>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WITH COLDER WEATHER SETTING IN, SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE WORRIED THE CITY'S ROLE AGAINST CAMPING TENTS AND PARKS WILL MAKE IT A DIFFICULT WINTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

>> DURING THIS SEASON, PARTICULARLY, WE TRY TO STICK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FREEZE TO DEATH.

>> UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS ALSO SAY THE BAN HAS DISRUPTED THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

AS THE NUMBER OF LAWYERS IN THE STATE CONTINUES TO DWINDLE.

THOSE IN RURAL AREAS ARE AFFECTED THE MOST.

>> WHAT DO WE DO TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME AND SERVE AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF A RURAL COMMUNITY AND HOW THAT CAN BE A VERY POSITIVE LIFESTYLE?

>> IN INDIANA, UPWARDS OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNTIES ARE CONSIDERED LEGAL DESERTS.

AND WE TALK WITH AN EXPERT ABOUT THE GROWING DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>>> WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES PLUS LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN BLOOMINGTON ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS WEATHER GETS COLDER.

BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS ON THE EFFECT A NEW RULE THAT BANS CAMPING TENTS IN PUBLIC PARKS DURING THE DAYTIME IS HAVING ON THOSE LOOKING FOR WINTER SHELTER.

>> PEOPLE STOOD IN LINE LAST WEEK AT SEMINARY PARK WHILE VOLUNTEERS WITH HELP OURSELVES SERVED UP BREAKFAST.

HELP OURSELVES SERVES BREAKFAST EVERY TUESDAY AND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE GROUPS SAID THE DAYTIME BAN ON TENTS IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST INCREASED STRESS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> SO I WOULD SAY THERE'S MORE RADICALIZATION IN TERMS OF RELATIONSHIPS.

AND JUST REACTIONS TO SOMETHING SO HARD BEING PRESSED AND SO MANY PEOPLE HANG OUT HERE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A STRUCTURE OUT HERE ANYMORE.

>> BUT SHE'S INCREASED A DESIRE OF UNITY AMONG PEOPLE COMING TO BREAK FAST.

>> ONE PERSON IN LINE, ROOSEVELT HAWTHORN.

HE SAID IT AFFECTED THEM.

>> MOST OF US HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR DRUG ABUSE ISSUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO TO FEEL TURNED AWAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WE TRY TO OVERSHADOW THAT DEPRESSION WITH TOXINS.

>> THEY DISBANDED PEOPLE FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE IN TOUCH WITH BEFORE.

HAWTHORN SAYS MUTUAL AID LIKE HELP THEMSELVES HELPS THEM FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE INDIANA RECOVERY ALLIANCE REPORTED AN INCREASE OF ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSES IN MONROE COUNTY LAST WEEK.

ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NICHOLAS FOILS SAYS IT DOESN'T NORMALLY ISSUE DRUG SUPPLY WARNINGS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO TEST DRUG SAMPLES.

OUTREACH WITH THE E RECOVERY ALLIANCE GOES FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO MEET PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS AT ENCAMPMENTS IN BLOOMINGTON.

THE BANS MADE IT HARDER TO FIND PEOPLE AND WORRIES THAT THE BAN MAKES IT MORE LIKELY FOR PEOPLE TO USE SUBSTANCES ALONE.

>> YOU HAVE THE INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT BRING THE SERVICES THERE, AND KNOW WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

WHEN YOU STRIP THAT AND PUT IT ON EDGE, PEOPLE ARE JUST LEFT FREEFALLING.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THEY WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO USE WHICH IS SCARY.

>> BUT HE SAYS YOU CAN'T ATTRIBUTE A RISE IN OVERDOSES TO ANY ONE POLICY LIKE A TENT POLICY.

A LOT OF FACTORS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.

>> YOU ARE DISRUPTING A SERIES OF LIVES, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE THE NORMAL STREAM OF LIVES THAT GO INTO THIS PARK.

THEY MIGHT JUST BE LAYING THERE BECAUSE ALL NIGHT LONG THEY COULDN'T FIND A SAFE PLACE.

