>>> FARMERS ACROSS INDIANA GOT A RUDE AWAKENING WHEN OPENING THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS THIS YEAR, AND IT COULDN'T COME AT A WORSE TIME AS COST FOR FERTILIZER AND CONSTRUCTION ARE RISING.

SUMMER IS A BUSY TIME AT CAMP RILEY OUTSIDE OF MARTINSVILLE, WHERE KIDS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES ARE ABLE TO MAKE FRIENDS AND MEMORIES IN A SLEEP AWAY EXPERIENCE.

>>> AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES HAS ACQUIRED A LARGE COLLECTION OF WORKS BY ALUM STEVE TESICH WHO WON AN OSCAR FOR HIS "BREAKING AWAY" SCREEN PLAY.

WE WILL HAVE THIS AND MORE COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

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

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE OPENED THEIR PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS THIS YEAR, AND SAW SHARP INCREASES ON BARNS, GRAIN BINS AND OTHER FARM BUILDINGS.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE CHANGES REFLECT UPDATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS, BUT AS OUR CLAYTON BAUMGARTH REPORTS, FARMERS WORRY THE NEW TAX BILLS ARE ARRIVING AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME.

>> FOR PHIL RAMSEY, FARMING IS NOT JUST A BUSINESS.

IT'S BEEN IN HIS FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.

>> MY GREAT GRANDPA MOVED ON THIS ROAD IN 1864, AND THEN MY GRANDPA LIVED HERE, MY DAD LIVED HERE AND NOW MY SONS -- ACTUALLY ALL THREE SONS WILL LIVE HERE WITHIN EYESIGHT.

>> BUT THIS SPRING, A PIECE OF MAIL COST HIS ATTENTION.

THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT.

THE ASSESSED VALUE OF HIS GRAIN BINS AND FARM BUILDINGS HAD JUMPED SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> THE ASSESSMENT ON FARM BUILDINGS AND GRAIN BINS WAS UP, OH, MORE THAN 50% FROM LAST YEAR.

AND THEY HAD BEEN WORKING THEIR WAY UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO, OF COURSE THAT IMMEDIATELY GOT MY ATTENTION.

>> RAMSEY ISN'T ALONE.

FARMERS ACROSS INDIANA SAW SIMILAR INCREASES AFTER THE STATE UPDATED CONSTRUCTION COST TABLES USED TO ASSESS AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS.

THE ASSESSOR SAYS THE PREVIOUS TABLES REFLECTED A TIME WHEN CONSTRUCTION COSTS WERE CHEAPER.

>> FOR YEARS THOSE COST TABLES WERE UPDATED MAYBE EVERY FOUR YEARS AND THEN IN 20 -- THEY ACTUALLY HADN'T BEEN PHYSICALLY UPDATED, I THINK SINCE PRIOR TO COVID.

>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SAYS THE PREVIOUS COST SCHEDULES HAD BEEN UNDERVALUED AND THAT THE UPDATED TABLES BETTER REFLECT TODAY'S REPLACEMENT COSTS.

THE AGENCY SAYS IT REVIEWED THE REVISED SCHEDULES AFTER QUESTIONS WERE RAISED AND FOUND NO ERRORS IN THE UPDATED VALUES.

STILL SAYS THOSE COST UPDATES CAME AS A SURPRISE WHEN THEY RECEIVED THEM LATE LAST YEAR, TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

>> AS AN ASSESSOR, WE WERE THROWN A REALLY BIG CHANGE AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ALL 92 COUNTIES TO EVEN WRAP THEIR BRAINS AROUND THIS KIND OF INCREASE.

>> STOLE SAYS COUNTY ASSESSORS DON'T SIMPLY DECIDE WHAT BUILDINGS ARE WORTH.

>> I THINK PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING IS THE MISCONCEPTION THAT I AM THE ONE WHO IS MAKING THESE VALUES, WHATEVER I WANT THEM TO BE IN ORDER TO COLLECT THE TAXES THAT ARE NEEDED.

>> ASSESSORS MUST FOLLOW THE TABLES PROVIDED TO THEM, THOUGH THEY DO HAVE SOME DISCRETION WHEN IT COMES TO APPEALS.

FOR RAMSEY, THE HIGHER ASSESSMENTS CAME DURING ONE OF THE TOUGHEST FARM ECONOMIES HE'S EXPERIENCED.

>> EVERY TURN THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HIGHER COSTS, STARTING WITH FERTILIZER, AND SUBSTANTIAL JUMP BEFORE THE WAR EVER STARTED.

>> INDIANA FARM BUREAU SAYS THAT'S WHY MANY FARMERS ARE CONCERNED.

>> IT CAN BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY FOR -- LIKE, IF YOU CONSIDER LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS THAT HAVE A LOT OF BUILDINGS, RIGHT?

THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEING BIGGER INCREASES POTENTIALLY THAN A -- THAN RURAL CROP FARMERS WHERE MOST OF THEIR INVESTMENT IS IN LAND VALUES.

>> FARM BUREAU PLANS ON ASKING LAWMAKERS TO CHANGE THE TAX CAP ON AGRICULTURE BUILDINGS IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE INTEND TO ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE THE PROPERTY TAX CAP CLASS FOR AG STRUCTURES FROM THE CURRENT 3% PROPERTY TAX CAP CLASS TO THE 2% CLASS.

>> HOFF SAYS THAT WOULDN'T ELIMINATE HIGHER ASSESSMENTS BUT IT WOULD SOFTEN THEIR IMPACT.

HE ALSO SAYS THAT THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS, ASSESSORS HAVE OPTIONS TO POTENTIALLY LOWER AN ASSESSMENT.

>> SOME ASSESSORS WILL DO RESEARCH WITH CONSTRUCTION FIRMS WITHIN THE COUNTY TO VERIFY THAT THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN THEIR COUNTY IS REFLECTED IN THE MANUAL, AND THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO ADJUST THOSE DOWNWARD IF THERE IS MORE DEPRECIATION OR THE COSTS TO CONSTRUCT IS LOWER IN THEIR COUNTY THAN IN ANOTHER COUNTY.

>> FOR RAMSEY AND OTHER FARMERS, THE ISSUE ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE TAX BILL.

IT'S ANOTHER CHALLENGE DURING A TIME WHEN FARMERS ARE ALREADY NAVIGATING VOLATILE MARKETS, RISING COSTS AND UNCERTAINTY.

>> WE'RE JUST SETTING ON A ROLLER COASTER THAT WE CAN'T SEE WHAT NEXT IS COMING AND WE HAVE TO HANG ON AND DO OUR VERY BEST.

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

>> THE FAMILY OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY BENEFACTOR FRANK McKINNEY WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE BY THE NEWS THE FOUNTAIN NAMED AFTER HIM WAS BEING REIMAGINED.

MUCH OF THE McKINNEY FOUNTAIN HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN WITH ONLY THE MAIN FOUNTAIN KNOWN AS THE CONDUCTOR REMAINING.

AFTER CLEANING AND RESTORATION, IT WILL BE THE CENTER PIECE FOR AN INFORMAL GATHERING.

A NUMBER OF FACULTY WERE TAKEN ABACK BY THE CHANGE TO THE CASCADING FOUNTAIN.

>> THAT PARTICULAR SPOT IS ON A BUSY ROADWAY, AND IT'S VERY MUCH IN THE SUN.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO ATTRACT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> THE MOLDED CONCRETE FOUNTAIN WAS BUILT IN 1997, FUNDED IN PART BY A $500,000 DONATION FROM THE McKINNEY FAMILY.

BUT JUST THREE YEARS AFTER IT WAS BUILT, THERE WERE ALREADY PROBLEMS WITH CRACKS IN THE STEPS AND LEAKS.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN SHUT DOWN AND REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES.

>> EVERY SPRING, THERE BECOMES A RITUAL OF TRYING TO PATCH IT UP AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

IT WAS REALLY BELOVED BUT IT WAS PAST ITS LIFETIME.

>> AND I.U.

SPOKESMAN SAID JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC FACULTY AND STAFF WERE NOTIFIED DURING A TOWN HALL IN APRIL.

HE SAID, ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH OCCURRED LAST FALL.

>>> WELL, WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ETHAN SANDWEISS WITH MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

♪ >> HI, ETHAN.

>> HI, JOE.

RENOVATING THE CURRENT JAIL AND INCORPORATING THE NEIGHBORING CURRY BUILDING INTO IT HAD THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THURSDAY'S JAIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING.

THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH RECOMMENDING A NEW JAIL SITE AFTER IT PLANS TO LOCATE IT AT NORTH PARK COLLAPSED.

ALONG WITH THE CURRY BUILDING PLAN, THE COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING FOUR OTHER SITES, TAP ROAD NORTH, TAP ROAD SOUTH AND FULLERTON PIKE.

>> THE FOUR OTHER SITES, TO ME, HAVE ALL OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AS NORTH PARK.

THEY ARE JUST NORTH PARK WITH A DIFFERENT NAME.

>> THE SUBCOMMITTEE PLANS TO I HAVE RANKED LIST OF POTENTIAL SITES AND THEN VOTE ON WHICH TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

>>> AND INITIATIVE TO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS WOULD OFFER SUBSIDY.

THE STREET TO STABILITY IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS DEDICATED TO HOMELESSNESS, I.U.

HEALTH AND THE GREATER BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IN ADDITION TO THE SUBSIDIZED RENT, THE INITIATIVE WILL INCLUDE HIRING A CASE MANAGER TO WORK WITH PEOPLE FOR HOUSING AND POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH STREET.

AND FIND A JOB.

>> WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY WITH BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

>> MORGAN SAYS THEY ARE WORKING WITH MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO SECURE FUNDING.

>>> HUNDREDS OF CAMPERS WILL STAY AT CAMP RILEY EACH SUMMER WITH EIGHT SESSIONS FOR KIDS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, THE CAMP PROVIDES A BARRIER-FREE SLEEP AWAY EXPERIENCE.

AUBREY WRIGHT HAS MORE.

>> KIDS HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATES AT CAMP RILEY.

>> FROM THE TIME YOU WAKE UP, TO THE TIME YOU GO TO SLEEP, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OCCUPIED WITH SOMETHING.

>> BETWEEN ROCK CLIMBING, MAKING BRACELETS AND SWIMMING, BREWER SAYS THERE'S NOT MUCH DOWN TIME.

>> I HEARD THAT I GET TO GO ZIP LINING THIS TIME.

SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT.

>> CAMPERS IN THIS SESSION ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON.

THEY'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BLOOD DISORDERS, SUCH AS SICKLE CELL DISEASE.

>> OUTSIDE OF HERE, NO ONE ELSE REALLY UNDERSTANDS AND YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH IT.

>> CAMP RILEY'S ACTIVITIES ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL CAMPERS.

THIS PARTICULAR SESSION, CAMP INDEPENDENCE, FOCUSES ON MANAGING CHRONIC BLOOD CONDITIONS AND CULTIVATING AN OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE.

OTHER SESSIONS SUPPORT CAMPERS DISABILITIES SUCH AS DOWN'S SYNDROME, AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO ADAPT MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES TO MEET MANY OF THE NEEDS OF OUR CAPTIVE, WHETHER THAT'S ADAPTIVE CLIMBING GEAR OR ADAPTIVE ARCHER EQUIPMENT TO MAKE THAT ACTIVITY A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

>> RILEY CHILDREN HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ARE ON SITE.

SIMMONS SAYS EACH CAMPER HAS INDIVIDUALIZED RECREATIONAL THERAPY GOALS.

HE SAYS IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE.

>> JUST SEEING THE FACES OF OUR CAMPERS LIGHT UP WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO TRY THEMSELVES TO ACCOMPLISH OR ATTEMPT THEIR GOAL AND WHEN THEY FINALLY ARE ABLE TO SUCCEED.

>> HAVING FUN, MAKING FRIENDS AND MAKING MEMORIES ARE HIGHLIGHTS FOR CAMPERS LIKE HO DONAHUE.

>> I DON'T LAUGH THIS MUCH AT HOME.

I THINK WE TELL A HOT OF JOKES -- A LOT OF JOKES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY ENJOY, IS JUST THE LAUGHING.

YEAH.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M AUBREY WRIGHT.

>>> NOW MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS ARE SET TO TAKE EFFECT NEXT YEAR.

AND MANY ADVOCATES WORRY MANY WILL BE CUT.

THERE'S CUTS FROM MEDICARE.

AND NOW 19 TO 64-YEAR-OLDS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW THEY WORK 80 HOURS A MONTH, OR TAKING CLASSES.

>> THE PUBLIC BENEFITS ONLY WHEN EVERYONE DOES THEIR PART.

INDIANA CAN OFFER COVERAGE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, BUT ONLY THE MEMBERS CAN TAKE STEPS NEEDED TO KEEP THEIR BENEFITS.

ACCORDING TO RUBE NO COST SAVINGS ARE EXPECTED DUE TO THE IMPLEMENT OF WORK REQUIREMENTS.

>> DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ARE PARTICIPATING IN 97 OF THE 108 STATE RACES THIS FALL.

DEMOCRATS RAN FOR JUST 75 HOUSE SEATS DURING THE LAST STATE ELECTION AND CURRENTLY HOLD 70 SEATS.

THEY HOPE RUNNING ON AFFORDABILITY ISSUES CAN BREAK THE REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY.

>> THAT'S GOING TO GIVE OVER 6.5 MILLION HOOSIERS A CHOICE THIS FALL.

SO IT'S WITH -- WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED IN A VERY LONG TIME.

>> 20 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WILL RUN UNOPPOSED MOSTLY IN INDIANAPOLIS AND LAKE COUNTY.

THE PARTY HASN'T HAD A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE SINCE 2008.

>>> AND HUNDREDS OF PUZZLERS HAVE GATHERED AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOR THEIR CONVENTION.

>> ATTENDEES AT THE LILLY LIBRARY ARE SOLVING PUZZLES OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES.

EACH ONE HAS A DIFFERENT PATH TO THE SOLUTION.

ONE MAN CAME FROM SEATTLE AND HAS BEEN COMING SINCE 2007.

>> THIS GUY IS CALLED WOODROW AND I HAVE MADE ALMOST NO PROGRESS ON IT SO FAR.

IT LOOKS LIKE HIS NOSE COMES OUT SOMEHOW.

>> ANOTHER PUZZLER FROM SAN FRANCISCO HAS BEEN ATTENDING THE CONVENTIONS FOR 20 YEARS.

>> WE'VE BEEN SORT OF -- SO MY WIFE AND DISASSEMBLED THIS -- THIS HEAD OF A -- I GUESS SORT OF A GREEK CITIZEN WARRIOR AND WE'RE PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER.

>> WHILE HE NORMALLY WORKS PUZZLES ON HIS OWN, HE LIKES THE OPPORTUNITY THE CONVENTION GIVES HIM TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE?

YOU CAN BOUNCE IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER.

SOMEBODY MAKES A SUGGESTION, SOMEBODY ELSE IS LIKE, OH, WELL, LET'S TRY THIS AND THAT.

>> THEY COME FROM I.U.

'S JERRY SLOCUM COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 30,000 RARE PUZZLES.

NUMEROUS PUZZLES FROM THE COLLECTION ARE ALSO ON DISPLAY FROM THE PUZZLE OF A GERMAN LOCK DATED TO 1850 TO A JAPANESE PUZZLE BOX AND THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.

>> SOME TAKE APART PUZZLES HAVE ONE STEP.

THE MAGIC STEP AND IT'S DISASSEMBLED AND SOME ARE 57 STEPS.

>> THEY CAN TRY DIFFERENT PUZZLES ASIDE FROM WORD PUZZLES WHICH MANY ARE MOST ACCUSTOMED TO SOLVING.

>> FEWER PEOPLE HAVE OR COLLECT OR SOLVE A LOT OF MECHANICAL PUZZLES AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO SEE ANOTHER SIDE OF THE PUZZLING WORLD THAT THEY DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH A NEW FOUND APPRECIATION FOR THIS.

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

>>> AND JOE, THE CONVENTION IS IN TOWN THROUGH SUNDAY.

>> DO YOU LIKE PUZZLES.

>> I LOVE PUZZLES!

WHO DIDN'T LOVE PUZZLES.

>> IT SHOULD BE A FUN WEEKEND.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES HAS ACQUIRED A COLLECTION OF WORKS BY ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING SCREENWRITER AND ALUM STEVE TESICH.

>>> AND A STORE OPENED IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, HOPING TO SHARE THE PASSION FOR THE MYSTERIOUS PRIMATE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, ON THIS WEEK'S ASK THE MAYOR PROGRAM ON WFIU, I SAT DOWN WITH TERRE HAUTE'S BRANDON SAKBUN.

AMONG THE ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE FACING NOT ONLY HIS CITY BUT MUCH OF THE STATE.

SAKBUN TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH THE COST OF REPAIRS IS PASSED ON TO CUSTOMERS.

>> WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, WHICH IT'S IN OUR STATE ASSEMBLY, LITERALLY CRUMBLING, AND WHETHER IT'S SEWAGE, WHERE IT'S CRUMBLE.

AND SO MANY OF OUR UTILITIES ARE GLORIFIED MONOPOLIES AND PRIVATELY OWNED AND ABSOLUTELY RAKING IT OVER THE COALS WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASES FOR CONSTITUENTS.

SO WHEN -- BY THE TIME GOVERNMENT CATCHES UP AND DOES A MODEST INCREASE OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES.

NETFLIX, THEIR PRICES HAVE RAISED.

DISH, DirecTV, WIFI, I WAS JUST AT THE GROCERY STORE, A POUND OF GROUND BEEF WHEN I WENT WAS MORE THAN AN HOUR OF MINIMUM WAGE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

AND SO MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION IS, WHEN GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT BE STATE OR LOCAL, FAILS TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WITH A FEDERAL MANDATE, FOR DECADES, THIS IS THE TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT WE SEE.

EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND WE HAVE THESE LOCAL REGULATIONS.

WELL, 96% OF THE REGULATIONS TIED TO HOUSING PRICES GOING UP ARE ACTUALLY STATE AND FEDERAL.

AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A GOVERNMENT MANDATE THAT I PERSONALLY DO NOT LIKE IT.

I AGREE WITH THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

BUT IT JUST FEELS LIKE ONCE AGAIN THE FOLKS IN D.C.

HAVE HUNG US OUT TO DRY.

>> GOVERNOR BRAUN HAS SUSPENDED THE STATE GAS TAX THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, BUT IT'S COSTING THE STATE AROUND $140 MILLION A MONTH IN REVENUE THAT WOULD GO TO ROAD REPAIRS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

BRAUN SAYS THE STATE WILL REIMBURSE MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE LOST INCOME, BUT SAKBUN SAYS IT DOESN'T MAKE UP FOR OTHER BUDGETARY CUTS.

>> THE STATE PUBLISHED A VERY LOW REVENUE FORECAST FOR THIS YEAR, LAST BUDGET CYCLE AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY WRONG WHICH IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

YOU WANT THEIR NUMBERS TO COME IN LOW.

WHERE I'M A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED IS A COUPLE OF THINGS, NUMBER ONE, WHEN HIGHER EDUCATION GETS A 5% CUT, YOUR INDIANA UNIVERSITIES REALLY HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

SO THERE'S NOT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND GET SOME OF THIS, QUOTE, EXTRA REVENUE.

IT'S NOT EXTRA.

IT'S JUST THE REVENUE WE RECEIVE THAT WAS HIGHER THAN OUR FORECAST.

BUT THOSE, QUOTE, EXTRA DOLLARS NOW HAVE TO GO TO THE GAS TAX PROBLEM TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN DO WHAT LITTLE PAVING WE ARE DOING IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

AND SO AS YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES, THEN YOU SEE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A MIDSTATE CORRIDOR.

YOU ASK YOURSELF, HOW ARE WE PRIORITIZING THESE PROJECTS?

AND THOSE ARE STATE LEVEL CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN JUST BE CONFUSING SOMETIMES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ASKING THE MAYOR FOR HELP AND THE MAYORS ARE ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE.

>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY ENTIRE CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR SAKBUN ALONG WITH BLOOMINGTON'S KERRY THOMSON AND COLUMBUS' MARY FERDON ON WTIUNEWS.ORG.

>>> INDIANA ARCHIVES HAS NEW WORKS FROM STEVE TESICH.

AS NATALIE FITZGIBBONS REPORT, HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR WRITING "BREAKING AWAY," ABOUT THE LITTLE 500 CULTURE.

>> THIS HOLDS FIVE BOXES CONSISTING OF MORE THAN 50 OF TESICH'S PLAYS AND SCREEN PLAYS AND NOVELS WITH ACCOMPANYING NEWSPAPERS AND PHOTOS.

>> LAST FALL, OR EARLY IN THE WINTER, I HAD A PHONE CALL FROM CALLED BECKY TESICH, I'M STEVE TESICH'S PAPERS, DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS AND DO YOU WANT THE PAPERS?

AND I SAID YES AND YES TO BOTH OF THOSE.

>> THE COLLECTION HAS MULTIPLE SCREEN PLAY VERSIONS OF "BREAKING AWAY" THIS INCLUDES THE EAGLE OF NAP TOWN, THE CUTTERS AND THE ORIGINAL TITLED VERSION BAMBINO.

IT'S BASED ON HIS TEAMMATE IN THE LITTLE 500 WHO PSYCHED 139 LAPS OUT OF 200.

>> I THINK THAT WHAT STEVE REALLY MEANS TO BLOOMINGTON IS THAT HE REALLY BROUGHT THE REST OF THE WORLD INTO BLOOMINGTON, INVITED THE REST OF THE WORLD INTO BLOOMINGTON AND THE LITTLE 500 SO THAT THEY COULD REALLY SEE WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S STILL VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, THE I.U.

STUDENT FOUNDATION CELEBRATED 75 YEARS OF THE LITTLE 500, AND SO THE LEGACY JUST CONTINUES.

>> THE COLLECTION DOES NOT HAVE THE SCREEN PLAY OF "BREAKING AWAY" BECKY TESICH SAID SHE LOANED IT TO SOMEONE AND NEVER GOT IT BACK.

ARCHIVE STUDENT ASSISTANT EVAN KERN STARTED WORKING ON IT IN OCTOBER OF 2025 AND IT WAS FINISH IN MAY 2026.

KERN SAYS HAVING MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF "BREAKING AWAY" REFLECTS WHO THE WRITER TESICH WAS AND HIS WRITING PROCESS.

>> IT'S SO INCREDIBLE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT VERSIONS BECAUSE YOU SEE HE'S A HEAVY REWRITER AND HEAVY EDITOR, EVEN THE HANDWRITTEN NOTES HE TAKES.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE MARGINS AND THE MARGIN WRITING AND THE STRIKE THROUGHS, THE Xs, THE CIRCLES, ALL OF THAT.

>> KERN SAYS HE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE DIFFERENT GENRES AND MODES OF TESICH'S WORK.

YOU CAN SEE HIS BEGINNING WORKS INSPIRED BY THE UPBRINGING IF CHICAGO AND THE LATER WORKS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.

>> THE EARLIER ONES WITH A PLAY LIKE "THE CARPENTERS" STARTS AS LIKE A FAMILY STRUGGLE, CLASS CRISIS KIND OF PLAY.

BUT THEN YOU LOOK INTO LATER WORKS WITH OTHER THINGS LIKE THE "SPEED OF DARKNESS" OR "SQUARE ONE" AND THINGS TAKE ON A MORE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MORAL PIVOTAL STRUGGLE MOMENTS.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M NATALIE FITZGIBBONS.

>> SO TO SEE THE COLLECTION, YOU NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH I.U.

ARCHIVES.

>>> A COUPLE WHO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS BIG FOOTERS OPENED A STORE IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE TO SHARE THE PRIMATE AND STORIES WITH CUSTOMERS.

WE VISITED THE STORE.

>> LEROY NAIL WAS NOT ALWAYS A BELIEVER IN BIG FOOT.

>> I DIDN'T BELIEVE BIG FOOT WAS IN INDIANA.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE.

>> BUT ALONG THE WAY, THE JOKE STOPPED BEING FUNNY AND BECAME SO REAL THAT HE AND HIS WIFE NANCY JOINED AN EVER GROWING GROUP OF BIG FOOT BELIEVERS.

AND THE PURSUIT OF THE PRIMATE IS NAIL'S GREATEST PASSION.

HE BELIEVES HE'S ENCOUNTERED SASQUATCHES.

>> I HAD EYE GLOW IN FRONT OF ME.

WHAT I MEAN BY EYE GLOW, NOT REFLECTIONS OF LIGHT.

THEIR EYES WILL LIGHT UP.

NO REFLECTION.

AND THEY WILL LIGHT UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND THE FIRST SET THAT I SEEN NANCY AND I BOTH SEEN WAS EMERALD GREEN EYES, 30 TO 40 YARDS IN FRONT OF US.

>> HE SAYS THE BEST HE EVIDENCE THAT BIG FOOTS EXISTS COME FROM COMMONALTY IN STORYTELLING, WHETHER IT'S SONGBIRDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR DEBRIS AT YOUR FEET OR INEXPLICABLE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED AT NIGHT.

>> NOT EVERYBODY, NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAN BE TELLING LIES ALL THE TIME AND MAKING UP STORIES THAT ALL SEEM TO MATCH.

>> ONE OF NAIL'S PRIMARY GOALS IS ADDING TO THE STORIES AND EVIDENCE HE'S SPENT DECADES TO COLLECT TO GET PEOPLE CURIOUS ENOUGH TO OPEN THEIR MINDS.

>> ALL I EVER ASK SOMEONE TO DO IS STEP BACK AT TIMES, LOOK AT WHAT MIGHT BE AROUND YOU, AND GO, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY?

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ELIAS CORY.

>>> YOU CAN SUBMIT A REPORT OF A BIG FOOT ENCOUNTER ON THE INDIANA BIG FOOT CENTER ORGANIZATION'S WEB PAGE.

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