>> THE INDIANA HOOSIERS ARE PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY NIGHT.

THE RUN THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS HAS SEEN FANS PACK LOCAL BARS.

>> FOLKS WERE READY TO GO GAME ONE COMING INTO THIS YEAR.

AND THEN JUST WEEK AFTER WEEK, IT JUST BUILT AND BUILT.

>> WE'LL HAVE MORE COVERAGE ON THE TOP RANKED HOOSIERS' HISTORIC SEASON.

>>> A 17-YEAR-OLD BOXER IN COLUMBUS HISTORIES TONE NUMBER THREE IN HER WEIGHT CLASS.

>> I HAVE SEEN PER BEAT UP GROWN MEN.

>> JIMENEZ HAS HER SIGHTS SET ON THE OLYMPICS AND A PRO BOXING CAREER.

>>> AND GOVERN GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN HAD HIS SECOND STATE OF THE STATE, TAUTING -- TOUTING INDIANA'S ECONOMY.

>> WE'LL HAVE THAT AND MORE COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

"INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: ♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S FOOTBALL TEAM WILL PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY, AND LIKE WITH THEIR APPEARANCES IN THE ROSE BOWL AND PEACH BOWL, LOCAL BARS HAVE BEEN PACKED WITH FAPS WATCHING -- FANS WATCHING THE GAME.

THEY ARE BRACING FOR ANOTHER LONG DAY ON MONDAY AND CASHING IN ON THE SUCCESS.

>> IT'S THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM AT THE UPSTAIRS PUB AS EMPLOYEES GET READY FOR A WEEKDAY OPENING, BUT COME MONDAY, CFP CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY EXPECT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITE.

>> FOLKS WERE READY TO GO GAME ONE COMING INTO THIS YEAR.

AND THEN JUST WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK, IT JUST BUILT AND BUILT AND BUILT.

>> THE PUB IS GOING ALL OUT.

OPENING EARLY AT 11 A.M., PLAYING MUSIC, GIVING OUT COMMEMORATIVE POSTERS AND OFFERING DRINK SPECIALS WITH PARTNERS TITO'S VODKA AND THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION.

FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

NO RESERVATIONS.

>> WE WANTED TO RESERVE OR REWARD, RATHER THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE COMING OUT EARLY TO JUMP IN LINE FOR BREAKFAST CLUB TO GET THOSE SHIRTS, TO GET THOSE SPOTS.

>> AND AS THE HOME OF BISON MAFIA, UPSTAIRS WILL GIVE OUT SPECIAL T-SHIRTS FOR THE EARLY BIRDS.

IT'S ANOTHER HIGH-DEMAND ADVENTURE FOR THE PUB IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOMEFIELD AND I.U.

ATHLETICS.

>> YOU WILL ATHE ABOUT -- ALL THE BUSINESSES UNWISHINGWOOD HAVE SEEN A BUMP FROM THAT AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS TEAM, THIS ADMINISTRATION, THIS COACHING STAFF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO BLOOMINGTON.

>> IT'S NOT JUST STUDENTS DRIVING UP REVENUE.

THE CREAM AND CRIMSON HEIGHT IS STRETCHING BEYOND KIRKWOOD AVENUE.

>> WE ARE WITHIN SIGHT OF MEMORIAL STADIUM AND IT'S REALLY A FANTASTIC ENERGY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE FIREWORKS EVERY TIME THE HOOSIERS SCORE, STRAIGHT FROM OUR PATIO.

>> AFFECTIONATELY CALLED A TOWNY BAR, IT OPENED TWO YEARS AGO JUST AS CIGNETTI TOOK THE HELM.

GAME DAY BRINGS A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC AND THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING EVEN MORE.

>> OUR BOWL WATCH PARTIES HAVE BEEN PACKED.

EVERY SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

I GOT FOLDING CHAIRS OUT OF MY PARENT'S BASEMENT TO MAKE SURE WE COULD ACCOMMODATE ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

>> HIKE UPSTAIRS HEART WORK WILL OPEN EARLIER FOR THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH PARTY.

IT'S ALSO OPENING UP ITS PIZZA SERVICE.

>> SO WE EXPECT EVERY CHAIR TO BE FULL, JUST LIKE IT'S BEEN.

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY HOW MUCH BLOOMINGTON BUSINESSES STAND TO MAKE FROM THIS FOOTBALL SEASON, OR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

BUT SOME SAY IT'S PRICELESS, EITHER WAY.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THAT FREE MEDIA EXPOSURE, WE'VE NOT HAD THIS BEFORE.

YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT.

I HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD A NUMBER.

>> M.G.

SAYS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND INNKEEPER TAXES.

BUSINESSES ARE REPORTING THAT CUSTOMERS ARE STICKING AROUND LONGER TOO AND HE SAYS NATIONAL PRESS IS HUGE FOR RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT TO BLOOMINGTON.

AFTER THE GAME MONDAY, M.G.

SAYS HE HOPES TO SEE THE BUZZ RIPPLE INTO THE FUTURE.

THIS HAS ENGAGED ALUMNI, THE NATIONAL PRESS WITH BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, WHERE WE'RE NOT JUST A COLLEGE TOWN.

WE'RE NOT JUST A FOOTNOTE.

WE ARE A DESTINATION CITY.

>> BUT MONDAY ISN'T ALL ABOUT THE MONDAY.

AS HEARTWORK BREWERY PATRONS ARE RAISING THEIR CLASSES TO THE HOOSIERS ON MONDAY, WILLIAMS WILL BE IN MIAMI WITH HER FATHER.

>> JEFF AND I, ONE OF MY OTHER COFOUNDERS, WE DEGREE UP HERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

OUR FAMILIES HAVE HAD FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS FOR DECADES AND THIS IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING FOR US.

>> AND THE STAFF AT UPSTAIRS ARE READY FOR THAT EXCITEMENT TOO.

THEIR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE MOMENTS AND MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME.

>> EVERYTHING IS SPECIAL.

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL GET THIS MOMENT BACK.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO VALUE IT, HOLE ON TO IT.

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

>>> THE CITY IS PLANNING TO CLOSE EAST KIRKWOOD STREET MONDAY, AND BLOOMINGTON POLICE SAY THAT IT WILL HAVE INCREASED STAFFING BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE GAME.

THE HOOSIERS HISTORIC RUN THROUGH THE COLLEGE PLAYOFFs HAS BEEN A BOONE FOR THOSE SELLING I.U.

MERCHANDISE.

EACH WITH VICTORY, NEW SHIRTS, HATS AND OTHER SOUVENIRS ARE ROLLED OUT TO BE SOLD.

>> EACH MILESTONE GAME THAT THE I.U.

TEAM WINS, MERCHANDISE.

PRODUCTS RANGE FROM SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THE TEAM IN GENERAL, HONORING QUARTERBACK FERNANDO MENDOZA AND CELEBRATING MOMENTOUS VICTORIES AT THE PEACH AND ROSE BOWLS.

>> WE JUST GOT A T-SHIRT IN AND EVERYONE IS GETTING THAT.

WE PUT IT OUT LIKE THE NIGHT AFTER WE WERE WON.

WE WERE OPEN FOR A FEW HOURS HERE.

>> MORE ROW SAYS THIS WOULD USUALLY BE THE STORE'S SLOWEST TIME OF YAO ERR.

>> NOW WE'RE, LIKE, BUSY ALL THE TIME.

LIKE IT'S INSANE.

WE ARE EITHER ANSWERING THE PHONE OR HAVING TO PUT NEW MERCH OUT.

>> THE SUCCESS OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE POPULARITY OF I. U. MERCH.

>> AND I THINK BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE TO BOOM.

YES, I THINK WE WILL SEE THIS MOMENTUM FOR QUITE A WHILE, I WOULD THINK.

>> T-SHIRTS AND JACKETS COMMEMORATING THE HISTORIC SEASON CAN RANGE IN TWICE FROM $25 TO $85.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M EDDIE STEWART.

>>> LaTONYA BENSON MOVED TO BLOOMINGTON THREE YEARS AGO TO SUPPORT HER SEASON'S FOOTBALL CAREER AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

SHE HAS THREE OTHER CHILDREN, ONE 16 AND TWO 14.

NATALIE FITZGIBBONS HAS THE STORY ON HOW THE BUSY MOTHER HAS CURATED A THRIVING ENVIRONMENT AT THE FERGUSON CRESSMONT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WHILE CHEERING ON HER SON.

>> BEN BENSON BECAME THE UNIT DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY.

SHE SAID WHEN SHE STARTED, SHE NOTICED THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE STAFF, PARENTS AND CHILDREN WERE NOT AS STRONG AS THEY COULD BE AND THERE WAS' LACK OF STRUCTURE FOR THE CHILDREN.

SO BENSON LEANED ON HER ROLE AS A SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR AS UNIT DIRECTOR TO CREATE BONDS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS AT THE CLUB, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

>> COMING HERE, MY CHILDREN ALSO GO HERE, YOU KNOW?

AND I FELT LIKE, OF COURSE, IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY KIDS, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.

I WOULDN'T PUT MY CHILDREN IN A POSITION THAT I THINK THEY WOULDN'T THRIVE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE HELD SESSIONS FOR THE PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE LEARNING PROGRAMS THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE RECEIVING, MEET STRUCTURE, PRIORITY BY ENSURING RULES WOULD BE FOLLOWED EVERY DAY AND INTENDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

>> AND, AGAIN, THE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WAS VERY BIG, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE PARENT, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY HELPS TO GOVERN WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD.

AND SO BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PARENT, WITH THE COMMUNITY, THOSE THINGS HAVE HELPED THE CLUB TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> WHEN BENSON STARTED, THE CLUB HAD 40 TO 60 MEMBERS A DAY.

NOW IT'S AN AVERAGE OF 90 TO 120 MEMBERS A DAY.

SHE HAS RECEIVED MANY THANK YOU LETTERS AND HAS WON AWARDS FOR HER WORK AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ALONG WITH HER COMMITMENT FOR THE CLUB, BENSON'S COMMITMENT TO BEING KHALIL'S NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER IS HAS NOT WANED.

SHE SAYS HE'S BEEN PLAYING SINCE HE WAS SIX YEARS OLD AND SHE'S NEVER MISSED A GAME, EVEN WHEN HE TRANSFERRED FOR A YEAR TO COLORADO BEFORE PLAYING FOR I.U.

>> I PLAYED SPORTS AS WELL IN SCHOOL, AND MY COLLEGE SPORTS DAY, MY MOM WAS SICKLY.

AND COULDN'T ATTEND MOST OF MY GAMES BUT MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS THERE.

AND I JUST REMEMBER WANTING TO LOOK IN THE STANDS AND SEE MY MOM.

>> KHALIL, WHO HAS GROWN TO 6'6" AND 305 POUNDS HAS BEEN A ROLE MODEL FOR THE CHILDREN AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

>> HE'S TALL AND HOVERING KIND OF OVER THEM AND THEY'RE FALLING AT HIS KNEES AND HE'S ABLE TO PLAY WITH THEM.

HE TALKS TO THEM ABOUT EDUCATION.

HE TALKS TO THEM ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL.

>> LaTONYA WILL BE IN MIAMI ON MONDAY TO WATCH HER SON AND TEAMMATES PLAY IN THE 2026 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M NATALIE FITZGIBBONS.

>>> INDIANA'S IMMEDIATE ORIC RISE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BIG TEN TO THE TOP RANKED TEAM HAPPENED ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

BUT AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, IT'S PART OF THE CURT CIGNETTI'S BLUEPRINT FOR SUCK NIECE IT -- SUCCESS.

>> THEY HIRED LITTLE KNOWN CURT CIGNETTI AS THE FOOTBALL COACH.

WHO?

FROM WHERE?

WHY?

CIGNETTI FAMOUSLY HAD AN ANSWER FOR THE WHY.

>> IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, I WIN.

GOOGLE ME.

>> AND HE'S DONE NOTHING BUT THAT AT I.U.

COMING OFF A LAST PLACE FINISH IN THE BIG TEN IN 2023, THE HOOSIERS WENT 11-2 LAST YEAR IN HIS FIRST SEASON.

THIS YEAR THE HOOSIERS RAN THE TABLE AND ON MONDAY NIGHT, THEY WILL BE PLAYING FOR A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> IT'S BEEN KIND OF SURREAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET IT DONE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE PROPERLY LED, AND YOU GOT TO HAVE A BLUEPRINT PLAN AND PROCESS.

>> TO IMPLEMENT THE BLUEPRINT AT INDIANA, HE HAD TO UTILIZE THE TRANSFER PORTAL, BRINGING IN VETERAN PLAYERS READY TO START AS SOON AS THEY STEP ON TO CAMPUS.

IT ALLOWED HIM TO TURN THE TEAM OVER.

>> THE PORTAL GUYS, YOU HAVE A CRITICAL NEED WHERE YOU HAVE TO FILL A HOLE ON YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DOING IT.

>> ESPECIALLY AT QUARTERBACK.

LAST YEAR, CIGNETTI BROUGHT IN CURTIS ROURKE FROM OHIO AND HE HELPED TO LEAD THEM TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS.

AFTER THAT SEASON, HE LANDED CAL'S FERNANDO MENDEZA, AND LEADED THE HOOSIERS TO UNDEFEATED SEASON AND THE NUMBER ONE RANGING IN THE LAND AND BECAME I.U.

'S FIRST HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, A 22-YEAR-OLD IS A LITTLE WISER, OLDER, BIGGER, STRONGER.

HE'S HAD FOUR YEARS IN THE OFFENSE, DEFENSE OR SPECIAL TEAMS AND HE'S A MORE PRODUCTIVE PLAYER.

>> CIGNETTI ALSO BROUGHT WITH HIM FROM JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY MOST OF HIS ASSISTANT COACHES AND A NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO HAVE BECOME LEADERS ON BOTH OFFENSE AND DEFENSE.

>> HE SAID THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW I WILL GET YOU THE BALL.

YOU KNOW THE STRENGTH STAFF AND EVERYBODY.

AND THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO SEE.

>> ONCE WE SAW BLOOMINGTON, WE LOOKED UP WHAT IS BLOOMINGTON.

AND THEN I WAS -- WITH ALL OF MY BUDDIES AT JMU AND THEY ALL LOOKED AT ME, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO INDIANA.

>> SARATTE HAD 15 TOUCHDOWNS AND RUNNING BACK KAYLON BLACK ALSO FOLLOWED HIM FROM JAMES MADISON.

THEY BROUGHT TALENT AND A FAMILIARITY WITH THE BLUEPRINT.

>> THEY WERE PROBABLY ABLE TO ANSWER SHH QUESTIONS FOR -- SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE NEW GUYS, THE RETURNERS TOO IN TERMS OF HOW WE DO THINGS AND ME AND THE OTHER COACHES.

>> IN THEIR TWO SEASONS AT I. U., THEY HELPED TO TURN THE HOOSIERS INTO ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGE TEAMS EVER.

THEY HAVE ONE BIG TEST REMAINING MONDAY NIGHT IN MIAMI.

>> IT WILL MEAN NOTHING IF WE DON'T WALK AWAY WITH A WIN IN THIS GAME.

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

>> CIGNETTI SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RELY LESS ON THE PORTAL IN THE FUTURE AS HE PLANS TO BUILD IT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS.

>> WITH THE GAME JUST THREE DAYS AWAY, PRICES FOR TICKETS ARE REACHING ALL-TIME HIGHS.

ELISE PERRY HAS THIS REPORT.

>> FANS STILL LOOKING TO SECURE TICKETS TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CAN BE PREPARED TO SHELL OUT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS.

TICKETS ON SECONDARY MARKETS ARE STARTING AROUND $3,200 FOR THE GAME AT HARD ROCK STADIUM.

FLIGHTS FROM MIAMI TO INDIANAPOLIS THE DAY AFTER THE GAME START AROUND $800.

>> WHEN WE SEE THESE TYPES OF GAMES WHERE YOU HAVE A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE STADIUM, WHERE YOU HAVE AN ICONIC FAN SENSE OF URGENCY, IT'S AN ICONIC EXPERIENCE FOR FANS AND YOU HAVE STRONG FAN BRANDS, YOU WILL SEE THOSE PRICES CONTINUE TO BE VERY HIGH.

>> I.U.

FANS HAVE TRAVELED WELL THROUGHOUT THE POSTSEASON, DOMINATING CROWDS AT THE PEACH BOWL AND THE ROSE BOWL.

HOWEVER, ONE EXPECTS A MORE BALANCED CROWD ON MONDAY NEAT IN THE 65,000 SEAT STADIUM.

EACH SCHOOL RECEIVED 20,000 TICKETS WITH I. I.U.

DISTRIBUTING SOME THROUGH A STUDENT RAFFLE.

I.U.

SENIOR DEPESH LAKARAGU SAYS THE $120 STUDENT TICKETS SOLD OUT IN MINUTES.

IT'S ALREADY PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO TRAVEL TO MIAMI ITSELF.

SO VERY GRATEFUL THAT I.U.

HAD THAT OPTION AND THAT IT WORKED OUT FOR ME.

>> HE'S GOING TO THE GAME WITH FIVE OF HIS FRIENDS WHO ALSO GOT TICKETS THROUGH THE RAFFLE.

WITH RESELL PRICES EXCEEDING $3,000, MANY FANS ARE WEIGHING WHETHER TO ATTEND OR SELL THEIR TICKETS.

WHILE STUDENT TICKETS ARE NONTRANSFERABLE, ONE NOTED THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR NONSTUDENTS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ORIGINAL TICKET PRICES WERE AROUND $500.

FOR FANS STILL HOPING TO ATTEND, THEY RECOMMEND WATCHING THE SECONDARY MARKET CLOSELY BEFORE KICKOFF WHEN PRICES CAN DROP.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ELYSE PERRY.

>>> WELL, THERE'S MORE GOING ON IN THE STATE THAN FOOTBALL FOX AUTHOR THOSE HEADLINES WE ARE JOINED BY SHELBY BROWN.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, SHELBY.

>> THANKS, JOE.

GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN GAVE HIS SECOND STATE OF STATE ADDRESS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

BRAUN'S SPEECH FOCUSED ON INDIANA'S STRENGTHS, SETTING JOB GROWTH AND SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO ATTRACT EMPLOYERS.

HE ALSO ADDRESSED AFFORDABLE ISSUES FROM UTILITY RATES TO THE COST OF HOUSING.

.

>> I KNOW THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF AFFORDABILITY IS NEW JOBS AND HIGHER WAGES.

>> DEMOCRAT SENATOR SHELLI YODER OF BLOOMINGTON SAID THAT BRAUN'S EMBRACE OF AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WAS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

>> AFFORDABILITY CANNOT BE A SLOGAN.

IT'S A TEST OF LEADERSHIP AND ANY GOVERNMENT THAT ASKS FAMILIES TO DO MORE WITH LESS WHILE DOING POLITICS WITH MORE HAS FAILED THAT TEST.

>> BRAUN ALSO MENTIONED A NUMBER OF BILLS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY INDIANA LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING MEASURES TO INCREASE HOUSING STOCK, LIMIT BAIL, AND BAN CELL PHONES IN SCHOOL.

HE DID NOT MENTION THE STATE'S REJECTION OF HIS CALL FOR REDISTRICTING.

>>> AND THIS YEAR COULD BE LAST TIME THE FOURTH STREET FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS TAKES PLACE ON FOURTH STREET.

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS VOTED THIS WEEK TO MOVE ALL STREET FESTIVALS EITHER KIRKWOOD AVENUEO THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE FOR THE TRADES DISTRICT.

THEY CITE SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS SAY THE MOVE COULD DAMAGE ITS REPUTATION.

>> A PERMANENT MOVE RISKS LOSS OF IDENTITY, ARTISTS' CONFIDENCE AND POSSIBLE LONG-TERM IF A BILL -- STABILITY.

>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOURTH STREET.

THE LOTUS EDUCATION AND ARTS FOUNDATION FOUNDER HAS DIED AT 68, AFTER A YEAR'S LONG BATTLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

WILLIAMS BEGAN HIS CAREER IN THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE, BOOKING SHOWS AT SECOND STORY AND JAKE'S IN THE 1980s AND '90s.

HE FOUNDED THE LOTUS FESTIVAL IN 1994, AND RETIRED AS ITS DIRECTOR IN 2017.

>>> AFTER EXTENSIVE TORNADO DAMAGE IN MAY, THE PEOPLE AND ANIMAL LEARNING SERVICES ORGANIZATION BUILDING IS REBUILDING.

OUR ISABELLA VESPIRINI HAS MORE.

>> PALS IS AN ORGANIZATION ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN PROVIDING EQUAL AND ASSISTED LEARNING PROGRAMS AND RIDING LESSONS FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS AND VETERANS.

THE TORNADO DAMAGED MOST OF ITS BUILDINGS, INCLUDING A 30,000 SQUARE FOOT INDOOR ARENA.

>> WE WERE UP SERVING OUR CLIENTS ONE MONTH LATER BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OUTDOOR IF A FACILITY HERE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR HORSES BACK ON LOCATION AND UP AND RUNNING.

>> THE REBUILDING PLANS INCLUDE AN OUTDOOR LEARNING PAVILION AND UPGRADES TO THE BIGGER INDOOR AARENA WITH COUNSELING ROOMS.

>> WE WILL HAVE MORE SPACE, IF YOU WILL, IN THE REENA -- ARENA TO THE E.A.L., AND THE ADAPTIVE RIDING.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE BOTH GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.

SO ESSENTIALLY DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF CLIENTS WE CAN SERVE.

>> CONSTRUCTION ON THE FOUNDATION STARTED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AFTER DELAYS EARLY ON, EVERYTHING IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE.

>> WE ARE LIMITED BY WEATHER EXPOSURE TO OUR OUTDOOR ARENA.

SO WEATHER WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE CHALLENGED WITH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WINTER.

WE DO HAVE A SMALL SPACE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE SOME PROGRAMMING, BUT WE REALLY NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP US THROUGH THESE FEW MONTHS SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR PROGRAMMING BACK UP TO FULL SPEED IN THE SPRING.

>> DURING CONSTRUCTION, HERRING IS WORKING ON ADDING NEW CLASSES AND PARTNERSHIPS.

SHE HOPES THAT ACTIVITIES CAN GO BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON US.

THE POWER OF UNITING THE HUMAN HORSE -- THAT HUMAN-HORSE CONNECTION CHANGES LIVES.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

IT'S MORE THAN A PONY RIDE.

IT'S BRINGING PEOPLE AND HORSES TOGETHER.

THE HORSES REALLY HELP PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

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

>> IT WILL COST ABOUT $1.5 MILLION TO REBUILD THE 30,000 SQUARE FOOT INDOOR ARENA ALONE.

AND JOE, THEY SAID INSURANCE WILL COVER MOST OF THAT AND THE REST WILL COME FROM DONATIONS.

>> I'M GLAD THEY ARE REBUILDING.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHELBY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A SOFTBALL PLAYER TURNED BOXER, COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOLER HAYDEN JIMENEZ HAS EMBRACED A SPORT THAT HAS TURNED HER INTO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

OUR ISABELLA VESPERINI WENT TO ONE OF HER PRACTICES TO LEARN MORE AND HAS THIS STORY.

>> AT 17 YEARS OLD, HAYDEN IS CURRENTLY RANKED THIRD IN THE NATION.

SHE'S ONLY BEEN COMPETING FOR TWO YEARS.

>> IT STARTS WITH GETTING BEAT UP IN THE PROCESS.

I GOT BEAT UP, I CRIED, BLED AND PUKED A LOT AND THEN YOU JUST GET USED TO, AND NOW IT'S JUST LIKE, WHATEVER.

>> SHE FIRST STARTED BOXING WHEN SHE WAS 9 YEARS OLD, BUT QUIT FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE RESTARTING WHEN SHE WAS 12.

HER MOM WHO WAS A BOXER FOR TWO YEARS, HELPED HER GET BACK INTO THE SPORT.

>> SHE TOLD MY BIG BROTHER AND ME TO COME AND WE WOULD WORK OUT, AND THEN ALSO WHENEVER I QUIT, I WAS -- ME AND MY FAMILY WERE BIG ALVAREZ FANS.

WE WOULD WATCH HIM.

AND I JUST REALIZED, LIKE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL AND I WANTED TO START UP AGAIN.

>> SHE WON HER FIRST MATCH ON HER SOMEWHAT -- 15th BIRTH DAY.

SHE DEFEATED THE NUMBER ONE GIRL IN THE COUNTRY IN LAST DECEMBER'S NATIONAL SEMIFINALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.. SHE LOST THE TITLE BOUT, EARNING A SILVER MEDAL.

>> THERE ARE DAYS WHERE I REALLY WANTED TO QUIT AND I DIDN'T FEEL AS GOOD AS THE OTHER PEOPLE, BUT HONESTLY, I WAS COMPARING MYSELF TO BOYS AND IT WAS WAY HARDER, BUT I PUSHED THROUGH IT AND I BUILD MY MINDSET AND MY MENTALITY STRONG.

SO I JUST KEPT ON AND I REALLY LOVE IT NOW.

>> SHE SPARS WITH GUYS AT THE GYM.

HER COACH SAYS THERE AREN'T ANY FEMALES IN THE STATE AT HER WEIGHT CLASS WHO CAN COMPETE WITH HER.

>> WE HAVE LITERALLY TRAVEL OUT OF STATE JUST FOR HER TO COMPETE, BECAUSE HER SKILL LEVEL IS GROWING SO RAPIDLY.

SHE DOES SPAR WITH SOME OF THE NEWER GIRLS, HELPING THEM LEARN AND SHE SPARS WITH OUR HIGHLY COMPETITIVE BOYS.

I'VE SEEN HER SEND BOYS OUT OF THE GYM WITH BLOODY NOSES.

I'VE SEEN HER BEAT UP GROWN MEN.

>> HAYDEN WILL BE COMPETING THIS WEEKEND AT THE SILVER GLOVES REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN ELKHART WHERE STATE CHAMPIONS FROM KENTUCKY, OHIO, AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE ALSO COMPETING.

IN TRAINING, THEY FOCUS ON CARDIO AND BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRYING TO SHARPEN THINGS, SHARPEN SKILLS.

GAME PLANS, BEING ABLE TO EXECUTE THINGS IN THE RING THAT WE SEE OR THAT WE WORK FOR AND THEN DOING IT.

>> HAYDEN'S DAD DIDN'T EXPECT HIS DAUGHTER TO BECOME A BOXER BUT IS PROUD OF HOW FAR SHE'S COME.

SHE USED TO WORK AT TARGET BUT HE LET HER QUIT SO SHE COULD FOCUS MORE ON BOXING.

>> SHE GIVES 110%.

AND I'M EXCITED WHERE SHE AT NOW.

I HAVE A TALK WITH HER, AND SHE GOT OUR SUPPORT, 110% FROM MOM AND DAD.

I TALKED TO HER ABOUT IF SHE DON'T NEED TO WORK, AS LONG AS SHE PUT THE WORK.

>> HAYDEN'S DAD ISN'T WORRIED ABOUT HER GETTING PUNCHED IN THE FACE.

HE KNOWS HOW TOUGH SHE IS.

I.

>> I KNOW SHE'S STRONG.

I DON'T THINK ABOUT HER BEING IN A RISK OF ANY KIND.

>> CAPPY SAID INDIANA IS NOT A BOXING STRONG HOLD BUT SURROUNDED BY STATES WHERE IT'S MORE POPULAR, OHIO, MICHIGAN AND KENTUCKY, THE HOME STATE OF MUHAMMAD ALI.

>> MOST OF YOUR BOXING GYMS ARE NOT BUSINESSES.

IT'S JUST PEOPLE WHO LOVE HELPING KIDS AND HELPING PROVIDING LIFE SKILLS AND IT'S REALLY BOOMING.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GET KIDS WHO ARE GOOD KIDS AND THEY RESPOND WELL, AND THEY LEAD BY EXAMPLE, IT MAKES, YOU KNOW, OTHER KIDS GET INTERESTED.

>> HAYDEN, A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HAS PLENTY OF AMBITION FOR HER FUTURE IN BOXING.

>> I HOPE TO BECOME AN OLYMPIAN, AND I WANT TO BECOME PRO.

I REALLY WANT TO BECOME SOMEONE BIG AND I CAN INSPIRE LITTLE GIRLS TO BECOME SOMETHING GREAT.

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

>>> IF HAYDEN WINS THE TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND THIS WEEKEND, SHE WILL COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL SILVER GLOVES COMPETITION AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

SHE'S ALSO CONSIDERING COMPETING IN AN ALL-WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT IN COLORADO IN MARCH, AND THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS IN THE SUMMER.

>>> BLOOMINGTON'S ANNUAL DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY WILL HONOR THE WOMEN CONTEMPORARIES OF KING THIS YEAR.

>> THEY DID BEHIND-THE-SCENES SORT OF THANKLESS WORK BUT THAT WORK WAS SO INSTRUMENTAL.

THAT WORK WAS SO IMPORTANT IN SHAPING WHAT WE THEN SAW HAPPEN.

>>> THE EVENT IS FREE AND BEGINS 5:30 P.M.

AT THE BUSKIRK-CHUMLEY THEATER.

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 POSSIBLE IN PART BY: