>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MORE THAN 140,000 HOOSIERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM MEDICAID SINCE THE END OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MOSTLY FOR PROCEDURAL REASONS AS FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FELL AWAY.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING, BOY, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW.

>> THE SURGE OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET BACK ON MEDICAID IS FURTHER COMPLICATING THE MATTER.

>> AND THE THEATER IS OPENED AGAIN AFTER BEING SHUTTERED FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

IT WILL BE EXCITING TO HAVE THIS BUILDING FILLED WITH PEOPLE.

>> THEY ARE RESTORING THE THEATER BUILT IN 1889.

WE TALK WITH AN I.U.

OFFICIAL ABOUT WHAT THE LATEST BIG TEN EXPANSION MEANS FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENDED THE EMERGENCY COVID-19 IN APRIL MORE THAN 142,000 142,000 HOOSIERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM MEDICAID ROLLS AND MOST OF THEM FOR PROCEDURAL REASONS.

ETHAN SANDWEISS HAS MORE.

>> WITH HELP FROM PATHWAYS DAY CENTER, DOUG GILBERT AND HIS DOG MOLLY MOVED INTO A HOME OF THEIR HOME.

GILBERT HAD SURGERIES ON HIS INTESTINES, BOWELS AND GALLBLADDERS.

>> I'VE HAD IT PRETTY ROUGH.

I HAVE SCARS FROM HERE TO HERE.

>> HE'S IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, BUT NEEDS A LEG BRACE TO FULLY RECOVER.

>> WELL, I JUST STUMBLE AROUND.

[ LAUGHTER ] BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY IT.

>> HIS PROBLEMS INTENSIFIED WHEN A LETTER ARRIVED AT HIS APARTMENT IN JULY FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

GILBERT HAD LOST HIS HEALTHCARE.

>> MY MEDICAID, MY MEDICARE, MY FOOD STAMPS, EVERYTHING WAS CUT.

YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING WELL, BOY, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW.

>> INDIANA'S MEDICAID ROLLS EXPANDED DURING THE PANDEMIC FROM 1.4 MILLION TO OVER 2.2 MILLION, PARTLY BECAUSE THE FSSA ALLOWED SELF-ATTESTATION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO PROHIBITS STATES FROM DISENROLLING PATIENT IN EXCHANGE FOR FUNDING.

WHEN THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS REVOKED IN APRIL, STATES BEGAN REDETERMINING ELIGIBILITY.

>> I CAN TELL YOU AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TALKS REGULARLY TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, I WAS NOT HEARING PROBLEMS ABOUT MEDICAID DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I USED TO HEAR THEM FROM OUR MEMBERS ALL THE TIME.

>> 86% OF HOOSIERS WHO LOST MEDICAID COVERAGE SINCE APRIL DID SO BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH PAPERWORK, COMPARED TO THE 73% NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> WE'RE CURRENTLY ON TRACK FOR A DISENROLLMENT OF ABOUT 600,000 PEOPLE IN THIS STATE.

34% OF THOSE CHILDREN.

AND THAT COMES OUT TO ABOUT 1 IN 12 PEOPLE IN INDIANA LOSING THEIR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR.

>> HUTCHINGS SAYS PROCEDURAL DISENROLLMENTS HAPPENS WHEN THE PATIENT MISINTERPRETS THE COMPLICATED REVIEW PROCESS OR UNABLE TO SUBMIT FORMS ON TIME.

AS OF JULY, INDIANA RANKS 7th FOR THE REPORTED RATE OF PROCEDURAL DISENROLLMENTS ON PAR WITH NORTH CAROLINA.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHERE WE FOUND THAT COMPARED TO PEOPLE SURVEYED IN OTHER STATES, HOOSIERS HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER TIME GOING THROUGH REDETERMINATION.

>> ENROLLING FOR INDIANA MEDICAID WAS DIFFICULT BEFORE, BUT WITH THE SUDDEN SURGE OF CASE REVIEWS, TECHNICAL PROBLEMS HAVE IMPAIRED THE F.S.S.A.

'S ABILITY TO SEND AND RECEIVE DOCUMENTS ON TIME.

GILBERT HADN'T RECEIVED PREVIOUS LETTERS FROM FROM THE F.S.S.A.s BECAUSE THEY WERE SENT TO PATHWAYS.

THE SHELTER TAKES HOME FOR HOMELESS PATIENTS.

THEY SENT REDETERMINATION LETTERS TO HIS OLD ADDRESS.

>> WE GET AT LEAST 10F.S.S.A.

LETTERS OF SOME SORT.

WE DON'T OPEN THE MAIL.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE A LETTER SITTING RIGHT THERE SAYING THEY LOST THEIR INSURANCE.

>> GILBERT WAS SUCCESSFULLY RE-ENROLLED BUT MEDICAID WON'T PAY FOR HIS LEG BRACE.

THE F.S.S.A.

TOLD HER THAT SHE WOULD LOSE HER BEN IF ITS.

EVEN THOUGH SHE MANAGED TO RE-ENROLL, SHE WASN'T GETTING THE FULL COVERAGE.

>> I CALL THEM AND I'M TELLING THEM HEY, I WANT TO LET SOMEONE TO KNOW VOICE TO VOICE, I UPLOADED THIS PAPERWORK.

OH, YEAH, WE SEE IT.

NO PROBLEM.

BUT STILL TO THIS DAY, LIKE, I'M NOT GETTING ALL THE MEDICATIONS I'M SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING.

>> POWELL SAYS PAPERWORK SHE'S UPLOADED TO THE MEDICAID PORTAL HAS DISAPPEARED AND SHE WAS TOLD AN F.S.S.A.

FAX MACHINE COULDN'T RECEIVE HER FAXES.

>> I HAD A HEART ATTACK.

I'M A DIABETIC.

I HAVE A SON WHO IS AUTISTIC.

YOU KNOW, IF I'M NOT HERE TO TAKE CARE OF MY SON, YEAH, MY FAMILY WILL STEP UP, AND I KNOW HE WILL BE PROVIDED FOR, BUT WHY NOT GIVE HE MANY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE PARENT THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TO MY SON.

>> DEMOCRATS AND SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WANT GOVERNOR HOLCOMB CAN STEP IN.

>> WE ASK THE GOVERNOR TO SAY, LET'S PUT A PAUSE RIGHT NOW, NOT PUT PEOPLE OFF MELDY MEDICAID AND SEE WHERE THE DEFICIENCIES ARE AND WHERE THE GAPS ARE IN REGARDS TO GETTING PEOPLE BACK UP INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE COULD DO BETTER ON SO MANY LEVELS.

>> WHILE DISENROLLMENTS CONTINUE, EXPERTS URGE THOSE LOSING MEDICAID TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MEDICAID NAVIGATOR ASSISTANCE FOR RENEWAL.

MOST PATIENTS WHO LOSE COVERAGE, HAVE A 90-DAY WINDOW TO APPLY FOR RETROACTIVE COVERAGE.

I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>> THERE WERE 36,000 DISENROLLMENTS IN JUNE, COMPARED TO 54,000 IN MAY, AND 53,000 IN APRIL, JULY NUMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

>>> THE BIG TEN ANNOUNCED LAST WEEKEND, OREGON AND WASHINGTON FROM THE PAC-12 WILL BE JOINING THE CONFERENCE IN 2024.

THE MOVE FOLLOWS TWO OTHER PAC-12 SCHOOLS SOUTHERN CAL AND UCLA ANNOUNCING LAST YEAR THEY WERE MOVING TO THE BIG TEN.

IT LEAVES THE PAC-12 IN UNCERTAINTY WITH FOUR SCHOOLS REMAINING, WHILE THE NUMBER OF BIG TEN SCHOOLS EXPANDS TO 18.

IT'S LATEST CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT THAT'S RESHAPING THE LOOK OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY JEREMY GRAY THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AT I.U.

FOR MORE ON WHAT THAT MOVE MEANS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

ALSO KNOW JEREMY, AS THE I.U.

BASKETBALL ANNOUNCER.

>> IT WAS A FUN YEAR, WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN HAVING EXCELLENT SEASONS.

I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH YOU EVERY DAY.

>> IS THIS A GOOD MOVE.

>> I BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD MOVE.

IT PROVIDES A GREAT DEAL OF STABILITY FOR THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE GOING FORWARD.

TWO, THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN WHERE IT WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE REVENUE OF THE EXISTING BIG TEN SCHOOLS.

THREE, TWO GREAT RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TWO GREAT ATHLETIC PROGRAMS JOINING THE CONFERENCE, AND IT REALLY DOES GIVE THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE A COAST-TO-COAST FOOTPRINT.

IT IS THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

>> WITH WILL, DO YOU ENVISION THE BIG 10 EXPANDING EVEN MORE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHANGING LANDSCAPE.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THIS INTERVIEW NEVER EVEN DAWNED ON ME AS A POSSIBILITY.

AND TWO WEEKS LATER, THERE ARE TWO NEW TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE.

I DON'T SEE ANY IMMEDIATE MOVES, YOU KNOW, FOR EXPANSION BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN COUNT ON IN CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT IS CHANGE.

>> NOW, ANY IDEAS YET ON HOW THEY WOULD STRUCTURE THE CONFERENCE WITH 18?

>> NO TUCK ABOUT -- NO TALK ABOUT DIVISIONS YET.

THEY WILL HAVE TO RESHUFFLE WHAT THE GAME SCHEDULE IS LIKE.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT COMPONENT IS TEAM TRAVEL FOR SPORTS OTHER THAN FOOTBALL.

FOOTBALL PLAYS ON SATURDAYS.

THEY HAVE SIX HOME GAMES TYPICALLY.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SIX FRIDAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL.

THE OTHER SPORTS, BASEBALL, FOR INSTANCE, THEY PLAY 56 GAMES IN ONE SEMESTER.

AND SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE TRAVEL COMPONENT IS A BIG PART OF THIS GOING FORWARD.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRAVELING.

HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE FAN BASE AND THE STUDENT-ATHLETES WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT TIME ZONES?

>> I THINK, AGAIN, FOR FOOTBALL, I THINK IT'S ALMOST IN ITS OWN DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

I WOULD SAY FOR OTHER SPORTS, THERE'S SOME TALK ABOUT NEUTRAL SITE COMPETITIONS, LET'S SAY A SPORT LIKE TENNIS.

THEY MEET AT A REGIONAL TENNIS CENTER AND PLAY FOUR CONFERENCE OPPONENTS IN ONE WEEKEND TO MITIGATE THE COST AND THE WEAR AND TEAR OF TEAM TRAVEL THAT WAY.

I THINK THERE'S A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL PARTNERS THAT MAYBE INDIANA AND PURDUE FLY OUT TOGETHER TO GO TAKE ON TWO WEST COAST TEAMS SO THAT IT MITIGATES SOME COST ISSUES.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT FRONT AND CENTER IS THE CONCERN OF THE STUDENT-ATHLETES AND THEIR ACADEMIC CALENDAR.

>> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN NOW FOR THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS AS A WHOLE MOVING IN ORDER WITH ALL OF THIS REALIGNMENT?

>> I THINK WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT IT NOW -- I WOULD SAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS CLEARLY THE SECOND MOST POPULAR SPORT IN AMERICA, ONLY BEHIND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

AND THAT FINDING WAYS, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVER SHRINKING AND CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SPORT IS ABLE TO OPERATE ON ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, POPULARITY IS -- IS A HUGE PRIORITY GOING FORWARD AND YOU SEE IT WITH THE MOVEMENT IN CONFERENCES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> I KNOW OBVIOUSLY THERE AT I.U.

ATHLETICS, ANY MATCH-UPS THAT YOU ARE KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG TIME WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE IN RECRUITING THAT WE ARE THE SOUTH BEACH OF THE BIG TEN.

THAT'S NO LONGER WITH UCLA.

EUGENE IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE BLOOMINGTON.

A LOT OF SIMILARITIES IN MY TRIPS THERE.

AND SEATTLE IS ONE OF OUR GREAT CITIES.

ADDING THOSE ON THE TRAVELING CALENDAR.

THERE ARE WORST PLACES TO GO, THAN YOU EUGENE, SEATTLE AND LOS ANGELES.

>>> WE ARE JOINED BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM, CLAYTON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TODD YOUNG SAYS THE U.S. SHOULD TAILOR LEGISLATION TO PRODUCE MORE HERE, WHILE COORDINATING PRODUCTION WITH OTHER ALLIES.

AS JOE HREN REPORTS, IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL TOPICS AT THE FEDERAL FOCUS LUNCH WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT IVY TECH BLOOMINGTON.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S TECH PARK STILL MAINLY SITS EMPTY THOUGH WORK IS BEING DONE TO FILL THE TRADES NETWORK WITH ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT IS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH.

>> THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE DISCOVERIES WHICH IN TURN WILL LEAD NO MORE START-UPS IN OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES, LIKE BLOOMINGTON.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE TECH PARK AND THE VISION THAT PRESIDENT WHITTEN AND OTHERS HAVE THERE.

>> TERRE HAUTE IS LOOKING TO ADD MORE THAN 1,000 JOBS WITH THE OPENING OF THE CASINO AND BATTERY PARTS PRODUCER ENTECH.

MAYOR DUKE BENNETT SAYS THEY NEED TO FILL THE WORKPLACE AND RECRUIT BUSINESSES.

>> GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE EVERYTHING.

I KNOW I SAID THAT 100 TIMES ALSO, BUT THEY CAN SURE HELP FACILITATE AND FILL THE GAP TO GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO.

>> YOUNG SAYS INDIANA IS ONE OF THE MOST INTENSIVE MANUFACTURING STATES IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS EXPERIENCE IN FILLING THOSE JOBS.

>> OUR UNIVERSITIES, IVY TECH, INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE FOCUSED ON TRAINING THE WORKFORCE TOMORROW.

WE ALSO NEED TO UP OUR GAME AS IT RELATES TO K-12.

>> HE SAYS INDIANA WILL BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

HE SAYS HE SEES THE STATE USING A.I.

OF PRODUCING CROPS AND IN TURN BRINGING DOWN THE PRICE OF FOOD TO SOLVING NATIONAL SECURITY PROBLEMS AT CRANE.

HE ALSO CAUTIONS CONSTRAINING INNOVATION BY MOVING TOO FAR WITH REGULATORY EFFORTS.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

>>> BLOOMINGTON'S DOWNTOWN TRADES DISTRICT COULD SOON BE HOME TO A 150-ROOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL COMPLETE WITH MEETING SPACES, I RESTAURANT AND A BAR.

THE MILL, WHICH MANAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADES DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FOR THE CONCEPT.

IT'S FIRST SO FAR FOR ONE OF FOUR TRACTS FOR SALE ON THE PROPERTY.

>> THE IDEA WITH THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL IS THAT IT WOULD BE A -- YOU KNOW, A CATALYSTIC INVESTMENT THAT WILL BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE DISTRICT ITSELF.

>> THE MILL AND DEVELOPER STILL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH DETAILS OF A PROJECT AGREEMENT BEFORE PRESENTING IT TO THE CITY'S REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

FERNANDEZ SAYS A FEW PROMINENT HOTEL BRANDS ARE COMPETING FOR THE PROJECT.

IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN IN 2024 AND THE HOTEL COULD OPEN IN FALL OF 2025.

>>> FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE SAID THIS WEEK HE HAS MET THE CRITERIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE LATER THIS MONTH.

HE BECOMES THE EIGHTH'S GOP CANDIDATE TO QUALIFY FOR THE DEBATE IN MILWAUKEE.

>>> BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT SOON COULD SERVE PARTS OF MONROE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF BLOOMINGTON CITY LIMITS DUE TO ACTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL GAVE PERMISSION TO B.T.

TO EXTEND ITS SERVICE BOUNDARIES THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS WITH MONROE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF ELLETSVILLE.

>> WE WANT BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT TO BECOME THE MOBILITY PROVIDER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY, WE'RE TALKING REGION, MEANING THE COUNTY.

>> IN COMES AS RURAL TRANSIT WHICH SERVES RURAL AREAS IN THE COUNTY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN TRIPS NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF CHANGES DUE TO THE 20 TO CENSUS.

AREA TEN AGENCY ON AGING, THE NONPROFIT THAT OPERATES RURAL TRANSIT.

IT TECHNICALLY ALLOWS B.T.

TO EXPAND ANYWHERE IN MONROE COUNTY.

>> WHEELER MISSION WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE SHELTERING SERVICES FOR UNHOUSED WOMEN BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1st.

THE BLOOMINGTON SHELTER SAYS IT'S REALLOCATING ITS RESOURCES.

>> WE HAVE TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO CARE FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAN IN BLOOMINGTON, AND OUR REGION.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> JOAN SAYS WHEELER PLANNED TO CLOSE THE WOMEN'S SHELTER ON JULY 2020, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, MORE FUNDING BECAME AVAILABLE TO KEEP THE SHELTER ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE TEMPORARILY OPEN.

WHEELER WILL TIP TO OFFER SERVICES INCLUDING MEALS FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

SHELTERING AND OTHER SERVICES FOR UNHOUSED MEN WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

>>> THE STARBUCKS ON BLOOMINGTON'S EAST SIDE THIS WEEK BECAME THE THIRD STARBUCKS IN THE STATE TO UNIONIZE.

EMPLOYEES AT THE STORE AT THE 3rd STREET AND THE BYPASS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO JOIN THE WORKERS UNITED UNION WHICH IS REPRESENTING AROUND 300 STARBUCKS NATIONWIDE.

>> I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE ARE READY FOR THE FIGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE DO HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS AT THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT FILING FOR A UNION IS.

>> SHARP SAYS SHE HOPES THE SUCCESSFUL PUSH TO UNIONIZE HER LOCATION INSPIRES OTHERS IN BLOOMINGTON TO DO THE SAME.

THE WAY CLARKSVILLE, THE FIRST STAR BUCKS IN THE STATE UNIONIZED INSPIRED HER AND HER COWORKERS.

>>> AND SHARED MICROMOBILITY VEHICLES SUCH AS EBIKES AND ESCOOTERS, ALL THE CORRALS ARE BETWEEN MORTON STREET AND INDIANA AVENUE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AND EAST 3rd AND 12th STREETS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH.

>> THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO IMPROVE BOTH SHARED MICROMOBILITY IN THE CITY, MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO RIDE IT AND ALSO MAKING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEDESTRIANS.

>> AND JOE, INSTALLATION OF THE CORRALS BEGAN IN JULY BUT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST 15th.

>> WE'LL SEE IF THIS HELPS WITH SIDEWALK AND LAWNS AND STREET PROBLEM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, CLAYTON.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," PAOLI RESIDENTS ARE RECOVERING FROM A TORNADO THAT HIT THE TOWN LAST WEEKEND, DAMAGING SEVERAL BUSINESSES ON THE SQUARE.

>>> AND RENOVATIONS ARE UNDERWAY ON THE HISTORIC THEATER AS THEY REOPEN THE 104-YEAR-OLD VENUE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

POWER CAME BACK ON IN PAOLI WEDNESDAY AROUND SUPPER TIME, THREE DAYS AFTER A TORNADO TORE THROUGH THE SMALL TOWN SOUTH OF BEDFORD.

WE HAVE REPORTERS THAT VISITED WITH THE COMMUNITY EARLIER THIS WEEK AS THEY BEGAN RECOVERY EFFORTS.

>> MANY POLES AND TREES FELL ON HOUSES, TRAILERS AND BUILDINGS.

CREWS FROM THE MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL ELECTRICIANS TO INSTALL NEW POWER LINES AND POLES.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY EXPENSIVE FIX, BUT WE'LL -- WE'LL WEATHER THROUGH IT AND GET EVERYTHING BACK UP AND RUNNING.

AND SMALL COMMUNITIES PULL TOGETHER AND MAKE MIRACLES HAPPEN.

>> THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES.

THE FEW INJURED ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

EVEN THOUGH RESTAURANTS HAVE SHUT DOWN, THEY HAVE SET UP GRILLS TO COOK FOOD FOR THE WORKERS FOR FREE.

ALFREDO, MANAGER OF EL COMPADRES SAYS HE'S LUCKY THAT THEY DID NOT SUFFER MUCH DAMAGE AND HE'S HAPPY TO DO HIS PART TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE COMMUNITY, THEY HELP TO TRY TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES ALL THE TIME.

SO THIS IS THE TIME I TRY TO GIVE MY PART TO THEM.

BUT, I MEAN, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN DO FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.

>> WILLIAM WINHORST ON THE PAOLI SQUARES, HE SAYS NEITHER HIS STORE OR HOUSE HAVE POWER.

NINE TREES FELL AROUND HIS HOUSE.

HE'S BEEN USING A GENERATOR TO CHARGE PHONES AND RUN THE REFRIGERATOR.

>> WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, CLEANING UP DEBRIS.

IT'S WORKED GETTING SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY AWAY AND BECOME A FAMILY AND ENJOY THE TIME AWAY.

>> HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING HIS STORE CLOSED FOR A FEW DAYS BECAUSE HE'S NOT EARNING ANY MONEY TO PAY HIS EMPLOYEES.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY COMING IN WHATSOEVER.

SO IMMEDIATELY, I'M TRYING TO GET THE DAMAGED FIXED AND REPAIRED AND I'M HOPING THAT CUSTOMERS COME BACK IN AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL VENDORS AND LOCAL MERCHANTS TO HELP RECOVER SOME OF THOSE LOST INCOMES.

>> PAOLI WAS HIT BY A 100-MILE-PER-HOUR EF-1 TORNADO AND A 95-MILE-PER-HOUR EF-1 TORNADO ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

IT WILL TAKE MONTHS TO REPAIR THE ROOFS, WAREHOUSES, GUTTERS, SIGNS AND HOUSES THAT WERE DAMAGED.

>> THIS IS VERY RARE IN AUGUST.

I CAN NEVER REMEMBER GOING ON A TORNADO SURVEY IN MY 20 YEARS IN LOUISVILLE IN AUGUST.

THIS IS A MINIMUM MONTH.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ISABELLA VESS PREENY.

>> THE HISTORIC CRUMP THEATER IN COLUMBUS IS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR NINE YEARS.

I TALKED WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER ABOUT HOW VOLUNTEERS, BUSINESSES, AND OFFICIALS ARE PRESERVING AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TOWN'S HISTORY.

>> THE LAST MAJOR RENOVATION WAS MORE THAN 80 YEARS AGO, BUT THE THEATER STILL REFLECT ARES THE ERAS SINCE IT OPENED IN 1889.

>> HOW DO WE MAKE THEM ALL FLOW AND COME TOGETHER?

SO THIS PARTICULAR SPACE IS ALL FROM THE LAST MAJOR RENOVATION, WHICH WAS 1941.

ALL ART DECO AND IT'S CONCRETE AND LEATHER WALLS.

>> SCHNEPP GOT THE KEYS TO THE BUILDING AND MADE SOME REMARKABLE DISCOVERIES.

>> LIKE THIS MURAL, FOR EXAMPLE, IS AMAZING!

IT WAS DONE IN 1941 BY ZEIGNER AND HE WAS A GERMAN MURALIST.

HE DID MURALS ALL OVER THE U.S. ONE LITTLE ARTICLE MENTIONED THAT HE OCCASIONALLY USED PHOSPHOROUS PAINT ON HIS MURALS.

THAT MEANS IT WOULD GLOW.

I IMMEDIATELY CAME RUNNING AND THIS DOES GLOW.

SO WE'RE WORKING -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE PICKED UP ON CAMERA, WE ARE WORKING TO COME UP WITH A NEW LIGHTING SOLUTION.

>> THIS WAS OPENED 134 YEARS AGO.

LIGHT SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES OPENED THE DOORS AND TURNED ON THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS.

>> THE INFINITY COLUMNS, WE WILL PUT BACK THE NEON THAT GOES AROUND EACH COLUMN TO CREATE MORE LIGHT, BUT IT ALSO IS VERY VISUALLY ART DECK DECO FOR THE TIME FRAME.

>> THE THEATER IS WELL-BUILT BUT NEEDS A NEW ROOF.

REPAIR WORK TO A COUPLE OF TRUSSES AND LOTS OF TLC, INCLUDING THE UPSTAIRS GENTLEMAN AND LADY'S LOUNGES.

>> WE ACTUALLY HAD A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO THAT WAS SHOOTING IN HERE SO WE COULD KIND OF TELL WHAT THE PATTERN ON THE WALL WAS, AND SO LOCAL BUSINESSES JUMPED RIGHT IN AND PICKED OUT THE WALLPAPER AND THE PAINT COLOR AND ALL OF IT WAS DONATED EVEN THE LABOR TO DO ALL OF IT.

OF.

>> THE MARBLE STALLS ARE REFINISHED AND NEW VITROLITE PANELS ARE BEING REPLICATED IN St. LOUIS TO REPAIR THE ROOM.

>> WELCOME TO THE CRYING ROOM.

>> IT'S TUCKED AWAY OVERLOOKING THE THEATER HOUSE.

NOW IT'S A MUSEUM, FINISHED WITH CANDY BOXES AND ANTIQUE POPCORN MACHINE AND PIECES OF AN ORIGINAL OPERA HOUSE CHAIR ASSEMBLED TO SHOW WHAT ONE WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE IN 1889.

>> AS SOON AS YOU WALK THROUGH THESE DOORS, IT'S A TIME HOP.

YOU WILL SEE ERAS FROM 1889 ALL THE WAY THROUGH 1941.

THE GOOD IDENTIFY CEILING -- THE GRID CEILING IS THE ORIGINAL CEILING FROM THE OPERA HOUSE DAYS.

THE FLOOR WE'RE STANDING ON IS THE ORIGINAL 1920s WOOD FLOOR THAT'S SUSPENDED.

>> THE SEATS IN THE LOWER PAIN HOUSE ARE FROM THE 1941 RENOVATION.

THOSE ARE BEING REDONE AND WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE BALCONY.

SEATS DONATED FROM THE 1927 INDIANA WAR MEMORIAL WILL BE DONATED.

>> NOW EACH OF THOSE DECORATIVE PANELS WERE THE BALCONY SEATS.

THEY HAD THEIR OWN BALCONIES THAT CURVED OUT.

IN THE '20s THEY WERE GOING TO MOVIES.

THEY SHAVED OFF THE BALCONY PART AND DID THESE DECORATIVE BACK-LIT PANELS.

OUR GAME PLAN IS TO REINSTALL THE BALCONY SEATS.

>> THE TRUSS REPAIR WAS DECLARED FOR A YEAR SO WORKERS COULD RELOCATE A 100,000 BEE HONEY COLONY THAT MADE A HOME ABOVE THE STAGE.

THE ORIGINAL SILENT MOVIE SCREEN FRAME CAN BE LOWERED TO THE STAGE FROM THE ORIGINAL COUNTERWEIGHT PULLEY SYSTEM.

>> AS A VOLUNTEER HERE, YOUR INITIATION IS YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PULL THIS THING UP.

>> A NEW SCREEN WAS DONATED.

SCHNEPP SAYS THEY FOUND THE SPEAKER SYSTEM THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADDED IN THE 1940s.

ALL THE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN SO FAR DONATED FROM L.E.D.

LIGHTS, EMERGENCY LIGHTS, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND EVEN THE CAR CANARCHITECT AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEER HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME.

>> I WILL BE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS BUILDING FILLED WITH PEOPLE AND LET THEM SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOPEFULLY THEY WANT TO HELP.

>> THE REOPENING OF THE THEATER WILL COINCIDE WITH THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE ROOF.

THEY HOPE TO RAISE $60,000.

OTHER COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS WILL HELP TO FUND THE SEAT REUP REUPHOLSTERY AND LEATHER REPLACEMENT.

>> IT AIMS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

SHORT FILMS AND TEEN BANDS ARE GOING TO PERFORM.

>> THE GREAT HOT DOG HEIST ON AUGUST 1st IS NOT THE ONLY THEFT.

THE EMPLOYEE AT THE CHOCOLATE MOOSE CALLED ON MONDAY TO REPORT A MISSING RACK THAT HELD ABOUT 40 BAGS OF SMALL POTATO CHIPS.

SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS SHOW SOMEONE CLIMBING THROUGH A WINDOW AND MAKING OFF WITH THE RACK ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 1st.

THE SAME DAY 360 HOT DOGS WERE STOLEN FROM THE BRYAN PARK POOL.

NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

>>> 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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