>>> MORE THAN 340,000 HOOSIERS HAVE LOST MEDICAID BENEFITS SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL LAST YEAR.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THAT'S PUTTING STRESS ON INDIVIDUALS AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>>> THOUSANDS OF NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS DESCENDED UPON BLOOMINGTON THIS WEEK, AS INDIANA UNIVERSITY PREPARES FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR MONDAY.

AND WE'LL HAVE A SEGMENT FROM OUR NOON EDITION PROGRAM, WHERE CITY LEADERS TALK ABOUT THE BARRIER TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BLOOMINGTON.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP.

>> INDIANA NEWSDESK IS BROUGHT BY MALLARD GROVER, BLOOMINGTON INDIANAPOLIS, IU CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT, EXTENDING BLOOMINGTON RESOURCES TO IMPROVE HOOSIER LIVES.

RURAL.INDIANA.EDU.

SMITHVILLE, FIBER INTERNET, SECURITY SOLUTIONS AND VOICE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA.

BUNGER AND ROBERTSON ATTORNEYS AT LAW, SINCE 1949, HELPING FAMILIES RECOVER IN PERSONAL INJURY MATTERS.

AND BY WTIU MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

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

FOR A YEAR AFTER THE FEDERAL COVID EMERGENCY ENDED, INDIANA ALLOWED THOUSANDS OF HOOSIERS TO KEEP THEIR MEDICAID.

AS ETHAN SANDWISE REPORTS, SINCE THAT GRACE PERIOD ENDED, RECIPIENTS AND THE STATE ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP.

>> FOR 40 YEARS, DON MOORE WORKED AS A TRUCK DRIVER, RAISED A FAMILY, BOUGHT A HOME AND AT AGE 62, HE WISHES HE COULD STAY IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> HE'S WORKED HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE'S NEVER BEEN ON BENEFITS.

YOU KNOW?

HE TOOK CARE OF HIS FAMILY, HE DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF HIM.

>> DON SUFFERS FROM PARKINSON'S, A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE THAT DESTROYED HIS ABILITY TO WORK, TALK, FEED HIMSELF, SPEAK, OR USE A BATHROOM INDEPENDENTLY.

IN 2024 DON WENT ON MEDICAID.

>> WE WERE DOING FINE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN, BASICALLY, TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

>> THE INDIANA FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SENT A LETTER SAYING DON WAS LOSING HIS BENEFITS.

>> BECAUSE I DIDN'T RESPOND TO A LETTER IN FEBRUARY, WHICH I DID NOT GET.

WITH HIM BEING SICK THE WAY HE IS, WE MOVED IN WITH OUR DAUGHTER, WE LOST OUR HOME, WE LOST EVERYTHING.

>> THEIR LIVES ALREADY REVOLVE AROUND HIS ILLNESS, NOW, FIGHTING SSA IS A DAILY EXISTENTIAL STRUGGLE.

ALTHOUGH SHE LEFT HER JOB ON DISABILITY A FEW YEARS AGO MOORE IS GOING BACK TO WORK.

>> I'M THE HEALTHIER ONE OF THE TWO OF US.

I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF US.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT, I'M SICK ALL THE TIME MYSELF.

>> THE MOORS ARE MORE THAN JUST A USUAL CASE OF A FAMILY SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

THOUSANDS ARE LOSING BENEFITS THEY RELIED ON FOR SURVIVAL.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT COMPOUNDING, INTERWOVEN PIECES THAT HAVE COME TO PLAY, AS THEY USED TO SAY, IN A PERFECT STORM.

>> AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL INCLUDED CUTS TO MEDICARE SPENDING.

IN INDIANA, PEOPLE WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT THE UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

>> DURING THAT 4 1/2 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, ALL THE RULES THAT WERE IN PLACE GOT SET ASIDE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE ON BENEFITS WITH VERY LITTLE PROOF, VERY LITTLE DOCUMENTATION.

>> BUT STARTING IN 2025, FSSA EMPLOYEES HAD TO RE-EVALUATE OVER 1.8 MILLION HOOSIERS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE.

IN ONE YEAR, MEDICAID ENROLLMENT DROPPED BY 343,000.

PATIENTS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY SATISFIED WITH THEIR STATE ASSISTANCE, REPORTED DELAYED COMMUNICATIONS, CASEWORKERS MISSING APPOINTMENTS, AND APPLICATIONS SITTING UNREAD.

>> I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DIDN'T COMPLY.

THERE WAS ONE YOUNG LADY GIVING ME MORE INFORMATION THAN SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVING ME.

SHE TOLD ME ALL THIS PAPERWORK WAS SITTING IN A QUAY AGE NOBODY LOOKED AT IT.

>> THEY REFUSED TO RESPOND TO OUR ALLEGATIONS.

IT IS FALSE.

THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING ACCURATE COVERAGE FOR HOOSIERS.

CLIENTS ENCOUNTER ROADBLOCKS AT LOCAL MEDICAID OFFICES.

>> I HAVE ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS COME IN WITH THEIR DOCUMENTS THEY HAD TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE LOCAL OFFICE.

AND THEY HAVE A LETTER SAYING THEY NO LONGER HAVE MEDICAID BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE THOSE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

>> STATISTICS APPEAR TO BACK UP THAT.

MEDICAID CASES UP FOR RENEWAL, THEY WERE DENIED FOR PROCEDURAL REASONS.

VERSUS UNDER 9% WHO ARE INELIGIBLE.

IN JUNE, LESS THAN 20% OF RECIPIENTS DUE FOR RENEWAL KEPT THEIR BENEFITS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STILL REQUIRES ALL STANDARD MEDICAID APPLICATIONS TO BE PROCESSED WITHIN 45 DAYS.

THE FSSA IS ATTEMPTING TO RESPOND, IN APRIL IT ANNOUNCED IT WAS HIRING 400 EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST WITH DISABILITY REQUESTS.

>> TOO MANY ROTTEN APPLES ARE HURTING THE STATE.

>> WHEN DISENROLLMENT HAPPENS TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS, MANY WISH THEY HAD MORE HELP TO STAY IN THE SYSTEM.

>> WE LIVED LIVES, WE WORKED, WE DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS HOW THE STATE HE WAS BORN IN IS GOING TO TREAT HIM AT THE END OF HIS LIFE.

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

>> NEXT WEEK WE'LL LOOK AT HOW THE CUTS TO MEDICAID ARE HAVING A PROFOUND IMPACT TO CHILDREN IN INDIANA.

>>> KNOWN FOR ITS ARCHITECTURE, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS WILL SOON ADD ARTISTIC BUS SHELTERS TO ITS REPERTOIRE.

ISABELLA VESPERINI HAS MORE ON THE STUDENT DESIGNED SHELTERS.

>> NEARLY $330,000 IN STATE GRANTS WILL FUND NEW BUS SHELTERS.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY STUDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IGNITION ARTS, A FABRICATION STUDIO IN INDIANAPOLIS.

>> WE'VE TAKEN A PROJECT WHERE A REGULAR NORMAL ORDINARY BUS SHELTER HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A PIECE OF ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT ART.

>> INSTALLING THESE BUS SHELTERS IS PART OF AN INITIATIVE CALLED DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, 2030.

WHICH AIMS TO MAKE THE DOWNTOWN AREA LIVELIER.

>> WE WILL CHOSE PUBLIC PLACES THAT GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC BY WHICH WILL LEVERAGE THE ARTSY LOOK WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> IS IT FACING EAST/WEST OR NORTH/SOUTH.

THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE.

JUST TAKING A SINGULAR BUS SHELTER AND LOOPING IT IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES, THEN IT'S NOT REALLY ADDRESSING CONTEXT.

>> STUDENTS IN FALL 2024 TOOK A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT CLASS WITH BROWN.

THAT INVOLVED RIDING BUSES AND TALKING WITH BUS DRIVERS.

SETTING UP A BOOTH TO TALK WITH CITIZENS, CONDUCTING ONLINE SURVEYS AND MORE.

KEY THEMES THAT CAME UP WERE SAFETY, AND CLIMATE PROTECTION.

THE SHELTER HAS STEEL THAT DIDN'T TOUCH THE GROUND, SO MATERIALS SUCH AS SALT COULDN'T REACH IT AND RUST IT.

>> WE DIDN'T WANT STEEL COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GROUND BECAUSE SALT, WINTERTIME, SNOW, ICE, RUST, JUST BECOMES A MAINTENANCE HEADACHE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SORT OF DEGRADE OVER TIME.

>> ONE STUDENT FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE PATTERN AND DESIGN OF THE SHELTERS.

PAUL RAND CREATED THE DANCING SEAS IN 1974 FOR COLUMBUS.

THEY'RE A PROMINENT PART OF THE COLUMBUS IMAGE.

>> THINKING ABOUT THE COLUMBUS IDENTITY AND HOW CAN WE BRING IT TO THE BUS SHELTER, AND SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS THAT YES, WE HAVE THE SEAS ALL OVER THE CITY.

ARE YOU GOING TO INCLUDE THAT?

>> BROWN'S FOCUS IS ON BEING INTENTIONAL WITH THE NEW DESIGNS AND RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO JUST REPLICATE THE DESIGN OF THE SHELTER IN NEXUS YOU PARK.

>> THERE MAY BE A PARTICULAR RARITY ABOUT THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY THAT THE SHELTER IS IN, THAT MAY INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT PATTERN AND MEANING FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

SO YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A FLEXIBLE SYSTEM THAT CREATES A COHESIVE LANGUAGE.

BUT THE SHELTERS ARE -- YOU KNOW, WE WANT THEM TO ADAPT TO SPECIFIC CONTEXT.

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

>> STUDENTS WILL DESIGN THE NEXT SHELTER IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>>> WE'RE JOINED BY ELIAS CORY FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>> HELLO, ELIAS, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> HEY, JOY, THANK YOU.

CHURCHILL DOWNS IS LOOKING TO SELL OFF 9 GAMING FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE SELLING THE PROPERTIES TO INVEST IN KENTUCKY DERBY.

THE CASINO HAS BEEN A FINANCIAL SUCCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT RECENTLY PLEDGED A MILLION DOLLARS TO VIGO COUNTY SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LENGTHY TIME LINE, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE IT HAPPENS ANY TIME SOON.

BUT WHAT I CAN IMAGINE IS, THE CITY WILL WORK WITH WHOMEVER TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THAT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A SAFER, STRONGER, SMARTER TERRA HAUT THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOCUSES ON PROBLEMS LIKE AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING.

>> THE 122 ROOM HOTEL AND CASINO OPENED IN APRIL 2024, AT A COST OF $290 MILLION.

THE HOOSIER LOTTERY WILL SEND ALMOST $350 MILLION BACK TO STATE COIFFERS, AFTER $1.7 BILLION IN SALES LAST FISCAL YEAR.

THE EXPECTED SURPLUS IS ABOVE THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S TOTAL, BUT REMAINS RECORD BREAKING FIGURES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MEGA MILLIONS CAME IN LESS THAN BUDGETED.

WHILE POWERBALL AND NONJACKPOT GAMES WERE HIGHER.

INDIANA WELCOMED BACK THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THIS WEEK FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

ISABELLA VESPERINI SPOKE WITH STUDENTS ABOUT HOW MOVE IN WEEK IS GOING.

>> IS SHANE HARRIS MOVED INTO RESIDENCE HALL EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND IS PLANNING TO MAJOR IN RUSSIAN.

>> IT'S MORE SO COMFORTING TO KNOW I'LL HAVE MY OWN SPACE AND HAVE FAMILY NEARBY, BUT ALSO, THE SEPARATION OF IT ALL, AND FINALLY GETTING OUT TO DO SOMETHING INDIVIDUAL.

>> HIS DAD IS SAD HE WON'T BE HOME ANY MORE, HE PLANS TO VISIT OFTEN, LIVING ONLY 30 MINUTES AWAY.

>> IT'S FAR ENOUGH AWAY, THAT HE GETS SOME SEPARATION.

BUT CLOSE ENOUGH IF HE NEEDS ANYTHING, WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT HIM.

>> SHANE IS ABOUT 1,800 STUDENTS WHO ARE STARTING SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

>> THE HOOSIER HOSPITALITY I KNOW OUR CAMPUS CAN SKEWED, WE'RE TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED TO SEE THE ACTIVITY RISE AGAIN ON CAMPUS, AFTER THE LULL OF THE SUMMER.

AND SO I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS MORE BROADLY WILL GRAVITATE AROUND.

>> A MOVE IN COMMITTEE MADE CHANGES TO IMPROVE FLOW AND CONSISTENCY DURING THE BUSY WEEK.

>> WE HOSTED A NUMBER OF KNOW BEFORE YOU GO WEBINARS.

THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS EMAILS AND OTHER TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT HAVE GONE TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ENSURING THAT THEY KNOW WHEN THEY ARRIVE, WHERE TO GO, HOW TO GET THERE.

>> IU'S POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE MORE VISIBLE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND SAFETY.

>> WE'RE BRINGING IN MORE OFFICERS TO HELP WITH MOVE-IN SPECIFICALLY.

IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR CAMPUS IS SAFE AND SECURE.

>> INSTEAD OF THE WELCOME WEEK OF THE PAST, THE CAMPUS IS LAUNCHING HOOSIER WELCOME.

>> BEING EXTENDED TO EIGHT WEEKS NOW ALLOWS FOR US YOU TO YOU REALLY DO INTENTIONAL ENGAGEMENT, PROMOTING THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENTS, HELPING THEM FIND COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION.

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

>>> STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN PARKING IN THE POPLAR'S GARAGE WILL HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO PARK THIS YEAR.

THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AT 7th AND DUNN STREETS, STANDARD IU PARKING PERMITS WILL NO LONGER BE VALID FOR POPLAR'S GARAGE.

THERE WILL BE 41 METERED SPOTS IN THE GARAGE.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON ANIMAL SHELTER IS INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO REUNITE LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS.

A SCANNING STATION IS NOW OPEN ALL HOURS OF THE DAY OUTSIDE THE SHELTER.

THE STATION INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

THE STATION WILL ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUND ANIMALS AFTER SHELTER HOURS TO CHECK IN THEIR LOST PETS -- >> WE OFTEN GET PHONE CALLS INTO OUR DISPATCH AFTER HOURS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUND ANIMALS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO UNLESS THAT ANIMAL IS SICK, INJURED OR AGGRESSIVE.

>> JOE, AFTER A MICRO CHIP HAS BEEN SCANNED, PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUND LOST PETS CAN GO TO A WEBSITE AND FIND THEIR OWNER.

>> IT'S A GREAT SERVICE, I KNOW HOW STRESSFUL IT CAN BE TO LOSE A PET.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ELIAS.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>> CITY LEADERS DISCUSS THE BARRIERS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BLOOMINGTON.

>>> AND WE VISIT THE MONROE COUNTY HISTORY CLUB, WHICH WORKS TO CONNECT PEOPLE THROUGH STORIES.

>>> THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON INDIANA NEWSDESK.

>> THREE ON THE WAY.

>> THE SHOT, THE TACKLE, THE THROW.

FOR 50 YEARS, THROUGH EVERY UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT IN INDIANA ATHLETICS, ONE VOICE HAS BEEN THERE.

A FREE SNEAK PEEK SCREENING OF TIMELESS, THURSDAY AUGUST 27 AT 7:30 P.M.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO INDIANA NEWSDESK.

THE IMPENDING DEMOLITION OF MORE THAN 2 DOZEN LOW RENT APARTMENTS AT SEMINARY POINT IS SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN BLOOMINGTON.

ON LAST WEEK'S NOON EDITION PROGRAM, WE SPOKE WITH CITY LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> CERTAINLY, IT'S THE COST AND AVAILABILITY, AND THE FACT THAT -- AS YOU GO DOWN THE -- THE INCOME LEVEL, THERE ARE FEWER AND FEWER HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO SERIOUSLY BE 30% OR LESS.

ALMOST NONE.

ALMOST NONE OF THE HOUSING OPTIONS HAVE THAT ABILITY TO HOUSE THOSE PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS.

THAT'S PUTTING PEOPLE INTO TROUBLE TODAY.

>> PART OF THAT IS RELATED TO LAND SCARCITY, AND SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE WELL AS A COMMUNITY IS PROVIDE ENOUGH SUPPLY.

SO THEN THE LOWER END OF THE MARKET HAS EXTREME COMPETITION WHICH THEN DRIVES UP THE PRICE.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE SCARCITY AS WELL.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT -- AS WE'RE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS FOR BLOOMINGTON.

THERE ARE -- WE NEED BOTH THE POLICY SOLUTIONS AND THE PRACTICAL PROGRAMMATIC SOLUTIONS.

SOME OF THOSE ARE ALREADY CREATED.

SO WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP CALLED BLOOMINGTON COOPERATIVE LIVING, BRYCE IS PART OF THAT, I'M SURE HE CAN TELL YOU WAY MORE ABOUT THAT THAN I CAN.

THAT CREATES AN AFFORDABLE WAY YOU CAN LIVE HERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

WE ALSO THOUGH -- AND WE HAVE NATE'S WORK AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CITY.

WE ALSO NEED THE POLICY TO GO WITH IT, AND WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE IN BLOOMINGTON'S HOUSING CODE, WHERE IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE FOR THE AVERAGE USER.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPER TO UNDERSTAND IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE IT'S SO CUMBERSOME AND TAKES SO MUCH TIME TO GET THROUGH, FREQUENTLY, YOU ALREADY HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS, AND A BIG BANK ACCOUNT TO BE ABLE TO DO THE MULTIPLE REVIEWS AND REVISIONS THAT ARE OFTEN REQUIRED DURING THE PROCESS.

THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE ADDING DEVELOPMENT COST JUST WITH OUR CUMBERSOME POLICY.

BECAUSE THAT COST IN THE END GETS PASSED ON TO THE HOMEOWNER, THE RENTER, ET CETERA.

AND SO PART OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL IS TO EXPEDITE SOME OF THOSE PERMITS, WE ALSO HAVE A UDO OMNIBUS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, HEARING THE FIRST SESSION OF THAT AT PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S TARGETED TO MAKE IT EASIER AND AFFORDABLE TO DEVELOP GOOD HOUSING.

>> MAYOR THOMPSON, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE UDO, SPECIFICALLY, WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH THAT?

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL WILL, AND COUNCIL DID TWO BIG DELIBERATION SESSIONS LAST YEAR ON POLICY CHANGES THAT COULD IMPACT HOUSING.

THEN OUR FORMER PLANNING DIRECTOR WENT TO EXTEND AN OUTREACH TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN THE CITY TO GO TALK TO THEM.

AND SUCCESSFULLY TALK TO MOST OF THOSE.

THESE CHANGES ARE THE RESULT OF THAT PUBLIC INPUT, AND IT DOES THINGS LIKE ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO SUBDIVIDE THEIR PROPERTY.

IF IT MEETS CERTAIN CRITERIA, CURRENTLY, IF YOU LIVE ON A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LAND.

AND YOU WANT TO, FOR INSTANCE, BUILD AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, THAT MAY BE AN AFFORDABLE UNIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE, BECAUSE OF THE LENDING PRACTICES HERE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO REMORTGAGE YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE 3% INTEREST RATE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IN A, JUST TO PROVIDE AN EXTRA PARCEL.

SO IF WE CAN SUBDIVIDE IT, THEN IT CAN BE SOLD TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO CAN BUILD ANOTHER UNIT THERE.

OR YOU COULD BUILD THAT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND PROVIDE A RENTAL UNIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

HOPEFULLY AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE.

THERE ARE INNOVATIVE THINGS COMING THROUGH, THAT HELP US MAKE BETTER USE OF OUR LAND AND WELCOME MORE NEIGHBORS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT IS REALLY KEY.

RIGHT NOW, WITH THE LAND THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND THE ZONING LAWS THAT WE HAVE IN PRACTICE, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY TELLING FOLKS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, YOU HAVE TO LIVE, PERHAPS, TWO COUNTIES AWAY, IN ORDER TO AFFORD TO WORK A JOB HERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE CLOSE TO WORK, CLOSE TO CHILD CARE, CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY WORK IN.

>> YOU CAN WATCH OR LIST TONIGHT FULL EPISODE OF NOON EDITION ALONG WITH PAST EPISODES ON OUR WEBSITE, WTIUNEWS.ORG.

>>> ONCE THE LIGHTS DIM AT THE AMERICAN LEGION'S PALMER ROOM, THE CHATTER FALLS SILENT.

PROJECTOR SCREEN FILLS THE WALL, WITH THE TITLE OF THE PRESENTATION, THE MILL MURDERS.

A TRUE TALE OF RACE, SEX AND MURDER BY CLAY STUCKY.

AS MIA LEHMKUHL REPORTS, IT'S A TYPICAL AFTERNOON, WHERE LOCALS HAVE GATHERED FOR 13 YEARS TO DIG INTO THE COUNTY'S HISTORY OVER LUNCH.

>> ON A RAINY DAY IN FEBRUARY 2013, CLUB DIRECTOR MICHAEL CARTER SAYS, HE GOT TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS IN THE BASEMENT OF THE MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY.

HE QUICKLY REALIZED IT WAS TOO CRAMPED.

THE NEXT MONTH, THEY MOVED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING.

SINCE THEN, THE CLUB HAS GROWN.

CARTER SEES BETWEEN 80 TO 120 PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.

IT'S MOST POPULAR PRESENTATION ABOUT THE OLD BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL DREW CHOICER TO 200.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY BIG CROWD, AS MUCH AS WILL FIT IN THERE.

WE AVERAGE AROUND 100, SOMETIMES 80, SOMETIMES 120.

>> THE DIRECTOR OF ENTERPRISE RISK AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SAYS, HE HAS PRESENTED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES AT HISTORY CLUB MEETINGS, COVERING TOPICS FROM IU AND THE CIVIL WAR.

FOR HIM, TELLING STORIES AND SEEING PEOPLE CONNECT OVER LOCAL HISTORY IS PART OF WHAT KEEPS HIM COMING BACK.

>> I LIKE PEOPLE WHO COME UP AFTERWARDS, THEY'RE LIKE, I LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, I NEVER KNEW THAT.

OR THEY SAY, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SO AND SO.

HE WAS MY GREAT GRANDFATHER'S NEIGHBOR.

>> DIRECTOR OF THE MONROE COUNTY HISTORY CENTER HAS BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE CLUB FOR FIVE YEARS.

CARTER, THEN A BOARD MEMBER OF THE HISTORY CENTER, RECRUITED HIM TO THE CLUB AND TOLD HIM TO WATCH SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS ONLINE.

AS HE'S WATCHED MORE PRESENTATIONS, SCHLEGEL SAYS IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO DIG INTO THEIR OWN FAMILY HISTORY AND SHARE MEMORIES WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> PEOPLE ARE BRINGING HISTORY OUT INTO LIFE, AND IT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO SAVE IT OR SHARE IT WITH THEIR FAMILY.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

I THINK IF PEOPLE CAN APPRECIATE IT, IT GOES ALL THE FURTHER TO HELP EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> FOR INDIANA NEWSDESK, I'M MIA LEHMKUHL.

>> THE HISTORY CLUB MEETS THE LAST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH IN BLOOMINGTON.

>>> FOOTBALL SEASON OPENER IS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY FOR THE DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION, HOOSIERS.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO PLAYING AGAINST SOMEONE OTHER THAN THEMSELVES.

CARTER SMITH SAYS, GOING AGAINST ONE OF THE NATION'S BEST DEFENSIVE LINES IN PRACTICES HAS ITS BENEFITS.

>> IT'S JUST ONE OF THE BEST GROUPS TO BE ABLE TO -- IRON SHARPENS IRON.

WE GO OUT THERE, BANG EACH OTHER'S HEADS AND MAKE EACH OTHER BETTER EVERY DAY.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

>> THE 6th RANKED HOOSIERS OPEN THE SEASON SEPTEMBER 5th AT HOME, AGAINST NORTH TEXAS.

>>> 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 BY MALLARD GLOVER ATTORNEYS, UNDERSTANDING EXPERTISE RESULTS.

BLOOMINGTON AND INDIANAPOLIS.

IU CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT, EXTENDING IU BLOOMINGTON RESOURCES TO IMPROVE HOOSIER LIVES.

RURAL.INDIANA.EDU.

SMITHVILLE, FIBER INTERNET, SECURITY SOLUTIONS AND VOICE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA.

MORE INFORMATION AT SMITHVILLE.COM.