASH FLOOD.

AN ESTIMATED 6 TO 8 INCHES OF RAIN POURS DOWN IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT WAS AN ANOMALY, BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED THEY MIGHT BE NOTICING A PATTERN.

>> THEY COME AND GO IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

SO YOU WILL SEE THIS REALLY HIGH WATER AND YOU WILL LITERALLY SEE WAVES AS IT ROLLS OUT OVER THE BRIDGE ON THAT ROAD.

>> BAKER, WEEKEL CASSIDY AND OTHERS BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE DEVELOPMENT IN BLOOMINGTON WILL MAKE THE SEVERE FLASH FLOODS MORE COMMON.

MILES THE CULVERTS ACTUALLY GUIDE A RIVER FROM THE I.U.

CAMPUS UNDER THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, OVER TO FIRST AND WALNUT STREETS WHERE CLEAR CREEK EMERGES.

THOSE CULVERTS ALSO HELP TO CARRY THE CITY'S STORMWATER.

>> MANY OF THESE SECTIONS WE BELIEVE ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD, UNDERSIZED.

WE WANT TO TRY TO GET THEM OUT FROM UNDER BUILDINGS, OBVIOUSLY, AND HAVE DONE THAT FOR THE MOST PART.

THERE ARE SOME LOCATIONS THAT ARE STILL UNDER BUILDINGS, BUT THEY ARE MUCH BEEFIER, I WILL CALL IT.

>> WHEN THE CULVERT PROJECT IS COMPLETE, THE CITY SAYS THEY WILL HAVE TWICE THE STORMWATER CAPACITY AS THE OLD ONES.

AND THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS RESIDENTS ALONG CLEAR CREEK.

FLOODING IS ALREADY AN ISSUE, AND THE CITY WILL BE ADDING MORE WATER.

HEAVY RAIN EVENTS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON IN INDIANA, AND THE MIDWEST.

AND THAT INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR A FLASH FLOOD.

ACCORDING TO A CITY REPORT FROM 2020, BLOOMINGTON HAS SEEN A 25% INCREASE IN HEAVY RAIN OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.

>> WHAT WE TEND TO SEE IS A LOT MORE INTENSE SHORT RAINFALL EVENTS.

IT'S HARD TO REALLY GET A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT -- HOW MUCH THINGS ARE CHANGING, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S MOST -- MOST EXPERTS AGREE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S CHANGING.

>> THAT SAME CITY REPORT SAYS HEAVY RAIN EVENTS WILL BECOME MORE COMMON IN BLOOMINGTON.

IT ALSO ADDS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING WATER DECISIONS.

>> THERE'S NOT ENOUGH COMMITTEE IN CLEAR CREEK AND TO KEEP ADDING TO IT WITH BUILDINGS, AND THAT'S GOT TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW.

DEVELOPMENT HAS GOT TO GO ON, BUT THEY GOT TO CONSIDER WHAT IT'S DOING TO THE NEIGHBORS DOWN HERE.

>> FLEIG, THE CITY ENGINEER SAYS THEY HAVE SPOKE WENT SOME RESIDENTS DOWNSTREAM ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED FLOODING.

>> UNFORTUNATELY YOU CAN'T ENSURE THIS WON'T BE FLOODING.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN RAIN PATTERNS AND INTENSITIES.

WE ARE JUST SEEING BIGGER RAIN EVENTS THESE DAYS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DOWNSTREAM SECTION WHERE IT OPENS UP POTENTIALLY SOME REPAIRS IN THAT LOCATION.

BUT WE WILL BE -- THE MODELING HELPS US TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING TO EVENTUALLY END UP DOWNSTREAM.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PLANS TO LOOK AT THE CLEAR CREEK FLOODPLAIN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THEY GOT FEMA MONEY FOR PROJECTS IN MONROE COUNTY.

>> IF THIS AREA GETS MAPPED DIFFERENTLY, THAT'S A DISCUSSION WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE WITH THE CITY TO SEE WHAT THERE IS TO TRY TO MITIGATE THOSE -- THOSE ISSUES.

>> THE IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE WILL TAKE YEARS TO BE SEEN.

FOR RESIDENTS ALONG THE CREEK, LEAVING FUTURE IN THE HANDS OF MOTHER NATURE IS UNNERVING BUT NOTHING NEW.

>> YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE CLIMATE.

YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE RAIN BUT SURELY THEY NEED TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE TO THAT CREEK BED.

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

>>> WE'RE JOINED BY MITCH TO TALK MORE ON HOW FLOODING IS IMPACTING THE PEOPLE ALONG THE CLEAR CREEK.

MITCH, YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING TO RESIDENTS OVER A YEAR ON THIS.

>> YEP.

>> SO WHEN DID THE CULVERT WORK BEGIN?

>> SO YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE BIG DIG THAT HAPPENED BACK IN 2000.

THE CITY TORE UP THE PARTS OF KIRKWOOD AND DUNN TO PREVENT FLOODING DOWNTOWN.

THAT DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE.

THEY CONTINUED WITH PROJECTS SINCE THEN AND THE CURRENT PROJECT THEY ARE WORKING ON SHOULD BE DONE AROUND AUGUST.

THEN THEY WILL MOVE NORTH IN THE CITY TO INDIANA AND DUNN.

WORK ON THE CULVERTS THERE.

AND ONCE THAT'S DONE THE UNDERGROUND RIVER WILL BE TOTALLY ENCAPSULATES.

THERE'S OTHER CULVERTS THEY NEED TO WORK ON AND SO THIS WILL CONTINUE.

>> IS THERE ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT THE PEOPLE THERE ARE WORRIED ABOUT?

>> YES, IN TALKING WITH THEM, THEY KEPT BRINGING UP THE REMOVAL OF WIEMER LAKE, OR THE DRAINING OR THE REMOVAL OF THE DAM.

THEY BELIEVE REMOVING THAT DAM HAS LED TO MORE FLOODING DOWNSTREAM.

I SPOKE WITH THE CITY ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT AND I.U.

PROFESSOR TODD ROYER WHO STUDIES HYDROLOGY AND BOTH AGREE THAT THAT DECISION REALLY WOULDN'T MAKE THAT MUCH OF AN IMPACT DOWNSTREAM, BECAUSE AS ROYER SAID, THE LAKE JUST WASN'T THAT BIG AND IT WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED FOR DRINKING WATER AS OPPOSED TO FLOOD CONTROL.

SO WHENEVER WE GET A TON OF RAIN THAT WATER WOULD JUST END UP IN THE CREEK ANYWAY.

BUT HE SAID THAT THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, ABOUT DEVELOPMENT, THOSE ARE LEGIT, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GETTING HEAVIER MORE RAIN EVENTS AND THE CITY IS SENDING MORE RAIN DOWN THE RIVER, MORE WATER DOWN THE RIVER, GUESS WHAT, THAT WILL INCREASE THE CHANCE FOR BIGGER OR MORE FREQUENT FLOODING.

>> NOW, HOW ABOUT THE D.N.R.

YOU TALKED TO THEM.

WHAT ROLE DO THEY PLAY IN ALL OF THIS?

>> YEAH, SO THEY WILL BE TAKING A LOOK.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE TOO MUCH AS FAR AS SPECIFICS ON WHAT THEY WILL BE DO DOWN HERE.

THEY WILL LOOK AT THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND ONE THE ISSUES I'M INTERESTED IN IS THE PINEWOOD DRIVE AREA OF BLOOMINGTON.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE CREEK.

IT EXPERIENCES PRETTY CONSISTENT FLOODING.

THE FLOODPLAIN GOES DIRECTLY BEYOND IT.

IT CONFUSES ME.

I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY ANSWERS.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

WE'LL HOPEFULLY GET SOME NEW INFORMATION IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS.

>> ALL RIGHT, MITCH, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING ON THIS.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>>> WELL, INDIANA WILL DEDICATE 25 MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD ACQUIRING LAND FOR NATURE PRESERVES, PARKS AND OTHER CONSERVATION AREAS IN THE STATE.

REBECCA THIELE REPORTS THE OFFICIALS SAY THAT'S THE MOST MONEY THAT INDIANA HAS PUT TOWARDS CONSERVE CONSERVATION AT ONE TIME.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS LED TO CROWDING AT SOME OF THE STATE'S TRAILS AND CAMPGROUNDS WHICH CONSERVATION ADVOCATES SAY SHOWS NEED FOR MORE NATURAL SPACES.

TODDTOM LAYCOCK SAYS THE LAST TIME THEY GOT SIGNIFICANT FUNDING, WAS UNDER GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS AND IT WAS USED IN JUST FOUR YEARS.

>> WE WILL MOVE THROUGH IT VERY RAPIDLY AND THAT, I HOPE, WILL BE JUST ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION THAT WE HAVE PENT UP DEMAND FOR CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> THE MOST CONSISTENT SOURCE OF FUNDING COMES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSE MEAT PLATE SALES WHICH GENERATES ABOUT $1 MILLION A YEAR.

THE LAND PROTECTION ALLIANCE WHICH IS A NETWORK OF LAND TRUSTS IN THE STATE, SHE SAYS INDIANA DOES A GOOD JOB OF ATTRACTING BUSINESSES BUT INVESTING SENATE'S NATURAL SPACES IS THE WAY TO ATTRACT TALL -- STATE'S NATURAL SPACES IS THE WAY TO ATTRACT TALENT.

>> IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT NATURE AND PROTECTED SPACES AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE MAKING THAT A PRIORITY.

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

>>> LAYCOCK SAYS THE PUBLIC CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM BY CONTACTING THEIR LOCAL LAND TRUSTS AND PARKS DEPARTMENTS.

>>> BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL IS DELAYING A FINAL DECISION RELATING TO THE JOHNSON CREAMERY APARTMENT BUILDING UNTIL WEDNESDAY.

THE CURRENT ISSUE GOES BACK TO OCTOBER 2021, WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED AN APARTMENT COMPLEX NEXT TO THE CREAMERY.

IT SETS PARTIALLY IN THE PUBLIC ALLEY.

>> IF THE ALLEY HAS SOME UTILITY, I DON'T THINK IT'S LEVERAGING PUBLIC ART.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED SIMPLY TO PREVENT ANOTHER GARGANTUAN STRUCTURE.

>> LAWMAKERS PLAN TO RETURN TO THE STATE HOUSE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH TO SEND $1 BILLION IN SURPLUS STATE RESERVES BACK TO HOOSIERS TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH HIGH PRICES.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S PLAN CALLS FOR ANYONE WHO HAS FILED A TAX RETURN, ABOUT $225 OR $450 IF FILED JOINTLY.

MANY HAVE CALLED FOR INDIANA TO SUSPEND THE GAS TAX AMID RECORD HIGH PRICES, BUT REPUBLICANS ARGUE TOO MANY OUT-OF-STATE PEOPLE ALSO PAY THE GAS TAX.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WE VISIT A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO SEE HOW THE CITY IS TRACKING COVID-19 SPREAD IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE UNIVERSITY RENAMED THE JORDAN AVENUE EXTENSION FOR THE LATE I.U.

JAZZ LEGEND DAVID BAKER.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

RISING COSTS ARE STRAINING CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MONROE COUNTY.

AS DOM HEYOB REPORTS THE ISSUE STEMS FROM A NATIONAL INCREASE IN BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.

OSAGE PLACE IS THE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD BEING BUILT BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MONROE COUNTY.

IT SITS RIGHT NEXT TO BLOOMINGTON'S R.C.A.

PARK.

WITH INFRASTRUCTURE NEARLY COMPLETED, IT IS HARD TO SEE THE TANGIBLE IMPACT THAT RISING COSTS HAVE ON THE PROJECT.

BUT THESE COSTS ARE LEAVING A BURDEN ON THE NONPROFIT, WHICH BUILDS AND FINANCES AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

>> PREPANDEMIC, WE WERE LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTION COSTS BETWEEN $85,000 AND $90,000.

WE ARE NOW OVER $105,000 FOR JUST THE MATERIALS TO BUILD THE HOUSE.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LAND OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> BUILDING MATERIAL COSTS IS INCREASED BY 35.6% SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS.

SKILLED LABOR COSTS ARE ON THE RISE AS WELL.

SITE SUPERVISOR SARAH WOOLFORD IS WORKING ON THREE HOUSES IN HABITAT'S OSAGE PLACE.

WHILE PROJECTS LIKE THIS ACCEPT VOLUNTEER LABOR FOR THEIR BUILDING, THIS IS SOME WORK THAT HAS TO BE SUBCONTRACTED.

>> ALL MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, EARTH OF WORK, ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE DONE BY SOMEONE THAT IS LICENSED IN MONROE COUNTY.

AND SO THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT LABOR.

>> WOOLFORD SAYS THAT COSTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY.

