>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I.U.

PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN IS HOLDING LISTENING SESSIONS WITH FACULTY AROUND CAMPUS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR TENUOUS RELATIONSHIPS.

>> THIS MAY BE AN EMPTY GESTURE.

WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>> THEY CONTINUE TO CALL FOR THE RESIGNATION OF WHITTEN AND TWO MEMBERS OF HER ADMINISTRATION.

>>> MANY ARE BLAMING A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A LOWDOWN IN SALES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE MIDWEST.

>> I ENDED UP HOME AND I THINK I HAD 30 MILES OR 10% CHARGE ON IT, BUT IT WAS NERVE WRACKING.

>> RESEARCHERS AT PURDUE ARE WORKING ON PAVEMENT THAT WILL CHARGE VEHICLES AS THEY DRIVE ON IT.

>>> AND WE VISIT AN HISTORIC CHURCH IN COLUMBUS THAT WILL SOON BECOME PART OF THE COUNTY'S LIBRARY SYSTEM.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN IS HOLDING LISTENING SESSIONS WITH FACULTY FOLLOWING A TUMULTUOUS SEMESTER.

FACULTY CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH HER IN A CLOSED DOOR SETTING.

AS ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS, SOME PROFESSORS SAY WHILE THEY APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO SHARE FEEDBACK, THEY HAVE DOUBTS TRUST CAN BE REBUILT.

>> THESE LISTENING SESSIONS CAME ON THE TAIL OF AN APRIL RESOLUTION BY THE BLOOMINGTON FACULTY COUNCIL WHEN PROFESSORS VOTED NO CONFIDENCE IN WHITTEN HE IS ADMINISTRATION.

IT WAS A YEAR MARKED BY EVENTS SUCH AS A PROPOSED SITUATION FROM THE KINSEY INSTITUTE AND THE CANCELLATION OF AB EXHIBIT BY A PALESTINIAN ARTIST.

IN A STATEMENT I.U.

SPOKESPERSON MARK BODE SAID PRESIDENT WHITTEN HAS HEARD THE FEEDBACK AND HAS COMMITTED TO LISTENING AND LEARNING THROUGH ARE ONGOING MEETINGS WITH FACULTY AND STAFF.

REPORTERS WERE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER, HOWEVER, SOME FACULTY SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES FOLLOWING THE MEETING.

>> THE PRESIDENT HAS LISTENED.

WE RAISED HANDS.

WE EXPRESSED OUR OPINIONS.

YES, THERE WAS A LOT OF ANGER IN THE ROOM FROM A NUMBER OF US, BUT THERE WAS ALSO AN ATTEMPT TO HELP THIS PRESIDENT UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THREE YEARS OF BAD DECISION-MAKING ON THE WAY WE OPERATE.

>> SINCE THE NO CONFIDENCE VOTE, MANY SCHOOLS HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR WHITTEN'S REMOVAL ALONG WITH RAHUL SHRIVASTAV.

THOSE LATER VOTES WERE MAINLY IN RESPONSE TO THE DECISION TO CALL INDIANA STATE POLICE TO REMOVE DEMONSTRATORS FROM DUNN MEADOW.

WHITTEN AND SHRIVASTAV SAID IT WAS MOTIVATED BY CONCERNS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ANTI-SEMITISM.

>> THERE ARE SPECIFIC REQUESTS MADE FOR SPECIFIC APOLOGIES SUCH AS THE USE OF POLICE FORCE IN DUNN MEADOWS AND THE REQUEST FOR PUBLIC POLICIES DEFERRED, AND DID NOT DIRECTLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OR CERTAINLY DIDN'T RESPOND TO IT.

>> MANY FACULTY PARTICIPATED, HOPING TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT HEAR THEIR VIEWS, SOME CHOSE PROTEST INSTEAD.

[ CROWD CHANTING ] >> SCHOOL OF EDUCATION PROFESSOR BARBARA DENNIS WAS ONE OF SEVEN FACULTY ARRESTED DURING THE DUNN MEADOW DEMONSTRATIONS.

SHE STOODOUTSIDE WITH A SIGN THAT SAID.

"NO MIDDLE GROUND).

>> IT'S THINGS SHE'S ALREADY HEARD AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACTION.

>> THE STUDENT PROTESTERS CAUGHT WORD OF THE MEETINGS WHICH WERE NOT ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY.

[ CROWD CHANTING ] >> THEY GATHERED NEAR CLOSED DOORWAYS CHANTING SLOGANS HOPING TO GET WHITTEN'S ATTENTIONS.

>> THE FACT THAT YOU ARE INSIDE OF THE UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RESIDENCE HALLS.

>> IT'S INSANE FOR THE LIMITATIONS ON FREE SPEECH IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> THEIR CHANTING WHICH BEGAN AFTER THE MEETINGS ADJOURNED LED TO SEVERAL TENSE ENCOUNTERS WITH I.U.

OFFICIALS AND POLICE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE, STAY HERE ALL DAY.

YOU ORDER GRUBHUB IF YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN'T STAND HERE AND SCREAM AND YELL AND CHANT.

>> THERE WERE NO ARRESTS.

I.U.

'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE AND FIRE THE PRESIDENT.

TWO TRUSTEES WERE PRESENT AT THIS WEEK'S LISTENING SESSIONS, BOTH OF WHOM WERE ELECTED BY ALUMNI.

THE NINE-MEMBER BOARD HELD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON TUESDAY, THE DAY AFTER THE MEETING, THE BOARD RELEASED A STATEMENT, ANNOUNCING THEY HAD COMMISSIONED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE CAMPUS CLIMATE.

TRUSTEES ARE REQUIRED TO DISCUSS ANY OFFICIAL ACTION IN AN OPEN MEETING UNDER INDIANA'S OPEN DOOR LAW.

THEY EXCITED -- CITED AN EXCEPTION, REGARDING ONGOING LITIGATION, FROM CHUCK -- FROM ACLU.

MANY DOUBT THAT TRUSTEE'S ACTIONS OR THE STATED COMMITMENT TO LISTENING AND LEARNING.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT, BUT I HAVE HIGH SUSPICIONS AND DOUBTS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.

IT'S HARD TO BUILD TRUST FROM SUCH A LOW STARTING POINT.

>> I DO BELIEVE PEOPLE CHANGE, AND I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THAT SHE COULD BE BETTER.

I DOUBT IT.

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THAT.

>> THIS MAY BE AN EMPTY GESTURE.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND IT'S, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FENCE SITTERS ALSO TO COME AND MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS ABOUT HOW SERIOUS THE PRESIDENT IS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

>> SEVERAL SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC HAVEN'T MET WITH THE PRESIDENT.

DEAN RICK VAN KOOTEN HAS REQUESTED A TOWN HALL, BUT SO FAR NONE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED.

>> ETHAN JOINS US FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO THE DAY AFTER YOUR ARTICLE CAME OUT, THERE WAS, I GUESS, ANOTHER TWIST THAT WHITTEN HAD TO HAVE EYE SURGERY.

HOW DOES THAT GO WITH THE LISTENING SESSIONS NOW.

>> THAT PROBABLY MEANS THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER LISTENING SESSION FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AND THE COLLEGES ARE TELLING ME THAT IT COULD BE UNTIL LATE SUMMER OR FALL, WHEN THIS RESUMES.

NOW, WHITTEN'S OFFICE ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED BUT THEY BUMPED IT UP BECAUSE OF COMPLICATIONS.

SO THAT'S ALL WE KNOW REALLY.

>> SO BASED ON WHAT WE ARE HEARING IN YOUR REPORT, YOU WERE TALKING WITH ALLOT OF FACULTY AND -- A LOT OF FACULTY AND I.U.

SOUTH BEND HAVING A NO VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AS WELL.

WHAT'S YOUR READ ON ALL OF THIS?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WHITTEN IS SINCERE IN THIS COMMITMENT TO, YOU KNOW, LEARN AND MOVE FORWARD WITH FACULTY.

I THINK ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS THERE, THOUGH, IS MOST OF THE FACULTY THAT I HEARD AND, YOU KNOW, SPOKE WITH AT THESE SESSIONS ARE CALLING FOR HER TO RESIGN AND WHITTEN SAID SHE'S NOT INTERESTED IN RESIGNING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN DEMANDS AND IT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

THE BUST OF TRUSTEES -- THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS FULL CONFIDENCE IN WHITTEN.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER SHE SEES LOSING THE TRUST OF THE FACULTY AS A LONG-TERM THREAT TO I.U., THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY ACTUALLY BRINGING THEM FURTHER INTO THE DECISION-MAKING AND THE WAY THEY WANT TO BE INCLUDED.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT MORE TO WORK ON.

MAYBE SOME MORE TODAY, I BELIEVE.

>> HOPEFULLY.

>> YOU ARE BUSY.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY LUCAS GONZALES FOR THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

HI, LUCAS.

HI, JOE.

>> THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL GAVE THE OKAY FOR THE SUMMIT DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT TO START ON NEARLY 140 ACRES OF LAND NORTH OF R.C.A.

COMMUNITY PARK.

THE COUNCIL ALSO PASSED SEVERAL REASONABLE CONDITIONS.

THEY CAP THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS AT 4,250, REDUCED MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHTS, REQUIRE SOME UNITS BE INCOME RESTRICTED AND ENCOURAGE MORE OPTIONS FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED UNITS.

>> I HAVE TOO MANY GENERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL OF THIS MAGNITUDE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

NOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS AND THE COSTS OF GROWTH AT THIS SCALE.

>> DAVE ROLO VOTED AGAINST THE PROJECT BUT FOR MOST OF THE CONDITIONS.

BOTH FELT THERE WAS ANOTHER ENOUGH TIME TO DEBATE THE PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH THE COUNCIL HAS HELD THREE HEARINGS ON IT.

>> SO TO ACCUSE ME AT THIS POINT, AT LEAST, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY EIGHT COLLEAGUES, OF NOT HAVING DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS PROJECT IS JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE SPENT STARTING WHEN I WAS BARELY A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE.

>> DEVELOPERS PLAN TO BUILD THE PROJECT OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE REJECTING A $30,000 REQUEST TO SUPPORT THE BLOOMINGTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S EFFORTS.

THE COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY WERE UPSET BY THE B.E.D.C.

'S SUPPORT OF A BILL AT THE STATE HOUSE TO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT ON STEEPER SLOPES.

>> SEVERAL OF US FROM MONROE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WENT UP AND LOBBIED AGAINST THIS BILL BECAUSE WE -- WE FELT THAT IT WOULD NOT INCREASE HOUSING -- OR CAPABILITY OR HOUSING STOCK HERE IN MONROE COUNTY.

>> COMMISSIONER JULIE THOMAS RELUCTANTLY VOTED FOR THE REQUEST.

SHE SAID SHE WAS UPSET BY A COLUMN WRITTEN BY B.E.C.D.

PRESIDENT JENNIFER PEARL THAT THOMAS SAYS WAS A MISREPRESENTATION OF THE COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

>>> THE INDIANA CENTER FOR RECOVERY IS WALKING BACK ITS PROPOSAL TO BUILD TWO THREE-STORY GROUP HOMES WEST OF DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON.

THE CENTER WITHDREW ITS PETITION BEFORE A SCHEDULED BLOOMINGTON PLANNED COMMISSION THIS WEEK.

THE PROPOSAL IS OUT OF PLACE IN PART BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE FUTURE HOPEWELL NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I THINK THAT THE FUTURE OF THAT AREA IS RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THAT ENTIRE HOPEWELL SITE IS BASICALLY MOVING TOWARD.

>> THE GROUP HOMES WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF WEST FIRST STREET NEAR WALKER STREET.

>>> THE LATEST NATIONAL ABORTION COUNT BY THE SOCIETY OF FAMILY PLANNING FOUND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS IN 2023, COMPARED TO THE YEAR PRIOR, BUT SIDE EFFECTS REPORTS THAT INDIANA'S ABORTIONS DROPPED FROM 500 AT THE START OF LAST YEAR TO JUST 20 IN DECEMBER DUE TO THE ABORTION BAN.

>> THE WE COUNT REPORT LOOKED AT ABORTIONS OVER 18 MONTHS BETWEEN APRIL OF 2022 AND DECEMBER 2023.

IT REFLECTS ABORTIONS PROVIDED IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING, INCLUDING IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CARE.

THE STATE THAT SAW THE LARGEST SURGE IN ABORTION VOLUME WAS ILLINOIS, WITH MORE THAN 35,000 EXTRA ABORTIONS OVER THE 18-MONTH PERIOD.

PERHAPS ONE OF THE OTHER BIG TAKEAWAYS OF THE REPORT IS THE SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS PROVIDED UNDER SHIELD LAWS.

THIS PROTECTS COMMISSIONS IN SEVERAL STATES SUCH AS NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS, AND COLORADO, WHO PROVIDE TELEHEALTH ABORTIONS TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN STATES WITH ABORTION RESTRICTIONS OR BANS.

BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER 2023, THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 8,000 MONTHLY TELEHEALTH ABORTIONS PROVIDED UNDER SHIELD LAWS.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M FARRAH HUSRI.

>>> ENHANCED SEMICONDUCTORS IS WALKING BACK ITS PLANS TO BRING OPERATIONS TO BLOOMINGTON'S WEST SIDE.

THE COMPANY PRESIDENT BOB PADDY SAID THE PLAN IS NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE ENHANCED COULD NOT SECURE FUNDS FROM THE CHIPS ACT, AND BECAUSE OF MARKET TRENDS.

>> AS A SMALL COMPANY, WE ARE SEEING PULLBACK IN PEOPLE'S DESIRE TO VENTURE INTO THE MARKET AT THIS POINT.

>> THE COUNCIL APPROVED A 100% TEN-YEAR TAX ABATEMENT ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED ENHANCED $8.8 MILLION.

ENHANCED OPENED A PLANT IN ODEN IN JANUARY.

PADDY SAYS THOSE PLANS HAVE NOT CHANGED, AND EXPECTS PRODUCTION TO START IN EARLY 2025.

>>> AND GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS HE'S LOOKING FOR TRANSPARENCY HAD FROM MIKE BRAUN ON THE PLANS FOR THE STATE'S FUTURE.

THAT INCLUDES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, MENTAL HEALTHCARE, BROADBAND AND THE FUTURE OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

THE NEXT GOVERNOR NEEDS TO SET MORE RECORDS FOR THE STATE'S GROWTH.

BRAUN HAD SOME OF THE FEWEST DETAILED POLICY PROPOSALS OF ANY OF THE SIX REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.

>>> AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON GOING TO THE CASINO IN TERRE HAUTE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE A PLACE TO STAY.

THE TERRE HAUTE CASINO RESORT OFFICIALLY OPENED THE 122 ROOM LUXURY HOTEL THIS WEEK.

IT COMES SIX WEEKS AFTER THE CASINO OFFICIALLY OPENED.

THE HOTEL HAS FIVE RESTAURANTS AND SIX BARS INCLUDING AN OPEN AIR ROOF TOP BAR.

THIS IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY CHURCHILL DOWN DOWNS INCORPORATED.

>> IT LOOKS FUN.

WE WILL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT.

>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," RESEARCHERS AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY ARE DEVELOPING ROADS THAT CAN CHARGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES DRIVING OVER THEM.

AND AN HISTORIC CHURCH IN COLUMBUS WILL SOON BECOME PART OF BAR -- BARTHOLOMEW'S PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, ONE OF COLUMBUS' MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS IS SERVING A NEW PURPOSE, TRANSFORMING FROM A CHURCH TO A NEW COMMUNITY HUB FOR THE BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

CALI LICHTER REPORTS HOW THE DONATION WILL BRING NEW LIFE TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

>> THE 192-FOOT SPIRE ON THE FORMER NORTH CHRISTIAN CHURCH STANDS TALL OVER OTHER BUILDINGS ON TIPTON LANE.

THE CHURCH HOUSED THE CONGREGATION IN COLUMBUS FOR SIX DECADES, BUT DECLINING NUMBERS HAD THE CHURCH LOOKING TO OTHERS TO PRESERVE THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

>> PROBABLY TWO YEARS AGO, I STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONGREGATION TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR THE LIBRARY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT.

AND I -- EVERYBODY SAW THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL THERE.

>> HADDEN SAYS BOTH SIDES SAW THE POTENTIAL OF THE SPACE, AND LAST MONTH THE CHURCH FORMALLY DONATED THE PROPERTY TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

THE CIRCULAR SANCTUARY WILL NOT BE TRANSFORMED INTO YOUR TYPICAL RUN OF THE MILL LIBRARY BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.

>> THIS WHOLE FIRST FLOOR REALLY NEEDS TO REMAIN PRETTY MUCH AS IT IS.

THERE WILL BE -- THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE BUT NOT MUCH.

IT WILL REALLY BASICALLY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE IT IS.

SO THE SANCTUARY WILL LOOK VERY SIMILAR.

>> BUT THE LIBRARY DOESN'T MIND.

THE VISION FOR THE SPACE IS MORE OF A COMMUNITY SPACE RATHER THAN A BOOK AND TABLE LIBRARY.

>> WE REALLY WANT TO BE AS THE LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION, RIGHT?

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GATHERING THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT, GATHERING THE COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT THIS BUILDING TO BE, BECAUSE I FEEL VERY STRONG THIS ISN'T A LIBRARY BUILDING, RIGHT?

IT'S A COMMUNITY BUILDING.

>> A COMMUNITY PROPERTY THAT'S ALREADY GETTING PUT TO USE.

HADDEN SAYS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN IN TALKS WITH MUSICIANS FROM THE JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC ABOUT PUTTING ON CONCERTS ON THE ORGAN WHICH WILL REMAIN A FIXTURE IN THE SANCTUARY.

SOME OF THE ROOMS SURROUNDING THE BUILDING WILL BE STAFF OFFICES AND MEETING SPACES.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST AREAS IS GREEN SPACE, THAT OTHER B.C.P.L.

BUILDINGS LACK.

>> OUR MAIN LIBRARY SPACE DOWNTOWN DOESN'T HAVE ANY GREEN SPACE AND OUR STAFF ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING GREEN SPACE.

WE WILL DO OUR SUMMER READING KICKOFF HERE IN THIS SPACE, JUNE 3rd.

>> THE BUILDING IS LOCATED NEAR SEVERAL SCHOOLS WHICH SERVE ABOUT 4,000 STUDENTS.

>> BY BEING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, WE HAVE BASICALLY ELIMINATED THAT TRANSPORTATION BARRIER BECAUSE THEY CAN COME OVER HERE AND BE ABLE TO THEN BE SERVED BY ANY ENTITY OR AGENCY THAT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO.

>> THE BUILDING'S VISION WON'T BE FULLY VISUALIZED UNTIL 2029 HADDEN SAYS.

HE HOPES THE DONATION OF THE BUILDING AND THE LIBRARY'S ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THE SPACE ENCOURAGE MORE HISTORIC BUILDING CONSERVATION.

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE -- I HOPE ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF ADAPTIVE REUSE THAT COLUMBUS HAS SEEN AN HONESTLY THAT THE COUNTRY HAS SEEN BECAUSE THIS ARCHITECTURE IS NOT JUST SIGNIFICANT TO COLUMBUS.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO THE NATION.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CALI LICHTER.

>>> THE NEW CAMPUS WILL JOIN THE B.C.P.L.

LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, HOPE, AND THE BOOK MOBILE.

>>> WELL, ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE STRUGGLING TO GAIN TRACTION IN INDIANA.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTH AND ISABEL VESS PEER VESPERINI HIT THE ROAD TO FIND OF STORY.

>> THE E.V.

SALES COUNT FOR 4.6, UP FROM 3.6% LAST YEAR, BUT INDIANA STILL FALLS BEHIND OTHER STATES IN BUILDING ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS E.V.

CHARGING STATIONS ALONG HIGHWAYS, BUT ONE PURDUE RESEARCH TEAM MIGHT HAVE A SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM.

EVE BRENDL OPTED FOR A LEASE INSTEAD OF PURCHASE BECAUSE MAINTENANCE COSTS WERE LOW HER AND GAME WITH A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY.

>> I WAS DRIVING A VERY LARGE SUV, AND I WAS -- I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE -- A REAL GAS GUZZLINGER.

>> HYUNDAI PROVIDED A HOME CHARGING STATION WHICH MAKES IT EASIER TO CHARGE HER CAR OVERNIGHT.

IT TAKES ABOUT SIX HOURS TO CHARGE HER CAR FULLY, EVEN THOUGH SHE DOES NOT CHARGE HER CAR AROUND TOWN, SHE THINKS MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE CHARGING MORE ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS.

>> I HAVEN'T TAKEN A ROAD TRIP, I THINK THAT IN THE MIDWEST IS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE A LITTLE LESS CONVENIENT.

>> BRINDLE DROVE TO INDIANAPOLIS WITH AN 80% CHARGE.

DUE TO THE COLD, SHE ONLY HAD 40% WHEN SHE HAD TO DRIVE BACK.

SHE TRIED TO GO TO A IS NEARBY CHARGING STATION BUT THE CHARGER WAS BROKEN.

>> I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND I ENDED UP HOME AND I THINK I STILL HAD, I DON'T KNOW, 30 MILES OR 10% CHARGE ON IT, BUT IT WAS NERVE WRACKING.

>> SHE THINKS ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES ARE SLOW BECAUSE THEY ARE TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN, AND MORE EXPENSIVE.

>> THIS CAR HAS MORE TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK ONLY UNDERSTAND MAYBE 50% OF IT.

AND IT'S STILL TO THE POINT WHERE IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO SOMETHING, CHANGE MY SETTINGS OR SOMETHING, I NEED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK SOMEONE TO HELP ME.

>> THOSE IN THE INDUSTRY SAY IT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SLOWED THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES IN THE MIDWEST.

ON THE WEST COAST, ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE MORE POPULAR.

>> THE PUBLICKER SEPTEMBERION HAS NOT REALLY -- THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION HAS NOT CHANGED TOWARDS HEY, I'M OKAY WITH THE CHARGING RANGE.

I'M OKAY DRIVING TO MAYBE SOUTHERN INDIANA, NORTHERN INDIANA, AND KNOWING THAT I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK.

>> HYUNDAI IN BLOOMINGTON USED TO SELL AN AVERAGE OF 10 ELECTRIC CARS WITHIN A 30-DAY PERIOD.

NOW THAT'S SLOWED TO AN AVERAGE OF 10 SALES WITHIN A 60-DAY PERIOD.

HYBRID VEHICLES HAVE THE HIGHEST DEMAND WITH HYUNDAI SEEING 110% INCREASE IN VEHICLE SALES SINCE 2021, THE MAJORITY ARE HYBRID.

>> YOU ARE SEEING CAR SALES GO BACK UP, PARTLY BECAUSE OF RISING INVENTORY LEVELS AND, YOU KNOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE VERY LOW LEVELS AND VERY HIGH PRICING.

SO IT KIND OF KEPT A LOT OF THE BUYERS OUT OF THE MARKET.

>> BUT ONE RESEARCH TEAM BASED AT PURDUE HAS AN AN IDEA TO INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM.

WHAT IF THE ROADS WE DRIVE ON WOULD CHARGE THE VEHICLES.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DEVELOP A STRETCH OF ROAD ON U.S. 52 NEAR LaFAYETTE THAT WOULD CHARGE ELECTRIC HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SEMIS.

THE PLAN IS TO INSTALL CABLES THAT WOULD TRANSFER POWER TO RECEIVER COILS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLES.

>> THEY WOULD NEED ENOUGH BATTERY ON BOARD TO GET TO THE ELECTRIFIED ROADWAY AND THEN GET OFF THE ELECTRIFIED ROADWAY TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.

>> THE FOCUS IS ON HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS AND SEMIS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES NEEDED TO OPERATE THEM ARE LARGE AND RESOURCE INTENSIVE TO PRODUCE.

IF THE ROADWAY CAN MAINTAIN THE CHARGE OF A TRUCK IT CAN CARRY A SMALLER BATTER AND HAVE ROOM TO TRANSFER MORE GOODS.

PROVANCE SAYS THIS SYSTEM WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER CHARGING STATIONS BECAUSE THE ENERGY IS MORE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED OVER A WIDER SWATH OF THE LAND AND CAUSING LET OVERALL WITHDRAW ON THE GRID.

>> THIS ROADWAY ELECTRIFICATION IS EASIER THAN THE IDEA OF JUST REPLACING THE GAS STATION MODEL WITH ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS.

BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING TO REQUIRE MUCH MORE POWER AND MUCH SMALLER AREA THAT HAS TO BE DELIVERED THERE.

>> THIS PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM IN THE NEXT FEW DECADES.

YEARS OF EXPERIMENTATION ARE NEEDED TO PROVE THAT IT WOULD WORK.

CAR MANUFACTURERS WOULD HAVE TO GET ON BOARD AS WELL AND BUILD THE COILS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLES.

>> IF WE ARE ABLE TO ELECTRIFY THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM.

YOU COULD GET ON THE INTERSTATE IN NEW YORK, AND, YOU KNOW, DRIVE WEST AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO GET OFF UNTIL YOU EITHER BIOLOGICALLY FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO OR UNTIL YOU WANT TO.

>> IT'S A LARGE UNDERTAKING BUT WAS SO BRINGING ELECTRICITY TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY OR BUILDING THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM ITSELF.

IT'SIZEY TO SEE HOW TRANSFORMATIVE THOSE WORKS WERE FOR MODERN SOCIETY.

ON AVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OVER 4.3 MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN AND THEY ACCOUNT FOR 1% OF ALL CARS DRIVEN IN THE COUNTRY.

FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S 160,000 CHARGERS AVAILABLE PUBLIC.

27 ELECTRIC VEHICLES PER CHARGER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WITH ISABELLA VESPIRINI, I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>> AND THE GREAT U.S. 50-YARD SALE WHICH IS CELEBRATING THE 25th ANNIVERSARY.

THEY CAN SHOP AT POP-UP YARD SALES ALONG U.S. 50.

IT WAS A WAY TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN NORTH VERNON, INDIANA, AND NOW IT'S EXPANDED COAST TO COAST.

>> IT'S FUN AND I LOVE WATCHING PEOPLE.

AND THE PEOPLE COME OUT AND YOU MEET PEOPLE AND YOU BECOME FRIENDS AND THEY'LL COME BACK EVERY YEAR.

AND YOU MAKE MONEY.

>> THE YARD SALE IS HAPPENING A FEW MINUTES EAST OF THE BEDFORD IN FRONT OF HER AND HER HUSBAND'S BUSINESS.

THOUGH, FIRST DAY OF THE SALE SAW SOME RAIN HIT THE AREA, ALLEN SAYS THERE'S STILL BEEN A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT TO SHOP THE EVENT BE.

PARTICIPATION IN THE YARD SALE WAS OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.

NO FORMAL REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE.

>>> THE ARTS FAIR ON THE SQUARE FOR 2024 HAS BEEN CANCELED.

THE ANNUAL EVENT WHICH WAS PLANNED FOR JUNE 22nd.

NOW IT TYPICALLY HOSTS 100 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE FINE ART AND CRAFT.

THE EVENT IS 40 YEARS OLD.

VENDORS WHO APPLIED TO THE FAIR THIS YEAR WILL RECEIVE REFUNDS.

>>> AND IF YOU ARE A LOVER OF SWEETS AND SNACKS, INDIANAPOLIS WAS THE PLACE TO BE THIS WEEK.

THE ANNUAL SWEETS AND SNACKS EXPO DREW 16,000 PEOPLE DURING THE FIRST OF ITS THREE-DAY RUN AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

MORE THAN 1,000 EXHIBITS FEATURING THE LATEST IN CONFECTIONERIES WAS EXPECTED TO GENERATE MORE THAN $12 MILLION IN REVENUE TO INDIANA.

>>> 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: