>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," DRUG USERS HAVE BEGUN MIXING THE ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER XYLAZINE WITH HEROIN AND FENTANYL WITH LETHAL CONSEQUENCES.

>> TURN ON BIG LIGHTS.

I'M LIKE, HEY, YOU NEED TO GET UP.

AND I NOTICED SHE WASN'T MOVING.

AND SO THEN I CALLED 911.

>> OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM XYLAZINE IN THE MIDWEST ROSE FROM 57 TO 321 IN 2021.

A LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, INDIANA UNIVERSITY ELIMINATED ITS OFFICE OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS AND DIVIDING THE ROLES AMONG THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

>> IT BASICALLY EMBEDDED RESPONSIBILITY VERY DEEPLY IN MANY PLACES.

AND IMPROVED COORDINATION AMONGST THOSE PLACES.

>> BUT IN A QUALITIES AND PAY AND TENURE FOR MEN AND WOMEN ON IU'S FACULTY REMAIN.

>>> AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU ON SOME OF THE BILLS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE INDIANA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM SET A RECORD SEASON RECORD WITH THEIR 25th WIN THURSDAY NIGHT AT HOME AGAINST MICHIGAN.

AND WITH TWO GAMES LEFT IN THE SEASON, THE HOOSIERS ARE ON THE VERGE OF THEIR FIRST BIG TEN TITLE SINCE 1983.

PAT BEANE REPORTS.

>> WINNING GAMES IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE IU WOMEN UNDER HEAD COACH TERI MOREN.

THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC-SHORTENED SINCE IN 2021 AND THIS IS THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT YEAR THAT THE HOOSIERS WILL HAVE WON 20 GAMES BUT NEVER LIKE THIS YEAR.

WITH TWO GAMES LEFT, THEY ARE 25-1 OVERALL AND 15-1 IN THE BIG TEN AND RANKED NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION.

A WIN ON SUNDAY OVER PURDUE WILL CLINCH A SHARE OF THEIR FIRST CONFERENCE TITLE SINCE 1983, THE NICARAGUAURAL -- THE INAUGURAL SEASON FOR BIG 10 BASKETBALL.

>> FROM THE BEGINNING THIS GROUP THIS LOFTY GOALS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL, THE GOALS THAT WE WANT, WE HAVE GOT TO WIN A LOT OF GAMES.

I WILL ALWAYS SAY WE HAVE TO WIN ALL OF THEM.

WE HAVE TO WIN A LOT OF GAMES IN ORDER TO POSITION OURSELF TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> THURSDAY NIGHT'S WIN OVER MICHIGAN WAS INDIANA'S NINTH WIN OF THE SEASON OVER A TEAM RANKED IN THE TOP 25.

THE MOST OF ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY.

SENIOR CENTER MacKENZIE LEADS THE WAY.

SHE LEADS THE LEAGUE WITH 48 BLOCKED SHOTS.

>> WE GO INTO EVERY GAME WITH THE SAME MINDSET, THE SAME GAME PLAN, BECAUSE WE KNOW IN THE BIG TEN, EVEN IF THE TEAM IS NOT RANKED, THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS AND COME IN.

WE KNOW WE WILL GET EVERY TEAM IN THE BIG TEN'S BEST.

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

>>> THE HOOSIERS HOME FINALE ON SUNDAY AGAINST PURDUE IS SOLD OUT.

>>> A MIX OF ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER AND FENTANYL CALLED TRANQ DOPE.

SOME ARE REFERRING TO AS ZOMBIE DRUG.

BUT THE TRUTH BEHIND TRANQ DOPE MAY BE MORE COMPLICATED ETHAN SAN WEISSSANDWEISS HAS MORE.

>> LARRY McCALL HAS LIVED IN NINEVEH HER WHOLE LIFE.

IT'S WHERE SHE RAISED HER DAUGHTER CHEYENNE.

IN 2021, AN UNFAMILIAR DRUG CALLED XYLAZINE CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERDOSE THAT TOOK HER LIFE.

>> SHE WAS DOING REALLY WELL.

SHE HAD A JOB DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND SHE HAD A TRAGIC IN HER LIFE, WITH HER BOYFRIEND, AND SHE USED AGAIN AND NOBODY KNEW SHE USED.

AND I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND HER IN HER ROOM.

>> THAT MAY SHEYENNE HAD BEEN CLEAN FOR TEN MONTHS AND ACTIVE IN A RECOVERY NETWORK.

SHE WAS LIVING WITH HER MOTHER LORI AND 6-YEAR-OLD SON JORDAN.

HER MOM SAYS SHEYENNE'S BOYFRIEND LEFT HER AND SHE SNORTED FENTANYL ONE LAST TIME.

>> I SHOOK HER AND SHE WASN'T MOVING.

AND I SAID, HEY, GET UP!

DIDN'T MOVE.

DIDN'T RESPOND AGAIN.

I TURNED ON THE BIG LIGHT.

I WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU NEED TO GET UP AND I NOTICED SHE WASN'T MOVING.

AND SO THEN I CALLED 911 AND HER SON WAS NEXT TO HER IN THE BED.

>> THE CORONER FOUND SIX SUBSTANCES IN SHEYENNE'S BLOODSTREAM, ONE WAS XYLAZINE, AN ANIMAL SEDATIVE THAT DEALERS MIX WITH HEROIN AND FENTANYL, CREATING A COCKTAIL CALLED TRANQ DOPE.

IT CAUSES DEPRESSED BREATHING AND A REDUCED HEART RATE.

FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST JASON BARRETT SAYS THE WAY XYLAZINE ACTS WITH OTHER DRUGS IN TRANQ DOPE CAN MAKE DEADLY SUBSTANCES EVEN MORE DANGEROUS.

>> I THINK THERE DEFINITELY IS ADDED RISK, AND IT'S HARD TO GIVE A NUMBER, BUT DEFINITELY IT INCREASES FOR SURE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> XYLAZINE ISN'T APPROVED FOR HUMAN USE.

IT'S BEEN MIXED WITH OTHER DRUGS FOR YEARS, BUT ONLY RECENTLY GARNERED MEDIA ATTENTION.

ITS MOST DRAMATIC SIDE EFFECT IS THE ROTTING FLESH THAT SOME USERS DEVELOP AROUND INJECTION SITES.

DOCTORS ARE NOT SURE WHY THAT HAPPENED.

>> SO YOU WILL GET THAT NECROSIS, MEANING LIKE BLACKING, SCAR TISSUE OR BLACKING TISSUE IN GENERAL AND ULTIMATELY THERE'S NO BLOOD SUPPLY.

AND I READ REPORTS WHERE LIMBS, IT SEEMS, HAVE TO BE AMPUTATED.

>> HOSPITALS DONE REGULARLY CHECK PEOPLE FOR XYLAZINE.

THERE'S XYLAZINE POSITIVE OVERDOSES ROSE FROM 57 IN 2020, TO 351 IN 2021.

BY CONTRAST, THE PREVALENCE OF XYLAZINE IN DRUGS TESTED ROSE BY ONLY 7%.

BECAUSE XYLAZINE ISN'T A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, IT FALLS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEA.

SPECIAL AGENT MICHAEL GANNON SAYS HIS AGENCY'S FOCUS REMAINS ON SCHEDULED NARCOTICS.

>> XYLAZINE IS OFTEN MIXED WITH OTHER DRUGS, WHETHER IT'S HEROIN, COCAINE, OR FENTANYL.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S JUST COMING UP BY ITSELF.

>> USERS USUALLY DON'T WANT DRUGS MIXED WITH XYLAZINE.

IT'S ADDED BY DEALERS TO EXTEND THE EFFECTS OF FENTANYL, WHICH PROVIDES A SHORT LASTING HIGH.

GANNON SAYS EVEN WHEN THE TWO SUBSTANCES ARE COMBINED, FENTANYL POSES A FAR GREATER THREAT.

>> WE GOT TO GET PEOPLE EDUCATED AND REALLY LET THEM KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS, BECAUSE IT'S DEVASTATING TALKING TO THE PARENTS THAT LOSE A LOVED ONE.

>> VICE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANA CENTER FOR RECOVERY CHAD SABORA WANTS TO DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT XYLAZINE THAT HE SAYS ARE HARMFUL TO USERS.

>> CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN IN SOCIAL MEDIA, ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE EFFECTIVE AGAINST XYLAZINE.

AND PEOPLE IN MOTION ARE LIKE, YES, IT'S NOT OPE OPIOID.

>> HE SAYS THE PORTRAYAL OF ADDICTS BY THE MEDIA TENDS TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AFRAID OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION, RATHER THAN TREATING THEM WITH DIGNITY.

>> THEY HAVE BECOME SO PETRIFIED BY THE MEDIA, AND THEY LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE LEPERS IN THIS PLAGUE.

AND THAT'S THE FARTHEST THING FROM THE TRUTH.

>> LIKE GANNON, SABORA EMPHASIZES THAT XYLAZINE IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT ELEMENT IN A MUCH LARGER CRISIS.

>> XYLAZINE IS EITHER GOING TO STAY OR GET PHASED OUT, BUT AFTER THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, SIX MONTHS AND A YEAR FROM THEN, IT WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE.

THIS WILL BE A NEVER ENDING, RINSE AND REPEAT UNTIL WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE ISSUE.

>> McCALL DOESN'T KNOW ANYONE OTHER THAN HER DAUGHTER WHO DIED FROM TRANQ DOPE, BUT SHE KNOWS OTHER PEOPLE IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY WHO LOST FAMILIES TO FENTANYL.

SHE WANTS TO BE SURE THAT THE DEALER WHO SOLD THE FATAL DOSE TO HER DAUGHTER, TO GET JUST NICE I MAY NEVER GET JUSTICE, BUT I WILL FIGHT UNTIL THE END.

UNTIL I'M NOT BREATHING NO MORE, I WILL FIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE TO.

BECAUSE MY GRANDSON IS GROWING UP IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT.

AND I JUST HAVE TO KEEP HIM AWAY FROM ALL THE BAD PEOPLE.

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

>> THE MONROE COUNTY CORONER CONFIRMED THAT XYLAZINE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN LOCAL OVERDOSE DEATHS BUT THE SUBSTANCE HAS APPEARED IN MARION AND BARTHOLOMEW COUNTIES.

>>> WE ARE JOINED NOW BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTH BY THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, CLAY DON.

>> THANKS, JOE.

INDIANA GOVERNOR HERRIC ERIK HOLCOMB BROUGHT HIS GOALS.

ONE WOULD PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BUT ONLY IF THEY AGREE TO PROVIDE SEVERAL CORE SERVICES.

>> IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO, THAT SENDS A SIGNAL OUT TO THE GREATER WORLD THAT YOU ARE -- THAT YOU ARE FORGOING INVESTING IN CITIZENS' PUBLIC CORE HEALTH SERVICES.

>> HOLCOMB ALSO DISCUSSED THE READI GRANT PROGRAM, HIS MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

>>> SECRETARY STATE IS ALREADY BEING ACCUSED OF AN ETHICAL VIOLATION.

MORALES HIRED HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR A NEW POSITION WITH A SIX FIGURE SALARY.

WHILE CRITICS RAISE QUESTIONS OF NEPOTISM.

STATE LAW DOESN'T PROHIBIT FROM HIRING BROTHER-IN-LAWS OR SISTER-IN-LAWS.

HE WAS OUSTED FROM LOW-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE.

>>> AN AMERICAN-JEWISH COMMITTEE.

ANTI-SEMITISM IS GETTING WORSE ACCORDING TO A REPORT.

40% OF JEWS IN AMERICA FEEL LESS SECURE THAN THEY DID A YEAR AGO.

IT SAYS 4 IN 10 JEWISH AMERICANS ALTER THEIR BEHAVIORS ONLINE OR IN PERSON, TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY UNDER ANTISEMITISM FEARS.

>> THESE RESULTS ARE PROBABLY UNDERREPORTED AND SOMETIMES UNREPORTED.

SO MY OWN SENSE IS THAT WHILE THE FIGURES WE HAVE TELL A PRETTY TROUBLING STORY, THEY PROBABLY DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

>> THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE SAYS THERE WERE A RECORD 2,717 INCIDENTS OF ASSAULT, HARASSMENT AND VANDALISM RECORDED IN 2021.

>>> TOXIC CHEMICALS DURING A TRAIN DERAILMENT IN OHIO ARE NOT AFFECTING THE WATER QUALITY FOR THE HOOSIERS LIVING ALONG THE RIVER.

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS HAVE SPREAD MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE POLLUTION, CLAIMING IT WILL AFFECT THE DRINKING WATER FOR EVERYONE IN THE OHIO RIVER BASIN.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

SCIENTISTS SAY THE POLLUTION IS NOW LESS THAN THEY CAN DETECT.

>>> A NEW ONLINE MAP ALLOWS ANYONE TO SEE WHICH MONROE COUNTY PROPERTY DEEDS CONTAIN RESTRICTIONS BASED ON A PERSON'S RACE.

THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE MONROE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEED'S OFFICE, TO PUBLISH.

THE COVENANTS ARE ILLEGAL TODAY, THEY WERE COMMON THROUGHOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20th 20th CENTURY.

>> IT WASN'T JUST HAPPENING HERE IN MONROE COUNTY.

THIS WAS A NATIONWIDE THING THAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> THE MAP -- THE MAP CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE MONROE COUNTY RECORDER'S WEBSITE.

>>> AND FINALLY, SINGLE PEOPLE ARE STIFLING THEIR OUTLOOKS ON DATING, ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY CONDUCTED BY KINSEY, RESEARCHERS AND MATCH SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS.

KINSEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JUSTIN GARCIA SAYS MANY ARE INCREASINGLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY LOOK FOR IN A PART.

THE TREND CONSCIOUS DATING HAS INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS WITH SINGLES USING THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS AS A DETERMINING FACTOR IN FINDING A PARTNER.

>> SINGLES ARE SAYING, I WANT SOMEONE WHO IS A GOOD MATCH.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, THEY FOCUS MUCH MORE ON QUALITIES OF THAT PERSON, THAT THEY THINK MAKE AN INTERESTING PARTNERSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP.

>>> AND JOE, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT 58% OF PEOPLE SAID IT'S A DEAL BREAKER IF SOMEONE IS NOT OPEN MINDED TO DIFFERENT POLITICAL BELIEFS.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU, CLAYTON.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," DISPARITIES IN PAY AND TENURE REMAIN BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES ON THE IU FACULTY, YEARS AFTER THE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS WAS CLOSED.

>>> AND THE SYCAMORE LAND TRUST HAS RESTORED A 31-ACRE PRESERVE IN NORTHEAST MONROE COUNTY TO THE ORIGINAL WETLAND STATE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

INDIANA LAWMAKERS HAVE FILED A HISTORIC SLATE THE LGBTQ LEGISLATION THIS SESSION FROM BANS ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH TO LIMITING CLASSROOM CONVERSATIONS.

>> KATE BLAIR IS THE DIRECTOR ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE ACLU OF INDIANA.

HE IS SAYS THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS SEVEN BILLS INCLUDING LAST YEAR'S BAN ON TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRL'S SCHOOL SPORTS.

THIS YEAR, THERE ARE NEARLY TWO DOZEN.

BLAIR SAYS THE SLATE OF HATE IS BACKLASH FROM MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND THE 2019 HATE CRIMES LAW.

>> WE WERE NOT FACING THESE KINDS OF AWFUL PIECES OF LEGISLATION HERE AND NOW WE HAVE COMPLETELY FLIPPED IT ON ITS HEAD AND WE ARE REVIVING THESE OLD TROCHES THAT WERE USED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE BACK.

>> AND IT'S PART OF A NATIONAL PUSH TO PASS ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION.

MORE THAN 300 ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED IN STATEHOUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN ANTI-LGBTQ GROUPS HERE IN INDIANA, THAT HAVE LOBBYING POWER.

THIS YEAR, AND I WOULD SAY LAST YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN MORE OUT-OF-STATE ANTI-LGBTQ PLAYERS COME TO THE TABLE.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER BILLS BEING DEBATED AT THE STATE HOUSE AS WE NEAR THE HALFWAY POINT OF THIS YEAR'S SESSION.

TO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE GOINGS ON IN INDIANAPOLIS, WE'RE JOINED BY LIZ DeSANTIS FROM THE NEWSROOM.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, LIZ.

>> THANKS, JOE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO BREAK DOWN HERE FOR YOU TODAY.

UP FIRST, LAWMAKERS WON'T VOTE THIS SESSION ON A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

BUT IN AN HISTORIC MOVE, A COMMITTEE DID HEAR TESTIMONY ON THE ISSUE THIS WEEK AND THAT'S THE FARTHEST THIS DEBATE HAS EVER GOTTEN.

THE BILL WOULD HAVE REMOVED PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE CAUGHT WITH LESS THAN 2 OUNCES OF POT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DECRIM HAPPEN JUST OUT OF PURELY A POSITION OF COMPASSION AND GOOD CONSCIOUS AND CARING FOR THOSE WHO SERVED US.

>> THE BILL'S AUTHOR SAYS HE'S GOING TO CONSIDER SOME OF THE FEEDBACK HE GOT THIS SESSION, AND THEN REINTRODUCE THE TOPIC NEXT YEAR.

>> AND LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SOME HOOSIERS TO GET SNAP BENEFITS OR FOOD STAMPS.

A BILL ON THE WAY TO THE HOUSE MAKES IT SO FOLKS WHO ARE OLDER THAN 60 OR HAVE A DISABILITY CAN GO THREE YEARS WITHOUT RENEWING THEIR APPLICATION.

LOW-INCOME SAYS SNAP CAN BE COMPLICATED AND PROVIDE ONLY LIMITED BENEFITS.

THE BILL STIPULATES THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE WITHOUT DISABILITIES WILL STILL HAVE TO RENEW EVERY 12 MONTHS.

>>> G.O.P.

LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING FOR TOUGHER VOTE BY MAIL RESTRICTIONS.

LEGISLATION THAT CLEARED A COMMITTEE THIS WEEK WOULD REQUIRE VOTERS TO INCLUDE THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

AND ANOTHER I.D.

MEASURE ON THEIR MAIL-IN APPLICATIONS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING.

THAT SAME REQUIREMENT REQUIRES FOR ONLINE VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATIONS.

THE MEASURE ALSO BANS ANYONE FROM MARKETING OR HIGHLIGHTING THE ABSENTEE BALANCE LOT APPLICATION.

>>> A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED HOOSIERS DEAL WITH NEGLIGENT LANDLORDS WON'T GO ANY FURTHER THIS SESSION.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE CREATED A RENT ESCROW SYSTEM, MEANING IF LANDLORDS AREN'T MAKING NECESSARY REPAIRS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, LIKE ELECTRICITY, HEAT AND WATER, THE REPRESENTER COULD GO INTO COURT -- RENTER COULD GO INTO COURT AND PAY THEIR RENT TO A THIRD PARTY THAT WOULD WITHHOLD THE RENT FROM THE LANDLORD UNTIL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS ARE MADE.

LAWMAKERS REFERRED THE ISSUE TO A SUMMER STUDY COMMITTEE.

>>> AND PARENTS, ED INDICATORS AND -- EDUCATORS AND ADVOCATES ARGUED FOR A BILL THAT WOULD AFFECT A LIBRARY FROM USING THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE AS A LEGAL DEFENSE.

THE LEGISLATION IS A RESPONSE TO PARENTS WHO CLAIM SCHOOL LIBRARIES CONTAIN PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT.

THE CRITICS SAY IT COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO PROSECUTING EDUCATORS FOR PROVIDING BOOKS TO CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS.

THE BILL PASSED THE COMMITTEE AND ON THE WAY TO THE FULL SENATE.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD APPLY ONLY TO SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND NOT TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

>>> AND FINALLY, LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL TO PROVIDE STATE FUNDED FIREARM TRAINING TO TEACHERS WHO WANT TO CARRY GUNS IN SCHOOLS.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT WOULD GIVE TEACHERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND STUDENTS IF NEEDED.

CRITICS SAY IT WOULD MEAN MORE GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE PREDOMINANTLY ON PARTY LINES.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT IN THE CURRENT FORM, THE BILL WOULD STILL NOT MANDATE HANDGUN TRAINING.

IT WOULD BE VOLUNTARY WITH ABOUT 40 HOURS OF INSTRUCTIONS AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS.

>>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, LIZ, FOR THE UPDATES.

>>> DESPITE STRIDES WOMEN HAVE MADE IN ACADEMIA, MEN STILL PLACED ON A TENURE TRACK MORE OFTEN AND HAVE HIGHER SALARIES.

OMOPEN IN 1972, I.U.

'S OFFICE OF WOMEN AFFAIR, DEALT WITH HARASSMENT, AND CREATED NETWORK STUNS AND PROVIDED GUIDANCE FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS.

THE OFFICE CLOSED IN 2012, THE WORK CONTINUES IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS.

>> THE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS O.W.A.

WAS INITIATED BY WOMEN ON CAMPUS WHO WANTED BETTER AVENUES OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT.

JEAN ROBINSON HEADED THE OFFICE FROM 1998 TO 2003.

SHE LED ONE OF ITS LARGEST PIECES OF RESEARCH, THE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.

PUBLISHED IN 2002, IT COLLECTED DATA ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SALARY, TENURE AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS FOR WOMEN.

>> YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANT THIS JUST TO BE A STUDY THAT WAS JUST GOING TO BE PUT ON A BOOKCASE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WOULD BE THE END OF IT.

NOBODY WOULD EVER LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> WHEN THE I.U.

PROVOST ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CLOSE THE OFFICE AND DISTRIBUTE ITS WORK, SHE WORRIED THAT SOME THINGS LIKE RESEARCH WOULD COME TO AN END.

>> THERE WAS KIND OF A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE ON CAMPUS WHO CARED.

I BELIEVE THAT STILL EXISTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY PARTICULAR INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE THAT BRINGS THEM TOGETHER IN THE SAME WAY THAT WOMEN'S AFFAIRS DID.

>> THE HISTORY OF O.W.A.

CANNING FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES ON WELL'S LIBRARY, 40 YEARS OF CORRESPONDENCE, MEETING NOTES, STUDIES AND FEEDBACK ARE ALL THERE.

>> KATIE PILACHOWSKI SERVED AS INTERRIM O.W.A.

DEAN IN 2007.

SHE SHARED ROBINSON'S CONCERNS INITIALLY BUT SAID SHE HAS SEEN IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXCELLENCE OF WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY.

>> IT EMBEDDED RESPONSIBILITY VERY DEEPLY IN MANY PLACES AND IMPROVED COORDINATION AMONGST THOSE PLACES IN RESPONDING TO THOSE ISSUES.

I THINK -- I THINK IT WAS -- I THINK IT WAS THE TIME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED EARLIER.

>> SHE DOES THINK PAY EQUITY IS AN ISSUE AND WANTS A STUDY PUBLISHED.

ACCORDING TO THE CHRONICAL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR A MAN PROFESSOR AT I.U.

IN 2020, WAS MORE THAN $120,000, COMPARED TO $112,000 FOR A WOMAN.

AND MANY MORE MEN HAVE TENURE THAN WOMEN, 687 TO 324.

ON TEN YOU'RE TRACK, I.U.

HAS 203 AND 176 WOMEN.

ELIJAH PALVALKO AND CAROL McCORD'S OFFICE WORK CLOSELY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OF INEQUALITY.

PALVALKO SAYS I.U.

IS HIRING MORE WOMEN, PUSHING THEM TOWARDS PARITY WITH MEN AND INITIATIVES WITHIN HER OFFICE, LIKE THE SCHOLARLY WRITING PROGRAM, IN WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES ONCE HIRED.

>> WE WORK REALLY HARD TO NOT JUST CREATE PROGRAMS THAT WILL FILL UP PEOPLE'S TIME.

BUT TO REALLY -- REALLY FIND THINGS THAT KIND OF ADD -- YOU KNOW, ADD VALUE TO FACULTY SO THAT THEY CAN DO THEIR WORK WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, TAKING AWAY THE TIME.

>> THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY, WHERE McCORD WORKS ADDRESSES COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.

OFTEN IF A COMPLAINT DOESN'T VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW OR UNIVERSITY POLICY, THEIR OFFICES HANDLE IT TOGETHER.

SHE DEALT WITH COMPLAINTS AT THE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS.

>> SO TO MY MIND, WHAT I SEE IS THAT OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY, DEAN OF STUDENTS AND THIS OFFICE ARE REALLY PROVIDING ALL OF THE SERVICES WE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT AT THE TIME.

AND A MUCH MORE ORGANIZED, SYSTEMIC AND I WOULD SAY THOROUGH WAY TOO.

SO WE ALSO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

>> I.U.

ADOPTED A NEW SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND HARASSMENT POLICY IN 2015, TO OUTLINE THE GUIDELINES FOR CONSENT AND AVENUES FOR REPORTING AND TITLE IX WAS AMENDED TO COVER EMPLOYEES.

JENNY KINCAID WHO HEAD THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY SAYS IT HAS HANDLED AN INCREASED NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SINCE.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT MEANS THAT IT'S HAPPENING MORE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS.

I THINK IT'S JUST THERE'S NOW A PLACE FOR THOSE COMPLAINTS TO GO MORE CENTRALLY.

>> McCORD AND PALVALKO NOTED MORE WOMEN HOLD LEADERSHIP ROLES AT I. U.

AND CITE PROTECTION OF CATEGORIES AS BENCHMARKS OF PROGRESS.

NOW RETIRED ROBINSON SAYS HAVING AN OFFICE OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS MADE WOMEN FEEL LIKE THEY HAD A VOICE ON CAMPUS.

AND AS PROGRESS WAS UNDERWAY, SHE STILL COMES ON CAMPUS FOR I.U.

BASKETBALL GAMES.

ONE THE AREAS SHE FEELS VERY ENCOURAGED BY GENDER PROGRESS FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

>> GIVE THAN WE HAVE A SUPERB WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM NOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF WOMEN, MANY OF THEM FACULTY, NOT IN ATHLETICS, NOT -- NOT IN THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH WHO WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET RESOURCES FOR WOMEN ATHLETES, AND IT -- THAT HAS IMPROVED ENORMOUSLY.

>> NOR "INDIANAFOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR IT WOULD REINSTATE TITLE 9 PROTECTIONS ALTERED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND ADD CLARIFYING LANGUAGE FOR DISCRIMINATION BUSINESSED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

THOSE CHANGES ARE EXPECTED THIS SPRING.

>>> INDIANA HAS LOST MORE THAN 85% OF ITS WETLANDS SINCE THE LATE 1700s.

BUT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SYCAMORE LAND TRUST, IS AIMING TO RESTORE AS MANY NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS AS POSSIBLE.

SARAH MOLINA HAS THIS REPORT.

>>> MONROE COUNTY'S FIXED SALTING PRESERVE IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S LATEST SUCCESS STORIES HAVING BEEN FULLY PRESERVED AFTER YEARS OF PLANNING.

BECAUSE WETLANDS ARE HOME TO 40% OF ALL BIODIVERSITY, RESTORING PRESERVES IS IMPORTANT FOR ANIMALS AND INSECTS.

SIGNIFICANT AMOUR HAS -- SYCAMORE HAS EVEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.

>> OBVIOUSLY THIS' A LOT OF DEER.

IT'S EARLY TO SAY.

WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT TRACKS OVER THERE.

YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY BOBCAT OR COYOTE.

WE SEE SIGN OF BEAVER IN THE CREEK.

I'M GUESSING THAT THERE MAY BE MINK AND WEASEL AND SOME LESS COMMON SPECIES.

>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN LAWRENCE SAYS SYCAMORE CONDUCTED A THREE-PHASE PROJECT TO RESTORE THIS PARTICULAR WETLAND.

THE PROCESS INCLUDES CREATING A SHALLOW BODY OF WATER, TREE PLANTING AND POLLINATOR HABITAT PLANTING.

AFTER PURCHASING FIXED SALTING IN 2015, SYCAMORE COMPLETED THE PROJECT IN 2022.

>> IT'S GOING TO GO WILD AND IT'S GOING TO LOOK MUCH MORE NATURAL THAN -- THAN IT DOES NOW.

>> IN 31-ACRE PRESERVE IS PART OF A LARGER PROJECT CALLED THE BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK CONSERVATION AREA, TARGETING DAMAGED ENVIRONMENTS ALONG THE CREEK.

WITH MORE THAN 26,000 TREES PLANTED, ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO IS WAIT FOR IT TO GROW WILD.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M SARAH MOLINA.

SYCAMORE LAND TRUST PLANS TO CONTINUE RESTORING WETLANDS TO HELP WITH FLOODING, FILTER OUT POLLUTANTS IN WATER AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.

>>> 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.

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