ADDED SAFETY MEASURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS DUE TO REGULATION LEAD TO COST INCREASES OF THEIR OWN.

ALL OF THESE SMALLER INCREASES ADD UP.

>> SO YOU CAN START TO SEE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT, IF WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND A LOT UP FRONT TO BUILD HOUSES, IT'S TAKING US LONGER TO RECOUP THE FUNDS.

IT SLOWS DOWN THE PROCESS OF HOW QUICKLY AND HOW MANY FAMILIES WE CAN HOUSE.

>> THE NONPROFIT RECEIVES DONATIONS THAT HELP TO REDUCE EFFECTS OF THESE COSTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED THE HOME BUILDERS BLITZ, LOCAL SUBCONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS DONATE THEIR NEIGHBOR.

IN THE PAST, HABITAT HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON TO GET DONATED LAND AND MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> SO IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR MISSION HERE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M DOM HEYOB.

>>> HABITAT WILL REOPEN ITS APPLICATION WINDOW FOR POTENTIAL FAMILIES ON JUNE 21st.

IT'S A GUESSING GAME AS TO HOW MANY FAMILIES WILL BE HELPED BY THE PROGRAM BUT GOODLETT SAYS THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR NEW HOUSES.

>>> COVID MAY NO LONGER BE IN THE NATIONAL HEADLINES, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT ISN'T GOING AWAY.

AND WITH SO MANY TESTS BEING DONE AT HOME, ONE WAY TO TRACK COMMUNITY SPREAD IS BY TESTING WASTEWATER.

THAT AS SOMETHING THAT BLOOMINGTON HAS BEEN DOING SINCE THE EARLY EARLY PANDEMIC.

>> I HAVE OUR JAR OF WASTEWATER.

I WILL SHAKE IT UP.

>> NICK KOMASINSKI IS PREPARING WASTEWATER TOCK SENT TO BE SENT OFF TO TENNESSEE FOR ANALYSIS.

COMECOMASINSKI IS PART OF THE GROUP THAT GATHERS WASTEWATER TO TEST IT FOR COVID-19.

IT'S TESTED FOR PH BALANCE AND THE TEMPERATURE LOGGED.

>> WHEN THINGS ARE STABILIZED, YOU SHOULD SEE THAT CHECK MARK APPEAR AND THEN I WILL PRESS SOMETHING ON SCREEN TO FREEZE THAT RESULT AND THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND ENTER THE DATA OVER THE PHONE.

>> THE BOTTLE IS THEN PUT IN A COOLER AND SHIPPED OFF FOR ANALYSIS.

ONE THE SAMPLES COLLECTED ON MONDAY IS SENT TO MICROBACK LABORATORY.

TESTINGIS COLLECTED ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

JASON WENNING OVERSEES THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER PROGRAMS.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING DATA SET AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GLAD TO SEE IT GROWING.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR, YOU KNOW -- WE'RE GOING ON TWO FULL YEARS NOW WHICH IS GETTING TO BE A PRETTY ROBUST DATA SET.

>> FOR THE DATA FOR NOW CANNOT BE USED SOLELY TO GUIDE THE COVID POLICY.

IT CAN TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET DATA BRACT THE LAB.

IT CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS AND OTHER INDICATORS.

>> IT IS A GREAT TOOL TO GET THAT EARLY DATA.

IF YOU CAN PET THAT TURNAROUND TIME DOWN LOW, YOU CAN GET A HEADS UP OF THREE, UP TO 11 DAYS ADVANCED NOTICE OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THOSE -- THE TRENDS OF COMMUNITY SPREAD.

>> AND THOSE FEW DAYS OF WARNING CAN HELP A COMMUNITY DECIDE TO INCREASE TESTING, SUGGEST MASK WEARING OR GIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S COMING.

>> ALSO YOU CAN USE THIS TO TELL US WHEN WE'VE PEAKED, WHEN WE ARE ON A DECLINE AND THAT'S REALLY INFORMATIVE TOO.

>> BLOOMINGTON HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF WASTEWATER COVID TESTING.

THE CITY BEGAN EXPLORING THE PROCESS IN JUNE OF 2020, AND THAT MONTH JOINED 13 OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE FOR INDIANA WASTEWATER MONITORING PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE INDIANA FINANCE AUTHORITY, THE PROGRAM ALLOWED THE CITY TO TEST EIGHT SITES TWICE A WEEK.

