>> MONROE COUNTY COULD FACE ANOTHER LAWSUIT FROM THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION AFTER THE COUNTY COUNCIL DENIED FUNDING TO PURCHASE LAND TO BUILD A NEW JAIL.

DUBOIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE PROPOSED MIDSTATE'S CORRIDOR ROAD CONNECTING I-64 AND I-69 IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA, BUT STATE FUNDING ISSUES COULD SCUTTLE THE PROJECT ANYWAY.

AND THE CITY IS LOOKING INTO LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR THE FRANK ICE CENTER WHICH CLOSED EARLY DUE TO AN AMMONIA LEAK.

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

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

I'M JOE HREN.

MONROE COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOW PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE 17-YEAR LEGAL SAGA OVER CONDITIONS AT THE COUNTY JAIL, AFTER MISSING A DEADLINE WITH THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION THIS WEEK.

AS OUR ELYSE PERRY REPORTS, LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES ARE DIVIDED ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THREAT OF A NEW LAWSUIT HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS.

>> THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION SAYS DISMISSING ITS 2008 LAWSUIT CLEARS THE WAY FOR POSSIBLE NEW LITIGATION AGAINST THE COUNTY.

UNDER A 2009 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE LAWSUIT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED IF THE COUNTY IMPROVED WHAT IT CALLED UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS.

THE AGREEMENT WAS EXTENDED MULTIPLE TIMES AS COUNTY OFFICIALS WORKED TOWARDS A NEW FACILITY.

THE MOST RECENT EXTENSION DEPENDED ON THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD ON THE PROPOSED NORTH PARK SITE BETWEEN BLOOMINGTON AND ELLETTSVILLE.

AT TUESDAY'S MEETING THE MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL REJECTED A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THAT PROPERTY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT JENNIFER CROSSLY ARGUED THE COUNTY SHOULD LOOK AT USING THE THOMPSON PROPERTY INSTEAD WHICH IT ALREADY OWNS.

>> IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE WITH A CAPITAL I, FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO SAY LET'S SAY YES TO AN $11 MILLION PURCHASE AGREEMENT WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE THINGS THAT WE COULD BE USING RIGHT NOW.

>> THE COUNCIL APPROVED USE OF THE NORTH PARK PROPERTY FOR THE JAIL IN 2024, HOWEVER, CROSSLY SAYS REDUCTIONS IN LOCAL INCOME TAX REVENUE FOLLOWING 2025 SENATE BILL ONE, A NEW STATE PROPERTY TAX LAW, CHANGED THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES.

THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL INCLUDED A 400-BED JAIL, COURTS AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICES AS PART OF A JUSTICE COMPLEX ESTIMATED TO COST NEARLY $225 MILLION.

THOMAS SAYS THE DESIGN PROCESS COST THE COUNTY MORE THAN $4 MILLION.

>> WITH THE ENACTOR OF SB-1, IT REALLY, REALLY CHANGED THE GAME FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A PAUSE ON NORTH PARK THEN.

>> DIVERTING NOW WILL CREATE MAJOR DELAYS.

>> USING THE THOMSON SITE WOULD REQUIRE A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND APPROVALS FROM BLOOMINGTON'S ZONING PROCESSES.

SHE SAYS THOSE DELAYS COULD PUSH THE PROJECT CLEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE.

-- YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE.

>> THERE'S MANY LIABILITIES AT THOMPSON WE MAY NOT KNOW OF, AND FRANKLY, THE COST OF A LAWSUIT ADDED ON TO THOMPSON MIGHT MAKE NORTH PARK LOOK CHEAP BY COMPARISON.

>> THE COUNTY'S CURRENT JAIL HAS THE CAPACITY OF 235 PEOPLE, BUT COMMISSIONERS SAY IT REGULARLY HOUSES MORE THAN 270 INMATES.

THE COMMISSIONERS SAY INTERVENTION BY A JUDGE COULD FORCE THE COUNTY TO MAKE RENOVATIONS TO THE EXISTING JAIL.

THE COUNTY COULD ALSO BE ORDERED TO HOUSE INMATES AND OTHER COUNTIES WHILE THE JAIL CONDITIONS ARE IMPROVED.

>> THIS IS ONE WAY OUT OF THIS LAWSUIT, AND IT'S NORTH PARK.

AFTER IT'S NAME IN THE EXTENSION AGREEMENT, THAT'S THE KEY.

AND IF YOU NEED TO GET INSIDE A LOCKED DOOR, YOU DON'T TRY EVERY KEY, YOU TRY THAT KEY, ONLY THAT KEY WILL WORK.

>> SEVERAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAID WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN NEXT IS A MEETING WITH ALL DECISION-MAKERS AT THE TABLE.

>> WELL, WE ARE JOINED BY ELYSE PERRY FROM THE WTIU NEWS ROOM FOR MORE ON THE JAIL SAGA.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE PARTIES INVOLVED?

ARE WE BACK TO SQUARE ONE?

>> COUNTY LEADERS SAY THEY'RE STILL WORKING TO FIND A NEW LOCATION AFTER NORTH PARK WAS REJECTED THIS WEEK BUT THE ACLU SEEMS READY TO SUE AGAINST.

COMMISSIONER JODY MADEIRA SAYS THEY COULD FILE A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, WHICH IF GRANTED WOULD ALLOW THE JUDGE TO DECIDE THE CASE WITHOUT A FULL TRIAL.

MADEIRA EXPLAINS THE FULL IMPACT.

>> I THINK THAT AS A COUNTY PUTS US IN A VERY DIFFERENT ENTITY, THE COURT.

SO WE ARE TURNING OVER OUR AUTHORITY TO MAKE OUR OWN LOCAL DECISIONS TO ANOTHER ENTITY.

>> MADEIRA SAYS THE ACLU WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE JUDGE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE CASE THAT COULD TAKE SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.

>> SO WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNCIL.

WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC SAY ABOUT ALL THIS?

>> BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, THE COMMUNITY SEEMS TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE COUNCIL.

PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE DISTANCE FROM SERVICES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH OR ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT JENNIFER CROSSLY SAYS THE ORIGINAL $225 MILLION JAIL PLAN INCLUDED THOSE SERVICES, BUT WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THE 2025 SENATE BILL 1, THE COUNTY LOST FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO FUND SUCH A LARGE PROJECT.

>> ORIGINALLY, THE WHOLE PLANS WERE TO MOVE EVERYBODY AND THE CURRENT JUSTICE CENTER, JAIL, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE NOW, ALL IN THE SAME LOCATION.

BUT IN THAT MOMENT, WHEN SB-1 WAS ENACTED, THAT REALLY CHANGED THE GAME BECAUSE WE COULD NOT DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH.

>> PUBLIC COMMENTERS ALSO WANTED A THRIFTIER OPTION AND MORE MONEY FOR SUPPORT SERVICES.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD BUILD A NEW JAIL AT ALL.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY THEY ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE HELD IN THE JAIL AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> SO WHAT'S NEXT?

I GUESS ANOTHER LAWSUIT?

>> THE MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL WAS NOT NAMED IN THE 2008 LAWSUIT, BUT THE OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW LITIGATION.

THE COUNCIL APPROVED APPROPRIATIONS FOR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNCIL IN APRIL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HIRE A LAWYER QUICKLY.

THE COMMISSIONERS ARE ALSO GEARING UP FOR MORE LAWSUITS AND PROBABLY AN APPEARANCE IN COURT.

COMMISSIONER MADEIRA BELIEVES IT COULD COST MORE THAN THE NORTH PARK PLAN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING.

WE WILL KEEP FOLLOWING THE STORY, OF COURSE.

>>> WELL, THE FRANK SOUTHERN ICE ARENA WILL UNDERGO A SERIES OF RENOVATIONS THIS SUMMER FOLLOWING AN AMMONIA LEAK IN THE SPRING.

AND AS ISABELLA VESPERINI REPORTS, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS ALSO CONSIDERING FUTURE LARGER SCALE IMPROVEMENTS TO MODERNIZE ITS SYSTEMS.

>> IN MARCH, THE ARENA CLOSED A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON, DUE TO AN AMMONIA LEAK.

ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS USED TO KEEP ICE FROZEN.

THE ARENA HAS UNDERGONE VARIOUS RENOVATIONS SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN 1966.

THE MOST RECENT MAJOR WORK WAS DONE IN 2001, BUT IT IS STILL OVERDUE FOR MANY IMPROVEMENTS ABOUT $20,000 WORTH OF WORK WILL BE DONE THIS SUMMER.

>> SAFETY COMES FIRST.

SAFETY.

SO WE GET THE PUNCH LIST THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

WE ARE REPLACING THAT GASKET.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

WE ARE PUTTING MORE ALARM SYSTEM IN THE ROOM AND OUTSIDE THE ROOM.

>> LONG-TERM, THE CITY IS CONSIDERING THREE OPTIONS, REPLACING THE AMMONIA COOLING SYSTEM AND EQUIPMENT WITH A NEW SYSTEM USING A MODERN REFRIGERANT, REPLACING THE DIRECT COOLING SYSTEM WITH AN INDIRECT SYSTEM, OR BUILDING A NEW FACILITY.

AFTER MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS MANY SEEM TO PREFER BUILDING AND ENTIRELY NEW FACILITY.

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET A NEW ARENA IN TWO OR THREE YEARS.

IT TAKES TIME.

SO LONGER VISION, I HAVE IS FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS.

>> FUNDING FOR A POTENTIALLY NEW FACILITY WOULD COME FROM GRANTS, BONDS AND FUNDRAISING, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME BECAUSE THE CITY IS DEALING WITH OTHER AGING FACILITIES.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEM, BRYANT PARK POOL, WE NEED NEW PUMP ROOM, WE NEED NEW BUS HOUSE.

SO I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH AGING FACILITIES, SPORTS FACILITIES.

>> KITO WILL MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN JUNE.

>> SPORTS PROVIDES LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ARENA IS ONE OF THEM, ONE OF THE FACILITIES WE WANT TO KEEP IN THE FUTURE, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

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

>>> THE ARENA WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS TO RENT OUT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR ROLLER DERBY AND ROLLER SKATING.

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

>> HI, AUBREY.

>> HI, JOE.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP AND THE TOWN OF ELLETTSVILLE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO MERGING INTO ONE BODY AFTER VOTING TO APPROVE A FINANCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS WEDNESDAY.

ACCORDING TO THE ANALYSIS, IF THE MERGER PASSES, PROPERTY TAX RATES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 6.9% FOR CURRENT RICHLAND TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.

ELLETTSVILLE RESIDENTS RATES WOULD RAISE BETWEEN 3.5 AND 4.1%.

TOWN COUNCIL RES SCOTT ALTON SAYS THE DIFFERENT RATES ARE TO EVEN OUT TAX RATES ACROSS THE NEW TOWNSHIP AND THAT EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE THE SAME SERVICES.

>> FOR EVERYBODY'S UNDERSTANDING, ALL SERVICES GO TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE NEW TOWN, NOT JUST SEGMENTS THEREOF.

SO FIRE WILL RESPOND TO THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.

POLICE WILL RESPOND TO THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.

PUBLIC WORKS WILL RESPOND TO THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.

>> THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND TOWN COUNCIL ARE SET TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO ADOPT A REORGANIZATION PLAN AT A MEETING ON JUNE 22nd.

>> IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN, YOU WILL NOTICE KIRKWOOD AVENUE IS UNDERGOING A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS THIS SUMMER.

THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY.

NEARLY $4.7 MILLION WILL GO INTO PROJECTS SUCH AS TREAT PAVING, STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND BRICK MAINTENANCE TO REMOVE TRIPPING HAZARDS.

THIS WILL BE BLOCK BY BLOCK ROAD CLOSURES OF KIRKWOOD WHICH STARTED IN THIS MONTH AT INDIANA AVENUE.

>> MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, THOSE WILL BE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.

OVERALL, WHEN YOU HAVE NEW AND FRESH PAVEMENT, AND SUCH, IT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE INVESTING BACK INTO YOUR DOWNTOWN.

>> THE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO ROOM IN JEWEL.

>> BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT IS LAUNCHING ON JUNE 1st ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.

IT'S CALLED ROUTE 16 AND COMBINES TO PARK 38 AND IVY TECH WITH ROUTE 3 WEST WHICH SERVICES WEST HIGHLAND VILLAGE AND CURRY PIKE AREA.

ROUTE 3 WEST HAS THE FEWEST RIDERS OF ANY BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT ROUTE.

>> WE TALKED WITH A BUNCH OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION AND WE CAME UP WITH A COMBINED ROUTE THAT HITS WEST SIDE SHOPPING AREAS AND RETAIL AREAS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND HITS THE PARK 48 AND IVY TECH AREA.

>> TO PROMOTE THE CHANGE, FARES FOR ALL BTV VEHICLES WILL BE FREE THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE.

>>> MONROE COUNTY IS ON PACE FOR ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS AS LAST YEAR.

CONTINUING A DOWNWARD TREND FROM OWE POST-COVID SPIKE.

19 PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF DRUG-RELATED CAUSES IN MONROE COUNTY IN 2026.

LAST YEAR, 41 PEOPLE DIED OF OVERDOSES.

YEARLY DRUG-RELATED DEFENDANTS IN MONROE COUNTY STAYED STEADY IN MID-20s, BUT JUMPED TO MORE THAN 50 DEATHS A YEAR AFTER 2020.

>> ESSENTIALLY SOCIAL LIFE IN GENERAL JUST KIND OF SHUT DOWN, AND SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TURNED TO SUBSTANCE USE OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, NOT AS A DIRECT CAUSE BUT JUST KIND OF TO PASS THE TIME.

>> HALL SAYS THAT INCIDENTS LIKE THE SUSPECTED OVERDOSES OF FIVE MEN AT KILROY SPORTS BAR SHOWS HOW PEOPLE DEATHS CAN HAPPEN IN CLUSTERS WHEN THEY SAY DRUGS.

>> THIS COMES AFTER BECKWITH SAID IN A QUOTE THAT HE HATES ISLAM AND THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GIVE PEOPLE PERMISSION TO HATE AGAIN.

BECKWITH HAS SINCE DOUBLED DOWN ON THAT COMMENT, POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE WISHED ALL MUSLIMS WOULD BECOME CHRISTIANS.

>> A BALL STATE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS FIRED OVER A SOCIAL MEDIA POST ABOUT POLITICAL ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK HAS ENTERED A LAWSUIT WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

IN SEPTEMBER, SUZANNE SWIERC WROTE ON FACEBOOK THAT KIRK'S DEATH WAS A TRAGEDY, BUT SHE ALSO SAID HIS DEATH WAS A REFLECTION OF THE VIOLENCE, FEAR AND HATRED HE SEWED.

THAT POST WENT VIRAL, PROMPTING HER TERMINATION.

THE ACLU OF INDIANA FILED THE LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF SWIERC.

SHE WILL RECEIVE $225,000 FROM BALL STATE.

>> WE HOPE THAT THIS SENDS A MESSAGE TO NOT JUST ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BUT EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT STILL HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK.

>> BALL STATE PRESIDENT SAYS HE FIRED SWIERC TO PROTECT THE UNIVERSITY'S REPUTATION AND STOP DISRUPTION ON CAMPUS.

>>> CUMMINS INCORPORATED IS PAYING A CALIFORNIA A.I.

COMPANY MORE THAN $23 MILLION AFTER A JURY FOUND THAT CUMMINS MISAPPROPRIATED TRADE SECRETS.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, THE COLUMBUS-BASED ENGINE COMPANY HIRED THE C3 COMPANY TO CREATE AN APPLICATION TO REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION.

AFTER ENDING ITS CONTRACT WITH C3, CUMMINS THEN TRIED TO CREATE A SIMILAR APPLICATION USING THE A.I.

COMPANY'S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

THE MONROE COUNTY HUMANE ASSOCIATION IS STILL MAKING REPAIRS TO DAMAGE FROM A TORNADO THAT STRUCK THE WEST SIDE OF BLOOMINGTON IN FEBRUARY.

THE TORNADO DAMAGED THE BUILDING, DESTROYED A STORAGE SHED AND THREW A SHIPPING CONTAINER ON TO THE ROOF.

ANIMALS HOUSED THERE WERE RECOVERED SAFELY AND SOME WERE TRANSFERRED TO NEARBY FACILITIES.

SINCE THEN, THE ASSOCIATION HAS INSTALLED NEW SIDING, FIXED ITS HVAC SYSTEM AND COMPLETED MOST INTERIOR WORK OUTSIDE OF REPAINTING.

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AMAZING.

PEOPLE ARE STILL RESPONDING.

SOMEBODY WILL JUST LEARN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY, AND THEY WILL REACH OUT AND TRY TO SUPPORT US IN ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN.

>> AND JOE, KREBS SAID THE ASSOCIATION IS LOOKING TO RESTORE CAPACITY FOR ANIMALS AND THEY ARE HOPING TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY FOR FOOD AND SUPPLY STORAGE AND EXPAND ITS DOG PLAY YARDS.

>> I'M SURE THEY CAN'T WAIT TO BE BACK.

THANKS SO MUCH, AUBREY.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," DUBOIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST A MID-STATES CORRIDOR WHICH CONNECTS I-64 TO I-69 IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA.

AND USING COFFEE GROUNDS FROM LOCAL CAFES TO CULTIVATE MUSHROOMS IN HER FAMILY'S BASEMENT.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE FUTURE OF INDIANA'S PROPOSED MID-STATES CORRIDOR HIGHWAY PROJECT IS INCREASINGLY UNCERTAIN.

AS CLAYTON BAUMGARTH REPORTS, OPPONENTS OF PROJECT BELIEVE RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES MAY STOP THE HIGHWAY FROM MOVING FORWARD.

BUT STATE SAYS PLANNING WORK IS CONTINUING.

>>> TOM BARTEL HAS LIVED AND WORKED ON HIS FAMILY FARM IN DUBOIS COUNTY FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

>> I ALWAYS HAD A JOB OFF THE FARM, BUT BASICALLY, I WOULD GO TO WORK, I WOULD BE AT WORK FROM BASICALLY 7 TO 4:00.

AT 4:00, I WOULD GET OFF WORK.

I WOULD HURRY HOME, CHANGE CLOTHES, GRAB A SANDWICH AND HOP ON A TRACTOR AND WORK UNTIL WELL AFTER DARK.

>> THIS IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT.

>> THE FIRST PART OF THE FARM WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY OF 1851.

SO IT'S 175 YEARS OLD.

>> BUT THAT FARM IS AT RISK OF BEING SPLIT BY THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR PROJECT.

THE PROJECT, A PROPOSED $1 BILLION PROJECT, CONNECTING I-64 AND I-69 HAS BEEN DISCUSSED SINCE THE LATE 1950s.

THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WOULD CUT BARTEL'S FARM IN HOUSE, WITH THE EDGE OF THE PROJECT ABOUT 200 FEET FROM HIS FRONT DOOR.

>> I HAVE 2,000-FOOT WIDE CORRIDOR, WHICH -- I MEAN, IT'S BASICALLY, THE EDGE OF MY YARD TO SOME WOODS THAT ARE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE MILE AWAY.

MY MOTHER'S HOUSE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.

>> PROPONENTS OF THE HIGHWAY SAYS IT WILL ENHANCE CONNECTIVITY AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH.

BUT SOME SAY IT'S ONLY WANTED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> MIKE BRAUN AND A FEW LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS WANT THIS BECAUSE IT WILL PROFIT THEIR BUSINESSES.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE COUNTY OR THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE.

I MEAN, IT'S -- THERE'S ROAD PROJECTS GETTING CANCELED ALL OVER THE STATE.

>> IN JANUARY, IN-DOT SAID FUNDING CONSTRAINTS FORCED THE AGENCY TO CANCEL OR POSTPONE MORE THAN 300 ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

THE PROPERTY RIGHTS ALLIANCE, A NONPROFIT OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT SINCE OCTOBER OF 2024 IS CONFIDENT THAT RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WILL END OF THE PROJECT.

>> IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THROUGH THE HELP OF THE SENATE, WE HAVE -- AND OTHER PEOPLE, WE HAVE MADE A GREAT DEAL OF INROADS IN STOPPING THIS PROJECT.

>> THE SAME LAW THAT COULD BRING THE NFL'S CHICAGO BEARS TO INDIANA, REQUIRES ANY STATE PROJECT OF $250 MILLION OR MORE TO BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SAID THAT REQUIREMENT COVERS SEVEN PROJECTS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR.

>> THE REASON THAT WE PUT SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE IN, TO HAVE IT GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IS SO WE COULD SLOW IT DOWN, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TOO MANY PEOPLE WANT THIS.

>> MISHLER BELIEVES THE LEGISLATURE WILL END THE PROJECT.

THE DUBOIS COUNTY COUNCIL ALSO RECENTLY VOTED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

>> THAT CAME UNDER SENATE BILL 128, MARK MESSMER AND MIKE BRAUN PENNED THAT.

THAT WAS A MECHANISM THAT ALLOWED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS ROAD, WITHOUT IT, IT WILL BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THIS ROAD THROUGH.

>> ACCORDING TO THE LOCHMUELLER GROUP, THE AGENCY PLANNING THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR, SAYS THE PROJECT WILL CONTINUE.

>> THE TWO STUDIES ARE WHOLLY FUNDED BY IN-DOT AND FEDERAL HIGHWAY.

THERE'S NO RDA FUNDING.

SO WORK WE ARE DOING NOW WILL CONTINUE.

>> THANKS MAY CHANGE ONCE THE CURRENT STUDY IS COMPLETED.

>> THE WORK WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TIER 2, SECTION 2 CONTINUES.

THAT IS WORK THAT IS NOT PAUSING, BUT WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED.

>> MINTON SAYS THE MIDSTATE'S PROJECT WILL HAVE MORE OPTIONS FOR FUNDING COMPARED TO SOME OF THE PAUSED OR CANCELED IN-DOT PROJECTS ACROSS STATE.

>> THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE PROJECTS LIKE, THAN OTHER TYPES OF PROJECTS BECAUSE OF THE SCALE.

THERE ARE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO TRY TO HELP WITH THE -- THE BIG PRICE TAG THAT COMES WITH THESE PROJECTS AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT PROJECT PRICE TAG IS LARGE.

>> MINTON SAID HER COMPANY'S RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE CORRIDOR COULD SAVE DRIVERS ON U.S.

231 ABOUT 14.5 MINUTES OF COMMUTE TIME.

FOR FOLKS LIKE BARTEL, THOUGH, THAT TIME SAVED WOULD MEAN LOSING LAND THAT IS A PART OF HIS FAMILY FOR NEARLY TWO CENTURIES.

>> THEY THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, FARMERS CAN RECOVER FROM THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IF THEIR FACTORY BURNS DOWN, THEY CAN BUILD A NEW FACTORY.

BUT THE LAND IS OUR FACTORY.

/THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM US -- IF THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM US, WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO REPLACE IT?

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>>> WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE MID-STATES CORRIDOR NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT ACCUSATIONS THAT THE WHOLE PROJECT IS RIFE WITH CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVELS.

AN EIGHTH GRADER AT JACKSON CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL IS TURNING USED COFFEE GROUNDS FROM LOCAL CAFES INTO MUSHROOM FOOD IN HER FAMILY'S BASEMENT.

AS ELYSE PERRY REPORTS, SHE'S HOPING TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCE AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> 14-YEAR-OLD GLORIA CHEE COLLECTS USED COFFEE GROUNDS FROM NEARLY A DOZEN USED COFFEE GROUNDS FROM FUNGI FOR FUTURE.

SHE GROWS OYSTER MUSHROOMS WITH LAYERS OF COFFEE GROUNDS AND STRAW.

SHE SAYS SHE FIRST BECAME INTERESTED IN MUSHROOM CULTIVATION AFTER MOVING TO BLOOMINGTON FROM PENNSYLVANIA IN JULY OF 2025.

>> I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUSHROOMS GREW UNTIL NOW, BECAUSE, LIKE, THEY DON'T REALLY USE SEEDS OR ANYTHING.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING SCIENCE PROJECT.

>> CHEE EXPERIMENTS GROWING TROPICAL FRUIT TREES.

SHE STARTED WITH A MUSHROOM GROWING KIT BEFORE ORDERING MUSHROOM SPAWN AND BUILDING HER OWN BUCKETS.

CURRENTLY 122 POUNDS OF COFFEE GROUNDS ARE BEING REPURPOSED IN CHEE'S FAMILY BASEMENT, SOMETHING THAT SHE WAS SURPRISED THE PARENTS WERE ALLOWED.

>> WHEN I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT MUSHROOMS, THEY SAID NO, NO, MUSHROOMS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT CONVINCED BUT SOMEHOW I GOT THIS.

>> CHEE HAS RECEIVED $1,500 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT AND IS CONTINUING TO APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHILE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

>> I'M NOT GROWING AS MANY MUSHROOMS AS I THOUGHT I WOULD 'CAUSE I WAS REALLY HOPING I COULD SOLVE HUNGER WITH MY MUSHROOMS.

THE PROJECT HAS BECOME BIGGER THAN FOOD PRODUCTION.

IT'S ABOUT REDUCING FOOD WASTE AND HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT.

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

>>> AFTER HARVESTING THE MUSHROOM, CHEE PLANS TO DONATE THE LEFTOVER MIXTURE OF COFFEE GROUNDS, STRAW TO LOCAL ORCHARDS AND COMPOSTERS.

SHE SAYS SHE HOPES TO CONTINUE EXPANDING FUNGI FOR THE FUTURE, BY PARTNERING WITH MORE COFFEE SHOPS AND LOCAL FOOD RESOURCE.

>> AND MITCH DANIELS IS RETURNING AS INTERIM PRESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY FOUR YEARS AFTER STEPPING DOWN.

DANIELS SERVED AS PURDUE'S PRESIDENT FROM 2013 TO 2022, AND WILL OFFICIALLY BEGIN AS INTERIM PRESIDENT ON JULY 1st.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER CURRENT PRESIDENT MUNG CHIANG ANNOUNCED HE WAS TAKING THE SAME POSITION AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

>>> 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