>>> A BROWN COUNTY MAP IS SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT HE SAYS IS PRESSURING APPLE TO REMOVE AN APP HE CREATED THAT SHARES VIDEOS OF I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SCAMMERS WHO ARE USING LOST PETS TO TARGET PET OWNERS, INCLUDING ONE BLOOMINGTON WOMAN.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR ANNEXATION AFTER THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

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.

A BROWN COUNTY MAN CREATED AN APP TO SHARE AND CREATE CATALOGS OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY I.C.E.

NOW HE'S SUING THE GOVERNMENT FOR PRESSURING APPLE TO TAKE HIS APP OFF THE APPLE STORE.

>> IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY MARK HODGES PREFERS THE DEEP WOODS OF SOUTHERN INDIANA.

THIS IS A PEACEFUL PLACE TO RAISE HIS KIDS AND HE ENJOYS STUNNING VIEWS OF THE ROLLING HILLS.

THEN HE GOES BACK INSIDE.

HE SITS AT HIS COMPUTER AND HODGES WATCHES HOUR AFTER HOUR OF I.C.E.

AGENTS SMASHING CAR WINDOWS, TACKLING PROTESTERS AND BRANDISHING WEAPONS.

>> WHAT I SEE, QUITE FRANKLY, I WILL -- I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SHAKE.

>> HODGES BEGAN COLLECTING FOOTAGE OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LAST SUMMER WHEN PROTESTERS CLASHED WITH I.C.E.

IN THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES.

VIDEOS WERE THERE ONE DAY AND GONE THE NEXT.

>> THESE VIDEOS WERE DISAPPEARING AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO TRY AND PRESERVE AS MANY AS WE COULD FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PURPOSES.

>> HE CREATED EYES UP FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL USE, BUT AFTER TALKING WITH OTHERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN HIS WORK, HODGES LAUNCHED A WEB APP.

HE FOUNDED A GROUP, A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS NAME.

THEY LAUNCHED MIDWAY BLITZ IN CHICAGO.

HODGES RECRUITED 30 PEOPLE TO LOCATE AND VERIFY VIDEOS.

>> WE HAD THOUSANDS OF DOWNLOADS IN DAYS.

IT WAS LOOKING FAIRLY PROMISING AND PEOPLE WERE SUBMITTING THINGS.

>> AS EYES UP AND OTHER ICE WATCHDOG APPS SUCH AS ICE BLOCK GREW, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TOOK NOTICE.

IN EARLY OCTOBER, APPLE REMOVED THOSE APPS FROM THE STORE CITING GUIDANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IN A STATEMENT TO FOX NEWS, BONDY SAID THEY DID SO AT HER DEMAND.

>> WHEN APPLE PULLED THE PLUG ON IT, DOWNLOADS FOR THAT STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, USAGE OF IT THEN ALSO STOPPED.

>> NEITHER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, NOR APPLE RESPONDED TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

WHILE THE EYES UP APP REMAINS ON ANDROID AND A WEBSITE IS STILL ONLINE, HODGES SAID THE EFFORT HAS NOT RECOVERED FROM APPLE'S TAKEDOWN.

THAT'S WHEN THE FIRE REACHED OUT.

A FREE SPEECH ORGANIZATION THAT TAKES FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES TO COURT.

>> IF THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T ALLOWED TO CENSOR SPEECH DIRECTLY BECAUSE IT WOULD VIOLATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT, THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT INDIRECTLY EITHER, BY COERCING PRIVATE ENTITIES LIKE APPLE AND FACEBOOK.

>> McDONALD SAYS THE CASE IS STRONG BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF GOVERNMENT CHALLENGES TO CRITICAL SPEECH.

>> THE CORE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT AT ISSUE HERE IS THE RIGHT TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR GOVERNMENT.

>> FILMING I.C.E.

OFFICERS IS LEGAL, BUT I.C.E.

AGENTS HAVE THREATENED TO PUT PEOPLE DOCUMENTING THEM ON A DOMESTIC TERRORIST LIST.

THEY IDENTIFIED A LIST OF LEFT WING TERRORISTS IN SEPTEMBER.

BONDY REFUSED TO ANSWER A QUESTION ON WEDNESDAY FROM CONGRESS ABOUT WHO IS ON IT.

>> I JUST REMIND YOU THAT'S A YES OR NO QUESTION.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER IT YES OR NO.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS I KNOW ANTIFA IS PART OF THAT.

>> THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE FOR HODGES IN FILING A LAWSUIT.

HE HAS A FULL-TIME JOB AS A VIDEOGRAPHER AND TWO CHILDREN.

THE YOUNGEST OF WHOM WAS BORN JUST LAST WEEK.

HE BELIEVES BASED ON THE GOVERNMENT'S CHANGING DEFINITION, HE MAY ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERED A TERRORIST.

>> DO THEY LIKELY VIEW ME THAT WAY?

PROBABLY, YEAH.

YEAH.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE BEEN A LITTLE HESITANT TO COME FORWARD.

>> HE'S FILING JOINTLY WITH CASSANDRA ROSATTO, A CHICAGO RESIDENT WHOSE WEBSITE DISABLED.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR HODGES ISN'T IMMIGRATION POLICY OR WHAT'S LEGAL AND WHAT'S NOT.

IT'S ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE ARE TREATED.

>> YOU NEED TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.

I THINK THAT'S A -- CERTAINLY A MIDWESTERN VALUE.

IT'S AN AMERICAN VALUE, AND IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING TO SEE PEOPLE BEING TREATED LIKE ANIMALS.

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

>>> THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT WILL NOT TAKE UP BLOOMINGTON'S APPEAL IN THE ANNEXATION CASE OF THE WESTERN LAND PARCELS DESIGNATED AS AREAS 1A AND 1B.

RESIDENTS IN THOSE AREAS HAD LESS THAN 65% OF REMONSTRANT SIGNATURES NEEDED TO OVERTURN THE ANNEXATION, BUT MORE THAN THE 51% OF SIGNATURES TO APPEAL IN COURT.

NOW, A CIRCUIT JUDGE RULED IN AUGUST OF 2024 THAT THE CITY DIDN'T INTRODUCE EVIDENCE OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, AND ANNEXATION WASN'T IN THE BEST INTEREST OF LANDOWNERS.

STATE APPEALS COURT JUDGES AND NOW THE STATE SUPREME COURT AGREED.

WE'RE JOINED BY MARGARET CLEMENTS, THE PRESIDENT OF COUNTY RESIDENTS AGAINST ANNEXATION.

THANKSSO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE, JOE.

>> YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE A RULING ON 1A AND 1B, I ASSUME THIS IS GOOD NEWS AND PEOPLE ARE PLEASED ABOUT THIS.

>> WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE FINALLY BEEN VINDICATED IN COURT BY NINE JUDGES.

NINE JUDGES HAVE AGREED WITH THE REMONSTRATORS, THAT THE LEGAL STANDARD FOR ANNEXATION WAS NOT MET FOR ANNEXATION AREAS 1A AND 1B, THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN 1A AND 1B, THAT THE ANNEXATION WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THEM, AND THAT THE ANNEXATION SHOULD NOT PROCEED.

SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT THE NINE JUDGES HAVE AGREED WITH THE REMONSTRANTS.

>> THE NINE JUDGES ALL THE WAY FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT, APPEALS TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

>> WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT THAT MAP OF 1A AND 1B, IT'S KIND OF SOUTHERN, WESTERN PORTIONS OF -- FROM THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE RESIDENTS AND WHY THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE ANNEXED.

>> YES.

I CAN.

THEY'RE GOOD HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN BLOOMINGTON FOR A LONG TIME, PROBABLY THEIR LIFETIME EARNING POTENTIAL WAS CUT SHORT BY PINK SLIPS THEY GOT FROM G.E.

AND NOTICE ELEVATOR AND THEY HAVE EKED OUT AN EXISTENCE THAT THEY THEMSELVES CAN AFFORD IN PROPERTIES IN ANNEXATION AREAS 1A AND 1B, AND SO THIS IS VERY MUCH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE, AS WELL AS A MINERAL RIGHTS ISSUE, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME QUARRIES IN ANNEXATION AREAS IN 1A THAT PRODUCE SOME OF OUR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PATRIMONY.

SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THAT LAND FROM DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THE NATURAL RESOURCE CAN BE RESERVED AND MAINTAINED.

>> NOW, THE CITY SAYS, YOU KNOW, IF IT CAN'T GROW, IT WILL SEE ECONOMIC DECLINE.

ARE YOU OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON GROWING?

>> NO, AND THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GROW.

I LOVE GROWTH, AND GROWTH IN A POSITIVE FASHION CAN RESULT IN JOBS FOR PEOPLE.

IT CAN RESULT IN A BETTER LIFESTYLE FOR PEOPLE, AND THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO GROW.

WE CAN GROW TO BE BETTER, BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR STREETS, AND BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED AND BETTER STEWARDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE TRICK IS TO INVOLVE THE PEOPLE IN THE VISION OF THEIR OWN DETERMINATION.

AND THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE BROADLY.

>> SO, OF COURSE, THERE'S TWO ADMINISTRATIONS, YOU HAVE THE HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION AND NOW KERRY THOMSON.

>> YES.

>> WHAT -- WHAT WENT WRONG?

>> A FAILURE TO LISTEN.

A FAILURE TO REVIEW THE FACTS, IN MY OPINION, AND IN THE JUDGES' OPINION.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SPENT, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY ON AN ANNEXATION THAT FAILED IN LARGE PART BECAUSE THE LEGAL STANDARD WASN'T MET.

THE LEGAL STANDARD, THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE LEGAL STANDARD WAS MET BEFORE THEY EVER ATTEMPTED THE ANNEXATION, IN MY OPINION.

>> 30 SECONDS LEFT.

REALLY QUICKLY, COULD THE CITY GO BACK AND TRY 1A AND 1B AGAIN?

IS THERE A LITTLE ASPECT?

>> I THINK IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS IS THE CASE LAW, THEY COULD.

BUT I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT IT HAD TO GO TO THE COURT.

IT'S BEEN VERY DIVISIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND HARMFUL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE COHESIVE, HEALING COMMUNITY EFFORT THAT INVOLVES ALL MEMBERS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

NOW, THERE'S STILL ONE CASE REGARDING ANNEXATION IN THE COUNTY TO BE DECIDED.

THE SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS LAST OCTOBER ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF A 2019 STATE LAW THAT RETROACTIVELY INVALIDATED ANNEXATION WAIVERS.

WE DID REACH OUT TO THE CITY FOR ITS RESPONSE TO THE ANNEXATION RULING BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

>>> AN INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROAD PROJECT THAT WILL CUT DOWN 50 TREES HAS SPARKED OPPOSITION.

IT INVOLVES IMPROVEMENTS TO STATE ROAD 55 AND EAST 10th STREET AND PETE ELLIS DRIVE AND DISCOVERY PARKWAY.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE PLACED SIGNS AROUND THE MARKED TREES SAYING STOP IN-DOT WITH THE NUMBER TO CALL THE DEPARTMENT.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO CHOP 'EM DOWN SO THEY CAN PUT ASPHALT DOWN, WHICH DOESN'T HELP OUR GREEN SPACE, DOESN'T HELP THE BIRDS, DOESN'T HELP OXYGEN LEVELS.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S ENGINEERING DIRECTOR ANDREW SEABORE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TREE REMOVAL UNTIL HE HEARD AND SAW THE MARKED TREES.

HE SAYS THE CITY HAS HEARD COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND HAS SIMILAR CONCERNS AND COMMUNICATED WITH IN-DOT ABOUT IT.

>> SO WE WOULD MORE LIKELY TO PRESERVE AND ENCOURAGE TREES ALONG OUR ROADS.

SO DIFFERENT AGENCIES MAY HAVE SOME GOALS THAT DON'T ALWAYS PERFECTLY ALIGN WITH EACH OTHER.

>> THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE ROAD WIDENING, THE ADDITIONAL BICYCLE LANES AND TURN LANES AND AIM TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR ALL TRAFFIC PARTICIPANTS.

CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN THE SPRING OF 2027.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY SHELBY BROWN FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, SHELBY.

>> THANKS, JOE.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY FACULTY SAY THEY ARE APPALLED BY A CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL RECRUITMENT EFFORT SHARED ON THE UNIVERSITY EVENTS CALENDAR.

THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING I.U.

TO REMOVE I.C.E., BORDER PATROL AS APPROVED EMPLOYERS FOR THE CALENDAR.

IT CITES KILLINGS BY AGENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND WHAT IT SAYS INFRINGEMENTS ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

>> THE UNIVERSITY IS NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED, NOR ETHICALLY COMPELLED TO PROVIDE A RECRUITMENT PLATFORM TO ATTRACT INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS INTO AGENCIES WITH A DOCUMENTED RECORD OF VIOLENCE.

>> THE RESOLUTION PASSED WITH 42 YES VOTES AND 10 NO.

SIX MEMBER ABSTAINED A STATE LAW THIS PAST YEAR, STRIPPED THE BOARD OF AUTHORITY, AND THIS IS ADVISORY ONLY.

>>> FLUORIDE WAS GRADUALLY REINTRODUCED JANUARY 28th, BRINGING LEVELS BACK TO THE RECOMMENDED RANGE.

THE FLUORIDE ISSUES BEGAN WITH A TANK LEAK IN LATE 2019 AND CBU DISCONTINUED SUPPLEMENTAL NORIDE FEED IN 2022.

CBU SAID LAST YEAR, BOONE'S DRINKING WATER MET ALL FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS DECIDE THE ABSENCE OF FLUORIDE.

>>> INDIANA RESIDENTS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CHANGE THEIR GENDER MARKER ON DRIVER'S LICENSES BEGINNING THIS WEEK.

THAT'S DESPITE A VAST MAJORITY OF TESTIMONY AT THE STATE HOUSE AND WRITTEN COMMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE BMV OPPOSED THE MOVE.

THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THAT THE RULE COMPRISES WITH MIKE BRAUN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON SEX AND GENDER.

>> THE BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER SAYS A LITTLE MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS IS BEING DONATED BACK TO THE COUNTY FROM THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR.

THE NONPROFIT SAYS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, MORE THAN $800,000 HAS BEEN SENT TO BROWN COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR DISTRIBUTION.

AN AVERAGE OF 80,000 PEOPLE HAVE ATTENDED EVENTS THE PAST THREE YEARS.

>>> INDIANA'S FIRST MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR HOUSING I.C.E.

DETAINEES IS NEARLY $1.25 MILLION.

THE PAYMENT IS FOR MORE THAN $4,000 I.C.E.

BEDS AT THE MIAMI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

AND THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE $6 MILLION UP FRONT PAYMENT THEY RECEIVED TO PREPARE THE FACILITY.

INDIANA HAS A TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH U.S.

IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT TO HOLE UP TO 1,000 DETAINEES AT A TIME.

>>> THE PRISONER AT THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX IN TERRE HAUTE HAS DIED AFTER BEING FOUND UP RESPONSIVE.

IT'S THE SECOND UNEXPLAINED DEATH THIS YEAR AT THE CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX.

45-YEAR-OLD CALEB ALLEN ROOT WAS SERVING A TEN-YEAR SENTENCE FOR FIREARMS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENSES.

PRISON BUREAU OFFICIALS SAY THEY NOTIFIED THE FBI ABOUT BOTH INCIDENTS.

>>> AND STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE COLLECTED MORE THAN 500 DEAD CROWS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO REPORT FINDING NEW BODIES.

THE VIGO COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SAY THE DEAD CROWS FIRST APPEARED IN DECEMBER, TESTING SHOWED THAT BIRDS HAD DIED FROM AVIAN INFLUENZA.

>> WE JUST ALL OF THESE CROWS ON THE GROUND.

I WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, IS THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE HAPPENING?

IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY LOW RISK AT TRANSMITTING INTO HUMANS.

>> AND JOE, THE CITY HAS RECOMMENDED KEEPING CATS WHO CAN GET THE AVIAN FLU INDOORS DURING THE OUTBREAK.

>>> TERRE HAUTE HAS HAD A CROW PROBLEM FOR YEARS, BUT THIS IS -- THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE PLAN.

THANK YOU, SHELBY.

SCAMMERS ARE TARGETING THE OWNERS OF LOST PETS, INCLUDING ONE WOMAN IN BLOOMINGTON.

ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS, THE CRIMINALS IMPERSONATE ANIMAL SHELTERS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> THIS CAT'S FULL NAME IS BOBBY DeNIRO, BUT TO HIS FAMILY, HIS BENNY.

HE'S NOT SUPER ADVENTUROUS, AND IT MADE IT SHOCKING LAST THURSDAY WHEN THEY ARE DAUGHTER PHONED HER AT WORK TO SAY BENNY WAS GONE SHOO WE STARTED LOOKING OUTSIDE, DROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TALKED TO A FEW ANIMALS.

WENT TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER, CHECKED THE INTAKE THERE.

STARTED POSTING HIM ON FACEBOOK.

>> BRADLEY AND HER DAUGHTER DID EVERYTHING YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WHEN LOOKING FOR A LOST PET, PUTTING UP POSTERS THAT AFTERNOON AND SHARING BENNY'S PICTURE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

LATE THAT NIGHT, THE PHONE RANG, AND IT SAID IT WAS MONROE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> IT SAID MONROE COUNTY SHERIFFS AND I PANICKED AND ANSWERED THE PHONE.

THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE WHO SAID HE WAS WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THAT THEY HAD LOCATED MY MALE CAT.

>> THE MAN TOLD BRADLEY THAT BENNY HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR.

>> HE LISTED OFF, YOU KNOW, A BROKEN FIBULA AND A SLIPPED DISC THAT WAS CAUSING TEMPORARY PARALYSIS AND IF WE DIDN'T ACT RIGHT AWAY, HE COULD BE PERMANENTLY PARALYZED AND THE HUMAN SOCIETY PHONE NUMBER SHOWED UP.

THE MAN WHO INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS DANIEL WAS PUT ON THE LINE, SAYING IN THE MORNING SHE WOULD PAY FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY THROUGH PAYPAL OR ZELLE.

>> SO IT FELT REAL, LIKE THIS STUFF WENT ON -- [ CAT MEOWING ] AND SO HE LISTED OFF ABOUT A 2400 PRICE TAG ON THIS VET BILL.

>> DANIEL CALLED HER BACK THE NEXT MORNING TO LET HER KNOW THAT BENNY'S SURGERY WAS SUCCESSFUL AND ARRANGE PAYMENT OVER THE PHONE.

SHE SENT THE MONEY.

HE TOLD HER TO PICK UP BENNY FROM THE SHELTER AT 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON THEN THE CALL DROPPED.

BRADLEY CALLED THE SHELTER, BUT IT WAS CLOSED.

SHE CALLED THE OFFICER, AND BRADLEY REALIZED SHE HAD BEEN CAMMED.

>> MOST HEART BREAKING PART THAT STOPPED US FOR LOOKING FOR HIM FOR ABOUT 13 HOURS BECAUSE WE THOUGHT HE WAS IN THE CARE OF A VET.

AND HE HAD BEEN OUTSIDE -- I MEAN, WE'RE DEAD OF WINTER RIGHT NOW AND HE HAD BEEN OUTSIDE THIS ENTIRE TIME.

>> LOST PET SCAMS ARE UNFORTUNATELY COMMON.

>> WE USUALLY GET SOMEBODY WHO SAYS THAT THEY FOUND A PERSON'S CAT, AND THEY WANT SOME MONEY OR JUST THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, AT LEAST I'VE PERSONALLY HEARD OF SOMEBODY POSING AS ANIMAL CONTROL OR OUR SHELTER SAYING THAT THEY FOUND A CAT.

>> BUT IT'S HAPPENED ELSEWHERE IN THE COMPANY.

WEB APPS MAKE IT EASY FOR SCAMMERS TO IMITATE PHONE NUMBERS AND FIND PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PET OWNERS.

WHEN THEY THINK THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A LOST PET OWNER, THE NEXT STEP IS CONFIRMING IN PERSON.

>> THE FIRST THING WE TELL PEOPLE IS COME IN.

WE WANT TO SEE THEM HERE.

WE WANT TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEM VISUALLY IDENTIFY THAT THIS IS THEIR CAT BEFORE WE MAKE 100% MATCH.

>> BENNY'S STORY HAS AS HAPPY ENDING.

AFTER BRADLEY REALIZED SHE WAS SCAMMED THEY HOPPED BACK IN THE CAR TO RESUME THE SEARCH.

>> WE ENDED UP FINDING HIM WITHIN HALF HOUR OF THE RELOOK THE NEXT MORNING.

SHE SCREAMED STOP THE CAR, JUMPED OUT AND THERE HE WAS UNDER THE TREE AND NOT INJURED.

PERFECTLY FINE.

>> BRADLEY'S PAYMENT WAS CANCELED.

SO SHE DIDN'T LOSE MONEY TO THE SCAM.

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

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAYS ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT A CALL FROM THE AGENCY SHOULD CONTACT CENTRAL DISPATCH OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY.

>>> LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO WRAP UP THIS YEAR'S SESSION BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WITH EACH CHAMBER NOW REVIEWING EACH OTHER'S BILLS.

THURSDAY HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASSED SENATE BILL 76, WHICH MANDATES LOCAL COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES, THE BILL WOULD ALLOW THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO SEEK SANCTIONS AGAINST BUSINESSES FOUND TO HAVE HIRED UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS.

>> WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SITUATION LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS.

BY MAKING SURE THAT WE DO COMPLY AND FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW.

>> THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL DETAINER REQUESTS FOR IMMIGRANTS, SUSPECTED OF BEING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

>>> IF INDIANA'S NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM IS TO CONTINUE IT WILL DO SO UNDER MORE RESTRICTIONS.

THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE ADDED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE BILL REQUIRING IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE USING THE EXCHANGE AND LIMITING THOSE TRANSACTIONS TO ONE TO ONE EXCHANGES.

IT ALSO CUTS THE EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAM FROM TEN TO TWO YEARS.

>> WE'VE HEARD FROM DOCTORS, WE'VE HEARD FROM ADDICTS AND EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN.

EVERYBODY BRINGS SOMETHING TO THIS TABLE AND TO THIS COMMITTEE.

I THINK THE ENEMY OF GOOD IS BETTER.

THE ENEMY OF IDEALISM IS THE LOSS OF A SYRINGE PROGRAM.

>> IF THE BILL FAILS, SIX COUNTIES, INCLUDING MONROE WOULD HAVE TO SUNSET THEIR PROGRAMS BY JULY.

>>> PARENTS CAN LET THEIR KIDS PLAYOUTSIDE WITHOUT SUPERVISION AND WON'T RISK ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD NEGLECT UNDER A BILL ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR.

DUBBED A LET KIDS BE KIDS MEASURE, LAWMAKERRED SAY THE GOAL IS TO DRAW CLEARER LINES BETWEEN ORDINARY AGE APPROPRIATE INDEPENDENCE AND ACTUAL NEGLECT.

THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AS THE FIRST BILL TO MAKE IT TO THE GOVERNOR THIS SESSION.

>>> STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO STORE THEIR CELL PHONES IN A LOCKER OR ANOTHER LOCATION UNDER A BILL THAT'S MOVING FORWARD.

INDIANA'S CURRENT LAW ONLY FORBIDS STUDENTS FROM USING DEVICES DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.

THE BILL'S AUTHOR SAYS THE NEW LANGUAGE WILL ELIMINATE INCONSISTENCIES THAT ALLOW PHONES DURING LUNCH, PASSING PERIODS, OR AT INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS DISCRETION.

>>> SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY A BILL PLACING MORE REGULATIONS ON HEMP WILL FORCE THEM TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.

LAWMAKERS SAID THEY ARE CONFORMING TO FEDERAL CHANGES MADE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAST YEAR AND CLOSING AN EXISTING LOOPHOLE.

THE BILL WOULD BAN SYNTHETIC THC AND MAKE CERTAIN LEVELS ILLEGAL.

>> IT IS EGREGIOUS TO ME THAT MY KID CAN WALK IN A GAS STATION AND BUY THIS STUFF.

IT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.

AND I BEG SOMEBODY TO COME HERE AND STAND HERE AND TELL ME THAT THAT'S DIFFERENT.

>>> THE BILL CREATES A REGULATORY AND LICENSING STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCTS THAT WOULD STILL BE LEGAL FOR PEOPLE 21 AND UP.

>>> WELL, A BRONZE STATUE OF BOB KNIGHT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE SOUTH LOBBY OF SIMON SKJODT ASSEMBLY HALL.

THEY ANNOUNCED PLANS DURING MONDAY NIGHT'S CELEBRATION OF THE UNDEFEATED 1976 NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

HEADLINE STUDIOS WILL DESIGN THE BRONZE STATUTE.

IT WILL BE ERECTED NEAR THE PLAYERS.

>> SEEP KNIGHT SAID THAT FANS SHOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE GROUP BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER SEE A GROUP LIKE IT AGAIN.

>> NO TIMELINE WAS ANNOUNCED FOR WHEN THE STATUE WILL BE UNVEILED.

>>> VALENTINE'S DAY IS TOMORROW, AND IT'S THE BUSINESS EEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR FOR -- BUSIEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR FOR FLORISTS.

AND MARY M.

'S WALNUT HOUSE FLOWERS WHICH STARTED TO PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAY OVER A MONTH AND A HALF AGO.

>> OWNER SAYS PREPARING FOR VALENTINE'S DAY IS THE SAME ROUTINE EACH YEAR.

THEY GET THE FLOWER ORDERS AND GETTING THE ROSES ORDER FOR SALE.

PREPARATION ALSO INCLUDES SETTING UP VALENTINE'S DAY DECORATIONS IN THE STORE, AND MAKING MORE FLOOR ROOM FOR WALK-IN TRAFFIC.

>> ORGANIZED CHAOS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT IS.

SO THAT'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING SCIENTIFIC TO IT.

WE JUST KIND OF GO WITH THE FLOW.

WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND WE TRY TO ANTICIPATE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

>> CISCO SAYS DEMAND IS DOWN THIS YEAR FOR VALENTINE'S DAY BECAUSE IT FALLS ON A SATURDAY, WHEN SALES ARE TRADITIONALLY LESS, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ARE NOT FANTASTIC VALENTINE'S.

SO PEOPLE MAKE OTHER PLANS.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GET FLOWERS.

THEY MAY GO OUT FOR DINNER OR GO ON AN EXCURSION.

>> THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT SEE A CHANGE IN PRICE FROM LAST YEAR, AT MARY M.

'S A DOZEN ROSES PURCHASED IN STORE COST $20.99.

OTHER FLOWER TYPES CAN BE PURCHASED BY STEM AND THERE WILL BE PREMADE BOUQUETS.

AFTER THE HOLIDAY, THE PRICE FOR ROSES GOES BACK TO $14.99.

>>> CISCO SAYS SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE SMILES ENTERING AND LEAVING THE STORE.

>> I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND, AND THAT THOSE INCLUDE FLOWERS AND EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.

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

>> 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: