>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE GOP-LED GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS IN SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK TO CONSIDER RESTRICTING ABORTION IN THE STATE.

>> JUST WATCH.

WHEN PEOPLE GET AHOLD OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE AN OUTRIGHT BAN OPENON ABORTION IN INDIANA.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE PROMISING MONEY TO SUPPORT ADOPTION AND CHILD CARE.

>>> PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS ON THE MIDSTATES CORRIDOR, A HIGHWAY THAT WILL CONNECT I-69 THROUGH I-64 IN DUBOISE AND MARTIN COUNTIES.

>> IF WE DON'T TRY TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA, WE WILL JUST BE LEFT BY THE WAYSIDE.

>> A FINAL ROUTE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, SO CONSTRUCTION IS STILL YEARS AWAY.

>>> AND WE VISIT BEANBLOSSOM BOTTOM'S NATURE PRESEVEN, WHERE RESEARCHERS -- PRESERVE, WHERE RESEARCHERS STUDY THE FLORA AND FAUNA.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

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

REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATORS WANT TO BAP BAN ABORTION IN AMENDMENT WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S BRANDON SMITH REPORTS ON THE SENATE REPUBLICANS PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

>> HER CHOICE!

>> OUR BODY!

>> CENTER GOP LEADER RODDICK BRAY IS TO ROE MOTE MORE ADOPTIONS AND LESS ABORTIONS.

IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE CONTRACEPTION OR THE MORNING AFTER BILL, ALSO KNOWN AS PLAN B.

>> IT DOES NOT AFFECT EPTOPIC PREGNANCIES.

>> BUT OTHER STATES HAVE HAD TROUBLE ACCESSING TREATMENTS USED FOR ABORTION.

THIS IS A STEP BACK FOR INDIANA ACCORDING TO SENATOR GREG TAYLOR.

>> JUST WATCH WHEN PEOPLE GET AHOLD OF THIS LEASE OF POLICE STATION AND FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON ABORTION IN INDIANA.

IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

>> THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BILL IS MONDAY.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M BRANDON SMITH AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>>> BRANDON JOINS US NOW FOR MORE ON THE GOP'S PLAN FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION.

BRANDON, ALONG WITH THE NEW ABORTION LEGISLATION, THE GOP IS TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING MORE MONEY FOR PREGNANT PERSONS, CHILDREN'S AND PARENTS.

WHAT ARE THEIR PROPOSALS?

>> WELL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS DIFFER A LITTLE BIT, BUT GENERALLY THEY WANT TO SPEND ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO $78 MILLION IN THE SHORT-TERM ON A VARIETY OF NEW AND EXISTING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TAX EXEMPTIONS.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE A CERTAINTY THAT THE ADOPTION, THE STATE'S ADOPTION TAX CREDIT WILL BE INCREASED, MAYBE ANOTHER -- AN ADDITIONAL TAX EXEMPTION FOR CHILDREN.

WE COULD SEE MORE MONEY FOR NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS.

WE COULD SEE MORE MONEY FOR CHILD CARE AND ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION.

BUT DEMOCRATS FEEL LIKE, ONE, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY AND THERE'S A LOT BEING LEFT OUT AS SENATE MINORITY LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAID.

>> WHERE IS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND CHILD CARE?

WHERE IS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES THAT NEED ASSISTANCE JUST TO GET BY?

>> THESE PROPOSALS DON'T GO AS FAR AS SOME OTHER STATES WHICH ARE PUSHING FOR TOTAL BANS AND EVEN CRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE FINAL BILL TO LOOK LIKE?

>> IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT IT WON'T GET LESS RESTRICTIVE, ONLY MORE RESTRICTIVE, POTENTIALLY, WITH FEWER EXCEPTIONS OR HARSHER ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS, BUT WE STILL GOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT.

IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW THE HOUSE FEELS ABOUT THE SENATE'S BILL.

SO THERE'S A LOT STILL TO BE WORKED OUT.

>> AS YOU NOTED BEFORE, THERE IS PUSHBACK FROM DEMOCRATS AND OTHERS.

WHAT KIND OF OPPOSITION ARE YOU EXPECTING?

>> QUITE A BIT UNDERSTANDABLY.

WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN LETTERS FROM FAITH COMMUNITIES AND FAITH LEADERS OPPOSING THE LEGISLATION.

WE HAVE SEEN A LETTER BY -- SIGNED BY MORE THAN 200 BUSINESSES WHO OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION.

MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SENT THEIR OWN LETTER TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR OUTLINING WHAT THEY THINK LEGISLATION SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

BUT WE ARE ALSO GETTING PUSHBACK FROM ANTIABORTION GROUPS WHO FEEL LIKE THE BILL DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

RIGHT NOW IT'S HARD TO SAY WHO IS HAPPY WITH THE BILL.

>> NOW, AT THE SAME TIME, DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION, THE ASSEMBLY WILL TAKE UP LEGISLATION ON INFLATION RELIEF.

BUT THE GOP ISN'T IN AGREEMENT ON WHAT TO DO, ARE THEY?

>>> NO.

THE HOUSE GOP WANTS TO DO ROUGHLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES, WHICH IS $225 CHECKS TO EVERYONE WHO FILED TAXES IN INDIANA LAST YEAR.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T FILE TAXES IN INDIANA LAST YEAR, THE HOUSE GOP PLAN WOULD ALLOW YOU TO APPLY TO THE STATE FOR THAT $225.

THE SENATE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON CHECKS TO INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THE SENATE LEADER ROD BRAY SAYS HE AGREES WITH THE ECONOMISTS WHO THINK THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY ADD TO INFLATION.

>> THEY ARE NOT PASSING OUT MONEY TO INDIVIDUALS.

WE ARE PROVIDING THEM TO SAVE SOME MONEY ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS WHICH EVERYONE WILL PAY.

>> HOW LONG WILL THE SPECIAL SESSION LAST AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD WATCH FOR?

>> WELL, FOR SURE WE KNOW THE SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST WEEK WHICH IS FULL OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND FLOOR VOTES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS FOR THE SECOND WEEK, BUT IT CAN'T GO MUCH LONGER THAN THAT.

LAWMAKERS HAVE TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THE DAY ON AUGUST 14th, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG -- SPECIAL SESSIONS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO LAST 40 DAYS AND THE CLOCK OFFICIALLY BEGAN RUNNING ON JULY 6th WHEN THE SPECIAL SESSION WAS SUPPOSED TO START.

>> VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU, BRANDON, FOR YOUR REPORTING.

THE PROPOSED MIDSTATES CORRIDOR WOULD CONNECT I-64 AND I-69, RUNNING ROUGHLY ALONG THE ROUTE OF STATE ROAD 231, THROUGH DAVIESS, MARTIN AND DUBOIS COUNTIES.

EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION WILL REVIEW THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY AND PUBLIC COMMENTS TO DECIDE HOW TO CONTINUE.

BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS.

>> THE NEED FOR A CORRIDOR HAS BEEN EXAMINED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE BEEN DON'T EVALUATING OPTIONS.

-- DON EVALUATING OPTIONS BUT THE MOST RECENT STUDY LOOKS LOOKS LIKE IT HAS MOMENTUM BEHIND IT AND IT HAS TINA Mc McCULLOUGH WORRIES ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS HER FAMILY LIFE.

>> THERE'S NOWHERE TO PUT MORE LAND, AND THE HOUSES THAT ARE TAKEN OUT, THERE IS NO -- THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING AS THERE IS IN THIS AREA.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY.

WE WANT TO LIVE IN A RURAL COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BEEN HERE ALL OF OUR LIVES.

>> THE CORRIDOR HAS MULTIPLE YEARS OF EVALUATION BEFORE CONSTRUCTION COULD START, BECAUSE OF EPA STUDY REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR PROJECTS.

>> HE USED TO DO IT ALL.

>> McCULLOUGH SAYS HER FAMILY IS IN LIMBO, DISCOURAGED DISCOURAGED FOR DEVELOPING THE LAND FOR ANOTHER HOUSE OR BUSINESS EXPANSION BECAUSE THE CORRIDOR COULD COME THROUGH?

>> YOU CAN'T BUY GROUND HERE.

YOU CAN'T BUY LAND.

DAVIESS COUNTY, MARTIN COUNTY, BECAUSE IT'S JUST A PREMIUM.

PEOPLE LOVE WHAT THEY DO, AND WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> AND GETTING INTO JASPER, THE CORRIDOR IS SUGGESTED TO GO BY THE EAST SIDE.

ALLEN HANSELMAN RUNS THE SCHNITZELBANK RESTAURANT ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN AND HIS FAMILY LIVES OUT WHERE THE CORRIDOR PASSES THROUGH.

>> HE SAYS THERE'S NEED FOR THE CORRIDOR AND BETTER CONNECTIVITY.

>> IF YOU COME FROM INDIANAPOLIS, THEN YOU WILL FIND OUT WHY, IT'S NOT EASY TO TELL SOMEBODY HOW TO GET HERE.

BUT THAT'S WHY I'M NOT REALLY AGAINST IT.

LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST AGAINST WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING IT, BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THIS SMALL TOWN FEEL.

>> THE PREFERRED ROUTE COULD CUT THROUGH LAND HIS FAMILY LIVES ON.

IT'S PROJECTED TO DISPLACE ROUGHLY 150 HOMES.

ON WEST SIDE IS JASPER ENGINES, DOUG BAWEL SAYS WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COMMUTE IN, IT IS NEEDED.

231 CUT THROUGH HIS PLANT AND PROPERTY WHEN IT WAS BUILT.

HE SAID IT WAS THE BEST THING FOR THE COMMUNICATE AND WILL MUCH LIKELY BE THE SAME FOR THE CORRIDOR.

>> I REALIZE IT TAKES LAND IN JASPER, WHEN THEY EXPANDED 231 SOUTH OF JASPER, IT SPLIT UP OUR PROPERTY THAT OUR PLANT WAS ON.

IT WAS SAFETY AND PROGRESS.

>> BAWEL SAYS IT WILL AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS AND IT SHOULD BE TAPE SERIOUSLY BUT HE SEES IT AS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT GROWING, YOU ARE DYING.

AND IF WE DON'T TRY TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTHERN, INDIANA, WE WILL JUST BE LEFT BY THE WAYSIDE.

>> STUDIES FOR THE CORRIDOR PROJECT ARE ENABLED BY A PARTNERSHIP BY N.D.A.

IT'S A FUNDING METHOD CREATED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CREATE FUNDS FOR TRANSIT PROJECTS AND RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS WHILE PARTNERING WITH INDOT.

THEY DON'T CONTROL WHAT ROUTE GETS SELECTED AND IS ONLY THERE TO ADVOCATE FOR CONNECT THRIFT INCONNECTIVITY INTHE REGION.

HE SAYS IT'S INDOT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE THE PROJECTS.

>> I THINK THE CITIZENS WHO ARE HERE WILL IMMEDIATELY BENEFIT FROM THAT CONNECTIVITY IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO TRAVEL FOR EMPLOYMENT AND TRAVEL FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND TRAVEL FOR OTHER THINGS THAT.

IMPROVED TRAVEL TIME DOES MATTER.

>> MIDSTATE'S R.D.A.

COMMITTED $7 MILLION TOTAL FOR THE TIER ONE STUDY.

RODER SAYS ABOUT 50% OF THAT CAME FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE OTHER HALF FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

INDOT ADDED THE CORRIDOR PROJECT TO THE STATE IMPROVEMENT PLAN WHICH ENABLES FEDERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION LATER ON.

CUT McCULLOUGH DOESN'T SEE THIS AS A POSITIVE.

>> OUR ENTIRE FAMILY IS IN TURMOIL AND EVERYONE AFFECTED BY THIS.

YOU KNOW, NO ONE CAN REST, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH OUR -- WITH OUR HOMES AND OUR LAND.

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

>>> THE ROUTE WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE LOWEST IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND CHEAPEST TO BUILD ACCORDING TO THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

>>> BLOOMINGTON IS MOVING FORWARD IN ITS EFFORTS TO EXPAND CITY HALL BY 62,000 SQUARE FEET.

THE NEW SPACE IS BEING VETTED AS THE FUTURE HOME OF BOTH POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.

HOLDEN ABSHIER HAS THE STORY.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THIS WEEK APPROVED THE CITY'S PLAN TO PURCHASE COOK FINANCIAL CORPORATION'S PORTION OF THE SHOWERS BUILDING FOR $9.25 MILLION.

IT WOULD GIVE THE CITY ALMOST THREE TIMES ITS CURRENT SPACE IN THE BUILDING.

>> WE DON'T EXPECT TO USE ALL OF THAT SPACE.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE CURRENT POLICE STATION IS -- IS UNDERSIZED.

THEY ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS.

>> THE BLOOMINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WORKING OUT OF A TEMPORARY LOCATION SINCE STATION ONE FLOODED LAST SUMMER.

>> IT'S NOT A FIRE STATION.

IT'S NOT THE ENGINES AND ALL RUNNING OUT OF HERE, BUT IT'S ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS FOR FIRE COULD JOIN AS WELL AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE ALL THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN ONE SPACE.

>> THIS ALLOWS THE CITY TO BEGIN ITS 60-DAY DUE DILIGENCE INSPECTION ON THE PROPERTY.

DURING THIS TIME, CONSULTANTS WILL ASSESS THE BUILDING FOR FUTURE RENOVATIONS AND REVIEW CURRENT TENANT LEASES.

HAMILTON SAYS THE MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WILL BE THE RECENT LOCAL INCOME TAX HIKE.

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

>>> CITY COUNCIL STILL MUST APPROVE THE PURCHASE, BECAUSE IT IS OVER $5 MILLION.

THE CITY HOPES TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY BY JANUARY 31st, 2023.

>>> THE JOHNSON'S CREAMERY APARTMENT PROPOSAL IS STILL UP IN THE AIR, AFTER BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL VOTED WEDNESDAY TO DELAY THE PROJECT INDEFINITELY.

PLAN COMMISSION APPROVED THE DESIGN IN OCTOBER OF 2021, BUT IT'S CONTINGENT UPON COUNCIL VACATING A PUBLIC ALLEY.

IN RETURN, CITY ADMINISTRATION WANTS PROPERTY OWNER TO INVEST $200,000 IN PUBLIC ART.

INSTEAD, PEERLESS DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSING TO RELOCATE THE ALLEY DIRECTLY SOUTH.

>> DOES THAT HAVE TO BE WHERE PUBLIC ART IS IN THE CITY OF PLAN?

BLOOMINGTON?

>> WE HAVE A SMOKE STACK THERE?

DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A $200,000 PUBLIC ART INVESTMENT THERE?

>>> COUNCIL VOTED TO SEND THE ISSUE BACK TO THE PLAN COMMISSION FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ANY CHANGES MADE TO THE ALLEY STILL WILL NEED TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

>>> STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FATHERED AT PURDUE -- GATHERED AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY FOR A THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SEMICONDUCTOR PLANT IN WEST LaFAYETTE.

BEN THORPE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS ARE USED IN NUMEROUS ELECTRONIC DEVICES INCLUDING CELL PHONES, TVs AND EVEN CARS.

SOON, THEY COULD BE BUILT IN INDIANA.

SKYWATER TECHNOLOGY, A MINNESOTA-BASED CONDUCTOR MANUFACTURER IS EXPECTED TO BRING SOME 750 HIGH-PAYING JOBS TO THE REGION WHEN THE OPERATIONS BEGIN.

SKYWATER'S C.E.O.

THOMAS SONDERMAN SAYS THE FUNDING WILL COME IN PART WITH FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT'S AIMED AT BUILDING MORE SEMICONDUCTOR FACILITIES IN THE U.S.

EVEN IF IT FAILS TO PASS IN CONGRESS, IT WON'T BE A DEAL BREAKER.

>> WE ARE COMMITTING TO BRING THE WEIGHT OF OUR INNOVATION AND DETERMINATION TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

>> THE U.S.

RELIES HEAVILY ON FOREIGN SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP MANUFACTURERS, SOMETHING WHICH HAS LED TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

CHIP MANUFACTURERS HAVE URGED CONGRESS TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BRING SEMICONDUCTOR FACILITIES TO THE U.S.

THE BILL IS CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO GET A VOTE IN THE U.S. SENATE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THE PLANT WILL BE BUILT IN PURDUE'S DISCOVERY PARK DISTRICT.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS STATE AND UNIVERSITY ARE COMMITTED PARTNERS IF MAKING THE SEMI CONDUCTOR FACILITY SUCCESSFUL.

>> WE ARE NOT PREDICTING THE FUTURE.

WE ARE DEFINING IT.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BEN THORPE.

>>> SKYWATER EXECUTIVES SAY THE FACILITY COULD TAKE THREE YEARS TO COME ONLINE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MORE THAN 70 RESEARCHERS GATHERED AT THE BEANBLOSSOM BOTTOM'S NATURE PRESERVE TO CATALOGUE THE AREA'S SPECIES AN WE VISIT WITH A WOMAN TRAVELING THE COUNTRY TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF INFLATION ON VAN LIFE.

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

GIGI >>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY SURVEY SUGGESTS THAT RURAL HOOSIERS AREN'T AS SKEPTICAL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AS PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.

AND AS REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, IF THE U.S.

WANTS TO CURB GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, RURAL RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> RURAL HOOSIERS INTERVIEWED FOR THE REPORT SAID THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT CLIMATE CHANGE COULD BE CAUSING HEALTH PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS AFFECTING NATURAL AREAS AND THEIR FAMILY'S FUTURE.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT HOW CLIMATE SOLUTIONS COULD AFFECT THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES.

WILL CATTLE FARMERS HAVE TO STOP RAISING COULD COWS TO REDUCE METHANE.

TRUCKS ARE A BIG PART OF RURAL CULTURE.

WILL RURAL HOOSIERS BE ABLE TO AFFORD ELECTRIC ONES.

MATT WORKS FOR NATE OUR CONSERVANCY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.

>> WHENEVER WE TRY TO MAKE CHANGES IN COMMUNITIES WE NEED TO ALIGN WITH THOSE AND ENABLE PEOPLE TO LIVE OUT THEIR VALUES AND TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> MORE THAN 80% OF RURAL HOOSIERS SURVEYED SAID THEY THINK THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING TO SOME DEGREE, ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE URBAN, SUBURBAN AND SMALL TOWN RESIDENTS.

>> SENTING THE REAL -- ACCEPTING THE REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT IT TAKES TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING LOTS OF RURAL LIFE.

>> FOR INDIANA BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>> A 24-HOUR SAMPLING EFFORT AT BEANBEANBLOSSOM BOTTOM NATURE PRESEVEN ISPRESERVE IS YIELDING RESULTS.

>> THIS GAVE PURDUE UNIVERSITY ENTOMOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENTS A LOT TO GET EXCITED ABOUT.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THIS BEAUTIFUL BLUE-GREEN TIGER BEETLE, PERCHED ON SHARLA FINGERTIP.

IT'S A PRETTY FIERCE PREDATOR.

THEY WERE AMONG 70 RESEARCHERS FROM MULTIPLE UNIVERSITIES AND THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

HOOSIER MUSHROOM SOCIETY PRESIDENT WAS ALSO PART OF THE BIO BLITZ SCOURING FOR FUNGI.

>> IN INDIANA WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH BASE LINE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT EXISTS IN OUR STATE.

>> THE PIO BLITZ PROVIDED A SNAPSHOT OF THE WETLANDS BIODIVERSITY, GIVING RESEARCHERS AN LAND MANAGERS A BASELINE ON WHICH TO BUILD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE.

WHEN THE BLITZ STARTED, SYCAMORE LAND TRUST LAND MANAGER, CHRIS FOX WAS EAGER TO GET A BROADER VIEW OF WHAT SPECIES CALLED THE NATURE PRESERVE HOME, BECAUSE IT INFORMS HIS LAND MANAGEMENT SPEECHYS.

>> A SPECIES THAT ONLY INTERESTED IS THE KIRKLAND STATE, WHICH IS A STATE ENDANGERED SNAKE AND IT'S THREATENED AND ENDANGERED IN ALMOST ENVIRONMENT STATE THAT IT OCCURS AND IT RELIES ON HABITAT LIKE WE HAVE HERE.

>> THE LAND TRUST DESCRIBES THE KIRKLAND SNAKE AS A RECLUSIVE AND NOCTURNAL SPECIES THAT SPENDS MUCH OF TIME UNDERGROUND.

THEY WERE SURPRISED TO FIND ONE IN A TRAP, AN UNUSUAL PLACE FOR A SNAKE BELIEVED TO PREF MOIST, OPEN MEADOWS.

NOW THEY THE KIRKLAND SNAKE IS AREA.

AN AREA OPENED UP BY A TORNADO A FEW YEARS BACK MAY BE KEPT OPEN.

THE INDIANA BAT AND THE AMERICAN BITHORN.

THE BIOBLITZ DATA IS ESPECIALLY PERSON AND A TIME WHEN THE PLANET IS WARMING AND MANY SPECIES COULD BE FORCED TO MOVE THEIR TERRITORIES.

>> IF THINGS CHANGE, IT MAY BE HARD FOR THEM TO MOVE.

THE KIRKLAND SNAKE DOESN'T HAVE A BIG RANGE.

IT'S NOT MOBILE LIKE A BIRD.

IF CHANGING CLIMATE, WHERE WETLANDS DRY UP OR BECOME MORE FLOODED, THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE AND THEY MAY HAVE LIMITED PLACES TO LIVE.

>> ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED CYPRESS FIREFLY.

THIS SPECIES WAS DISCOVERED IN 2017 AND FIRST DOCUMENTED AT THE PRESERVE IN 2019.

IT'S ONLY BEEN SEEN IN THREE OTHER STATES, AND SCIENTISTS WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ITS HABITS.

FOX CALLS THE FIREFLY INTRIGUING, BEANBLOSSOM BOTTOM SAYS THIS IS THE FARTHEST SOUTH THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEN.

IT DOESN'T HAVE CYPRESS TREES, NEVER DID, ACCORDING TO FOX.

THAT'S A HELP FOR THE BIOBLITZ DOCUMENT.

>> THEY NEEDED SITES FURTHER NORTH AND KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON AT BEAN BLOSSOM IT COULD BE CRITICAL.

>> IT COULD TAKE A YEAR TO GET THE FULL RESULTS.

SO FAR THE RESEARCHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED 300 PLANT SPECIES, INCLUDING A COLORFUL LOW GROWING ZIGZAG.

AND 20 SNAKE SPECIES AND MORE THAN 50 BIRDS SPECIES.

A GOOD NUMBER FOX SAYS GIVEN THE COUNT WAS TAKEN MOST MIGRATION.

THE INSECT COUNT IS STILL TO COME.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK" I'M SARAH VAUGHAN.

>>> INFLATION IS HURTING HOOSIERS EVERYWHERE, FROM THE GROCERY STORE TO THE GAS PUMP.

WHAT IF YOUR CAR IS YOUR HOME?

MITCH LEGAN HAS MORE ON HOW INFLATION IS AFFECTING VAN LIFE.

>> KRISTEN HOLDEN HAS SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS TRAVELING COUNTRY IN HER FORD CAMPER VAN.

WITH GRASS PRICES THE WAY THEY ARE, SHE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES.

>> THIS YEAR, I MOVED REALLY SLOWLY.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE GAS PRICES.

>> AMERICANS HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE AT THE PUMP THAN THEY HAVE.

PRICES HAVE DROPPED SINCE HITTING A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $5 IN JUNE, BUT SHE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME AT HOME IN INDIANA.

>> MY BUM ET CETERA IS BUDGET IS TO THE PENNY EVERY MONTH.

I BUDGET 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE.

I HAD TO READJUST.

>> SHE IS A ALL FULL-TIME CONTENT DEALER.

SHE HAS BRAND DEALS THAT SHE PRODUCES ABOUT VAN LIFE.

IT STARTS IN THE EARLY 2010s WHEN PEOPLE TURNED THEIR VANS IN HOMES ON WHEELS.

>> THIS KIND OF POPS UP.

AND THEN I CAN COOK HERE.

AND THEN I HAVE A FULL OVEN WHEN IT'S NOT IN USE, IT IS STORAGE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO USE ALL THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE.

♪ ♪ BABY, ARE YOU COMING FOR THE RIDE.

>> HOLDEN BOUGHT HER VAN IN 2019, RIGHT BEFORE THE TREND REALLY TOOK OFF.

WHILE OTHER PEOPLE WERE STUCK AT HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC, SHE WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL THE COUNTRY.

GAS WAS CHEAP AND THE ROADS WERE CLEAR.

♪ ♪ >> WHEN PRICES STARTED REALLY RISING EARLY THIS YEAR, SHE HUNKERED DOWN IN FLORIDA.

SHE SAYS IT SERVED A DUAL PURPOSE.

SHE NEEDED A BREAK FROM THE ROAD AND THERE WERE WORSE PLACES TO SPEND THE WINTER MONTHS.

>> I BASICALLY BECAME A RESIDENT OF ST. PETE IT FELL LIKE.

>> FROM THERE, SHE STARTED HEADING BACK TO INDIANA.

THE VAN HAS ALLOWED HER TO AVOID PRICE HIKES ON UTILITIES BUT GAS IS ESSENTIALLY HER RENT.

>> NORMALLY WHEN I COME BACK TO THE MIDWEST IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR BECAUSE IT WOULD COST ME $65, MAYBE $70 TO FILL UP MY VAN.

NOW WE ARE AT $120 TO FILL IT UP.

SO ALMOST DOUBLE.

>> AND HER FRIDGE MIGHT BE SMALLER BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE IS CHEAP.

>> IF I HAVE A CAN OF BEANS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME TYPE OF BEAN BOWL OR SOMETHING LIKE -- WE WILL MAKE IT WORK.

>> NATIONWIDE GAS PRICES HIT A TWO MONTH LOW EARL EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THAT'S STILL ABOUT $4.50 BUT THAT WON'T STOP HOLDEN FROM HEADING OUT TO THE EAST COAST FOR THE FIRST TIME.

♪ AFTER ALL, FOR HER, GAS PRICES ARE JUST PART OF THE JOB.

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

>> 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: