>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA'S FOOTBALL TEAM IS HEADING TO ATLANTA FOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS AFTER KNOCKING OFF ALABAMA IN THE ROSE BOWL.

>> WE'LL HAVE A VERY BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD OF US NEXT WEEK.

IT'S VERY HARD TO BEAT A REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM TWICE.

>> THE TOP RANKED HOOSIERS WILL FACE OREGON IN THE PEACH BOWL NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.

>>> DUKE ENERGY HAS BEEN REMOVING TREES TO PROTECT ITS POWER LINES BUT IT'S LEFT SOME RESIDENTS ABOUT LOSING TREES AND BEING POWERLESS.

>> I JUST PLANTED THIS TREE IN THE SPRING AND THAT WAS MARKED FOR REMOVAL.

SO WAS THIS BUSH WHICH IS NOWHERE NEAR POWER LINES AND NOT A THREAT EVER.

>> THE REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY SAYS THAT'S THE COST OF GETTING CONSISTENT ELECTRICITY.

>>> AND WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE TOP STORIES OF 2025 WE BROUGHT YOU ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: ♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, NUMBER ONE INDIANA IS HEADING TO THE PEACH BOWL NEXT FRIDAY FOR A REMATCH WITH BIG TEN RIVAL OREGON.

AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, IT COMES AFTER A BLOWOUT WIN IN THE ROSE BOWL THURSDAY.

>> THE INDIANA HOOSIERS ARE NOW TWO WINS AWAY FROM CLAIMING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL.

IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE TWO-YEAR RUN FOR THE PROGRAM, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BIG TEN TO THE TOP RANKED TEAM IN THE NATION.

AND IT'S ALL BEEN UNDER HEAD COACH CURT CIGNETTI.

>> IT ALL STARTS WITH HIM.

THE COMPLACENCY FACTOR, THE AFRAID OF DEATH OF COMPLACENCY, THE NEVER ENDING JOURNEY OF IMPROVING AND TAKING IT DAY BY DAY AND TAKING EACH DAY AS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM.

>> THURSDAY WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DAYS FOR I.U.

IN THE ROSE BOWL, THE GRAND DADDY OF THEM ALL, THE HOOSIERS ROLLED OVER ALABAMA 38-3.

INDIANA HAD NOT PLAYED A GAME IN ALMOST A MONTH.

SO TO PICK UP WHERE THEY LOST OFF WAS A CONCERN.

>> I THINK COACH CIGNETTI DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF MAKING SURE THIS WAS NO COMPLACENCY.

YOU HAD 26 DAYS OFF.

>> THE HEISMAN WINNING MENDOZA THREW THREE TOUCHDOWNS BUT THE RUNNING GAME RAN FOR MORE THAN 200 YARDS AND ALLOWED I.U.

TO CONTROL THE GAME.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANT TO SEE AS THE HEAD COACH.

THINGS I USED TO PREACH WHEN I WAS AT ALABAMA ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY THEY THINK, BREAKING THEIR WILL, MAYBE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

>> NOW THE FOCUS SHIFTS TO OREGON AND THE NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT SEMIFINAL GAME IN THE PEACH BOWL IN ATLANTA.

I.U.

IS THE ONLY TEAM TO BEAT OREGON.

IT WAS THAT GAME THAT PUT I.U.

IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION.

>> WE WILL HAVE A VERY BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD OF US NEXT WEEK.

IT'S VERY HARD TO BEAT A REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM TWICE.

>> MENDOZA SAYS THE WAY THE TEAM PREPARES HAS THEM READY FOR A RUN AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> NOT ONLY DO WE ENJOY FOOTBALL WE ENJOY WINNING.

WE KNOW WHAT THAT TAKES AND EVERY SINGLE DAY WE WILL PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

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

>>> OLE MISS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI MEET IN THE OTHER SEMI FINAL NEXT WEEK.

THE WINS ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MIAMI ON JANUARY 19th.

>>> CREWS WORKING FOR DUKE ENERGY HAVE BEEN TRIMMING AND REMOVING TREES TO PROTECT POWER LINES FROM FALLING BRANCHES.

THE COMPANY SAYS THAT WORK IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE GRID, BUT AS ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS, FOR HOMEOWNERS ALONG THE ROUTE, LOSING TREES CAN MAKE THEM FEEL POWERLESS.

>> AFTER IT FELL DOWN IN THAT WIND STORM.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ONE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED.

>> RACHEL BARR SAYS THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS TO LOVE HER TREES.

>> THIS IS A FRUITING PEAR TREE AND THERE'S A TON OF WILDLIFE IN THE AREA.

THERE'S DEER, WHICH I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE DEER BUT I DON'T MIND IT.

>> THEY ENJOY SITTING IN THE SHADE, LYING IN THE HAMMOCK AND LISTENING TO BIRD SONG.

THIS YEAR, EVERYTHING CHANGE.

>> I CAME HOME IN JUNE, AND THERE WERE BLUE RIBBONS ON ALL OF MY TREES THAT SAID REMOVE.

AND THEY PUT RIBBONS ON TREES BEFORE, WHEN THEY HAVE DONE TRIMMING BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER SAID REMOVE.

>> CONTRACTORS WORKING FOR DUKE HAVE BEEN IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD A LOT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, TRIMMING AND REMOVING TREES TO PROTECT POWER LINES.

THEY WERE ALSO GOING DOOR TO DOOR, TELLING HOMEOWNERS WHEN WORK WILL BE DONE IN THEIR YARD.

>> OUR CREWS AND CONTRACTOR CREWS HAVE BEEN OUT DOING SOME VEGETATION WORK, THAT IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT YOUR ELECTRIC SERVICE REMAINS RELIABLE AND SAFE.

>> NOLL SAYS THE TRIMMING IS PART OF DUKE'S LONG-TERM VEGETATION WORK.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING SINCE OCTOBER.

HOW LONG A TRANSMISSION LINE FROM LAWRENCE COUNTY INTO BLOOMINGTON PROPER.

>> WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT TREES ARE TO OUR INDIANA COMMUNITIES AND WE TRY TO BALANCE THOSE CONCERNS WITH THE NEED FOR RELIABLE AND SAFE ELECTRIC SERVICE.

HOWEVER, TREES AND VEGETATION ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF OUTAGES ACROSS OUR INDIANA SYSTEM.

>> BUT BARR SAYS SHE CAN'T SEE WHY DUKE WOULD REMOVE HER SEEDLINGS AND FRUIT TREES OR WHY THEY COULDN'T BE TRIMMED INSTEAD.

>> THEY JUST PLANTED THIS TREE IN THE SPRING AND THAT WAS MARKED FOR REMOVAL.

SO WAS THIS BUSH, WHICH IS NOWHERE NEAR POWER LINES AND NOT A THREAT EVER.

I MEAN EVEN AT ITS FULL SIZE, IT'S NOT GOING TO KNOCK DOWN ANYTHING.

>> DUKE CAN WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF UTILITY EASEMENTS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN UTILITIES AND HOMEOWNERS THAT GIVE THEM THIS IN EXCHANGE FOR SERVICE.

>> FIRST THING THE HOMEOWNER CAN DO IS LOOK AT THE TITLE WORK.

THERE'S USUALLY A RECORDED ELECTRIC LINE EASEMENT OR A PLAT EASEMENT THAT ALLOWS UTILITIES TO BE LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY.

>> HARRSTAT SAYS THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CUT DOWN ANY TREE, ANY VEGETATION WITHIN THEIR DEFINED EASEMENT AREA.

DEPENDING ON THE AREA, THEY COULD ALLOW THEM TO GROW NEAR SMALLER DISTRIBUTION LINES, THE EASEMENT FOR THOSE IS ABOUT 50 FEET.

>> THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF POWER LINES.

THERE'S TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH ARE ON BIG TOWERS AND, THOSE ARE -- THE UTILITIES DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH THOSE.

>> THEY ARE HIGHER VOLTAGE, LONGER, AND SUPPLY POWER TO A LOT MORE CUSTOMERS.

EASEMENTS ARE 100 FEET, ENOUGH TO COVER ALMOST BARR'S ENTIRE BACK YARD.

BUT THE DECISION ON WHAT TO PRUNE AND WHAT TO REMOVE USUALLY COMES DOWN TO CONTRACTORS IN THE FIELD.

>> I COULDN'T SPEAK TO EACH LOCATION ALONG THAT ROUTE, BUT IT WILL JUST DEPEND ON WHAT THE OVERHANG OF THE TREE IS, HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO A LINE.

IT WILL DEPEND ON THE SCENARIO.

>> HARSTAT SAYS THAT'S THE PRICE TO MAY FOR CONSISTENT POWER.

HOMEOWNERS CAN HAVE POWER LINES INSTALLED UNDERGROUND BUT IT CAN COST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

>> IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE THOSE LINES ON THE ROAD OR ON YOUR LAWN.

AND SO IT REALLY IS, YOU KNOW, A NECESSARY EVIL TO TRIM TREES.

>> BUT IT'S SMALL COMFORT FOR BARR.

>> I'M A NEWLY SINGLE MOM IN A HOME AND I -- IT FEELS DAUNTING TO HAVE THAT ON MY PLATE ANYWAY, AND THEN JUST TO HAVE A LARGE COMPANY COME IN AND SAY THAT THERE'S A PORTION OF MY PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY DO ANYTHING THEY WANT WITH.

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

>> CUSTOMERS WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT VEGETATION WORK CAN CALL DUKE'S HOTLINE, 800-732-9684.

>>> WELL, WE'RE JOINED NOW BY AUBREY WRIGHT FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

HI, AUBREY.

>> HEY, JOE.

INDIANA'S 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SET TO RESUME ON MONDAY AS BEN THORPE REPORTS, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO END THE SESSION EARLY AFTER SPENDING WEEKS DEBATING REDRAWING THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

>> THE LAWMAKERS WILL NEED TO PASS BILLS ON A MUCH TIGHTER TIMELINE, CAN WITH SOME COMMITTEES ONLY MEETING A HANDFUL OF TIME.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SHELLI YODER SAID IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR, MEANING THEY FOCUS ON NON-BUDGET ISSUES.

>> IT WILL BE A TOUGH SESSION.

IT'S A SHORT SESSION.

SO WE HAD TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR POLICIES IN A WAY THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS UNIQUE IN ITS CHALLENGES.

>> LAWMAKERS SAY THEY HOPE TO BE DONE IN LATE FEBRUARY AND ARE SLATED TO ADDRESS BOTH COST OF LIVING AND EDUCATION ISSUES.

>> OUR CAUCUS WILL COME TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF THINGS WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE LIVES BETTER AND MORE AFFORDABLE FOR HOOSIERS HERE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> I'M BEN THORPE IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>>> ONE BILL LAWMAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE UP IS FOR AN ONLINE LOTTERY.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW THE HOOSIER LOTTERY TO SELL ONLINE TICKETS FOR JACKPOT DRAWINGS AND HOST DIGITAL INSTANT GAMES THAT WORK LIKE SCRATCHOFF TICKETS.

AN ANALYSIS BY THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES SAYS ONLINE SALES WOULD ADD BETWEEN 300 TO $600 MILLION TO THE HOOSIER LOTTERY'S REVENUES BY THE THIRD YEAR.

CONVENIENCE STORE LOBBYISTS SAY THEY ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THE BILL.

THEY BELIEVE IT COULD ACTUALLY HELP BOOST BRICK AND MORTAR LOTTERY SALES.

>>> THE SECTION OF STATE ROAD 59 RUNNING THROUGH DOWNTOWN LINTON WAS REOPENED WEDNESDAY AS THE TOWN CLEANS UP FROM LAST SUNDAY NIGHT'S TORNADO.

SEVERAL BUILDINGS AND POWER LINES EXPERIENCED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN THE TORNADO, ONE BUILDING HOUSING SPORTSMAN'S PUB PARTIALLY COLLAPSED.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RATED THE TORNADO AS EF-1 WITH AN ESTIMATED PEAK WIND SPEED OF 100 MILES PER HOUR.

IT WAS ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES AND TRAVELED ABOUT ONE MILE.

LINTON POLICE SAID PARKING AROUND WILL BE LIMITED AROUND THE DAMAGED AREA, AS CLEANUP CONTINUES.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HAS ADOPTED A 30-DAY NOTICE POLICY FOR CLEARING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

THE COUNTY CODE PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED ONLY 72 HOURS NOTICE FOR CLEARING PERSONAL ITEMS FROM COUNTY PROPERTY.

THE NEW POLICY FOLLOWS PUSHBACK OF THE COUNTY PLAN TO CLEAR AN ENCAMPMENT ON THE COUNTY-OWNED FORMER THOMSON OWNED PROPERTY IN BLOOMINGTON.

>> I WOULD LIKE US TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS OF DETERMINING NEXT STEPS BUT I'M AFRAID THAT WE'VE BEEN STUCK IN PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS.

>> THE POLICY ALSO CALLS FOR OTHER MONROE COUNTY AND BLOOMINGTON OFFICIALS TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.

>>> BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT MAY BE GETTING A NEW OPERATION CENTER.

THE BLOOMINGTON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION APPROVED AN OPTION TO PURCHASE AN AGREEMENT AT A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEK.

THE CORPORATION WOULD BUY THE 19-ACRE PROPERTY ON THE OLD WESTINGHOUSE SITE AT CURRY PARK AND PROFILE PARKWAY TO BUILD AN OPERATIONS CENTER.

THE TRANSIT CORPORATION CURRENTLY OPERATES OUT OF ITS CENTER ON GRIMES LANE.

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS LAUNCHED TWO NEW DASHBOARDS, ONE EXPANDING DRUG OVERDOSE.

THE PREVIOUS ONE FOCUSED ONLY ON DRUG OVERDOSES.

IT ADDS AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN EACH COUNTY, THE NUMBER OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS AND THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS RELATED TO DRUG OVERDOSE.

>>> AND NOW, THAT 2025 HAS COME TO AN END, AMERICANS ARE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH THEY SPENT ON HOLIDAY SHOPPING.

AND ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY, MANY OF THEM ARE NOW IN DEBT FOR IT.

THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE LENDING TREE FOUND MORE THAN A THIRD OF AMERICANS TOOK ON DEBT AVERAGING ABOUT $1,200.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND, JOE, THE SURVEY SAID PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WERE HIT THE HARDEST.

>> HOW DID YOU DO THIS YEAR?

WERE YOU OKAY?

>> I WAS OKAY.

>> ME TOO.

THANKS, AUBREY.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S LILLY LIBRARY HAS RECEIVED A GRANT THAT IT HOPES WILL ALLOW MORE COLLECTIONS TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

AND WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE STORIES THAT WE BROUGHT YOU THIS PAST YEAR FROM BIRD FLU TO FLOODING AND TURMOIL AT THE STATE HOUSE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, FOR FIRST TIME EVER, THE USAGE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS SURPASSED FOSSIL FUELS WORLDWIDE, BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PUTTING ITS WEIGHT BEHIND COAL, ORDERING TWO INDIANA COAL PLANTS TO REMAIN OPEN.

INDIANA HAD BEEN ON TRACK TO ADD A LOT OF SOLAR POWER IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BUT WHERE TO PUT THE PANELS HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC.

LAST YEAR OUR REBECCA THIELE REPORTED ON ONE OPTION PUTTING SOLAR ON HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF UNUSED SPACE ON THE TOP OF BIG BOX STORES.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

♪ >> HERE AT SWEETWATER SOUNDS DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN FORT WAYNE, EMPLOYEES TEST OUT GAY TARS BEFORE BOXING THEM BACK UP TO SELL.

-- GUITARS BEFORE BOXING THEM BACK UP TO SELL.

THEY'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY, THERE'S FORKLIFT DRIVERS WHO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC ON THE FLOOR.

IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO THE ENERGY ON THE ROOF.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 260 SOLAR PANELS HELP TO POWER THE BUILDING.

TYLER GERARDOT MAINTAINS THEM FOR THE COMPANY.

>> WE TRY TO USE WHAT WE CAN USE HERE, AND WHAT IS NOT USED BY SWEETWATER, THAT GOES OUT TO THE GRID AND REDUCES THE PRICE FOR EVERYBODY THAT GETS A CHANCE TO USE IT.

>> COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO PUT SOLAR ON WAREHOUSES LIKE THIS ONE AND BIG BOX STORES LIKE IKEA, BUT VERY, VERY SLOWLY.

>> AND GIVEN THAT IN AMERICA, WE ARE RUNNING SHORT ON NATURE AND WE NEED TO MOVE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THE ROOFS OF SUPER STORES AND WAREHOUSES REALLY ARE PERFECT FOR SOLAR BECAUSE THEY'RE FLAT, THEY'RE SUNNY AND RIGHT NOW ALL THEY ARE DOING IS KEEPING THE RAIN OUT.

>> NEWMAN SAYS IF ALL THE WAREHOUSES AND BIG BOX STORES IN INDIANA PUT SOLAR ON THE ROOF, IT COULD POWER MORE THAN 20% OF ALL THE HOMES IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO GENERATING ENERGY CLOSE TO WHERE IT'S USED.

NEWMAN SAYS NINE OUT OF TEN AMERICANS LIVE WITHIN TEN MILES OF A WALMART.

IF THEY ALL HAD SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE, THEY COULD BECOME RESILIENT COMMUNITY HUBS.

>> IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO OR IN THE EVENT OF A HURRICANE, WALMART STILL HAS POWER AND LIGHT AND REFRIGERATION AND COULD BECOME THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO CHARGE THEIR PHONES AND WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET COOL WATER.

>> SO WHY AREN'T MORE BUSINESSES DOING THIS?

NEWMAN SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS.

SHE SAYS SOLAR WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY SAVE A BIG ENERGY HOGGING STORE LIKE A TARGET MONEY IN THE LONG RUN, BUT THERE'S STILL AN UP FRONT COST.

>> SO ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T PAY BACK WITHIN TWO TO THREE YEARS, THEY CAN STRUGGLE TO JUSTIFY TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.

>> SOLAR ON A WAREHOUSE, ON THE OTHER HAND, WOULD PROBABLY GENERATE MORE ENERGY THAN WHAT THE WAREHOUSE ITSELF COULD USE, UNLESS IT COULD SELL THAT ENERGY TO SOMEONE, LIKE A UTILITY OR A COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT, NEWMAN SAYS IT MIGHT NOT MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE.

THAT'S WHERE INDIANA LAWMAKERS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> SO IF THERE ARE STATE INCENTIVES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE TO HELP ENCOURAGE SOLAR ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, LIKE SUPERSTORE ROOFS AND WAREHOUSE ROOFS, YOU CAN CHANGE THE CALCULATION.

>> THINGS LIKE HIGHER RATES FOR NET METERINGS.

THOSE ARE THE CREDITS THAT THEY GET FOR SENDING EXCESS ENERGY TO THE GRID.

THEY LOBBIED TO PASS A LAW EIGHT YEARS AGO TO PHASE DOWN HIGHER NET METERING RATES.

IT WOULD HELP THE BIG BOX STORES AND WAREHOUSES PAY OFF THEIR SOLAR PANELS.

ALL TOGETHER, THE COMPANY SAYS HAVING SOLAR SAVES IT MORE THAN $160,000 A YEAR.

BUT JEFF OSTERMAN, SWEETWATER'S CHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER SAYS THAT'S NOT WHAT DROVE SWEETWATER TO DO IT.

HE SAYS THE COMPANY HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD.

IT'S SOMETHING CUSTOMERS WANT TO SEE.

>> WE WERE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

I THINK WHAT WE FOUND OUT IN THE PROCESS IS IT WAS ACTUALLY WAY MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR US, THAN MAYBE WHAT WE HAD INITIALLY REALIZED AND I THINK OTHERS WHO WOULD BE LOOKING AT IT, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, MAY VERY WELL FIND THE SAME THING.

>> TWO AVOID THE WORST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SCIENTISTS SAY WE NEED TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2030.

THAT MEANS TRANSITIONING TOWARDS CLEANER SOURCES OF ENERGY LIKE SOLAR FAST.

SOLAR DEVELOPERS SAY A PATCHWORK OF LOCAL LAWS IN INDIANA MAKE PUTTING LARGE SOLAR FARMS ON THE GROUND DIFFICULT.

INDIANA'S WAREHOUSES AND BIG BOX STORES MAY BE A CREATIVE WAY TO GET SOME OF THAT SOLAR BACK ON THE ROOF.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> THE LILLY LIBRARY IS INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S HOME FOR RARE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.

AS OLIVIA WILSON REPORTS A NEW GRANT WILL MAKE THOSE COLLECTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> THE LILY ENZHOUMENT HAS MADE A $2.5 MILLION GRANT THROUGH THE RELIGION AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS INITIATIVE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO ENDOW A CATALOGER OF RELIGIOUS COLLECTIONS WHICH IS REALLY GOING TO HELP US IN SO MANY WAYS TO MAKE OUR COLLECTIONS TO PEOPLE.

>> THEY HAVE THEIR RELIGIOUS PIECES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY AND THIS ONE BEHIND ME IS THE GUTENBERG BIBLE.

THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 50 OTHER COPIES IN THE WORLD AND THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE LIBRARY IS BRINGING TRANSFORMATIVE AND UNIQUE PIECES TO BLOOMINGTON'S COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT HALF A MILLION BOOKS.

WE HAVE 8.5 MILLION PIECES OF MANUSCRIPT AND WE ARE GROWING ALL THE TIME.

>> IT'S VITAL TO HAVE A SOLID ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.

>> IT ISN'T UNTIL WE CAN HAVE REALLY GOOD CATALOGING AND DESCRIPTION THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEARCH OUR COLLECTIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND REALLY EXPLORE THEM TO THEIR FULLEST POSSIBLE.

>> THIS GRANT IS NOT JUST OPENING A POSITION BUT THE DOOR FOR CONNECTION ACROSS CENTURIES.

>> THE PEOPLE THAT USED THESE BOOKS, HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, AREN'T SO DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE TODAY, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY OPENS PEOPLE'S EYES TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> THE LIBRARY OFFERS FREE ADMISSION, MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ALIVIA WILSON.

>>> AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO 2025.

OUR VIDEOGRAPHER DEVAN RIDGEWAY PUT TOGETHER THIS VIDEO LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF THE STORIES WE BROUGHT YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> I WANT MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME MOVING HERE THAT RUN SMALL FARMS AND BUSINESSES.

THAT'S HOW YOU GROW A COMMUNITY AND A TOWN, NOT BY BUILDING A DATA CENTER.

>> THE APPOINTMENT OF A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SHOULD BE DONE WITH TRANSPARENCY.

>> THE PROPOSALS THAT CAME TO THE TRUSTEES SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC.

>> REGARDLESS OF WHO, HOW OR WHY, IT'S A HUMAN BEING.

>> IMMIGRANTS, LEGAL OR LITTLEEL, IT -- ILLEGAL, NO MATTER HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE IT, ARE TAKING UP HOUSING UNITS THAT LOCAL FOLKS HAD TO MOVE OUT OF.

>> A LOT OF OUR STAFF HAS BEEN NERVOUS OR MIGHT HAVE EXPRESSED FEELING UNSAFE.

OR UNWELCOMED.

>> THROUGHOUT JANUARY, WE JUST STARTED TO SEE THOSE MORTALITIES RISE TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF THEM, THAT HAVE DIED.

>> MY PAST IS WHAT UNIQUELY QUALIFIES ME TO BE SO RELEVANT IN THIS FIELD.

>> THEY'RE NOT MAINTAINING THESE HOUSES.

THEY MIGHT BE PAYING THE WATER BILL AND THE ELECTRIC BILL BUT THEY ARE NOT PUTTING NO MONEY BACK IN THESE HOUSES.

THEY ARE NOT CLEANING THEM UP.

>> THEY WILL RECEIVE A.B.A.

AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE, 40 HOURS A WAY, SHE WILL GET THE THERAPY.

YOU HAVE MY WORD ON THAT.

>> THIS IS PROBABLY A TEN-YEAR FLOODING EVENT FOR COLUMBUS.

>> ALL THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES SEEM TO HAVE MORE VALUE IN TERMS OF THE EDUCATION THEY ARE GIVING US FOR THE COST.

>> HOW CAN YOU BE AGAINST EQUITY OR FAIRNESS?

AND TO BE INCLUDED?

HOW CAN YOU BE AGAINST THESE THINGS?

>> SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME SINCE THIS HAPPENED IS THE FACT THAT HE GOT ARRESTED WITHOUT AN ORDER.

>> EVERY PERSON WHO SAYS THEY ARE AFRAID, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS 'EM.

BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN -- TO THEM.

BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN TO SAY, WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN ANYTHING THAT DISTURBS THEM.

>> THE MAN WE EXECUTED TODAY, THOUGH HE HAD HIMSELF ACKNOWLEDGED HE COMMITTED A SENSELESS CRIME 25 YEARS AGO, IS NOT THE SAME PERSON WHO COMMITTED THAT CRIME.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING MORE DONE.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IT WITH FEWER STAFF AND WITH FEWER FACULTY.

THE MATH DOES NOT WORK.

>> I NEVER WAS BRASH ENOUGH TO THINK I KNEW THE ANSWERS.

I JUST TRIED TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> TO ME, THAT'S HER LEGACY, IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES HAS BEEN ALTERED WHERE THEY CAN IMAGINE BEING BETTER AN DIFFERENT.

>> TO DESCEND ON BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, AND DEMONSTRATE IN FREE SPEECH WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.

>> THIS IS NOT THE WORK OF ONE SYSTEM OR ONE ORGANIZATION.

IT'S COLLECTIVE WORK.

IT'S NEIGHBORS AND NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT, FAITH COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAD HEARD ALMOST LIKE RUMORS THAT WE WOULD SOON BE DIRECTED TO STOP PUBLISHING NEWS IN OUR PRINT PAPER.

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE EVERYBODY CONVERTED AND BECOME A CHRISTIAN, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT CAN HAPPEN BY USING THE STATE TO DO THAT OR THE GOVERNMENT.

>> IF THE ECONOMY IS BAD FOR THE FARM, IT'S BAD AT HOME.

AND THERE'S NOTHING -- YOU CAN'T WORK ANY HARDER.

YOU CAN'T -- THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

FARMERS ARE KIND OF AT THE MERCY OF WEATHER AND POLITICIANS THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO RUN A COMBINE.

>> 40 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT, FIRST GETTING INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS, CHARLOTTE WAS ALREADY A LEGEND.

>> THE ONLY REASON I'M UP FOR THE HEISMAN IS BECAUSE WE'RE 13-0 AND WE'RE BIG TEN CHAMPS.

>> WHAT WE WITNESSED HERE TODAY, THE REAL WINNERS, THE HOOSIERS.

>>> 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.

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