>> BEFORE AUGUST, TENTS WERE NOT ALLOWED AFTER 11 P.M. BOYLES SAYS WINTER IS ALWAYS A DANGEROUS TIME FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

SERVICES AND OUTREACH WILL NEED TO BE RAMPED UP TO HELP BRIDGE ISSUES OF SHELTERING DURING THE DAY.

THE BLOOMINGTON BOARD OF PARKS COMMISSIONER PASSED THE DAH ITIME RULE AGAINST TENTS AND PARKS IN AUGUST, CITING ALMOST 900 TOTAL INCIDENT REPORTS AT SWITCH YARD AND SEMINARY PARKS BETWEEN AUGUST OF 2022, AND JULY 2023.

BLOOMINGTON PARKS DEPARTMENT INTERIM DIRECTOR TIM STREET SAYS THE RULE WAS IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE THE PARK SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

HE SAYS THEY GET INCIDENT REPORTS STILL AND A FEW MONTHS IS TOO EARLY TO QUANTIFY THE RULE'S EFFECTIVENESS.

>> WE WANT TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT IT AND SEE IF IT'S BEING EFFECTIVE AND HELPING PARKS, YOU KNOW, MEET THAT GOAL OF, OPEN AND SAFE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> STREETS SAYS THEY HAVEN'T CONFISCATED ANYONE'S TENT AND IF A TENT IS UP DURING THE DAY, RESOURCE OFFICERS WITH THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH THEM.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEACONING FORCE GILMORE SAYS ITS NIGHTLY SHELTER HAS 40 BEDS AND IS TYPICALLY FULL.

THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR BLANKETS, TENTS, SLEEPING BACKS AND OTHER COLD WEATHER GEAR.

HAWTHORN AND HIS PARTNER ARGUE REGULARLY, WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO SLEEP AND MOVE AROUND NIGHTLY.

>> DURING THIS SEASON, IN PARTICULAR, WE TRY TO STICK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO FREEZE TO DEATH AND STUFF LIKE THAT, RIGHT.

>> HAWTHORN SAYS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE HOUSING OPTIONS WITH FEWER REQUIREMENTS.

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

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE RECENTLY RELEASED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH THE LIST OF GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANIES.

BUT IT IS -- BUT IS IT TOO LATE TO REIN IN WHAT A.I.

IS ABLE TO DO AND HOW BLURRED ARE THE LINES BETWEEN A.I.

AND HUMANITY BECOMING?

ISABELLA VESPIRINI HAS THIS REPORT.

THIS IS THE CODIRECTOR OF THE I.U.

SIGN ERR SECURITY AND GLOBAL POLICY PROGRAM, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE I.U.

CYBERSECURITY CLINIC.

HE SAYS WE ARE YEARS BEHIND RESPONDING TO A.I.

>> THE MORE IT BECOMES INTEGRATED INTO ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS OF LIFE, THE MORE THAT WE BECOME RELIANT ON IT, THE HARDER IT IS TO DISENTANGLE FROM THAT TECHNOLOGY AND THE HARDER IT IS TO CONTROL AGAINST ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS.

>> HE THINKS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS LACKING WHEN IT COMES TO IDENTIFYING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HUMIDITY HUMAN IN A TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN WORLD AND WHAT LAWS SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE TO REGULARLY ATE A.I.

SHE DOESN'T FIND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER LACKING.

THE ORDER BUILDS ON THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE A.I.

BILL THE RIGHTS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED LAST YEAR.

THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES DESIGN USE AND DEPLOYMENT OF A.I.

>> I DO THINK IT LAYS OUT A CASE FOR, I WOULD SAY A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO HOW WE THINK ABOUT REGULATING, THAT ARE IMMINENT THREATS THAT, YOU KNOW, TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY.

>> HE SAYS IT WOULD BE HARD TO ENFORCE THESE GUIDELINES BECAUSE THEY RELY ON THE INTEGRITY OF A.I.

COMPANIES TO FOLLOW THROUGH.

IT'S AN.

I.

COMPANY'S INTERESTS TO HAVE THEM IN PLACE.

IDEALLY THESE COMPANIES NEED TO SOLVE SOCIETAL ISSUES SUCH AS MINIMIZING TEACHER WORKLOAD AND MAKING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.

ASARI THINKS CONGRESS SHOULD TAKE MORE ACTION IN PASSING COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION ON A.I.

SECURITY AND DATA PRIVACY.

>> THERE'S SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN AN IMMORAL ACTOR OR BAD ACTOR GETS AHOLD OF A.I.

TECHNOLOGIES.

THERE'S UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF WAYS THAT A.I.

HOUSE BEEN, AND CAN BE USED TO -- HAS BEEN AND CAN BE USED TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S RIGHT OF MOVEMENT TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S PRIVACY, TO SURVEIL AND ATTACK PEOPLE, YOU NAME IT.

>> THEY EXPECT TO PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY OF SOURCE IN CLASS WORK AND INCREASE AWARENESS.

AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL ENCOURAGE MORE CONVERSATIONS NATIONALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A.I.

RESEARCH AND FUNDING THROUGH CONGRESS.

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

>> WE'RE JOINED BY ESAK ASARI.

>> HI, JOE.

>> YOU SAID THE WHITE HOUSE'S EXECUTIVE ORDER IS LACKING.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

>> WELL, I THINK TO BE CLEAR, IT'S A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT THE THING THAT'S MISSING TWOFOLD.

ONE, IT SAYS ALREADY IN THE BILL THAT -- OR IN THE ACT, THAT YOU WANT CONGRESS TO TAKE COMPREHENSIVE ACTION ON PRIVACY.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S LACKING.

IT DOESN'T DO THIS.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT THERE'S AN AMOUNT OF CALLING FOR SCRUTINY, AND NOT ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WANT A.I.

COMPANIES TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THEIR RED TEAMING EFFORTS AND YOU NAME IT, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY DO THIS OR DON'T DO IT, RIGHT?

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARLY ABOUT THE MECHANISMS TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEWS ABOUT BANNING TIKTOK AND TWITTER, X HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS TOO.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND A.I.?

>> I MEAN, ANY TIME YOU CONNECT A SORT OF SOCIAL SYSTEM WITH TECHNOLOGY, IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A LOT OF DATA RIGHT?

AND THAT PUTS A THREAT ON OUR PRIVACY, AND ON THEM CONSEQUENTIALLY AND A LOT OF OTHER RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WE HAVE BECOME REALLY ENDANGERED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW AND SOCIALLY CONNECTED TECH AND THE CHALLENGE IS THAT IT'S -- CHALLENGE IS THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO ENTANGLE THAT.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A NEED FOR PRIVACY RIGHTS THE WAY WE DO UNTIL WE HAD SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT AT THIS POINT, IT'S SO CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, THAT IT'S REALLY HARD TO TURN THAT BACK AROUND.

>> SO CHATG.P.T.

WAS LAUNCHED A YEAR AGO TODAY.

WE HAVE SEEN IT USED IN CLASSROOMS.

TEACHERS ARE WONDERING IS THIS REAL?

WHO WROTE THIS PAPER?

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS CHATGPT AND HOW CAN TEACHERS -- HOW IS THIS AFFECTING CLASSROOMS.

>> CHATGPT IS A LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL, IT'S BASED ON -- IT PRODUCES A GENERATIVE A.I.

SO IT PRODUCES CONTENT BASED ON INPUT GIVEN BY THE USER.

THE CHALLENGE, AS YOU SAY, IS THAT IT -- IT MAKES OUR ABILITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE SCHOOL SETTING, BUT TO VERIFY AUTHORSHIP, FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT MORE DIFFICULT.

BUT THE THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THIS.

THE QUESTION ISN'T REALLY WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN TELL THAT A STUDENT WROTE A THING.

THE QUESTION IS: HOW ARE WE CHANGING OUR ASSESSMENT TO PROPERLY ASSESS THE HUMAN CAPABILITIES THAT WE ARE WANTING TO ASSESS?

