Coming up on Indiana NewsDesk.

Indiana legislators are votin on a new map of the state's U.S.

House of representative districts.

It splits Marion County into four mostly rural districts.

Do you want to get to know your constituents, regardless of whether they voted for you or not?

That's har when you stretch these districts as far as we're stretching it.

It easily passed in the House, but could face trouble in the Senate next week.

The Pride Center of Terre Haute is suing Indiana State University after the university cut funding for its four student employees.

I would say the first word that comes to mind is Dis affiliated.

Indiana State Universit has kind of separated themselves from spectrum and from the LGBTQ plus community.

The university says it's following guidance from the federal government.

Indiana football fan are gearing up for the Hoosiers first appearance in the Big Ten championship game.

We'll have these storie and more right now on Indiana.

NewsDesk.

Welcome to Indiana.

NewsDesk I'm Joe Wren.

The Indiana House voted 57 to 41 today on a new district map meant to give Republicans all nine of the state seats in the U.S.

House of Representatives.

It's part of a national push by President Trump urging Republican led state to redraw their maps before next year's elections in an effor to retain control in the U.S.. House Democrats decried the new map, which would see stronghold Indianapolis split into four heavily rural districts that they say is racial gerrymandering.

Indiana senators will begin debating the new map Monday.

It faces an uphill battle there, as Senate leaders have said they don't have the votes.

The bill that reopened the federal government last month has closed a legal loophole allowing the sale of intoxicating hemp products.

And as Edie Stewart reports, it's $1 billion industry in Indiana.

The new regulations would limit the THC in hemp products to point four milligrams per container, below even the trace amounts found in many CBD products.

Those are used medicinally and not meant to get people high.

Scott Andrews owns a hemp business in Bloomington.

He says the threat to his business could be significant, and even many of the non intoxicating products he sells will be illegal under the new regulation.

Even, CBD products at this point are all going to be outside of the, limitations that the new bill is, putting in place, because they're putting a really low ceiling about how much THC can be present.

Brian Nixon, a farmer who grows, processes and sell hemp extracts, is less worried.

None of his products are intoxicating, and while some contain trace levels of THC left over from processing, he thinks he'll be able to remediate products down to legal levels of THC.

He favors the new law and describes the production of intoxicating products from hemp as something he disliked.

It was something that we frowned upon.

We did not get into that that realm.

We did not, sell our biomass to, people that were going to do that.

It was just a a side of things that we didn' really believe in as a company.

Marguerite Boldt is Purdue's hemp extension specialist.

Her department works with farmers across the state who grow hemp for grain, fiber and to be processe into non intoxicating extracts.

She says that the limit of the four milligram figure appears arbitrary, and doesn't appear to be based on existing scientific research for him.

I don't know what that that comes from.

I don't know who came up with it.

If this was like Mitch McConnell came up with that value, if he consulted with somebody, it's unclear to me.

Bolt also said that a ban could hurt Hoosiers farming illegal crop, and has the possibility of pushing buyers into the black market.

I don't see how this is going to necessarily help prevent people from getting these products.

It's just going to hurt the legitimate businesse that are doing everything right.

One thing that Bolton, Abruzzi and Nixon all agree on is that mor regulation is needed for hemp.

Nixon said he wants common sense guidelines for the industry.

We want to make qualit products, high quality products that are safe to use and have health benefits, and to do that, there's nothing wrong with having some parameters, some some guidelines and some rules regulations, some standards that you have to hit.

And right now there are none of those things.

Naruse said that despite his fears for his business, he understands why the ne regulations are taking effect.

I have mixed feelings because at the same time, the loophole was not exactly legal like.

I mean, it was an interpretation that was taken advantage of, and it's almost like we got it back.

For Indiana NewsDesk I'm Edie Stewart.

The new THC regulations go into effect next November.

Experts say consumers should expect to spend more this year on toys and holiday decor because of tariffs.

Our Isabella Perrin visited a local toy store to see how they are faring.

With the increased costs.

When Cap heard that tariff would be implemented on products from all over the world, she started panic buying toys for her store.

Mercy Doats toy store right before the tariffs got implemented, everybody was scrambling to get as much inventory as we could afford and hold on to befor all the prices started changing.

About 80% of the toys she sells are manufactured in China, which faced tariff rates as high as 145% earlier this year.

Even though manufacturer have absorbed some of the costs, consumers will still be paying 10 to 20% more for most toys.

The prices have only been, you know, noticeable to the average consumer like now, which we were all kin of trying to warn people like, if you know, this Christmas is going to be a different, you know, buying experience and if you wanted, if you're very like budgets, budget, conscientious, then lik you should have started buying before the summer, which nobody does that.

But price said her profit will be lower than previous years when considering which products to sell at a lower price.

She thinks about how much she would spend on it.

No matter what your budget is.

You can find something that your kid's going to have fun with.

Yeah.

They're still going to be the 10 plus dollar wound toys, right?

But there's also going to be plenty of sub20 dollar toys that will be fun to open.

Well, she can't change the price of name brand products such as fat brain toys and trashy bows.

She's willing to lower the price on smaller impulse buys.

The silly little things tha kids spend their allowance on.

That's that's where you ge a little bit more wiggle room.

The quality toys and whatnot.

They typically are the ones that have those.

You have to sell it at X price because this is our brand and this is good quality.

Whereas, you know, a squishy, you can, you know, you can adjust that to make sure the kids can still spend their pocket change.

For Indiana NewsDesk I'm Isabella Perrine.

Despite higher prices the National Retail Federation predicts sales this holiday season will increase nearly 4% over last year.

Well we're joined now by Shelby Brown for more headlines from around the state.

Hi, Shelby.

Hi, Joe.

The county will begin clearing out unhoused encampments on the old Thompson property of South of Sout Rogers Street beginning Monday.

Clearing notice papers were placed on poles and individually handed out this week at the state.

The county says notices were put up due to storage of personal property, trash and overnight camping.

But the executive director o beacon, an organization serving the unhoused, says this doesn't address the core problems.

We just moved one more camp and one more person human being, out of the place that they find warmth and find a place to sleep and a place to survive.

The county says personal property found at the location will either be taken to the Monroe County Highway garage, or disposed of immediatel if deemed as trash or harmful.

Bloomington's Board of Public Works has awarded a nearly half million dollar contract to E and paving to fix tripping hazards in the brick sidewalks of Kirkwood Avenue.

The project will involve replacing the base under the brick to ensure lon term stability of the sidewalk.

The city says the biggest problem is tree roots getting under the bricks and dislodging them in a lot of places, and the repairs were going to have to g all the way down to the subgrade and addres the tree roots problem and and build back up from there.

The work is scheduled to begin in May.

After I use graduation and be completed by July.

Employees of the Starbucks on Kirkwood on Indiana Avenue are participating in a nationwide strike over pay and working conditions.

Last Friday, baristas at the store joined the strike, which began November 13th.

The Starbucks workers union hopes to negotiate a contract with the company for better working conditions and job security.

I get paid $16 around $16 per hour, and I usually work around 30 hours per week.

I still don't make enough.

Living in Bloomington is very expensive.

I can't afford to pay rent and food and or get my medication.

Baristas have been standing outside the store with signs, chanting and encouraging people not to buy coffee.

Indiana Universit and Eli Lilly have signed a five year, $40 million partnership to expand clinical trials.

The agreement will combine I use research with Lill Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing expertise and remove barriers to clinical trials.

Researchers will focus on Alzheimer disease, diabetes, cancer and cell and gene therapy.

By harnessing the power of AI and IU statewide reach, we can identify candidates for clinical trials far more quickl and ultimately deliver promising treatments to patients faster.

Witness says this agreemen is also a way to prepare talent for drug development and clinical research.

Workers are preparing the Columbus River Ban and revitalization and repair.

Joe Wren has more on the project.

That has been years in the making.

The East Fork of the white River runs alongside the western edge of downtown.

Workers are removing trees for erosion control.

We've spent many, many years talking about how difficult it was to get permitting.

I applaud the governor's office for helping us kind of get through that a second time.

As we made some modifications to the riverfront to make it cheaper and quicker.

The $12 million project focuses on safety.

Work includes removing a low head dam, stabilizing the bank, and connecting the riverfront trail.

For Dan says, some river amenities were dropped because of cost.

We're going to be able to add back some amenities that are going to make it beautiful and fun, and I, I think people will be pleased a year from now, but it's been a long it's been a long haul.

She says the trees will be replaced with a non invasive species to support the riverfront for Indiana.

NewsDesk I'm Joe Wren.

If you've been anywhere nea the Musical Arts Center on the IU Bloomington campus this fall you might have noticed a giant tent surrounded by scaffoldin covering the big red sculpture.

This 40ft, the 40ft abstract sculpture called peruse, is made entirely of steel.

It came to IU in 1971.

It kind of was coming in partnership with the construction of the Max, the Musical Arts Center.

So that, construction was completed in 1972, and it was Alexander Calder's last site specific commission of his life.

Crew sandblasted the sculpture down to bare metal and repair the damaged areas.

It received the final top coats of Calder Red last week.

Are you football team has a chance for the school's biggest victory in decades, when the Hoosiers and Ohio State play Saturday night in the Big Ten football championship.

And Alexandra Holm reports.

That means excitement and ticket prices are high.

Are you?

Freshman Lilly March recalls going to I football games as a young child.

It was much different than this year's undefeated regular season.

Number two nationally ranking and the highly anticipated matchup against number one Ohio State on Saturday.

It's pretty exciting, especially lik my sister went here a while ago and the football was like nothing like how it is now.

And it's I feel like more hype and I feel like it brings all of us like it makes us happy on campus, like it makes our campus feel like more uplifting.

March.

Attending Saturday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium with some visitors.

I'm from new Jersey, so I live really far.

So I was like, oh, like to my dad and my sister.

I wish we could go like, that'd be so fun.

And then but I was like, let's just go and it won't be cheap on my ticket, reseller StubHu said in a statement to Wtu news.

There is, quote, an exceptionally strong demand, driven in large part by Indiana's historic appearance.

The cheapest asking price on StubHub for even a single ticket to the Big Ten Championship is well over $600.

Going into the season IU had the most losses all time among major college football teams.

Like Coach Teague has, you know, preached this is this is the new Indiana.

You know this these are the these are the games you want to play.

And this is you know why you come in and you come to play the best of the best.

You come to play in the championship games.

And, you know, this is just the beginning.

For Indiana NewsDesk I'm Alexandra Holm.

Saturday night's game kicks off at 8:00 on Fox.

The winner will earn the top seed in the college football playoffs in Joe.

Those pairing will be announced on Sunday.

All right.

Thanks.

Exciting times.

Coming up next on Indiana.

NewsDesk.

The Pride Center of Terre Haute is suing Indiana State University after it cut funding for its student employees.

And a driv thru holiday light show is open through the end of the month a the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

These stories and mor right here on Indiana NewsDesk.

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We have never waste in our time together.

Be not afraid to break this.

Mission accomplished.

It's extraordinarily important that there is hard news investigative journalism taking place in local communities, which are my community as well as positive stories highlighting the important things that are happening in the local community.

I don't think these stories get told anymore without public media, and I think that is an invaluable service that it provides support programs for the public good.

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The American Civil Libertie Union of Indiana is representing the Pride Cente of Terre Haute again this year.

They're suing Indiana State University over funding for student workers.

As Aubrey Wright reports, while the university says it's followin the federal government's lead, the ACLU says it's violating the student's First Amendment rights.

Alora Hodgins says she wouldn't trade her job for the world partenaire Terre Haute.

This is Laura.

How can I help you?

She's the volunteer coordinator and staff lead a the Pride Center of Terre Haute.

And when she's not working, she's earning a social work degree at Indiana State University as a social work student.

That's crucial to me because I've been able to develop so many of those skills, and it's also crucial to the community.

It's difficult to list all of the resources and programs that the Pride Center offers.

There are social events, gender affirming programs, hygiene resources, and mental health care, to name a few.

The center's staff say it's open to anyone.

It's not just a service space, it's also a community center.

And when in a time when we're lacking so much community, it is so important.

I can't say that enough.

Hodgins says ISU students help keep the nonprofit center running smoothly but that once tight connection between ISU and the center is fraying.

In August, the university cut funding for four student employees.

They had been funded through Federal Work Study and Sycamore Community work programs.

The best way I can put it is I've been disappointed with some of the decisions that have been made, not only as a worker her because yes, I'm a worker here, but I am a student first.

ISU spokespeople did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Legal documents show IS cut support because of the U.S.

Department of Justice's guidance.

The department told universitie to avoid positions or programs that, quote, allocate benefits or roles based on protected characteristics, including sexual orientation or gender identity.

It's part of the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion that categorizes those programs as unlawful discrimination.

But the ACLU says that kind of federal advice isn't legally binding.

It's not law.

It's guidance.

It's not even mandatory necessarily to comply with.

The ACLU is representing the pride Center in a lawsuit against ISU alleging a First Amendment violation.

Its lawyers say the university's decision to cut funding isn't really about discrimination.

It's actually about the center's support and advocacy for the LGBTQ plus community.

The Pride Center does not discriminate on who it serves in orde to discriminate on who it hires or approved for work study students.

This is the second time this year the ACLU and the Pride Center have sued ISU.

The first was over the university's decision to break tradition and hold the annual pride festival off campus.

Students are noticing changes, too.

I would say the first word that comes to mind is this affiliated Indiana State Universit has kind of separated themselves from spectrum and from the LGBTQ plus community.

Spectrum used to partner with the admissions office during Pride Fest, but that didn't happen this year.

And another annual conference is still up in the air.

Plus, after the university eliminated its multicultural services and programs, they lost financial support.

We just want to continu to be a safe space for everyone.

Even if we have a rainbow flag attached to our logo, as mentioned, community center.

So we have resources if you would like to use it, you can.

Back at the Pride Center, board Secretary Ian Braley says the staff would like to work with the university, but they're also going to stand their ground.

I don't think it says anything about just being litigious.

I think it shows as well that we have a backbone and that we are trying to grow and that we aren't going to just kind of roll over.

Braley could go on and on about the center's work and its partnerships, and he does.

Well first of all, come to the center because it's fun, he says.

Everythin offered, from therapy to karaoke to free toothpaste is open to everyone.

As any community center would, our goal is to provide resources at specifically t people who may be underserved.

For Indiana NewsDesk, I'm Aubrey Wright.

The ACLU has asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunctio that would force the university to fund those for student employees.

A new exhibit at the Indian University Collections at Mikala showcases a century of IU athletics history.

As Pat bean reports, visitors will have a chance to see Hoosier uniforms, gear and trophies up close.

Called outfitting IU Athletics Hoosier Champions, the exhibit chronicles Bi Ten and national championships and individual accomplishments by Hoosier athletes.

And over the past century, there's been a lot of those.

Mikayla was able to tap into the vast resources of IU athletic sports memorabilia collection.

We were able to look through just all the different sports throughout numerous decades, and just try to identify a nice breadth of objects that we could highlight.

Visitors will see Grace Berger's jersey from the IU women' basketball teams historic 2023 season, alongside Tom Abernathy's jersey from 1975.

And the shoes worn by Steve Alford in the 1987 NCAA championship game.

There's also a display highlighting Indiana's 1938 men's cross-country National championship team kits for my U.S.

National soccer championship teams, and a signed swimming cap worn by gold medalist Lilly King at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Haggard's favorite piece is a bat used by Kyle Schwarber in the 2013 College World Serie Big fan of both IU and the Cubs.

And he is just he's a great playe and he's obviously setting some records in the major leagues.

So being able to see that ba and see all the scuffs on there where is hitting balls is really cool.

There's also an exhibit featuring the football team that has helmets and uniforms from the past, including a jersey worn in last year's College Football Playoff game.

Haggard is hoping the excitement swirling around this year's team helps lure visitors to the exhibit.

We have a football section where we talk about the 1945 and 1967 Big Ten champion champions.

It'd be really cool for able to add something from this year's team.

For Indiana NewsDesk I'm Pat being.

A drive through.

Holiday light show is open to the public at the fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

For the seventh straight yea of this brainy and videographer Jake Lindsay got a sneak peek along a two mile loop.

You'll driv through multiple light tunnels and see light displays including candy trees and Santa.

We just installed three RGB lights, trees this year, which is one of the new, fixtures as well as a flag.

So it's it's a lot of things I don't want to, spoil th for anyone that comes through, but there is a lot for you to see.

The show features about a million lights set up over weeks.

Each on is, simultaneously synchronized.

With particular, experiences throughout the show, if you will.

That is, synchronized to music that you listen to as you drive through the show.

Lewis says around 800 cars come to the show every night.

It's a opportunity for families to, have a great holiday tradition that is fun, safe, easy.

They can get into their car, pack some snacks, have some hot chocolate, and take a easy 30 or 45 minute ride through amazing light show.

The show runs until December 31st.

For Indiana NewsDesk, I'm Isabella Ferrini.

That's the end of this program, but our work continues online as we cover the news throughout the week at Wtu news.org.

Have a great weekend!