>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," OVERDOSE DEATHS CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE STATE DRIVEN BY THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID FENTANYL, BUT SOME RECOVERY ADVOCATES ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC.

>> IT'S JUST NOT A POPULAR IDEA, YOU KNOW, FOR CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE.

THEY JUST THINK DRUG USE IS BAD.

>> YELLOW BAMBOO WAS NAMED AN INVASIVE SPECIES BY THE CITY OF PLAN BLOOMINGTON IN 2020, LEAVING RESIDENTS FINED IF IT'S NOT REMOVED.

>> IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

>> BUT DIFFICULTY ERADICATING THE PLANT HAS FORCED THE CITY TO UPDATE THE ENFORCEMENT POLICY.

>>> AND A NEW EATERY WILL BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE DOWNTOWN APARTMENTS.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK.

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, WITH YEARS OF RISING OVERDOSE DEATHS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS ARE RAISING THE ALARM ABOUT FENTANYL.

OFFICIALS KNOW THE SYNTHETIC OPIOID IS DRIVING STATE'S OVERDOSE CRISIS.

BUT AS MITCH LEGAN REPORTS, SOME RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS ARE FINDING SOME DIFFICULT TO EXPAND HARM REDUCTION EFFORTS.

>> I MET KAREN WARPENBERG AT ONE OF HER DAILY TRIPS TO CHECK AN OVERDOSE REVERSAL KIT.

>> I HAVE SOME SAFE USE KITS AND THE NARCAN AND SOME BROCHURES, WHICH IS WHAT I WILL REPLACE.

>> SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EVANSVILLE RECOVERY ALLIANCE.

THE GROUP STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK TO RESPOND TO INCREASING DRUG OVERDOSES IN THE AREA.

>> YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ALREADY KIND OF FULL.

>> MOST OF THOSE OVERDOSES HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE POWERFUL SYNTHETIC OPIOID FENTANYL, JUST 2 MILLIGRAMS OF THE DRUG CAN BE LETHAL BUT ITS EFFECTS CAN BE REVERSED WITH THE OVERDOSE ANTIDOTE NARCAN.

SHE WANTS NARCAN TO BE EASILY AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> IT'S JUST A NASAL SPRAY.

YOU JUST DEPRESS THE PLUNGER, AND PUT IT IN THE NOSTRIL.

>> IN RECENT YEARS FENTANYL HAS DRIVEN THE OVERDOSE CRISIS.

DEALERS HAVE MIXED IT OTHER DRUGS UNKNOWN TO BUYERS.

IT'S A STORY SHE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.

>> I HAD A FRIEND OVERDOSE LAST YEAR, FROM FENTANYL.

HE WAS IN RECOVERY AN HE USED, AS FAR AS I KNOW ONCE, AND DIED FROM IT.

>> LIKE THE REST OF THE STATE, EVANSVILLE AND VANDERBURG COUNTY HAVE EXPERIENCED RECORD OVERDOSE DEATHS THE PAST TWO YEARS.

ALMOST 60% WERE THE RESULT OF FENTANYL.

DESPITE THE CLEAR DATA OF FENTANYL'S PERVASIVENESS, MOBILIZING HARM REDUCTION IN THE AREA HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.

>> IT'S NOT A POPULAR IDEA FOR CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE.

THEY JUST THINK DRUG USE IS BAD AND PEOPLE SHOULD STOP USING DRUGS, BUT WE NEED TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS TO GET THEM TO PLACE A TO WHERE MAYBE THEY WANT TO STOP USING.

>> THEY WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS IN THE OVERDOSE BOXES BUT UNDER INDIANA LAW THEY COULD BE CONSIDERED DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

WITHOUT ANYTHING IN WRITING, SHE'S NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES.

>> I'M MAKING SURE THAT THE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS ARE LEGAL, AND THEN ALSO PROVIDING A SYRINGE EXCHANGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

>> SHE SAYS NEEDLE EXCHANGES, ATHE STATE HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN CONNECTING DRUG USERS WITH RESOURCES AND EVENTUALLY GETTING THEM INTO TREATMENT, BUT OFFICIALS HAVEN'T BEEN KEEN ON THE IDEA OF PROVIDING DRUG USERS WITH NEEDLES.

>> IT'S JUST DIFFICULT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, AN AGREEMENT ON IT.

>> EVANSVILLE LOCATION ON STATE BORDER MAKES IT A PRIME SPOT FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING.

JUST LAST WEEK, THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION JOINED STATE AND CITY OFFICIALS TO ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE BROKEN UP A LOCAL FENTANYL RING.

AUTHORITIES SEIZED OVER 1,000 FENTANYL-LACED PILLS AND THE PRESSES TO MAKE THEM.

>> WE CONTINUOUSLY SEIZE THOUSANDS OF FENTANYL PILLS ON A YEARLY SPACE IS HERE IN EVANSVILLE.

>> MORE FENTANYL IS BEING PRODUCEDPRODUCED DOMESTICALLY.

GROUND LEVEL ADVOCATES LIKE WARPENBURG ARE KEY TO STOPPING THIS.

>> IT'S 50 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN HEROIN.

AND YOU WILL GET PEOPLE ADDICTED.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

>> WARPENBERG SAYS HER GROUP HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND HARM REDUCTION EFFORTS IN THE AREA.

THEY JUST INSTALLED THE CITY'S OVERDOSE REVERSAL BOX BUT SHE SAYS CONTINUING STIGMA WILL MAKE PROGRESS SLOW.

>> THEY DON'T THINK THEY WILL RUN IT INTO IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

I THINK THE MORE THE PEOPLE KNOW AND THE MORE WORK WE DO, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE MORE OF A POSITIVE OUTCOME.

>> ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN GRADUAL, SHE BELIEVES PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE VALUE IN HER GROUP'S WORK.

JUST LAST WEEK, SHE HEARD FROM TWO PEOPLE WHO USED HER NARCAN TO SAVE A LIFE.

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

>> INDIANA'S WEEKLY AVERAGE FOR COVID-19 CASES AND HOOSIERS HOSPITALIZED FOR THE VIRUS HAS GROWN OVER THE LAST MONTH.

AND WHILE PEOPLE SPENDING PLENTY OF TIME OUTDOORS IN THE SUMMER MAY HELP KEEP NUMBERS DOWN, EXPERTS SAY, THEY ANTICIPATE MORE CASES AND REINFECTIONS AS WE HEAD INTO FALL.

AFTER AVERAGING FEWER THAN 250 NEW CASES PER DAY IN MARCH, LAST MONTH, THE STATE AVERAGED ABOUT 1300 CASES PER DAY.

THAT'S LIKELY A SIGNIFICANT UNDERCOUNT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE TESTING AT HOME OF THE MOST OF THE NEW INFECTIONS IN INDIANA ARE AMONG 20 TO 30-YEAR-OLDS.

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY BRIAN DIXON.

A RESEARCH SCIENTIST AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFORMATICS AT THE REGANSTREET.

SO BA-4 AND BA-5, NOW THE DOMINANT VARIANTS OF COVID.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE VACCINES, BOOSTERS THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN AGAINST THEM?

>> YES SO EMERGING DATA SUGGESTS THAT NEITHER THE VACCINES NOR NATURAL IMMUNITY FROM PRIOR INFECTION ARE THAT EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING REINFECTION WITH THESE NEW VARIANTS, HOWEVER, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT VACCINE ENBOOSTERS ARE PROTECTING PEOPLE AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE, HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

IN FACT, WE RELEASED A NEW STUDY TODAY THAT WE PUBLISHED WITH COLLEAGUES AT CDC, KAISER PERMENTE AND OTHERS THAT SHOWS KEEPING UP WITH VACCINATIONS.

INDIVIDUALS 50 AND OLDER, VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION WAS 80%, FOLLOWING A FOURTH DOSE OF THE VACCINE AGAINST THE BA-1 AND BA-2 VARIANTS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT DATA NOW ON BA-4 AND BA-5 AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC WE WILL SEE STRONG PERFORMANCE SENSE SEVERE DISEASE WITH THESE NEWER VARIANT.

>> IS EACH INFECTION WORSE ON THE BODY OR DOES IT DRIVE MORE LONG-TERM COVID?

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GOOD DATA ON THIS.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER THERE'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT FROM REINFECTION.

SO ANY KIND OF INFECTION IS A RISKY EVENT FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE RISK OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

SO CURRENT STUDIES ARE LOOKING INTO THESE RISKS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE WHILE, UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL WE KNOW SOMETHING MORE DECONTINUETIVE.

INDIVIDUALS AT HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE DISEASE, THEREFORE, SHOULD IN ADDITION TO STAYING UP TO DATE ON THE VACCINES, THEY SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS LIKE WEARING A MASK WHEN THEY ARE INDOORS, ESPECIALLY IN CROWDED LOCATIONS AND THOSE WITH POOR VENTILATION.

>> HOW CONCERNS ARE YOU ABOUT CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE FALL, ESPECIALLY HEARING LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE STATE'S 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS ARE VACCINATED.

>> YES, I'M ACTUALLY QUITE CONCERNED WITH THE RETURN TO SCHOOL THAT BEGINS IN JUST TWO WEEKS FOR SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE IN CENTRAL INDIANA.

CURRENTLY CASES ARE INCREASING, AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER, BUT IT'S ALSO INCREASING IN KIDS, AGE 0 TO 11 ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY ONLY ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 5% OF ALL THE CASES IN INDIANA, BUT CASES OVERALL ARE RISING, AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE INCREASING, ALTHOUGH SLOWLY.

BUT GIVEN THAT ONLY A FEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR NO SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE ANY SORT OF PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS LIKE MASKS IN PLACE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND THE HIGH TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THESE NEW VARIANTS, I COULD SEE RAPID INCREASE OF BA-5, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SCHOOL POPULATIONS WHEN SCHOOL RESUMES.

AND ALTHOUGH THE KIDS THEMSELVES ARE AT LOW RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH, WE FEAR THAT THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THE VIRUS HOME AND SPREAD IT TO THOSE AT HIGHER RISK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THIS.

AGAIN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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

HELLO, HOLDEN.

>> THANKS, JOE.

INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HE'S INVESTIGATING THE DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED AN ABORTION ON A 10-YEAR-OLD RAPE VICTIM FROM OHIO.

ROKITA APPEARED ON FOX NEWS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

>> AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE vs. WADE THE "INDIANAPOLIS STAR" STORY WENT VIRAL.

A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAD TO TRAVEL FROM OHIO TO INDIANA TO GET AN ABORTION.

AN INDIANAPOLIS DOCTOR PERFORMED THE PROCEDURE ON THE GIRL, BUT ROKITA SAID SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE STATE, WHICH WOULD BE ILLEGAL.

>> WE ARE GATHERING THE INFORMATION.

WE ARE GATHERING THE EVIDENCE AS WE SPEAK, AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THIS TO THE END, INCLUDING LOOKING AT HER LICENSURE.

>> UNDOCUMENTED MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED THE GIRL WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY IN OHIO.

ROKITA BLAMED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BORDER POLICY FOR THE INCIDENT.

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

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON THURSDAY CONFIRMED THE DOCTOR WHO WAS NAMED DURING ROKITA'S SEGMENT ON FOX HAD FILED THE PROPER REPORT WITH THE STATE AND ROKITA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE REVELATION.

>>> THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION LATER THIS MONTH, TO LIKELY ENACT STRICT ABORTION RESTRICTIONS IN LIGHT OF ROE BEING OVERTURNED, ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS ARE NOT GIVING UP AND PLAN TO HOLD MORALIES.

THE ACLU OF INDIANA SAYS THE FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LAWMAKERS TO SEE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST THIS VERY UNPOPULAR EFFORT TO BAN ABORTION IN INDIANA.

>> LAWMAKERS PLAN TO BEGIN A SPECIAL SESSION JULY 25th.

>> VILLAGE DELI WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WAY FOUR-STORY BUILDING.

THE RESTAURANT WILL STAY ON THE BOTTOM FLOOR AND THE TOP THREE WILL HOUSE 25 APARTMENTS.

WHILE THE CURRENT BUILDING WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN, THE PROPERTY OWNER BOB COSTELLO SAYS THE RESTAURANT WILL TEMPORARILY MOVE DURING CONSTRUCTION.

>> THE CURRENT PLAN WOULD BE TO RELOCATE VILLAGE DELI IN ANOTHER LOCATION SO WE COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE YOUR DELICIOUS PANCAKES.

>> RYAN STRAUSSER WITH STRAUSSER CONSTRUCTION SAYS THE PROJECT IS GEARS TO GRADUATE STUDENTS AND THUS THE GROUND FLOOR WILL ONLY INCLUDE A 12-SPOT PARKING GARAGE.

>> WE THINK IT WILL TAKE LESS VEHICLE PARKING BECAUSE THEY WILL BE MORE RELIANT ON GOING TO CAMPUS, BICYCLE PARKING, USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>> THE PROJECT TEAM SAYS IT WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT DUKE ENERGY CURRENTLY HAS OVERHEADLINES CROSSING THE AREA.

>> I.U.

ATHLETICS WILL NO LONGER TAKE CASH FOR TICKETS, CONCESSIONS AND MERCHANDISE PURCHASES AT ATHLETIC VENUES.

THE MOVE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

I.U.

SAYS THE CHANGE IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EXPERIENCES FOR FANS BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY ARE WAITING IN LINES.

MAJOR CREDIT CARDS, APPLE PAY AND GOOGLE PAY WILL BE ACCEPTED ON GAME DAYS AND AT THE I.U.

TEAM STORE.

>>> U.S.

PROSECUTORS SAY THEY WON'T SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST A MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING AN INDIANA POLICE OFFICER LAST SUMMER.

SHANE MEEHAN STILL FACES A FEDERAL MURDER CHARGE OVER LAST SUMMER'S FATAL SHOOTING OF OFFICER GREG FARANSE OUTSIDE OF A FIELD OFFICE IN TERRE HAUTE.

IN AN EMAIL STATEMENT, MONICA FOSTER CALLED THE DECISION CORRECT, POINTING TO MEEHAN'S HISTORY OF BRAIN DAMAGE.

THE TRIAL IS SET TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH.

>>> THE MONROE CIRCUIT COURT DISMISSED A LAWSUIT FOR SEVEN OAKS CHARTER SCHOOL.

THE HE WILL ELLETSVILLE CHARTER SCHOOL WAS FINED AND THEY ARGUED THAT THE LOCAL REGULATION DOESN'T APPLY TO SCHOOL.

THE LAWSUIT CLAIMED THE COMMISSIONER'S PRIVATE MEETING VIOLATED THE OPEN DOOR LAW.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME FOR HEADLINES.

NOW BACK TO YOU, JOE.

>>> THANK YOU, HOLDEN.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA HOMES FROM MORE SECOND REFRIGERATORS THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE, BUT THEY CAN BE AN ENERGY DRAIN.

>>> AND YELLOW GROUP BAMBOO MAY LOOK GOOD IN A YARD, BUT IT'S A SPECIES THE CITY WANTS ERADICATED.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN IN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES THIS WEEK ON HIS FIRST MIDDLE EAST TRIP SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

ETHAN SANDWISE SPOKE TO A MIDDLE EAST EXPERT AND HAS REPORT.

>> THE PRESIDENT TAKES OFF FOR SAUDI ARABIA TODAY, WHERE HE'LL MEET WITH SAUDI CROWN PRINCE.

DESPITE PREVIOUS ASSURANCES THAT SUCH A MEETING WOULD NOT OCCUR.

WHILE SOME CRITICS HAVE POINTED THE MEETING AS A POLICY PIVOT, I.U.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES HUSSEIN BENIGH SAYS THIS MOVE COULD BE EXPECTED.

>> SAUDI ARABIA AT THE END OF THE DAY IS A COUNTRY THAT IS OF GREAT STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES AND WHETHER -- ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE DOMESTIC WORRIES WITH HIGH INFLATION AND HIGH PRICES OF GAS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MORAL OR ETHICAL QUALMS A PARTICULAR LEADER HAS.

>> SAUDI ARABIA'S WAR IN YEMEN HAS BEEN UNPAPULAR IN UNPOPULAR IN THE UNITED STATES.

HE SAYS BIDEN IS UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANY PROGRESS TOWARDS A CEASE-FIRE.

>> THE SAUDIS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WHEN IT COMES TO YEMEN, THE U.S. SUPPORT HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN SINCE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING, THE IRANIANS WILL FILL THE VACUUM.

>> BIDEN MET EARLIER TODAY WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABAS IN THE WEST BANK.

>>> HOOSIERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A SECOND REFRIGERATOR IN OTHER STATES.

IT CAN DRIVE UP THE ELECTRIC BILLS AND POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> FRIDGES CAN USE UP A LOT OF ENERGY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE TO WORK EXTRA HARD TO KEEP COOL IN A HOT GARAGE.

JENNIFER AMMON HAS THIS TO SAY.

>> IF YOU HAVE A SECOND REFRIGERATOR THAT'S 15 OR 20 YEARS OLD, THAT COULD BE COSTING YOU, $80, OR $100 ARE OR MORE THAN $100 A YEAR TO OPERATE.

>> THAT MEANS BURNING MORE COAL AND NATURAL GAS.

FRIDGES CAN LEAK HYDROFLUOROCARBONS OR HFCs, THOUGH THEY ARE SLOWLY BEING PHASED DOWN.

>> AND FOR NOW, WE ARE STILL USING, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF FOSSIL FUELS ON OUR ELECTRICITY GRID, AND SO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TIME BEING, AT LEAST, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THAT TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> FAR INDIANA PUBLIC BROGGING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>> YOU MIGHT CONSIDER BUYING A LARGER MAIN FRIDGE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT MINI FRIDGE OR FOR HUNTERS A CHEST FREEZER.

YOU CAN UNPLUG YOUR SECOND FRIDGE WHEN YOU DON'T NEED IT.

>>> THE CITY ADDED YELLOW GROOVE BAMBOO TO THE INVASIVE SPECIES LIST IN 2020.

HOMEOWNERS ARE SUBJECTED TO FINES IF THEY DON'T REMOVE IT FROM THE PROPERTY.

THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE PLANT HAS CAUSED THE CITY TO AMEND ITS ENFORCEMENT POLICY.

>> YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH AT A TIME WITH THE PILES.

YOU CAN ONLY BURN SO MUCH.

IT'S BEEN DRY.

>> YELLOW GROOVE BAMBOO TOWERS OVER KAREN SHARINGTON OF ONE OF THE TWO HOMES SHE OWNS NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON WEST 6th 6th STREET OF BLOOMINGTON.

THE YARD OF THE HOUSE THAT SHE LIVES IN DOESN'T HAVE THE BAMBOO BUT THIS ONE DOES.

IT PROVIDES A BUFFER TO ALLEYS.

>> I LIKE THE PRIVACY AND THE BIRDS LIKE IT.

IT STAYS GREEN STAYS GREEN IN WINTER.

AND IT GIVES OFF MORE OXYGEN THAN OAK TREES AND IT HELPS WITH THE POLLUTANTS ELECTRIC KIRKWOOD AND ADAM -- FROM KIRKWOOD AND ADAMS.

IT'S A PROTECTOR.

>> AND IT'S ALSO ILLEGAL TO GROW SINCE IT WAS ADDED TO THE INVASIVE SPECIES LIST IN 2020.

BUT MAINTAINING THE BAMBOO IS NOT ENOUGH.

THE CODE SAYS THE FAST-GROWING PLANT WHICH CAN REACH HEIGHTS OF UP TO 25 FEET NEEDS TO BE ERADICATED.

THE REASON THE YELLOW GROOVE BAMBOO IS AN ISSUE IS THAT THE RHIZOMES, GROWS HORIZONTALLY AND GOES UNDER FENCES AND PROPERTY LINES.

>> JUST NOTHING STOPS IT SHORT OF CEMENT.

AND SO WHEN YOU PLANT IT, YOU'RE REALLY PLANTING IT FOR ALL OF YOUR NEIGHBORS AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES, BECAUSE IT KEEPS MOVING.

>> JAY CART UNDERSTANDS WHY SOME RESIDENTS WANT TO KEEP THEIR BAMBOO AND SHE SAYS IT FAR OUT WEIGHS THE BENEFITS.

>> THERE'S THE DANGER OF THE BAMBOO GROWING INTO POWER LINES AND SPARKING A FIRE.

THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY IN A GARAGE.

AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE ADDED YELLOW GROOVE BAMBOO TO THE LIST OF BANNED PLANTS.

>> WE ARE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY WITH A BAMBOO ERADICATION, YOU KNOW, ORDINANCE.

THERE ARE OTHERS IN INDIANA, AND CERTAINLY OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

>> THE BAMBOO IS ON SHARINGTON'S PROPERTY WHEN SHE BOUGHT IT.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS AN INVASIVE SPECIES UNTIL SHE RECEIVED LETTERS.

AFTER BACK-TO-BACK FINES OF $150, SHE APPEALED HER CASE TO THE BLOOMINGTON BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.

>> IT'S NOT THE BOARD'S PURVIEW TO KEEP THE BAMBOO.

>> I THOUGHT THEY WOULD LET ME GRANDFATHER.

THEY PASS AN ORDINANCE AND THEY DON'T TELL PEOPLE AND THEN THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDS OR HELP TO GET RID OF IT.

I MEAN -- >> BUT THANKS IN PART TO SHARINGTON'S APPEAL, THEY AMENDED HOW THE INVASIVE SPECIES POLICY DEALS WITH YELLOW GROOVE BAMBOO.

IT CALLS FOR A CITATION OF A WARNING OR A FINE OF $50.

THE FINES INCREASE WITH EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION AND IF THE CITY HAS TO REMOVE THE PLANTS, THE COST IS ADDED TO YOUR PROPERTY TAX.

BUT FOR YELLOW GROOVE BAMBOO, THE POLICY IS NOW A WARNING FOLLOWED BY A 90-DAY WARNING SHOW PROGRESS.

IF NONE IS SHOWN, THE FINES BEGIN.

>> BAMBOO IS JUST DIFFERENT.

IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KIND OF COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW -- BECAUSE WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE TO ENFORCE IT, WHAT'S THE MOST SENSIBLE WAY TO DO IT.

>> WITH THE POLICY CHANGE, THE PARKS BOARD THREW OUT SHARINGTON'S PREVIOUS FINES.

SHE'S MAKING SOME PROGRESS.

SHE HAD TRUCKLOADS OF BAMBOO REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY AND KEEPING THAT AREA MOWED.

SHE PLAYED PLASTIC TO KEEP BAMBOO FROM GROWING.

THE COST TO COMPLETELY ERADICATED THE BAMBOO WOULD RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS.

THAT'S THE NUCLEAR OPTION.

ONE WAY IS TO CUT IT EVERY WEEK OR TWO WHEN THE BAMBOO SPROUTS ANEW.

>> YOU CAN COMMIT TO SIMPLY CUTTING DOWN ALL THE SHOOTS AS THEY POP UP, OVER AND OVER, THE ROOTS WILL RUN OUT OF ENERGY, AND THE PLANT WILL DIE.

>> SHARINGTON DOESN'T WANT TO REMOVE ALL OF HER BAMBOO AND STILL HOPES TO KEEP THE STAND ALONG THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY AS A PRIVACY FENCE.

>> NOW, I, OF COURSE, DO NOT WANT TO GET FINED, BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP SOME OF MY PRIVACY.

AND I HOPE THAT THE CITY UNDERSTANDS THAT.

AND ESPECIALLY SINCE MINE IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

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

>> THE BLOOMINGTON CITY CODE FOR INVASIVE SPECIES SAYS WEEDS, GRASSES AND NOCUOUS PLANTS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT A HEIGHT OF NO MORE THAN 8 INCHES.

>>> BLOOMINGTON CAT ENTHUSIASTS HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT WAY TO SPEND THEIR WEEKEND.

THE BUSKIRK-CHUMLEY THEATER IS HOSTING THE CAT SHOW.

>> FINDING NEW CONTENT IN THE SUMMER CAN BE A STRUGGLE.

SO WHEN A FRIEND REACHED OUT ABOUT THE 2022 CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL, HE KNEW HE HAD TO POUNCE!

>> IT'S JUST LIKE A BIG CELEBRATION OF THOSE VIDEOS THAT YOU PROBABLY SCROLL THROUGH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU KNOW THAT KIND OF PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE FOR 30 SECONDS N THE IDEA IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, A FESTIVAL OF CAT VIDEOS FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, CAT-RELATED MEDIA, INCLUDING ANIMATIONS AND VIDEOS WILL BE FEATURED.

>> WE ARE HOPING WITH THE WAY THE WORLD IS, THERE WILL BE A WHOLE LOT OF SMILES AND YOU CAN KIND OF LET -- JUST BE ENTERTAINED FOR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF HOURS AND JUST HAVE A SMILE ON YOUR FACE THE WHOLE TIME.

>> CAT VIDEO 2022, WATCH HILARIOUS CAT VIDEOS.

>> THIS WILL BE THE THEATER'S FIRST TIME PRESENTING THE FESTIVAL.

SHOWS ACROSS THE U.S. AND EUROPE.

GRIZMORE SAYS HE'S BEEN ENTHUSED BY THE ENTHUSIASM THAT HE'S GOTTEN.

>> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF, I HOPE THIS CAT VIDEO THAT I LIKED BACK IN DECEMBER WILL MAKE THE LIST.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE VIDEOS HAVE THEIR OWN FAN LIST.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S OUT OF THE HE WILL REALM OF POSSIBLE BUT I CAN'T CONFIRM THAT OR DEKNEE IT.

-- DENY IT.

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

♪ >> THE MONROE COUNTY HUMANE ASSOCIATION WILL RECEIVE 10% OF TICKET SALES FROM THE EVENT.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE IN THE THEATER LOBBY WITH ABOUT BAGS AND THERAPY CATS TO PET.

WELL, 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: