>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," LOVE 'EM OR HATEM, HATE HIM, YOU CAN'T DENY THE IMPACT THAT COACH BOB KNIGHT HAD ON BASKETBALL.

>> THEY TALKED ABOUT MY TEMPER OR SOMETHING.

WELL, MY [ BLEEP ] TEMPER WON A HELL OF A LOT OF BASKETBALL GAMES.

>> WE REMEMBER THE GENERAL WHO DIED IT WEEK AT AGE 83.

>> SOME GARY RESIDENTS HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE STATE FROM ALLOWING INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> WE'RE NOT A THROW-AWAY CITY.

WE DESERVE CLEAN, GREEN SPACES, CLEAN AIR AND WATER AND HEALTHY PEOPLE.

>> AHEAD, DETAILS OF THE COMPLAINT AND HOW MUCH AUTHORITY THE STATE HAS IN DECIDING WHICH COMPANIES GET PERMITS.

>>> AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO SEE THE FAMOUS FOLIAGE IN BROWN COUNTY.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

IN LIFE AND IN DEATH, LEGENDARY INDIANA COACH BOB KNIGHT DID THINGS HIS WAY.

KNIGHT DIED THIS WEEK AT AGE 83, AFTER A LONG ILLNESS.

THE GENERAL WAS A LOOMING FORCE IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL FOR THE NEARLY THREE DECADES HE COACHED THE HOOSIERS.

HIS TEAMS WING THREE BANNERS IN SIMON SKJODT MEMORIAL HALL.

A MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL IS GROWING OUTSIDE THE ARENA NOW.

>> YOU CAN CALL A GUY, YOU KNOW, A BAD GUY BECAUSE HE TALKS TO PEOPLE THE WAY HE DOES OR WHATEVER, BUT IT MAKES HIM A GREAT TEACHER.

>> BUT FOR ALL THE WINNING, KNIGHT WAS JUST AS KNOWN FOR HIS CONTROVERSIES ON AND OFF THE COURT.

WHILE CRITICS FUMED ABOUT HIS CONDUCT, HIS DEFENDERRED RALLIED BEHIND HIM.

PAT BEANE REPORTS ON KNIGHT'S LEGACY AND WHY HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST COACHES IN BASKETBALL HISTORY.

>> BOB KNIGHT WAS JUST 29 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS HIRED AS THE HEAD COACH AT INDIANA IN 1971.

HE WON THREE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, AN N.I.T.

AND 11 BIG TEN TITLES AND HEARTS OF HOOSIER FANS ACROSS THE NATION.

[ CHEERS ] >> INDIANA BASKETBALL WILL ALWAYS BE BOB KNIGHT.

WILL ALWAYS BE.

>> ROBERT MONTGOMERY KNIGHT WAS BORN ON OCTOBER 25th, 1940.

HE GREW UP IN ORVILLE AND IN COLLEGE HE PLAYED THE 1960 OHIO STATE TEAM THAT WON THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP.

HIS FIRST HEAD COACHING JOB WAS AT WEST POINT BUT IT WAS INDIANA, THE STATE WHERE BASKETBALL IS KING THAT KNIGHT MADE HIS MARK.

>> A STERN DISCIPLINE DISCIPLINARIANISM.

HE EMPHASIZED HIS PLAYERS WENT TO CLASS AND DEVELOPED LIFELONG BONDS WITH MANY OF THEM.

>> HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY THE GAME OF BASKETBALL FROM A FUNDAMENTAL STANDPOINT.

HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A MAN ON AND OFF THE FLOOR.

AND THAT WAS HUGE FOR ME COMING OUT OF THE INNER CITIES OF INDIANAPOLIS.

>> WOODSON WHO WENT ON TO PLAY AND COACH IN THE NBA WAS JUST ONE OF A NUMBER OF COLLEGE STARS TO PLAY UNDER KNIGHT.

BUCKNER, MAY, THOMAS, ALFORD, BAILEY, CHEANEY, HENDERSON, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

WITH THEM, HE WON NATIONAL TITLES IN 1976, '81 AND 91.

DURING HIS INDUCTION INTO THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1991, HE SAID ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE BECAUSE OF HIS PLAYERS.

>> I NEVER FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE AWARD COACH OF THE YEAR OR COACH OF ANYTHING.

I THINK THERE'S A MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE NOMENCLATURE THAT COULD BE USED AND THAT WOULD BE TEAM OF THE YEAR.

>> BUT HE HAD A FIERY SIDE.

NEVER AFRAID TO BERATE AN OFFICIAL OR A PLAYER DURING A GAME.

>> THEY TALKED ABOUT MY TEMPER OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?

WELL, MY [ BLEEP ] TEMPER WON A HELL OF A LOT OF BASKETBALL GAMES.

>> BUT WHILE KNIGHT'S TEAMS WON CONSISTENTLY, HE COURTED CONTROVERSY.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER IN PUERTO RICO IN 1979.

AND HIS RESPONSE TO HOW HE HANDLED STRESS IN A 1988 INTERVIEW WITH NBC'S CONNIE CHUNG DREW NATIONAL OUTRAGE.

>> RAPE, THAT'S AN OLD TERM THAT YOU WILL USE.

SO YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TALKING -- I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ACT OF RAPE.

DON'T MISINTERPRET ME THERE.

>> ON THE COURT, ONE MOMENT FROM A FEBRUARY GAME IN 1985 AGAINST PURDUE MAY TOP THEM ALL.

>> GETTING A TECHNICAL.

LOOKY HERE.

LOOKY HERE, BOBBY KNIGHT JUST THREW HIS CHAIR CLEAR ACROSS THE FREE THROW LANE.

>> BUT HIS ANTICS CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000 WHEN HE WAS FIRED FOR VIOLATING THE UNIVERSITY'S ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AFTER ALLEGEDLY GRABBING A STUDENT.

>> IN AN EARLY-MORNING TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH COACH KNIGHT TODAY, I GAVE HIM THE OPTION OF RESIGNING AS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH.

HE DECLINED, AND I NOTIFIED HIM THAT HE WAS BEING REMOVED AS BASKETBALL COACH EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

[ CHEERS ] >> PROTESTS OF KNIGHT'S FIRING ERUPTED ACROSS CAMPUS AND THREE DAYS AFTER HE WAS LET GO, KNIGHT SPOKE TO A LARGE GATHERING IN DUNN MANY MEADOW AS NEWS HELICOPTERS CIRCLED OVERHEAD.

>> JUST AS I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED OUR PLAYERS TO BE A PART OF THE STUDENT BODY, SO TOO HAVE I ALWAYS WANTED OUR STUDENTS TO BE A PART OF OUR TEAM.

>> FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS KNIGHT AVOIDED ANYTHING TO DO WITH INDIANA UNIVERSITY BUT IN 2019, HE AND HIS WIFE KAREN MOVED BACK TO BLOOMINGTON.

THEN AT HALFTIME OF A GAME, KNIGHT WALKED ON TO THE COURT AT ASSEMBLY HALL TO A STANDING OVATION.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] HE DIDN'T SPEAK TO THE CROWD, BUT DID LEAD IT IN A SIGNATURE CHANT.

>> DEFENSE!

>> YES, DEDEFENSE!

>> DEFENSE!

>> DEFENSE!

>> I.U.

BASKETBALL PLAYER CHICAGO BULLS PLAYER, BROADCASTER, SUPER SUB, SOME YOU KNOW HIM JOHN LASKOWSKI JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

WE ALL KNEW THAT KNIGHT WASN'T WELL, BUT THIS CERTAINLY HURTS, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES, BUT HE WAS AROUND SO LONG.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HIM OVER 50 YEARS NOW AS A HIGH SCHOOL RECRUIT COMING TO INDIANA AND, OF COURSE, PLAYING FOR HIM AND TV FOR 33 YEARS.

IT'S A TIME TO REMEMBER THE GOOD THINGS THAT HE DID, AND THERE WERE SO MANY GOOD THINGS THAT HE DID, NOT JUST FOR THE PLAYERS, BUT PEOPLE THAT WERE FANS AND HELPING PEOPLE WHO WERE SICK, DONATING MONEY TO VARIOUS CAUSES JUST GREAT, GREAT MEMORIES TO HAVE AND TO RELIVE.

>> KNIGHT RECRUITED YOU TO PLAY AT I.U.

DID HE RECRUIT HIMSELF OR DID HE RECRUIT I.U.?

>> IT WAS A LITTLE OF BOTH.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY GROWING UP IN INDIANA, WHICH I DID, YOU KNOW ABOUT INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE PLACE.

AND THEN TO LEARN ABOUT THE COACH AND WHAT HE HAD IN MIND AND WHAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO DO, HE WAS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN IN 1971, JUST COMING FROM ARMY AS THE HEAD COACH, BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR HIM TO GET HERE AND CREATE A BRAND NEW CULTURE.

>> IN TERMS OF STRATEGY, WHAT DID COACH KNIGHT BRING TO THE GAME?

HOW DID HE CHANGE BASKETBALL?

>> SO THE BIGGEST THING WITH INDIANA, REALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY, WAS THAT WE WERE KNOWN AS THE HOOSIERS IN THE '50s AND '60s, INDIANA WOULD RUN THE SCORE UP, AND IF YOU DIDN'T BEAT THE TEAM, IT'S BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SCORE ENOUGH POINTS, NOT PLAYING DEFENSE.

IF WE HOLD TEAMS UNDER WHAT THEY ARE USED TO, WE'RE GOING TO WIN A LOT OF GAMES AND THAT'S THE CULTURE THAT CHANGES NOT JUST INDIANA BASKETBALL BUT A LOT MORE TEAMS PLAYING MORE DEFENSE NOW AND TRYING TO WIN GAMES THAT WAY.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FIERY, THE CONTROVERSIAL BOB KNIGHT TOO, HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU?

>> WELL, I'M A VERY LAID BACK, EASY GOING GUY.

AND, OF COURSE, HE'S OUT THERE BIGGER THAN LIFE!

AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO ADJUST TO, THAT BUT WHAT HE'S REALLY SAYING, I THINK YOU CAN WORK HARDER THAN YOU THINK YOU CAN.

AND I WILL BE ON YOU UNTIL YOU SHOW ME YOU CAN.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT 12 GUYS REALIZING THAT, COMING TOGETHER, IT'S A POWERFUL TOOL TO MAKE YOU A BETTER TEAM.

AND I WORKED HARDER THAN I EVER THOUGHT I DID.

ONE OF HIS BEST LINES TO ME, KEEP RUNNING.

YOU PASS OUT BEFORE YOU DIE.

AND SO I KNEW THAT IF I WORKED HARD TO PASS OUT, HE WOULD REVIVE ME AND I KEPT RUNNING.

IT WORKS OUT GREAT.

>> WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD SEE BOB KNIGHT BACK IN ASSEMBLY HALL.

HE DID COME BACK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MADE HIM COME BACK?

>> WELL, HE FIRST MOVED BACK, BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN HE WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE UNIVERSITY AGAIN.

HE GOT TO SEE MORE PLAYERS.

HE GOT TO SEE FORMER PLAYERS.

HE GOT TO SEE PEOPLE HE KNEW FROM HERE IN TOWN.

I THINK THAT ACCUSTOMED HIM MORE TO REMEMBERING THE DAYS WHEN HE WAS HERE AT INDIANA AND HOW WELL THEY WENT.

AND THEN RANDY WITTMAN, IS THE GUY WHO SAYS YOU HAVE TO COME TO IT TO THIS PURDUE GAME IN 2020, AND HE DID.

AND THE OVATION WAS FANTASTIC.

SO MANY GUYS SHOWED UP.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST EVER AND THAT REALLY LET HIM KNOW THAT INDIANA STILL LOVED HIM AND WE'RE HAPPY HE CAME BACK.

>> SO WE HAVE TO GO, BUT HOW WILL YOU REMEMBER COACH KNIGHT?

>> WELL, HE CHANGED MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD.

HE BECAME A FATHER FIGURE FOR ME.

AND AGAIN, ACHIEVING MORE THAN YOU CAN, PLAYING TO YOUR POTENTIAL, THAT WAS HIS KEY AND I WORKED TO MY POTENTIAL AND DID EVERYTHING I COULD.

NOT TO PASS THE GRADE, BUT TO DO AS WELL AS YOU COULD AND THAT WAS A GREAT LESSON THAT HE TAUGHT ALL OF US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND SHARING YOUR STORIES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I.U.

ATHLETIC PLANS TO HONOR KNIGHT BY ACATCHING COMMEMORATIVE CATCHES WITH R.M.K.

ON THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS FOR THE REST OF YEAR.

I.U.

FOOTBALL TEAM WILL WEAR R.M.K.

DECALS ON THEIR HELMETS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," SOME GARY RESIDENTS WANT STATE TO DO MORE TO PREVENT POLLUTERS FROM OPERATING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

HOW MUCH POWER DOES THE STATE REALLY HAVE ON WHO GETS PERMITS.

>>> AND INDIANA'S FALL COLORS ARE ON FULL DISPLAY IN BROWN COUNTY.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

RESIDENTS SAY THE CITY OF GARY HAS LONG BEEN A DUMPING GROUND FOR INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT POLLUTE THEIR AIR, SOIL AND WATER.

SOME RESIDENTS WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

THEY FILED A CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST THE STATE WHICH THEY SAY CONTINUES TO ALLOW THESE FACILITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, WHILE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN'T STOP THIS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DISAGREES.

.

>> IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT GARY'S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY HAS ALSO COME WITH A LEGACY OF POLLUTION.

WE MET LOCAL HISTORIAN KORRY SHEPARD BY THE OLD GEORGIA-PACIFIC PAPER MILL WHICH MADE THINGS LIKE PAPER TOWELS AND TISSUES UNTIL IT CLOSED IN THE EARLY 2000s.

>> WHEN THIS WAS IN FULL SWING, THIS HE POLLUTED THE RIVER.

THEY POLLUTED ALL THE LAND BACK HERE.

THEY DUMPED WHEREVER THEY WANTED TO DUMP AND OTHER CITIES USED TO USE THEIR LANDFILLS AS WELL.

IT WAS JUST A DUMPING PARTY AND JUST POLLUTION ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> EVEN THE STORY OF HOW THE CITY WAS FOUNDED BRINGS UP ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS.

SHEPARD SAYS BACK IN THE EARLY 1900s, THE COMPANY THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME PART OF U.S. STEEL WAS LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR PLANT IN CHICAGO, BUT RESIDENTS NEAR THE PLANT WEREN'T HAVING IT.

INSTEAD SHEPARD SAID THE COMPANY DID HE SIDED TO BUILD IN AN AREA WITH LESS RESISTANCE, NORTHWEST INDIANA WHERE EXECUTIVES ALREADY OWNED SOME OF THE LAND FOR HUNTING.

>> AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE NOT LEARNED THE LESSONS FROM THE PAST AT ALL.

THEY STILL ALLOW FOR THESE COMPANIES TO COME GARY SPECIFICALLY.

YOU DON'T HEAR OF THEM TRYING TO ESTABLISH THESE TYPES OF COMPANIES IN CROWN POINT OR IN SCHERERVILLE.

>> IT'S TRUE, THAT IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP OF INDUSTRIAL PLANTS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA, THEY ALL SEEM TO CLUSTER AROUND CITIES LIKE GARY AND EAST CHICAGO WHERE AT LEAST 80% OF THE RESIDENTS ARE BLACK, LATINO OR OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WHEN THE STATE EXTENDED A PERMIT FOR A WASTE PROCESSING PLANT, RESIDENTS WITH GARD HAD HAD STUFF.

STEEL CITY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL SITS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED PLANT.

IF IT GETS BUILT IT COULD MEAN MORE POLLUTION AND TRUCK TRAFFIC WHERE THE KIDS LEARN AND PLAY.

AND IT COULD ALSO AFFECT A RARE ARTISAN WELL THAT WATER NATURALLY BUBBLED UP FROM THE GROUND.

GARD FILED A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR EXTENDING MAYA'S PERMIT.

KIMMIE GORDON SAYS THIS DISCRIMINATION IS NOTHING NEW, BUT GARD FELT LIKE NOW WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO ACT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE A FOCUS.

>> IF WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND OVER AND OVER, WHEN GARY IS AT FULL CAPACITY FOR INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND CONTAMINANTS, THEN WHERE WILL WE BE?

IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?

>> BEER HEREWE'RE HERE AT MILLER BEACH AND THE COLORLINE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY OWNED BY INDUSTRY.

THIS MAKES GARY A LESS HEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS STATES SHOULD KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN GRANTING AIR PERMITS.

IT'S SOMETHING CALLED CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.

IN THE CASE OF MAYA ENERGY, IDEM SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DENY A PERMIT OR MAKE IT MORE STRICT BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS ALONE.

IT SAYS IT CAN ONLY LOOK AT A SINGLE PERMIT AND DECIDE IF IT MEETS THE RULES OR NOT.

BUT EXPERTS AT THE EPA DISAGREE.

>> IF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT SOME STATES, ANY STATE HAS AUTHORITY TO TAKE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS IN ACCOUNT IN PERMITTING, THE ANSWER IS YES.

>> NOTHING PREVENTS FROM FACTORING IN TOTAL POLLUTION IN AN AREA WHEN GRANTING PERMITS.

IDEM REFUSED TO GRANT US AN INTERVIEW.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S OFFICE REFERRED US BACK TO IDEM.

IT'S HARD TO SAY IF GARD WILL WIN ITS CASE OR EVEN GET A HEARING.

THE EPA HAS TAKEN UP FEW FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS AND FEWER HAVE BEEN FOUND IN ACTIVISTS BEHAVIOR THIS SUMMER, THE AGENCY ABANDONED A MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION INTO CANCER ALLEY, A HEAVILY INDUSTRIAL PART OF LOUISIANA THAT HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST CANCER RATES DUE TO AIR POLLUTION IN THE COUNTRY.

STILL, KIMMIE GORDON SAYS PART OF BEING AN ACTIVIST IS NOT GIVING UP HOPE.

>> WE'RE NOT A THROW-AWAY CITY.

WE DESERVE NICE PARKS IN ALL AREAS OF GARY.

WE DESERVE CLEAN GREEN SPACES, CLEAN AIR AND WATER, AND HEALTHY PEOPLE AND WHEN YOU HAVE HEALTHY PEOPLE, YOU HAVE HAPPY PEOPLE.

SO 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I WANT TO SEE A BUNCH OF HAPPY PEOPLE!

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR WHEN THE EPA WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT NO TAKE UP THE CASE.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> WELL, WE'RE JOINED NOW BY CALI LICHTER FOR LATEST HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

HI, CALI.

>> HI, JOE.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NEW FLU-RELATED DEATHS THIS SEASON.

THE IDOH DID NOT DISCLOSE THE IDENTITIES OF THE VICTIMS OR WHERE THEY WERE FROM.

270 HOOSIERS DIED AFTER CONTRACTING INFLUENZA DURING THE 2022-23 FLU SEASON WHICH TYPICALLY RUNS FROM OCTOBER THROUGH MAY.

>>> OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2024 COVERAGE ON THE HEALTHCARE MARKETPLACE IS OPEN.

ADVOCATES SAY THIS YEAR'S APPLICATION WILL HAVE A SMALL CHANGE, THREE NEW DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS.

MARKETPLACE ALLOWS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT COVERED TO COMPARE AND APPLY FOR INSURANCE PLANS FOR PRIVATE INSURERS.

THEY ARE OPTIONAL AND COLLECT INFORMATION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.

>> I'M AFRAID THAT THEY WILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T ANSWER HONESTLY BECAUSE IT WILL BE SOMEHOW COMMUNICATED TO THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER NETWORK, YOU KNOW, OR THE INSURER.

>> THOMAS SAYS THE DATA WILL BE USED TO ANALYZE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND ACCESS TO COVERAGE.

PEOPLE WHO ENROLL ON OR BEFORE DES15th CAN GET COVERAGE THAT BEGINS ON JANUARY 1st.

FORMER INDIANA GOVERNOR AND MIKE PENCE COULD STILL HAVE A PLACE IN NATIONAL POLITICS DESPITE DROPPING OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE FRIDAY.

ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS.

>> WHEN PENCE WITH DREW, HE WAS FIFTH IN NATIONAL POLLS AND THEY AMASSED $1.8 MILLION BY OCTOBER AND SHOULDERED $620,000 IN DEBT.

STILL PROFESSOR PAUL HELMKE AT UNIVERSITY'S O'NEAL SCHOOL SAID PENCE STILL HAS STANDING IN WASHINGTON.

>> I COULD SEE HIM ENDORSING THEM AND WORKING FOR THEM AND MAYBE LOOKING FOR A ROLE IN A HALEY ADMINISTRATION OR A DeSANTIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE MIKE DOWNS CENTER FOR INDIANA MICKS, MIKE WOLF SAYS PENCE COULD FIND HIMSELF WORKING AS A D.C.

CONSULTANT.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS A PLACE FOR EXPERIENCED POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON AS FAR AS CONSULTING AND DOING SOME OF THOSE KIND OF ASPECTS.

HE HAS PLENTY OF FRIENDS IN THE KIND OF RELIGIOUS, CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT.

>> PENCE IS THE FIRST MAJOR CANDIDATE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY TO END HIS PRESIDENTIAL BID.

HELMKE SAYS PENCE'S PROBLEM IS HE LOST THE EVANGELICAL CONSERVATIVE BASE THAT HAD MADE HIS CAREER.

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

>>> A FORMER NINTH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE AND LEADER OF MONROE COUNTY'S TEA PARTY MOVEMENT IS SERVING TIME IN PRISON FOR MONEY LAUNDERING AND WIRE FRAUD.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 73-YEAR-OLD ROBERT K. HALL CONSPIRED WITH OTHERS TO DEFRAUD MULTIPLE BUSINESSES THROUGH EMAIL SCHEMES AND TO DEFRAUD MULTIPLE STATES AND THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF COVID LOAN AND UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.

IN TOTAL, HALL ATTEMPTED TO STEAL $670,000.

HALL WAS SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

>>> SOME INDIANA LAWMAKERS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR A COMMON BEHAVIORAL INDUSTRIALMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.

THEY SAY IT COULD PUT ACCESS AT RISK.

DIRECTOR OF INDIANA MEDICAID FORMALLY PRESENTED THE NEW RATE AT A RECENT STATE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING.

>> PROVIDERS SAY APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS THERAPY BUILDS COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ADDRESSED BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

THE PROPOSED MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE HAS BEEN OPPOSED BY PROVIDERS AND PARENTS SINCE THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IN AUGUST.

THE CURRENT PROPOSED RATE FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION IS ABOUT $68 PER HOUR.

SENATOR FADI QADDOURA SAYS THE AMOUNT COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE SERVICES IN THE STATE.

>> IF WE OFFER IT BELOW THE $76 WE WILL GO INTO THE CRISIS MODE.

>> THE RATE CREATES MORE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE SEEKING A.B.A.

SERVICES.

>> I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE WILL NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE STATE OF INDIANA, PARTICULARLY MINORITIES AND RURAL AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES.

>> PORTER IS ADVOCATING FOR A $4 INCREASE TO THE RATE TO HELP PROVIDERS STAY OPEN.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M KATIE SPACK.

>> THE NEW REIMBURSEMENT RATE IS SET TO GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1st, 2024.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN IS PROMISING MILLIONS FOR LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES.

WHITTEN DETAILED PLANS FOR THE BLOOMINGTON AND THE INDIANAPOLIS CAMPUSES AT THE STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS THIS WEEK.

I.U.

WILL BUILD TWO NEW INSTITUTES IN INDIANAPOLIS.

THIS COMES AHEAD OF THE I.U.

INDIANAPOLIS' LAUNCH IN JULY.

I.U.

BLOOMINGTON WILL RECEIVE MORE FACULTY AND RENOVATIONS IN HEALTH AND BIOLOGY SPACES.

>> WE CHOOSE THE PATH OF TRANSFORMATION AND PROGRESS, A PATH THAT GIVES US A CLEAR VIEW OF THE CHALLENGES AHEAD AND THE FORTITUDE, FLEXIBILITY AND CONVICTION TO EMBRACE THEM.

IT'S A PATH THAT LEAVES US LOOKING TO TOMORROW WITH EXCITEMENT.

>> WHITTEN SAYS THESE INVESTMENTS WILL BUILD COLLABORATION WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND AROUND THE STATE.

>>> BLOOMINGTON'S LOWER CASCADES PARK AND OLD STATE ROUTE 37 MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR A LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION.

THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION COULD START THE NOMINATION PROCESS IN NOVEMBER.

>> I DON'T KNOW A WORLD IN WHICH THIS PARK IS NOT AN HISTORIC OBJECT TO SAVE, YOU KNOW?

WHAT UNIVERSE IS THIS NOT AN HISTORIC PARK?

>> EFFORT IS LED BY RESIDENTS HOPING TO PRESERVE DRIVER ACCESS TO OLD STATE ROAD 37.

IT'S A RESPONSE TO MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON'S PLAN TO CLOSE PART OF THE ROAD TO DRIVERS AND MAKE IT A BIKER/PEDESTRIAN TRAIL.

>> OLDER GUYS LIKE ME, I'M DONE RIDING MY BIKE, AND I ENJOY THE PARK COMING THROUGH THE MOST HISTORIC ROAD AND THE MOST HISTORIC PARK IN THE CITY.

>> HISTORIC DESIGNATION WOULD REQUIRE INPUT FROM THE COMMISSION.

THE CITY COUNCIL ULTIMATELY WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.

AND THIS CAFE IS ONE OF A KIND IN MONROE COUNTY.

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DUO AMBERA KARRAH MORE OPENED THIS CAFE TO HELP SHELTERED CATS FIND NEW HOMES.

IT ALLOWS HER TO CARE FOR CATS.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SECOND HOME HERE.

I GO HOME AND MY TWO CATS AND THEN I COME HERE AND I SEE MY OTHER KITTIES.

>> THE CAFE IN ELLETSVILLE SELLS CAFE.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW FURRY FRIEND, THEY HAVE FIVE ADAPTABLE CATS IN A RANGE IN AGES AND PERSONALITIES.

>> THOSE CINNAMON ROLLS LOOK GOOD TOO.

>> YES, THEY DO.

>> THE FALL FOLIAGE, BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

>> IT'S REALLY WHEN TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS CAN REALLY HAVE MOTHER NATURE AT HER FINEST, RIGHT?

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.

>> THE NEW YORK TRAVEL GUIDE'S RANKED BROWN COUNTY STATE PARK THIRD THIS YEAR AS ONE THE BEST STATE PARKS IN THE COUNTRY TO VIEW FALL FOLIAGE.

SOUTHERN INDIANA WILL HIT PEAK FALL COLORS THIS WEEK.

IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE FALL COLORS, THOUGH, NEIGHBORING STATES INCLUDING TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY AND ILLINOIS WON'T HIT THEIR PEAKS UNTIL NOVEMBER 13th.

>> 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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