>> VIGO AND VERMILLION COUNTY FARMERS AND RESIDENTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION WELLS PLANNED FOR NORTH OF TERRE HAUTE.

THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE CLOSING KIRKWOOD AVENUE TO TRAFFIC EVERY APRIL TO NOVEMBER.

NOW IT'S UP TO THE MAYOR TO OKAY OR VETO IT.

>>> AND A FLASH DRIVE WITH A TREASURE TROVE OF PHOTOS SHOWING THE WEST BADEN SPRINGS HOTEL PRIOR TO ITS RESTORATION WAS FOUND RECENTLY.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE, COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M JOE HREN.

A FERTILIZER COMPANY WANTS TO STORE CARBON DIOXIDE DEEP UNDERGROUND AT A SITE NORTH OF TERRE HAUTE.

ETHAN SANDWEISS SPOKE WITH FARMERS NEAR THE PLANT INJECTION WELLS.

THEY ARE WORRIED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND FEEL SIDELINED BY THE CORPORATION AND THE STATE.

>> SUSAN STROLE KOS IS THE LATEST TO INHABIT THE OLD FARM HOUSE.

>> I MADE A PROMISE TO MY DAD AND, YEAH, I INTEND ON KEEPING THAT PROMISE AND HANDING IT DOWN TO MY DAUGHTER.

>> BUT THE LAST CENTURY HAS NOT BEEN EASY FOR STROLE, THE TOPSOIL IS NEARLY DEPLETED FROM YEARS OF COAL MINING.

NOW, THE NEARBY DUKE ENERGY COAL GASIFICATION PLANT HAS NEW OWNERS.

>> IT WAS CALLED QUASAR SYNGAS AND THERE WAS ANOTHER NAME CALLED QUASAR FERTILIZER AND WABASH RESOURCES AND NOW I'M GETTING A LETTER FROM THE EPA THAT SAYS WABASH CARBON SERVICES.

IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT THAT ALL OF THOSE COMPANIES ARE THE SAME COMPANY.

>> WABASH VALLEY RESOURCES IS BUILDING A $2.6 BILLION AMMONIA FERTILIZER PLANT.

THE COMPANY DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THE STORY BUT SPOKESPERSON SAID IN AN EMAIL SAID IT WILL PRODUCE 500,000 METRIC TONS OF FERTILIZER PER YEAR.

WITH 70% OF FARMERS SAYING THEY CAN'T PAY FOR THE FERTILIZER THEY NEED.

THEY WERE HOSTING A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT FERTILIZER.

>> I WAS INTERESTED, THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING, BECAUSE WE HAD JUST WENT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AND, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, THE LOCKDOWN AND EVERYTHING, AND OUR FERTILIZER PRICES WERE TREMENDOUS.

>> WHEN SHE ARRIVED, THERE WERE NO FARMERS, JUST MEN FROM THE COMPANY AND A MAP OF THE SURROUNDING LAND.

THEY ASKED TO SURVEY HER FARM.

>> THEY WANTED ME TO SIGN A PIECE OF PAPER FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS.

AND I TOLD THEM, OUT IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE DON'T WORK THAT WAY.

WE DO THINGS ON A HANDSHAKE.

AND I WAS -- I WAS UPSET AND I WAS MAD, ALL THE EMOTIONS JUST CAME.

>> TO OFFSET THE MASSIVE CARBON COST OF AMMONIA FERTILIZER PRODUCTION, WABASH VALLEY RESOURCES PLANS TO CAPTURE 1.6 MILLION TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE YEAR AND PUMP IT 4,000 FEET UNDER THE GROUND.

IT'S ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STROLE FARM.

>> CCU HAS BEEN FAIRLY NEW IN THE PAST 20ISH YEARS AND THAT'S SIMPLY INJECTING IT INTO THE SUBSURFACE FOR PERMANENT STORAGE.

>> CARBON SEQUESTRATION IS PROFITABLE THANKS TO A BUSH ERA TAX CREDIT, GIVING COMPANIES $85 PER TON OF THE PLANET WARMING GAS CAPTURED.

THE COUNTRY HAS ONLY A FEW ACTIVE PROJECTS BUT MANY MORE ARE IN DEVELOPMENT.

GEOLOGISTS SAY THE WABASH VALLEY HAS IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR CARBON CAPTURE.

>> IT'S VERY, VERY HIGH PERMEABLE AND IT MAKES IT AN EXCELLENT RESERVOIR TO INJECT IT INTO.

>> BUT IT COMES WITH RISK, AND PRESSURE BUILDUP CAN LEAD TO SIZE AND IT DISSOLVES ROCK THAT MAY CONTAIN HEAVY METALS SUCH AS ARSENIC.

STROLE KOS AND HER NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN RESOURCES.

THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT WABASH RESOURCES IS UP FRONT.

>> WE KNOW IT CAN INDUCE EARTHQUAKES.

WE KNOW IF IT DOES MIGRATE, IT COULD MIGRATE INTO OUR FRESH WATER.

WE KNOW THE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ASK, BUT NOW THE COMPANY IS NOT TALKING.

>> THE COMPANY HAS REFERRED THEM TO A DOCUMENT RESPONDING TO COMMENTS FILED WITH THE EPA.

WTIU SPOKE WITH FIVE INDEPENDENT GEOLOGISTS ABOUT THE PROJECT PROPOSAL.

THEY AGREED PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS APPEAR TO BE TAKEN BUT SAY THEY CAN'T BE CERTAIN UNTIL WABASH RESOURCES GETS CORE SAMPLES FROM THE TWO INJECTION SITES.

>> THE AMOUNT OF CORE, THE DEPTH OF CORE, WHETHER THE CORE WERE SAMPLED IN THE EXACT SAME AREA OF INJECTION WILL BE CARRIED OUT OR IF IT WAS 30 MILES AWAY THAT DOES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE RISKS THAT BOTHER NEIGHBORS.

IT'S THE WAY THE PROJECT IS BEING HANDLED FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL GREG ZOELLER JOINED THE COMPANY AS VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

HE TOLD THE VERMILLION COUNTY THAT THEY WOULD SEE IF THEY PASSED AN ORDINANCE AGAINST CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

>> I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A THREAT BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A NOTICE.

>> FRIENDLY REGULATIONS, SIGNIFICANT OUTSIDE INVESTMENT AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEYING HAS BROUGHT WABASH VALLEY RESOURCES A LONG WAY BUT THEY STILL HAVEN'T WON OVER THEIR NEIGHBORS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY GENERATION STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE FARM, AND HERE I AM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE STRUGGLING TO KEEP IT NOW.

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

>>> CUTS TO MEDICAID ARE ALREADY IMPACTING MANY HOOSIERS AND MORE COULD LOSE INSURANCE NEXT YEAR AS WORK REQUIREMENTS TAKE EFFECT.

HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES SAY MOST PEOPLE ON MEDICAID ALREADY WORK WHILE RECEIVING BENEFITS.

NOW, A NEW RULE WILL REQUIRE PEOPLE ON MEDICAID TO PROVE THAT THEIR ILLNESS IS ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM FROM WORKING THE REQUIRED 80 HOURS A MONTH.

THE ADDED BURDEN OF EXTRA PAPERWORK ON TOP OF SERIOUS ILLNESS FOR SOME COULD CUT MORE FROM THE PROGRAM.

FOR MORE ON THE CHANGES TO MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY, WE'RE JOINED BY TRACY HUTCHINGS GETZ, WITH A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT IS AIMED AT IMPROVING HOOSIERS LIVE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

MEDICAID ENROLLMENT IN THE STATE HAS DROPPED BY ABOUT 450,000 IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THIS IS BEFORE THE NEW RULE GOES INTO EFFECT.

CAN YOU CRUNCH THOSE NUMBERS FOR US A LITTLE BIT?

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO INDIANA HAS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS SEEN THE STEEPEST DECLINE IN MEDICAID ENROLLMENT OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT DECLINE REALLY BEGAN WHEN GOVERNOR BRAUN TOOK OFFICE, BECAUSE OF CHANGES IMPLEMENTED BOTH WHILE VOLUNTARILY BY FASSA AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS CHANGES THAT WERE PASSED INTO LAW BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SPECIFICALLY, WHAT WE BELIEVE IS DRIVING -- SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IS DRIVING THIS COVERAGE LOSS IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF QUARTERLY ELIGIBILITY REDETERMINATION CHECKS FOR MEDICAID MEMBERS.

AND THIS MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING PICKED OFF FOR PROCEDURAL OR PAPERWORK ISSUES THAT COULD MEAN MISSING A DEADLINE.

IT COULD MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF ONE MONTH THEY HAPPEN TO MAKE MORE MONEY THAN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT IS JUST LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST QUARTER INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE YEAR.

AND SO THERE'S LOTS OF DIN REASONS WHY FOLKS MIGHT END UP DISENROLLED RIGHT NOW AND IT'S HAVING A REAL IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> DOES THE STATE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CHECK THE ELIGIBILITY OF EVERYONE ON MEDICAID?

>> YEAH, SO THE STATE HAS ALWAYS CHECKED THE ELIGIBILITY OF EVERYONE ON MEDICAID, ANNUALLY.

IT'S A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT THAT WORKLOAD HAS QUADRUPLED.

AND FASSA IS GOING ON.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THE STATE ALLOCATED MORE RESOURCES, THE PURPOSE OF THESE NEW BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS IS TO DENY PEOPLE CARE.

SO THROWING MORE MONEY AT THEM IS NOT GOING TO HELP WHEN THE SYSTEM IS INTENTIONALLY SO COMPLICATED THAT SOMEONE WITH CANCER IS GOING TO GET KICKED OFF BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING CHEMO DOING IT ONE MONTH AND THEY WERE NOT DOING IT THE OTHER MONTH AND THEY DON'T GET THE PAPERWORK IN BECAUSE THEY WERE HOSPITALIZED.

>> THE STATE SAYS THEY ARE SAVING OVER $400,000 THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR DUE TO THE DECREASE OF THOSE REMOVED FROM ME R MEDICAID.

DOES THE SYSTEM NEED REVISIONS.

>> THERE WAS DEFINITELY THINGS TO BE DONE TO SAVE MONEY IN INDIANA.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THESE CHANGES WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE SO FAR AND WHICH ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO COST MORE MONEY AND COVER FEWER PEOPLE.

SO WHAT THE $400,000 DOESN'T TAKE INTO EFFECT IS THE HIRING BLITZ THAT FASSA IS IN RIGHT NOW AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOSING MASSIVE FEDERAL FUNDS.

SO FOR INSTANCE, MOST OF THE COVERAGE LOSS CURRENTLY AND ANTICIPATED TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR IS TO THE HEALTHY INDIANA PLAN.

A PROGRAM THAT IS 90% COVERED BY FEDERAL MONEY, AND THAT REMAINING 10% IS COVERED BY THE HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT FEE.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IT DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WHEN YOU KICK OFF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HIP MEMBERS, ALL YOU ARE DOING IS DENYING HOOSIERS WHO NEED IT, HOOSIERS WHO MOSTLY WORK ALREADY, THEIR HEALTHCARE.

ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROJECTED JOB LOSS OF OVER 30,000 GOOD HEALTHCARE JOBS.

AND THEN ACROSS THE BOARD, INCREASES IN COST AND ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTHCARE -- SORRY, INCREASES IN ACCESSIBILITY AND INCREASES IN COSTS OF HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE ON MEDICAID.

>> AND TRACY, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT SO MUCH MORE ON THIS.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU, JOE.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ELYSE PERRY FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>> HELLO, ELYSE.

>> HELLO, JOE.

THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL NARROWLY PASSED AN ORDINANCE TO CLOSE KIRKWOOD AVENUE FROM CARS EVERY YEAR FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER, BUT AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, THE MAYOR STILL HAS TO SIGN OFF ON IT.

>> KIRKWOOD AVENUE WAS SEASONALLY CLOSED FROM 2020 TO 2025 BUT CITY OFFICIALS OPTED IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR IN FAVOR OF A PARKLET MODEL.

THAT DID NOT SIT WELL, WHO DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM KERRY THOMSON AND OTHERS VOTE 5-4 TO APPROVE THE CLOSURE.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THOMSON IS REVIEWING THE ORDINANCE WHETHER TO VETO OR SIGN IT INTO CODE.

NUMEROUS RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES SPOKE, BOTH IN FAVOR OF AND AGAINST THE ORDINANCE.

>> YOU ARE CLOSING KIRKWOOD DURING A TIME WHEN BLOOMINGTON HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEDESTRIANS AND LEAST AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE.

>> IF ENACTED KIRKWOOD WOULD BE CLOSED APRIL 1st THROUGH NOVEMBER 15 THE YEARLY FROM TRAFFIC BETWEEN INDIANA AVENUE AND WALNUT STREET.

IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN 2027 AFTER THE KIRKWOOD STUDY AND DELIBERATION SESSIONS.

>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE AND THE SAMPLE GATES TO DESIGN A SHARED STREET AND TO HAVE THAT STREET BE PEDESTRIAN FOCUSED FOR MUCH OF MANY TIMES IN THE YEAR.

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

>>> THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ADOPTED THE ORDINANCE ON MONDAY.

>>> A SCULPTURE HONORING RYAN WHITE WAS UNVEILED WEDNESDAY IN THE SOUTH LOUNGE OF THE INDIANA MEMORIAL UNION.

WHITE WAS AN INDIANA TEENAGER WHO BECAME A NATIONAL ADVOCATE FOR AIDS EDUCATION AFTER CONTRACTING THE DISEASE AS A 13-YEAR-OLD FOLLOWING A BLOOD TRANSFUSION.

IT'S MEANT FOR STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER BY LEAVING NOTES FOR ONE ANOTHER TO LEAVE.

>> HIS STORY IS EMBLEMATIC TO ME, OF THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO FIGHT HATE, FEAR AND DISCRIMINATION.

>> WHITE DIED IN 1990 AT THE AGE OF 18.

HIS MOTHER SAID HE HAD DREAMED OF ATTENDING I.U.

>>> MONROE COUNTY IS REVISING ITS 30-DAY NOTICE BEFORE REMOVING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE OF A NEW STATE LAW.

SENATE ENROLLED ACT 285 PROHIBITS CAMPING IN PUBLIC PLACES AND IT SAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD ASSESS A PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND TELL THEM ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES, BUT IT ALSO SAYS IF A PERSON IS STILL CAMPING ON THE STREET AFTER 48 HOURS, THEY COULD BE CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR.

>> WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SAY, REALLY CLEARLY, THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT SOLVED BY PUSHING PEOPLE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

AND POVERTY SHOULDN'T BECOME A PATHWAY INTO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

>>> THE NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT ON JULY 1st.

>>> THE GROUP REPRESENTING RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE CITY WHO DEFEATED THE ANNEXATION ATTEMPT ARE SEEKING NEARLY $200,000 FROM THE CITY.

COUNTY RESIDENTS AGAINST ANNEXATION SAYS MOST OF THAT AMOUNT REPRESENTS LEGAL FEES INCURRED BETWEEN OCTOBER OF 2023 AND MAY 2026 FIGHTING THE CASE.

THEY ARE SEEKING AN ADDITIONAL $7,500 FOR COSTS RESPONDING TO CITY DISCOVERY REQUESTS.

MOST OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT WOULD GO TO THE TWO ATTORNEYS FROM THE BUNGER AND ROBERTSON LAW FIRM THAT REPRESENTED THEM.

>>> HOOSIERS CAN NOW SEE WHO LIVED ON THEIR PROPERTY IN THE 19th CENTURY.

THAT HAS THANKS TO AN AWARD-WINNING GEOGRAPHIC SYSTEM.

AUDREY OUILLETTE HAS THIS REPORT.

>>> I THINK THE FIRST THING IS THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW IS THAT WHERE HE WANTED IT TO BE APPROACHABLE TO EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE.

SO YOU CAN TYPE IN YOUR ADDRESS AND FIND OUT WHO YOUR CHARACTER IS, WHO USED TO LIVE ON YOUR PROPERTY IN THE 19th CENTURY.

>> FREISEL SAYS THE BEAUTY OF THE MAP IS THAT IT PRESENTS CONCRETE FACTS AND STILL STIMULATES THE IMAGINATION, ALL BY PROVIDING A GLIMPSE AT REGULAR PEOPLE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME OF THE MOST COMPELLING, INTERESTING STORIES IN MONROE COUNTY ARE ABOUT CHARACTERS WHO WERE ILLITERATE, WHO DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO WRITE DOWN WHAT THEY WERE DOING BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO BUSY SURVIVING.

>> THOUGH THE DATABASE FEATURES MOSTLY MONROE COUNTY HISTORY, THE MAP SHOWS DOCUMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

FRIESEL SAYS SHE HOPES OTHER COUNTIES WILL SOON CONTRIBUTE THEIR OWN DATA.

>> AND RESEARCHERS AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE ESTIMATE INDIANA LOST 607 MERCHANDISE IN AGRICULTURAL OUTPUTS BETWEEN MARCH 2025 AND FEBRUARY 2026.

IT'S THE RESULT OF RETALIATORY TARIFFS BY CHINA THAT REDUCED U.S.

AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS BY NEARLY $15 BILLION OVERALL DURING THAT TIME.

AN INDIANA SOYBEANS ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST LOSS AT ALMOST $350 MILLION.

CORN EXPORT LOSSES WERE JUST OVER $100 MILLION.

AND JOE, INDIANA RANKED HIGH AMONG THE STATES MOST AFFECTED BY THE TARIFFS.

>> ALL RIGHT, ELYSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> BLOOMINGTON IS AT A CROSSROADS ECONOMICALLY FACING CHALLENGES FROM A DECLINING POPULATION, UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESTRICTIVE BUILDING CODES.

ON A RECENT NOON EDITION BROADCAST ON WFIU, WE SPOKE WITH AMPLIFY BLOOMINGTON C.E.O.

JOHN FERNANDEZ AND BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER PRESIDENT ERIC SPOONMORE ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE A HEALTHY, GROWING, ECONOMIC FORECAST GOING FORWARD.

>> FROM APRIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, I MEAN, IT IS -- IT'S JUST MATH.

I MEAN, IF YOU ARE LOSING THAT POPULATION AND WE'RE GOING INTO A PERIOD WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF BOOMERS RETIRING, WHO IS GONNA FILL THE JOBS.

I MEAN, IT'S A REAL ISSUE THAT MANY BUSINESSES -- WHEN WE TALK TO COMPANIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMING HERE, TO BLOOMINGTON OR MONROE COUNTY, I MEAN, THAT'S TOP OF MIND.

THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS YOUR LABOR SHED?

IS IT GROWING?

IS IT APPROPRIATE?

WILL IT BE HERE?

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT ERIC SPOKE TO IS ABSOLUTELY REAL, WE HAVE PUT UP SO MANY BARRIERS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HOUSING THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

WHY ARE THERE MORE STUDENT APARTMENT BUILDINGS?

WELL, BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO BUILD A STUDENT APARTMENT BUILDING THAN IT IS TO BUILD A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MIDMARKET KIND OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

AND THAT'S NOT A KNOCK ON THE STUDENT APARTMENTS.

THANK GOD THEY ARE GROWING.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND CAROL, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF AIR, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CHANGES OF BLOOMINGTON SINCE, YOU KNOW, I FIRST GOT INVOLVED AROUND HERE.

WE ARE A MAJORITY -- THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MSA, BUT THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS ARE STUDENTS.

AND IT DIDN'T USED TO BE THAT WAY.

IT USED TO BE THE OPPOSITE.

I'M GLAD THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GROWING.

I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S -- THAT'S THE POPULATION HERE, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THAT.

I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE A STRONG FLAGSHIP CAMPUS THAT'S DOING WELL, BUT WE HAVE IGNORED THE REST OF OUR ECONOMY BY NOT BUILDING HOUSING.

AND WHY IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOT A PROBLEM.

>> WE HAVE TO BUILD ALL OF HOUSING.

THERE ARE ALL OF THESE HOMES CHOCKED FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO GO IF THEY WANT TO DOWN SIZE.

ACROSS THE BOARD WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING TO ACCOMMODATE SOME POPULATION GROWTH.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.

I MEAN, LIKE A LOT OF THINGS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, THE JAIL BEING ONE EXAMPLE OF IT.

ERIC, YOU WERE ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR A WHILE, THESE WERE ISSUES THAT YOU PROBABLY TACKLED ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING, BUT WHAT WILL IT TAKE.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN A LOT OF GREAT EFFORTS TO TRYING AND, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AT SOME POINT THAT REGULATORY BARRIERS GET IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS.

I THINK ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, BOTH IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, TO BECOME AS COMPETITIVE OF A COMMUNITY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE IS TO TAKE A REALLY GOOD LOOK AND A THOROUGH REVIEW OF OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, WHICH IS A DOCUMENT, IT'S ABOUT 700 PAGES OR SO FULL OF REGULATIONS ON HOW YOU CAN USE YOUR PROPERTY AND WHAT YOU CAN BUILD AND HOW YOU CAN BUILD IT AND WHERE YOU CAN BUILD IT.

THE SAME THING IS TRUE WITH THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

A LOT OF REGULATIONS AND EVERY TIME YOU DO THAT, IT ADDS ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE PROJECT, OR TO THE -- YOU KNOW, THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT YOU WANT TO BUILD.

>> YOU CAN LISTEN AND WATCH THE ENTIRE EPISODE AND ALL ARCHIVED NOON EDITION EPISODES ON OUR WEBSITE, WTIUNEWS.ORG.

NOON EDITION AIRS EVERY FRIDAY.

>>> STAFF AT THE WEST BADEN SPRINGS HOTEL HAVE DISCOVERED DECADES OLD PHOTOS DEPICTING THE HOTEL'S RESTORATION.

ISABELLA VESPERINI VISITED THE HISTORIC PROPERTY IN FRENCH LICK TO LEARN MORE.

>> THE HOTEL WAS BUILT IN THE MID1800s AND BURNT TO THE GROUND IN 1901 DUE TO A FIRE AND REOPENED A YEAR LATER.

NEARLY A CENTURY LATER FROM 1991 TO 1996, IT SAT ABANDONED.

IN 1996, BILL AND GAYLE COOK PURCHASED THE BUILDING AND REOPENED IT IN 2007, AFTER THE RESTORATION.

THE 15,000 PLUS PHOTOS FROM 1996 TO 1998 DEPICT THE PROCESS OF BRINGING LIFE BACK TO THE NOW 124-YEAR-OLD PROPERTY.

>> THE THING THAT JUMPS OUT AT ME IS THAT IT CAPTURED ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THE PROJECT.

AND AS I LIKE TO SAY, THESE -- THESE FOLKS JUMPED IN WITH BLIND FAITH.

>> STAFF DISCOVERED THE PHOTOS BY ACCIDENT ON A HARD DRIVE THAT HAD BEEN STORED IN A DESK FOR DECADES.

>> IT'S EMOTIONAL FOR ME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COOK HAS BEEN HERE 30 YEARS NOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOSE TRACK OF TIME.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THOSE PHOTOS THAT ARE -- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NO LONGER WITH US, BUT THEY ARE THE BIGGEST PART OF SAVING THIS STRUCTURE.

>> THE PHOTOS DEMONSTRATE THE HOTEL POOR CONDITION WITH SOME WALLS DESTROYED, OTHERS SHOW PEOPLE WORKING TO FIX THE LOBBY AND EXTERIOR.

FRANCIS FAVORITE'S PHOTO SHOWS BILL COOK HOSTING AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL DURING THE RESTORATION.

>> I HEARD FROM FOLKS AROUND HERE THAT WHILE THEY DIDN'T KNOW BILL AND GAYLE, IN AUGUST OF 1996, WHEN HE AND GAYLE HELD THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL, WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE ARCHES OUT FRONT AND TURNED THE LIGHTS ON, THAT EVERYBODY LOCALLY KNEW THIS WAS DIFFERENT.

>> FRANCIS SAYS IT HOLDS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND HOW FAR IT'S COME.

>> YOU CAN LOSE SIGHT OF WHERE THIS WAS.

WE KEEP RE-INVESTING IN THE PROPERTY BECAUSE BILL AND GAYLE AND CARL, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO KEEP CREATING SOMETHING NEW.

AND THE REASON YOU HAVE TO DO THAT IS SO THAT YOU CAN SAVE THESE STRUCTURES AND KEEP THEM GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

>> SOME ARE DISPLAYED IN THE HOTEL'S FORMER BARBERSHOP AND AVAILABLE ONLINE.

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

>>> WOW!

PRETTY COOL.

FRAN SAYS WEST BADEN WILL CONTINUE TO RELEASE PHOTOS EVERY MONTH IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

>>> BLOOMINGTON IS CELEBRATING ITS SECOND ANNUAL GODZILLA WEEKEND THIS COMING WEEKEND WITH TODAY BEING PROCLAIMED MONTHRA DAY.

THE EVENT AT THE BUSKIRK-CHUMLEY, WILL SCREEN CLASSIC JAPANESE VERSIONS OF GODZILLA AND PERFORMANCES.

NOW, LAST YEAR, GODZILLA WEEKEND STARTED WITH CITY PROCLAIMED GODZILLA DAY.

>> GODZILLA AND MONTHRA, THEY ARE THESE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST THAT PEOPLE ATTACH THEIR MEMORIES AND NOSTALGIA TO.

>> SHE HOPES IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW INTO AN ANNUAL BLOOMINGTON TRADITION.

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