DURING THAT MUCH TESTING MIRRORED THE NEIGHBORHOOD TESTING.

>> WE SAW VERY MATCHED DATA OF CASES WITHIN OUR STUDENT POPULATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE FALL OF 2020, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE DORMITORIES AND THE GREEK ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT THEY WERE SEEING IN THOSE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY WERE COLLECTING IN.

SO THAT WAS -- THAT REALLY SHOWED US THE POTENTIAL OF IT.

>> BUT THAT PROGRAM LASTED ONLY UNTIL THE END OF 2020.

SINCE THEN, THE CITY HAS BEEN FOOTING THE BILL AND CUTBACK TESTING TO JUST ONCE A WEEK AT THE TWO TREATMENT PLANTS.

WENNING SAYS THE TESTING WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF 2022.

>> IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GATHER DATA WHENEVER WE COULD, TO DO THIS AS A PRACTICE, IT WAS INCREDIBLY NEW AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S STILL VERY MUCH A FRESH FIELD.

>> FRESH IS WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THE POOL OF WASTEWATER THE SAMPLES ARE TAKEN FROM A UNIT WHERE THE WATER ENTERS THE PLANT COLLECTS A SMALL VOLUME OF WASTEWATER EVERY 15 MINUTES OVER A 24-HOUR PERIOD.

THAT TIME FRAME IS MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT AND COLLECTED DAILY FOR EPA AND OTHER REGULATIONS.

THE SAME WATER IS USED FOR COVID TESTING.

>> THE TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON IT HERE, WE'RE VERY PROUD ABOUT THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF WORKING IN WASTEWATER IS PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTRIBUTE HOWEVER WE CAN TO THAT.

>> MCKEEN SAYS I.U.

IS LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH C.B.U.

TO PROVIDE WASTEWATER TESTING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SITES BEING TESTED ANDMENT PROVE THE TURNAROUND TIME OF THE RESULTS.

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

>> THE CITY PAYS $479 PER SAMPLE SENT TO MICROBAC FOR ANALYSIS.

THE CDC COVERS THE COSTS FOR THE SAMPLES SENT TO IT.

>>> AND THE JORDAN AVENUE EXTENSION WAS RENAMED DAVID BAKER AVENUE TUESDAY, A MOVE TO HONOR THE LATE I.U.

JAZZ LEGEND.

HALEY RYAN HAS THE STORY.

>> IN FEBRUARY, THE I.U.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED RENAMING JORDAN AVENUE BETWEEN 17th 17th STREET AND NORTH LANE, FOR THE AWARD WINNING EDUCATOR.

LAIDA BAKER SAID WHEN DAVID CAME TO I.U.

IN THE 1950s HE COULDN'T LIVE OR EAT ON CAMPUS OR IN TOWN.

>> AND NOW TO SEE HIS NAME ON A STREET HERE, AFTER THE YEARS THAT HE WENT TO SCHOOL HERE AND 50 YEARS OF TEACHING HERE TO SEE HIM HONORED IN THIS WAY, I JUST DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY WORDS.

>> SHE WOULD LOVE THE STUDIO DOOR OPEN SO SHE COULD LIST TOP WHATLISTEN TOWHAT HE WAS DOING.

>> IT'S WAS ALMOST LIKE GETTING A LESSON MYSELF.

I WAS SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE THE CREATIVE SIDE OF HIM, BECAUSE HE WAS WONDERFUL.

>> FORMER JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC DEAN, GWYN RICHARDS SAID BAKER WAS DEPARTMENT CHAIR FOR A LENGTHY AND PRODUCTIVE TENURE THAT CREATED THE DEPARTMENT WE KNOW TODAY.

>> BEYOND THAT, WHEN THE PROFESSION LOOKS AT DAVID BAKER, NOT ONLY DO THEY SEE THIS REMARKABLE PERFORMER.

THEY SEE SOMEONE WHO CODIFIED THE EDUCATION OF JAZZ.

>> BAKER SERVED AS A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND DEFENDANT OF JAZZ STUDY EMERITUS IN THE JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC.

HE DIED AT THE AGE OF 84.

THE UNIVERSITY AND CITY REMOVED JORDAN'S NAME BECAUSE OF HIS TIES TO RACIST PRACTICES.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M HALEY RYAN.

>>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT THE NEWS CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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