>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WHEN FOREIGNERS OBTAIN WORK VISAS IN THE U.S., THEY OFTEN BRING THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM.

BUT WHEN THOSE CHILDREN BECOME ADULTS, THEIR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.

>> YOU CAN GROW UP IN AMERICA, COMPLETELY LEGALLY, BUT THEN ONCE YOU TURN 21, YOU LOSE THAT FREEDOM.

>> ONE HOPE IS THE AMERICA'S CHILDREN ACT NOW BEFORE CONGRESS.

>>> WE VISIT WITH AN I.U.

GRADUATE STUDENT WHO WAS DOING RESEARCH IN HER NATIVE UKRAINE WHEN RUSSIA INVADED THREE MONTHS AGO.

>> BASICALLY, WE ALSO ORIENTED OURSELVES TO BECOMING VOLUNTEERS, WITH A FLAVOR OF RESEARCH.

>> AND WE TALK WITH THE ECONOMISTS ABOUT THE LATEST INTEREST RATE HIKE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYDAY HOOSIERS.

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

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

I'M PERRY METZ, IN FOR THE VACATIONING JOE HREN.

COFFEE CONNOISSEURS FROM INDIANAPOLIS ARE RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S JEWISH COMMITTEE WITH ANTIFASCIST COFFEE CLUB.

AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS THIS COMES IN RESPONSE TO THE LAUNCH OF A NEW INDIANA COFFEE COMPANY IN BROWN COUNTY WITH WHITE NATIONALIST TIES.

>> INDIANAPOLIS COFFEE GUY, THE POPULAR ONLINE BLOG THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT COFFEE SCENE IS PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL ARTIST FOR ANTIFASCIST COFFEE CLUB.

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE ACLU AND TO THE JEWISH INDIANAPOLIS RELATIONS COUNCIL.

>> I WANTED TO LET YOU SEE SOME OF THE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO MAKING THE ANTIFASCIST COFFEE CLUB MUGS.

>> SCOTT SOLTYS-CURRY SAYS IT'S IN RESPONSE TO A COFFEE ROASTER, IN BROWN COUNTY,.

>> IT WAS ALREADY UPSETTING PEOPLE, AND IT JUST -- IT JUST GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT -- THAT I BELIEVE IN.

>> SARA DYE IS THE OWNER OF THE NEW COMPANY, WHICH IS SET TO START TAKING ONLINE ORDERS IN JULY.

DYE ALSO RUNS SCHOONER CREEK FARM WHICH LEFT THE BLOOMINGTON FARMER'S MARKET IN 2019 AFTER ACCOUNTIVISTS PROTESTED HER ALLEGED TIES TO WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS.

THE COMPANY SAYS ON TWITTER, IT WILL ENSURE ITS COFFEE IS NOT KOSHER CERTIFIED, AND THAT THE PRODUCTS ARE MADE, QUOTE, FOR OUR PEOPLE, BY OUR PEOPLE.

DYE DIDN'T RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.

♪ >> SCHOONER CREEK HASN'T RETURNED TO THE FARMER'S MARKET SINCE.

THE MARKET REPRESENTATIVES SAID THEY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS A POTENTIAL VENDOR BUT HAVEN'T SIGNED A CONTRACT TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS AT THE CITY-RUN MARKET.

>> I'M NOT ALLOWED TO PUNISH COMMUNICATE AS A GOVERNMENT, WE CAN'T -- SOMEONE AS A GOVERNMENT, WE CAN'T PUNISH SOMEONE FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE TO PROMOTE ANYONE OR TALK ABOUT ANYBODY WHO TRIES TO PROMOTE A PRODUCT RELATED TO HATEFUL IDEOLOGY AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

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

>>> SOLIS CURRY SAYS THE MUGS ARE ON PREORDER TO GAUGE INTEREST FOR THE PRODUCT BEFORE THE PRODUCTION RAMPS UP.

>>> WE HAVE BEEN FEELING EFFECTS OF SOARING INFLATION AT THE GAS PUMP, GROCERY STORE AND JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

WEDNESDAY THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACTED, RAISING THE INTEREST RATES .75 OF A PERCENT, THE BIGGEST SINGLE DAY HIKE SINCE 1994.

THAT MEANS INTEREST RATES YOU PAY WILL BE GOING UP.

MORTGAGE RATES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE NOW ABOVE 6%, ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT THEY WERE SIX MONTHS AGO.

THE STOCK MARKET REACTED BY FALLING BELOW 30,000, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANUARY 4th JANUARY 4th, 2021.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ROBERT MULLIGAN, A PROFESSOR OF THE ECONOMICS AT I.U.

EAST FOR MORE.

PROFESSOR, WHAT IS THE LATEST INTEREST RATE HIKE MEAN FOR EVERYDAY HOOSIERS/.

>> WELL, BECAUSE INTEREST RATES WILL BE HIGHER, IT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO BORROW MONEY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO ESPECIALLY PUNISH PEOPLE THAT FINANCE A LOT OF THEIR CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES AT A REVOLVING CONSUMER CREDIT.

IT'S GOING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO CARRY HIGH CREDIT CARD BALANCES, WHICH ARE AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FORM OF BORROWING ANYWAY.

NOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE EVEN WORSE.

SO THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT WILL BE ON THE HOUSING MARKET, BECAUSE MORTGAGE -- MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES ARE, YOU KNOW, NOW ALMOST TWICE WHAT THEY WERE A FEW MONTHS AGO.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A DEPRESSIVE EFFECT ON HOUSING PRICES WHICH HAVE BEEN SKYROCKETING.

YOU KNOW, IT WILL MAKE THE HOUSING MARKET, MUCH, MUCH LESS OF A SELLER'S MARKET THAN IT'S BEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> WHAT IS THE FED TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BY RAISING THE INTEREST RATE NOW?

>> WELL, THEY ARE DOING THIS TO FIGHT INFLATION.

IN FACT, THE REASON THAT THEY RAISED INTEREST RATES BY SO MUCH THIS MOST RECENT ROUND, BY .75%, IS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TWO VERY, VERY BAD, VERY HIGH INFLATION REPORTS IN A ROW.

THE MOST RECENT INCREASE BEFORE THAT WAS ONLY ONE HALF OF 1%, 50 BASIS POINTS AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN SLOWING DOWN THE RATE OF INCREASE IN PRICES.

RIGHT NOW, INTEREST RATES ARE STILL ABNORMALLY LOW.

THE FEDERAL FUNDS RATE IS WAY BELOW ITS SUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF ABOUT 3 TO 4%, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO RAISE INTEREST RATES UP TO A LEVEL THAT WILL ACTUALLY EFFECTIVELY PUT AN END TO THIS INFLATIONARY EPISODE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SLOW DOWN BUSINESS ACTIVITY, AND POSSIBLY TRIGGER A RECESSION, THERE'S A CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THE FED WILL, YOU KNOW, RAISE INTEREST RATES AS FAR AND AS FAST AS THEY NEED TO GO TO BRING INFLATION.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE SEEN THE STOCK MARKET LOSE 20% OF ITS VALUE THIS YEAR, AND THAT CERTAINLY AFFECTS RETIREMENT PLANS.

HOW WORRIED SHOULD PEOPLE BE IF SAVINGS ARE TIED TO THE MARKET?

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR IN YOUR CAREER ARE.

IF YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO RETIREMENT, WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS MOVING YOUR ASSETS INTO THINGS LIKE BONDS THAT ARE MUCH LESS VOLATILE THAN STOCKS.

WHEN PRICES ARE GOING UP, STOCKS TEND TO GO UP IN VALUE, AND OFTEN, YOU KNOW, PROTRACKED PERIOD OF INFLATION WILL CAUSE THE STOCK MARKET TO GO UP, YOU KNOW, ROUGHY IN ROUGHFULLY COMPARABLY.

STOCKS ARE VERY, VERY VOLATILE AND A THING LIKE THIS, RAISING INTEREST RATES AND CUTTING BACK ON THE MONEY SUPPLY IN ORDER TO FIGHT INFLATION, THIS TENDS TO REDUCE BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND MAKES THE STOCK MARKET ACTIVITY.

IT'S ALSO HAVING A SIMILAR EFFECT ON A LOT OF OTHER ASSETS THAT ARE RELATIVELY SAFE.

AND MOST RECENTLY CRYPTO CURRENCIES WHICH ARE -- WHICH HAVE BEEN REVEALED TO THE STOCKS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE HAVING YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THE U.S. ISSUES THOUSANDS OF WORK VISAS EACH YEAR.

SOME VISA HOLDERS WORK LONG-TERM AND BRING THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEM.

BUT FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPENT MOST OF THEIR LIVES AND BEEN EDUCATED IN THE U.S., NO CLEAR PATH TO CITIZENSHIP EXISTS.

BENTE BOUTHIER FILES THIS REPORT.

>> THAT'S THE SITUATION FACING LAY AND KHUSI PATEL, WHO LIVED MOST OF THEIR LIVES IN LEBANON, INDIANA.

THEY MOVED TO THE U.S. WITH THEIR PARENTS, AND THEIR PARENTS OWN AND RUN A HOTEL HERE.

MOST OF THEIR CHILDHOOD FRIENDS DIDN'T OBTAIN A GREEN CARD WAS NOT A MATTER OF GETTING IN LINE AND ASKING.

>> IT MUST BE THAT EASE EASY.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

MOST PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE, THERE NOT BEING A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR YOUTH WHO GREW UP HERE.

>> BOTH ATTEND COLLEGE AT I.U.

BLOOMINGTON.

LAY WILL BE A SENIOR AND KHUSI A SOPHOMORE.

LAY WAS A DEPENDENT ON HIS PARENT'S LONG-TERM WORK VISA UNTIL HE AGED OUT AT 21.

HE THEN TOOK A STUDENT VISA.

KHUSI STILL UNDER 21 REMAINS A DEPENDENT BUT EXPECTS TO FOLLOW IN HER BROTHER'S FOOTSTEP AGING OUT.

SHE WANTS TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECOME A DOCTOR.

SHE SAYS THE LACK OF STATUS IN THE U.S. LIMITS OPPORTUNITIES SINCE SHE CAN'T APPLY TO MOST JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS.

>> I REALIZE I CAN'T EVEN GO WORK AT THE NURSING HOME LIKE MY FRIENDS ARE DOING OR GO HELP AT THE HOSPITAL, DO AN INTERNSHIP.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY GETTING TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, NOT BECAUSE I WASN'T QUALIFIED TO DO THE JOB, OR GET THE EXPERIENCE BUT I'M NOT EVEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO APPLY.

>> THEIR SITUATION ISN'T UNIQUE.

AS ROUGHLY 200,000 CHILDREN OF LONG-TERM VISA HOLDERS FACE AGING OUT OF THEIR PARENT'S VISA, AND IF THEY DON'T PLAN TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY, THEIR OPTIONS TO REMAIN IN THE U.S. WITH THEIR FAMILIES ARE LIMITED.

KHUSI WAS A MEMBER THE LEBANON YOUTH COUNCIL, WHICH WORKED WITH THE MAYOR.

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE COMMUNITY WHERE SHE'S INVESTED HERSELF.

SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL HER SENIOR YEAR, REPRESENTING LOCAL YOUTH NEAR THE TOWN'S MAIN TRAIL.

>> IT'S KIND OF JUST LIKE A MODERN DAY COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT NOW TO US AS YOUTH AND ALSO A LOT OF TRADITIONS.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEIR PARENTS OWN AND WORK HERE, THEIR PARENT'S VISA MEANS THEY ARE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THAT CLASSIFICATION COMES WITH ITS OWN CHALLENGE.

YOU HAVE TO PROVE TIED TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY.

>> HOWEVER, FOR US WE HAVE GROWN UP IN THE U.S., AND THIS IS WHERE OUR HOME ADDRESS IS.

SO IT'S HARD TO PROVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REMAIN HERE AFTER WE GRADUATE OR THAT WE EVEN HAVE TIES TO OUR COUNTRY THAT WE CAME FROM.

>> LAY ISN'T SURE WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO WHEN HE'S FINISHED WITH SCHOOL AND NO LONGER ON A STUDENT VISA.

HE'S LOOKING AT OTHER VISA CATEGORIES AND HOPES TO GET AN EMPLOYEE TO SPONSOR HIM IN THE LOTTERY.

HE'S AN ECONOMICS MAJOR WITH MINORS IN FINANCE AND POLITICAL SCIENCE.

HE WANTS TO WORK SOME DAY IN D.C. ON IMMIGRATION REFORM.

HE AND KHUSI WERE BOTH IN D.C.

THIS SPRING, LOBBYING FOR THE AMERICA'S CHILDREN ACT.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN WHO WERE BROUGHT TO THE U.S. AS DEPENDENTS ON THEIR PARENT'S VISAS, HAVE LIVED HERE FOR TEN YEARS AND HAVE GRADUATED FROM AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.

THEY MET WITH LAWMAKERS INCLUDING SENATORS TODD YOUNG AND MIKE BRAUN ASKING THEM TO SIGN ON TO THE LEGISLATION.

CHRISTIE POPP SAYS IT WOULD PROTECT THOSE WHO FALL THAT THE CATEGORIES.

SHE'S NOT CONFIDENT THE ACT WILL PASS.

SHE WANTS MORE VISAS TO BE AVAILABLE.

>> IF CONGRESS ALLOWED MORE VISAS TO BE AVAILABLE, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE LONG WAITS AND THERE WOULD BE NO RISK OF YOUNG PEOPLE AGING OUT.

SO I THINK THAT IS A MORE IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.

IT'S JUST FOR CONGRESS TO ADD MORE VISAS.

SO THAT THERE AREN'T THESE ISSUES OF AGING OUT.

>> LAY AND KHUSI HOPE THE ACT IS PASSED BY CONGRESS BY DECEMBER WHEN LAY GRADUATES.

THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD BENEFIT INDIANA AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE TO KEEP CHILDREN'D INDICATED AND RAISED -- CHILDREN EDUCATED AND RAISED HERE.

>> IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR WELL-EDUCATED KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THIS COUNTRY, BROUGHT UP BY THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM, TO LEAVE TO GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND USE ALL OF THEIR POTENTIAL THERE, WHEN THEY COULD BE BENEFITING THEIR HOME, WHAT IS TRULY THEIR HOME.

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

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," COUNTY RESIDENTS AGAINST ANNEXATION ARE CITING THE PANDEMIC AS A REASON FOR MORE TIME TO GATHER REMONSTRANT PETITIONS AND WE VISIT WITH AN I.U.

GRAD STUDENT IN UKRAINE WHO TURNED FROM RESEARCHER TO VOLUNTEER WHEN RUSSIA INVADED.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

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

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, HOLDEN.

>> THANK YOU, PERRY.

MONROE COUNTY RESIDENTS AGAINST ANNEXATION SAY SAY REMONSTRATORS SHOULD HAVE MORE TIME TO FILE PETITIONS TO STOP ANNEXATION IN 1A AND 1B DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

ATTORNEYS FILED RESPONSES LAST WEEK TO ARGUMENTS FILED BY THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

>> THE NEW LEGAL FILING SAYS INDIANA STATE LAW OUTLINES CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH EXTENSIONS OF TIME MAY BE TRANTEDGRANTED FOR OFFICIALS SUCH AS WAR, INSURRECTION OR PESTILENCE.

SOME SAY SEVERAL REMONSTRATORS CONTRACTED COVID-19 AND RESULTS IN AN UNFAIR ANNEXATION.

>> I BELIEVE 1A DID ACHIEVE MORE THAN 65% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS' SIGNATURES IN THE REMONSTRATION PROCESS AND WE ARE REVIEWING THE DISALLOWED SIGNATURES.

>> BLOOMINGTON MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON SAYS MANY THINGS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND COVID DOES NOT INVALIDATE THE ANNEXATION PROCESS.

THEY COULD BE GRANTED AN EXTENSION ON REMONSTRATE PETITIONS, I'M PAT BEANE.

>> CATALENT BLOOMINGTON IS CHANGING TO 12-HOUR SHIFTS IT INCLUDES BUILT-IN MANDATORY OVERTIME.

THE CHANGES BEGIN IN THE END OF AUGUST.

CATALENT IS PLANNING TO REDUCE 200 TEMPORARY POSITIONS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, AND STILL THE COMPANY SAYS IT REMAINS COMMITTED TO INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO BLOOMINGTON AND CREATING NEW JOBS.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN SAYS THE UNIVERSITY WILL SOON START STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR WHAT I.U.

WILL BE IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

WHITTEN WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT A BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING THIS WEEK, SHE SAYS I.U.

IS AT AN EXCITING CROSSROADS THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.

I.U.

IS CURRENTLY IN THE PREPARATION STAGE AND EXPLAINING WHY REDUCING UNCERTAINTY AND HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATUS QUO WON'T HELP THEM OR OTHERS.

>> WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO FACE THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE AHEAD AND, AGAIN, DO THE BEST BY OUR STUDENTS AND THE OTHER GOALS WE HAVE AS AN INSTITUTION.

>> WHITTEN SAYS HER PRIORITIES ARE STUDENT SUCCESS AND EXPERIENCE I.U.

'S ROLE AS A RESEARCH INSTITUTION AND SERVICE TO THE STATE.

>>> HIGH-SPEED INTERIN ET CETERA IS COMING TO ALMOST ALL OF BLOOMINGTON -- INTERNET IS COMING TO ALMOST ALL OF BLOOMINGTON, AND A NEW SERVICE PROVIDER COULD PROVIDE IT AS SOON AS THIS YEAR.

BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL VOTED 8-1 IN FAVOR OF A PROJECT THAT BRINGS 1 GIGABYTE.

MERIDIAM IS INVESTING $50 MILLION INTO THE NETWORK.

>> IF WE DID, IT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE 50 OR $70 MILLION BOND AND THEN IF IT WENT BELLY UP, WOULD BE ON THE LOOK FOR THAT.

>> MER RIDIAM RIDIUM.

>> MER RIDIAMMERMERIDIAM IS BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

COUNCILMEMBER DAVE ROLLO VOTED AGAINST IT.

HE ASKED WHY IT'S FOR 85% WHEN COMCAST SAYS IT SERVICES 98% OF THE CITY.

>> ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE INTERVENING IN THE MARKETPLACE THROUGH A FORM OF TAX ABATEMENT TO GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT WHO TO A COMPANY THAT IS 85% COVERAGE AND I FEEL IS INSUFFICIENT.

>> THEY ARE PLAN ON LAYING FIBER LATER THIS YEAR WITH SOME RESIDENTS ON LINE BEFORE 2023.

>>> A FEDERAL NUTRITION WAIVER THAT ALLOWS SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENTS WITH FREE MEALS IS TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION FOOD SERVICES DIRECTOR, MATT TOM RELATE SAYS THE MCCSC IS SELF-SUSTAINING.

THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT PRICES ARE NOT RAISED UNNECESSARILY.

>> WE WILL PROBABLY SEE A MONTHEST INCREASE IN THE PAID PRICE FOR BREAKFAST, AND LUNCH, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN, YOU KNOW, AAN AN INCREASE IN THAT PRICE SINCE THE 2019 SCHOOL YEAR.

>> IN MARCH CONGRESS FAILED TO PASS A MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE WAIVER.

>>> INDIANA'S FORMER ATHLETIC DIRECTOR IS TAKING ON A NEW ROLE AS THE C.E.O.

OF GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA.

FRED GLASS WILL START IN THE POSITION THIS FALL.

HE SAYS ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES IS FULLY CLOSING THE MEAL GAP WITHIN THE 21 CENTRAL INDIANA COUNTIES THAT THE FOOD BANK SERVES.

>> THERE'S ENOUGH FOOD.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING IT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT FORMAT.

>> GLASS IS CURRENTLY A PARTNER AT THE TAP LAW FIRM IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>>> RICHLAND BEAM BLOSSOM VOTED TO CLOSE THE OLD STINESVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND NOW THE BUILDING IS ON THE BRINK OF A NEW LIFE.

MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED $164,000 IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS TUESDAY TO RENOVATE IT FOR A SHELTER HOUSE FOR WOMEN.

IT WILL INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND CAREER TRAINING.

>> WE REALIZE THAT WITH THE CLOSING OF STINESVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDING THAT STILL IS SO USEFUL AND STURDY AND LOVELY AND MEANINGFUL, BUT WE COULD REPURPOSE IT.

>> SOJOURN HOUSE WILL OCCUPY ONE SECURED HALLWAY THAT INCLUDES NINE BATHROOMS AND BEDROOMS.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

PERRY BACK TO YOU.

>> THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS ARE HELPING IN THE EFFORT TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY.

AFTER THE RUSSIAN INFLATION, PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE JOINED TO HELP THE UKRAINIAN TERRITORIAL DEFENSE, INCLUDING AN I.U.

GRADUATE STUDENT.

MITCH LEGAN CONNECTED WITH HER OVER ZOOM, AND SHARES HER STORY.

>> LOOKING BACK AT, IT DAFNA RACHOK FINDS SOME IRONY IN THE DAY SHE RETURNED HOME TO UKRAINE.

>> IT'S KIND OF FUNNY, BECAUSE WE CAME BACK.

WE WERE COMING ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, AUGUST 24th.

>> SHE RETURNED TO CONTINUE HER HIV RESEARCH.

RUSSIA'S INVASION PUT HER PRIORITIES ELSEWHERE.

[ SIRENS ] >> BUT WHEN THE FULL-SCALE INFLATION HAPPENED, BASICALLY, WE ALSO REORIENTED OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT TO BECOMING VOLUNTEERS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN, LIKE, FULL-TIME VOLUNTEERS, WITH A FLAVOR OF RESEARCHERS SO TO SAY.

>> NOW RACHOK AND HER PARTNER IVAN BEFORE BEEN HELPING THE UKRAINIAN DEFENSE.

THEY WERE HELPING TO RELOCATE PEOPLE KNEEING THE COUNTRY, CONNECTING THEM WITH -- FLEEING THE COUNTRY, CONNECTING THEM WITH HOUSING OR A WAY OUT OF UKRAINE.

THEY ALSO HELPED WITH MEDIA PROJECTS TO HELP GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

AS THE WAR HAS DRAGGED ON THAT MISSION IS HELPING DEFENSE FORCES.

>> WE STARTED TO DRIVE.

WE WOULD GO TO KYIV IN WESTERN UKRAINE, PACK THE WHOLE CAR, COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE, MOSTLY I WAS DRIVE DRIVING.

DAFNA WAS ON THE PHONE, CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE AND TRYING TO GET WHAT ARE NEEDS THERE.

>> SHH MATSHMATKO, HE TRIED GETTING HAD CRYPTO CURRENCY TO GET NIGHT VISION GOGGLES.

>> WE DON'T WORK LIKE BIG FUNDS OR BIG ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ARE QUICK, FAST IN OUR RESPONSE, AND WE ARE GENERALLY DRIVEN BY VERY PRECISE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.

>> THEY'RE NOW FOCUSING MORE ON LOGISTICS AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES, RATHER THAN DELIVERING THINGS THEMSELVES.

THEY RECENTLY TRAVELED TO MYKOLAIV TO HELP WITH MEDIA COVERAGE OF FIGHTING THERE.

>> EVERYONE IS SAYING, OH, MY GOD, DON'T GO TO THE FRONT LINES.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

PLEASE TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF AND THEN YOU COME TO MYKOLAIV, AND IT'S PRETTY CALM OVER HERE.

>> RACHOK SAYS DAILY EXPLOSIONS REMIND PEOPLE OF THE RUSSIAN THREAT BUT THE WAR HAS BECOME A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE FOR UKRAINIANS.

[ SIRENS ] >> WHILE MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN LEFT AT THE BEGINNING, SOME HAVE COME BACK TO HELP THEIR COUNTRY IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.

>> YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY THINK AND OVER THINK ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS IN THE THIRD MONTH, WITH NO SIGNS OF STOPPING ANY TIME SOON.

RACHOK SAYS SHE WILL HELP AS LONG AS SHE'S NEEDED.

>> WHAT WE ARE DOING, IT'S -- LIKE, IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S NECESSARY WORK, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE ARE, LIKE, PARTICULARLY BRAVE OR SOMETHING.

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

>>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT SEVEN YEARS SINCE RESIDENTS IN FRANKLIN RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER IN THE AREA.

REBECCA THIELE REPORTS NOW, THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, HAS A PLAN TO ADDRESS WHAT MANY BELIEVE IS LIKELY RESPONSIBLE.

POLLUTED GROUNDWATER FROM AN OLD INDUSTRIAL SITE.

>> THE EPA WANTS TO INJECT THE GROUNDWATER IN AND AROUND THE AMPHENOL SITE THAT WILL MAKE THE MATERIALS IN MATERIALS, LESS TOXIC, BARRIERS THAT BREAK DOWN CHEMICALS AS THE WATER FLOWS THROUGH.

>> THE KIND OF REMEDY THAT WE ARE DOING, WE ALREADY TESTED OUT AT THE SITE AND WE THINK IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

>> MOST OF THE CLEANUP WOULD TAKE TWO TO THREE YEARS.

THE AGENCY WOULD THEN MONITOR THE GROUNDWATER FOR TEN YEARS TO MAKE SURE THE POLLUTION BREAKS DOWN NATURALLY.

FRANKLIN RESIDENT, BILL HARMERLING SAYS HE HAS FRIENDS WOULD LOST CHILDREN.

>> I PRAY THAT YOU NEVER LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED.

>> BUT A CONSULTANT WITH A GROUP, IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD, THE PUBLIC NEEDS MORE TIME TO COMMENT ON THE PLAN.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS IN LESS THAN A MONTH.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> THE EPA SAID IT WOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE DEAD LINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND ENCOURAGED THE GROUP TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION WITH THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR.

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.

THANKS.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY SMITHVILLE, FIBER.