>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A NEW STUDY SHOWS CHILDREN BORN DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE DEVELOPING MOTOR AND SOCIAL SKILLS AT A SLOWER RATE THAN THOSE BORN BEFORE IT DUE TO A LACK OF INTERACTION.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF GRIEF AS A PARENT WHEN YOU'VE SPENT TEN MONTHS CREATING THIS HUMAN AND THERE'S NO ONE TO SHARE THEM WITH.

>> EXPERTS SAY IT'S HARD TO TELL IF ISOLATION AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE WILL LEAD TO LONG-TERM ISSUES.

>>> BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH WAS DESIGNATED HISTORICAL SITE.

>> A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN THAT MEANT A LOT TO AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE GONE.

>>> AND THE ZERO IN BLOOMINGTON INITIATIVE IS A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRACK THEIR HISTORY IN BECOMING CARBON NEUTRAL.

WE'LL HAVEES NOTHESE STORIES AND MORE FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

HOOSIERS HAVE UNTIL TUESDAY TO REGISTER OR UPDATE THEIR REGISTRATION IF THEY WANT TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S BRANDON SMITH REPORTS ON WHAT YOU'LL NEED SO YOU CAN CAST A BALLOT THIS FALL.

>> THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 11th.

IF YOU WANT TO REGISTER OR UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION IN PERSON, AT YOUR LOCAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE UNTIL THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS THAT DAY.

BUT YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT IF YOU VISIT INDIANAVOTERS.COM.

THERE YOU CAN REGISTER OUR UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION, SEE WHO IS ON YOUR BALLOT, FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE AND REQUEST AN INDUSTRY MAIL-IN BALLOT.

-- ABSENTEE MAIL-IN BALLOT.

YOU NEED AN INDIANA DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND A CITIZEN AND LIVE IN YOUR CURRENT PRECINCT AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

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

>>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY KAREN WHEELER, THE MONROE COUNTY ELECTION SUPERVISOR FOR MORE ON THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, KAREN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> SO ANYTHING NEW THIS ELECTION CYCLE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

>> WELL, ONE THING THAT'S ON OUR BALLOT THAT HASN'T BEEN THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IS THE REFERENDUM.

SO THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE MCSSC SCHOOL HAS A REF DUMB AND A REFERENDUM AND IT'S AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.

THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO FORGET TO BE ABLE TO VOTE YES OR NO ON THAT ONE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY, A MAJOR TOPIC AFTER THE LAST ELECTION.

WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MACHINES USED?

>> THE GOOD THING IN MONROE COUNTY IS THAT IT'S ALL PAPER BALLOTS AND SO WE DON'T VOTE ON ELECTRONIC MACHINES.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT PAPER BALLOTS ARE MORE SECURE, AND THAT'S WHY MONROE COUNTY DOES WHAT THEY DO.

HOWEVER, SAYING THAT, THE SECURITY ON THE MACHINES, I BELIEVE, ARE VERY HIGH.

I'M NOT AS MUCH OF AN EXPERT ON THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A PAPER BALLOT COUNTY, AND WE -- IT TAKES MORE WORK.

IT'S MORE EFFORT.

IT COSTS MORE MONEY TO DO A PAPER BALLOT, BUT BECAUSE OF IT BEING SAFER AND JUST ALL AROUND A BETTER SYSTEM, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

>> SO EARLY VOTING STARTS NEXT WEEK.

WHAT KIND OF TURNOUT ARE YOU EXPECTING THIS YEAR?

>> IF I COMPARE IT TO OUR LAST EQUIVALENT MIDTERM IN 2018, I'M EXPECTING ABOUT 21,000 TO HAVE WALK-IN VOTERS.

AND SO WE'RE PREPARED FOR THAT.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

IN FACT, I HAVE TRAINING THAT'S GOING ON AT THIS VERY MOMENT.

I HAD A TRAINING YESTERDAY, ACTUALLY THE DAY BEFORE, AND TODAY AND SO MY STAFF IS READY TO GO AND WE'RE READY TO MEET THOSE VOTERS.

>> DID YOU SEE ANY INCREASE IN REGISTRATIONS SINCE ROE WAS OVERTURNED THIS SUMMER OR, I GUESS, ANY INCREASE IN REGISTRATION IN GENERAL, WITH THE COUNTRY NOW THAT SEEMS SO POLARIZED?

>> YOU WOULD THINK SO, BUT IN GENERAL, IT'S BEEN PRETTY STEADY AND PRETTY TYPICAL.

WE HAVE BEEN GIVING REGISTRATION, AND THAT DOES CLOSE NEXT WEEK.

SO OCTOBER 11th IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY VOTING -- EXCUSE ME FOR REGISTERING FOR EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY, OF COURSE.

AND YOU CAN REGISTER UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON THE 11th IF YOU GO ONLINE.

I WOULDN'T SUGGEST THAT.

IT CUTS OFF AT 11:59, BUT I WOULD BRING IN -- IF YOU HAVE A PAPER COPY, BRING IT INTO THE OFFICE OR MAIL IT.

MAILING IT IS KIND OF A LITTLE TRICKY RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE IT BY TUESDAY, BY THE CLOSE OF THE DAY AT 4:00 IF YOU ARE BRINGING IT OR MAILING IT IN.

>> SO LASTLY, BEFORE WE GO, WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE?

WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?

>> OH, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE OUT THERE AND VOTE WHETHER YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN OR AN INDEPENDENT, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR VOICE OUT THERE AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS, OF COURSE, TO VOTE.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A RIGHT THAT IT'S -- IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, ACTUALLY.

SO PLEASE COME OUT AND VOTE AND WE WILL BE VERY -- WE WILL HELP YOU THROUGH IT.

IF YOU ARE NERVOUS ABOUT IT AND YOU NEVER VOTED BEFORE, THAT'S OKAY.

OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND WE LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE VOTE IN -- IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

>> KAREN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THE SHOW AND GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU TOO.

>> WELL, WITH INDIANA'S GENERAL ELECTION ROUGHLY ONE MONTH AWAY, SOME POLLING SHOWS DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE TOM McDERMOTT IN A TIGHT RACE AGAINST INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN SENATOR TODD YOUNG BUT ACCORDING TO THE GROUP OPEN SECRETS WHICH TRACKS MONEY IN POLITICS, YOUNG HAS RAISED OVER 20 TIMES WHAT McDERMOTT HAS IN POLITICAL DONATIONS.

INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN MIKE SCHMUHL SAYS THE STATE PARTY IS HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ABOUT BRINGING MORE FUNDING TO McDERMOTT'S RACE.

>> THOSE CONVERSATIONS, JUST TO BE COMPLETELY BLUNT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ONGOING AND I HOPE TO HAVE MORE AND MORE OF THEM IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD.

>> OVERALL, OPEN SECRETS FOUND THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE RAISED NEARLY $24 MILLION SO FAR THIS CYCLE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE RAISED JUST OVER $12 MILLION.

>>> PRELIMINARY STUDY SAYS CHILDREN BORN DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE DEVELOPING MOTOR AND SOCIAL SKILLS MORE SLOWLY THAN THOSE BORN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

REGARDLESS IF THEY CONTRACTED COVID OR NOT.

AS BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS, DEVELOPMENTAL CONCERNS ARE ADDING TO AN ALREADY STRESSED PARENT.

>> ON THE EAST SIDE OF BLOOMINGTON, MOLLY McDONALD UNIF YOUUNIF YOU WILLSUNFAIRINGS YOGA MATS AND SHOWS WHAT THIS CLASS LOOKS LIKE.

PREVIOUSLY, SHE HELPS PARENTS INTERACT WITH THEIR INFANTS.

SHE SAYS EARLY DAYS OF PARENTHOOD ARE ISOLATING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

TACKING ON STRESS OF NAVIGATING COVID-19 GUIDELINES AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE COULD HAVE HAD DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS FOR PARENTS AND INFANTS.

>> IN MOST CASES THEY ARE GOING INTO A HOSPITAL THAT IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ILL, WITH COVID-19.

YOU KNOW, THE SCARIEST PLACE TO BE IS WHERE THEY HAVE TO BRING THEIR BABY INTO THE WORLD.

SO THERE WERE UNBEARABLE AMOUNTS OF PRESSURE ON NEW PARENTS.

>> SHE HOPES THE COCOON HELPS NEW PARENTS ACCESS A COMMUNITY AND DECREASE STRESS.

ANNA HAD TWO CHILDREN DURING THE PANDEMIC, ONE IN 2019 AND ONE IN 2022.

SHE ATTENDS AND NOW TEACHES CLASSES AT THE COCOON.

SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT HER CHILDREN'S SAFETY IN CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> I'M OKAY IF THEY ARE KNOWN WITH A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT OR IT TAKES THEM SIX MONTHS LONGER TO CATCH UP DEVELOPMENTALLY BUT I DO WANT THEM TO BE HEALTHY.

>> BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, HER CHILDREN HAVEN'T HAD AS MUCH INTERACTION WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS OR EXTENDED FAMILY AS SHE WANTS.

>> WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN ISOLATION, WHERE WE COULDN'T SEE FRIENDS WE COULDN'T SEE FAMILY AND THERE'S A LOT OF GRIEF AS A PARENT WHEN YOU'VE SPENT 10 MONTHS CREATING THIS HUMAN AND THERE'S NO ONE TO SHARE THEM WITH.

>> BECAUSE INFANTS WERE NOT MEETING AS MANY PEOPLE, PROFESSOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, MARY BENSON McMULLEN SAYS SEEING SOME DELAYS DURING COVID MAKES SENSE.

SHE ADDED FACIAL EXPRESSION IS KEY FOR INFANTS TO PICK UP ON EMOTIONAL CUES AND MASSES COULD HAVE BEEN AN INHIBITOR.

BUT SHE SAYS IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH IT WILL AFFECT THE DELATE AT SIX MONTHS WILL HAVE LONG TERM.

THE COLOMBIA STUDY REPORTING DELAYS IN DEVELOPMENT USED FEEDBACK REPORTS PROVIDED BY MOTHERS WHICH McMULLEN SAYS MIGHT SAY MORE ABOUT THE STRESS AND ANXIETY NEW PARENTS ARE FACING.

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE REPORTS INCREASED SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AND ANXIETY AMONG NEW PARENTS AMONG 2019.

>> IF YOUR SENSE OF SECURITY AND SAFETY IS SHAKEN, OR YOU ARE PREOCCUPIED THAT IN TERMS OF YOUR MENTAL CAPACITY AND YOUR EMOTIONAL CAPACITY, YOUR ABILITY TO CARE FULLY FOR YOUR CHILD OR YOURSELF MIGHT BE IMPACTED.

>> SHE SAYS IF PARENTS ARE ISOLATED AND ANXIOUS ABOUT THEIR PARENTING, THEY MIGHT BE MORE LIKELY TO PERCEIVE THEIR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR AS DIFFERENT OR DELAYED.

HER CONCERN WAS A LIMITATION MENTIONED IN THE STUDY.

>> AS HE HAD LOOK AT THE BENCHMARK TABLES OF WHAT YOUR CHILD SHOULD DO AT A CERTAIN TIME, NOT TO BECOME TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILD MISSING A BENCHMARK, MISSING A MILDSTONE.

MILD -- MILESTONE.

>> ATTENDING AND STARTING TO TEACH CLASSES AT THE COCOON HAS HELPED HER WORK THROUGH WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH AS A PARENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> I LOVE HOLDING SPACE FOR WOMEN WHO ARE POSTPARTUM AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE SEEN AND THAT THEIR BABY IS SEEN, SINCE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T GET.

>> SHE SAYS PARENTS MIGHT BE GRIEVING RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH WORRY OF THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT OR THE BABY MISSING OUT ON IN-PERSON LOVE AND NORMALCY.

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

>> McDONALD SAYS PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE COCOON IN PERSON, SHE RUNS THE THREE JOURNEYS ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR PARENTS.

>>> AND NOW FOR HEADLINES, LOOK WHO IS HERE.

IT'S HOLDEN ABSHIER.

HI, HOLDEN.

>> HI, JOE.

>> MEMBERS OF TWO HOMELESS CAMPS IN BLOOMINGTON WERE FORCED TO MOVE OFF PRIVATE PROPERTY THIS WEEK.

ONE WAS BEHIND THE WEST SIDE FRESH THYME.

TRAVIS COUGHINGS SAYS HE LIVED IN THE PATTERSON CAMP OF SIX PEOPLE FOR TWO YEARS.

CUMMINGS TOLD US THEY CAME LAST WEEK AND PUT THE NOTICE UP AND IT'S ONLY SIX DAYS AND AT 9 A.M.

THERE NO IFS, ANDS OR BUTS, YOU WERE GOING TO JAIL IF YOU DIDN'T LEAVE.

MEMBERS OF THE ENCAMPMENT BEHIND FRESH THYME WERE TOLD THEY HAD TO EVACUATE TUESDAY EVENING.

>> IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENS AT ALL, AND REALLY, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO, BUT SHUT IT DOWN AND CLEAN IT UP, WHICH GENERALLY MEANS THEY JUST GO SOME PLACE ELSE.

>> THE CAMPSITE BEHIND FRESH THYME WAS ON A REVOCABLE LAND TRUST WHICH IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND CAMPERS WERE TOLD THAT THE OWNER WOULD BULLDOZE THE AREA WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE STILL PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

>>> HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS GATHERED FOR A VIGIL ON THE CAMPUS OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER A STUDENT WAS FOUND DEAD ON CAMPUS.

POLICE ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF 20-YEAR-OLD HAVE RUNE MANISH CHHEDA AS A HOMICIDE.

HIS ROOMMATE, 22-YEAR-OLD GJI MIN SHA, AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FROM SOUTH KOREA IS IN CUSTODY ON A CHARGE OF MURDER.

A TIPPECANOE COUNTY CORONER EIFS SAID CHHEDA DIED FROM MULTIPLE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMATIC INJURIES.

>>> THE I.U.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WILL RECEIVE $48.8 MILLION ON THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING TO CONTINUE RESEARCH INTO TREATMENTS FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

THE GRANT IS USING A FRAMEWORK FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH THAT THE INSTITUTE ESTABLISHED IN 2016.

RESEARCHERS HOPE THAT TESTS ON ANIMAL MODELS WILL RESEMBLE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN HUMANS.

>> PHENOTYPE THOSE MODELS.

SO EXAMINE HOW CLOSELY THEY RELATE TO HUMAN ALZHEIMER DAIS EASE.

AND THOSE THAT ARE PROMISING, WE HAVE A PRECLINICAL TESTING CORPS THAT TESTS NEW THERAPEUTICS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE NOMINATED BY THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.

OF THIS IS THE SECOND RENEWAL OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE I.U.

SCHOOL EVIDENT MEDICINE AND THE N.I.A.

>>> BLOOMINGTON CITY LEADERS ARE STARTING A NEW PROGRAM THAT TRACKS THE CITY'S PROGRESS TOWARDS REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ASKING RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP.

JOE HREN HAS THIS REPORT.

>> THE ZERO IN BLOOMINGTON INITIATIVE IS A WEBSITE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN TRACK THEIR ACTIONS IN BECOMING CARBON NEUTRAL.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT RESOLVED BY INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS ALONE LIKE THIS.

SYSTEMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE, OVERALL CHANGES ARE IMPORTANT.

>> IT ALSO PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH RESOURCES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WAYS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS.

THE GOALS TO REACH NET ZERO BY 2050.

THE 2020 CITY CLIMATE SURVEY INDICATED MORE THAN 80% OF BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASING CLIMATE CHANGE.

USERS CAN TRACK ANYTHING FROM SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS TO WALKING INSTEAD OF DRIVING.

>> AND YOU CAN COMPETE AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN THE COMMUNITY OR AGAINST OTHER HOUSEHOLDS WITH YOUR TEAM, ET CETERA, AND SO ON THE SITE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE TOP TEAMS, TOP INDIVIDUALS, TOP HOUSEHOLDS.

>> BESIDES ACTION TIPS AND LOCAL RESOURCES, REBATES, TAX CREDITS AND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED.

THE CITY HOPES TO ACHIEVE 100 TONS OF CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION BY DECEMBER 2023.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

>>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON HOPES TO RETRIEVE 100 TONS OF CARBON EMISSION BY DECEMBER OF 2023.

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE RAISING THE CITY'S STATE STATUS FROM CLASS THREE TO CLASS TWO.

AN ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED A MONTH AGO AFTER BEING PUT OFF FOR ABOUT A DECADE.

MAYOR JIM LIENHOOP SAYS THE POPULATION OF COLUMBUS IS AROUND 50,000 AND IT FINALLY MADE SENSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHANGE OF CLASS.

THE CITY WILL GO FROM SEVEN COUNCILMEMBERS TO NINE.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FOCUS RIGHT NOW ON ELECTIONS AND ELECTION INTEGRITY.

>> THE CITY WILL ALSO CHANGE FROM HAVING A SPLIT CLERK/TREASURER POSITION TO A FULL-TIME CLERK AND A NEW CONTROLLER.

>>> FARMERS AND ANALYSTS SAY SO FAR THIS YEAR'S HARVEST APPEARS AVERAGE.

LAST YEAR THEY AVERAGED 195 BUSHELS PER ACRE, THE BEST HARVEST INDIANA HAD EVER SEEN.

THIS YEAR THE USDA ESTIMATES INDIANA WILL HARVEST 186 BUSHELS PER ACRE, PUTTING IT ON PACE FOR AN AVERAGE YEAR.

>> IT'S KIND OF FULL BORE ACROSS THE STATE IN TERMS OF HARVEST RIGHT NOW.

AND THE WEATHER -- THE WAY WEATHER IS RIGHT NOW REALLY HELPS THE FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THOSE FIELDS AND GET THINGS DONE.

>> ABOUT 14% OF ALL CROPS IN INDIANA HAVE BEEN HARVESTED SO FAR.

AND HARVEST CAN RANGE FROM SEPTEMBER TO LATE NOVEMBER DEPENDING ON WEATHER.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR HEADLINES THIS WEEK, JOE, NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, HOLDEN.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE 150-YEAR-OLD BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HAS BEEN NAMED AN HISTORIC PLACE.

>>> AND FALL FOLIAGE, THERE MAY BE NO BETTER PLACE THAN THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, LAST YEAR IN AN INDIANA LAW TOOK AWAY PROTECTIONS FOR ISOLATED WETLANDS, WETLANDS NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO A BODY OF WATER AND MAKE UP MOST OF THE WETLANDS IN THE STATE.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCAST'S REBECCA THIELE HAS THIS STORY ON THE FINAL REPORT BY A TASK FORCE CREATED TO STUDY WETLAND PROTECTIONS IN INDIANA.

>> THE TASK FORCE SAYS THE STATE SHOULD GIVE MORE FUNDING TO ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES, PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS WHO AVOID BUILDING ON WETLANDS AND PROTECT ISOLATED WETLAND BEES UNDER STATE LAW, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON FEDERAL PROTECTIONS ALONE.

TASK FORCE SHARE WILL DITZLER SAYS AT SOME POINT, INDIANA WILL HAVE TO START MAKING THE ENVIRONMENT A PRIOR AT THE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND NEIGHBORING STATES.

>> IT JUST REALLY COMES DOWN TO PRIORITIZATION.

DO WE WANT TO LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS GOOD ERR QUALITY AND WETLANDS FOR WILDLIFE AND HAS LESS FLOODING OR NOT?

>> THE REPORT ALSO RECOMMENDS ALLOWING HOLE BUILDERS TO INCREASE -- HOME BUILDERS TO INCREASE HOUSING DENSITY, WHICH WOULD MEAN MORE HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS OF LAND.

>> LESS LINEAR FEET OF SEWER PIPE OR WATER PIPE THAT WE HAVE TO RUN.

LESS ROADS, SIDEWALKS, THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD AND ULTIMATELY PASS ON TO THE CUSTOMERS.

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

>>> BETHEL A.M.E. HAS BEEN IN BLOOMINGTON SINCE 1870.

AND ITS LONG-TIME CHURCH WAS GRANTED HISTORIC STATUS IN AUGUST.

NOW OTHER PROPERTIES WITH TIES TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY COULD FOLLOW SUIT.

HOLDEN ABSHIER HAS THIS REPORT.

>> ARMILLER GRUBB KNOWS TO ASK SOMEBODY BEFORE THROWING SOMETHING AWAY.

IT'S A LESSON SHE LEARNED IN THE '70s AS A NEW MEMBER IN BETHEL A.M.E. SHE WAS CLEANING WHEN HER AND ANOTHER PERSON CAME ACROSS A CUP IN THE PASTOR'S LECTERN.

>> WE FOUND THIS DIRTY, NASTY THING AND WE SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THIS?

WE SAID, WITH WILL, WE OUGHT TO THROW IT AWAY.

>> THE CUP WAS WORTH KEEPING.

IT TURNED OUT IT BELONGED TO MADDIE JACOBS FULLER WHO COLLECTED $1,300 TO BUILD THE COUNT BETHEL A.M.E. SHE SAT IT NEXT TO A SMALL ORGAN AS SHE SANG AND SANG GOSPEL MUSIC.

FULLER WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY AND MOVED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR AND SHE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE RICHEST BLACK WOMAN IN BLOOMINGTON.

MEANWHILE UP THE ROAD IN INDIANAVOTERS.COM YAP ISOLATION, MADAM C.J.

WALKER BECAME THE FIRST BLACK MILLIONAIRE.

>> BLOOMINGTON HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT MADDIE JACOBS FULLER.

SHE WANTS BLOOMINGTON TO COMMEMORATE FULLER IN SOME WAY.

>> SHE KIND OF HAD A ONE UP OVER MADAM C.J.

WALKER SO SHE COULD DO PLAY.

SHE COULD PLAY THE ORGAN AND SHE COULD SING.

♪ >> WHEN THE CURRENT CHURCH WAS COMPLETE 1922, A LOT OF MEMBERS WORKED FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

AND STILL TODAY I.U.

EMPLOYEES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE 55-PERSON CONGREGATION.

>> A LOT OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF, YOU KNOW, HAVE BECOME MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS AND THEN THEY BRING IN THEIR COLLEAGUES AND SO FORTH, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE STUDENTS.

MANY STUDENTS.

>> CURRENT I.U.

STUDENTS ATTEND THE CHURCH BUT IT'S LOOKING TO RECRUIT YOUNGER MEMBERS NOW THAT SERVICES ARE IN PERSON.

♪ >> MY HOPE IS THAT IT CONTINUES TO JUST GROW BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, HONESTLY, AND THAT OUR MEMBERSHIP CAN GAIN, LIKE IT ONCE WAS, WHERE WE USED TO HAVE TO GO PULL OUT EXTRA CHAIRS.

>> THE CHURCH'S PATH TO HISTORIC STATUS BEGAN WHEN ELIZABETH MITCHELL WHO ALSO SITS ON THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, REALIZED IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROTECTION FROM FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

SHE CONTACTED MEMBERS AND HELPED TO PETITION THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY.

>> I COME TO INDIANAPOLIS.

I KNOW ABOUT INDIANA AVENUE AND A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN THAT MEANT A LOT TO AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE GONE, APARTMENTS OR RETAIL STORES.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO BETHEL.

>> MITCHELL SAYS THERE ARE OTHER PROPERTIES ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE SHE WANTS TO SEE PROTECTED SOON, INCLUDING THE B.G.

POLLARD LODGE, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE HOLE.

THE FORMER ELKS LODGE WAS A POPULAR HANGOUT FOR BLACK RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS.

>> THEY CAME OVER HERE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD BREATHE, WHERE YOU COULD BE YOURSELF, WHERE YOU COULD BE WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT WEREN'T TRYING TO FEEL YOUR SKIN OR TOUCH YOUR HAIR.

>> SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER PEOPLE NOT FROM BLOOMINGTON TO LEARN ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THE CITY'S SHARED HISTORY.

>> AND NOT JUST ONE VERSION, NOT JUST ONE STORY, BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE GET LOST AND THEY'RE FORGOTTEN FOREVER.

>> ONE WAY TO REMEMBER STORIES IS BY SAVING AND PROTECTING PROPERTY.

PROPERTY YOU SHOULD ASK SOMEBODY ABOUT BEFORE THROWING IT AWAY.

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

>>> BLOOMINGTON WAS RANKED THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN THE MIDWEST TO VIEW FALL FOLIAGE BY ROCKETHOMES.COM THANKS MAINLY TO THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST.

CALI LICHTER HAS THIS REPORT.

>> BLOOMINGTON IS KNOWN FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND FALL FOLIAGE COLORS BUT THE MAIN FALL ATTRACTION HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST.

MARION MASON IS THE PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST.

>> NUMBER ONE THE WEATHER IS TYPICALLY COOLER.

IT'S NICE TO BE OUT AND TWO, YOU GET TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF OUR HARDWOOD TREES, OUR NATIVE HARDWOOD SPECIES THAT ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING THROUGHOUT THE FALL.

>> THE FOREST ATTRACTS LEAF PEEPERS.

PEOPLE WHO ENJOY GOING OUT IN THE FALL AS NATURE CHANGES COLORS.

DIFFERENT TREES WILL CHANGE COLOR DIFFERENT TIMES.

MAPLES TURN FIRST AND TEND TO BE THE BRIGHTEST, BUT IT DEPENDS ON WEATHER.

>> WE EXPECT THAT BASED ON THE WARM DAYS THAT THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE AN AVERAGE TO ABOVE AVERAGE INTENSITY FOR LEAF COLOR.

>> LAST YEAR WAS ON THE WARMER SIDE WHICH SHE SAYS CONTRIBUTED TO DIMINISHED LEAF COLORS.

DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THE FOREST, MASON SAYS LOCATIONS LIKE THE FIRE TOWER AND THE WILDERNESS CAN GET CROWDED.

>> IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO TO THOSE AREAS WE WOULD RECOMMEND COME DURING OUR NONPEAK TIMES.

SO MAYBE DURING A WEEKDAY WHEN IT'S LESS BUSY OR EARLIER IN THE MORNING ON A WEEKEND.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE CHANGING LEAVES THE FOREST HAS CHANGING FALL WILD FLOWERS AND FALL FRUITS SUCH AS PERSIMMONS.

BLOOMINGTON'S FALL FOLIAGE PEAK WILL COME AROUND HALLOWEEN IF THIS WEATHER PATTERN CONTINUES.

>> DIFFERENT TREES HAVE DIFFERENT COLORS AND WILL CHANGE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

SO NO MATTER WHEN YOU COME IN THE FALL, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GREAT TO SEE.

>> LEAF PEEPERS CURIOUS ABOUT THE SIGNS OF LEAF COLOR CAN VISIT THE FOREST'S WEB PAGE.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CALI LICHTER.

>>> 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: