>>> INDIANA'S BAN ON CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS GOES INTO EFFECT THIS FALL.

WE VISITED A HIGH SCHOOL IN KENTUCKY TO SEE HOW THEY HAVE ADJUSTED ONE YEAR INTO THEIR BAN.

>>> A PAIR OF WOMEN CLIMBED MOUNT KILIMANJARO LAST MONTH TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR KIDNEY DONATIONS.

>> AND WE SIT DOWN WITH TWO MONROE COUNTY COUNCILMEMBERS VYING FOR THE OPEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER SPOT IN NEXT WEEK'S ELECTION.

WE'LL HAVE THOSE 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, THIS FALL, A NEW LAW GOING INTO EFFECT WILL BAN INDIANA STUDENTS FROM HAVING CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.

OUR ISABELLA VESPERINI VISITED A HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE TO SEE HOW THEY ADOPTED TO THE CHANGE DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR UNDER A CELL PHONE BAN.

[ BELL ] >> AS THE BELL RINGS TO SIGNAL THE END OF CLASS, STUDENTS FROM PLEASURE RIDGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE FLOOD THE HALLWAYS.

THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER ON THEIR WAY TO LUNCH AS A SECURITY GUARD STANDS BY.

HE'S ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PHONES.

>> WORKING OUT TODAY?

>> NOT TODAY.

>> IT'S NONCONFRONTATIONAL.

THEY WILL JUST SAY, HEY -- THEY WILL GIVE A DESCRIPTION OR THE NAME OF A STUDENT WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY.

WE WILL LOG IT AND RECORD IT AND ONCE THE KID GETS TO THE CLASSROOM, WE WILL GO GET THAT STUDENT AND SAY, HEY, YOU HAD A TECH VIOLATION DURING TRANSITION.

>> THE CONSEQUENCES VARY, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE STUDENT HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON THEIR PHONE.

IT MAY BE ONE CLASS PERIOD OF IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION, TO MULTIPLE DAYS.

>> AT THE BEGINNING THEY COLLECTED 70 TO 80 PHONES A DAY AND NOW IT'S 15 OR 20.

>> WE GIVE THEM THE CONSEQUENCE THAT THIS IS -- NOT ONLY IS IT A SCHOOL POLICY, BUT IT IS NOW A STATE STATUTE OR A STATE LAW AND WE'LL FOLLOW IT.

IT JUST TEACHES RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> STUDENTS CAN ALSO LOCK THEIR PHONES IN YONDER POUCHES DURING THE DAY.

>> I ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION IN SCHOOL AND DO MY SCHOOL WORK, LIKE, I'M NOT USING MY PHONE.

I JUST PAY ATTENTION MORE.

I GOT BETTER GRADES BECAUSE NOW I ACTUALLY FINISH MY WORK IN CLASS, INSTEAD OF, LIKE, DOING IT AT HOME.

>> WITH A CELL PHONE BAN TAKING EFFECT IN INDIANA SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR, MONTGOMERY SAID THEY COULD SEE SIMILAR RESULTS IF THEY TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS, THE KEY TO MAKING IT WORK, CONSISTENCY.

>> KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HEAVY ON THE FIRST MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF, BUT THEN AFTER THAT, IT WILL CALM DOWN, AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONSISTENT AND AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THROUGH AND AS LONG AS STUDENTS KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING IS GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND BE ROLLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL DAY, A BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH STUDENTS IN ERIC NOLAN'S SCIENCE CLASS ARE SILENT.

>> A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I LOOK AROUND A GROUP OF KIDS, SO MANY KIDS ARE ON THEIR PHONES, INSTEAD OF LOOKING AROUND AND TALKING TO PEOPLE.

>> EVEN THOUGH NOLAN EXPECTS PHONES ARE PUT AWAY IN CLASS, THEY CAN STEAL ATTENTION EVEN IF THEY ARE IN THE POCKET.

>> THEY ARE FOCUSED ON LEARNING HOW TO BALANCE CHEMICAL EQUATIONS, RIGHT?

AND IN THE MIDST OF LEARNING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY HEAR THAT NOISE, THEY HEAR THAT NOTIFICATION, MAYBE THEY STEAL A GLANCE AT IT OR SOMETHING.

I THINK THAT EVEN JUST MOMENTARILY LOSS OF FOCUS IS POTENTIAL LEARNING LOSS, RIGHT?

AND IT HAS TO BE MADE UP AT A LATER TIME.

>> NOLAN IS GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE NEW CELL PHONE BAN BILL WILL ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AT PLEASURE RIDGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS ARE MORE EDGE GAUGED IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> ONCE -- ENGAGED IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> ONCE YOU REALIZE IT, YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

YOU COME BACK TO YOUR PHONE BEFORE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL.

>> THEY TRIED TO DO THIS SO MANY TIMES AND IT ENDS UP JUST BEING ABOUT WHETHER THE TEACHERS CARE OR NOT.

AND USUALLY THAT'S MORE UP TO THE TEACHER THAN IT IS TO THE STATE AND, LIKE, HONESTLY -- AND AS FAR AS, LIKE, PRODUCTIVITY GOES, LIKE, IF THERE'S A KID THAT DOESN'T WANT TO DO THEIR WORK OR, LIKE, DOESN'T WANT TO PAY ATTENTION, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO.

TAKING AWAY A PHONE, THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING ELSE.

>> WHILE NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS HIS PHONE, STIEN SAID HE WOULD FEEL MORE BORED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY PHONE, I WOULD, LIKE -- THE AMOUNT OF WORK WOULD INCREASE AT ALL, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE, LIKE, A REVOLUTION.

I THINK -- I THINK MOSTLY, I WOULD JUST BE BORED WHEN THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON.

>> ONE LOCAL SITE SUPERVISOR FOR EXTENDED DAY DOESN'T THINK TAKING PHONES AWAY WILL ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS FIGHTING FOR THEIR ATTENTION AND EVEN IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE PHONE, HIGH SCHOOLERS HAVE LAPTOPS.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO iPADS, LIKE, THEY WILL GET ONLINE AND MESS AROUND, NO MATTER WHAT.

SO TAKING AWAY THE PHONE JUST FEELS LIKE BACK PEDALING FOR NO REAL BENEFIT.

>> TO ADDRESS THIS, ONE ENGLISH TEACHER IN LOUISVILLE IS MOVING AWAY FROM STUDENTS USING THEIR COMPUTERS AND DOING MORE PAPER AND PENCIL LEARNING AS WELL.

>> THEY ARE LEARNING MORE.

MY BIG THING IS CRITICAL THINKING.

I WANT YOU TO THINK FOR YOURSELF AND NOT USE A.I.

TO THINK FOR YOU.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM WITH A LOT OF INTERNET AND CELL PHONES.

>> STUDENTS FROM PLEASURE RIDGE IN LOUISVILLE ASSURED THOSE IN INDIANA THAT YOU WILL BE OKAY WITHOUT YOUR PHONE.

>> AT FIRST, IT WILL BE HARD.

IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

YOU CAN HAVE IT AFTER SCHOOL, IT WILL TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO, BUT IT'S NOT HARD.

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

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID IN THE STATEMENT, IT'S WORKING ON CREATING A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT LATER THIS YEAR TO HELP SCHOOLS IMPLEMENT THE NEW RULES.

SCHOOLS MUST ADOPT POLICIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW BY JULY 1st.

>> ELECTION DAY IS FAST APPROACHING AND ONE KEY RACE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS FOR MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, WHERE TWO CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL ARE COMPETING FOR AN OPEN SPOT.

ETHAN SANDWEISS SAT DOWN WITH DAVID HENRY AND TRENT DECKARD WHO ARE VYING TO REPLACE LEE JONES.

>> DECKARD AND HENRY HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

THEY BOTH WORKED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THEIR MAINSTAYS IN LOCAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.

HENRY SAYS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THEIR SENSE OF URGENCY.

>> TRENT AND I HAVE DIFFERENT TEMPOS AND I DON'T MIND BEING A GUY IN A HURRY BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN RESULTS.

I THINK IT'S FROM A LIFETIME OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE WHERE YOU SET GOALS AND YOU MEET THEM, YOU WIN CONTRACTS BACK WHEN YOU DELIVERED AND YOU SAID WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

>> DECKARD HAS SERVED COUNTY SINCE 2019 AND SAYS HE BRINGS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP TO THE TABLE.

>> BUT I COMBINE THAT WITH TIME IN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO KNOW HOW DO YOU GET THINGS DONE.

I WORKED FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS THAT ALWAYS HAD TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

I RAN A BIPARTISAN STATE AGENCY WHERE YOU LITERALLY HAD TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

I CAN WORK WITH EVERYONE.

>> COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN RIFE WITH DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN COUNTY AND CITY, AND DELAYED PROJECTS SUCH AS THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE NEW JAIL.

DECKARD SAYS HE'S A DEAL MAKER AND THE WAY PAST CONFLICT IS TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE.

>> DESPITE OUR HISTORY, AND ACRIMONY, SOME OF WHICH I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT OVER THE YEARS, I'M A VOICE THAT I BELIEVE CAN BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE.

WE CAN PUT EGOS TO THE SIDE AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE SOME COMMON GOALS.

>> TO HENRY, IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING DECISIONS AS OPEN AND PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE.

>> ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS WE NEED TO PUT INTO PLAY IS BEING MORE TRANSPARENT AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, SAYING WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO AND DOING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY AND WORKING OUT IN THE OPEN RATHER THAN BEHIND DOORS WHERE MANY OF THESE CONFLICTS SEEM TO BE OCCURRING.

>> LAST YEAR, ELLETTSVILLE AND RICHLAND TOWNSHIP EXPLORED A MERGER TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM THE BLOOMINGTON AND THE DEMOCRAT-DOMINANTED GOVERNMENTS.

BOTH HENRY AND DECKARD SAY THEY WILL RESPECT THE DECISION AND STICK TO THE PLAN.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

I TRUST THEM TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

I HEAR THEIR VOICES AND THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THIS.

WHATEVER IT IS, THOSE ARE THE ANSWERS WE KIND OF HAVE TO GOVERN THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ENSURE FOR ALL THE CONSTITUENTS AFFECTED.

>> ELLETTSVILLE APPARENTLY FEELS THAT THEY NEED TO GO THEIR OWN WAY ON HOUSING OPTIONS, ON ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK A NEW COUNTY COMMISSION WITH A NEW LOOK MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE AND SAY A LITTLE MORE OFTEN THAN NO.

>> CHANGES TO STATE LAW RESTRICTED HOW MUCH THEY CAN RAISE THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES.

KEEPING PROJECTS ON TRACK IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

NOT TO MENTION, MAINTAINING BASIC COUNTY SERVICES.

DECKARD SAYS THESE CHALLENGES ARE BEST ADDRESSED BY DEFERRING TO COUNTY EXPERTS.

>> I KNOW THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL IS ENGAGED, THE COUNCIL CAN EXTREMELY RESOURCEFUL IN FIGURING THINGS OUT WHAT'S MORE BY PARTNERING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, THEY ARE NOTORIOUSLY RESOURCEFUL FOR FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO THINGS SMARTER, NOT HARDER AND MORE EFFICIENT.

>> IT COMES BACK TO INTERLOCAL COOPERATION, TALKING WITH BLOOMINGTON AND ELLETTSVILLE ABOUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE THEIR COLLECTIVE IMPACT.

>> MY BACKGROUND IS IN MANAGEMENT CONSULTING.

I SPENT ALMOST 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT.

THIS IS ONE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE NEED TO WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON AND FIND ALL THE DUPLICATIVE EFFORT AND OVERLAP.

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

>>> AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 22 YEARS, TWO DEMOCRATS WILL COMPETE FOR THE PARTY'S NOMINATION, AND THE STATEHOUSE DISTRICT 61 PRIMARY ELECTION.

MATT PIERCE WILL DEFEND THE STATE HOUSE SEAT HE'S HELD SINCE 2002, SINCE FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE, LILLIANA YOUNG.

OUR ETHAN SANDWEISS SPOKE WITH BOTH OF THEM.

>> PIERCE AND YOUNG SEE THE DISCREPANCY?

STATEHOUSE EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY ITSELF.

I THINK WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THAT SITUATION, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE LEGISLATURE, HOW IT WORKS AND HAS PROVEN THAT THEY CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

>> WE HAVE A VERY BIG PROBLEM IN INDIANA, WHERE WE KEEP ELECTING THE SAME PEOPLE OR SAME KINDS OF PEOPLE OVER AND OVER.

AND IT'S CLEARLY NOT LEADING TO SOLVING THE PROBLEMS THAT THE STATE IS FACING.

>> BLOOMINGTON'S DISTRICT RELIABLY BELONGS TO THE DEMOCRATS, THERE HASN'T BEEN A REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER IN DECADES, BUT ITS REPRESENTATIVES MAY FACE A REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> IF THAT STILL IS TRUE, THEN MY GOAL IS TO ORGANIZE THE DEMOCRATS INTO AN OBSTRUCTION PARTY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T CONVINCE THEM TO REVERSE THEIR MOST DAMAGING POLICIES, BUT YOU CAN WORK WITHIN THAT KIND OF FRAMEWORK TO TRY TO DO BETTER.

>> WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT THE TOP ISSUE THIS TERM, THEY WILL BOTH GIVE YOU THE SAME ANSWER.

AFFORDABILITY.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO BE STEPPING UP TO SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE CHILD CARE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE.

WHAT ABOUT HEALTHCARE?

WHAT ABOUT HOUSING?

ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND INSTEAD THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

>> RAISING STATE MINIMUM WAGE, USING STATE'S POWER TO FORCE LOWER HOUSING COSTS, AND IMPROVING OUR FUNDING AND ACCESS TO THE STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

>> YOUNG SAYS SHE DOESN'T PLAN TO HOLD OFFICE FOR LONGER THAN A DECADE, AND THAT HER CANDIDACY IS ABOUT REPRESENTING ORDINARY PEOPLE, NOT ADVANCING HER CAREER.

>> THERE'S A POINT WHERE A PERSON STAYS IN OFFICE FOR SO LONG, THAT REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, THEY BECOME VERY SEPARATED FROM THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING.

>> PIERCE CONTENDS THAT HE'S DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO WORK ON WHAT MATTERS FOR VOTERS.

>> I'M WORKING TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE -- YOU KNOW, STRENGTHEN THE VOICE OF DEMOCRATS AT THE STATE HOUSE, GET MORE DEMOCRATS ELECTED AND I THINK IF YOU JUST LOOK AT MY TRACK RECORD, YOU WILL SEE THAT I'M ADDRESSING THE KEY ISSUES THAT PEOPLE WANT ADDRESSED IN BLOOMINGTON AND I'M DOING IT IN A FORCEFUL WAY.

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

>> NO REPUBLICANS HAVE FILED TO RUN IN EITHER THE COMMISSIONER'S RACE OR FOR DISTRICT 61.

SO THE PRIMARY WINNER WILL MOST LIKELY BE UNOPPOSED IN NOVEMBER.

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY.

YOU CAN STILL VOTE EARLY THROUGH MONDAY, AT NOON.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," TWO WOMEN CLIMBED MOUNT KILIMANJARO LAST MONTH TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE NEED FOR KIDNEY DONATIONS.

AND I.U.

CELEBRATES DOLLY FEST, WHERE STUDENTS STUDY CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST THROUGH FANDOM OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC STAR.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY AUBREY WRIGHT FOR HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>> HI, AUBREY.

>> HI, JOE.

THE MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THURSDAY APPROVED AN $11 MILLION PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR A LOT AT NORTH PARK TO BE USED FOR A NEW JAIL.

THE COMMISSIONERS ARE TRYING TO MEET A MAY DEADLINE, SET BY THE ACLU INDIANA WHICH SUED THE COUNTY IN 2009, OVER CONDITIONS AT THE CURRENT JAIL.

>> THE 17 YEAR HISTORY OF THIS MUST BE A HAND ON THE BACK THAT SHOVES US FORWARD, AND NOT A GRIP ON OUR SHOULDER THAT HOLDS US BACK.

>> THE MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL REMOVED TO PAY FOR A NEW JAIL SITE IN NORTH PARK LAST FALL.

COUNCILMEMBERS SAY THEY WANT A CHEAPER JAIL WITHIN BLOOMINGTON'S CITY LIMITS AND THEY HAVE ACCUSED COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COERCION FOR PUSHING THE PROJECT FORWARD.

COMMISSIONER JULIE THOMAS PUTS THE BLAME ON THE COUNCIL.

>> THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH.

IF MONROE COUNTY FAILS TO MEET THE PROVISIONS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE COUNCIL AND ASK WHY.

>> MONROE COUNTY MUST HAVE A PLAN FOR A NEW JAIL BY THE END OF MAY, OR IT COULD BE SUBJECT TO MORE LAWSUITS.

BLOOMINGTON POLICE ARE ASKING FOR HELP IDENTIFYING A SUSPECT IN LAST WEEKEND'S SHOOTING DOWNTOWN.

POLICE RELEASED PHOTOS SHOWING THE SUSPECT WEARING A BACKPACK THAT RESEMBLED A SHARK OR DOLPHIN.

ONE PERSON WAS SHOT AND FOUR OTHERS WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL IN THE EARLY HOURS ON SUNDAY ON KIRKWOOD AVENUE DURING LITTLE 500 WEEKEND.

MAYOR KERRY THOMSON SAYS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING AND EMAILING HER OFFICE WITH SPECULATION, INCLUDING ABOUT THE SHOOTER'S ORIGIN AND SKIN COLOR.

>> AND I WANT TO EXPLICITLY CONDEMN THE RACISM THAT IS HAPPENING.

WHEN PEOPLE MAKE COMMENTS WITH ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT RACE, OR WHO BELONGS OR WHO IS FROM HERE AND WHO IS NOT FROM HERE.

>> THE LITTLE 500 EVENT HAS STRUGGLED WITH RACIAL INCLUSIVENESS, MOST RECENTLY FROM DISCOMFORT WITH RACIAL POSTS ONLINE.

>>> THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RECENTLY EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE II OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

UNDER THE ACT, PUBLIC ENTITIES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, PARKS, COURTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES MUST MAKE ALL DIGITAL INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE.

NOW, THEY HAVE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ADVOCATES FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE EXTENSION.

>> SO EMERGENCY ALERTS TO HEALTHCARE INFORMATION, TO BEING ABLE TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS INDEPENDENTLY, TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR CERTAIN JOBS, TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AN ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION, THESE ARE BASIC RIGHTS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE.

>> SHE SAYS THESE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT NEW.

PUBLIC ENTITIES HAVE HAD TWO YEARS TO MEET THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE.

>>> BLOOMINGTON ANIMAL SHELTER IS SEEKING A -- SEEING A SEASONAL RISE IN PET SURRENDERS DUE TO LEASES ENDING AND RENTAL REGULATIONS ON PETS.

SHELTER TYPICALLY RECEIVES 10 TO 20 MORE SURRENDERED ANIMALS IN MAY THAN USUAL.

AND THAT CAN MEAN A 40% INCREASE OVER A NORMAL MONTH.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE SHELTER AND MOVING ANIMALS THROUGH THE SHELTERS IT CAN CAUSE MOVING AND BACKUP AND OVERCROWDING CONDITIONS TO OCCUR.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR IS LOSING STUDENT FOSTER VOLUNTEERS.

>>> MONROE COUNTY RECEIVED A D RANKING IN AIR POLLUTION IN AN ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.

THIS YEAR'S REPORT COVERED DATA FROM 2022 TO 2024 AND MEASURED FIVE DAYS IN 2023 WITH UNHEALTHY LEVELS OF PARTICULATE POLLUTION IN THE AIR.

THE ASSOCIATION SAID CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO AIR POLLUTION INCLUDE LANDFILL EMISSIONS, VEHICLE EXHAUST, CONSTRUCTION SITES, AND POTENTIALLY LONG RANGE WILDFIRE SMOKE.

>> ASTHMATICS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT IT, OTHER PEOPLE WITH OTHER LUNG CONDITIONS, PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT AIR POLLUTION AS WELL.

>> NEIGHBORING BROWN COUNTY RECEIVED A B AND BARTHOLOMEW A D AND GREENE COUNTY AN F.

>> GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF A NEW A.I.

INITIATIVE ON TUESDAY, AIMING TO INTEGRATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO INDIANA BUSINESSES.

BRAUN SAID HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE STATE DOESN'T GET LEFT BEHIND IN ADOPTING THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

THE PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP BUSINESSES IDENTIFY PLACES WHERE A.I.

CAN IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND WILL INVOLVE ROAD SHOWS AND VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSIONS.

>> THAT IS THE WAY I LOOK AT IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

ANYTHING NEW, YOU GOT TO NOT NECESSARILY EMBRACE IT WITHOUT QUESTION, BUT IF YOU AVOID IT, YOU MIGHT REGRET IT DOWN THE ROAD.

>>> BRAUN DID NOT SAY HOW THE PROGRAM WOULD BE FUNDED.

>>> AND MARIJUANA IS ILLEGAL IN INDIANA, BUT HOOSIERS ARE STILL SPENDING AROUND $1.8 BILLION ANNUALLY ON IT ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY IS SPENT IN THE THREE STATES THAT BORDER INDIANA, WHERE MARIJUANA IS LEGAL FOR RECREATIONAL USE.

HOWEVER, THE REPORT SAYS ARRESTS IN INDIANA RELATED TO MARIJUANA ARE COSTING THE STATE BETWEEN $10 AND $20 MILLION PER YEAR.

AND JOE, GOVERNOR BRAUN HAS SIGNALED HE'S OPEN TO DISCUSSING THE STATE'S MARIJUANA POLICY.

>> YEAH, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, AUBREY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> WELL, TWO LOCAL KIDNEY DONORS RECENTLY TOOK PART IN A HIKE TO KILIMANJARO TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS FOR ORGAN DONATION.

OUR ISABELLA VESPERINI SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY.

>> IT WAS PITCH BLACK OUT AS KARA BLAIR AND ABBEY BERG APPROACHED THE TOP OF MOUNT KILIMANJARO.

THEIR HEAD LAMPS ILLUMINATED THE SNOWY PATH A FEW FEET AHEAD OF THEM.

>> HEY, HI.

>> HI!

>> ABOUT EIGHT HOURS INTO THE HIKE, THEY PATIENTLY WAITED FOR THE SUN TO RISE.

AROUND 7 A.M., IT FINALLY DID.

>> BEFORE THAT, YOU REALLY COULDN'T SEE MUCH.

YOU SAW THE LIGHTS OF A FAR OFF CITY MOSHI, BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE MUCH.

SO THE SUN STARTED COMING UP AND THE VIEWS WERE JUST OUTRAGEOUS.

THEY ONLY STAYED AT THE SUMMIT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

>> THERE'S A SIGN AT THE VERY TOP.

IT'S A VERY PLAIN WOOD SIGN THAT YOU GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH.

IT REALLY IS GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AND THEN THEY WANT TO GET YOU DOWN FAIRLY QUICKLY.

YOU ARE AT 19,000 FEET.

YOU HAVE BEEN CLIMBING FOR SEVEN HOURS.

>> BLARE AND BERG PARTICIPATED IN THE EIGHT-DAY EIGHT THROUGH KIDNEY DONOR ATHLETES, AN ORGANIZATION THAT RAISES AWARENESS FOR KIDNEY DONATIONS.

BOTH DONATED THEIR KIDNEYS A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN OF MY OWN.

I HAD TWO STEPCHILDREN.

I THOUGHT SINCE I DIDN'T BRING ANYONE INTO THIS WORLD, MAYBE I COULD HELP SOMEBODY STAY LONGER.

>> AS A NURSE, BURG ENJOYS TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, SO DONATING A KIDNEY FELT NATURAL TO HER.

>> I WENT TO THE I.U.

HEALTH TRANSPLANT SITE AND WAS IN BED ONE NIGHT AND I LOOKED AT MY HUSBAND, I SAID I'M GOING TO SIGN UP TO DONATE A KIDNEY AND HE'S LIKE, ALL RIGHT.

AND SO I DID IT.

>> BLARE, WHO LIVES IN GREENWOOD AND BERG WHO IS BASED IN BLOOMINGTON HAD TO INCORPORATE LONG TRAINING HIKES INTO THEIR DAILY SCHEDULES TO PREPARE.

>> I TRAVEL A LOT WITH MY KIDDOS AND HOCKEY FOR OTHER SPORTS.

I WOULD DO HALF OF THE HIKE IN THE MORNING AND THEN AT A HOCKEY GAME.

I HAD A PACK, IT'S PROBABLY LAYING IN THERE SOMEWHERE THAT IS 25 POUNDS, I WORE IT EVERYWHERE.

I WOULD MOW THE LAWN WITH IT AND DO CIRCLES.

>> MOUNT KILIMANJARO, IS MADE UP OF HIGHLAND, ALPINE DESERT AND ARCTIC SUMMIT.

>> WE STARTED IN THE JUNGLE AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE 80 DEGREES.

AND THERE'S MONKEYS AND LUSH FOREST AND IT'S JUST GORGEOUS.

AND THEN THE NEXT DAY YOU WAKE UP AND YOU ENTER INTO A NEW ECOSYSTEM.

SO IT'S A NEW HIKE EVERY DAY.

THERE WAS DESERT.

THERE WAS MOORLAND.

THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, ROCKY AREAS WHEN WE GOT TO THE TOP, IT WAS SNOW.

>> THE GROUP RAISED ABOUT $107,000 THROUGH THE HIKE.

AFTER SPENDING A WEEK WITH PEOPLE FROM TANZANIA, BLAIR AND BERG SAID THEY VALUED THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE.

>> SEEING THEIR CULTURE AND THE WAY THEY LIVE THEIR DAILY LIVES WE HAVE SO MANY MORE CONVENIENCES BUT THEY SEEM SO HAPPY, KIND OF IN THEIR SIMPLICITY AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT I CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, JUST TIME AWAY FROM WHATEVER ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND TALK WITH PEOPLE.

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

>>> AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS GATHER THURSDAY AT I.U.

'S ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY MUSEUM TO SHOWCASE THEIR DOLLY PARTON-THEMED PROJECTS FOR DOLLY FEST.

NATALIE FITZGIBBONS HAS MORE.

>> ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTOR RACHEL SEYMOUR IS ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF DOLLY PARTON.

IT HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SOCIETY AND CULTURE THROUGH DOLLY.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT DOLLY AS A PHILANTHROPIST OR DOLLY AS SOMEBODY WHO IS A BUSINESSWOMAN OR DOLLY AS A GLOBAL ICON, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DOLLY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, LIKE, THROUGH LABOR MOVEMENTS, THROUGH STEREOTYPES, THROUGH IDENTITY WORK.

>> SEYMOUR SAYS THE COURSE ALSO CONSIDERS THAT PARTON WAS BORN IN APPALACHIA AND THE STEREOTYPES OF THAT AREA.

>> STUDENTS MADE PODCASTS, MAGAZINES, TAROT CARDS AND MORE.

ONE COMPARED THE FEMINISM OF CURRENT POP CULTURE ARTISTS WITH DOLLY'S OWN BRAND.

>> WE DID A PODCAST ON DOLLY PARTON ART AND FEMINISM.

WE EACH CHOSE A POP CULTURE ARTIST.

I CHOSE SABRINA CARPENTER AND THEN THE OTHER TWO GIRLS CHOSE TAYLOR SWIFT.

>> PARTON IS MORE TRADITIONAL AND CONSIDERS FEMINISM AS MAN HATING.

SHE DOESN'T CONSIDER HERSELF A FEMINIST CARTER IS OPEN ABOUT HER SEXUALITY AND FEMININITY.

ANOTHER GROUP REPRODUCED ONE OF PARTON'S SONG CALLED "MY TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HOME."

>> BECAUSE IT WAS FIRST SONG WE LEARNED ABOUT AND IT REALLY ENCAPSULATES DOLLY PARTON AS A PERSON AND BRAND.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO REPRODUCE IT AND PUT IT IN OUR OWN SENSE.

>> 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