>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MET THURSDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THREE OF GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN'S NEW PICKS.

THEY ALSO FROZE TUITION FOR IN-STATE UNDERGRADS AND UPDATED THE EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITY POLICY.

>> IT IS APPROPRIATE TO GRIEVE WHAT IS CHANGING AND HOW WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW OUR VOICE IS VALUED, RECOGNIZING THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN LOST.

>> A GREENSBURG WOMAN WRONGLY CONVICTED OF KILLING HER CHILD HAS HELPED FOUND THE INDIANA INNOCENCE PROJECT.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE BEGGING FOR HELP, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

>> THE PROJECT IS TAPPING RESOURCES AT THE MAURER SCHOOL OF LAW AND I.U.

'S CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

>>> WE LOOK AT HOW THE CITY IS TRYING TO MAKE DOWNTOWN HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS SLASHING $100 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET, CODIFYING SWEEPING RESTRICTIONS ON TENURE, FREEZING IN-STATE TUITION AND REFORMING THE UNPOPULAR EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITY POLICY.

THOSE WERE ALL APPROVED DURING THURSDAY'S FIRST MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITHOUT ANY ELECTED MEMBERS.

AND AS ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS, THE BOARD ALSO AWARDED, PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN A $225,000 BONUS.

>> LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, STATE PASSED SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO HIGHER EDUCATION, CUTTING APPROPRIATIONS FOR I.U.

BY $60 MILLION, ELIMINATING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS WITH LOW ENROLLMENT AND REDUCING THE INFLUENCE OF FACULTY GOVERNMENT TO NAME JUST A FEW.

>> WE ARE CONFIDENT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, I SHOULD SAY, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION, AND WITH LEGISLATORS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.

>> BUT IT ALSO GAVE GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN THE POWER TO REMOVE ALUMNI-ELECTED TRUSTEES AND REPLACE THEM BEFORE HIS TERM.

A POWER HE EXERCISED LAST WEEK.

YESTERDAY WAS FIRST DAY FOR JAMES BOPP, JR., AND FORMER ESPN REPORTER, SAGE STEELE.

>> AND BRIAN EAGLE.

>> AND I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> NOW THAT WE HAVE YOU, WE ARE GOING TO PUT YOU TO WORK.

>> DESPITE THE LONG AGENDA, THE BOARD DISCUSSED LITTLE ABOUT THE ITEMS IT APPROVED.

NONE THE DETAILS WERE RELEASED BEFORE THE MEETING.

THE BOARD USUALLY RUBBER STAMPS ITS WAY THROUGH MEETINGS BUT VETERAN TRUSTEES SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN THEY RECEIVED PUSHBACK FROM ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS.

>> THE PROPOSALS THAT CAME TO THE TRUSTEES SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THEM, COMMENT, BE ENGAGED, AND THEN WE WOULD -- AND THEN HAVE A COMMITTEE SYSTEM THAT WOULD CONSIDER THOSE.

>> THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AMENDED THE EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITY POLICY TO REMOVE A BAN ON EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITY BETWEEN 11:00 AT NIGHT AND 6:00 IN THE MORNING, WHICH IT'S ALREADY BLOCKED FROM ENFORCING FROM A COURT ORDER.

MANY OF THE NEW POLICIES FOLLOWED INTENSE CRITICISM BY REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS.

SOME SUCH AS TYING FACULTY EMPLOYMENT TO STANDARDS APPLY TO ALL UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS TARGET I.U., LIKE A NEW RULE TO PREVENT FACULTY COUNCILS FROM CREATING POLICIES.

>> IT IS APPROPRIATE TO GRIEVE WHAT IS CHANGING AND HOW WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW OUR VOICE IS VALUED, RECOGNIZING THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN LOST.

>> AS TO HOW THE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO CUT $100 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET, HOW FREEZING TUITION, LITTLE MORE CAME OUT THAN WHAT UNIVERSITY HAD ALREADY ANNOUNCED.

>> WE ARE REQUESTING THE APPROVAL FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN DOCUMENTS OF A REDUCTION TO THE RETIREMENT, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION BY 1%.

>> SOME CAMPUS LEADERS, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THOSE CUTS, SAY THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THE BUDGET BEFORE THE MEETING.

BY THE EVENING, IT STILL HADN'T BEEN RELEASED PUBLICLY.

THAT DOESN'T LEAVE THEM MUCH TIME TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET JULY 1, RIGHT, OR EVERYBODY GOES HOME OR LOOKS FOR ANOTHER JOB.

>> LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS WHITTEN'S BONUS.

SHE GOT HER LAST BONUS FOR $175,000 IN THE FALL, BUT AFTER A $200,000 RAISE IN THE SPRING, HER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE BONUS INCREASED TO $225,000.

TRUSTEE CATHY LANGHAM PITCHED THE FULL AMOUNT IN RECOGNITION OF WHITTEN'S EXEMPLARY SERVICES.

>> WE CONCUR IT'S A SUCCESSFUL YEAR WITH NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND A CLEAR PATH TO FUTURE PROGRESS AND SUCCESS.

>> ONLY ONE TRUSTEE VOTED NO, GRADUATE STUDENT KYLE SEIBERT.

>> WE'RE FACING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHANGES AND WE ARE REDUCING BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S WHERE I STRUGGLE WITH THIS PROPOSAL.

FOR THAT REASON, I WILL VOTE NO.

>> UNTIL THE BUDGE SET RELEASED AND UNIVERSITY UNITS TAKE STOCK OF THE LOSSES, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS THE FULL SCOPE OF THE CHANGES.

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

>> I. U.S. ALSO CONTENDING WITH CUTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT LIMIT ITS ABILITY TO PRODUCE NEW RESEARCH.

>> ANYONE WHO HAS LOOKED FOR HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON KNOWS IT'S NOT CHEAP.

ACCORDING TO REALTOR.COM, THE MEDIAN LISTING PRICE FOR A HOME $665,000.

AND THE AVERAGE APARTMENT COST IS JUST UNDER $2,500 A MONTH.

BUT AS ISABELLA VESPIRINI REPORTS, THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO AVOID BARRIERS TO DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS DOWNTOWN.

>> 13 YEARS AGO, BETH AND JEFF SMITH DECIDED TO BUY SOME LAND AND DESIGN THEIR OWN HOUSE.

A 4,800 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR TWO KIDS.

>> OUR DAUGHTER JUST GRADUATED FROM I.U.

SHE'S MOVING TO TUCSON, ARIZONA.

SO SHE WILL BE OUT OF STATE.

OUR SON IS A SOPHOMORE, RISING JUNIOR.

AND NEITHER OF THEM LIVE IN THE HOUSE AND HAVEN'T FOR A WILE.

IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US IN THE HOUSE.

>> THEY DECIDED NOW IS THE TIME TO DOWNSIZE.

>> THE REALITY IS THAT IT'S ALSO AGING, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS THAT ARE COMING WITH IT THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, WELL, DO WE WANT TO INVEST A LOT MORE MONEY HERE TO UPDATE AND MODERNIZE OR DO WE WANT TO DOWNSIZE TO A SMALLER PLACE, MORE MODERN, NEWER, YOU KNOW, IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

>> BETH AND JEFF HAVE LOOKED ONLINE FOR SMALLER HOMES BUT HAVEN'T FOUND THE RIGHT ONE.

>> THE GOLDILOCKS SITUATION, I THINK FOR ME WOULD BE TO HAVE A HOUSE THAT'S ABOUT 2,000 SQUARE FEET, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS, THAT'S SUPER MODERN, BUT DOESN'T SHARE WALLS.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A CONDO.

I WANT IT TO BE EXTREMELY ENERGY EFFICIENT.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERION IS TO BE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

WHAT THEY FOUND IS EITHER INTO EXPENSIVE OR TOO OLD.

>> THEN YOU LOOK AT WELL, WHAT YOU WOULD BE GIVING UP VERSUS WHAT YOU WOULD BE GAINING.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO SELL WHAT YOU -- THE HOUSE THAT WE BUILT BECAUSE IT HAS ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MAYBE A COMPROMISE FOR WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

>> WHAT THEY WANT, THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE CITY FACES MULTIPLE BARRIERS TO PROVIDING HOUSING FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS OF PEOPLE, DUE TO FAIR HOUSING LAWS.

THESE LAWS PROHIBIT THEM FROM BUILDING HOUSING BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS, SUCH AS AGE, SEX OR RACE.

THIS MEANS THEY CAN'T DEVELOP HOUSING THAT TARGETED A SPECIFIC GROUP, SUCH AS PEOPLE LIKE BETH AND JEFF WHO ARE GETTING OLDER AND WANT TO DOWNSIZE.

>> HOUSING IS AN ECOSYSTEM.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING ALL TOGETHER.

YOU CAN'T JUST TARGET ONE WITHOUT LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.

>> THERE'S ALSO LESS MOVEMENT IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW, DUE TO HIGH PRICES AND HIGH INTEREST RATES, RESULTING IN THE GOLDEN HANDCUFF.

FEWER PEOPLE ARE BUYING HOMES, RESULTING IN LESS DEMAND.

>> WE ARE LOCKED RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO AND THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS ARE INFLUENCE THE MARKET.

>> ONE WAY TO INFLUENCE THE MARK IS TO PUSH OUT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE AND RENTAL DEPOSITS FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

>> ONE IS AN INTEREST RATE BUYDOWN TO ENCOURAGE UNLOCKING THE GOLDEN HANDCUFFS BECAUSE HOUSING NEEDS TO APPEAL TO EVERYONE.

THERE'S NOT JUST ONE TYPE OF HOUSE THAT WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY HOMEOWNER OR TENANT.

>> IT'S ALSO HARD TO DEVELOP A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS DUE TO LAND SCARCITY, ZONING AND PLANNING RESTRICTIONS AND HIGH MATERIAL AND LABOR COSTS.

THESE BARRIERS CAN DISCOURAGE DEVELOPERS, RESULTING IN A LACK OF HOUSING OPTIONS.

INFLUENCING THE MARKET AND ATTRACTING MORE DEVELOPERS COULD INVOLVE MAKING CHANGES TO THE CITY'S UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, SUCH AS SPEEDING UP THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

THE LONGER IT TAKES, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT GETS.

>> IT MEANS THAT ANYONE COULD GO OUT AND BE A DEVELOPER IF THEY KNEW THAT THIS WAS A FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY ARE NOT ON THE HOOK WAITING FOR THEIR PERMIT, RIGHT?

SO I THINK IT WOULD HELP TO INFLUENCE AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING MORE FOLKS THAT CAN PARTICIPATE.

>> BETH AND JEFF SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER BUILDING A HOME DOWNTOWN IF THE OPPORTUNITY ROSE, BUT THEY KNOW LAND IS HARD TO COME BY.

AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY WOULD PREFER TO BE CLOSE TO WALKING TRAILS AND AMENITIES.

>> WHAT I DECIDED I DON'T WANT TO DO IS MOVE FARTHER OUT IN THE COUNTY.

I DON'T WANT TO BE AWAY FROM THE AMENITIES OF THE CITY.

I REALLY LOVE LIVING CLOSE TO THINGS AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO COMMUTE AND BE FAR AWAY FROM THINGS.

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

>> THE CITY IS SPEARHEADING PROJECTS SUCH AS THE NEW HOPEWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE FORMER BLOOMINGTON HOSPITAL SITE, TO PROVIDE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS AND ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO TOWN.

>> WELL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY CLAYTON BAUMGARTH FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM THE AROUND THE STATE.

>> HI, JOE.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY POLICE ACADEMY RECRUITS HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING IN DEAF CULTURE AWARENESS AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

THE TRAINING CONSISTED OF A TWO-HOUR PANEL DISCUSSION WITH I.U.A.S.L.

FACULTY ON DIFFERENT ELEMENTS LIKE HOW TO INTERACT AND PREFERRED MODES OF COMMUNICATION.

THE OTHER TRAINING DISCUSSED TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS HANDCUFFING DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING INDIVIDUAL SO THEIR HANDS ARE AVAILABLE TO COMMUNICATE.

>> IT OPENED MY EYES TO MAYBE A LOT OF WAYS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT MAYBE AREN'T SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY IN THE BEST WAY AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER AS A PROFESSION IN THAT WAY AND HOW THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS TRAINING.

>> COX HOPES TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND INCORPORATE THE TRAINING EACH YEAR, AND BE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH OTHER POLICE ACADEMIES AND AGENCIES THROUGHOUT STATE AND NATION.

>> EVERY STATE AGENCY ALREADY HAD 5% OF ITS FUNDING CUT IN THE NEW STATE BUDGET.

BUT LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET BILL ALSO REQUIRES EVERY STATE AGENCY AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITY TO WITHHOLD AN ADDITIONAL 5% OF THEIR FUNDING FOR EACH OF THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS.

AND THOSE MUST -- THOSE HOLDBACKS MUST COME FROM SALARIES, WAGES AND OPERATING EXPENSES.

STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR CHAD RANNEY SAYS AGENCIES SHOULDN'T EXPECT TO GET THAT MONEY BACK.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IS MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH AN ALMOST $10 MILLION RENOVATION.

THIS UPDATE -- THE UPDATE INCLUDES AIR CONDITIONING, RESTROOMS, CLASSROOMS, STORAGE AND A.D.A.

COMPLIANT TRAINING AREAS.

THERE WILL BE SPACES DEDICATED TO RECRUITING AND RETENTION.

>> THIS WILL ENHANCE THE INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD TO COMPLETE THEIR MISSION FOR THIS UNIT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND BE READY FOR ANYTHING THAT IS CALLED UPON.

>> THE 87 SOLDIERS STATIONED AT THE SOUTH WALNUT STREET LOCATION HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY RELOCATED TO CAMP ATTERBURY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION.

>> ACTIVISTS IN NORTHWEST INDIANA ARE CONCERNED A SEA WALL AT NIPSCO MICHIGAN CITY GOAL PLANT WOULD FAIL.

THEY FEAR IT WOULD SEND MORE COAL ASH INTO THE CREEK.

THE WATER SOME RESIDENTS IN THE AREA DRINK AND SWIM IN AND FISH.

THEY ARE ADDING NEW STEEL SHEATHES AND SEALING THE SPACE TO REPAIR THE WALL.

>> WE SEE THIS AS MORE OF THIS TEMPORARY BAND-AID, TO WHAT -- WHAT ULTIMATELY COULD BE, AGAIN, THIS IMMINENT CRISIS AT THE PLANT, IF, INDEED, THERE'S A FULL-BLOWN RUPTURE.

>> JUST TRANSITION WITH NIPSCO WANTS TO TEST THE WATER THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION AND AT LEAST A MONTH AFTER IT'S DONE.

THE UTILITY SAYS THAT ISN'T NECESSARY.

AND FINALLY, BLOOMINGTON IS PREPARING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES.

AN INVASIVE SPECIES.

THE INSPECTS WHICH WERE SPOTTED RECENTLY IN NEARBY BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY SUCK SAP OUT OF PLANTS AND THAT CAN CREATE MOLD AND CURB PLANT GROWTH.

IT PREFERRED THE TREES OF HEAVEN WHICH IS ALSO AN INVASIVE SPECIES.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN CUT IT DOWN AND WALK AWAY.

IT TAKES A HERBICIDE APPLICATION, USUALLY TO KILL THE ROOTS.

SO PAIRING TWO INVASIVES TOGETHER IS TOUGH.

>> AND JOE, THE CITY SAYS IF YOU SEE THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY TO TAKE A PHOTO OF IT AND TO KILL IT.

>> NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE FIREFLY.

>> NO.

>> THAT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE INSECT.

>> WE LIKE THOSE.

>> YES, WE DO.

THANK YOU, CLAYTON.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A GREENSBURG WOMAN WRONGLY CONVICTED OF KILLING HER 3-YEAR-OLD SON HELPS FOUND THE INDIANA INNOCENCE PROJECT.

>>> AND A POP-UP MUSEUM IN INDIANAPOLIS CATERS EXHIBITS OF CITY'S QUIRKY AND WEIRD UNDERBELLY.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

SAFE HAVEN BABY BOXES ALLOW PEOPLE TO ANONYMOUSLY SURRENDER A NEWBORN BABY THEY ARE UNABLE TO CARE.

THERE ARE ALMOST 350 OF THEM ACROSS THE NATION AND AS DONNY BURGESS REPORTS A SECOND BABY BOX LOCATION WAS UNVEILED IN BLOOMINGTON ON WEDNESDAY.

>> IF YOU GO TO BLOOMINGTON FIRE STATION TWO, YOU WILL SEE A LARGE BLACK BOX INSERTED INTO THE SIDE OF A BRICK WALL.

THAT IS A BABY BOX, WHICH WAS UNVEILED WEDNESDAY.

THE BOXES ALLOW THOSE WHO CANNOT CARE FOR A NEWBORN TO MACE THE BABY IN A SECURE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED VENTILATED BOX, USUALLY AT FIRE AND POLICE STATIONS.

ONCE A BABY IS PLACED INSIDE, AND THE DOOR IS CLOSED, IT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS AND ALERTED EMERGENCY SERVICES.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR DEPARTMENT SERVES THE COMMUNITIES, WHEN IT'S MAKING 911 CALLS, MIHs OR NOW US HAVING A BOX THAT SOMEBODY WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DROP OFF A LITTLE ONE THAT WE THEN CAN TAKE CARE.

>> PEOPLE WHO SURRENDER THEIR NEWBORNS ARE KEPT ANONYMOUS AND PROTECTED FROM LEGAL CONSEQUENCES PER INDIANA SAFE HAVEN LAW.

WHILE YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH SOMEONE CHOOSING THIS PATH, SUPPORTERS SAY IT GIVES A CHILD A GREATER CHANCE OF SURVIVING AND THRIVING.

>> IF IT'S A SAFE JOURNEY FOR THE MOM AND THE CHILD, WE ALL SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT THIS IS WHAT SHE DID CHOOSE.

WE HAVE SEEN THE STORIES ACROSS AMERICA WHERE BABIES HAVEN'T MADE IT.

>> IT'S FUNDED BY A $10,000 GRANT FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

BLOOMINGTON'S ORIGINAL BABY BOX AT FIRE STATION ONE REOPENED THIS WEEK, AFTER FLOODING IN 2021 CLOSED IT.

>> WE ARE CREATING A RESOURCE FOR PARENTS IN THEIR MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE PATHS IN LIFE.

>> FIRE STATION TWO'S BABY BOX IS THE 345th IN THE UNITED STATES.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M DONNY BURGESS.

>> ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, A GREENSBURG WOMAN WAS CONVICTED OF KILLING HER CHILD.

AFTER 17 YEARS IN PRISON, NEW EVIDENCE PROVED HER INNOCENCE AND SHE WAS RELEASED.

TODAY, SHE'S ONE OF THE FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA INNOCENCE PROJECT.

GEORGE HALE HAS MORE ON HER STORY AND THE RESOURCES AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY, THE PROJECT IS TAPPING INTO.

>> ON JUNE 30th, 1995, CHRISTINE BUNCH WOKE UP TO FIND HER GREENSBURG HOME ON FIRE.

A WALL OF FLAMES PREVENTED HER FROM REACHING HER 3-YEAR-OLD SON TONY'S BEDROOM.

>> I RAN OUTSIDE SCREAMING FOR HELP AND I PICKED UP HIS TRICYCLE AND BUSTED OUT THE WINDOW AND I TRIED TO CLIMB THROUGH TO GET TO HIM.

>> NEIGHBORS PULLED HER FROM THE HOME AND TOLD HER TO WAIT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

>> I WAITED IN THE AMBULANCE, THINKING THAT EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO BE OKAY.

THEY WERE THERE.

THEY WOULD GET HIM, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

I CAN STILL FEEL THE PANIC.

MY HEART GOES FASTER.

I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE SMELL AND THE TASTE OF IT.

AND THIS FEAR THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THERE AND HELP.

>> MEDICS PRONOUNCED THE TODDLER DEAD AT THE SCENE AND TRANSPORTED BUNCH TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE, BURN AND SMOKE INHALATION.

THE INVESTIGATORS TOLD THEM THAT THEY BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS SET INTENTIONALLY.

>> THE OFFICERS CAME IN AFTER TWO HOURS THEY HAD DETERMINED IT WAS AN ARSON.

IT COULDN'T BE ANYTHING BUT THAT AND I BELIEVED THEM.

>> THEY ALSO BELIEVED BUNCH WAS THE ONE WOULD SET THE FIRE.

THEY CHARGED HER WITH MURDER.

>> IT'S JUST HORRIFIC.

WHILE POLICE AND PROSECUTORS DON'T SEE HER AS A GRIEVING MOM, THEY IMMEDIATELY SEE HER AS A KILLER, AS SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO BE A MOM.

>> KEY TO THE PROSECUTION WAS EVIDENCE THEY PRESENTED THAT THE FIRE HAD TWO POINTS OF ORIGIN WITHIN THE HOME.

ONE OF THEM IN TONY'S BEDROOM.

>> AND WHAT'S MORE POWERFUL EVIDENCE THAN THAT... >> THEY CONVINCED A JURY TO SENTENCE BUNCH TO 60 YEARS FOR THE MURDER OF HER ONLY CHILD.

>> BUT SHE NEVER SET THE FIRE AND SHE DIDN'T KILL HER SON.

>> 16 YEARS LATER, NEW DEFENSE ATTORNEYS DISCOVERED DOCUMENT SHOWING THE PROSECUTORS KNEW THAT THE FIRE LIKELY DEPOSIT START IN THE BEDROOM AND THE RELIANCE OF DIESEL FUEL WAS FROM A KEROSENE HEATER PREVIOUSLY USED IN THE HOME.

>> ALL OF THE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS CHRISTINE WAS INNOCENT WAS NEVER PRESENTED AND SHE NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT.

SHE WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.

>> SHE WALKED OUT OF PRISON AFTER 17 YEARS.

BUNCH AND DIDI ARE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA INNOCENCE PROJECT WHICH FORMALLY LAUNCHED LAST SUMMER.

A YEAR LATER, THE GROUP IS HIRING ATTORNEYS AND TAPPING INTO RESOURCES AT THE MAURER SCHOOL OF LAW AND I.U.

'S CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

LAST YEAR 2023I.U.

GRAD McKENZIE LEWIS SET UP THE PROJECT.

>> THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED RECEIVING OR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

I THINK AS WORD OF MOUTH HAS GOTTEN OUT, AS WE HAVE STARTED SENDING LETTERS INTO THE PRISONS, I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO HEAR ABOUT IT AND WRITING IN MORE.

>> WE HAVE AN ONLINE APPLICATION ON OUR WEBSITE, INDIANAINNOCENCEPROJECT.ORG.

AND A LOT OF TIMES FAMILY OR FRIENDS FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INTERNET ACCESS, IF ANY.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A PHYSICAL APPLICATION.

IF SOMEONE WRITES IN A LETTER, I WILL SEND THEM A COPY OF OUR PHYSICAL APPLICATION IN THE MAIL, AND THEY WILL SEND IT BACK.

OR A FAMILY MEMBER WILL CALL AND LET US KNOW THAT THEY WANT AN APPLICATION OR THEY WILL CALL THEMSELVES AND WE SALE SEND IT TO THEM.

>> VOLUNTEERS WITH RELEVANT BACKGROUND REVIEW THE CASES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEN THEY GO TO FORMER PHILADELPHIA PROSECUTOR, JOSHUA BARNETT FOR REVIEW.

HE'S THE FIRST LEGAL COUNCIL FOR THE INDIANA INNOCENCE PROJECT.

>> I DO THINK MY EXPERIENCE AS A PROSECUTOR, BOTH -- JUST PROSECUTING, YOU KNOW, YOUR EVERYDAY STREET CRIME AND THEN PROSECUTING POLICE MISCONDUCT, I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY EQUIPPED ME WELL TO LOOK AT, LIKE, WHAT THE PROSECUTION HAS AND ANALYZE IT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, AND IT'S NOT ALL ON PROSECUTORS AND COPS EITHER.

A LOT OF THINGS WE LOOK AT IS WHAT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS DID WRONG.

THEY MAY HAVE LET IN EVIDENCE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE OBJECTED TO OR NOT HIRED AN EXPERT WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE OR JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT LISTENED TO THEIR CLIENT.

>> BARNETT SAYS THERE ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOKING GUN LIKE IN BUNCH'S CASE AND PROSECUTORS USUALLY ARE NOT TRYING TO FRAME INNOCENT PEOPLE.

>> ALL OF THOSE THINGS GO WRONG, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS REALLY INNOCENT AND IT'S LIKE ONE OR TWO THINGS, THEY ARE LEEKLY NOT GOING TO BE CONVICTED.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE CRIMINAL CASES ARE MESSY AND OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, SMALL VIOLATIONS HAPPEN THAT DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE OR BREAK OR THE CASE, BUT WHEN SOMEONE IS INNOCENT, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, FORM THIS PERFECT FORM, IT LEADS TO A WRONGFUL CONVICTION.

>> IT'S EASY FOR SOMEBODY TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SAY THESE KIND OF THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

THEY DO HAPPEN.

THEY HAPPEN OFTEN.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE BEGGING FOR HELP.

AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

SO THAT'S PRIMARY MISSION.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M GEORGE HALE.

>> IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO FEELS THEY HAVE BEEN WRONGLY CONVICTED OF A CRIME, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ON THEIR WEBSITE, INDIANAINNOCENCEPROJECT.ORG.

>>> FORMER "INDIANAPOLIS STAR" REPORTER, WILL HIGGINS FOUND HIS SOURCE IN THE QUIRKY.

NOW SHE HAS A POP-UP EXHIBIT THAT CONTAINS 17 STORIES OF COMPELLING INDIVIDUALS AND UNUSUAL INCIDENTS FROM INDIANAPOLIS.

NATALIE FITZGIBBONS HAS MORE ON THE STORY OF FABULOSITY.

SOME MAY RECOGNIZE INDIANAPOLIS AS THE HOME OF THE AUTO WORLD.

ONE THING INDIANAPOLIS ISN'T WIDELY KNOWN AS IS WEIRD.

THE MUSEUM OF FABULOSITY SEEKS TO REVEAL THAT SIDE.

>> THE QUIRKY, FREAKY SIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS HAS BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.

>> IT OPENED JUNE 6th AND LOCATED AT THE GUY CLARK GALLERY, IT'S IN INDIANAPOLIS.

ALL THE STORIES, HIGGINS RESEARCHED HIMSELF.

THE POINT OF THE EXHIBIT IS TO REVEAL AND SHARE 17 PECULIAR STORIES.

>> WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS FROM AROUND 1904 UNTIL 2000.

THE HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS THAT YOU WON'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

IT'S NOT BEING TAUGHT ANYWHERE.

IT'S THE -- IT'S THE WEIRD SIDE OF THIS CITY.

>> VISITORS CAN FIND THE STORY OF MORRIS LYNN JOHNSON, WHO ROBBED AT LEAST THREE DOZEN BANKS AND ESCAPED PRISON THREE TIMES.

THERE'S ALSO ALFREDO MAZE, NAMED THE CHAMPIONSHIP LADY DRIVER WHO WAS KNOWN FOR THE DAREDEVIL ACT OF WING WALKING ON AIRPLANES AND DRIVING A RACE CAR THROUGH A FLAMING WALL MADE OF WOOD.

>> BUT THE IDEA OF A WOMAN BACK IN THE 1930s CHOOSING ADVENTURE OVER SECURITY, I THINK IS COOL, AND SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

>> HIGGINS HAS BEEN VISITING MUSEUMS ALL HIS LIFE AND HIS LOVE FOR THEM WENT INTO CREATING THE MUSEUM OF FABULOSITY, HIS BELIEF, THE SMALLER, THE STRANGE AND THE MOR RANDOM THE MUSEUM IS, THE BETTER IT IS.

I'M NATALIE FITZGIBBONS.

>> 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