>> INDIANA NEWSDESK IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> COMING UP ON INDIANA NEWSDESK NEWSDESK.

THANKSGIVING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

THIS YEAR YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR TURKEY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A NATIONAL, REGIONAL AVERAGE OF AROUND $1.82 PER POUND.

THIS IS AROUND 30 PERCENT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE SAW IN 2021.

>> BUT THERE'S MORE THAN INFLATION TO BLAME FOR THE SOARING POULTRY COSTS.

THE INDIANA MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS OFFICIALLY TIP OFF NEXT WEEK AND BOTH PROGRAMS ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 15 HEADING INTO THE SEASON.

>> WHEN WE SET OUT NINE YEARS AGO, WE WANTED INDIANA TO HAVE TRADITION NOT ONLY ON THE MEN'S SIDE BUT THE WOMEN'S SIDE.

>> BOTH ARE EXPECTED TO COMPETE FOR BIG TEN TITLES.

WE SIT DOWN WITH THE THREE CANDIDATES VYING TO REPRESENT INDIANA IN THE U.S. SENATE, INCLUDING INCUMBENT TODD YOUNG.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES AND THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>> WELL AM COME TO INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'M JOE WREN.

>>> ELECTION DAY IS FAST APPROACHING, BUT EARLY VOTING IN MONROE COUNTY IS WELL OFF THE PACE OF THE LAST MID-TERM ELECTION IN TWENTY-EIGHTEEN.

A LITTLE UNDER TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE VOTED EARLY AS OF THURSDAY.

IN TWENTY EIGHTEEN, AROUND TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE VOTED EARLY IN THE COUNTY.

MONROE COUNTY ELECTION SUPERVISOR KAREN WHEELER IS UNSURE WHY THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN.

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.•IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR.

I EVEN HAD THOUGHTS IT MIGHT SURPASS 2018.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

SO, IF YOU'’RE THINKING ABOUT VOTING, PLEASE COME DOWN AND VOTE >> MONROE COUNTY SENT OUT A LITTLE LESS THAN FOUR THOUSAND MAIL-IN BALLOTS THIS YEAR AND HAVE HAD JUST UNDER THREE THOUSAND RETURNED.

>>> INDIANA AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED A MAN FOR THE MURDERS OF TWO TEENAGE GIRLS, WHO WERE KILLED WHILE HIKING FIVE YEARS AGO NEAR DELPHI.

RICHARD MATTHEW ALLEN WAS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF MURDER IN THE KILLINGS OF FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD LIBERTY GERMAN AND THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD ABIGAIL WILLIAMS IN A CASE THAT HAS HAUNTED THE NORTHERN INDIANA CITY OF ABOUT THREE THOUSAND.

>> THIS INVESTIGATION IS FAR FROM COMPLETE AND WE WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE ITS INTEGRITY BY DISCUSSING DOCUMENTS OR INFORMATION BEFORE THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

>> POLICE ARE SEALING THE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT, AND A PRETRIAL IS SET FOR JANUARY THIRTEENTH.

>>> HOOSIERS ARE PAYING MORE AT THE GAS PUMP THIS MONTH, THANKS IN PART TO THE STATE'S GAS TAX GOING BACK UP.

THIS MONTH, ABOUT FIFTY-SIX CENTS OF WHAT YOU PAY FOR EVERY GALLON AT THE PUMP IS BECAUSE OF STATE TAXES.

MORE THAN HALF OF THAT IS A FIXED TAX OF THIRTY-THREE CENTS PER GALLON.

THE OTHER TAX FLUCTUATES BASED ON THE AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THIS MONTH, IT'S UP TO TWENTY-THREE CENTS A GALLON.

>>> FLU INFECTIONS ARE ON THE RISE AS WE HEAD INTO WHAT IS PROJECTED TO BE ONE OF THE WORST FLU SEASONS IN SEVERAL YEARS.

CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE ALREADY SEEING HIGH OR VERY HIGH FLU ACTIVITY AND AN UP-TICK IN RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, ESPECIALLY AMONG SMALL CHILDREN.

>> I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER GETTING THE INFLUENZA VACCINE.

IT'S KNOWN TO BE QUITE EFFECTIVE.

IT'S BEEN WELL STUDIED OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

>> HE ALSO ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO GET THE COVID BOOSTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND MAKE SURE TO WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY.

>>> BLOOMINGTON'’S KIRKWOOD AVENUE REOPENED TO CARS THIS WEEK AFTER BEING CLOSED SINCE MARCH TO INCREASE OUTDOOR DINING SPACES.

A CITY SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO CLOSE THE STREET TO TRAFFIC NEXT YEAR WILL DEPEND ON CONVERSATIONS WITH KIRKWOOD BUSINESS OWNERS AND BLOOMINGTON COMMUNITY SURVEYS.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTH, WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON A STORY ABOUT THE PRICE OF TURKEYS THIS THANKSGIVING.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW CLAYTON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JOE.

>> I ASSUME WITH INFLATION, YOU'LL TELL US TURKEYS ARE PROBABLY MORE EXPENSIVE THIS YEAR.

>> JUST A LITTLE BIT, JUST A LITTLE BIT.

YOU'LL DEFINITELY BE PAYING MORE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS DRIVING UP THE COSTS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING AN AVIAN FLU THAT WIPED OUT SOME FLOCKS.

I SPOKE WITH A TURKEY FARMER AND POULTRY EXPERTS ABOUT WHAT'S DRIVING PRICES UP THIS YEAR.

HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

THINGS ARE MORE QUIET THAN USUAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AT GUNTHORP FARMS IN LA GRANGE, INDIANA.

>> WE RAISED ALL OF OUR TURKEYS IN THE SUMMER.

SO THE ONLY TURKEYS THAT WE HAVE ON THE FARM RIGHT NOW ARE FROZEN.

>> THIS 275-ACRE FARM ON THE BORDER OF MICHIGAN HAS BEEN IN HIS FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS.

FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS, THEY'’VE BEEN RAISING TWO BATCHES OF TURKEYS IN THE SUMMER, AS WELL AS ANOTHER BATCH IN THE FALL TO PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAY RUSH.

THIS YEAR, THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S JUST, IT'S REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO STAFF A PROCESSING PLANT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS DIFFICULT BEFORE COVID, IT'S BEEN INSANELY DIFFICULT FOR US TO STAFF, OUR PROCESSING PLANT.

>> FOR THE TURKEYS HE DID RAISE THIS YEAR, A MAJOR PRESSURE POINT WAS THE AVIAN FLU.

AROUND 47.7 MILLION BIRDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED NATIONWIDE.

ABOUT 7 MILLION OF THOSE ARE TURKEYS, INCLUDING AROUND HALF MILLION IN INDIANA ALONE.

THANKFULLY FOR GREG, THEY ALSO HAVE GRASS-FED LAMBS AND PIGS TO KEEP THE OPERATION RUNNING.

(PIG NOISES) THE VIRUS SPREADS LIKE ANY OTHER STRAINS TYPICALLY DO; VIA MIGRATORY WATERFOWL THAT PICK UP THE DISEASE AND SPREAD IT THROUGH THEIR DROPPINGS AS THEY FLY NORTH FOR THE SPRING.

WHAT MAKES THIS STRAIN DIFFERENT THOUGH IS ITS LONGEVITY.

>> THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, WE'VE BEEN SEEING ANOTHER SURGE HAPPENING IN THE FALL WITH THE MIGRATION THAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE GOING SOUTH.

SO WE'RE SEEING THAT ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> WHILE FLOCKS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE BEEN HEAVILY AFFECTED, INDIANA HAS MANAGED TO FARE WELL.

>> WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CASES IN INDIANA, WE'VE NOT HAD ANY NEW DIAGNOSIS SINCE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.

SO CURRENTLY, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 500,000 BIRDS HAVE BEEN INFECTED IN A STATE THAT TYPICALLY PRODUCES 20 MILLIONS TURKEYS A YEAR.

WHILE INFECTION RATES HAVE BEEN LOW IN THE STATE, THE IMPACT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL FOR THOSE AFFECTED.

>> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, IT DOESN'T LOOK SIGNIFICANT.

BUT WHEN IT IS YOUR FARM, IT IS THE WORLD.

IF A HIGHLY PATHOGENIC DISEASE LIKE THIS GETS INTO A FLOCK'’S BARN, FARMERS WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE TO CULL THEIR ENTIRE FLOCK.

THANKFULLY, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE POULTRY ASSOCIATION, BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH, AND USDA CAN HELP KEEP THESE EVENTS FROM DESTROYING THE LIVELIHOODS OF FARMERS, UP TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEIR FLOCK'’S VALUE.

>> THEY GET WHEN WE CALL THOSE INDEMNITY FUNDS, SO THEY GET THOSE PAYMENTS.

AND THEN THEY ALSO GET SUPPORT IN HELPING TO CLEAN AND DISINFECT THEIR BARNS AND MANAGE ANY MATERIALS THAT ARE GENERATED FROM THAT WHOLE RESPONSE.

>> THE AVIAN FLU ISN'’T THE ONLY CAUSE OF HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE TURKEY PRICES.

THERE'’S A LOT AT PLAY AS THE NATION HEADS INTO THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR.

THE AVERAGE 16 POUND TURKEY IS ALREADY MORE EXPENSIVE, EVEN BEFORE THE HOLIDAY RUSH.

>> WE'VE SEEN THESE HITTING RECORD PRICES, WE'VE SEEN A NATIONAL REGIONAL AVERAGE AROUND 1.82 PER POUND, AND THIS IS AROUND 30% HIGHER THAN WHAT WE SAW IN 2021.

>> BERNT ALSO TOLD ME THAT MORE SPECIALIZED ITEMS LIKE BONELESS-SKINLESS TURKEY BREASTS ARE UP 112% OVER LAST YEAR.

PART OF THAT JUMP IS DUE TO THE SCARCITY FROM THE FLU, AND THE OTHER IS INFLATION.

BUT EVEN THAT'’S NOT ALL.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, AND YOU ADD THOSE TWO FACTORS IN PLUS THE HIGH DEMANDS THAT WE'VE SEEN ON OUR FOOD SYSTEMS, POST COVID THINGS LIKE PACKAGING, SUPPLIES, SHIPPING ISSUES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> RISING COSTS LIKE GAS FOR EQUIPMENT, FERTILIZER FOR FEED AND MORE ARE ALSO FACTORS THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN DETERMINING FINAL CONSUMER PRICE ON AGRICULTURAL GOODS.

>> WE SEE THE COST OF PRODUCTION GOING UP, WE SEE THE COST NEEDED, YOU KNOW, BY THE PRODUCER FROM THE WHOLESALER, WE SEE THOSE PRICES GO UP AND FURTHER ON TO THE RETAILER.

>> NELSON THINKS THERE'’S A SMALL LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL ON THE COST OF POULTRY PRODUCTS.

>> IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THESE LEVELS SLOW DOWN, WE WOULD GIVE SOME OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY OVERALL, A CHANCE TO REBUILD A LITTLE BIT.

AND AS WE ARE ABLE TO REBUILD THOSE STOCKS, I THINK CONSUMERS WOULD SEE SOME RELIEF ON THE PRICE POINTS A LITTLE BIT.

>> ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE FLU, INFLATION, INPUT COSTS AND NAVIGATING A POST COVID MARKET HAVE COMBINED TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

FOR INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'’M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

WHILE YOU SHOULDN'’T SEE A SHORTAGE OF TURKEYS THIS YEAR, YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY A BIT EXTRA FOR YOUR HOLIDAY BIRD.

>> THANKS, CLAYTON.

COMING UP NEXT ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.•."

BRANDON SMITH SITS DOWN WITH THE THREE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL TO REPRESENT THE STATE IN THE U.S. SENATE.

AND THE INDIANA MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS OFFICIALLY OPEN THEIR SEASONS NEXT WEEK WITH HIGH EXPECTATION EXPECTATIONS.

THESE STORIES AND MORE RIGHT HERE ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>> WE CARE ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN.

>> WE ARE THERE AT THE FRONT LINE.

>> TO GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN EVERY ISSUE.

>> THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT SEEN THIS IN 80 YEARS.

>> THIS EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> MAKING SUCH A HUGE IMPACT.

>> TRUST IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

>> WELCOME BACK TO INDIANA NEWSDESK.

OUR STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF, BRANDON SMITH SAT DOWN WITH THE THREE CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE IN THIS YEAR'S MID-TERM ELECTION.

FIRST UP IS THE INCUMBENT, REPUBLICAN SENATOR TODD YOUNG.

HE SAYS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES -— ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING VOTERS THIS FALL.

>> IN TERMS OF THE CAUSE OF INFLATION, HOW MUCH SHOULD RIGHTLY BE PUT ON A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME PANDEMIC?

>> I THINK YOU DO NEED TO CONCEDE THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME KINKS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

BUT BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLDS HAVE A REMARKABLE WAY OF NORMALIZING THEMSELVES.

ALL OF THAT WAS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT OUR ECONOMY AND WE WERE SEEING A NORMALIZATION OF MARKETS.

BUT WHEN PRES.

BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE, HE NOT ONLY FLOODED THE ZONE WITH TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, HE ALSO RESTRICTED THE SUPPLY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

HE'’S EITHER INCREASED REGULATION ON OR THREATENED TO INCREASE REGULATION ON DOMESTIC SOURCES OF OIL AND GAS.

>> IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO IN THE SHORT TERM TO ADDRESS INFLATION OR IS THIS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ITSELF OUT IN THE ECONOMY OVER THE LONG TERM?

>> LET'’S STOP SPENDING TRILLIONS THAT WE DON'’T HAVE ON THINGS THAT WE DON'’T NEED.

THE SECOND THING WE SHOULD DO IS DEREGULATE.

DEREGULATE OIL AND GAS MARKETS, DEREGULATE HOUSING AT THE LOCAL AND EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

I GUESS THE LAST THING THAT COMES TO MIND: THERE ARE SOME INPUTS IN OUR ECONOMY THAT, FROM TIME TO TIME, CANNOT BE SOURCED DOMESTICALLY.

IN THOSE CASES, WE NEED TO REDUCE THE TARIFFS ON THOSE ITEMS.

>> THINKING ABOUT WHAT, UNDER PRES.

BIDEN'’S LEADERSHIP, HAS COME OUT OF CONGRESS -— WE'’RE SEEING STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING HERE IN INDIANA, REPUBLICAN LEADERS AT THE STATE LEVEL TRUMPETING THE THINGS THEY'’RE DOING WITH THE MONEY THEY'’RE GETTING FROM THOSE PROGRAMS.

SO HOW CAN YOU, ON THE ONE HAND, SAY, '‘WE SHOULDN'’T HAVE DONE ALL OF THOSE BILLS BUT HEY, LOOK AT ALL THE GOOD THINGS WE'’RE DOING WITH THEM?

'’ >> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION IS IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT THE ONLY POLICY PLAY THEY KNOW IS TO APPROPRIATE MORE MONEY, A LOT MORE MONEY FOR THINGS, WITHOUT FIRST EXPLORING HOW WE CAN REDUCE THE COST OF THOSE THINGS BY DEREGULATING, BY INCREASING COMPETITION BETWEEN MARKET PROVIDERS.

>> IF REPUBLICANS TAKE BACK CONGRESS, IT SEEMS POSSIBLE -— EVEN LIKELY -— THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO FACE A VOTE AS A U.S.

SENATOR ON WHETHER OR NOT TO BAN ABORTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

IS THAT THE PROPER ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND, IN THE CASE OF LINDSAY GRAHAM'’S BILL, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION?

>> WE NEED TO ALLOW THE STATES TO DO THEIR WORK, AS THE STATE OF INDIANA AND OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

WE NEED TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF THE RESPECTIVE STATES TO CONTINUE TO WORK THEIR WILL TO PERFECT THEIR STATE'’S LAWS.

AND SO, THAT IS MY POSITION.

THAT WILL REMAIN MY POSITION.

IN TERMS OF SEN. GRAHAM'’S LEGISLATION, WHAT I WILL ADVOCATE FOR IS THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE COMING TO THE FLOOR.

>> WOULD YOU REALLY VOTE AGAINST AN ABORTION BAN BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT'’S NOT THE PROPER ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> BRANDON, YOU KNOW AND EVERYONE WHO'’S PAID ATTENTION TO MY RECORD KNOWS THAT I AM PRO-LIFE.

BUT I AM NOT GOING TO SPECULATE ABOUT PARTICULAR BILLS I HAVEN'’T READ.

>> SO, LET'’S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

YOU AND OTHERS HAVE CITED STATISTICS LIKE, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BORDER SEIZURES OF THINGS LIKE FENTANYL IN OUR HISTORY IN RECENT MONTHS.

ISN'’T THAT PROOF THAT BORDER SECURITY IS WORKING?

>> NO, IT'’S PROOF THERE'’S A LOT OF FENTANYL COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

>> BUT IF IT'’S BEING SEIZED, THEN ISN'’T THE SYSTEM WORKING THE WAY IT'’S DESIGNED?

>> IT'’S A SMALL PORTION OF THE OVERALL OCEAN OF FENTANYL AND OTHER POISONS THAT ARE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

FENCES OR WALLS ACTUALLY CAN WORK WHEN PART OF A LAYERED DEFENSE ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER, FREEING UP BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO SPEND TIME ON MORE HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREAS.

SO, THAT'’S WHAT I SUPPORT, ARE SOME KEY INVESTMENTS IN OUR BORDER PATROL AGENTS, IN BARRIERS -— WHERE NECESSARY -— IN A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY, IN TECHNOLOGY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME TODAY.

>> THANKS BRANDON.

>> DEMOCRAT TOM MCDERMOTT SAYS IF HE WINS HIS RACE, IT WILL BE BECAUSE WOMEN SHOW UP IN LARGE NUMBERS AT THE POLLS TO VOTE FOR HIM.

CURRENTLY THE MAYOR OF HAMMOND, MCDERMOTT HAS PUT ABORTION RIGHTS FRONT AND CENTER IN HIS CAMPAIGN.

LET'’S TALK ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT ENOUGH HOOSIER VOTERS ARE GOING TO VOTE YOUR WAY ON THAT ISSUE?

>> THE WAY I FEEL ON THIS ISSUE AND THE WAY I BELIEVE MOST WOMEN FEEL ON THIS ISSUE IS PRECEDENT.

IT WAS PRECEDENT AND IT SHOULD'’VE BEEN RESPECTED, AND IT WASN'’T RESPECTED.

SO, I THINK THE EXTREME AGENDA WAS THE ANTI-ROE OVERTURNING OF ROE VERSUS WADE.

I THINK THAT'S EXTREME, PERSONALLY.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT BELONGS IN A U.S. SENATE RACE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE U.S.

SENATORS CONFIRM JUSTICES TO THE US SUPREME COURT AND THOSE JUSTICE AS WELL AS THE JUSTICES TO THE DISTRICT COURTS AND TO THE COURTS OF APPEALS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THESE JUSTICES ARE SUPPOSED TO RESPECT PRECEDENT.

IT'S ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM.

SO YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IT BELONGS IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

AND, AND IF I WERE TODD YOUNG, I'D BE TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT HE CONFIRMED THREE OF THE JUSTICES TO THE SUPREME COURT AS WELL.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE ON NOV. 8, AND HIS TRACK RECORD IS THIS: HE PUT THREE OF THE JUSTICES ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THAT OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE.

>> OBVIOUSLY, ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN, NOT JUST IN INDIANA BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR, IS INFLATION.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THESE HIGH COSTS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH?

>> IN TIME, THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL GET CONTROL OF THE INFLATION RATE.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE GET IT BACK DOWN TO TWO PERCENT WHERE IT BELONGS.

HOWEVER, I FIND IT FUNNY THAT I'M THE MAYOR OF HAMMOND - HAMMOND, INDIANA.

AND I FIND IT FUNNY THAT A U.S.

SENATOR IS TRYING TO BLAME ME FOR THE RISE IN INFLATION AND FOR THE COST OF GAS BECAUSE I'M A DEMOCRAT.

I FIND THAT IRONIC.

HE'S A U.S.

SENATOR.

HE'S BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR 12 YEARS, BLAMING THE MAYOR OF HAMMOND FOR THE PRICE OF GAS AND FOR THE HIGH INFLATION RATE.

THAT'S DISINGENUOUS AND IT'S A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.

>> DEMOCRATS UNDER JOE BIDEN HAVE PASSED MAJOR EFFORTS, INFUSED A LOT OF MONEY INTO THIS COUNTRY AT JUST ABOUT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND JUST ABOUT EVERY LEVEL OF THE ECONOMY.

ISN'T THAT PART OF WHAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO INFLATION?

DO WE NEED TO STOP SPENDING SO MUCH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> THE SPENDING IN WASHINGTON D.C. IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE CAUSE.

JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN PRESIDENT FOR LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

THE PERSON I'M RUNNING AGAINST, TODD YOUNG, HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR 12 YEARS.

AND HIS TRACK RECORD IS THIS: HE'S VOTED FOR $16 TRILLION ADDED TO THE NATIONAL DEBT.

AND HE CALLS HIMSELF A CONSERVATIVE.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL SPENDING?

AND HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO INFLATION?

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISING NATIONAL DEBT.

I HAVE KIDS AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SADDLED WITH TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF DEBT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND, BALANCING ALSO THE NEED TO PROTECT THE PROMISE THAT WE MADE TO AMERICAN WORKERS, THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND, MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S NOT INSOLVENT, THAT IT'S THERE, AS PROMISED, TO HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS.

REPRESENTING THE STATE OF INDIANA, WHICH IS A CONSERVATIVE STATE, I HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S 6.6 MILLION PEOPLE HERE THAT I NEED TO REPRESENT.

AND THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE STATE.

>> IMMIGRATION IS AN ISSUE THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE FAILED, QUITE FRANKLY, FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?

>> WELL, I WANT TO GET A SHOT AT IT LIKE WE'VE GIVEN OUR U.S. SEN. TODD YOUNG, WHO'’S BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR 12 YEARS.

AND I AGREE IT'S BROKEN.

AND I DO WANT TO HELP.

SO, I BELIEVE IN IMMIGRATION.

I BELIEVE THAT OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS PART OF THE REASON INFLATION IS OUT OF CONTROL, WAGE INFLATION.

IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE MOVING INTO AMERICA, WE CAN HELP RELIEVE SOME OF THAT WAGE INFLATION.

AND I WANT TO GET A SHOT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE BORDER SECURITY SIDE OF THAT DISCUSSION, IS A WALL, IN YOUR MIND, A PART OF THAT?

OR SHOULD OUR EFFORTS BE FOCUSED SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> WE HAVE IMMIGRATION LAWS IN AMERICA AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR BORDER PATROL TO ENFORCE THE LAWS.

>> DOES THAT MEAN MORE BORDER PATROL AGENTS?

OR DOES THAT MEAN PHYSICAL STRUCTURES?

>> I WOULD BE MORE INCLINED TO GO WITH AGENTS, BEING HONEST WITH YOU, BUT WE DO NEED TO ENFORCE OUR LAWS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDON, APPRECIATE IT.

>> LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE JAMES SCENIAK WANTS TO OFFER HOOSIER VOTERS A GENUINE ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL MAJOR PARTY CHOICES.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CAUSE OF THE INFLATION THAT WE'’VE BEEN SEEING FOR MONTHS?

WHAT'’S BEHIND THAT?

IS IT THE PANDEMIC AND SO IT WAS SORT OF UNAVOIDABLE -— OR IS THERE MORE TO IT?

>> I MEAN, IT'’S DEFINITELY A COLLATERAL OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENED, BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC, BETWEEN SUPPLY CHAIN DEMAND.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO IS THE SPENDING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE SPENT AT A RIDICULOUS RATE.

AND SO THAT REALLY IS THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITH POLITICIANS, AND JUST THE AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE SPENDING AND THE AMOUNT THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS PRINTING.

BECAUSE WHEN THEY PRINT THAT MONEY, THAT COMES BACK INTO THE ECONOMY, WHICH CREATES INFLATION RATES.

>> FROM A LIBERTARIAN PERSPECTIVE ESPECIALLY, IS AND CAN THE GOVERNMENT BE A SOLUTION TO THE INFLATION WE'RE SEEING?

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE LOOK AT INFLATION, REALLY, IT'S DOWN TO THE SPENDING AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE.

BUT THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

SO, WITH WHATEVER AREA WE'RE TALKING ABOUT - GAS PRICES, WE CAN LOOK AT GETTING THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE TAXES.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE COMPLETELY REPEALED.

SO, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND REDUCING THE PRINTING THERE, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN, THERE'S ALWAYS SOLUTIONS TO BE FOUND.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST, MAYBE, WILD CARDS OF THIS ELECTION, WHETHER IN INDIANA OR NATIONWIDE, IS HOW THE ISSUE OF ABORTION RIGHTS WILL AFFECT ANY RACE.

IF YOU'RE IN CONGRESS, AND A BILL COMES BEFORE YOU TO BAN ABORTION NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING IN INDIANA, HOW DO YOU VOTE ON THAT BILL?

>> SO, I CONSIDER MYSELF PRO-LIFE.

BUT I DO IT THROUGH SOCIAL MEANS.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, I THINK THAT IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO REDUCE ABORTIONS, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMY, LOOK AT CONTRACEPTIVES, LOOK AT THE ISSUES OF WOMEN'S HEALTH.

AND SO, WHEN WE ADDRESS ALL THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY CONTRACEPTION AND MAKING THEM MORE AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER, WE CAN NATURALLY REDUCE ABORTION RATES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL ACTUALLY DECREASE ABORTIONS MORE THAN ANY BAN WILL.

BUT WHENEVER THERE'S A BAN, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A BLACK MARKET FOR IT.

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S THE STATES EACH DOING IT, OR WHETHER IT'S NATIONALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE THAT BLACK MARKET.

BUT WHEN WE ADDRESS THE HEART AND THE CONCERNS, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THE ECONOMY'S GOING WELL, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE CONTRACEPTIVES - BOTH MALE AND FEMALE - ARE AVAILABLE, THEN WE CAN REALLY REDUCE ABORTION RATES.

>> SO, IF A BAN CAME BEFORE YOU, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'D WANT TO ADDRESS ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.

BUT IF BAN CAME BEFORE YOU, WOULD YOU SIGN ON TO IT, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR IT?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC WORDING AND MAKE SURE THAT IT STILL ALLOWS FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH AND MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN WILL NEVER BE AT RISK FOR LIFE ISSUES.

AND A LOT OF THE WORDING REALLY MATTERS IN THAT SITUATION.

>> WE'VE SEEN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, A LOT OF SPENDING COMING OUT OF CONGRESS.

THE STATE, YOU KNOW, A MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PAID FOR BY FEDERAL FUNDS, TELEHEALTH, BROADBAND EXPANSION, TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL TO COME WITH THE TRANSPORTATION BILL, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THE MOST RECENT PACKAGE LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR SENIORS.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC IS LARGELY SUPPORTING.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT THE STATE IS TOUTING, IN MANY CASES.

ARE THOSE BAD THINGS?

SHOULDN'T WE BE SUPPORTING THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, I BELIEVE IN A LOT OF THEM.

I BELIEVE IN INFRASTRUCTURE; I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE GOOD ROADS.

BUT THOSE NEED TO BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE THERE CAN BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE MONEY GOING TO DIRECTLY THAT.

SO, WHEN WHENEVER WE TAKE IT TO WASHINGTON, THEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT BACK.

THERE'S A LOT OF WASTED SPENDING IN THERE AND THAT'S HOW WE GET A LOT OF PORK BILLS AND THAT SIDE OF THINGS.

SO, ABSOLUTELY THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD THINGS BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE THEY SHOULD COME FROM.

>> IS BORDER SECURITY SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON?

>> SO, I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW TO LEGALIZE IMMIGRATION, AND BY THAT MEANING A SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS FAIRNESS FOR PEOPLE COMING IN, WE'’LL ACTUALLY SEE LESS PEOPLE ILLEGALLY IMMIGRATING, BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HERE THROUGH A LEGAL MEANS.

SO, NATURALLY THAT WOULD REDUCE THAT RATE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.

BUT WITH THAT, YES, WE DO NEED TO SECURE OUR BORDERS AND MAKE SURE OUR BORDER PATROL IS FUNDED.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, BRANDON.

>>> THE INDIANA MEN'’S AND WOMEN'’S BASKETBALL SEASONS TIP OFF NEXT WEEK, AND IF THE PRESEASON POLLS MEAN ANYTHING, IT COULD BE A GOOD YEAR FOR BOTH HOOSIER PROGRAMS.

PAT BEANE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> THE MEN ARE RANKED NUMBER THIRTEEN AND THE WOMEN ELEVENTH IN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POLLS HEADING INTO THIS SEASON.

IT'’S THE FIRST TIME SINCE TWENTY SIXTEEN THE MEN HAVE BEEN RANKED IN THE PRESEASON.

THEY WERE ALSO PICKED TO WIN THE BIG TEN THIS SEASON.

>> WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL AS A PLAYER, I NEVER BOUGHT INTO THE RANKINGS, WHAT THE MEDIA WOULD SAY ABOUT OUR BALLCLUB.

YOU STILL GOT TO GO OUT AND PLAY THE GAME.

HELL, MY SENIOR YEAR WE WERE RANKED NO.

1 AND WE DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

>> THE HOOSIERS RETURN FOUR STARTERS FROM LAST YEAR'’S TEAM, WHICH FINISHED 21 AND 14 AND EARNED AN NCAA TOURNAMENT BERTH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS.

THEY'’RE LED BY SENIOR FORWARD AND PRESEASON FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS.

I-U RETURNS THREE OTHER STARTERS -— BIG MAN RACE THOMPSON AND GUARDS XAVIER JOHNSON AND MILLER KOPP.

>> I KNOW I GOT ACE IN THE HOLE THAT CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS AROUND THE BUCKET.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN JUST TRACE.

BUT .• THOSE GUYS GOTTA BE READY TO PLAY AND COMPETE AROUND HIM TO HELP US WIN AT A HIGH LEVEL MAN.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A LOT.

IT'S A LOT OF TALENT IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL, AND I MEAN, YOU JUST CAN'T FAKE IT >> THE HOOSIERS WILL ALSO BE RELYING ON A FRESHMAN CLASS THAT WAS RANKED FIFTH IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'’S LED BY SIX-FOOT-FIVE GUARD JORDAN HOOD SHIFINO, A FIVE-STAR RECRUIT, AND HIS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATE, SIX-FOOT-NINE FORWARD MALIK RENEAU.

BEING IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE I-U WOMEN.

THE HOOSIERS HAVE BEEN RANKED IN FIFTY-EIGHT STRAIGHT A-P POLLS.

THEY WERE PICKED TO FIINSH SECOND IN THE BIG TEN AFTER REACHING THE NCAA'’S ELITE EIGHT AND SWEET 16 IN THE PAST TWO SEASONS.

THAT KIND OF SUSTAINED SUCCESS IS WHAT TERI MOREN WANTED TO BUILD WHEN SHE TOOK OVER AS HEAD COACH IN TWENTY FOURTEEN.

>> WHEN WE SAT OUT NINE YEARS AGO, WE WANTED INDIANA TO HAVE TRADITION NOT ONLY ON THE MEN'S SIDE, BUT ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE.

>> THIS YEAR'’S TEAM IS LED BY A PAIR OF RETURNING ALL-BIG TEN PLAYERS IN GUARD GRACE BERGER AND CENTER MACKENZIE HOLMES.

BOTH HAVE STARTED THE PAST THREE SEASONS AND WERE THE TOP TWO LEADING SCORERS LAST SEASON.

I-U LOST THREE STARTERS TO GRADUATION, BUT DIPPED INTO THE TRANSFER PORTAL TO ADD ONE OF THE BIG TEN'’S TOP PLAYERS LAST SEASON IN SHOOTING GUARD SARA SCALIA.

SHE LED MINNESOTA IN SCORING LAST SEASON WITH 17 POINTS PER GAME.

>> WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT KIDS THAT ARE ATTRACTED TO COMING IN AND BEING ABOUT THE KEY, THE TEAM CONCEPT.

AND IT'S MORE ABOUT WE THAN ME.

AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, THEN INDIANA IS A GREAT PLACE FOR YOU.

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

>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIU NEWS DOT ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

DON'T FORGOT TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR THIS WEEKEND!

>> INDIANA NEWSDESK IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...