>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE GOP-LED GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPENT THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SPECIAL SESSION DEBATING HOW RESTRICTIVE THE ABORTION LEGISLATION WILL BE.

>> THE RESTRICTIONS IN ABORTION IN INDIANA ARE ALREADY EXTREME.

WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE RESTRICTIONS.

>> PRO ABORTION RIGHTS AND PRO LIFE ACTIVISTS MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

>>> SCHOOL IS STARTING UP AROUND THE STATE AND MANY COMMUNITIES ARE FACING A LARGE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS BUT MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE AN EXCEPTION.

>> BLOOMINGTON, WE ARE MORE FORTUNATE THAN A LOT OF OTHER PLACES, BUT IT'S STILL DIFFICULT.

>> WE TALK WITH INDIANA'S FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

>>> AND AS MONKEYPOX CASES ARE BEGINNING TO SURGE ACROSS COUNTRY, WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES PLUS LATEST NEWS ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE INDIANA SENATE REJECTED AN EFFORT THURSDAY THAT WOULD HAVE DELETED RAPE AND INCEST EXCEPTIONS FROM ITS PROPOSED ABORTION BAN.

REPUBLICAN MIKE YOUNG PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS IN THE BAN ONLY TO WHEN THE LIFE OF THE PREGNANT PERSON IS AT RISK.

BUT AFTER TWO HOURS OF DEBATE, 18 REPUBLICANS JOINED DEMOCRATS IN VOTING AGAINST YOUNG'S PROPOSAL.

THE SENATE IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE SATURDAY TO SEND THE ABORTION BAN TO THE HOUSE.

>>> WELL, THE DEBATE ON AN ABORTION BAN IS NOT GOING ON ONLY INSIDE THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CHAMBERS.

PRO ABORTION RIGHTS AND PRO HIV ACTIVISTS RALLY -- PRO LIFE ACTIVISTS RALLIED AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

DOMINICK HEYOB HAS THIS STORY.

>> INDIANA'S ABORTION DEBATE IS HAPPENING BEFORE A NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

AS LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK HEARD HOURS OF TESTIMONY, CHANTS OF MY BODY, MY CHOICE COULD BE HEARD IN THE CHAMBERS.

>> MY BODY.

>> MY CHOICE!

>>> THE PROTESTS WERE ORGANIZED BY A NUMBER OF ADVOCACY GROUPS, INCLUDING THE ACLU OF INDIANA AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

THEY SAY THOUSANDS OF HOOSIERS ARE AGAINST THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S PLANS TO BAN ABORTION.

>> THE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION HERE IN INDIANA ARE ALREADY EXTREME.

WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE RESTRICTIONS.

THEY NEED TO TRASH THIS BILL.

>> REBECCA GIBRON IS THE C.E.O.

OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST WHICH OVERSEES FOUR STATES, INCLUDING INDIANA.

SHE SAYS THE GROUP WILL HELP PATIENTS ACCESS ABORTION CARE IN OTHER STATES.

>> PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IS MOBILIZED.

WE ARE READY.

AND WE WILL NOT TURN OUR BACKS ON ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY IN A BAN STATE.

>> WHILE ABORTION RIGHTS SUPPORTERS OBJECT TO THE BILL'S TIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROCEDURE, ABORTION OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT THE PROPOSED BILL IS TOO LENIENT AND LACKS ENFORCEMENT TEETH.

INDIANA RIGHT TO LIFE, STATE'S MOST PROMINENT ANTIABORTION GROUP ORGANIZED A RALLY THAT DREW SEVERAL HUNDRED PROTESTERS TO THE STATE HOUSE.

CATHIE HUMBARGER WAS A LONG-TIME LEADER.

SHE SAYS THE BILL DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RAPED, IT'S AWFUL.

IT'S A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE SITUATION.

WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IF THE BABY SHOULD BE PUNISHED BY HAVING ITS LIFE TAKEN AWAY.

>> STATE HOUSE LEADERS ADMIT THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH ISSUES THEY HADN'T FACED BEFORE ROE vs. WADE WAS OVERTURNED.

AND FINDING A PATHWAY FORWARD IS DIFFICULT.

RIGHT TO LIFE ACTIVISTS READ LETTERS ON BEHALF OF MIKE BRAUN AND TWO MEMBERS OF INDIANA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN SUPPORT OF STATE GOP'S PLAN TO RESTRICT ABORTION.

>> ABORTION IS ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS TRAGEDIES TODAY, AND I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO STAND LIKE SOMEBODY STOOD FOR ME YEARS AGO.

>> NEW NATIONAL POLLING SHOWS INDIANA'S PROPOSAL IS AT ODDS WITH MOST OF THE PUBLIC.

OVERWHELMING MAJORITIES WHO RESPONDED TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL BELIEVE THEIR STATE SHOULD GENERALLY ALLOW ABORTION IN SPECIFIC CASES.

>> THEY WON'T STOP AT ROE!

THEY WON'T STOP AT ROE.

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

>> THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE WILL CONSIDER EACH OTHER'S BILLS NEXT WEEK AND MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS BEFORE VOTING ON THE FINAL VERSION.

>>> WELL, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ADVOCATED FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MONDAY DURING A ROUNDTABLE WITH INDIANA STATE LEGISLATORS.

AS VIOLET COMBER-WILEN REPORTS.

THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IS ESSENTIAL FOR WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

>> THE ROUNDTABLE COMES AS A SPECIAL SESSION BEGINS IN INDIANA.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING FOR A NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.

HARRIS SAYS THIS BAN WILL STRIP WOMEN OF THEIR RIGHT TO NECESSARY CARE.

>> FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF WOMEN, BY THE TIME SHE REALIZES SHE IS PREGNANT, SHE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE PROHIBITED FROM HAVING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE THAT WOULD ALLOW HER TO CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS TO HER BODY.

>> DEMOCRATIC INDIANA SENATOR GREG TAYLOR FURTHERED THIS POINT AT THE ROUNDTABLE.

HE SAYS LOSING ACCESS TO ABORTION WILL HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN IN INDIANA.

>> THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS, THAT IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL HAVE DEADLY OUTCOMES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, THAT ALREADY HAS THE THIRD HIGHEST MATERNITY -- MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> HE ADDS INDIANA'S ALREADY HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY WILL OWN GET WORSE.

I'M VIOLET COMBER-WILEN.

>> THE I.U.

BLOOMINGTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS PASSED A RESOLUTION DEPLORING TODD ROKITA'S ATTACK ON DR. KAITLYN BERNARD.

THEY ALSO CALLED ON I.U.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION TO DEFEND BERNARD AGAINST ACTIONS WHICH THEY SAY WERE BASELESS.

BERNARD PERFORMED APRIL ABORTION FOR A 10-YEAR-OLD RAPE VICTIM FROM OHIO.

>> IF SOMEONE LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA CAN SPEAK OUT AND VILIFY HER, AND INVESTIGATE HER IN THIS WAY, THEN I THINK THIS -- THIS POSES A THREAT TO ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GENERAL.

>> THE CHAPTER WANTS I.U.

'S SENIOR LEADERSHIP TO ISSUE A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR BERNARD.

THE RESOLUTION PASSED WITH A 61-2 VOTE.

>>> AS A NEW SCHOOL YEAR CONTINUES ACROSS THE STATE, MANY SCHOOL CORPORATIONS ARE FACING TEACHER AND STAFF ISSUES BUT IT'S MANAGE THAT THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION HAS MANAGED TO AVOID.

PAT BEANE HAS THIS STORY.

>> THE SOUND OF LOCKERS SLAMMING AND STUDENTS' VOICES WILL SOON STILL THE HALLWAYS AS ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS NEXT WEEK.

BUT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE WON'T HAVE AS MANY TEACHERS FOR THOSE KIDS AS THEY NEED.

ONE LOOK AT THE DEPTH OF INDIANA'S JOB BANK WEBSITE TELLS THE STORY.

THERE ARE 2,000 TEACHING POSITIONS AND THAT'S JUST THE SCHOOLS REPORTING DATA.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE PROFESSION, MAYBE NOT EVEN A TEACHER, MAYBE AN AIDE, A PARA, A BUS DRIVER, A COOK, OR EVEN JUST SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

>> AND THEY JUST DECIDED EITHER DURING THE PANDEMIC OR AFTER THE PAP DEMIC, YOU KNOW WHAT -- PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

>> THIS ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS MORE THAN 800 TEACHERS.

HE SAYS UNLIKE MUCH OF THE STATE, MCCSC HAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF POSITIONS OPEN AT THE TIME.

>> SOMETIMES WE HAVE A FEW SPECIALTY POSITIONS THAT IT MAY TAKE END OF AUGUST, YOU NO HE, BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO -- YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO FILL ANYTHING.

>> ONE THING WORKING IN MCCSC'S FAVOR IS INCREASING TEACHER PAY, THAT GENERATED NEARLY $17 MILLION.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ASKING VOTERS TO PASS ANOTHER REFERENDUM THIS FALL THAT WILL RAISE $15 MILLION AND GIVE TEACHERS MORE MONEY.

>> OUR STARTING TEACHER SALARY WAS $32,000 WITH A BACHELOR'S.

IF THE REFERENDUM PASSES THIS YEAR, THE STARTING SALARY, ONCE WE IRON EVERYTHING OUT WILL BE $50,000.

WE HAVE DONE THAT IN SEVEN YEARS.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN -- BUT WE HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> STATEWIDE, THE AVERAGE STARTING SALARY WAS JUST OVER $38,000 FOR THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

THE AVERAGE SALARY WAS $53,000.

FARMER DID SAY WHILE THE STARTING SALARY HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, THE TOP END OF THE PAY SCALE HASN'T.

>> OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN THOSE FIVE YEARS, THE FIRST FIVE YEARS BECAUSE NATIONALLY, IN A NATIONAL DEBATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATORS, IT'S WELL-KNOWN RESEARCH, OVER HALF OF ALL TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION AFTER FIVE YEARS.

AND WE JUST CAN'T HAVE THAT.

>> BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON CAN BE A TRANSIENT PLACE.

AND FARMER SAYS THE SCHOOL TURNS OVER ANYWHERE FROM 85 TO 100 TEACHING POSITIONS, ABOUT 10% EVERY YEAR.

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

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY JENNIFER McCORMICK, INDIANA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM 2017 TO 2021.

JENNIFER, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO KIDS HEADED BACK TO SCHOOL ALREADY, BUT STATES JOB BOARD SHOWS MORE THAN 3,000 EDUCATION JOBS REMAIN UNFILLED.

NOW, NOT ALL OF THOSE ARE TEACHERS.

WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THE STATE TO ATTRACT TEACHERS RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH EVERYWHERE, ACROSS THE NATION IT'S REALLY HARD BUT INDIANA IS REALLY STRUGGLING IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, 15 TO 20 YEARS OF RHETORIC THAT WAS VERY ANTIEDUCATION, ANTI-PUBLIC EDUCATION, ANTI-EDUCATOR, IN ADDITION TO SOME REALLY QUESTIONABLE POLICIES OVER DECADES AND THE LACK OF FUNDING.

SO IT REALLY IS A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS HUGE CRISIS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE TO REVERSE THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LEADERSHIP.

SO I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF THOSE AT THE STATE HOUSE.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE PEOPLE.

I COMMEND OUR LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS, THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STATE, INCLUDING A GOVERNOR WHO IS VERY, VERY PRO PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH 90 PLUS PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE SITTING IN, WHO WILL MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO ENTICE THOSE TO COME BACK INTO THE FIELD.

>> NOW, YOU TWEETED THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN INDIANA IS FACING A PERFECT STORM.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> IT REALLY IS.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE ARE UNDER A SITUATION WHERE I THINK IT'S LAYERED.

SO FIRST OF ALL, COVID, THE PANDEMIC DID NOT HELP US.

SO WE'RE STARING AT 3 TO 5 YEARS BEFORE STUDENTS REACH A LEVEL, PREPANDEMIC OF THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND THAT IS ALARMING AND EVERYBODY -- THE SPECIAL SESSION THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, NONE OF THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING, AND IT SHOULD BE UP FRONT AND CENTER.

THE OTHER THING TOO IS INDIANA HAS GONE TO CREDENTIALS FOR TEACHERS WHICH MEANS NO DEGREE AND NO LICENSE.

SO A PERSON CAN HAVE ESSENTIALLY NOTHING IN THEIR BACKGROUND TO BECOME A TEACHER, AND THE QUALITY THEN BECOMES OBVIOUSLY IN QUESTION.

YOU HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE THAT HAS VERY LIMITED ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YOU HAVE SOME DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IF ENROLLMENT.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF FISCAL WASTE HAPPENING, THE ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE ACADEMIC PIECE IS QUESTIONABLE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SUPER MAJORITY PIECE WITH THE LEADERSHIP THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE AN APPETITE TO ADDRESS ANY OF IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M A MOM.

MY CHILD IS THROUGH K-12, THROUGH HIGHER ED AND OFF SERVING IN THE MILITARY, BUT I HAVE TO BE HONEST, IF I WAS IN THE SITUATION WHERE MY CHILD WAS K-12, I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON BILLS BANNING CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR REGULATING WHAT TEACHERS CAN AND CAN'T SAY.

YOU ADDRESSED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO TEACHERS ABOUT YOU 40 THE STATE SEES THEM?

>> IT GOES BACK TO LEADERSHIP.

K-12 IN INDIANA, WE COULDN'T TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A NATIONAL PIECE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE PUSHING THE PRIVATIZATION OF EDUCATION HOOKED ON TO AND WORKED IT REALLY HARD, IN ADDITION TO OUR PAST PRESIDENT JUMPED ON THAT AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY PIECE IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.

WE HAVE REAL ISSUES TO ADDRESS VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE JUST AT THIS POINT BEING MADE UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> OKAY.

WELL, MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVED $10 MILLION FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND FOR A NEW JAIL.

COMMISSIONER LEE JONES SAYS THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY TO ACT ON A NEW JAIL.

>> IF WE DON'T TAKE THIS STEP, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE FEDS WILL COME IN AND REQUIRE US TO BUILD A NEW JAIL, AND THIS WOULD ALL HAPPEN WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE CURRENT JAIL IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON OPENED IN 1984 AND JONES ESTIMATES IT WOULD COST AROUND $60 MILLION TO RENT FOE ELEVATOR.

THE SITE FOR THE NEW JAIL COVERS ALMOST 90 ACRES IN SOUTHWEST BLOOMINGTON NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FULLERTON PIKE AND I-69.

COUNTY OFFICIALS HOPE THE JAIL WILL BE CONSTRUCTIONED BY 2024 OR 2025.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ON HIGH ALERT AS MONKEYPOX CASES ARE SPREADING TO ALL CORNERS OF STATE.

AND SUMMER NIGHTS ARE GETTING WARMER AND THAT COULD LEAD TO INCREASED HEALTHISH YOUISSUES.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ESTIMATE THE STATE IS A FEW WEEKS OUT FROM THE PEAK OF ITS BA-5 WAVE OF COVID-19 CASES.

THE AVAILABILITY OF AT-HOME TESTING MEANS STATE IS ONLY CAPTURING A SMALL CHUNK OF TOTAL CASES IN INDIANA.

REINFECTIONS ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 1 IN 5 REPORTED POSITIVE CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST POINT SINCE LATE FEBRUARY.

>> WE ARE CLEARLY IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT RISE IN NUMBER OF CASES OF COVID, AND THE NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS OF COVID.

AND WE'RE EXPECTING THAT TO PEAK OUT SOMEWHERE AROUND THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST.

>> IN ADDITION TO BEING FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, STIENECKER SAYS YOU CAN SEEK EARLY TREATMENT IF AND WHEN THEY TEST POSITIVE AND RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC MASKS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GO INTO CROWDED PLACES.

>>> WELL, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED MONKEYPOX A GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY.

THE DISEASE HAS BEEN FOUND IN NEARLY EVERY STATE, INCLUDING INDIANA, BUT IS THE STATE READY TO HANDLE AN OUTBREAK?

MITCH LEGAN SPOKE WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

>> HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SPREAD OF MONKEYPOX IN STATE.

THEY ARE URGING HOOSIERS TO BE CAUTIOUS BUT NOT TO PANIC.

>> WE HAVE REALLY STARTED TO RAMP UP ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT TEAMS THAT WORK ON THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS WHETHER IT BE VACCINES, LOGISTICS.

>> THE DISEASE IS A COUSIN OF SMALLPOX AND THE SPREAD THROUGH FLUIDS AND CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED AREA AND FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT.

THEY MAY DEVELOP A FEVER AND MUSCLE ACHES AND GET A RASH WITH WHITE BUMPS.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE COVID, WHERE I WAS IN A ROOM AND SOMEONE HAD IT THIS, BUT IT'S THE CLOSE CONTACT SITUATIONS.

>> 45 CASES OF MONKEYPOX HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN INDIANA.

THEY WERE REPORTED IN 12 COUNTIES IN ALL CORNERS OF STATE.

WEAVERS IS THEY ARE POSITIONING VACCINES AND ANTIVIRALS IN TARGETED LOCATIONS IN CASE OF AN OUTBREAK.

>> MANY ARE WHO ARE MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN, AND WE HAVE CASES IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN INDIANA.

>> THE LIMITED NUMBER OF MONKEYPOX MAKES SHARING SPECIFICS DIFFICULT.

BUT THE NUMBER OF HOOSIER WOMEN WHO TESTED POSITIVE IS ABOVE THE NATIONAL RATE.

>> WE STARTED A LOT OF THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED ON THE OUTSET OF COVID, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PROVIDERS SO THEY KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE, TREATMENT, WHAT IS AVAILABLE, MAKING SURE THIS IS ON THEIR RADAR.

>> THEY HAVE VACCINE DOSES FOR 1500 PEOPLE.

INDIANA OFFICIALS AREN'T SURE WHEN THEY'LL ARRIVE.

SO WEAVER SAYS THEY ARE FOLLOWING CDC GUIDANCE AND UNLIKE COVID-19, THEY ARE FOCUSING OPEN VACCINATING PEOPLE AFTER A POTENTIALEL POSURE.

>> IF YOU GET THAT VACCINE WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF YOUR EXPOSURE, IT CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING THE MONKEYPOX.

AND IF WE GIVE IT 4 AND 14 DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE, IT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR SYMPTOMS.

>> WEAVER SAYS THEY ARE STARTING TO EXTEND VACCINES TO THOSE AT HIGH RISK AND SEVERE DISEASE AND THEN THEY ARE HOPING UP TO JUST THOSE AT HIGH RISK.

>> WE'RE REALLY ANXIOUS TO GET THAT PROCESS STARTED, ESPECIALLY IF WE HEAR FROM THE CDC, KIND OF TIMING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT NEXT ALLOCATION.

THAT WILL HELP US FEEL MORE SECURE IN PUSHING THE VACCINE OUT FOR PREEXPOSURE.

>> THE 20,000 CASES GLOBALLY, ONLY FIVE PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

NOBODY IN THE U.S. HAS DIED IN MONKEYPOX BUT OFFICIALS SAY PREPARING THE STATE'S HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE KEY TO KEEPING IT THAT WAY.

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

>>> MITCH IS HERE TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ON MONKEYPOX.

MITCH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH HEALTH EXPERTS THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS NOT FIRST TIME WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MONKEYPOX.

>> NO, YEAH, WE HAD AN OUTBREAK BACK IN 2003.

IT WAS A LOT SMALLER.

NATIONALLY, THEY WERE 50 TO 70 CASES AND CONFINED TO THE MIDWEST.

HERE IN INDIANA, WE HAD 15 CASES AND ALL OF THOSE CASES IN 2003, WERE ACTUALLY THE RESULT OF PEOPLE HAVING PRAIRIE DOGS AS PETS.

IT'S ALLOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

OUR OUTBREAK IS A LOT BIGGER.

ABOUT 5,000 CASES IN THE U.S. AS OF THIS MORNING AND IN INDIANA WE HAD 45 CASES.

THAT'S TRIPLE WHAT WE HAD IN 2003.

WHEN IS REALLY CONCERNING HEALTH OFFICIALS ABOUT THIS, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE SEEING IT HERE IN THE U.S. AND WE ARE SEEING IT IN COUNTRIES WHERE WE DON'T NORMALLY SEE MONKEYPOX.

LEAST AT THE BEGINNING, A LOT OF THIS TRANSMISSION WAS THROUGH SEXUAL CONTACT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW HOW THIS IS SPREADING AND TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS AHEAD OF ANY POTENTIAL OUTBREAKS.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME OF YOU'RE COLLEAGUES TO FIND OUT HOW AND WHY THIS IS SPREADING.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE COVID.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREAKING OUT ABOUT.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S SPREADING IN A BIT OF A DIFFERENT WAY HERE IN INDIANA.

GLOBALLY, 99% OF ALL CASES ARE AMONG MEN AND 98% OF THOSE CASES ARE WITH MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.

I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SPECIFICS BUT OUR COLLEAGUES IN INDY WERE ABLE TO GET A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DOCUMENT.

WE DO HAVE CASES IN WOMEN IN CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TWO CASES IN CHILDREN AND A HANDFUL OF CASES IN WOMEN AND BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE ABOVE THE NATIONAL RATE.

>> HMM.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR YOU SAY THIS IS MOST ABOUT MEN WHO HAVE SEX MEN, BUT YET SOME WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD HOOSIERS BE.

>> IT'S CONCERNING BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREAKING OUT.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS AND MANE TAKEN CAUTION.

JUST BE -- MAINTAIN CAUTION.

JUST BE AWARE OF HOW THIS SPREADS AND CUT DOWN ON THE CLOSE CONTACT SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING.

A LOT OF CONVERSATION HAVE BEEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN, THE GAY AND THE BISEXUAL COMMUNITY AND THAT DOES MAKE SENSE BECAUSE A MAJORITY MAJORITY OF THOSE CASES ARE THERE.

I SPOKE WITH BILL YASHINER AND HE WAS TASKED WITH WRITING FIRST SCHOOL CURRICULUM ON HIV BACK IN THE '80s.

HE WAS AN INTERESTING PERSON TO TALK.

TO HE SAYS MESSAGING AROUND THIS WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE KIND OF MAKE THIS OUT TO BE A GAY DISEASE, THAT'S GOING TO CREATE STIGMA AND HE SAYS THAT COULD LEAD TO EVEN MORE SPREAD HERE IN INDIANA.

>> WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT SEEK TREATMENT OR DIAGNOSIS AS QUICKLY, BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA.

THEY MAY NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THEY MAY NOT DISCLOSE THIS TO ANYONE ELSE, OR FAMILY OR SOMETHING.

>> SO THE HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH SAY TESTING AND VACCINATIONS ARE GOING TO BE KEY.

WE HAVE 1500 VACCINE DOSES HERE IN INDIANA.

WE ARE EXPECTING PORE FROM THE FEDS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND BALANCE THE POTENTIAL FUTURE OUTBREAK WITH THE CURRENT CASES AND JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THIS AS IT CONTINUES HERE IN INDIANA.

>> ALL RIGHT, MITCH.

THANKS, SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING ON THIS.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

INTERESTING.

>> SUMMER NIGHTS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE WARMING TWICE AS FAST AS SUMMER DAYS, THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCHING AND REPORTING COLLABORATION CLIMATE CENTRAL.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, EXTREME HEAT AT NIGHT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

>> AVERAGE SUMMER LOW TEMPERATURES HAVE WARMED BY AT LEAST 1 DEGREE SINCE 1970 IN MOST CITIES STUDIED IN INDIANA.

INDIANAPOLIS HAD THE BIGGEST INCREASE WITH SUMMER LOW TEMPS GOING UP BY MORE THAN 3 DEGREES.

BETH HALL DIRECTS THE INDIANA STATE CLIMATE OFFICE AND THE MIDWESTERN REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER.

SHE SAYS WHEN TEMPERATURES DON'T COOL DOWN ENOUGH AT NIGHT, OUR BODIES DON'T GET A CHANCE TO RECOVER FROM THE EXTREME HEAT DURING THE DAY.

IT CAN AFFECT HOW WELL WE SLEEP.

>> WE MIGHT BE SWEATING MORE BECAUSE THAT IS OUR NATURAL MECHANISM TO TRY TO COOL OFF.

SO WE COULD BE LOSING MORE WATER THAT WILL MAKE US MORE DEHYDRATED OVER THE NIGHTTIME HOURS.

>> WARM, NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE VULNERABLE TO EXTREME HEAT, LOW-INCOME, SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTSIDE.

>> HISTORICALLY, THAT'S WHEN THE TEMPERATURES COOL OFF AND WE CAN OPEN THE WINDOWS AND WE GET A BREAK FROM THE OPPRESSIVE DAYTIME TEMPERATURES.

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

>>> AND INDIANA ENTERS TO ENTER THE 2022 FOOTBALL SEASON, WITH LOWER EXPECTATIONS.

THIS YEAR THEY ARE PICKED TO FINISH LAST IN THE DIVISION.

AT THE BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS IN INDIANAPOLIS THIS WEEK, I.U.

HEAD COACH TOM ALLEN SAYS THE HOOSIERS WHO FINISHED 2-10 LAST SEASON CAN USE THAT AS MOTIVATION.

>> YOU EITHER FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF OR SIT THERE AND DO A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF WHAT YOU DO, WHICH IS WHAT WE BEGAN IN JANUARY.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, MAKE CHANGES, ADD SOME NEW PLAYERS TO OUR TEAM, ADD SOME NEW STAFF TO OUR PROGRAM AND THEN ALLOW US TO GET BACK TO WORK.

>> I.U.

OPENS THIS SEASON AT HOME AGAINST ILLINOIS SEPTEMBER 2nd.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, ABOUT YOU 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: