>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION TO BAN THE USE OF RACE IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS HAS SOME STUDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CAMPUS DIVERSITY.

>> IT'S JUST GOING TO CAUSE BLACK STUDENTS AND BROWN STUDENTS AND MINORITIES JUST TO HAVE TO GO TO HBCUs.

>> EXPERTS EXPECT THE RULING TO MOSTLY AFFECT ELITE UNIVERSITIES.

>> AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS, THERE'S BEEN SOME MOVEMENT ON THE MONROE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

>> ESSENTIALLY THIS IS TURNING OVER A LOT OF THOSE KIND OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TO THE C.I.B.

>> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON WHAT HURDLES THE PROJECT COULD FACE.

>>> AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TALENTED TEEN VIOLINIST REPRESENTING INDIANA ON THE WORLD STAGE.

THOSE STORIES PLUS THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE SOME MEMBERS OF THE I.U.

COMMUNITY ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THE UNIVERSITY WILL MAKE EFFORTS TOWARD DIVERSITY IN THE WAKE OF LAST WEEK'S SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT STRUCK DOWN RACE-CONSCIOUS DECISION PRACTICES.

INDIANA UNIVERSITIES, INCLUDING I.U.

BLOOMINGTON, PURDUE AND NOTRE DAME DID USE RACE-CONSCIOUS ADMISSIONS BUT AS BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS AT I.U.

BLOOMINGTON, WHITE ENROLLMENT LAST YEAR WAS MORE THAN 2.5 TIMES HIGHER THAN DOMESTIC ENROLLED STUDENTS OF COLOR.

>> THE BIGGEST INCREASES IN DIVERSITY HAVE BEEN IN ASIAN AMERICAN AND SPANISH AND LATINO GROUPS.

ENROLLMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS HASN'T CHANGED MUCH SINCE 2017.

FALLING BETWEEN 1900 AND 2,000 STUDENTS.

VICE PRESIDENT OF I.U.

'S BLACK STUDENT UNION CHARLEIGH CARTER KNEW THE STATS WHEN SHE CHOSE I.U.

AND WAS WORRIED.

A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT, SHE FOUND A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY AT I.U.BSU, AND THE NEAL-MARSHALL CULTURAL CENTER.

>> I THINK HAVING THOSE THINGS HERE, IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE SAFE AND SECURE.

>> SHE SAYS IN-PERSON RECRUITMENT IN DIVERSE AREAS WILL BE IMPORTANT IF UNIVERSITIES DON'T WANT DECREASES IN APPLICANTS FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING.

>> BUT I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO CAUSE BLACK STUDENTS AND BROWN STUDENTS AND MINORITIES JUST TO HAVE TO GO TO HBCUs BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR ONLY OPTION, NOT EVEN A LAST OPTION OR WHATEVER.

IT'S THEIR ONLY OPTION.

>> RAIN LEE IS A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT FROM CARAMEL.

SHE'S THE TREASURER OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN AT I. U.

AND SAYS MOST ASIAN AMERICANS ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISION AND WON'T BENEFIT FROM IT.

>> HAVING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION HELPS BARRIERS.

A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE ARE PICKING MAYBE BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND THE DIFFERENCES AND THE AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY.

IT CAN BE EASILY DIFFERENTIATED AND HELP TO BE DIFFERENTIATED WITH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

>> SHE'S A FINANCE MAJOR IN THE KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

>> YOU LEARN FROM YOUR PEERS AND YOUR TEAMMATES.

SO IF I'M THE DIVERSITY TOKEN, WHAT AM I REALLY LEARNING FROM?

I'M BEING SURROUNDED BY, LIKE, WHITE PEOPLE.

I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY WHITE PEOPLE MY ENTIRE LIFE GROWING UP.

IN MANY WAYS, LIKE, THEY ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT CULTURAL DIFFERENCES OR JUST SMALL LITTLE THINGS FROM ME.

>> LEE SAYS THE REMOVAL OF THE RACE-BASED ADMISSIONS MEANS GROUPS SUPPORTING DIVERSITY WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT IN CREATING SAFE PLACES ON CAMPUS.

ANDAND WANTS THE UNIVERSITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT THROUGH PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT.

PROFESSOR EMERITUS LES LENKOWSKI SAYS THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION WILL MOSTLY AFFECT PEOPLE APPLYING TO ELITE SCHOOLS AND ISN'T AS FAR REACHING AS PEOPLE WOULD THINK.

>> THE QUESTION, THOUGH, IS WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON'S CHANCES IN LIFE ARE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED IF HE OR SHE GOES TO CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE RATHER THAN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY OR TO PUT IT IN OUR TERMS, LET'S SAY INDIANA STATE VERSUS INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

>> A BIG TEN PANEL WEDNESDAY DISCUSSED THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION, AND TAKES A COLORBLIND APPROACH TO THE CONSTITUTION'S 14th AMENDMENT.

>> THERE'S NOTHING IN THE TEXT OF THE 14th AMENDMENT THAT SAYS COLOR BLINDNESS.

IT SAYS THERE SHOULD BE NO DENIAL OF EQUAL PROTECTION AND THAT LEAVES OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE NOTE OF RACE OR MAKE A RACE-BASED DISTINCTION AND STILL DELIVER EQUAL PROTECTION.

>> THE BLACK STUDENT UNION PLANS TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 2024.

>> YOU CAN REALLY CHANGE THE COUNTRY, LIKE, BY VOTING.

YOU KNOW?

YOU CAN CHANGE LAWS.

LAWS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.

YOU CAN -- YOU CAN HAVE A SAY ON THAT.

>> SHE SAYS I.U.

HAS RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY AND NEEDS TO BE A GOOD LISTENER WHEN ISSUES ARISE.

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

>> I.U.

SAID IN A STATEMENT LAST WEEK IT'S REVIEWING THE COURT'S DECISION AND REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ENRICHED BY STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, WITH THE BROAD RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS.

>>> STORMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TWO WEEKS AGO WREAKED HAVOC NOT ONLY IN THE GROUND BUT IN THE AIR.

THE STORMS WHICH BROUGHT TORNADOES TO INDIANA AND PUMMELED THE EAST COAST CAUSED THOUSANDS OF FLIGHT DOUGH LAYS, CANCELLATION -- DELAYS, CANCELLATIONS, LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED AND FRUSTRATED, BUT LAST FRIDAY, TSA SCREENED A RECORD 2.9 MILLION PEOPLE AT U.S.

AIRPORTS AND WEDNESDAY, AIRLINES HAD MORE THAN 50,000 FLIGHTS IN THE AIR.

I SPOKE LAST NIGHT WITH VOLODYMYR BILOTKACH, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN AVIATION MANAGEMENT AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY ABOUT THE TOPSYTURVY WORLD OF AIRLINE TRAVEL.

>> WELL, LET'S JUST START WITH LAST WEEK, THE U.S.

SAW ANOTHER ROUND OF CANCELLATIONS AND LONG DELAYS.

I HAVE BEEN SEEING MORE THIS WEEK.

MAINLY BECAUSE OF WEATHER, BUT ARE THERE OTHER FACTORS?

>> WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT EVEN THOUGH WEATHER IS REALLY THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR BEHIND LAST WEEK'S DELAYS, STAFF SHORTAGES ARE ALSO -- ARE ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE -- SOME OF THE AIRLINES AREAIRLINES I'VE READ ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE STAFF SHORTAGES ON THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SIDE.

THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN BREWING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN EVEN GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE 1980s, THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS STRIKE WHEN ACTUALLY THE F.A.A.

ENDED UP WITH THE TASK OF BASICALLY RECRUITING A LOT OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WHO ARE NOW RETIRING.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE DO HAVE STAFFING SHORTAGES THAT ARE STILL A PROBLEM, AND WILL LIKELY REMAIN AN ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> AIRLINES WERE BASICALLY TELLING PASSENGERS GOOD LUCK AFTER CANCELING FLIGHTS AND I CAN ATTEST.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE STUCK IN NEW YORK LAST WEEK FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

IT'S NOT A GREAT FEELING TO GET THAT EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE SAYING, SORRY.

WE'VE CANCELED YOUR FLIGHT AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHERS.

SO WHAT RIGHTS DO PASSENGERS HAVE?

WHAT IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO DO TO ADDRESS THEM?

>> WELL, AS FAR AS THE PASSENGER RIGHTS, AT THIS MOMENT, THE PASSENGERS ARE LARGELY AT THE AIRLINE'S DISCRETION.

WELL, IN MOST CASES.

THE AIRLINES ARE REQUIRED TO REFUND -- TO OFFER YOU A REFUND FOR THE -- ON THE UNUSED PORTION OF YOUR TICKET IN CASE THE AIRLINE CANCELS THE FLIGHT.

THAT'S REALLY THE LAW.

OTHER THAN THAT, YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH ON YOUR OWN.

WELL, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED THE REGULATIONS TO -- FOR THE -- TO REQUIRE THE AIRLINES TO COMPENSATE PASSENGERS FOR DELAYS THAT ARE THE AIRLINE'S FAULT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT -- SO BASICALLY, NO ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO SAVE YOU OR IS GOING TO MAKE THE AIRLINES COMPENSATE YOU FOR WEATHER-RELATED DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS.

THAT'S JUST OUT OF THE QUESTION.

>> SO MEANWHILE, TSA REPORTING RECORD NUMBER OF PASSENGER SCREENINGS, PLANES IN THE AIR.

ARE WE JUST TO EXPECT THAT THERE ARE -- I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF A GAMBLE.

THERE WILL BE GOOD DAYS, BAD DAYS TO NIGH FLY AND TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN BOOKING YOUR FLIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO ACCEPT, ESPECIALLY AS FAR AS THE WEATHER DELAYS GO, RIGHT?

SO WEATHER IS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.

>> WELL, I KNOW WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU, WE TALK ABOUT THE GOLDEN AGE OF FLYING.

IS IT OVER?

IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL?

>> WELL, IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT'S -- WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GOLDEN AGE OF FLYING, SO TO SPEAK, RIGHT?

SO IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT, LET'S SAY, 1970s, 1980s WITH HALF EMPTY PLANES, FLIGHTS MOSTLY ON TIME AND BLANKETS AND FLIGHT MEALS, THAT'S NOT COMING BACK, ANYWHERE, ANY TIME.

THE AIRLINE TRAVEL WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFORDABLE AND SORT OF BEING SUBJECT TO THE WEATHER DELAYS AND I MEAN, ALSO IMPORTANTLY, THE AIRLINE TRAVEL WILL CONTINUE BEING SAFE.

>> THAT WAS VOLODYMYR BILOTKACH.

A PROFESSOR IN AVIATION MANAGEMENT AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

>>> WELL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY LUCAS GONZALEZ FOR HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>> THANKS, JOE.

POWER IS BACK ON IN WEST CENTER INDIANA AFTER A WEEKEND OF TURBULENT WEATHER.

DUKE ENERGY REPORTED MORE THAN 300,000 OUTAGES, ALMOST A THIRD OF ITS CUSTOMERS DUE TO THE STORM.

IN EXTREME CASES, POWER WAS OUT FOR A FULL WEEK.

>> WE'RE CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STORMS TO EVER HIT OUR INDIANA UTILITY.

>> DUKE AND OTHER ENERGY PROVIDERS TURNED TO OUTSIDE WORKERS TO COMPLETE REPAIRS.

IN DUKE'S CASE, OVER 1,000 ADDITIONAL WORKERS WERE BROUGHT ON FROM OTHER AREAS.

ENERGY USER ADVOCATES SAY UTILITIES SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO PREVENT THESE PROLONGED OUTAGES ESPECIALLY AS INDIANA CONTINUES TO APPROVE RATE INCREASES AND PASS LEGISLATION AIMED AT ENSURING RELIABILITY.

>> THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING AND REGULATING THOSE UTILITIES SHOULD -- SHOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY DON'T DELIVER ON WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, THEY TELL FOLKS THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

>> DUKE ENERGY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A MULTIYEAR EFFORT TO REPLACE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADD TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER ISOLATE OUTAGES.

>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS WORKING TO REPLACE ITS OLDER STREETLIGHTS WITH NEW COST EFFICIENT L.E.D.

ONES.

ISABELLA VESPERINI HAS THIS REPORT.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S INGRID WIEBKE SAYS SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT CARS NOT SEEING HER WALKING AT NIGHT.

>> SO YOU NEED A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND WILDLIFE.

LIGHTS HAVE TO BE WELL DESIGNED AWAY FROM IMPORTANT HABITATS.

>> SHE ALSO WORRIES HOW CERTAIN TYPES OF STREETLIGHTS CAN AFFECT WILDLIFE, LIKE FIREFLIES AND FROGS.

SHE WANTS THEM TO FACE DOWN AN REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS.

>> MOST OF THE STREETLIGHTS IN BLOOMINGTON ARE SODIUM VAPOR LIGHTS THEM HAVE A SENSOR THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS THE LIGHTS ON WHEN IT GETS DARK AND OFF WHEN IT GETS LIGHT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SOME LIGHTS THAT ARE AT LEAST 30 OR 3030 PLUS YEARS OLD BUT WE WANT TO CONVERT TO AN L.E.D.

WHICH IS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

THEY LAST LONGER.

>> SMITH SAYS THE CITY'S REPLACING 1,000 OLDER SODIUM VAPOR LIGHTS WITH L.E.D.

LIGHTS.

SO FAR WORKERS HAVE BEEN IN THE KRISMONT AREA ON WEST 17th 17th STREET AND THE EAST END OF SOUND TOWN.

THEY HAVE BEGUN TO LIGHT BACK ALLEYWAYS ON 6th STREET.

>> WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO IMPROVE UPON OUR LIGHTING PROGRAMS EVERY YEAR.

I REALLY THINK THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET MANY MORE LIGHTS IN.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ISABELLA VESPIRINI.

>>> PHARMACISTS IN INDIANA CAN PRESCRIBE BIRTH CONTROL UNDER STATE LEGISLATION NOW IN EFFECT.

BUT PHARMACISTS DON'T HAVE TO PRESCRIBE BIRTH CONTROL IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.

AND PRESCRIPTIONS CAN ONLY BE FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS.

AND AFTER A YEAR OF GETTING PRESCRIPTIONS FROM PHARMACISTS A PATIENT MUST SEE A DOCTOR, ADVANCES PRACTITIONER NURSE OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.

>>> INDIANA'S NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN IS SET TO GO INTO EFFECT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, AFTER STATE SUPREME COURT RULED IT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE INDIANA CONSTITUTION.

UNDER THE LAW, ABORTIONS ARE ONLY ALLOWED IN THE PREGNANT PERSON'S HEALTH, SERIOUS HEALTH OR LIFE IS AT RISK.

IF THERE'S A LETHAL FATAL ANOMALY AND IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE 9500 ABORTIONS, THAT WAS UP 13% FROM 2021.

YOUTH TOBACCO USE AMONG HOOSIERS IS THE LOWEST SINCE 2012, ACCORDING TO DATA COLLECTED LAST YEAR.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S VIOLET CUMBER WILEN REPORTS, DESPITE DECLINES IN OVERAYOU WILL USAGE, STATE OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUTH TOBACCO USE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY, ONLY 1 IN 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 1 IN 30 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SAID THEY USED TOBACCO IN 2022.

ECIGARETTES WERE THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED FORM, WITH 9.2% OF HIGH SCHOOLERS AND 2.2% OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS USING THESE PRODUCTS.

THIS WAS A DECLINE IN THE USE OF ECIGARETTES, CIGARS AND CIGARETTES OVER THE LAST DECADE OF SURVEYS.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT USAGE WENT FROM ABOUT 23% IN 2018, TO 10.5% IN 2022.

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, MORE THAN 8% USE TOBACCO IN 2018, COMPARED TO 3.3 LAST YEAR.

DESPITE THESE DECLINES, SOME HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IT IS TROUBLING THAT THE MAJORY IT OF YOUTH WHO USE -- MAJORITY OF YOUTH USE TOBACCO, USE FLAVORED TOBACCO.

HAD FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M VIOLET CUMBER WILEN.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS DECLINED THE SOUJOURN HOUSE.

THEY ORIGINALLY APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE IN MARCH FOR THE HOUSE IT BOUGHT ON MONROE COUNTY'S FAR EAST SIDE AND THEN APPEALED THIS WEEK.

THEY WANTED THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME TO BE ZONED FOR GROUP HOUSING BUT THE ZBA DENIED IT, SAYING THE AREA IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR GROUP HOUSING.

>> WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT OH, THESE KIND OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BRING DOWN MY PROPERTY VALUES, OR THESE KIND OF PEOPLE AREN'T FIT TO LIVE IN THIS KIND OF SETTING, YOU ARE MAKING JUDGMENT CALLS.

>> AND JOE, MUNCIE SAYS BECAUSE OF THE DELAY, THEY HAVE LOST CONTACT WITH SOME OF THE WOMEN ON THE WAIT LIST TO MOVE INTO THE HOUSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, LUCAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE MONROE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD AFTER COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A C.I.B.

TO MANAGE IT.

AND WE'LL MEET A TALENTED TEEN VIOLINIST FROM EVANSVILLE WHO IS REPRESENTING INDIANA ON THE WORLD STAGE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

MONROE COUNTY WILL ESTABLISH A BODY TO OVERSEE THE MONROE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT.

LUCAS GONZALEZ REPORTS, THIS STEP HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME COMING.

>> THE MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD OR A C.I.B.

ON WEDNESDAY TO SUPERVISE EXPANSION OF THE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER.

THE BOARD WILL CONSIST OF 7 APPOINTED MEMBERS.

THEY WILL CHOOSE A SITE FOR EXPANSION, OVERSEE PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTRACT WITH OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

>> ESSENTIALLY THIS IS TURNING OVER A LOT OF THOSE KIND OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TO THE C.I.B.

>> WEDNESDAY'S VOTE ENDED A LONG STANDING DISPUTE OVER WHAT TYPE OF BODY SHOULD MANAGE THE PROJECT.

COMMISSIONERS FIRST APPROVED AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE C.I.B.

LAST FALL, BUT IT WAS NEVER EXECUTED BECAUSE IT REQUIRED SUPPORT FROM THE BLOOMINGTON'S MAYOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AND THE CITY COUNCILS.

BOTH COUNCILS SUPPORTED THE C.I.B.

BUT MAYOR HAMILTON WANTS A 501(c)(3) TO MANAGE THE PROJECT.

HE ISES ASAYS A C.I.B.

WILL PUT MUCH OF THE COST ON THE CITY.

>> THE MAYOR STILL IS NOT LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY, IT FEELS LIKE AND SUPPORTING THIS PARTICULAR METHOD FOR MOVING FORWARD.

>> LAST DECEMBER, HAMILTON VETOED A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE C.I.B.

THE COUNCIL OVERRODE HIS VETO IN JANUARY.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION WAS SCARCE THIS YEAR, UNTIL MID-JUNE, WHEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY RESUMED TALKS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

IT WAS THEN LEADERS DISCUSSED A DRAFT INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT.

COCKERILL SAYS THAT DOCUMENT LAYS OUT THE PROJECT'S NEXT STEPS.

THE COMMISSIONERS SAY THE DEADLINE TO HAVE THE DRAFT RATIFIED IS DECEMBER 1st.

BOTH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT BEFORE IT CAN GO INTO EFFECT.

NOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M LUKE -- FORENIGHTS, I'M FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M LUCAS GONZALEZ.

>> WE REACHED OUT TO HAMILTON'S OFFICE FOR COMMENT ON THIS STORY BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND.

>>> AN EVANSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL VIOLINIST HAS TRAVELED TO NEW YORK TO PERFORM IN THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA TWO.

HE'S THE ONLY INDIANA RESIDENT IN THE ORCHESTRA THIS YEAR.

♪ >> VIOLINIST BRADEN RILEY, AGE 15 OF EVANSVILLE IS WORKING WITH INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL CHU, WHO IS ALSO THE PRINCIPAL SECOND VIOLINISTS FOR THE EVANSVILLE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.

THEY ARE WORKING ON SHORT MUSICAL EXERCISE PIECES AND ON BUILDING BRADEN'S REPERTOIRE.

>> HE'S A VERY SERIOUS MUSICIAN, WHO JUST CAME TO ME LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF MAYBE DOING THIS AS A CAREER.

SO WE'RE MAKING SURE WE ARE REALLY SETTING UP BOTH HIS RIGHT ARM, HIS LEFT ARM, FOR SUCCESS AND THEN THROUGH THAT SELECTING REPERTOIRE THAT IS APPROPRIATE BUT CHALLENGING FOR HIM AT THE SAME TIME.

♪ >> BRADEN IS A REITZ HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE AND ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL VIOLINISTS FOR THE EVANSVILLE VANDERBURGH SCHOOL CORPORATION HONORS ORCHESTRA.

THIS IS THE ORCHESTRA PERFORMING IN EARLY MARCH.

♪ HE JUST GOT BACK FROM ATTENDING SOUNDING POINT ACADEMY IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS A TWO-WEEK PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY FOR VIOLINISTS, BUT MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY HE WAS ALSO ACCEPTED INTO THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA AT CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> SO IT'S A SUMMER PROGRAM, COMPRISED OF YOUNG MUSICIANS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT HAS A RIGOROUS AUDITION PROCESS, AND WE WORK WITH SOME OF THE BEST EDUCATORS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT WILL BE A WHIRLWIND TRIP, STARTING JULY 1st.

THEY WILL REHEARSE IN NEW YORK AT PURCHASE COLLEGE, PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL JULY 15th AND TEN PERFORM IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND GETTING BACK TO NEW YORK ON JULY 20th.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC, TWO MEMBERS OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA, FOUR IN THE HOUSTON SYMPHONY AND SOME PLAYING ABROAD.

♪ >> BRADEN'S FINAL PRENEW YORK PERFORMANCE WAS A PRESITAL AT THE TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WATCHING HIM PERFORM PIECES BY SEBASTIAN BACH.

CHU SAYS BRADEN TAKES THE INSTRUMENT FAR MORE SERIOUSLY THAN MOST 15-YEAR-OLDS.

>> BRADEN IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY PASSIONATE PLAYER AND HE REALLY JUST POURS HIS OUT INTO THAT PIECE.

♪ >> IT'S PROBABLY OF THE ONE OF THE LEAST AGGRESSIVE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.

SO HE DOES THINGS WHEN HE PLAYS THAT IT IS CONTRADICTORY TO, I THINK, HIS PERSONALITY SOMETIMES.

>> I THINK -- I THINK THE VIOLIN IS JUST -- IS JUST A WAY TO EXPRESS MYSELF THAT I CAN'T REALLY DO WITH ANYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE.

>> BRAID SENBRADEN IS ONE OF ABOUT 70 TO BE ACCEPTED OUT OF 650 APPLICATIONS.

HE'S ALSO THE ONLY PARTICIPANT FROM INDIANA.

>> WELL, IT'S -- IT'S REALLY SPECIAL AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND BEING THE ONLY ONE FROM INDIANA FOR NYO AND NYO2.

>> HIS MOTHER MINDY SAYS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A FEW TEARS WHEN HE AS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AND IT'S A VALIDATION OF ALL OF HIS HARD WORK.

>> I'M JUST EXCITED FOR HIM TO BE WITH A GROUP OF YOUNG, TALENTED MUSICIANS, JUST BEING IMMERSED IN A GROUP THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY VERY LIKEMINDED AND REALLY PUSH AND I JUST THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR HIM.

♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >>> FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M TIM JAGIELO.

>>> AND WORK IS PROGRESSING ON SCHEDULE FOR A NEW FIELD HOUSE IN THE FORMER AIR OAKS MALL IN COLUMBUS.

IT'S PART OF WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A COMMUNITY, SPORT, RECREATION AND RECREATION SPACE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE AT THE FRAME APEX MARKS THE NEXT STEP OF CONSTRUCTION.

>> I'M TOLD THAT THAT'S A -- OH, JUST A HABIT, THAT YOU DO WHEN YOU DO WHAT IS CALLED TOPPING OUT.

AND SO A WEEK OR TWO AGO, THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US WHO WENT UP TO NEXUS PARK AND SIGNED A BEAM.

SO MY SIGNATURE IS UP THERE SOMEWHERE.

>> IT WILL BE CALLED CALLED CIRCLE K FIELD HOUSE ONCE COMPLETE, BIG ENOUGH FOR A SOCCER FIELD.

LIENHOOP SAYS THEY ARE ALLOCATING FUNDING AS CONSTRUCTION MOVES FORWARD.

>> WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO PUT ALL OF THIS IN ONE FUNDING REQUEST ROO EIGHT AT THE -- RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING BUT GIVEN THE PANDEMIC AND SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTIES WITH RESPECT TO COST, IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS TO BE EXPLEATED BY APRIL.

THE SPORTS -- COMPLETED BY APRIL.

THEY COULD SEE UP TO 10,000 VISITORS OVER A TYPICAL WEEKEND.

>>> 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: