>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE SEVENTY- FIFTH RUNNING OF THE LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACE AT I-U.

BUT LIKE EVERY RACE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, NO BLACK TEAMS WILL BE PARTICIPATING.

THE FAMILY OF A PIONEERING BLACK AVIATRIX FROM TERRE HAUTE SAY SHE DESERVES A PLACE IN THE STATE'S AVIATION HALL OF FAME.

AND WE TALK TO THE THREE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES VYING TO BECOME THE NEXT MONROE COUNTY CLERK.

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.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S MEN'S LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACE IS MARKING ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND.

WHILE THE RACE HAS GAINED INCREASED VISIBILITY OVER ITS LONG HISTORY, STUDENT LEADERS SAY THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE TO INCLUDE EVERYONE IN THE CELEBRATION.

AS ELYSE PERRY REPORTS, IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A DECADE SINCE A BLACK TEAM HAS COMPETED IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST COLLEGE WEEKEND.

>> THE INAUGURAL LITTLE 500 RACE WAS IN 1951 AROUND THE FORMER FOOTBALL FIELD AT TENTH STREET STADIUM, WHICH IS NOW THE ARBORETUM.

THE RACE'S FIRST YEAR SAW ITS FIRST ALL-BLACK TEAM WITH ALPHA PHI ALPHA.

ON ITS 17TH ANNIVERSARY IN 1968, MORE THAN 60 ACTIVISTS STAGED A THREE-DAY NON-VIOLENT SIT-IN ON THE TRACK TO PROTEST DISCRIMINATION.

THE DEMONSTRATION LED TO ALL BUT ONE FRATERNITY REMOVING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CLAUSES FROM THEIR NATIONAL CHARTERS.

BUT 58 YEARS AFTER "THE WORLD'S GREATEST COLLEGE WEEKEND" WAS USED AS A CIVIL RIGHTS PLATFORM, AN ALL-BLACK TEAM HAS NOT COMPETED FOR OVER A DECADE AND SOME BLACK STUDENTS SAY THEY FEEL UNWELCOME.

>> WE GO WHERE WE'RE ACCEPTED.

AND IF WE DON'T FEEL OKAY OR ACCEPTED IN AN ENVIRONMENT, WE WON'T PUT OURSELVES IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> COOK SAYS RACISM HAS LED MANY BLACK ORGANIZATIONS TO FEEL THE NEED TO SELF-SEGREGATE DURING THE WEEKEND.

HE POINTS TO SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSES TO BLACK GROUPS CELEBRATING LITTLE 500 ON KIRKWOOD AVENUE LAST YEAR.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT TO KIRKWOOD LAST YEAR, AND IT BECAME A REALLY BIG THING THAT KIRKWOOD LOOKED LIKE ATLANTA, OR BLOOMINGTON WAS GHETTO, OR JUST A LOT OF DEROGATORY TERMS THAT WERE RELATED TO US.

>> COOK SAYS BLACK STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS HOST EVENTS DURING LITTLE 500 WHERE ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE AND FEEL WELCOME.

>> IT DEFINITELY MAKES ME FEEL SAD WHEN I HEAR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S UNFOUNDED.

CYCLING IS SUCH A TRADITIONALLY EXCLUSIVE SPORT.

IT'S VERY MALE, IT'S VERY WHITE, IT'S EXPENSIVE.

>> WHILE FARADAY SAYS ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN LITTLE 500, SHE SAYS SHE KNOWS IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

SHE SAYS THE RIDERS COUNCIL HAS PRIORITIZED ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH OUTREACH AIMED AT BRINGING IN AND SUSTAINING NEW TEAMS.

>> I DON'T GET THE FUN IN MAKING SOMETHING EXCLUSIVE AND MAKING IT FEEL LIKE IT'S A CLUB FOR ONLY THIS TYPE OF PERSON.

THAT'S NOT A VERY FUN TRADITION TO ME.

>> DIRECTOR OF IUSF EMILY CARRICO SAYS SHE HAS SPOKEN TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED MICROAGGRESSIONS OR BLATANT RACISM DURING LITTLE 500.

>> IT COULD BE SOMETHING IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY OR AN ONLINE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU KNOW THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL.

>> SHE SAYS THE FOUNDATION IS HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING ALL STUDENTS FEEL WELCOME.

ADDITIONALLY, THE RIDER'S COUNCIL IS TRYING TO IMPROVE RACE CULTURE.

>> CHANGE DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

OUR STUDENTS ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT, AND SO A LOT OF THEM COME INTO THEIR LEADERSHIP ROLES, WITH GOALS OF, 'HOW DO WE MAKE EVERYONE WHO WALKS IN THE DOORS HERE WANTS TO GET ON THAT TRACK FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING?

>> I-U-S-F HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAKE THE RACE AND SURROUNDING CULTURE MORE INCLUSIVE.

FARADAY SAYS THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED THE FIRST ATHLETES AND ACTIVISM EVENT THIS YEAR WITH ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE FIRST ALL-BLACK WOMEN'S TEAM, TEAM MARSHALL.

>> THE HISTORY CANNOT BE IGNORED, I THINK THERE CAN BE A LOT OF ROOM FOR REALLY POOR INTERPRETATIONS OF WHAT THE WEEKEND IS ABOUT.

I HOPE THAT THAT STOPS, SO THAT AND FEEL LIKE THIS IS THEIR RAADDITION TOO?

>> FOR INDIANA NEWS DESK, I'M ELYSE PERRY.

>> THIS YEAR MARKS THE THIRTY-EIGHT RUNNING OF THE WOMEN'S LITTLE 500 RACE.

>>> ELECTION DAY IS FAST APPROACHING, AND ONE CONTESTED RACE IS FOR COUNTY CLERK, WHO PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN MAKING SURE LEGAL PROCESSES, LOCAL ELECTIONS AND PUBLIC RECORDS FLOW SMOOTHLY.

THREE CANDIDATES ARE HOPING TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION NEXT MONTH TO LEAD THE OFFICE IN MONROE COUNTY.

AUBREY WRIGHT SPOKE WITH ALL THREE.

>> CANDIDATES TANNER BRANHAM, JOE DAVIS, AND TREE MARTIN-LUCAS WILL FACE OFF IN NEXT MONTH'S PRIMARY.

I CAUGHT UP WITH EACH CANDIDATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THEY WANT TO BE MONROE COUNTY'S NEXT CLERK.

ONE CANDIDATE HAS ALREADY WORKED IN THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE OFFICE RUNS SMOOTHLY.

I AM CURRENTLY THE CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK IN THE OFFICE.

SO WHENEVER OUR CURRENT CLERK IS AWAY OR OUT OF OFFICE, I'M DOING THE JOB ALREADY.

>> BRANHAM IS ALSO A GRADUATE OF I-U, AND HE HAS WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS FOR LOCAL DEMOCRATS AND LED THE MONROE COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS.

>> I HAVE BEEN A DEDICATED MEMBER OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BRING MY SKILLS, MY EXPERIENCES, MY EDUCATION, TO THE OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST CLERK'S OFFICE POSSIBLE.

>> IF ELECTED HE SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE THE OFFICE MORE MODERN AND EFFICIENT.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE IS AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT I, AS THE CLERK, AM WORKING IN A FRIENDLY AND DIPLOMATIC MANNER WITH ALL OF MY FELLOW OFFICE HOLDERS.

A BIG ISSUE WITHIN THE COUNTY, I FEEL, IS JUST BEEN• THERE'S A LOT OF INFIGHTING AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T QUITE GET ALONG, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT I CAN NAVIGATE.

>> VOTING IS ANOTHER TOP ISSUE FOR BRANHAM.

IN ADDITION TO CONNECTING WITH YOUNGER VOTERS AND INCREASING TURNOUT, HE SAYS SECURING VOTING IN ONE OF INDIANA'S SOLID BLUE COUNTIES IS A TOP PRIORITY.

>> PART OF PROTECTING OUR ELECTIONS HERE LOCALLY IS BRINGING VOTE CENTERS TO MONROE COUNTY.

VOTE CENTERS WOULD JUST MAKE VOTING SO MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE, EASIER AND JUST A MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR THE PUBLIC.

>> ONE CANDIDATE IS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT.

>> WHO'S GOING TO BRING MORE VALUE?

WHO'S GOING TO EXPAND THE VOTING BASE?

WHO IS GOING TO MAKE THE PROCESSES MORE SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND?

WHO IS GOING TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO GO FROM NON PARTICIPANT TO PARTICIPANT IN THEIR LIFE?

>> JOE DAVIS SAYS THAT'S HIM.

HE SAYS HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND HE WANTS IT TO BE WELCOMING AND EASY TO NAVIGATE.

>> IN MY OWN DIRECT EXPERIENCE, I HAVE SEEN MANY BLIND SPOTS, AND I ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO ILLUMINATE THOSE BLIND SPOTS.

>> DAVIS SAYS IF ELECTED, HE WANTS TO CREATE MORE FREE SELF-HELP KIOSKS AND ADDRESS WHAT HE SEES AS STAFFING ISSUES IN THE OFFICE.

HE ALSO WANTS TO KEEP COUNTY SERVICES IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON.

>> IT'S THIS MINDSET OF COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT, BETTERMENT, LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

I AM THE CANDIDATE WHO'S GOING TO BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

>> ELECTIONS ARE ANOTHER MAJOR FOCUS FOR DAVIS.

HE SAYS THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PROTECT EARLY VOTING AND ABSENTEE VOTING.

>> WE NEED TO, OF COURSE, BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THE BALLOT, WE NEED TO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A DEMOCRACY IS.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE THOSE FOLKS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO YOU KNOW, ISSUES LIKE VOTE CENTERS AND EARLY VOTING ARE IMPORTANT.

>> THE FINAL CANDIDATE, TREE MARTIN-LUCAS, SAYS SHE'S FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE FOR THE PUBLIC AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

>> I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN AND BE MET WITH A FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS, PROFESSIONAL PERSON.

>> FOR STAFF, SHE SAYS SHE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE CROSS-TRAINING.

>> IF SOMEONE HAS A SICK CHILD AND THEY CAN'T MAKE IT INTO WORK, I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE THE STRESS OF MISSING WORK AND NO ONE WILL DO THEIR JOB.

SO IF WE'RE CROSS TRAINING IN THE OFFICE, THEN WE HAVE FILL-INS.

>> SHE SAYS SHE'S FOCUSED ON THE STATE'S ONLINE CASE MANAGEMENT FILING SYSTEM.

IT HELPS THE PUBLIC FILE AND ACCESS COURT DOCUMENTS AND OTHER PUBLIC RECORDS.

AS THE STATE PLANS TO ROLL OUT AN UPDATE, MARTIN-LUCAS SAYS THE CLERK'S OFFICE NEEDS TO BE PREPARED.

>> IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PRO SE, THAT DON'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY, THEY'RE FILING ON THEIR OWN.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE ON THEIR PHONES OR THEIR IPADS.

SO THAT'S A REAL GOOD THING, BUT IT STARTS AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE TO ENTER THE INFORMATION CORRECTLY, BECAUSE WE WORK HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE COURT SYSTEMS.

>> SHE SAYS SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE, HAVING WORKED AS THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR SIX YEARS, AND AS THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR FOR TWO YEARS.

>> I HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND A BELIEF THAT EXPERIENCE, ACCURACY AND INTEGRITY TRULY MATTER.

PUBLIC SERVICE ISN'T NEW TO ME.

IT'S WHO I AM.

>> CURRENT CLERK NICOLE BROWNE CAN'T RUN AGAIN BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS.

SO, BRANHAM, DAVIS AND MARTIN-LUCAS WILL ALL BE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT MAY 5TH TO SEE WHO WILL BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

FOR INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'M AUBREY WRIGHT.

>> REPUBLICAN JULIE HAYS IS UNOPPOSED IN THE PRIMARY.

SHE WILL FACE THE DEMOCRATIC WINNER IN NOVEMBER'S GENERAL ELECTION.

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

HI, SHELBY.

>> THANKS, JOE.

THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL IS JOINING THE OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED SITE FOR A NEW MONROE COUNTY JAIL.

MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE HOPING TO BUILD THE JAIL OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON AT A PROPERTY CALLED NORTH PARK.

BUT CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHARED CONCERNS WEDNESDAY OVER THE COST AND LOCATION OF A NEW JAIL.

>> AN INCARCERATED PERSON DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE TREATED INHUMANELY, AND PART OF THE EFFECTS OF NORTH PARK WOULD BE POTENTIALLY INHUMANE IF THEIR FAMILY CAN'T GET OUT TO VISIT THEM, IF THEY CAN'T RECEIVE THE SERVICES THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO BUILD A NEW JAIL AS PART OF AN A-C-L-U LAWSUIT FROM 2008.

>>> BLOOMINGTON'S CONTRACT WITH FLOCK, THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY, ENDS THIS WEEKEND.

POLICE CHIEF MIKE DIEKHOFF SAYS THE TECHNOLOGY IDENTIFIES VEHICLE LOCATIONS TO HELP SOLVE CRIMES QUICKLY.

BUT CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VOICED CONCERNS THE SYSTEM IS A SURVEILLANCE TOOL WITH DATA THAT COULD GET IN THE WRONG HANDS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THE MISUSE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT'S ALARMING TO ME.

>> DIEKHOFF SAYS THE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT REPLACING THE FLOCK SYSTEM WITH OTHER BRANDS NOT TIED TO THE FLOCK NETWORK.

>>> GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN THIS WEEK SIGNED A NEW LAW THAT CRIMINALIZES CAMPING ON PUBLIC LAND.

AS JILL SHERIDAN REPORTS, THE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1.

>> GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN SAYS THE LAW IS MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CONNECT WITH SHELTER AND SERVICES.

OPPONENTS SAY IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BUT CREATES CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT ADD BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THE LAW SAYS PEOPLE CAN BE CHARGED WITH A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR FOR ILLEGAL CAMPING.

BRAUN SAYS RECENT POLICES TO END HOMELESSNESS THROUGH HOUSING -FIRST IS NOT WORKING.

.

>> THE ACTION INDIANA'S APPROACH TO THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS, IS FOCUSED ON HOUSING FIRST LEGISLATION.

IT HAS NOT REDUCED HOMELESSNESS.

.

>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS.

BUT PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE SECTOR SAY PROVIDING PERMANENT HOUSING ALONG WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IS SHOWN TO REDUCE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.

I'M JILL SHERIDAN.

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS PROPOSING HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS BE ALLOWED TO KILL 400 BOBCATS THIS HUNTING SEASON.

LAST YEAR, HOOSIERS WERE ALLOWED TO TRAP BOBCATS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1969 BUT WERE LIMITED TO 250.

THE GOAL OF THE INCREASES IS DECREASE 'NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS' WITH BOBCATS.

BUT WILDLIFE ADVOCATES WORRY INCREASED HUNTING AND TRAPPING COULD EVENTUALLY DECIMATE THE SPECIES' POPULATION IN THE STATE.

>> THE INFORMATION AND THE DATA THAT DNR HAS PROVIDED IS A MODEL AND A PROJECTION BASED ON TRAIL CAM SIGHTINGS AND ALSO VOLUNTEER SIGHTINGS.

AND SO, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BOBCATS ARE IN THIS STATE.

>> A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS OPEN UNTIL MAY 19TH.

THE BOBCAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST IN 2005.

>>> A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE VIOLATED A BROWN COUNTY MAN'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BY BANNING HIS APP.

MARK HODGES CREATED AN APP LAST YEAR CALLED EYES UP TO TRACK AND RECORD FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

BUT THEN-U-S- ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI DEMANDED THE REMOVAL OF IT AND OTHER ICE WATCHDOG PLATFORMS FROM APP STORES AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO HODGES AND OTHER ANTI-ICE ACTIVISTS SUED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, RESULTING IN A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION IN THEIR FAVOR.

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAS ACQUIRED 122 ACRES OF LAND THAT WILL BECOME PART OF YELLOWWOOD STATE FOREST.

THE EXPANSION IS IN NORTHWEST BROWN COUNTY AND CONNECTS A PREVIOUS GAP BETWEEN SECTIONS OF THE FOREST.

THE NEW AREA IS NOW OPEN FOR PUBLIC HUNTING AND RECREATION, BUT THERE ARE NO PLANS TO INSTALL TRAILS THERE.

AND, JOE, THE PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED FOR $860,000 THROUGH THE D-N-R'S NEXT LEVEL CONSERVATION TRUST.

>> THANKS, SHELBY.

COMING UP NEXT ON INDIANA NEWSDESK•.

THE FAMILY OF A BLACK AVIATRIX FROM TERRE HAUTE, WHOSE RESUME INCLUDED TRAINING THE TUSKEEGEE AIRMEN, ARE WORKING TO GET HER RECOGNITION IN INDIANA.

AND ELLETTSVILLE AND RICHLAND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS DISCUSS THE REASONING BEHIND THEIR PLAN TO MERGE THE TWO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES INTO ONE.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON INDIANA NEWSDESK!

.

>> THROUGHOUT CENTRAL INDIANA, WE ARE THE BEST OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HOOSIER.

FROM THE RACETRACK TO HORSEBACK.

TO BACKPACK, ADMIRING OUR HOMETOWN PRIDE FROM HIGH ABOVE AND DOWN BELOW.

THE WITH ARCHITECTURE AS EYE-CATCHING AS A WORK OF ART OR AS STURDY AS A COVERED BRIDGE.

ALL OF IT REFLECTING THE BEAUTY THAT UNITES US AS HOOSIERS, WE YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION, WE ARE WTIU.

WELCOME BACK TO INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>>> FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, A REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF LEADERS FROM ELLETTSVILLE AND RICHLAND TOWNSHIP HAVE BEEN DRAFTING A PLAN TO MERGE THE TWO INTO ONE GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

ON LAST WEEK'S NOON EDITION, WE SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE AND TOWN LEADERS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.

THEY SAID ONE OF THE BIG REASONS FOR THE MERGER WAS TO GIVE RICHLAND TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS MORE SELF-GOVERNANCE RATHER THAN BEING UNDER THE THUMB OF MONROE COUNTY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST OUR TOWNSHIP, IT'S NOT JUST RICHLAND.

IT'S ALL OF THE TOWNSHIPS IN MONROE COUNTY.

EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO DO ANYTHING WITH THEIR OWN PROPERTY, AND PROBABLY BLACKEN SOME EYES HERE, BUT ANYBODY THAT'S EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS WILL TELL YOU, MONROE COUNTY IS PHENOMENALLY HARD TO GET ALONG WITH AND WE'RE TIRED OF IT.

WE JUST DON'T WANT IT.

WE WANT TO AGAIN, BE SELF GOVERNING.

YOU TAKE OUR TAX MONEY, OKAY, WHERE THE POPULATION IS EXPLODING IN THIS DIRECTION, WHERE BLOOMINGTON AND THAT PART OF THE WORLD IS DECREASING IN POPULATION.

THEY'RE MOVING OUR WAY.

HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS NOW, AND A LOT OF IT IS MOVING, MOVING OUT INTO THE TOWNSHIP, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

AND WE LIKE THE -- THAT COMMUNITY.

FEEL CLOSE TO EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE STILL RURAL, OKAY?

AND WE WANT TO BE BEANE.

WE DON'T GET REPRESENTED, OKAY?

SO WE THINK WE'LL -- IF WE GOT TO TAKE OUR CHANCES, WE WOULD RATHER TAKE OUR CHANCES WITH REORING WITH ELLETTSVILLE OKAY, AND LOOKING NOT JUST A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD OR FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND FURTHER, LET US DO WHAT WE DO, WHAT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH US, AND WHAT WE'VE -- WHAT ANYWAY, SO FROM A -- FROM A TOWNSHIP PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

OKAY?

>> AND WILLIAM, IF YOU CAN, YOU CAN HELP EDUCATE ME AND OTHERS ABOUT JUST HOW, YOU KNOW HOW ABOUT JUST HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW GENERAL.

SO IF THERE'S THIS MERGER, THEN THINGS LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING WOULD BE MORE -- IT WOULD BE UP TO THE MERGED TOWN OF BLOOM, TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE COUNTY PLAN COMMISSION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO TEMPER EXPECTATIONS, WE ARE WORKING WITH A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE OR UDO, AND WE'RE STARTING THAT PROCESS WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.

BUT I THINK THE GOAL IS TO PUT A MORATORIUM FROM THE FIRST OF JANUARY TILL THAT WAS PROCESSED AND GOES THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK IT DAY ONE, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, EXPLOSION OF YEAH, BUSINESSES AND NO WE-- ELLETTSVILLE HAS ALWAYS DONE THINGS.

SMART -- GROWTH IS GOING TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, AND THE ONLY DECISION YOU HAVE IS HOW YOU WANT THE GROWTH TO HAPPEN, UNCONTROLLED GROWTH.

NO ONE WANTS THAT.

I'VE NOT HEARD THAT FROM ANYONE THAT JUST SAID, BUILD EVERYTHING BUT CONTROL GROWTH.

BUT NOT BY THE GOVERNMENT SAYING THIS IS WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN, BUT BY GOING TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP AND SAYING, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A PROPER GROWTH PATTERN?

THAT'S WHAT THE UDO OFFERS THE THE NEW GOVERNMENT WE'RE EXPANDING FROM A FIVE MEMBER COUNCIL TO A SEVEN MEMBER COUNCIL, AND THE PLAN IS THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS FOR TOWNSHIP BOARD.

THEY WILL BE THE TOWNSHIP, THE TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVES, BUT THEY'LL IT'LL STILL BE TOWN, BUT THEY'LL BE AND THEY'LL BE AT LARGE.

AND THEN NEXT ELECTION, WE HAVE THREE SEATS UP, AND ONE OF THOSE SEATS ENCOMPASSES A MAJORITY OF THE OLDER -- WHAT WE'D CALL THE OLDER TOWNSHIP AREA, AGRICULTURAL AREA.

AND THEN SEAT THREE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

SO THE TOWNSHIP HAS A CHANCE TO RUN PEOPLE EVEN THE NEXT ELECTION, UNLIKE ANNEXATIONS, WHERE YOU GET ANNEXED AND THEN FOUR YEARS LATER YOU GET TO VOTE ON IT.

I MEAN, YOU GET TO VOTE FOR YOUR REPS.

WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW THERE'S A BETTER WAY OF DOING THINGS.

AND ELLETTSVILLE, I THINK, HAS LED THE WAY WITH THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A VISIONARY AND LEAD THE WAY.

>> THE MERGER WILL BE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

IF PASSED, THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE WOULD ADD AROUND 15,000 RESIDENTS AND GROW BY ALMOST 40 SQUARE MILES.

YOU CAN LISTEN AND WATCH THE ENTIRE EPISODE - AND ALL ARCHIVED NOON EDTION EPISODES - ON OUR WEBSITE AT W-T-I-U-DOT-ORG.

>>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FAMOUS FEMALE PILOTS, YOU MIGHT NAME AMELIA EARHART, OR MAYBE EVEN BESSIE COLEMAN.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER AVIATRIX WHO BROKE BARRIERS: WILLA BROWN.

AUBREY WRIGHT HAS MORE ON HOW BROWN FOUGHT FOR EQUALITY IN THE 20TH CENTURY, AND HOW ADVOCATES ARE FIGHTING FOR HER RECOGNITION TODAY.

>> TRAVELERS AT THE TERRE HAUTE REGIONAL AIRPORT ARE GREETED BY A PHOTO OF A HOMETOWN HERO, WILLA BROWN.

BROWN WAS A PILOT WITH A LOT OF "FIRSTS" UNDER HER BELT: THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO GET AN AMERICAN PILOT'S LICENSE, THE FIRST TO GET AN AVIATION MECHANIC'S LICENSE, THE FIRST TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

BUT BEFORE ALL THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BROWN SPENT HER CHILDHOOD AND EARLY ADULTHOOD IN INDIANA.

WHILE SHE'S BEEN HONORED WITH MEMORIALS LIKE THIS ONE, BROWN'S PIONEERING LEGACY ISN'T AS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> A LOT OF IT IS IGNORANCE.

PUBLIC.

>> HISTORIAN CRYSTAL REYNOLDS HAS ADVOCATED BROWN'S LEGACY.

MOST RECENTLY, BROWN WAS LEFT OUT OF A TOURING EXHIBITION HONORING TUSKEGEE AIRMEN.

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN BECAME THE FIRST BLACK PILOTS IN THE U.S.

MILITARY DURING WORLD WAR II, AND BROWN TRAINED MORE THAN 200 PILOTS AND INSTRUCTORS IN THE PROGRAM.

IT EARNED HER THE MONIKER "MAKER OF PILOTS.

>> I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, BECAUSE WE'RE HONORING ALL THESE MEN, WHICH WE SHOULD, BUT THEY WOULDN'T EXIST WITHOUT HER.

WHEN I SAY THAT, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING.

>> GIVEN ALL OF BROWN'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HER FAMILY ALSO SAYS SHE DESERVES MORE RECOGNITION IN INDIANA.

>> I ABSOLUTELY THINK SHE'S BEING OVERLOOKED.

I DON'T THINK SHE'S GETTING HER DUE.

>> BROWN'S CAREER IN AVIATION TOOK FLIGHT IN CHICAGO.

AFTER MOVING THERE IN THE LATE 1930S, SHE LOBBIED FOR BLACK PILOTS DURING SEGREGATION, AND SHE EVENTUALLY CO-FOUNDED HER OWN AVIATION SCHOOL, WHICH FED INTO THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN PROGRAM.

>> SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE REPRESENTED NOTHING BUT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST.

>> DURING THAT TIME, BROWN ALSO BECAME THE FIRST BLACK OFFICER IN THE CIVIL AIR PATROL IN 1941, ACHIEVING THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT.

SHE AND OTHER PILOTS SUPPORTED THE WAR EFFORT DOMESTICALLY.

>> SHE WAS LIKE A BADASS.

SHE WAS JUST THE BEST OF THE BEST.

>> DESPITE HER ACCOLADES, BROWN DIDN'T SEEK THE LIMELIGHT.

REYNOLDS SAYS THAT MIGHT BE WHY HER STORY BECAME LOST TO TIME - AND WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG TO BUILD RECOGNITION FOR IT IN INDIANA.

>> I WOULD SAY, AUNT WILLA, WE NEED TO RECORD YOUR STORY, BECAUSE NO ONE CAN TELL IT LIKE YOU CAN TELL IT.

AND SHE WOULD SAY, 'NO, BABY, THAT'S OKAY.

IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT.'

I'M 'OH YEAH, IT IS IMPORTANT.'

>> HE SAYS NOW IT'S UP TO THE FAMILY TO SHARE HER STORY.

>> REYNOLDS SAYS SHE'S RESEARCHING BROWN'S CONTRIBUTIONS IN INDIANA FOR A SUBMISSION TO INDIANA'S AVIATION HALL OF FAME.

BROWN HAS ALREADY BEEN RECOGNIZED IN KENTUCKY, ILLINOIS, AND THE NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, INDIANA UNIVERSITY HAD TWO PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE N-F-L DRAFT THURSDAY NIGHT.

AS EXPECTED, QUARTERBACK FERNANDO MENDOZA WAS TAKEN WITH THE NUMBER ONE OVERALL PICK BY THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS.

THE THREE-DAY DRAFT CONTINUES WITH TWO MORE ROUNDS TONIGHT AND FOUR ROUNDS ON SATURDAY.

AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN MORE HOOSIERS COULD BE SELECTED, INCLUDING WIDE RECEIVER ELIJAH SARRATT AND CORNERBACK D'ANGELO PONDS.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIU NEWS DOT ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> INDIANA NEWSDESK IS MADE