>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," LAST MONTH'S STORMS LEFT THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER FOR ALMOST A WEEK, AND ELECTRIC COMPANIES AND CO-OPS STRUGGLING TO REESTABLISH THE GRID.

>> AFTER THIS DERECHO, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 18,500 MEMBERS OUT.

SO THAT WAS OUR WORST OUTAGE EVER GOOD.

>> THAT'S LEFT CUSTOMERS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

>> NATIVE PLANTS ARE GOOD FOR BIRDS AND INSECTS.

>> THEY REQUIRE LITTLE IF ANY FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES, IRRIGATION, AND, OF COURSE, THEY AREN'T GOING TO REQUIRE MOWING.

>> SOME HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND CITIES ARE BEGINNING TO ENCOURAGE PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES.

>>> AND A LONG-TIME BLOOMINGTON RESTAURANT IS CHANGING OWNERSHIP.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

IN REMOTE PARTS OF THE STATE, ELECTRIC CO-OPS ARE THE ONLY WAY RESIDENTS CAN GET POWER TO THEIR HOMES.

THEY FACE A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES THAT SET THEM APART FROM LARGER INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES SUCH AS DUKE AND A.E.S.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTH MET WITH ONE CUSTOMER WHO WAS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR NEARLY ONE WEEK AFTER THE DERECHO AND SPOKE WITH THE PROVIDER'S C.E.O.

TO LEARN MORE.

>> TANYA SCHRIER AND HER FAMILY LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF OWEN-PUTNAM STATE FOREST IN A MODEST 1400 SQUARE FOOT HOME.

THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY TREES.

GETTING AND MAINTAINING POWER TO THEIR HOME IS AN EXPENSIVE CHALLENGE.

>> $600.

>> A MONTH.

>>> AT LEAST, YEAH.

>> YOU'RE KIDDING ME.

>> IT'S HIGH.

>> THAT'S INSANE.

>> YEAH.

>> $600 A MONTH.

>> IN THE WINTERTIME, IT'S LIKE $750, $800.

>> THEY BELONG SCI-REMC UTILITY PROVIDER.

THE UTILITY COVERS 1,000 SQUARE MILES AND SEVEN COUNTIES.

WHEN THE DERECHO HIT THE AREA A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE SCHRIERS LOST POWER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

>> WE LOADED UP THE GAS CANS AND HEAD INTO TOWN TO GET SOME GASOLINE FOR THEM.

ON THE WAY IN, THOUGH, WE TOOK THE CHAIN SAW WITH US, BECAUSE WE ARE EXPERIENCED OUT HERE.

WE HAD TO CUT FIVE TREES OUT OF THE ROAD JUST TO GET INTO TOWN.

>> THEY WENT WITHOUT POWER FOR NEARLY A FULL WEEK.

LUCKILY THEY HAD GENERATORS TO KEEP THEIR KITCHEN, FRIDGE AND FANS RUNNING, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO POWER THE WHOLE HOUSE.

EACH GENERATOR WOULD RUN FOR 7.5 HOURS AND COST $60 A DAY IN FUEL.

ONE THING THE GENERATORS COULD NOT POWER WAS THE MEAT FREEZERS HOLDING HUNDREDS OF BOUNDS OF DEER AND HOG MEAT.

>> WE BOUGHT A WHOLE PIG.

THAT WAS $700.

>> WE HAD THREE DEER FROM LAST YEAR IN THERE.

AND WE STOCK UP, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF MEAT SALES.

I'M GONNA SAY, IF I HAD TO GUESS, PROBABLY $4,000 IN MEAT.

>> ELECTRIC CO-OPS SUCH AS SCI-REMC WERE CREATED TO PROVIDE POWER TO HARD-TO-REACH AND LOW POPULATION PLACES LIKE THE OWEN-PUTNAM STATE FOREST.

JAMES TANNEBERGER IS THE C.E.O.

OF THE UTILITY.

HE SAYS THE STORMS TOOK OVER JUST HALF OF THE CO-OPS METERS OFFLINE.

>> AFTER THIS DERECHO, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 18,500 MEMBERS OUT.

THAT WAS OUR WORST OUTAGE EVER, AND THE SECOND WAS WHERE WE HAD 14,500 MEMBERS OUT.

>> A TYPICAL OUTAGE, IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE TO GET A HOME LIKE THE SCHRIERS BACK ONLINE, JUST DUE TO THE SHEER AMOUNT OF VEGETATION SURROUNDING THEIR POWER LINES.

BUT IT WAS DOWN RIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX ALL THE OUTAGES QUICKLY.

ONE REASON IS THAT INDIANA INFRASTRUCTURE IS LARGELY ABOVE GROUND, AND ANOTHER IS THAT EVERY OTHER ENERGY PROVIDER WAS GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE CONCURRENTLY, CAUSING A SHORTAGE OF LINEMEN TO GO AROUND.

>> THIS TIME, A.E.S., DUKE AND EVERYONE, WAS GETTING ANY EVERY CONTRACTOR THEY COULD.

THEY WERE NOT ONLY USING THEIR REGULAR CONTRACTORS.

THEY WERE HAVING TO COMPETE WITH US FOR THE OTHER CONTRACTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> 65% OF S.C.I.

'S SERVICE SISTER TONY IS COVERING IT IN FOREST, MAKING IT UNIQUE AMONG OTHER CO-OPS IN THE STATE.

WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING LINES UNDERGROUND TO PREVENT FALLING LIMBS FROM CAUSING DAMAGES LIKE, THIS THE COST TO DO SO IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE.

>> WE ESTIMATE IT WOULD TAKE $400 MILLION TO PUT OUR EXISTING OVERHEAD FACILITIES UNDERGROUND.

SO WITH 3700 MILES OF FACILITIES, THAT IS A DAUNTING TASK, WHENEVER YOU ARE ALSO TRYING TO KEEP RATES STABLE.

>> TANNEBERGER TELLS ME THAT HIS UTILITY IS A TOP TWO SPENDER FOR INDIANA VEGETATION AND WITH $5 MILLION GOING TOWARDS TRIMMINGS TREES.

>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO ACCOUNT FOR THE WIND TREES THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF OUR RIGHT-OF-WAY ON TO OUR LINES.

YOU ARE EASEMENTS ARE 50 FEET WIDE.

WE TRIM TO THE EDGE OF OUR EASEMENT.

AND A 60 OR 100-FOOT TREE WITH EASILY REACH OUR LINE.

>> SO WHAT CAN CUSTOMERS DO?

ACCORDING TO KERWIN OLSON OF THE CITIZENS ACTION COALITION, ENGAGING WITH CO-OPS IS OFTEN A CHALLENGE FOR HIS GROUP.

>> NONE OF THOSE ENTITIES ARE REGULATED BY THE STATE.

THERE'S NO SINGLE BODY IF YOU WILL, THAT YOU CAN GO TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESSES.

>> IN 2012, CO-OPS BEGAN PULLING OUT OF THE INDIANA REGULATORY COMMISSION, THANKS TO LEGISLATION ALLOWING CO-OPS TO SET THEIR OWN RATES AND OBTAIN FINANCING.

INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES LIKE DUKE AND A.E.S.

HAVE TO COMPLY WITH TRANSPARENCY.

>> WHEN AN R.H.C.

FILED A COMPLAINT, THEY REFERRED THEM TO THE I.R.U.C., AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO JURISDICTION.

>> THEY KEEP PORTIONS OF THEIR HOME ON DURING THE OUTAGE.

OTHER HOUSEHOLDS WERE NOT SO LUCKY AND HAVE LIFESAVING APPLIANCES LIKE CPAM MACHINES TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> IF SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS WOULD HAPPEN WE WOULD BE WITHOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IS IT SCI-REMC TRYING TO GET OUT HERE BUT THE ROADS SOMETIMES ARE IMPASSABLE.

SO WE KIND OF GOT ALL KINDS OF STRIKES AGAINST US.

I GUESS THAT'S THE PERKS OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY.

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

>>> CITIZENS ACTION COALITION AND THE INDIANA OFFICE OF UTILITY CONSUMER COUNSELOR HAVE FILED A PETITION TO INVESTIGATE A.E.S., INDIANA'S PRACTICES FOR RESTORING POWER AFTER STORM OUTAGES.

THEY SAID THAT THE ENERGY COMPANIES CONTINUE TO INCREASE RATES, IT'S IMPORTANT THEY RELIABLY PROVIDE ENERGY.

>>> INDIANA STUDENTS MISSED OUT ON WEEKS OR MONTHS OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION DURING THE PANDEMIC AND STATE TEST RESULTS RELEASED WEDNESDAY SHOWS THE DISRUPTION IS STILL TAKING A TOLL.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S DYLAN PEERS McCOY REPORTS THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE FARING BETTER THAN OTHERS.

>> JUST THREE OUT OF TEN INDIANA ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MET THE STATE GOALS FOR MATH AND ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ON THE SPRING ILEARN EXAMS.

THAT'S SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SCORES BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

CHARITY FLORES IS THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WITH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE SAYS THE OVERALL PACE OF LEARNING HAS STABILIZED.

MANY STUDENTS, HOWEVER, ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

>> AS SYSTEMS HAVE RETURNED TO THOSE NORMAL RATES OF LEARNING, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE ALSO RETURNED AT LEAST TO THE NORMAL RATES OF LEARNING?

>> STATE OFFICIALS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

ABOUT 8% PASSED THE EXAMS THIS YEAR.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY WFYI EDUCATION REPORTER DYLAN PEERS McCOY FOR MORE ON THE ILEARN RESULTS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, DYLAN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SURE.

SO WE KNOW MANY INDIANA STUDENTS ARE NOT PASSING THE STATE TEST.

DO WE HAVE OTHER EVIDENCE THAT STUDENTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING?

>> YEAH, THESE RESULTS MIRROR WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN SOME NATIONAL DATA AND ANALYSIS.

IT REALLY SHOWS THAT STUDENTS ARE STILL BEHIND WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

A FEW DAYS AGO, A COMPANY CALLED NWEA, WHICH DOES STUDENT TESTING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY RELEASED AN ANALYSIS THAT FOUND THAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING AT SIMILAR RATES AS THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC OR EVEN THEY'RE STILL LEARNING MORE SLOWLY THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE NEED STUDENTS TO CATCH UP, ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT.

>> THEY MISSED OUT ON ALL THIS INSTRUCTION.

SO WE ACTUALLY NEED STUDENTS TO BE LEARNING AT FASTER RATES, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME EVIDENCE OF THAT, BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF STUDENTS LEARNING AT SLOWER RATES OR JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT CATCHUP GROWTH.

WE'VE ALSO HAVE SOME RESULTS FROM STATE READING EXAMS.

THEY SHOW THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST POINT IN AT LEAST A DECADE.

SO ILEARN IS NOT THE ONLY DATA POINT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT SHOWS THAT STUDENTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS STRUGGLED THE MOST.

ARE THERE GROUPS THAT ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENT OR AT LEAST GETTING BACK TO PREPANDEMIC RESULTS?

>> THERE ARE SOME BRIGHT SPOTS WITH.

WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID ESSENTIALLY, WAS THE STUDENTS WHO FARED THE BEST ON THISMENT CAREGIVING WERE THOSE WHO WERE -- ON THIS EXAM WERE THOSE WHO WERE CONSIDERED PROFICIENT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SOP STUDENTS -- SO STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT PROFICIENT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ARE HAVING A HARDER TIME CATCHING UP.

AND WE SAW BLACK STUDENTS GO UP ON MATH AND ENGLISH ON ILEARN, WHICH WAS GOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN SOME REAL DECLINED.

AND THE PACE OF LEARNING HAS STABILIZED ACROSS ALL GRADES.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT OVERALL STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ABOUT AS MUCH AS THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE WANT TO SEE SOME ACCELERATION TO CATCH UP ON WHAT THE STUDENTS MISSED OUT.

ILEARN PASSING RATES ARE BEHIND WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THOSE WHO ARE GETTING FREE AND REDUCED PRICE LUNCH AND STUDENTS PAYING FULL-PRICE FOR LUNCH.

STUDENTS WHO ARE SEVENNING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE -- RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND GENERAL EDUCATION.

WE ARE SEEING LOWER PASS RATES FOR ALL OF THOSE GROUPS.

>> REALLY BRIEFLY, DYLAN, WE HAVE UNDER 30 SECONDS.

WHAT IS THE STATE TRYING TO DO TO HELP MAKE UP LOST GROUND?

>> STUDENTS -- SCHOOLS HAVE GOTTEN THIS HUGE SURGE OF FEDERAL MONEY.

THEY'VE ALSO GOTTEN A SURGE OF MONEY FROM THE STATE.

AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE UP GROUND IS A BIG FOCUS ON LITERACY.

THE STATE IS, ALONG WITH LILLY ENDOWMENT IS INVESTING $111 MILLION IN READING INSTRUCTION AND WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE SCIENCE OF READING, WHICH INCLUDES A FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE PHONICS INSTRUCTION.

>> DYLAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> WELL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTH WITH MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE AREA.

>> THANK YOU, JOE.

FORMER INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

HE'S JOINING A CROWDED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THAT INCLUDES U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUZANNE CROUCH AND ERIC DODEN.

HILL COMES INTO THE RACE WITH SIGNIFICANT BAGGAGE.

HE CRIMINALLY BATTERED FOUR WOMEN WHILE IN OFFICE, AND HE'S AT A FINANCIAL SIGNIFICANT.

DONALD TRUMP IS THE GOP FAVORITE FOR PRESIDENT DESPITE A RECENT SEXUAL ASSAULT VERDICT IN CIVIL COURT.

>> PEOPLE NOW SORT OF SAYING, YEAH, IT'S OKAY IF YOU DID THAT, IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT POSITION ON THE ISSUES, I'M WITH YOU.

>> ON THE FUNDRAISING FRONT, DOWNS SAYS HILL HAS A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO WHEN SOME HAVE MILLIONS IN THEIR ACCOUNT.

>>> EARL HARRIS JUNIOR AND THE BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS ARE PUSHING TO GET MORE MINORITY STUDENTS IN COLLEGE AFTER THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS.

I.U., NOTRE DAME AND PURDUE CAN NO LONGER USE RACE CONSCIOUS ADMISSIONS.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE FINAL STEP.

>> HE HOPES THIS DECISION WILL GET MORE PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE CAUSE AND INCREASE SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING HIGHER EDUCATION.

>>> ONE OF INDIANA'S PRIMARY ABORTION CARE PROVIDERS SAYS THEY HAVE NO MORE OPEN APPOINTMENTS THREE WEEKS LEAD OF THE STATE'S NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN TAKING EFFECT.

IN A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY, PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAYS IT'S AT FULL CAPACITY FOR ABORTION CARE THROUGH THE END OF JULY, THOUGH THE CLINICS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE OTHER REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES.

THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT ALLOWED THE STATE'S BAN TO TAKE EFFECT AUGUST 1st AND EVEN FOR LEGAL ABORTIONS IN THE STATE, THE LAW WON'T ALLOW PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO PERFORM THEM.

IT BANS ABORTION CLINICS OUTRIGHT.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON TAVERN LENNY'S IS CHANGING HANDS AFTER 34 YEARS.

FOUNDERS LENNIE BUSCH AND JEFF MEASE, SOLD THE RESTAURANT.

>> BUSCH, THE NAMESAKE OF LENNIE'S HAS SAID IT MED MADE IT.

SHE'S GLAD TO HAND IT OFF TO CLOSE FRIENDS AND COWORKERS.

>> WE WERE NOT REALLY PARTICULARLY LOOKING, BUT SOMEHOW THE CONVERSATION STARTED, AND IT WAS LIKE, WOW!

I COULDN'T -- I COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED THIS ANY BETTER.

>> FOX AND EZZO MET AT LENNYS WHEN THEY BEGAN WORKING THERE IN 2002.

FOX CONTINUES WORKING AT LENNIS' LIVING AS GENERAL MANAGER.

AND THEY STARTED ONE WORLD CATERING FROM THE LENNIES' KITCHEN.

THEY HOPE TO BRING NEW IDEAS TO THE RESTAURANT WHILE PRESERVING THE CHARACTER.

>> THEY LOVE THIS INDUSTRY.

THERE IS NEW AND DIFFERENT STUFF HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.

SO I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE GONNA THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BACON TURKEY MELT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, DO -- DO SOME THINGS ON THEIR OWN.

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

>>> MONROE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION WANT THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO ALLOCATE MONEY FOR SYNTHETIC TURF AT KARST ATHLETIC FIELDS.

IT GOT STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE CUTTERS SOCCER CLUB.

HE SAYS THE COMPLEX AS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR MORE SPORTS TOURNAMENTS.

>> YOU NEED TO HAVE GUARANTEED FIELDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PLAYED ON.

THAT'S VERY ROUTINE.

AND MOST TOP TEAMS OR TOP TOURNAMENTS WANT TO HAVE TURF FIELDS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

>> AND JOE, THE COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN $4 MILLION.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, CLAYTON.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR ON THE MONON SOUTH TRAIL, WHICH WILL LINK NEW ALBANY TO MITCHELL.

AND SOME CITIES AND H.O.A.s ARE BEGINNING TO ENCOURAGE THE PLANTING OF NATIVE SPECIES DESPITE COMPLAINTS THEY LOOK LIKE WEEDS.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN FOR THE MOW MONON SOUTH TRAIL NEXT YEAR.

THE RAIL TRAIN WILL SPAN 62.3 MILES STARTING IN NEW ALBANY AND ENDING IN MITCHELL.

ISABELLA VESPIRINI HAS THIS REPORT.

>> CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL IS EXPECTED TO COST MORE THAN $40 MILLION.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BEHIND THE TRAIL PLANS TO CUT COSTS BY MAKING MOST OF THE TRAIL OUT OF THE CRUSHED LIMESTONE AND BUILDING A 10-FOOT WIDE TRAIL IN MORE RURAL AREAS.

>> THE RAILROAD WAS ACTUALLY DORMANT FOR THE LAST, GOSH, TEN YEARS OR SO.

AND AT ONE TIME, THERE WERE STORED RAILROAD CARS THAT WERE THE NO USED ANYMORE.

AND THEN THE TREES STARTED GROWING UP.

SO IT WAS AN AREA THAT NEEDED SOME REVITALIZATION.

>> THE TRAIL WILL PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY.

TOOLKITS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT MULTIPLE TRAILHEADS FOR PEOPLE TO FIX THEIR BIKES.

WATER FOUNTAINS, REST ROOMS AND BENCHES WILL BE INCLUDED.

>> TRAILS LIKE THIS ARE SEEN FIRST AS A GOOD ASSET AND A GOOD QUALITY OF PLACE ASSET FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY NOW AND AS KIND OF A LOAD STONE, A MAGNET THAT CAN BRING IN MORE PEOPLE.

>> WHILE SOME ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME AND LITTERING, OVERWHELMING FEEDBACK IS POSITIVE.

>> THIS IS A DESERT WHEN IT COMES TO TRAILS.

SO WE ARE MEETING A LARGELY UNMET NEED BY PROVIDING THIS TRAIL.

AND -- AND THEY FEEL PROUD OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE GLAD TO KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY WILL BE ON THE LONGEST RAILS TO TRAILS PROJECT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY WHERE TO PUT TRAILHEADS AND HISTORICAL MARKERS.

HE HOPES VOLUNTEER GROUPS WILL HELP TO REPAIR ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRAIL.

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

>>> CONSTRUCTION ON THE MONON SOUTH TRAIL IS EXPECTED TO SAY SEVERAL YEARS.

>>> NATIVE PLANTS ARE NOT JUST GOOD FOR BIRDS AND BEES BUT IT MAKES THE LAND BETTER ADAPTIVE TO CLIMB A CHANGE.

BUT CITIES AND HOMEOWNERS SITUATIONS DON'T ALWAYS LIKE THE WAY THEY LOOK.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS.

>>> AJA YASIR'S YARD IN GARY IS FULL OF NOWERS, -- FLOWERS FOODS PANE MEDICINES.

MANY OF THESE ARE INDIGENOUS.

>> I WAS EXCITED TODAY.

I WAS EXCITED TO SEE SOME FLEA BANG GROWING WHICH IS AN INDIGENOUS PLANT.

IT'S ALSO MEDICINAL.

I SEE EVERY TIME I SEE MORE AND MORE PLANTS SHOW UP, I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING ROO RIGHT.

>> THEY BOUGHT THIS ONCE VACANT LAND IN 2016 AFTER HER DAUGHTER PASSED AWAY, BEFORE THEY EVER MOVED INTO, SHE WOULD TRAVEL EVERY DAY TO AND FROM ILLINOIS, TO BUILD IT UP.

OF.

>> IT'S BEEN LIKE AN ASYLUM FOR ME.

IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL RELEASE.

IT'S ALSO BEEN A WAY TO FEED MY FAMILY.

IT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN A LOT FOR US AS A FAMILY.

>> BUT NOT EVERYBODY LIKES THE LOOKS THE YAISR'S YARD.

SHE GOT A CITATION FROM THE CITY IN HAD 2017 AND ANOTHER THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

AFTER A YEAR-LONG COURT BATTLE, THE LAST ONE WAS FINALLY DROPPED.

EVEN TODAY, IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR YASIR TO KEEP HER PLANTS.

THIS SUMMER HER UTILITY CHOPPED UP HER APRICOT AND NECTARINE TREES.

>> IT'S EXHAUSTING.

>> SHE ISN'T ALONE.

SOME HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE CONVERTED THEIR LAWNS TO NATIVE PLANTS HAVE GOTTEN SLAPPED WITH FINES OR HAD THEIR LAWNS MOWED WITHOUT PERMISSION.

THE REASON, TALLER NATIVE PLANTS CAN BE MISTAKEN AS WEEDS.

BUT NATIVE PLANTS CAN HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS FOR PLANET.

THEY KEEP THE LAND COOLER.

NATIVE PLANTS TEND TO BE TALLER AND THEY PROVIDE MORE SHADE.

THEY ALSO USE HEAT FROM THEIR ENVIRONMENT TO PULL WATER UP FROM THE SOIL AND OUT THEIR LEAVES.

AND SOMETHING CALLED EVAPOTRANSPORTATION.

>> IT REMOVED ENERGY FROM THE SYSTEM, THUS COOLING THE AIR.

IT'S THE EXACT SAME PRINCIPLE AS SWEATING.

>> THEY DO MORE TO PREVENT FLOODING.

MOWED GRASS IS ALL ONE LENGTH.

SO IT DOESN'T TRAP WATER AS WELL AS NATEY NATIVE PLANTS CAN DURING A HEAVY RAIN.

THEY ALSO HAVE LONGER ROOTS WHICH KEEPS THE SOIL IN PLACE AND ABSORB MORE OF THAT WATER.

THOSE TALLER PLANTS WITH TALLER ROOTS CAN TRAP MORE CARBON DIOXIDE TOO.

OF THEN THERE'S ALL OF THOSE HIGH MAINTENANCE THINGS THAT YOU NEED FOR A LAWN THAT YOU DON'T NEED FOR NATIVE PLANTS.

OF.

>> THEY REQUIRE LITTLE IF ANY FERTILIZER, PESTICIDES, IRRIGATION, AND, OF COURSE, THEY AREN'T GOING TO REQUIRE MOWING.

ALL OF THESE INPUTS GENERATE GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

>> THAT MEANS MAINTAINING NATIVE PLANTS LIKELY DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

BECAUSE OF THESE BENEFITS AND OTHERS, SOME CITIES HAVE STARTED TO WORK WITH HOMEOWNERS TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANTS.

>> THIS ONE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A YARD THAT'S ACTUALLY IN COMPLIANCE YET WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.

>> IF A BLOOMINGTON RESIDENT GETS A COMPLAINT ABOUT WEEDS BUT THEY SAY THEY ARE NATIVE PLANTS IT'S LINDA THOMPSON'S JOB TO FIND OUT.

SHE SAYS SHE CAN IDENTIFY A LOT OF PLANTS WILL BE BUT WHEN SHE'S STUMPED, SHE USES AN APP.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A CHINESE CHROMATIS AND I WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE AND LOOK THAT UP.

IT'S NOT NATIVE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S NOT AN THE INVASIVE LIST.

>> BLOOMINGTON CHANGED ITS ORDINANCE TO DEFINE A WEED AS AN INVASIVE PLANT.

A PLANT THAT CAN SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL AND PREVENT OTHER PLANTS FROM GROWING.

HOMEOWNERS IN BLOOMINGTON CAN PLANT ALMOST ANYTHING THEY WANT IN THEIR YARD, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT INVASIVE.

>> I SEARCHED ALL OVER FOR A DEFINITION FOR A WEED.

EXCEPT A PLANT GROWING SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU DON'T WANT IT TO GO.

IT'S ALL A MATTER OF AESTHETICS AND THE CITY DOESN'T ENFORCE ESTHETICS.

>> BUT EVEN IF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOWS IT, YOUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MAY NOT.

>> ZACH PLANTS MILKWEED.

HE GOT A LETTER FROM HIS H.O.

A.

SAYING HIS PLANTS WERE TOO TALL.

>> INSTEAD OF FREAKING OUT AND BEING CONFRONTATIONAL, I JUST CALLED SOME H.O.A.

BOARD MEMBERS AND HAD A CONVERSATION TO EXPLAIN WHY I WAS DOING WHAT I WAS DOING AND TO MY SURPRISE, EVERYONE WAS VERY OPEN, VERY UNDERSTANDING.

>> THEY CAME TO AN AGREEMENT.

NOW SPRINGER HAS A MULLET WITH SHORTER NATIVE PLANTS IN THE FRONT YARD AND TALLER ONES IN THE BACK.

>> ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS WALKING ALONG THE SIDEWALK WOULD JUST SEE A NORMAL HOUSE.

>> SPRUNGER ALSO JOINED THE H.O.A.

BOARD AND WORKS TO PUT THE NATIVE PLANTS IN COMMON AREAS, ATHE NEIGHBORHOOD.

STILL ONLY A HANDFUL OF H.O.A.s AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE ARE ENCOURAGING NATIVE PLANTS.

HOOSIERS WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR IDEAS OF WHAT A RESIDENTIAL YARD COULD BE.

>> PEOPLE WOULD BE TRADING FOOD, IF I COULD BUILD A UTOPIAN WORLD, AND IT WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ABANDONED PLACE BECAUSE YOU WOULD FIND USE FOR ABANDONED PLACES, YOU KNOW?

BUT IT STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> AND TAYLOR SWIFT ASKS HER FANS TO MEET HER AT MIDNIGHT, BUT INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS ASKING SCHOLARS TO MEET THEM IN NOVEMBER FOR AN ACADEMIC CONFERENCE ON THE POPULAR SINGER/SONGWRITERS.

I.U.

'S ARTS AND HUMANITIES WILL DISCUSS SWIFT'S INDUSTRY IMPACT, ARTISTRY, BUSINESS STRATEGIES AND MORE FOR AN EVENT DUBBED TAYLOR SWIFT THE CONFERENCE ERA.

>> I'M EXCITED TO JUST TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING ARE RELATED TO TAYLOR SWIFT, GOOD, BAD AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

>> ALMANZA SAYS SHE EXPECTS ABOUT 100 PEOPLE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE AND SHE'S HOPING TO INVOLVE LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH TAYLOR SWIFT-THEMED EVENTS OR SPECIALS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

>>> WELL, 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: