>>> INDIANA NEWSDESK IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ATTORNEYS, PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

BLOOMINGTON AND INDIANAPOLIS.

ON THE WEB, IU CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT, EXTENDING BLOOMINGTON RESOURCES TO IMPROVE HOOSIER LIVES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

RURAL.INDIANA.EDU.

SMITHVILLE INTERNET AND VOICE IN INDIANA.

BUNGER AND ROBERTSON, ATTORNEYS AT LAW SINCE 1949.

INFORMATION AT LAWBR.COM.

AND BY WTIU MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

>>> COMING UP ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>> HE WOULD COME HOME, MOMMY, DON'T SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> THE STATE DEMONSTRATES A GAP IN BULLYING REPORTING.

I SPOKE WITH LAWYERS, PARENTS AND EXPERTS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.

>> FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS SENT ALL BUT ONE DETAINEES TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

NOW THE FAMILY WANTS ANSWERS.

>> SOMETHING THAT BUGS ME SINCE THIS HAPPENED, HE GOT ARRESTED WITHOUT AN ORDER MUCH.

>> THE BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY HAS GOT SUPPORTERS HELPING SAVE IT FROM CLOSING.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE RIGHT NOW ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>>> WELCOME TO INDIANA NEWSDESK.

PRESIDENT TRUMP RAN ON MASS DEPORTATION OF IMMIGRANTS.

FEDERAL JUDGES HAVE RULED AGAINST TRUMP'S APPROACH SAYING HE'S VIOLATING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO DUE PROCESS, THE ISSUE HIT HOME IN BLOOMINGTON, WHERE I SENT FBI AGENTS ARRESTED AT LEAST FOUR UNDOCUMENTED MEN.

BENTA BOUTIER HAS THEIR STORY AND WHAT COMES NEXT FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

>> SINCE LAST WEEK, NEVILLE'S FAMILY HAS BEEN ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR HIS CALLS FROM THE HOPKINS COUNTY JAIL IN KENTUCKY.

ROSALES GOES BY HIS MIDDLE NAME, HE WAS ONE OF FOUR MEN DETAINED LAST WEEK BY FEDERAL AGENTS IN BLOOMINGTON.

THREE OF THEM INCLUDING ROSALES WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE KENTUCKY JAIL.

>> HE'S 31 YEARS OLD.

>> HIS MOM AND ONE OF HIS SISTERS HAVE NO WAY OF CALLING HIM AND AREN'T SURE WHEN THEY'LL HEAR FROM HIM NEXT.

HE'S BEEN DETAINED FOR MORE THAN A WEEK.

THEY USUALLY HEAR FROM HIM IN THE MORNINGS AND THE EVENINGS.

DURING A MONDAY EVENING CONVERSATION, THEY ASKED HIM HOW HE'S DOING.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> SHE RECALLS DRIVING HER SON TO WORK THE DAY HE WAS DETAINED.

THEY STOPPED TO PICK UP MANUALS FROM THE BERKELEY SQUARE APARTMENTS.

IN AN INTERVIEW, HER DAUGHTER PROVIDES TRANSLATION.

>> THEY DROVE AROUND 100 METERS AND THEY GOT PULLED OVER BY ICE.

THAT'S WHEN THEY GOT IN THE TRUCK, THEY WENT TO MANUEL'S SIDE WHERE HE WAS SITTING IN THE CAR.

HE WAS THE JUAN THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

>> ANOTHER MAN HAS PENDING CHARGES IN MONROE COUNTY, AND A PAST CONVICTION FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND AGENT THE ARRESTED HIM.

THEN THEY ASKED ROSALES FOR HIS INFORMATION.

>> WHEN THEY REALIZED HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION LIKE AN I.D., OR HE WAS NOT LEGALLY ABLE TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY DID TALK FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, BUT THEN AT THE END THEY DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE HIM AND ARREST HIM.

>> NOW, ROSALES AND HIS FAMILY ARE HOPING FOR ANSWERS.

ROSALES IS UNDOCUMENTED BUT DOESN'T HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

HE HAS TWO CHILDREN HE WORKS TO PROVIDE FOR IN NICARAGUA AND COSTA RICA.

>> SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BOTHERING ME, HE GOT ARRESTED WITHOUT AN ORDER.

>> NO ONE EXPLAINS TO HER WHY ROSALES IS BEING DETAINED.

SHE RECEIVED A WEBSITE LINK TO SEARCH FOR HER SON, AT THE KENTUCKY JAIL, ROSALES SHOWED HIS NICARAGUAN I.D.

TO AN OFFICER.

>> THE OFFICER NODDED THAT HIS NAME WAS NOT ON THE LIST OF PEOPLE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

SO HE ASKED HIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

BUZZ BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ON THE LIST.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> AND THEN HE SAID, I AM SO SORRY, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY HERE IN JAIL.

>> ROSALES TOLD HIS FAMILY HE'S BEING HELD WITH ABOUT 20 OTHER DETAINEES IN A LARGE ROOM, NOT IN CELLS.

THEY FOUND A LOCAL IMMIGRATION LAWYER TO TAKE HIS CASE, SHE DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT ROSALES SPECIFICALLY, BUT THOSE ARRESTED WITHOUT A WARRANT CAN REQUEST TO BE RELEASED.

>> AT THIS HEARING WITH A JUDGE, THAT PERSON MAY PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BOND AND IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR BOND, THEY NEED TO PRESENT POSITIVE FACTORS THAT SHOW THEY SHOULD BE RELEASED.

>> ROSALES AND GOMEZ IRAS DO NOT HAVE COURT DATES ASSIGNED AND HAVE NOT GRANTED BOND.

IT'S UNCLEAR HOW LONG THEY'LL BE DETAINED.

>> WHEN WE MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES, WE MADE A DECISION BECAUSE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE WANTED A BETTER LIFE THAN THE LIFE WE HAD BACK IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND IT'S BEEN HARD FOR ALL OF US.

IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

HE'S NOT JUST MY BROTHER, HE HAS CHILDREN AND HE HAS TO THINK ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.

BUT IT'S ALSO THE REST OF US TOO.

WE ALL HAD DREAMS WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

AND GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN REALLY PAINFUL BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A DREAM THAT IT'S REALLY HARD TO REACH.

>> I'M BENTA BOUTIER.

>> MARTINE CORTESE LOPEZ WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO A DETENTION HEARING YESTERDAY IN INDIANAPOLIS.

HE'LL BE DETAINED UNTIL HIS TRIAL IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

>>> WE'RE NOW JOINED BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTNER.

>> SEVEN STUDENTS RECENTLY WON A NATIONAL STEM COMPETITION FOR A HEADBAND THEY INVENTED THAT PROTECTS HEARING AIDS DURING ATHLETIC EVENTS.

>> THEY CREATED STORM SHIELD.

A HEADBAND THAT PROTECTS HEARING AIDS FROM RAIN, SWEAT.

>> HER HEARING AIDS WERE DAMAGED BY CONTACT AND WEATHER AND SWEAT AND WERE OFTEN NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF SPORTS, SO WE WANTED TO CREATE A PRODUCT THAT ALLOWED HER TO HAVE A SAFER PLAY AND AS WELL AS BENEFIT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE HER.

>> MORE THAN 10,000 SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPETITION.

THE TEAM ALSO RECEIVED A $25,000 ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRIZE TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE INVENTION.

THE GIRLS PLAN TO PURSUE A PATENT WHILE CONTINUING WORK ON A COMPANION APP, TO MAKE IT USER FRIENDLY WITH iOS DEVICES.

SHE HOPES THE TEAM'S VICTORY INSPIRES OTHER GIRLS TO TAKE ON STEM CHALLENGES.

>> I THINK A LOT OF GIRLS THINK THEY SHOULD BE OVERQUALIFIED FOR SOMETHING, AND THEY SHOULD KNOW EVERYTHING GOING IN.

I HAD NO CLUE HOW SOME OF THESE ELECTRONICS WORKED, KNOWING I HAD THE PASSION TO GO INTO IT WAS ALL I NEEDED TO SUCCEED.

>> TEACHER AND MENTOR TO THE GIRLS SAYS THESE PROJECTS PROVE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN SOLVE REAL WORLD ISSUES.

>> I THINK WE UNDERESTIMATE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INNOVATION.

AND THEIR POTENTIAL TO TACKLE REALLY WORLD CHANGING ISSUES.

>> FROM INDIANA NEWSDESK, MIA GARZA.

>>> THE INDIANA BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS SUING THE GOVERNOR, BRAWN GAINED CONTROL OVER THE BOARD.

IU HAS CANCELLED THE ELECTION NEXT MONTH FOR AN OPEN BOARD SPOT.

>> EVEN IF I WEREN'T RUNNING IN THIS ELECTION, IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD BE REALLY DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT, THE FACT THAT BE THIS PASSED WITH NO PUBLIC INPUT, WITH NO WARNING, AND THAT IT'S THROWN ALL THIS CONFUSION INTO AN ELECTION CYCLE THAT'S WELL UNDERWAY.

>> FOUR FORMER BOARD OF TRUSTEE CANDIDATES ARE ASKING PAMELA WHITEN TO EXPLAIN HER ROLE IN THE WAY THE BOARD IS SELECTED.

>>> TWO ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE SUING THE STATE OVER A NEW LAW THAT BANS THE USE OF STUDENT I.D.s FOR VOTING.

THEY HAVE BEEN USED AT POLLING PLACES FOR TWO DECADES.

REPUBLICANS BANNED THEIR USE AS VOTER I.D.

'S, THEY SAID THEY WANT TO ENSURE ONLY PEOPLE LIVING IN INDIANA VOTE IN INDIANA ELECTIONS.

>>> DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADES DISTRICT HOTEL SITE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY.

THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED VACATING A 20 FOOT ALLEY WAY TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE HOTEL.

THE LAND IS CURRENTLY PART OF A PARKING LOT.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GIVING UP SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN USING AND RELIED UPON, WHETHER FOR PEDESTRIANS OR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

>> DEVELOPERS PLAN TO BUILD A 150 ROOM BOUTIQUE HOTEL EAST OF ROGERS STREET AND NORTH OF 10th STREET.

>>> ORGANIZERS HOPE A NEW PROGRAM WILL IMAGINE THE HISTORIC THEATER IN COLUMBUS WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY IS LAUNCHING PRODUCT ENCORE TO DEVELOP MORE LOCAL PROGRAMMING.

THE BUILDING HAS SEVERAL EVENTS IN THE WORKS BUT NEEDS A LONG TERM PLAN.

>> YOU CAN SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON AN OLD THEATER.

IF IT CAN'T BE PROGRAMMED WELL, SOMEONE HAS TO SUSTAIN IT.

>> JOE SAYS FUND-RAISING EFFORTS WILL BEGIN LATER THIS SUMMER.

THE 135-YEAR-OLD VENUE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE OLDEST OPERATING VENUE IN THE STATE.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S FUN TO WATCH THAT TAKE OFF.

THANK YOU, CLAYTON.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

WITH THE BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY IN JEOPARDY OF CLOSING, FANS AND RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER TO BUY THE TRACK.

>>> MAKING BULLYING A PRIORITY.

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

>>> RECENTLY WFIU AND WTIU LOST A COMBINED $450,000 IN STATE FUNDING.

THIS WILL AFFECT THE PROGRAMMING YOU RELY ON EVERY DAY.

THE MISSION OF PUBLIC MEDIA HAS NEVER BEEN MORE VULNERABLE THAN RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING TRUSTED PROGRAMMING TO THIS AREA.

HELP US MEET A MOMENT BY BECOMING A SUSTAINING MEMBER OR INCREASING YOUR MONTHLY GIFT AT WTIU.ORG/DONATE.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

PARENTS AND EXPERTS SAY SCHOOLS AREN'T PROPERLY REPORTING BULLYING CASES TO THE STATE.

AND THEY BELIEVE THE STATE'S DEFINITION OF BULLYING IS FLAWED.

ISABELLA JOINS US FROM THE NEWSROOM TO TELL US MORE.

>> THANKS, JOE.

I SPOKE WITH LAWYERS, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND AN ANTI-BULLYING ACTIVIST, WHO BELIEVED THAT INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS BULLYING.

SKYLAR WAMPLER IS TAKING TAE KWON DO TO COMBAT THE BULLYING HE UNDERWENT.

>> YOU SAY LEAVE ME ALONE, GET AWAY.

YOU SAY IT LOUD ENOUGH SO A TEACHER OR SOMEONE ELSE CAN HEAR YOU.

HE'S USED THAT INSTEAD OF BEING AFRAID.

>> KIDS WOULD TRIP HIM, CALL HIM NAMES AND HIT HIM WITH TOYS AND FISTS ON HIS HEAD.

HE WAS STRADDLED AND PUNCHED ON THE SCHOOL BUS.

>> HE WOULD COME HOME, BEGGING AND CRYING, MOMMY, DON'T SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL.

DON'T SEND ME BACK, BECAUSE IT HURTS.

IT WOULD LITERALLY MAKE ME CRY EVERY TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM.

AND I NEVER WANT -- I DIDN'T WANT TO SEND HIM BACK THERE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE BULLYING, SKYLAR GETS SCARED MORE EASILY, HE'S AFRAID TO MAKE FRIENDS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE HE SHUTS DOWN A LOT MORE SINCE HE WAS BULLIED, AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO COMMUNICATE AS MUCH.

>> IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED IN STATE IMAGINE DATED SCHOOL BULLYING STATISTICS.

THE STATE'S DATA DOESN'T LIST EVERY SCHOOL.

WORKING WITH CLIENTS ACROSS THE STATE, ATTORNEYS HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN BULLYING CASES, NOT ONLY IN PERRY TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS, WHERE THEY HAVE A PENDING LAWSUIT, BUT ALSO IN MONROE COUNTY, LAKE COUNTY AND TERRE HAUTE.

>> THEY'RE NOT REPORTING BULLYING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SOME DISTRICTS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF REPORTING.

YOU MAY SEE 60, 70 BULLYING REPORTS FOR A PARTICULAR DISTRICT.

AND THEN YOU MIGHT SEE A LARGE DISTRICT AND IT'S ZERO.

AND YOU KNOW THAT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE TRUE.

THEY'RE JUST NOT REPORTING IT.

>> THE STATE HAS A LONG DEFINITION OF BULLYING THAT INCLUDES THE INTENT TO HARASS, RIDICULE OR HARM THE TARGETED STUDENT.

TO CRITICS, THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT IT HAS TO HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE TO BE REPORTED.

>> WHY DOES THIS DEFINITION EXIST IN THIS WAY, WHEN WE KNOW BULLYING CAN HAPPEN ONE TIME.

WHAT IT'S CREATED IS THAT -- IT'S CREATED A LOOPHOLE FOR SCHOOLS NOT TO EARLY INVESTIGATE AND DOCUMENT THE ABUSE AND BULLYING OF OUR CHILDREN.

>> ALLSTEIN HAS WORKED WITH THE STATE'S REPRESENTATIVE TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF BULLYING.

BULLYING GOES WIDELY UNREPORTED.

>> SCHOOLS ARE COMPETING FOR STAFF, FOR FUNDING, FOR STUDENTS.

AND SO THERE'S NO INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.

AND THAT'S A SCARY PLACE TO BE IN.

BECAUSE WHAT THAT MEANS, IS THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING LIABILITY OVER OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY.

>> CARLY COLLIER GOT VERBALLY BULLIED ON HER SOFTBALL TEAM AND SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE OF HER PERCEIVED LACK OF SKILLS.

>> IT'S NOT FUN YOU TO PLAY ANYTHING ANY MORE, BECAUSE YOU ARE SO MENTALLY DRAINED.

I USED TO JUST WANT TO COME HOME AND GO TO SLEEP.

LIKE I DIDN'T WANT TO EVER GO OUT ANYWHERE OR DO ANYTHING WITH ANYBODY.

>> CARLY QUIT THE SOFTBALL TEAM AND TRANSFERRED TO BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH FOR HER SENIOR YEAR.

>> IT'S A BIG RELIEF OFF MY SHOULDERS TO BE ABLE TO PLAY AND NOT FEEL LIKE I'M WALKING ON EGG SHELLS ALL THE TIME.

>> EXPERTS THINK BULLYING IS BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD DUE TO THE POLITICAL CLIMATE AND TOXICITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> WHEN YOU TRY TO CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE, YOU, YOURSELF BECOME OUT OF CONTROL, RIGHT?

IF WE'RE NOT SHOWING THEM THE WAY TO BE BETTER, THEN THEY'RE NOT LEARNING HOW TO BE BETTER.

>> THEY'VE SEEN BULLYING OCCUR ON SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGH POSTING MEAN COMMENTS.

MYERS SEES KIDS POSTING AND FILMING BULLYING INCIDENTS.

>> THEY'RE FILMING IT IN THE HALLWAYS, THE BATHROOMS, THE GYM.

THEY'RE POSTING ABOUT IT ON ALL SORTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

AND THEY'RE BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THEY'RE BLATANT ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE INCREASE IN SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ATTRIBUTED SOME OF THAT TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

>> VERNON SMITH PROPOSED A BILL THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WOULD HAVE EXPANDED THE DEFINITION OF BULLYING THAT HAS TO BE REPORTED.

A SINGLE INCIDENT COULD PROMPT REPORTING.

THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE, BUT STALLED IN THE SENATE.

SMITH DOESN'T BELIEVE THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS EMPHASIZING THE ISSUE ENOUGH.

>> I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

BUT WHAT YOU PRIORITIZE MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO IT.

AND IF THERE'S A NEED, YOU MEET THAT NEED.

>> OFFICIALS THINK CHANGING THE DEFINITION SO THAT ONE ACT OF AGGRESSION COUNTS AS BULLYING, COULD INFLATE THE DATA.

TO THEM, IT'S UNCLEAR IF THERE IS AN UNDERREPORTING PROBLEM.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE REPORTING PIECE OF IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE EDUCATION WE'RE PUTTING IN OUR KIDS HANDS AND MINDS TO HELP THEM BE BETTER CITIZENS, FRIENDS, LEARNERS.

>> THEY DIDN'T PREVENT SKYLAR FROM BEING BULLIED.

PARENTS STILL SAY THEY FEEL HELPLESS WHEN TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR KIDS THROUGH THE BULLYING.

>> AM I LETTING THEM DOWN, AND AM I A BAD MOM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T DO.

>> INDIANA YOUTH INSTITUTE REPORTS THAT 40.6% OF PARENTS IN INDIANA REPORTED THEIR CHILD WAS BULLIED IN THE 2022, '23 SCHOOL YEAR.

THIS IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE OF 38.4%.

2024 HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF BULLYING INCIDENTS IN THE LAST DECADE.

I'M ISABELLA VESPERINI.

>> AFTER 102 YEARS IN OPERATION, THE BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY WAS IN DANGER OF CLOSING.

THAT'S UNTIL A GROUP OF LONG TIME FANS AND DRIVERS DECIDED TO BUY THE BUSINESS AND TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

ETHAN SANDWEISS MET THE OWNERS AT THE TRACK.

>> GEORGINA PRIEST'S COUNTRY HOME IS A QUIET PLACE.

ALMOST EVERY SUMMER FOR THE LAST CENTURY, THE STILLNESS IS BROKEN BY THE ROAR OF RACE ENGINES.

HER FATHER JIM MITCHELL LEASED THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY IN 1923, TO MEN WHO WANTED TO BUILD A RACETRACK.

>> IT HAS PASSED FROM HIM TO MY FATHER, ACTUALLY TO MY MOTHER AFTER MY FATHER PASSED.

AND THEN TO ME, AND NOW OUR SON IS INVOLVED.

>> LIKE THE FANS SHE GREW UP WITH, THE BLOOMINGTON SPEEDWAY IS PART OF PRIEST'S IDENTITY.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS A MITCHELL.

IT'S BEEN IN OUR FAMILY FOR SO MANY YEARS, I WOULD LIKE -- AND I WANTED TO SEE IT CONTINUE.

>> THE LAST YEAR IT NEARLY CAME TO AN END.

>> THE PERSON WHO HELD THE LEASE TURNED TO ME AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THE RACETRACK WAS DONE, IT WAS GOING TO CLOSE.

THE PROPERTY WAS GOING TO BE SOLVED.

>> WITHOUT A RENTER, PRIEST DIDN'T KNOW HOW SHE WOULD MANAGE TO KEEP THE PROPERTY.

>> WE REALLY COULDN'T AFFORD THE UPKEEP, THE MOWING AND THE TAXES AND -- SO WE CONSIDERED SELLING IT, AND IN FACT, WE CONTACTED A.J., AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

>> THAT'S A.J.

BOWLEN, REAL ESTATE AGENT.

HE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A RACE CAR DRIVER, AND HE WAS THE TRACK CHAMPION IN 1997.

WHEN IT CAME TO SELLING THE LAND, HE COULDN'T SEE IT BEING ANYTHING OTHER THAN A RACETRACK.

>> I SPENT A LOT OF FRIDAY NIGHTS HERE ON THE HILL SIDE OR IN THE PITS DREAMING OF RACING.

>> BOWLEN STARTED TALKING WITH OTHER MAINSTAYS OF THE COMMUNITY.

INCLUDING ANDY BRADLEY.

>> DAVID SAYS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

WE CAN TRY TO SAVE IT?

YOU BETTER WATCH WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU MAY END UP OWNING A RACETRACK.

>> MOST OWNERS HAVE FULL TIME JOBS.

REFURBISHING THE TRACK IS A TASK.

>> I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT FOR ME TO DO, AND I'M NOT DOING NEAR WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING HERE, THIS HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE LABOR OF LOVE FOR PEOPLE WHOSE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS SAVING THE RACETRACK.

>> WITH CROWDS SHRINKING, THE LONG TERM SURVIVAL IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

THE NEW OWNERS ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING TICKET PRICES AFFORDABLE.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THIS RACETRACK EXISTS.

IF THEY CAME ONE TIME, THEY WOULD BE A FAN INSTANTLY.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE KIDS TO BE LIFELONG RACE FANS.

>> WE PROBABLY WON'T MAKE A DIME, IN FACT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE TO COME.

>> THE TRACK OPENS TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON.

MANY IMPROVEMENTS ARE STILL TO COME.

THE OWNERS WANT TO REPLACE THE BLEACHERS, RENOVATE THE BATHROOMS.

>> IT'S STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, IF YOU LOOK AROUND.

IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A WORK IN PROGRESS, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT NEEDS DONE.

>> PRIEST HOPES RACING WILL CONTINUE, WELL INTO THE TRACK'S SECOND CENTURY.

>> I'VE LIVED ON THIS PROPERTY FOR MANY YEARS, SO I'M USED TO THE RACES AND THE SOUND, AND I LIKE IT.

AND I WOULD MISS IT IF IT INCUMBENT HERE.

>> FOR INDIANA NEWSDESK, ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>>> MANY GRADUATES WILL RECEIVE THEIR DEGREES AT I.U.

BLOOMINGTON THIS WEEKEND.

THAT INCLUDES A FATHER/DAUGHTER COMBINATION WHO WALKED THE STAGE TODAY.

>> I DIDN'T COME HERE TO BE NEXT TO HER OR FOLLOW HER ON HER COLLEGE CAREER.

I CAME HERE TO TRY TO GET THIS EDUCATION FOR MYSELF.

IT WAS A BONUS SHE WAS HERE AND ABLE TO SUPPORT ME.

>> HE WORKED AT I.U.

BEFORE ENROLLING IN TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND IT WAS HIS DAUGHTER'S ENROLLMENT IN THE MEDIA SCHOOL THAT PROMPTED HIM TO PURSUE HIS OWN EDUCATION.

THEY DIDN'T PLAN ON GOING TO COLLEGE TOGETHER.

ONCE THEY STARTED, THEY LEANED ON EACH OTHER TO GET THROUGH IT.

>> THAT PUSHED BOTH OF US.

IF WE STARTED TOGETHER WE WANTED TO FINISH TOGETHER.

>> IT NEVER FELT UNUSUAL, IT JUST BECAME PART OF THEIR ROUTINE.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY GRADUATING TODAY, IT'S ALSO JOHNSON'S 45th BIRTHDAY.

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 MALLARD, GROTNER, PLUMBER ATTORNEYS.

BLOOMINGTON AND INDIANAPOLIS.

ON THE WEB AT LAW NGP.COM, EXTENDING RESOURCES TO IMPROVE HOOSIER LIVES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

SMITHVILLE, FIBER INTERNET SECURITY SOLUTIONS AND VOICE.

BUNGER AND ROBERTSON, USING EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECOVER IN PERSONAL INJURY MATTERS.

INFORMATION AT LAWBR.COM.

AND BY WTIU MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.