IF A STUDENT IS BASICALLY ANSWERING OUR TEST OR WRITING OUR PAPERS BY JUST REGURGITATING INFORMATION THAT'S WIDELY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET, WE HAVEN'T ASSESSED THEM FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATIVITY.

AND SO THE CHALLENGE IS THINKING AGAIN ABOUT HOW WE DESIGN OUR COURSES AND HOW WE DESIGN OUR ASSESSMENT PARTICULARLY.

>> WE HAVE TO GO, ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

I KNOW THIS IS A BIG QUESTION BUT DO YOU SEE A.I.

AS A THREAT TO SOCIETY.

>> YES, TOTALLY.

IT'S, I THINK, FROM -- IT POSES AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE WAY WE LIVE, WORK, LEARN, AND EXIST WITH ONE ANOTHER.

BUT NOT THE WAY THAT WE ALL THINK.

IT'S NOT TERMINATORS OR I-ROBOT, BUT IT'S RATHER JUST A FUNDAMENTAL RECKONING ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN IN A WORLD WHERE -- YOU KNOW, WHERE THE THINGS THAT WE DO ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED BY MACHINES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A NEW BREWERY IS OFFICIALLY OPEN ON BLOOMINGTON'S NORTH SIDE.

HEART WORK BREWING HAD ITS SOFT OPENING ON OCTOBER 17th AND HOSTED A GRAND OPENING LAST NIGHT WITH FOOD TRUCKS, RAFFLES AND PLENTY OF BEERS ON TOP.

>> SINCE HEART WORK BREWING SOFT OPENING, THEY HAVE BEEN EAGERLY SUPPORTING THE NEWEST ESTABLISHMENT.

>> WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO THE COMMUNITY HERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

YOU KNOW, BEING A LOCALLY, FAMILY-OWNED BREWERY, DAN AND I ARE BOTH MILITARY VETERANS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, COMING HOME WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THESE TWO FAMILIES.

>> AUBREY AND HER HUSBAND DAN DUTCHER, A BREWER WITH TEN YEARS EXPERIENCE, STARTED THEIR BREWERY WITH THEIR FRIEND JEFF BROWN.

ORIGINALLY, THEY PLANNED TO OPEN LAST YEAR BUT DUTCHER SAID THE RENOVATION AND LICENSING PROCESS TOOK LONGER THAN THEY HOPED.

>> WE WERE HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE OPEN LAST AUGUST.

>> YES, JUST ONE THING STACKS ON ANOTHER AND I FEEL LIKE WE HIT EVERY ROADBLOCK POSSIBLE.

>> CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT SOME STAPLE BREWS AND A ROTATING SELECTION OF MORE EXPEER EXPERIMENTAL SELECTIONS.

HE EVENTUALLY WANTS TO HAVE NEW RELEASES ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> I'M REALLY JUST TRYING TO REFINE MY PROCESS AND IMPROVE EACH TIME I BREW ON TO IT, FIGURE OUT WHAT I LIKE, WHAT I DON'T AND WHAT I NEED TO ADD AND REMOVE.

I WANT TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DO ONE NEW BEER.

>> AT THE TIME, THEY ARE 21 AND OVER ONLY.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>> HEART WORK BREWING SAYS IT'S ALSO EXPLORING THE ADDITION OF HOUSEMADE FOOD OFFERINGS IN THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW, OUTSIDE FOOD, FOOD TRUCKS AND PREPACKAGED FOODS SNACKS WILL FILL THAT GAP.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE BALKING AT THE CITY'S PLAN FOR AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO RUN A NEW CONVENTION CENTER, FURTHER DELAYING THE PROJECT.

>>> AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE AFFECTED MORE THAN OTHERS AS THE NUMBER OF LAWYERS IN THE STATE CONTINUE TO DWINDLE.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

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

HI, CALI.

>> HI, JOE.

>>> INDIANA WASTED LITTLE TIME FINDING A NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.

THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED THE HIRING OF FRENETTI ON THURSDAY AFTER FIRING TOM ALLEN AFTER SEVEN UP AND DOWN SEASONS.

>> COACH SIG HERE.

I'M EXCITED TO GET GOING.

AISLE ALL IN.

LOOK OUT FOR THE -- I'M ALL IN.

LOOK OUT FOR THE HOOSIERS.

WE WILL GET THIS THING FOLLOWING.

>> HE HAD A 52-9 RECORD IN FIVE SEASONS AT JAMES MADISON.

HE WAS NAMED THE SUNBELT'S COACH OF THE YEAR AFTER LEADING THE DUKES TO AN 11-1 RECORD AND THE FIRST BOWL GAME IN PROGRAM HISTORY.

>>> A PLAN FOR THE MONROE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION MAY NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL 2024.

AFTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DECLINED TO VOTE ON AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY THIS WEEK.

COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP THAT OVERSEES INNKEEPER TAX REVENUES AND A BUILDING CORPORATION THAT WILL ISSUE DEBT.

MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON AND THE CITY COUNCIL SIGNED THE AGREEMENT TWO WEEKS AGO BUT IT MUST BE RATIFIED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO BE EFFECTIVE.

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT WAS ANNOUNCED AS A DONE DEAL.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

IT'S NOT.

IT SHOULDN'T BE.

>> THE COMMISSIONERS MEET AGAIN DECEMBER 6th, BUT ARE UNLIKELY TO VOTE ON THE AGREEMENT UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 12th.

>>> RENOVATIONS TO THE DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON FIRE STATION DAMAGED IN THE 2021 FLASH FLOODS BEGAN THIS WEEK.

THE CITY'S BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS LAST WEEK APPROVED FOUR CONTRACTS ON THE PROJECT, TOTALING ABOUT $4.5 MILLION.

THE DOWNTOWN FIRE STATION ON FOURTH STREET AND ANOTHER STATION ON WOODLAWN AVENUE WERE BOTH DAMAGED BY FLOODING ALONG WITH THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE HEADQUARTERS ON THIRD STREET.

BLOOMINGTON FIRE CHIEF JASON MOORE SAYS HE EXPECTS RENOVATIONS ON THE DOWNTOWN STATION TO BE FINISHED BY OCTOBER 2024.

>>> ELECTRIC BILLS FOR INDIANAPOLIS AREA RESIDENTS WERE EXPECTED TO GO UP MORE THAN $17 A MONTH.

THAT INCREASE COULD BE LESS THAN $10 A MONTH, AFTER A SETTLEMENT A.E.S.

INDIANA REACHED BETWEEN CONSUMER ADVOCATES, THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND VARIOUS COMPANIES.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT BANS SHUTOFFS ON WEEKENDS AND CERTAIN HOLIDAYS, FURTHER DELAYS, DISCONNECTED FOR MEDICALLY FRAGILE HOOSIERS AND ALLOWS LATE FEES FOR SOME LOWER-INCOME CUSTOMERS TO BE WAIVED.

>> IT SENDS A SIGNAL OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE TO ADDRESS AND BE CONCERNED WITH OUR MEDICALLY FRAGILE HOUSEHOLDS.

WE DO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THE HIGH NUMBER OF DISCONNECTIONS.

>> A.E.S.

INDIANA SAYS THE INCREASE WILL PAY FOR THINGS LIKE MAKING ITS ELECTRIC GRID MORE MODERN AND RESILIENT, PROMOTING JOB CREATION AND EXPANDING WAYS TO PAY BILLS AND TREE TRIMMING.

>>> THE NEW STATE COMP DROLLER.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCAST'S BRANDON SMITH REPORTS, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB APPOINTED HER TO THE POSITION, REPLACING, TERRA KLUTZ, WHO WILL LEAVE OFFICE.

>> THE COMPTROLLER, WORKS TO PAY THE.

NASHALA'S EXPERIENCE AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL AND INDIANA COUNTY COUNCIL'S ASSOCIATION POSITIONS HER PERFECTLY TO STEP INTO THE ROLE.

>> SHE'S WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

SHE'S WORKED WITH COUNTY, CITIES, TOWNS.

SHE'S BEEN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

>> NASHALA FACED THE FISCAL STEWARDSHIP OF HER PREDECESSOR AS SHE BEGINS THE JOB THIS WEEK.

>> I'M FULLY ON BOARD TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTERS FOR OUR STATE IN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF HOOSIERS AND TO HOLD UP THAT LIGHT FOR OUR NATION.

>> SHE CAN SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER OF KLUTZ'S TERM WHICH EXPIRES IN 2026.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M BRANDON SMITH AT THE STATE HOUSE.

>>> TERRE HAUTE MAYOR DUKE BENNETT SAYS HIS BUSINESS AS USUAL BEFORE HIS 16 YEARS IN OFFICE IS UP JANUARY 1st.

THE FOUR-TERM REPUBLICAN MAYOR WAS OUSTED IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION BY A POLITICAL DEM NEWCOMER, BRANDON SACKFUND.

>> I DON'T WANT ANY GRAY AREAS OR ANYTHING THAT WE COULDN'T TALK ABOUT AHEAD OF TIME.

>> BENNETT SAYS THE MASTER PLAN FOR FAIRBANKS PARK IS ALMOST DONE AND THE OVERPASS AT 13th AND 8th AVENUE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND HE SAYS THE LARRY BIRD MUSEUM OFF OF THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER SHOULD OPEN EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>>> RSV IS' RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT CAUSES COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS AND HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON.

ADULTS ARE AT RISK OF NEEDING HOSPITALIZATION.

AN AVAILABLE VACCINE PROTECTS THOSE 60 AND OLDER AND PREGNANT WOMEN.

AND A SPECIALIZED DRUG PROVIDES ANTIBODIES TO NEWBORNS.

>> FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, MEANING IF YOU ARE NOT AN INFANT OR TODDLER, OR YOU ARE NOT ELDERLY OR YOU ARE NOT PREGNANT, IT'S REALLY JUST PREVENTION.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, STAYING HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK.

IT'S GOOD HAND WASHING, ESPECIALLY BEFORE YOU EAT.

>> AND JOE, CARROLL SAYS IF YOU HAVE RSV AND NOT AT HIGH RISK, YOU SHOULD TREAT IT LIKE A COMMON COLD.

>> IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME AND WASH YOUR HANDS, RIGHT.

>> 100%.

>> THANKS, CALI.

>>> AND INDIANA SUPREME COURT REPORT SAYS THE BAR PASSAGE RATE DECLINED LAST YEAR TO 63%, DOWN FROM 71% JUST TWO YEARS AGO.

LEADERS SAY YOUNGER ATTORNEYS AREN'T REPLACING HOLDER ONES WITH RURAL -- OLDER ONES WITH RURAL AREAS AFFECTED THE HARDEST: >> THE COURT SAYS STATE HAS ABOUT TWO LAWYERS FOR EVERY 1,000 RESIDENTS.

THAT'S BELOW THE NATIONWIDE AVERAGE OF FOUR LAWYERS PER 1,000 RESIDENTS PUTTING INDIANA IN THE BOTTOM TEN NATIONALLY.

AS BERNICE CORLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER COUNCIL PUTS IT.

>> IT'S NATIONAL.

FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LAW SCHOOL.

FEWER PEOPLE SEE A FUTURE IN LAW.

WHY THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> CORLEY WAS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS FOR RURAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HELD IN WABASH THIS YEAR.

WHITEWHILE THE ATTORNEY SHORTAGE, IT'S CAUSING LEGAL EXPERTS TO RAISE ALARMS.

>> THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION CONSIDERS ANY COUNTY WITH LESS THAN ONE LAWYER PER 1,000 PEOPLE A LEGAL DESERT.

IN INDIANA, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 46 TO 60 OF INDIANA'S 90 COUNTIES FIT THAT DEFINITION.

THAT COVERS ALL OF THE STATE'S 42 RURAL COUNTIES AND THEN SOME.

>> SO WHAT DO WE DO TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COMMON AND SERVE AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF A RURAL COMMUNITY AND HOW THAT CAN BE A VERY POSITIVE LIFESTYLE AND -- AND VERY NICE FOR FAMILIES AND FOR SINGLE PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> A FEW IDEAS ARE BEING SHARED ABOUT HOW RURAL AREAS CAN ATTRACT NEW ATTORNEYS.

ONE IDEA CORLEY MENTIONED IS REGIONALIZATION WHERE SMALLER COUNTIES WOULD SHARE A CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A POOL OF ATTORNEYS.

ANOTHER IS TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN A SMALL COMMUNITY.

>> OFTEN THESE PEOPLE WORKING ON CONTRACT OR PART TIME, PROVIDE THEM HEALTH INSURANCE TO ENCOURAGE OR INCENTIVIZE THEM TO STAY.

DO OTHER EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE A WORKING CONDITION THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO DOING THEIR JOB.

>> OTHERS SAY STREAMLINING THE EDUCATION PROCESS AND MAKING THIS MORE APPEALING TO STUDENTS ARE KEYS.

JOEL ASSUME, A CLINICAL PROFESSOR AT THE MCKINNEY SCHOOL OF LAW AT I.U.

SAYS THE SCHOOL HAS SWITCHED HOW IT TEACHES THE STUDENTS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE LEARNING PROCESS LIVING OUTSIDE OF URBAN AREAS.

>> OUR EVENING PROGRAM USED TO BE FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK AND STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE TO LAW SCHOOL TWO HOURS A NIGHT, FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK.

NOW WE HAVE A HYBRID PROGRAM.

SO STUDENTS WON'T HAVE TO BE IN INDIANAPOLIS TWICE A WEEK.

>> ADDITIONALLY, HE STARTED THE RURAL PLACEMENT.

THOSE SELECTED AFTER THEIR SECOND YEAR SPEND 200 HOURS WORKING IN A RURAL COUNTY ON A STIPEND.

THE PROGRAM IS JUST AS HELPFUL FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AS IT IS FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> THERE'S SOME COUNTIES WITH ONE JUDGE WHO HAS TO DO EVERYTHING, AND SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME HELP FROM SOMEONE WHO IS LEGALLY TRAINED HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO THE JUDGE BUT MOSTLY IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT AND HOPEFULLY DECIDE WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY WANT TO DO AFTER THEY GRADUATE.

>> NATHAN LUND IS ONE THE STUDENTS WOULD WENT THROUGH THE RURAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE THIS PAST SUMMER IN DeKALB COUNTY.

HE SAYS GETTING PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AS PART OF HIS DEGREE HAS BEEN MASSIVELY BENEFICIAL.

>> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING IN THE COURTROOM ITSELF.

I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ATTORNEYS THAT WERE THREE YEARS OUT OF LAW SCHOOL AND THEN ATTORNEYS THAT WERE 40 YEARS OUT OF LAW SCHOOL.

>> LUND WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE ISSUES THAT ARISE WHILE WORKING IN A SMALL COUNTY.

>> YOU HAVE THESE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE IN THREE OR FIVE ATTORNEYS.

>> THEY HOPE TO REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN A RURAL COMMUNITY.

>> IT ALSO SHOWED ME THAT INDY WASN'T THE ONLY OPTION FOR ME.

SO IT REALLY DID KIND OF TOTALLY REWIRE MY BRAIN AND WHAT I WANTED -- WHAT I THOUGHT I WANTED TO DO, WHERE I WANTED TO DO IT.

>> WHETHER THE SOLUTION TOT ATTORNEY SHORTAGE IS REGIONALIZATION, ADDED BENEFITS OR GIVING STUDENTS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE, CORLEY SAYS SOMETHING MUST CHANGE.

>> I THINK WE'LL ALWAYS KIND OF WRESTLE WITH AN ATTORNEY SHORTAGE AND I REALLY THINK COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

AND THAT'S TO GO TAKE COOPERATION.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE GIVING UP SOME INDEPENDENCE AND WORK TOGETHER TO GET WHAT IS NEEDED FOR OUR SYSTEM.

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

>> INDIANA CHIEF JUSTICE LORETTA RUSH SAID THIS WEEK SHE WILL CONVENE A GROUP TO STUDY THE FUTURE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

>>> 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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