>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," COLLEGE ATHLETES ARE EARNING MONEY OFF THEIR NAME, LIKENESS AND IMAGE, THANKS TO A 2021 NCAA RULE.

>> ANY TIME YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY MAKE MONEY, THAT'S A GREAT PART OF IT.

>> BUT THE LURE OF RICHES HAS BECOME PART OF THE RECRUITING GAME.

ELITE COLLEGE ATHLETES ARE EARNING IN THE SEVEN FIGURES.

>>> BEDFORD IS DOWN TO ONE HOSPITAL AFTER ST. VINCENT DUNN CLOSED LAST MONTH, LOSING MEDICAL CARE IS A TREND AFFECTING RURAL AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE HAVE SEEN SOME NOT CLOSED BUT CUT BACK ON SERVICES.

THIS HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HOSPITALS CUT BACK ON OBSTETRIC SERVICES.

>>> AND WE LOOK AHEAD TO THIS YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION AT THE STATE HOUSE, WHICH BEGINS MONDAY.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB WANTS TO SPEND MORE THAN 5 BILLION NEW DOLLARS IN INDIANA'S NEXT BUDGET ON EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

HOLCOMB UNVEILED HIS 2023 AGENDA THIS WEEK AND AS INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S BRANDON SMITH REPORTS, IT'S THE MOST AMBITIOUS OF HIS SIX YEARS IN OFFICE.

>> WHILE HOLCOMB'S PROPOSED BUDGET GOES ACROSS VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

>> IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, CONNECTIONS -- >> THE BIG TICKET ITEMS ARE SPENDING MORE THAN $1 BILLION NEW DOLLARS ON K-12 EDUCATION AND BOOSTING PUBLIC HEALTHCARE AND SPENDING $500 MILLION ON READI.

THE NEXT STEP, GETTING LAWMAKERS TO GO ALONG WITH ALL OF THAT.

>> WE THINK THEY ARE NOT JUST LEGITIMATE BUT THEY ARE NEEDED, WHICH HELPS US NOT BE COCKY ABOUT, IT BUT CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN BE PERSUASIVE.

>> BUT WHILE HOLCOMB'S BUDGET PROPOSAL REPRESENTS A MAJOR INCREASE IN SPENDING OVER THE LAST STATE BUDGET IT DOESN'T QUITE KEEP UP WITH INCREASES IN INFLATION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

SO ARE STATE GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOLS GOING TO BE LEFT STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THE PRESSURES OF INFLATION?

>> I THINK INDIANA HAS DONE ONE OF THE BETTER JOBS, QUITE FRANKLY, IN THE COUNTRY, IN ADDRESSING NOT JUST INFLATION, BUT A POTENTIAL RECESSION BY OUR FISCAL STEWARDSHIP, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS.

>> HOLCOMB'S PROPOSALS INCLUDE ELIMINATING TEXTBOOK FEES FOR ALL PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOL FEES AND ELIMINATING THE STARTING SALARY TO $70,000 A YEAR AND SPENDING $75 MILLION ON TRAIL EXPANSION AND LAND CONSERVATION.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY STATE HOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH FOR MORE ON THIS YEAR'S SESSION, WHICH BEGINS MONDAY.

HELLO, BRANNON.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

-- HELLO, BRANDON, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JOE.

>> HOW REALISTIC IS IT THAT HOLCOMB WILL GET WHAT HE WANTS IN THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK LAWMAKERS WILL SUPPORT A FAIR AMOUNT OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING.

WHAT'S LESS LIKELY IS THAT HE WILL GET ALL OF THE FUNDING AMOUNTS HE WANTS, RIGHT?

SO I COULD SEE THE LEGISLATURE BACKING THE READI GRANTS, PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING, MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS IN SOME FORM, SIGNIFICANT EDUCATION INCREASES BUT NOT LIKELY NOT AT THE LEVEL THAT HOLCOMB PROPOSED.

>> WE HEAR THAT EDUCATION A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, K-12 EDUCATION ALONE ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 50% OF THE STATE BUDGET.

IF YOU ADD IN HIGHER EDUCATION, IT'S CLOSER TO 60%.

EDUCATION IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY BUT PARTICULARLY THE LAST FEW YEARS INCREASING TEACHERS SALARIES IS A MAJOR PUSH AND GETTING THOSE SAL SALARIES HIGHER AGAIN IS PART OF THIS FUNDING PROPOSAL.

>> HOLCOMB IS PROPOSING A BIG BOOST TO PUBLIC HEALTH, CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT?

>> HE WANTS TO STUDY THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, THIS COMES OUT OF THE PANDEMIC PANDEMIC OF HOW POORLY FUNDED THAT SYSTEM IS HERE.

IT'S NOT A STATE TAKEOVER OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

>> THIS IS IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT THAT, GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO YOU, AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE INVOLVED FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> SO BRANDON, ANOTHER AREA OF FOCUS WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH MORE MONEY FOR READI GRANTS MADE AVAILABLE.

I TALK TO MANY MAYORS, THEY LOVE THIS PROGRAM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S INCREDIBLY POPULAR AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS, AS WELL QUITE FRANKLY STATE LAWMAKERS.

CAN THEY AFFORD TO PUT THE $500 MILLION INTO IT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED FOR?

MAYBE NOT, THERE'S LITTLE DOUBT THAT THEY WILL PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT THIS YEAR.

>> THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T RELEASED THEIR AGENDAS YET, BUT WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE SOME OF THEIR PRIORITIES THIS COMING WEEK?

>> WELL, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME CROSSOVER WITH THE GOVERNOR.

FROM BOTH PARTIES, KUWAIT QUITE FRANKLY.

EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS IS A PRIORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES AND LONG HAS BEEN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES.

BEYOND THAT, WE WILL FIND OUT SOON.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COVERAGE BEGINNING MONDAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

>>> WELL, DEMOCRATS ARE CLOSE TO THEIR FIRST OFFICIAL CANDIDATE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN FORMER STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JENNIFER McCORMICK.

McCORMICK WAS AN EDUCATOR, LOCAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE SHE WON A STUNNING UPSET VICTORY AS A REPUBLICAN IN 2016 TO BECOME STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

BUT SHE OFTEN CLASHED WITH GOP SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER EDUCATION POLICY.

AND MONTHS AFTER LEAVING THE JOB, McCORMICK CHANGED HER PARTY AFFILIATION.

THIS WEEK, SHE BEGAN INVITING PEOPLE TO DONATE TO THEY ARE EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FURTHER FUELING THE SPECULATION THAT SHE WILL BECOME DEMOCRAT'S FIRST OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.

>>> WEDNESDAY WAS FIRST DAY CANDIDATES COULD OFFICIALLY FILE TO BE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE MAY PRIMARY AND THREE DEMOCRATS IMMEDIATELY JUMPED IN THE RACE FOR BLOOMINGTON MAYOR.

KERRY THOMPSON, SUSAN SANDBERG AND DON GRIFFIN ARE LOOKING TO SUCCEED MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON WHO ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH HE WILL NOT SEEK A THIRD TERM.

THOMPSON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF I. U.

CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT.

SANDBERG IS THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND GRIFFIN WAS DEPUTY MAYOR UNDER HAMILTON BEFORE RESIGNING TO FOCUS ON THE RACE.

TERRE HAUTE'S DUKE BENNETT ANNOUNCED HE WILL RUN FOR A FIFTH TERM AS MAYOR.

AND IF HE WINS AND SERVES A FULL TERM, BENNETT WOULD HOLD THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR 20 YEARS.

HE SAYS IT'S A DECISION HE DOESN'T TAKE LIGHTLY.

>> I FELT LIKE I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT SO THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, GET SOME THINGS DOB.

WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES NOW IN FRONT OF US TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> BENNETT SAYS THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER AND POLICE STATION AND LANDING THE CASINO ARE BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT TOOK YEARS TO COMPLETE.

A REPUBLICAN BEN FETT WAS FIRST ELECT -- BENNETT WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2007 BY A NARROW MARGIN BUT WON REELECTION BY 3,000 VOTES AND WON IN 2015 AND 2019 BY A FEW HUNDRED VOTES.

>>> THE NCAA NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS HELPED TO MAKE NATIONAL HEADLINES ON CHRISTMAS WHEN INDIANA BASKETBALL PLAYER ANTHONY LEAL SURPRISED HIS SISTER FOR PAYING OFF HER STUDENT DEBT FOR CHRISTMAS.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS!

>> I DO.

IT'S ZERO NOW.

>> LIKE, ACTUALLY?

>> MM-HMM.

>> THANK YOU!

>> YES.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS!

>> OH, MY GOSH!

>> IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE POLICY WENT INTO EFFECT AND STUDENT-ATHLETES ARE CASHING IN.

BUT LURING AND KEEPING ELITE ATHLETES MEANS THE UNIVERSITIES NEED TO HAVE N.I.L.

OPPORTUNITIES LINED UP THAT MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

SO WHEN OHIO STATE FOOTBALL COACH RYAN DAY TOLD A GROUP OF COLUMBUS BUSINESS OWNERS HE NEEDED $13 MILLION IN N.I.L.

MONEY TO KEEP HIS ROSTER INTACT, PEOPLE TOOK NOTICE.

>> TOM ALLEN WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HALF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE FOR THEIR ATHLETES.

ON A WEEKLY RADIO SHOW, ALLEN SPOKE AT LENGTH ABOUT N.I.L.

LIMITING HOW ATHLETES MAKE MONEY.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE GAME, AND YOU ARE NOT ON THE TRAIN, YOU ARE GOING TO GET LEFT OUT AND RUN OVER.

>> BUT SCHOOLS LIKE INDIANA ARE GETTING RUN OVER BY THE OHIO STATES AND ALABAMAS OF THE FOOTBALL WORLDS.

ALABAMA COACH NICK SABAN SAID QUARTERBACK PRICE YOUNG EARNED MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN N.I.L.

ENDORSEMENTS BEFORE PLAYING HIS FIRST GAME TWO YEARS AGO.

HE'S MAKING THREE TIMES THAT NOW.

IT'S THOSE DEALS THAT INFLATE WHAT THE AVERAGE ATHLETE MAKES WHICH IS AROUND $3,700 ACCORDING TO OPEN DOORS A LEADING N.I.L.

COLLECTIVE.

>> THE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT SORT OF A GREAT EXPECTATIONS CONCERN, THAT STUDENT-ATHLETES THINK THAT THEY READ STORIES THAT MAKE NEWS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS QUARTERBACK THAT GETS A DEAL WITH A LAMBORGHINI DEALERSHIP AND THAT'S THE EXCEPTION.

>> LES MORRIS STARTED A NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS SCHOOL.

IT TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT THE UNDERPINNINGS OF THE POLICY, HOW TO WORK WITH N.I.L.

PARTNERS AND ADVISE STUDENT-ATHLETES.

A WHOLE COTTAGE INDUSTRY HAS SPRUNG UP TO MANAGE THE N.I.L.

COLLECTIVES.

>> THERE'S NOW INTERMEDIARY COMPANIES CALLED COLLECTIVES WHICH ARE SORT OF CLEARINGHOUSES TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS AND PAY THE STUDENT-ATHLETES.

>> I.U.

IS A PARTNER WITH OPEN DOORS WHICH RUNS THE INDIANA MARKETPLACE, A ONE-STOP SHOP ALL WHERE HOOSIER ATHLETES CAN BE PITCHED N.I.L.

STUDENTS, MAKE DEALS AND GET PAID.

UNIVERSITIES CANNOT FUND COLLECTIVES BUT THEY CAN FUND RAISE FOR THEM AND MARKET THEM.

ON OPEN DOORS, EACH ATHLETE'S PROFILE, N.I.L.

OPTIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION ARE LISTED.

>> I.U.

HAS AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE THAT -- WHO SOME OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS N.I.L.

IN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND THEN THEY WORK ON VARIOUS OUTSIDE GROUPS ON MARKETING AND STRATEGIC GROUPS.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A BIG MONEY MAKER.

DURING FIRST SIX MONTHS, A TIKTOK POST COULD BE AROUND $900 AND INSTAGRAM AROUND $500 AND A TWEET AROUND $75.

I.U.

WOMEN BASKETBALL STAR GRACE BURGER SAYS MOST OF THE TIME, COMPANIES REACH OUT TO HER FOR A PRODUCT ENDORSEMENT.

>> IF ME OR MY TEAMMATES REACH OUT.

WE FOUND THAT BUSINESSES ARE REALLY, REALLY OPEN AND EXCITED TO DO DEALS WITH US WHEN WE REACH OUT TO THEM FIRST.

>> HOOSIERS FOR GOOD SOLICITS DONATIONS AND COMPENSATES ATHLETES SUPPORTING MORE THAN 20 CHARITIES.

>> SO WE DEVELOPED THE CHARITABLE INCUBATOR PROGRAM TO ALLOW STUDENT-ATHLETES WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT A SPECIFIC CAUSE TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS TO US ABOUT SPECIFIC CHARITIES THEY WANT TO IMPACT AND WHAT THEY WILL DO TO IMPACT THEM AN WE CAN ENTER INTO N.I.L.

AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE STUDENT-ATHLETES AND HELP THEM RAISE THEIR VOICE.

>> THIS WAS AN ANONYMOUS $1 MILLION PLEDGE DONOR WAS MATCHED.

>> HE WITH ON WHAT TO GET AS MANY STUDENT-ATHLETES INVOLVED AND MAKING SURE WE ARE PAYING FAIR MARKET VALUE.

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE THE ORGANIZATION BANKROLLING $30 MILLION FOOTBALL BUDGET.

>> BURGER IS MORE THAN ONE OF TWO DOZEN ATHLETES PARTNERED WITH HOOSIERS FOR GOOD.

>> ANY TIME YOU CAN MAKE MONEY, THAT'S A GOOD PART OF IT, BUT IT'S KIND OF A DOUBLE BENEFIT IN THAT YOU MAKE MONEY WHILE HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING OUT THIS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE HOOSIERS FOR GOOD, SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY WILLING TO DO AND EXCITED ABOUT DOING EVEN IF THIS WAS NO MONEY INVOLVED.

>> THIS WAS NO N.I.L.

MONEY INVOLVED WHEN BURGER WAS RECRUITED TO INDIANA.

NOW WHAT N.I.L.

OPPORTUNITIES ARE WORTH PLAYS A ROLE WHEN RECRUITING.

>> WHEN YOU CAN GO INTO THE ATHLETE'S HOMES AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN DEALS ON WHAT KIND OF MONEY THEY ARE BRINGING IN, THAT GIVES THEM AN ADVANTAGE OVER SMALLER SCHOOLS OR OTHER SCHOOLS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT COMMUNITY INTEREST OR MARKET SIZE.

>> BURGER IS IN HER FIFTH SEASON AT I.U.

SHE SAYS N.I.

L. MONEY MAKES IT EASIER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN EXTRA YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY GRANTED BY THE NCAA DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> A LOT OF THESE TOP ATHLETES ARE STAYING AROUND, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF PLAYING THE SPORT BUT ALSO TO MAKE SOME MONEY WHILE THEY ARE DOING IT AND REALLY SET THEM UP FOR THEIR FUTURE IN LIFE AFTER SPORTS.

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

>>> OPEN SOURCE SAYS IT EXPECTS TOTAL N.I.L.

EARNINGS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES TO EXCEED $1 BILLION THIS YEAR.

>>> FOLLOWING A TWO-MONTH DECLINE IN A YEAR OF WEAK SEDIMENT, THE AG ECONOMY WAS MORE POSITIVE.

THEY WERE OPTIMISTIC IN THEIR FUTURE EXPECTATIONS.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTH HAS THIS REPORT.

THE AG PROMPTER BAROMETER GATHERS INFORMATION FROM 400 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.

MICHAEL LAGELMYER AT PURDUE SAYS THE INCREASE CAME AS AT A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

>> IT WAS SURPRISING HERE IN MANY WAYS AND THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FUNDAMENTALS FOR CORN AND SOYBEANS AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMODITIES, A LOT CHANGED, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING OF '22 TO END OF '22.

THE HEIGHTENED PRICES HELPED.

LOOKINGNOT FUTURE IT'S DIFFICULT TO GAUGE WHERE PRICES WILL GO IN 2023, BUT FOR NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE HIGHER PRICES ARE HERE TO STAY.

>> RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST, WHETHER THAT BE FEED COST FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION OR INPUT COSTS FOR CROP PRODUCTION, THEY ARE VERY HIGH.

I JUST CAN'T SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THAT WILL PARTICULARLY CHANGE RAPIDLY.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>>> THE WAR IN THE UKRAINE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND COVID IN CHINA ALL HAVE A MASSIVE EFFECT ON INPUT COSTS IN AGRICULTURE, WHILE THOSE DON'T LOOK TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON, FARMERS ARE AT LEAST BREATHING A BIT OF A SIGH OF RELIEF FOR 2022.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," BEDFORD IS THE LATEST RURAL COMMUNITY TO LOSE SOME ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE WHEN ONE OF ITS HOSPITALS CLOSED LAST MONTH.

AND ANY STANDARDS FOR TEACHING SCIENCE THAT INCLUDE CLIMATE CHANGE IS BOOSTING THE STATE'S ACADEMIC PROFILE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS HUMANS COULD FACE A REPRODUCTIVE CRISIS DUE TO A STEEP DECLINE IN SPERM COUNT IN MALE FERTILITY OVERALL OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS.

ETHAN SANDWEISS HAS THIS REPORT.

>> THE RECENT HEALTH STUDIES SUGGESTS THAT MALE SPERM COUNTS HAVE DECLINED BY MORE THAN 50% GLOBALLY OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS.

OFTEN REPORTED AS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, MALE INFERTILITY IS AN OVERALL MARKER OF MALE HEALTH.

WHILE FERTILITY AND UROLOGY EXPERTS NOTE THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION, THIS MEDICAL REVIEW PROVIDES CONCRETE AND UPDATED FACTS REGARDING THE DECLINE IN SPERM COUNT ON A GLOBAL LEVEL.

>> WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING SPERM OR FERTILITY PARAMETERS DECLINING IN MEN AT GREATER THAN 2.5% PER YEAR.

IT'S PRETTY ALARMING AND I THINK MOST REPRODUCTIVE ANDROLOGYISTS WOULD DEGREE WE ARE SEEING THIS DECLINING.

THE QUESTION IS: WHAT'S CAUSING IT?

>> EXPERTS NOTE THE DECLINE IN MALE FERTILITY CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO JUST ONE FACTOR AS THE COMBINATION OF SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL, LIFESTYLE AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE AT PLAY.

>> MORE PATIENTS, MORE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN THE U.S. ARE OVERWEIGHT.

THEY ARE TOBACCO SMOKERS.

THEY HAVE STRESS.

THEY ARE NOT SLEEPING WELL.

THEY HAVE SEDENTARY LIFESTYLES.

AND THEN ALL THE CHEMICALS BEING USED NOWADAYS.

>> FERTILITY CAN BE AFFECTED BY EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AND MEDICAL ITEMS LIKE OBESITY AND DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND OTHER.

JAMES DONAHUE IS A FERTILITY SPECIALIST IN INDIANAPOLIS.

HE NOTES SEVERAL IN INDIANAPOLIS WORK IN FACTORIES AND CAN AFFECT SPERM HEALTH.

EVEN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS WITH NO MEDICAL HEALTHY CAN HAVE A LOW SPERM COUNT WHICH IS WHY GETTING TESTED IS AN INFORMATIVE FIRST STEP.

>> YOU CAN BE COMPLETELY HEALTHY, YOU KNOW, RUNNING MARATHONS OR WHATEVER, BUT STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE DO GET CHECKED AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TESTING, IT GIVES US A LOT OF INFORMATION AND TELLS US WHERE TO GO.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>>> TESTING CONSISTS OF GETTING A SEMEN ANALYSIS, AND A BLOOD TEST THAT CHECKS THE MALE PATIENT'S HORMONAL PANEL.

IF ABNORMALITIES ARE FOUND, BOTH DOCTORS SAY THERE ARE BEHAVIORAL LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

>>> WELL, LAST MONTH, ASCENSION SAINT VINCENT DUNN MEDICAL CENTER IN BEDFORD CLOSED ITS DOOR, LEAVING I.U.

HEALTH AS THE SOLE EMERGENCY CARE PROVIDER IN THE CITY.

WTIU'S CLAYTON BAUMGARTH DIGS INTO THE ISSUE OF MEDICAL CARE IN RURAL AREAS.

[ SIRENS ] >> IMAGINE HAVING SEVERE CHEST PAINS IN YOUR HOME AND THEN HAVING TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL TO SEE IF YOU ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

FOR MANY HOOSIERS, THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL.

IT'S EXACTLY HOW THOSE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS LIVE EVERY DAY.

AFTER OPERATING IN BEDFORD FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS ASCENSION SAINT DUNN MEDICAL CENTER CLOSED ON DECEMBER 16th.

WHILE I.U.

HEALTH BEDFORD IS STILL OPEN, THEY WILL BE STRAINED TAKING ON THE NEW INFLEX OF PATIENTS WHEN THE FLU, RSV, AND MORE HITS.

>> WE ARE NOW STAFFING THE CLINIC ON SUNDAY.

WE HAVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON HOURS.

WE DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY.

WE ARE STAFFING THAT WITH AN ADDITIONAL PROVIDER.

>> BAILEY HAD EXPERIENCED WORKING IN HEALTHCARE IN RURAL AREAS.

FOR HIM, THIS ISSUE IS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN SOME NOT CLOSED BUT CUT BACK ON SERVICES.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HOSPITALS THAT HAVE CUT BACK ON OBSTETRIC SERVICES AND THEN OTHERS ARE NOT PULLING THEIR WEIGHT FINANCIALLY.

SO IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR RURAL FACILITIES.

>> CRAWFORD COUNTY IS ANOTHER AREA IN INDIANA THAT STRUGGLED WITH SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE.

PEOPLE THERE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE ISSUES WITH NOT HAVING A WELL-EQUIPPED MEDICAL PROVIDER NEARBY.

>> WE, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAVE OPENED A SECOND E.M.S.

STATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND TO THINGS QUICKER.

IT MAKES IT SO URGENT TO GET THERE AS QUICKLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TRANSFER SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY FOR ALMOST ANY SITUATIONS.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS RURAL AREAS FACE IS ATTRACTING TALENT.

THAT REQUIRES HAVING GOOD AMENITIES BUT HAVING GOOD AMENITIES REQUIRES TALLENT.

IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE OF WHICH COMES FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG.

>> YOU NEED THOSE KIND OF AMENITIES IN ORDER TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND IN ORDER TO ATTRACT WORKFORCE, BUT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT THOSE TYPE OF AMENITIES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POPULATION BASE.

SO IT'S KIND OF -- YOU ARE TRYING TO DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SOME IDEAS FLOWING AROUND TO HELP THESE AREAS ARE INCREASED ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH AND ROTATING ROSTER OF SPECIALISTS THAT VISIT COMMUNITIES IN NEED.

FOR BELCHER A HYBRID OF THOSE TWO IDEAS COULD BE THE MOSTING ACCESSIBLE FOR MOST OF THEM.

>> IF WE HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR WHERE YOU COULD MEET WITH A NURSE PRACTITIONER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN THEY CAN PULL IN SPECIALISTS AS NEEDED, IT COULD CERTAINLY CUT DOWN ON HOW MANY TRIPS YOU HAVE TO MAKE OUT OF THE AREA.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THE BIGGEST HURDLE RURAL AREAS FACE IS SIMPLY THAT LESS POPULATION EQUALS LESS INCOME FOR HOSPITALS.

>> THERE'S JUST FEWER PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE OBJECTIVES OF A HOSPITAL OR A CLINIC, THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE MONEY.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE MONEY IF YOU HAVE YOUR CLINICS AND YOUR HOSPITALS IN PLACES WHERE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE.

>> THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY HAS ONLY EXACERBATED THE ISSUES.

LARGE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS WERE BUYING INTO SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND THEN THEY OPERATE AS A SYSTEM.

THEIR OBJECT SIEVEIVE IS TO TRY TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, RATHER THAN WHAT IS BEST FOR X SMALL CITY.

>> THIS IS ARGUABLY WHAT HAPPENED IN BEDFORD.

>> ST. VINCENT, PART OF ASCENSION BOUGHT THE FORMER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 12 YEARS AGO.

ASCENSION DID NOT RESPOND NOR FOR -- FOR COMMENT BUT DID SHARE A STATEMENT WITH MEDIA.

AFTER CONDUCTING AN UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR THE HOSPITAL, OTHERS ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO EFFICIENTLY SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF BEDFORD AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

IN OTHER WORDS ASCENSION IS LEAVING IT TO I.U.

HEALTH TO SERVE THE BEDFORD COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF ITS ABILITY.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>>> INDIANA IS ON TRACK TO IMPROVE THE WAY IT TEACHES CLIMATE CHANGE.

NEW STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS THAT REQUIRE MORE CLIMATE EDUCATION WILL GO INTO FULL EFFECT BY NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT REBECCA THIELE REPORTS AN EXPERT SAYS INDIANA TEACHERS MAY NEED TO DO MORE TO PREPARE FOR THOSE CHANGES.

>> TWO YEARS AGO, INDIANA RECEIVED A D FOR HOW IT TEACHES CLIMATE FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION AND THE TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK EDUCATION FUND.

SINCE THEN, THE STATE ADDED MORE CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS TO THE SCIENCE STANDARDS AND EXTRA ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STANDARDS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS.

NOW, INDIANA WOULD PROBABLY EARN A B OR A MINUS SAYS GLENN BRANCH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE N.E.S.C.

>> JUST HAVING THE STANDARDS IS NOT ENOUGH.

MANY WILL NEED TO GET TRAINING TO GET THEM UP TO SPEED.

STATES LIKE WASHINGTON, MAINE, AND CALIFORNIA HAVE PASSED LAWS TO FUND THOSE EFFORTS.

WITHOUT GOOD CLIMATE EDUCATION, INDIANA STUDENTS MIGHT NOT PERFORM WELL ON STATE AND NATIONAL SCIENCE TESTS AND THAT COULD MAKE INDIANA LESS ATTRACTIVE TO CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> ACCORDING TO A YALE CLIMATE OPINION SURVEY, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 70% OF ADULT HOOSIERS BELIEVE KIDS SHOULD BE TAUGHT ABOUT THE CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND PODGE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WARMING.

DON'T LET THE HOLIDAY COLD SNAP FOOL YOU.

WINTERS IN INDIANA ARE GETTING WARMER ON AVERAGE, THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND REPORTING COLLABORATION CLIMATE CENTRAL.

THE AVERAGE WINTER TEMPERATURE HAS GONE UP FOR EVERY INDIANA CITY STUDIED SINCE 1970.

PARTS OF THE STATE SAW AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 2 DEGREES TO 4 TO 5 DEGREES.

CLIMATE CENTRAL SAYS WARMER WINTERS CAN LEAD TO LOWER FRUIT CROP, AND MORE DISEASE-CARRYING PESTS LIKE MOSQUITOES AND TICKS.

WELL, THAT'S OUR NEWS FOR THE WEEK AND WE WILL CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: