>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," AN IMMIGRANT WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD IS BACK IN BLOOMINGTON AFTER BEING DETAINED FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

>> HE SAID IT WAS MENTALLY REALLY HARD FOR HIM, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> PROTESTERS IN BLOOMINGTON HAVE BEEN RALLYING AGAINST IMMIGRATION ACTION BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>>> BUDGET CUTS AT THE STATEHOUSE MEAN THE ELIMINATION OF THE JOBS FOR AMERICAS GRADUATES PROGRAM AT OUR AREA HIGH SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT I HAVE SEEN FROM STUDENTS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE JAG PROGRAM, A GROWTH IN CONFIDENCE, GROWTH IN THEIR ABILITIES TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD.

>> THE PROGRAM WILL BE PHASED OUT AFTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>>> AND WE LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE OF HALL OF FAME BLOOMINGTON SPORTS WRITER, BOB HAMMEL.

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

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PERRY METZ SITTING IN FOR THE VACATIONING JOE HREN.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE SPOKE TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF AHARON ROSALES WHO WAS DETAINED IN SOUTHERN INDIANA THIS SPRING.

NOW, ROSALES IS OUT ON BOND AS OUR BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS, HIS ARREST AND RELEASE COINCIDE WITH COMMUNITY PUSHBACK AGAINST THE NATIONAL RISE IN IMMIGRATION ARRESTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> LAST THURSDAY, MORE THAN 200 MONROE COUNTY RESIDENTS GATHERED TO PROTEST ACTIONS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING A DOUBLING OF IMMIGRATION ARRESTS THIS SPRING.

[ DRUM BEATING ] ORGANIZERS LAST WEEK SAID THE APPROACH IS INHUMANE AND TARGETS PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY WHO DON'T HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS.

>> NO BORDERS.

NO NATION.

STOP THE DEPORTATIONS.

>> ACCORDING TO DATA GATHERED BY NBC NEWS, ABOUT 57,000 PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD IN I.C.E.

DETENTION AND MORE THAN 70% DON'T HAVE A CONTROL RECORD.

MOST COMMON OFFENSES FOR PEOPLE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IMMIGRATION AND TRAFFIC RELATED.

AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR AHARON ROSALES WHO IS BACK WITH HIS FAMILY IN BLOOMINGTON, AFTER BEING DETAINED BY I.C.E.

IN APRIL AND TAKEN TO A DETENTION FACILITY IN KENTUCKY.

THEY SAID ROSALES WAS NOT THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT THEY THOUGHT I.C.E.

WAS LOOKING FOR.

>> HE'S VERY WARM HEARTED AND VERY HARD WORKING TOO.

YES.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF HIS CHILDREN.

OF COURSE, THEY ARE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE ECONOMY, IT'S NOT GOING REALLY WELL FOR CITIZENS.

AND THE REASON WE MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES IS BECAUSE WE WERE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY OVER THERE.

SO, OF COURSE, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HE PUTS IN, IT'S SO HE CAN SEND MONEY OVER FOR HIS CHILDREN AND THEIR FOOD AND SCHOOL.

>> AHARON DOESN'T HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

HIS MOM WAS DRIVING HIM AND A COWORKER MANUEL SENTE-TEVELAN TO WORK AS PAINTERS WHEN I.C.E.

POINTED THEM OVER.

AHARON'S SISTER AHLAI TRANSLATES WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR HIS COWORKER SENTE-TEVELAN WHO HAD PENDING CHARGES IN MONROE COUNTY BUT THEY ASKED AHARON FOR HIS I.D.

TOO AND SAW HE WAS UNDOCUMENTED.

>> AND SO THE OFFICERS SAID, OKAY, YOU ARE COMING WITH US.

>> WHEN HE GOT TO THE JAIL, THE OFFICERS TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO STAY.

>> IT WAS MENTALLY REALLY HARD FOR HIM, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND IT TAKES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO BE IN THERE.

IT FELT LIKE A MENTAL TORTURE.

>> AHARON DESCRIBES EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITIONS.

LIGHTS ON AT ALL HOURS, LIMITED FOOD, THIN PAD FOR A MATTRESS, ONLY WARM TAP WATER FOR DRINKING.

>> THIS WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE CRYING EVERY DAY.

BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GET OUT AND EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO GET PROCESSED FOR THE DEPORTATION, THEY STILL HAD TO WAIT.

>> HIS COWORKER SENTE-TEVELAN WAS EVENTUALLY PROCESSED, INVOLUNTARILY DEPORTED TO MEXICO.

AHARON SAYS THE ONLY REDEEMING THING ABOUT HIS TIME IN JAIL WERE THE CALLS WITH HIS FAMILY.

AHARON SAYS MANY MEN DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE CALLS.

HE'S GRATEFUL HIS MOM AND SISTER FOUND A LAWYER CHRISTIE POPP TO GATHER DOCUMENTATION FOR HIS CASE AND PROVE HE WASN'T A FLIGHT RISK.

>> SHE WANTED TO COLLECT A LOT OF LETTERS FROM THE COMPANY HE WORKS FOR, FROM RELATIVES, FRIENDS.

>> INDIANA HAS MORE THAN 50,000 IMMIGRATION COURT CASES SPENDING ACCORDING TO DATA KEPT BY TRACREPORTS.ORG.

>> YOU HAVE TO WORK REALLY HARD TO SHOW TIES TO A COMMUNITY, THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE WHO IS WILLING TO ENSURE THAT THEY GO TO COURT, THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR STATUS, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

>> OF PENDING CASES IN INDIANA, ONLY 83 ARE CRIMINAL OR NATIONAL SECURITY RELATED.

MORE THAN 25,000 ARE ENTRY WITHOUT INSPECTION AND 27,000 ARE OTHER IMMIGRATION CHARGES.

ABOUT 460 OF THESE CASES ARE FOR SOMEONE IN MONROE COUNTY.

POPP ADDS ANY CRIMINAL RECORD CAN HURT YOUR CHANCES WITH AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE.

AHARON SAYS HIS CASE WAS ONE THE ONLY ONES GRANTED BAIL, WHICH THE JUDGE SET AT $10,000.

>> IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE FOR HIM BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY OUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> AHARON ISN'T SURE HOW LONG HE WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE U.S. AND IS APPLYING FOR A WORK VISA NOW.

>> MAYBE THIS CAN BE A LESSON FOR US AS WELL TO TOLL THE RULES AND DO EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK WITHOUT BEING IRRESPONSIBLE BECAUSE IT CAN AFFECT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT DOING THESE OFFENSES.

>> MOST PEOPLE HE MET AT HOPKINS COUNTY JAIL HAD MINOR OFFENSES LIKE TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS, FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL TREND.

HE SAYS IT'S HIS FAITH IN GOD THAT'S BROUGHT HIM THIS FAR.

>> THEY WERE ALL WORKERS, LIKE, THEY WERE ALL HERE IN THE U.S. TO WORK.

AND BECAUSE MAYBE ONE PERSON DECIDED, LIKE -- COMMITTED SOMETHING TERRIBLE OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY, THEN IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> AHARON WAS ONE OF AT LEAST FOUR MEN DETAINED IN BLOOMINGTON AT THE END OF THE APRIL IN WHAT AN I.C.E.

MEMO SAYS A MULTIOPERATIONS.

LAST MONTH, IT HOSTED A VIGIL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED OR DEPORTED AND PRESENTED INFORMATION ON PEOPLE'S RIGHTS.

>> THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO GIVE A POLICE OFFICER IF THEY WERE TO STOP YOU ON THE STREET WOULD BE -- OR STOP YOU IN A CAR WOULD BE YOUR NAME, AND YOUR DATE OF BIRTH AND YOUR ADDRESS.

♪ WE WILL ♪ ♪ WE WILL ♪ ♪ WALK WITH YOU ♪ ♪ WALK WITH YOU ♪ ♪ AND SING ♪ >> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>>> TRACREPORTS.ORG SAYS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF I.C.E.

DETAINEES IN INDIANA ARE BEING INCARCERATED IN CLAY COUNTY.

>>> TONIGHT BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC EXPLODED ACROSS THE WORLD AND WHILE IT'S LONG SINCE BEEN A PANDEMIC, THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO MUTATE AND REMAINS DANGEROUS.

THE LATEST DATA FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SUGGESTS THAT ANOTHER WAVE IS ON THE WAY THIS SUMMER.

WE ARE JOINED BY GRAHAM McKEAN, A PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EXPERT AND FORMER I.U.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, GRAHAM.

>> THANKS, PERRY.

>> HOW IS THE CDC DETERMINING THAT A SURGE IS ON THE WAY.

>> THEY LOOK AT THREE MAJOR METRICS.

THE FIRST IS WASTEWATER.

THAT CAN TELL US FIRST SIGNS OF A SURGE BEFORE WE SEE IT CLINICALLY AND ALSO TELLS US WHEN WE PEAK AND WHEN WE ARE PAST THAT SURGE.

NEXT, WE ALSO LOOK AT POSITIVITY RATES.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TESTING GOING ON.

THOSE RATES ARE BEING TRACKED.

SO THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF POSITIVE TESTS MEANS THERE'S HIGHER CASES IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

AND THEN LASTLY, E.R.

VISITS.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THOSE THREE METRICS POP UP MAINLY IN THE SOUTH AND THE WESTERN UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

IN INDIANA, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE JUST THE VERY BEGINNING OF A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMER BUMP AND WE ARE SEEING THAT IN THE WASTEWATER NOW.

>> IT SEEMS PUBLIC AWARENESS OR CONCERN ABOUT COVID HAS REALLY DWINDLED.

IS THAT THE CASE?

>> I WOULD SAY, YES.

UNLESS YOU ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, UNLESS YOU ARE HIGH RISK, YOU MAY NOT BE THINKING ABOUT THIS ANYMORE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT IS STILL A RISK AND THAT RISK HAS KIND OF CHANGED OVER TIME TOO.

I THINK NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT LONGER TERM RISKS TO YOUNGER PEOPLE, ACCUMULATING EFFECTS FROM REPEAT INFECTIONS, AS WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS CAN DAMAGE ALMOST EVERY SYSTEM OF THE BODY, INCLUDING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OR COGNITIVE DAMAGE AS WELL.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS TO AVOID INFECTION.

>> THE STATE NO LONGER TRACKS CASES AND INDIANA HAS DROPPED MUCH OF THE FUNDING FOR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT DEALING WITH COVID?

>> IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS COVID.

IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

AND IT AFFECTS US ARE NOT NEXT EMERGING PATHOGEN AS WELL.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATE ALREADY AND THEN AS YOU SAID, STATE HAS BEEN CUTTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM OUR JUST RECENT HISTORIC INVESTMENT WE HAD JUST IN PUBLIC HEALTH A FEW YEARS AGO.

PRIOR TO HEALTH FIRST INDIANA, THE STATE WAS INVESTING $8 MILLION AND LAST YEAR IT WAS $75 MILLION AND THIS YEAR $150 MILLION AND NOW DUE TO THE BUDGET SHORTFALL AND FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC, THAT'S ONLY $40 MILLION FOR '26 AND '27 COMBINED.

AND SO THESE THINGS, THESE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS AND THIS IS NOT A WAY TO MAKE HOOSIERS HEALTHIER.

>> WHAT ABOUT VACCINES, ARE THEY STILL AVAILABLE.

>> YES, VACCINES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

LAST FALL'S FORMULA IS STILL OUT THERE AND YOU CAN GET THAT NOW.

THEY ARE, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, STILL GOING TO TWEAK THAT VACCINE FOR THIS FALL.

SO LOOK OUT FOR THAT.

IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER BUMP HERE, BUT ALSO IF FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES TO MRNA VACCINES, NOVOVAX HAS THEM AVAILABLE.

>> JOBS FOR AMERICAS GRADUATES OR JAG PREPARES HOOSIER HIGH SCHOOLERS FOR A CAREER, COLLEGE, OR THE MILITARY.

IT'S A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAM WITH THOUSANDS OF GRADUATES.

BUT AS AUBREY WRIGHT REPORTS, THE STATE OF INDIANA HAS CUT THE FUNDING.

>> JAG WAS FOUNDED IN 2006 TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS TO GRADUATION.

AND IT WORKED!

97% OF JAG STUDENTS EARNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BUT THIS YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE CUT THE PROGRAM'S FUNDING, CITING A TIGHT BUDGET.

WITHOUT STATE FUNDING, SCHOOLS WILL CUT THE PROGRAM AND ITS STAFF.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO UTILIZE THE PROGRAM AS BEST WE CAN, WHILE WE HAVE IT, BUT THEN ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW WE SUNSET THAT IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY.

>> THE CUTS WERE A HUGE HIT FOR EASTERN GREEN HIGH SCHOOL WHICH ALREADY HAD ABOUT 30 TO 40 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.

JAG FOCUSED ON BUILDING SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT TO SEE WITH HANDS ON LEARNING AND VOLUNTEERING.

IT WAS CREATED FOR 11th AND 12th GRADERS AND A SPECIALIST WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATION.

NOW, KIRKENDALL AND OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE THAT SUPPORT WITHOUT FUNDING.

>> WHAT I HAVE SEEN FROM STUDENTS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE JAG PROGRAM IS JUST A GROWTH IN CONFIDENCE, GROWTH IN THEIR ABILITIES TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M AUBREY WRIGHT.

>>> INDIANA EDUCATION SECRETARY KATIE JENNER ENCOURAGES SCHOOLS TO WORK WITH THEIR REGIONS WORKFORCE BOARDS OR TO FIND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.

EASTERN GREEN HAS RECEIVED A GRANT FOR ONE MORE YEAR.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MONROE COUNTY WILL SOON HAVE A NEW NATURE PRESERVE ON THE EAST SIDE THANKS TO ONE FAMILY'S DONATION OF 400 ACRES OF LAND.

>>> AND WE LOOK BACK AT THE CAREER OF LEGENDARY BLOOMINGTON SPORTS EDITOR, BOB HAMMEL WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ELYSE PERRY FOR HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>> THANKS, PERRY.

THE AVERAGE RESIDENT IN INDIANA IS PAYING $28 A MONTH MORE FOR ELECTRICITY THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY CITIZENS ACTION COALITION THAT LOOKED AT ELECTRIC BILLS FROM THE FIVE INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES.

THE REPORT SAYS THERE ARE MANY FACTORS DRIVING THESE RATE INCREASES.

NATURAL GAS IS MORE EXPENSIVE THIS YEAR.

AND UTILITIES ARE RECOVERING THE COLE ASH CLEANUPS.

THE CITIZENS ACTION COALITION ALSO SAYS INDIANA UTILITIES HAVE CUT DEALS WITH INDUSTRIAL USERS AND RATE INCREASES SADDLING RESIDENTS WITH MORE OF THE COSTS.

>>> PROTESTERS WHO GATHERED OUTSIDE THE MORGAN COUNTY JUSTICE COMPLEX ON MONDAY SAY A PLANNED DATA CENTER IN MONROVIA WOULD EXPLOIT RESIDENTS.

IN FEBRUARY, MORGAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED REZONING 390 ACRES OF LAND IN MONROVIA FOR AN UNNAMED DEVELOPER TO BUILD A FIVE BUILDING DATA CENTER CAMPUS.

MANY COUNTY OFFICIALS SIGNED NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS RESTRICTING THEM FROM DISCUSSING THE PROJECT.

>> I THINK IT'S WEIRD TO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ANONYMOUS.

LIKE AN UNKNOWN BUILDER IS COMING TO YOUR TOWN.

WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS.

NO.

LET'S FIND OUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BENEFIT US OR NOT.

THEY WORRY THAT THE DATA CENTER COULD SINK THE WATER TABLE AND INCREASE COSTS FOR MONROVIA RESIDENTS.

>> THE MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE OF THE NEW JAIL PROJECT.

THEY WANT TO DRAFT A LETTER ASKING STATE LEGISLATORS TO AMEND SENATE ENROLL ACT ONE.

IT PUTS A LOCAL INCOME TAX LIMIT ON COUNTY LOANS AND IS STALLING FUNDING FOR THE JAIL PROJECT.

>> YOU WANT TO HAVE NUMBERS, BUT I THINK -- I THINK WE MAY WANT TO BE MORE GENERAL ABOUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEGISLATION, VERSUS HERE'S HOW WE WILL ATTACK IT AND HERE'S OUR NUMBERS.

>> MONROE COUNTY IS UNDER A FEDERAL ORDER TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING AT ITS JAIL.

>>> THE FORMER NAPA BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON WAS TORN DOWN WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAKING WAY FOR EXPANDING THE BLOOMINGTON CONVENTION CENTER.

THE BUILDING WAS MORE RECENTLY USED AS THE COUNTY'S ELECTIONS OPERATION CENTER.

THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD LAST WEEK ALSO SAID MORE THAN HALF OF THE BIDS ARE APPROVED AND THE BUDGET IS ON TRACK.

>>> A NEW NATURE PRESERVE IN MONROE COUNTY WILL TRANSFORM BLOOMINGTON'S EAST SIDE.

THE PROPERTY IS BORDERED BY SOUTH SMITH ROAD, EAST MOORES PIKE AND STATE ROAD 446.

THEY APPROVED THE DONATION FROM THE HUNTINGTON FAMILY THIS WEEK.

THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE LAND WILL BE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE PLANTING TREES.

HUNDREDS OF TREES, THOUSANDS OF TREES.

WE'RE WORKING WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY TO CALCULATE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO ALL OF THIS.

>> THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING AN EXTENSIVE PATH SYSTEM, CREATING A LIMITED NATURE MARK WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

GUIDED TOURS ARE AVAILABLE, WITH FULL OPEN TRAILS EXPECTED FOR 2027.

>>> WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN A FEW DAYS, TEACHERS AND STAFF AT BLOOMINGTON'S TWO HIGH SCHOOLS WILL BE WEARING PANIC BUTTONS.

THE BADGES ARE THE SIZE OF A DEBIT CARD, TWICE AS THICK WITH A SINGLE BUTTON THAT CAN BE WORN ON A LANYARD.

IT CAN DO A STAFF ALERT OR LOCKDOWN.

>> TO PRIORITIZE YOUR STAFF, AND HELP THOSE STAFF MEMBERS FEEL EMPOWERED, TRUSTED, CONFIDENT AND FOCUSED ON THE JOB THAT THEY NEED TO DO IS HUGE.

>> YOUNG SAYS ABOUT A QUARTER OF INDIANA SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY USING THE SYSTEM.

>>> BUYERS IN THE MONROE COUNTY HOUSING MARK, AS THE INVENTORY INCREASES.

A GROWING NUMBERS OF LISTINGS ENCOURAGED SELLERS TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE.

>> THERE ARE SOME HOMES THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOUNT ON.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY ARE ON MARKET A LITTLE LONGER, SELLERS TEND TO GET A LITTLE MORE REACTIVE AND TRY TO WORK WITH OFFERS.

FROM JANUARY TO JUNE, ONLY 66% OF HOMES LISTED IN MONROE COUNTY SOLD.

THAT'S AN ALMOST 20% DECREASE FROM THE SAME PERIOD IN 2022.

>>> AND THE NUMBER OF INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO GO STRAIGHT TO COLLEGE HAS REACHED A RECORD LOW.

JUST 52% OF INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WENT STRAIGHT TO COLLEGE IN 2023, A SLIGHT DIP FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

WORKERS WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES EARN FAR MORE ON AVERAGE THAN THOSE WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, AND PERRY, IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE STATE.

THE NUMBER OF INDIANA RESIDENTS WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES IS ALREADY AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THANK YOU, ELYSE.

>>> LEGENDARY SPORTS EDITOR BOB HAMMEL PASSED AWAY LAST SATURDAY NIGHT AT 88 YEARS OLD.

HIS CAREER SPANNED 30 YEARS AT THE BLOOMINGTON HERALD-TIMES WHERE HE COVERED I.U.

SPORTS AND AUTHORED THE FIRST OF MORE THAN A DOZEN BOOKS BUT AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, THE RELATIONSHIPS HE MADE AND HOW HE TOLD THEIR STORIES MADE HIM UNIQUE IN THE WORLD OF JOURNALISM.

MOST OF THE MATERIAL FOR THIS STORY COMES FROM OUR 2019 WTIU DOCUMENTARY ON BOB, WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THE THING ABOUT BOB HAMMEL IS THAT IN THE REAMS AND REAMS OF COPY HE WROTE FOR THE HERALD-TIMES, HE NEVER MADE THE STORY ABOUT HIM AND HE NEVER TOOK POT SHOTS AT COACHES OR PLAYERS WHO HE ALWAYS SAW AS KIDS.

>> SECOND GUESSING WAS NEVER A THING I LIKED TO DO, BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S SUCH AN UNFAIR PERSPECTIVE.

YOU SAY THAT WHAT THE COACH DID DIDN'T WORK.

WELL, BY INFERENCE YOU ARE SAYING THAT IF HE HAD DONE THIS WAY, IT WOULD HAVE WORKED.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT WOULDN'T HAVE FAILED TO.

>> HE WAS SELECTED AS THE STATE'S SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR AT LEAST 16 TIMES AND INDUCTED INTO NUMEROUS HALLS OF FAME, INCLUDING THE INDIANA JOURNAL HALL OF FAME AND THE INDIANA BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME.

>> HE WAS REALLY DRIVEN TO BE ACCURATE.

HE WAS DRIVEN TO BE FAIR, BUT I ALSO WILL SAY AND I THINK ANYBODY THAT EVER READ HIS STUFF, HE WAS DRIVEN TO BE POSITIVE.

>> HAMMEL WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS WITH MANY NATIONAL FIGURES AFTER ARRIVING IN BLOOMINGTON, INCLUDING MARK SPITZ AND SCREENWRITER ANGELO PIZZO AND BOB KNIGHT.

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH KNIGHT BEGAN WHEN HE WAS HIRED BY I.U.

TO COACH IN 1971 AND LASTED A LIFETIME.

HAMMEL WROTE'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

"KNIGHT MY STORY "HERE IS A GUY WHO IS VERY INTELLIGENT.

HE NOT ONLY LIKES BASKETBALL BUT HE UNDERSTANDS BASKETBALL.

AND I THINK THAT IT WASN'T TOO LONG AFTER I CAME TO INDIANA, THAT HE BECAME A FRIEND AND A VERY GOOD FRIEND.

>> HAMMEL ALSO OPENED THE DOOR FOR FEMALE SPORTS WRITERS IN THE EARLY 1970s HIRING TRACY DODDS AND KRISTEN HUCKSHORN AND FOUNDED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE WOMEN IN SPORTS MEDIA.

>> 40 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE ALMOST NO FEMALE SPORTS WRITERS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND BOB HAMMEL FIRST HIRED TRACY DODDS, WHO PRECEDED ME BY ABOUT TWO YEARS AND THEN HIRED ME.

THAT WASN'T DONE BACK THEN.

>> HIS WILLINGNESS TO MENTOR YOUNG TALENT HELPED LAUNCH THE CAREER OF A "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLING AUTHOR WHO VENTURED INTO HERALD-TIMES MEETING OFFICE WHILE STILL A STUDENT AT THE BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH.

>> A FEW THINGS STOOD OUT THERE.

ONE BEING HOW REMARKABLY GENEROUS BOB WAS.

I MEAN, HE HAD NO REASON TO GIVE ME HIS TIME.

I ALSO REALIZED VERY QUICKLY HOW SERIOUS HE WAS ABOUT THE CRAFT OF WRITING.

I NEVER HEARD ANYONE TALK ABOUT CRAFT WITH THAT LEVEL OF EXACTING FOCUS.

>> THE MAIN FOCUS OF HAMMEL'S COVERAGE WAS INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL WHICH INCLUDED TRAVELING TO COVER HOOSIER ATHLETES IN FIVE OLYMPICS.

HAMMEL WAS INDUCTED INTO THE I.U.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME IN 2008, BUT AN EPISODE, THE I.U.

FOOTBALL BOYCOTT BY TEN MEMBERS IN 1969 LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON HIM.

>> MY REGRET DURING THE DAY IS THAT I DIDN'T DO MORE IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY TO TRY TO STEP IN AND -- I WAS ONE WHO COULD TALK TO THEM AND I COULD TALK TO THE FOOTBALL SIDE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE.

BUT I DIDN'T DO THAT.

>> HAMMEL MOVED TO BLOOMINGTON FOR A JOB AT THE THEN HERALD TELEPHONE AFTER BRIEF STINTS IN HUNTINGTON, KOKOMO.

HIS LEGACY WILL BE A SMART, FUNNY, THOUGHTFUL MAN WHO REVELED IN CELEBRATING SPORTS' SUCCESS, RATHER THAN PILING ON.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH CHANCE TO ATHLETICS THAT I NEVER WAS BRASH ENOUGH TO THINK THAT I KNEW THE ANSWERS.

I JUST TRIED TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> UNUSUAL MAN, BOB HAMMEL.

CENTER AND SOUTHERN INDIANA CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE PERSISTENT HEAT AND HUMIDITY WITH LITTLE RELIEF IN SIGHT.

SINCE JUNE 1, INDIANA HAS LOGGED MORE THAN 1,000 HOURS OF DEW POINTS ABOVE 60 DEGREES, THE LONGEST STRETCH SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1931.

DEW POINTS ABOVE 60 OFTEN INDICATE NOTICEABLE HUMIDITY WITH VALUES ABOVE 70 BEING OPPRESSIVE.

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO HOVER AROUND 90 DEGREES THROUGH NEXT WEEK.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT IPB.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

THANKS.

>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE