>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE CITY IS FORCING PENDRAGON PROPERTIES TO SELL ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES BUT WITH THE HIGH-COST OF HOUSING MANY BLOOMINGTON, TENANTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM.

>> IT'S NOT GREAT NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I LIVED HERE FOR TEN YEARS.

SO IT FEELS LIKE HOME.

>> THE SALE WAS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND PENDRAGON PROPERTIES.

>> IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE AN HIV OUTBREAK PUT SCOTT COUNTY ON THE MAP.

A NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM HELPED STEM THE OUTBREAK, BUT IT'S NO LONGER BEING FUNDED.

>> ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED THAT IS NOT A SYRINGE, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE OUT SYRINGES IN SCOTT COUNTY ANYMORE.

>> LOCAL GROUPS HAVE STEPPED UP TO FILL THE VOID LEFT BY THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

>>> AND THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA AT I.U.

'S MEDIA SCHOOL IS SUING THE UNIVERSITY OVER HIS FIRING.

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

>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

FORMER DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA JIM RODENBUSH IS SUING INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION.

AS ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS, HIS ATTORNEY ARGUES THEY FIRED HIM TWO WEEKS AGO FOR NOT PULLING STORIES HE DIDN'T LIKE.

>> THE MEDIA SCHOOL FIRED RODENBUSH.

AFTER THAT AFTERNOON, I.U.

ANNOUNCED IT WOULD STOP PRINTING THE PAPER ENTIRELY.

RODENBUSH SAYS IN HIS COMPLAINT THAT THE UNIVERSITY VIOLATED HIS FIRST AMENDMENT SPEECH RIGHTS AND 14th AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS RIGHTS BY FIRING HIM WITHOUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

ATTORNEY JON LITTLE IS SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR HIS CLIENT AS WELL AS INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, ASKING THAT THE UNIVERSITY REHIRE RODENBUSH AND CLEAR HIS DISCIPLINARY RECORD BUT HE DOESN'T THINK THAT HAPPEN.

>> MAYBE THEY LOSE AND THEY PAY JIM MONEY.

THAT COULD HAPPEN, MAYBE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I.U.

IS NOT GIVING HIM HIS JOB BACK.

>> I.U.

SAYS IT WON'T COMMENT ON PERSONNEL MATTERS BUT HIS TERMINATION LETTER REFERS TO A LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND ABILITY TO WORK IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S DIRECTION FOR THE STUDENT MEDIA PLAN.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ETHAN FOR MORE ON THIS STORY.

SO LAST EVENING, I.U.

BLOOMINGTON CHANCELLOR DAVID REINGOLD TOLD THE I.D.S.

THEY COULD RESUME ACTIVITIES.

YOU SPOKE WITH THE I.D.S.

EDITORS EARLIER TODAY WHAT DID THEY SAY.

>> THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING THIS TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS.

THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY PRETTY EXCITED.

THEY WERE GLAD THEY COULD PRINT AGAIN BUT THEY WERE ALSO CAUTIOUS.

THEY SAID THE MEDIA SCHOOL AND THEIR SUPPORTERS NEED TO HOLD THE UNIVERSITY TO ACCOUNT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS KIND OF THING DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> AND YOU ALSO SPOKE WOULD A LAWYER FROM THE STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER THIS MORNING ABOUT THIS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE KIND OF ECHOED WHAT THE STUDENTS SAID.

I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS FOR A WHILE.

HE WANTS TO SEE STUDENTS BE MORE INVOLVED AND HAVE MORE OF THOSE ASSURANCES AND HOW FINANCES ARE HANDLED.

HERE'S WHAT HE SAID.

>> WE NEED SOME SORT OF AN OVERSIGHT OF A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING OUR STUDENTS, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CALLS IN GOVERNANCE OURSELVES.

BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE OF A SAY IN THOSE FINANCES.

>> AND A LOT OF MEDIA SCHOOL FACULTY SENT LETTERS, AN OPEN LETTER TO STUDENTS.

WHAT DID THAT SAY?

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE WERE MORE THAN 40 FACULTY WHO SIGNED THIS LETTER.

THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY IN THE MEDIA SCHOOL BUT IT'S A LOT OF FACULTY.

THEY SAID THEY FELT BETRAYED AND THEY DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THIS DECISION TO CUT PRINT AHEAD OF TIME AND THEY CALLED OUT THE MEDIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND SAID THEY WANT THEM TO DO BETTER, ESSENTIALLY.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE CONTROVERSIES AROUND THE MEDIA SCHOOL IS HITTING THEM IN THE WALLET TOO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

"INDIANAPOLIS STAR" CAME OUT WITH A STORY RECENTLY THAT SHOWED SOME ALUMNI WERE CANCELING THEIR PLANNED GIFTS.

MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN PLANNED GIFTS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

ANECDOTALLY, I SPOKE TO SOME FOLKS WHO SAY IT'S A SMALLER A.M.

AND THEY MAY WITHDRAW THEIR -- SMALLER AMOUNT AND SAY THEY MAY WITHDRAW THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> IT'S NOT THEIR JOB TO CONTROL THE HOUSING MARKET IN BLOOMINGTON, BUT THE CITY DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STEP IN WHEN RENTALS BECOME UNSAFE WHICH IT DID THIS PAST SUMMER.

PUBLICLY ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS.

AS BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS, THE CITY SETTLED LEGAL DISPUTES WITH ONE OF THESE LANDLORDS AND NOW RESIDENTS ARE GRAPPLING WITH HOW IT WILL AFFECT THEIR HOUSING.

>> SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AS MANY AS TEN MEN WERE LIVING IN THE HOUSE AT THE END OF CHRIS LANE IN BLOOMINGTON THAT WAS SERVING AS A HALFWAY HOUSE.

BUT IT SITS VACANT NOW BECAUSE OF RENTAL CODE VIOLATIONS AS ARE SOME OTHER HOMES OWNED BY PENDRAGON PROPERTY ON THE CUL-DE-SAC.

JEREMY NOTTINGHAM LIVES SEVERAL DOORS DOWN IN A HOUSE OWNED BY PENDRAGON WHERE HE'S RENTED FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

THE HOUSE HAS CITY CODE VIOLATIONS, THOUGH HE AND HIS PARTNER ARE ALLOWED TO STAY.

>> UP WITH THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THIS SUMMER THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS GONE OUT.

AND IT'S STILL OUT.

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS ON THAT.

>> HIS PARTNER, DENISE TRAVERS MOVED IN A VIEW YEARS AGO.

THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON HAS VISITED THEIR HOUSE MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR FOR CODE INSPECTIONS.

>> THE FIRE ALARMS.

IT TOOK SEVERAL VISITS FOR THEM TO GET THEM, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT CURRENT AND THEN IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER.

>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON SETTLED A LEGAL DISPUTE WITH NOTTINGHAM AND TRAVERS LANDOWNER PENDRAGON THIS FALL.

PENDRAGON'S OWNER JEFF JONES AGREED TO SELL HIS BLOOMINGTON PROPERTIES IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

PENDRAGON IS REQUIRED TO SELL A HANDFUL OF PROPERTIES FASTER, WITHIN ONE OR TWO YEARS.

THOSE PROPERTIES, INCLUDING WHERE TRAVERS AND NOTTINGHAM LIVE HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS.

>> THE CITY INSPECTORS CAME AND SAID WE NEED TO REPLACE A BUNCH OF SHINGLES.

>> TRAVERS AND NOTTINGHAM HAVE CONSIDERED BUYING A HOME TO ESCAPE THESE ISSUES BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

WITH A TWO INCOME HOUSEHOLD, ONE ON DISABILITY, THEY ARE IN AN AREA THAT LACKS OPTIONS.

THERE ARE AFFORDABILITY GAPS IN THE HOUSING MARKET.

>> THE DEMAND FOR OUR HOUSING HAS OUTPACED OUR GROWTH OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND THE CITY HIRED A HOUSING CONSULTANT TO EVALUATE ITS HOUSING NEEDS TO HELP WITH DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN.

>> THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE IS GOING DOWN, STEADILY EVERY YEAR.

WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED MORE TOTAL UNITS TO HOUSE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

>> HANDS DIRECTOR SAYS THE HOUSING MARKET IS TOO COMPLICATED TO SPEAK TO ANY ONE LANDLORD'S IMPACT AND IT'S NOT HER DEPARTMENT'S JOB TO CONTROL THESE FACTORS.

BUT LAND DOES ENFORCE BUILDING CODE VIOLATIONS KNOWN AS TITLE 16.

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE RENTAL PROGRAM DOES IS PREVENTS A CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY WITHIN BLOOMINGTON.

WE ARE TRYING TO ENFORCE TITLE 16 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE TENANTS TAR LIVING IN THESE PROPERTIES.

HOW THAT IMPACTS THE MARKET, I CAN'T MAKE THAT DIRECT CORRELATION.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S SETTLEMENT WITH PENDRAGON SAYS IT MUST SELL ITS PROPERTIES TO A DISINTERESTED THIRD PARTY BUT IT CAN'T CONTROL WHO THAT IS.

MOST OF ITS PROPERTIES ARE IN PERRY TOWNSHIP.

ITS TRUSTEE PREDICTS WHOEVER BUYS THEM WILL INVEST INTO THE PROPERTIES AND INCREASE RENTS.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THINGS ARE PRICED ON WHAT SOMETHING IS WORTH TO BUILD.

IT'S WORTH WHO THE MARKET WILL BEAR.

AND WE HAVE SUCH AN ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED RENT VALUE.

>> HIS OFFICE PROVIDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ACTS AS A LANDLORD FOR 12 SENIOR HOUSING APARTMENTS.

HE SAYS MEDIUM-SIZED LANDLORDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO LET THEIR PRODUCT DETERIORATE THAN SMALLER OR LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONS.

>> THEY ARE TRYING TO PULL A PROFIT OUT, MAYBE BEFORE IT'S TIME TO PULL A PROFIT OUT, BUT THEY HAVE INVESTED EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO KEEP A GOOD LIFESTYLE GOING ON.

SO THEY WILL START CUTTING CORNERS.

>> ACCORDING TO A G.I.S.

SEARCH, PENDRAGON OWNS MORE THAN 40 PROPERTIES IN BLOOMINGTON, INCLUDING A COUPLE OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

TOTALING MORE THAN $17 MILLION IN PROPERTY VALUE.

COMBS SAYS WITH WELL OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE IN PERRY ALONE, PENDRAGON IS A SMALL PORTION OF THE BLOOMINGTON MARKET.

BUT STEVEN FINNERTY WHO BOUGHT HIS HOME ON EAST CHRIS LANE 15 YEARS AGO SAYS PENDRAGON'S MANAGEMENT AND UPKEEP HAVE A REAL IMPACT OF HIM.

OF 21 HOMES ON HIS STREET, EIGHT ARE OWNED BY PENDRAGON.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE COULD DRIVE DOWN A STREET AND NOT NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE HALF THE HOUSES THAT ARE REALLY WELL MAINTAINED AND THE OTHER HALF AREN'T.

I'M LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS PROBABLY -- IF I WANTED TO PUT MY HOUSE FOR SALE UP RIGHT NOW, HOW BAD IS THAT GONNA HURT THE VALUE OF MY HOME.

>> FINNERTY LIVES ACROSS THE ROAD FROM TRAVERS AND NOTTINGHAM WHO FEARS WHOEVER BUYS IT WILL PICK IT UP TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN'T AFFORD.

>> WILL THEY RAISE THE RENT BY $500?

ARE THEY GOING TO BE BETTER AT MAINTENANCE THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW?

OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE SORT OF TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER -- TO ANOTHER HANDS OFF TYPE OF OWNER?

I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY.

IT'S -- IT'S NOT GREAT NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I LIVED HERE FOR TEN YEARS.

SO IT FEELS LIKE HOME.

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

>> WE REACHED OUT TO PENDRAGON PROPERTIES MULTIPLE TIMES FOR A COMMENT ON THIS STORY BUT DID NOT COME BACK.

THE COMPANY FACES RENTAL CODE VIOLATIONS FOR PROPERTIES IT OWNS IN BEDFORD.

>>> WIND CHILL, WE ARE JOINED BY ELYSE PERRY FOR HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE.

>> AROUND 600,000 HOOSIERS WILL NOT RECEIVE THEIR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE BENEFITS IF THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS SHUT DOWN AND THAT WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE FOOD BANK.

THE HOOSIER HILLS FOOD BANK SAYS MONROE AND FIVE SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE REPORTED I 19% INCREASE OVER THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

>> BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND GOVERNMENT FOOD STREAMS ARE ALSO SOMEWHAT IN FLUX BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN, WE REALLY HAVE TO RELY ON PRIVATE SUPPORT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> ALONZO SAYS HOOSIER HILLS PLANS TO BUY ALMOST A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS OF FOOD FOR NOVEMBER TO HELP PROVIDE THANKSGIVING FOOD AND ASSIST OTHERS IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWN.

>>> THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS TODAY IN A DISPUTE OVER A 2019 STATE LAW THAT RETROACTIVELY INVALIDATED BLOOMINGTON ANNEXATION WAIVERS.

THOSE WAIVERS GAVE PROPERTY OWNERS ACCESS TO CITY SEWER LINES IF THEY PROMISED NOT TO FIGHT FUTURE ANNEXATION.

THEY SAY IT VIOLATES THE STATE'S CONTRACT CLAUSE.

THE CITIES ARE PART OF THE STATE AND CANNOT CITE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS.

>>> INDIANA GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN HAS CALLED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO REDRAW THE STATE'S U.S.

HOUSE DISTRICTS BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

BRAUN SET MONDAY AS START DATE FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION BUT REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAID THAT WAS NOT LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE.

BY LAW, THEY HAVE TO CONVENE THE SPECIAL SESSION WITHIN 40 DAYS STARTING MONDAY.

THE SENATE LEADERS HAVE SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A VOTE TO PASS A NEW MAP BUT BY CALLING THE SESSION, BRAUN IS TURNING UP THE PRESSURE.

>> THE REAL PRESSURE POINT RIGHT HERE MIGHT BE A RELUCTANCE TO ACTUALLY HAVE INITIATED THIS, BUT THEN ONCE THE POLITICAL PRESSURE COMES ON AND A POTENTIAL PRIMARY CHALLENGE, PEOPLE MIGHT FALL INTO LINE AND SUPPORT THIS CHANGED MAP.

>> REPUBLICANS ALREADY HOLD SEVEN OF THE STATE'S NINE HOUSE SEATS AND ARE LOOKING TO PICK UP AT LEAST ONE MORE SEAT.

DEMOCRATS CURRENTLY HOLD DISTRICT ONE IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND DISTRICT SEVEN WHICH ENCOMPASSES INDIANAPOLIS.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL IS SHUTTING DOWN EFFORTS TO BUILD A NEW JAIL NORTHWEST OF BLOOMINGTON.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO NOT APPROVE $8 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR A NEW JAIL AND JUSTICE COMPLEX AT NORTH PARK.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT JENNIFER CROSSLY CALLED THE FUNDING REQUEST TONE DEAF.

>> AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH 8 AND A HALF WEEKS OF BUDGET TELLING PEOPLE TO CUT THIS, CUT THAT.

CUT THIS.

>> THE PROPERTY NEAR STATE ROAD 46 AND HUNTER VALLEY ROAD WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR AS THE SITE FOR A 400-BED JAIL.

A NEW JAIL IS STILL A NECESSITY.

THE COUNTY AGREED TO BUILD THE JAIL AFTER A SETTLEMENT WITH THE ACLU.

>> WE CANNOT LEAVE OUR PEOPLE IN THE CURRENT BUILDING ANY LONGER.

AND SO THIS HAS TO MOVE QUICKLY.

>> DURING HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, MANY CITIZENS QUESTIONED THE JAIL PLAN AND ASKED OFFICIALS TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS.

>> THE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD TABLED A VOTE ON A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH TEACHERS UNTIL NEXT MONTH.

TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITHOUT A NEW CONTRACT SINCE THE SUMMER.

THE NEW AGREEMENT DOES NOT RAISE THE BASE SALARY BUT DOES INCLUDE $1,000 STIPENDS FOR PERFORMANCE.

IF RATIFIED.

THE AGREEMENT WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

>> BERNIE SANDERS WAS IN TERRE HAUTE LAST WEEKEND TO ACCEPT AN AWARD NAMED AFTER LABOR LEADER EUGENE V. DEBS.

THE U.S.

SENATOR FROM VERMONT SAID HE OWED HIS CAREER TO DEBS WHOSE 1894 RAILROAD STRIKE LED TO WORKER PROTECTIONS AND A NEW HOLIDAY, LABOR DAY.

>> WHAT DEBS TALKED ABOUT 100 PLUS YEARS AGO WAS NOT ONLY RIGHT AND PERSISTIVE THEN.

IT IS RIGHT AND PERCEPTIVE TODAY.

>> SANDERS WAS INTRODUCED BY NEW YORK CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ.

SHE SAID SHE OWES HER CAREER TO SANDERS.

>> AND PURDUE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS HAVE POSTPONED NEXT WEEK'S EXPEDITION INTO THE SOUTH PACIFIC TO FIND WHAT THEY HOPE ARE THE REMAINS THE AMELIA EARHART'S PLANE THE DELAY IS DUE TO CONCERNS OVER THE RESEARCH PERMIT AND CYCLONE.

EARHART DISAPPEARED IN 1937.

BACK TO YOU, JOE.

>>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS ELYSE.

IT'S BEEN A MYSTERY FOR A LONG TIME.

COMING UP NEXT ON.

>> LOCAL GROUPS HAVE STEPPED IN TO FILL THE VOID AFTER SCOTT COUNTY CANCELED THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

AND A FILM PARTIALLY THOUGHT AT THE BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PREPARED THIS WEEK IN COLUMBUS.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

TEN YEARS AGO, SCOTT COUNTY MADE HEADLINES FOR ITS HISTORIC HIV OUTBREAK.

THE OUTBREAK WAS LARGELY BROUGHT ON BY INJECTION DRUG USE AND IT WAS STOPPED, THANKS TO INDIANA'S FIRST SYRINGE EXCHANGE.

BUT AS AUBREY WRIGHT REPORTS NOW THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED, LOCALS ARE STILL DOING THE WORK.

>> KELLY HAWN HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

>> AND SO THESE ARE HARM REDUCTION KITS.

>> SHE EXPLAINS THESE KITS HELP DRUG USERS STAY SAFE AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE.

>> AND THEN SOME STERILE WATER.

>> IT'S PART OF THE HOLDING SPACE RECOVERY PROJECT JUDGMENT-FREE ADDICTION SUPPORT, BEYOND THE KITS, HOLDING SPACE HELPS LOCAL RESIDENTS GET ANYTHING THEY NEED, INCLUDING CLOTHING, FOOD, BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND INSURANCE.

>> ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED THAT IS NOT A SYRINGE.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE OUT SYRINGES IN SCOTT COUNTY ANYMORE.

>> SCOTT COUNTY WAS HOME TO INDIANA'S FIRST SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

THAT EXCHANGE WAS HOUSED UNDER THE SAME ROOF AS HOLDING SPACE, AND THE SMALL RURAL TOWN OF AUSTIN.

>> THEY ONLY HAD TO USE ONE SYRINGE ONE TIME AND THEY COULD DISPOSE OF IT BECAUSE THEY COULD COME BACK AND GET MORE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY.

>> EXPERTS CREDIT THIS SYRINGE EXCHANGE WITH TAMING AN HISTORIC HIV OUTBREAK IN 2015.

IN ALL, MORE THAN 230 PEOPLE WOULD BE INFECTED.

THE MAJORITY WERE FROM AUSTIN, AND LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY.

>> IT WAS JUST WAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION FOR A COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AUSTIN, WHOSE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.

>> THE OUTBREAK CAN BE TRACED TO OPANA, A POWERFUL OPIOID INJECTED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.

IT LEFT THEM VULNERABLE TO HIV.

DR.

WILLIAM COOK SAW THE WARNING SIGNS AS IT TORE THROUGH AUSTIN AND INTO HIS PRACTICE AND AT THE SAME TIME, INDIANA BANNED GIVING OUT STERILE NEEDLES.

>> PEOPLE CAN ONLY MAKE CHOICES FROM OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

IF THEY HAVE A STERILE SYRINGE, THEY WILL NOT TRANSMIT THAT VIRUS TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> AS HIV CASES SPIKED, THE PUBLIC PRESSURE MOUNTED ON INDIANA GOVERNOR MIKE PENCE.

THEY OPPONENTS BELIEVED THEY ENABLED DRUG USE.

FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE OUTBREAK'S FIRST HIV DIAGNOSIS, PENCE FINALLY ALLOWED THE FIRST STERILE SYRINGE PROGRAM.

>> I DO NOT SUPPORT NEEDLE CHANGES ANTIDRUG POLICY.

BUT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

>> THE EFFECT WAS CLEAR AND IMMEDIATE.

>> I WAS SEEING THESE HORRIFIC SITUATIONS AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WERE LOSING LIMBS OR DYING, LOSING THEIR HEART VALVE, AND THAT ALL STOPPED, ONCE THE SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAM HAPPENED.

>> THE SYRINGE EXCHANGE WAS ALSO A LINK TO AUSTIN'S MOST ISOLATED RESIDENTS.

>> SOME OF THEM PROBABLY WISHED, OH, I WISH I COULD JUST COME IN AND DROP THEM OFF AND GET SOME AND GO BUT THESE TWO GIRLS ARE GOING TO TALK MY EAR OFF.

>> DRUG USERS WERE CONNECTED WITH MEDICAL CARE AND ROUTINE TESTING.

THEY WERE FED AND HAWN SAYS THEY KNEW SOMEONE CARED.

>> SOMETIMES LITTLE WINS TO US WOULD BE HUGE WINS TO THEM.

USING THE INFLUX OF RESOURCES, COOK SAYS LOCAL ADVOCATES ADDRESSED THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE OUTBREAK.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE THAT DON'T HAVE A STABLE HOUSE, THAT DON'T HAVE A STABLE MEAL, THAT DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.

>> SCOTT COUNTY SYRINGE EXCHANGE LASTED FOR SIX MORE YEARS AS NEW HIV CASES STEADILY DROPPED.

BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO RENEW THE EXCHANGE, THE SCOTT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DECLINED.

COMMISSIONER RANDY NULIEN SAID IN 2021, THE FEAR FOR OVERDOSES OUTWEIGHS HIS CONCERNS FOR HIV.

>> WHAT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE PEOPLE WE CAN'T BRING BACK TO LIFE.

>> THEY REPORTED A HANDFUL OF NEW HIV CASES THROW FAR BELOW NUMBERS IN 2015.

THE STIGMA AROUND HIV AND ADDICTION PERSISTS.

SO DO PROBLEMS LIKE ISOLATION AND POVERTY, PLUS TESTING AND TRACKING HIV IS EVEN HARDER WITHOUT THE SYRINGE EXCHANGES.

>> DO WE HAVE MORE CASES OF HIV BUT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING TESTED.

>> EVEN WITHOUT THE EXCHANGES, THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY-CENTERED CARE STAND STRONG.

ADVOCATES LIKE KING ARE STILL AT WORK, TEN YEARS LATER.

>> WE ARE SAVING LIVES.

WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT.

WE ARE UNDERSTANDING IF THEY HAVE A SETBACK BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF RECOVERY.

AND YOU JUST GO RIGHT BACK IN.

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

>>> INDIANA'S SYRINGE EXCHANGE LAW EXPIRES NEXT YEAR.

IF IT'S NOT EXTENDED ALL SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE SHUT DOWN BY 2:07.

-- 2027.

>> ABOUT A YEAR AGO PARTS OF BARTHOLOMEW PUBLIC LIBRARY IN COLUMBUS WERE TRANSFORMED INTO THE FRAMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART FOR THE FILM "THE MASTER MIND."

ISABELLA VESPIRINI HAS MORE ON HOW THE MOVIE CAME TO BE.

>> SET IN 1970, THIS FOCUSES ON JAMES BLAIN MOONEY AS HE ATTEMPTED STEAL PAINTINGS FROM THE ART MUSEUM.

>> I RECEIVED A CALL, IT WAS PROBABLY MID SUMMER LAST YEAR, FROM THE LOCATION DIRECTOR THAT SHE IS FROM CINCINNATI, AND SHE CALLED AND SAID, HEY, WE WANT TO FILM A MOVIE THERE.

>> MOST OF THE MOVIE WAS FILMED IN CINCINNATI, BUT THE DIRECTORS WERE LOOKING FOR A SPACE THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SET IN THE '70s.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS I NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF CALL I'M GOING TO GET.

AND SO IT'S STILL REALLY KIND OF SURREAL TO ME, TO KNOW THAT ON THE OTHER END OF THAT LINE WAS SOMEBODY WANTING TO DO A PRETTY BIG MOVIE.

>> LAST OCTOBER, HATTON CLOSED THE LIBRARY FOR THREE DAYS TO ALLOW THEM TO DO FILMING.

THEY BROUGHT IN OLDER CARS AND HAD FAKE SWINGING DOORS.

>> THEY DID PUT UP SOME WHITE FALSE WALLS TO BE ABLE TO HIDE SOME OF THE PIECES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE FRONT ENTRY WAY, TO HIDE THE BOOKCASES.

AND THEY ALSO, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY WERE GOING TO USE SOME GREEN SCREEN TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF MOVE SOME OF THE WALLS AROUND IF THEY NEEDED TO.

>> HATTON SAYS THE CREW HUNG UP A PIECE OF ART WORK IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND CREATED FLYERS SPECIFIC TO THE ART MUSEUM AND THE EXHIBITION THE MOVIE WAS FOCUSING ON.

>> THERE WAS A PIECE OF ART BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE IT FROM THE FRONT DOORS AND THEY FILMED SEVERAL PIECES OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THOSE FRONT DOORS.

>> THIS ISN'T IS THE FIRST TIME THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN FEATURED ON THE BIG SCREEN.

MANY SCENES FROM THE MOVIE "COLUMBUS" WERE SHOT AT THE LIBRARY WERE ARCHITECTURE ENTHUSIAST, K.C.

WORKED.

HATTON SAYS HE APPRECIATED ANY OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE IN AND WHAT BRINGS VISITORS IN AND WE LOVE TO SEE THAT.

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

>> THE FILM DEBUTED THIS WEEK AT THE YES CINEMA IN COLUMBUS.

>>> AND THE SECOND RANKED INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM HITS THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND, LOOKING TO GO 9-0 FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON.

THE HOOSIERS ALREADY THE HOMECOMING OPPONENT FOR MARYLAND.

THE TERRAPINS HAVE LOST THREE STRAIGHT GAMES AFTER OPENING 4-0.

BUT COACH CURT CIGNETTI SAYS NOT TO DISCOUNT THEM.

>> THEY FLY AROUND ON DEFENSE.

THEY CREATE TURNOVERS.

THEY SACK THE QUARTERBACK.

AND OFFENSIVELY, THEY ARE PROTECTING THE QUARTERBACK, PROTECTING THE BALL, MAKING EXPLOSIVE PLAYS.

>> SATURDAY'S GAME KICKS OFF AT 3:30 P.M.

AND WILL BE BROADCAST ON CBS.

>>> 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 AND SAFE HALLOWEEN WEEKEND.

"INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE