>>> OWEN COUNTY OFFICIALS APPROVED THE PURCHASE LAND FOR THE SITE OF A NEW JAIL THIS WEEK, BUT SOME ARE QUESTIONING THE PROCESS AND ACCUSING THE OFFICIALS OF FAVORITISM.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS PARTNERING WITH THE INDIANA LANDMARKS BLACK HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM TO PRESERVE BLACK HISTORY IN THE STATE BY COLLECTING ORAL NARRATIVES.

AND TASTE OF BLOOMINGTON OFFICIALS ARE PLANNING A BIGGER AND EASIER TO NAVIGATE EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN FOR SATURDAY'S FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL.

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

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

I'M JOE HREN.

OWEN COUNTY PLANS TO BUILD A NEW JAIL AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON LAND IT BOUGHT THIS WEEK.

THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CHOSE ONE REALTOR TO REPRESENT BOTH THE SELLER AND THE BUYER WHOSE BROTHER SITS ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

SOME CITY RESIDENTS SAY IT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BUT THE COUNTY AND THE REALTOR SAY THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING PROPERLY.

I'M JOINED BY WTIU'S ETHAN SANDWEISS WOULD HAS BEEN COVERING THIS STORY.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, ETHAN.

>> THANKS, JOE.

THE COUNTY FINALIZED THE PURCHASE ON THURSDAY AFTER VOTING ON MONDAY NIGHT.

THAT DREW A LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

THEY APPROVED THE $1.6 MILLION PURCHASE OF AN 18-ACRE PROPERTY BETWEEN WALMART AND THE YMCA ON STATE ROAD 46.

>> I TRULY FEEL THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST PLACE THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BECAUSE WE'VE LOOKED ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

>> COUNTY LEADERS AND MANY MEMBERS OF PUBLIC WHO SPOKE SUPPORT A NEW JAIL.

THE OLD ONE IS BUILT ON SUBSIDING LAND WHICH CREATES MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS AND MAKES REBUILDING ON THE SAME RISKY.

BUT THE COUNTY'S CHOICE OF REALTOR.

TILDEN KEITH REPRESENTED THE SELLER AND THE COUNTY, HIS BROTHER AN EMPLOYEE SERVED ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN REAL ESTATE AGENT.

LET'S GET AN AGENT AND LET HIM HANDLE THE SELLERS.

>> KEITH DEFENDED HIS INVOLVEMENT SAYING HE GOT A GOOD DEAL.

HE WAS APPROACHED BY THE COMMISSIONERS AND HIS BROTHER WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE.

>> YOU BRING ANOTHER AGENT, THEY WILL CHARGE MORE THAN I DO, PROBABLY DOUBLE OVER THE WHOLE TRANSACTION.

SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVING MONEY, IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE DEAL, AND COUNTY COUNCIL VOTED 5 IN FAVOR AND ONE AGAINST, AND ONE ABSTENTION.

THE ABSTENTION WAS HIS BROTHER VIRGIL.

>> THE SUPPORTERS OF THE DEAL SAY THEY'RE BEING UNFAIRLY ATTACKED BUT OPPONENTS SAY THEY ARE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT.

SO.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE TWO ISSUES HERE.

FIRST, YOU HAVE THE REALTOR REPRESENTING BOTH SIDES AND THEN YOU HAVE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, FAMILY MEMBERS GETTING INVOLVED.

CAN YOU DIG INTO THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> WHEN OFFICIALS IN INDIANA DO BUSINESS WITH A CLOSE RELATIVE, IN THIS CASE A SIBLING, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

THE COUNSELOR DID THAT A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE VOTE.

AS LONG AS THEY DON'T PERSONALLY BENEFIT FROM THE DEAL, EXPERTS SAY IT SHOULD HOLD UP LEGALLY.

>> I THINK THE OPTICS ARE NOT GREAT ON IT, BUT EVERYTHING LEGALLY, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING WAS DONE CORRECTLY.

FOR ME THE ONLY CONCERN WOULD BE MORE IF THAT COUNCILMAN WAS DIRECTLY, FINANCIALLY BENEFITING BECAUSE HE WORKS WITH THE COMPANY BUT IF HE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THEN I HAVE LESS CONCERNS WITH IT.

>> COMMISSIONERS SAM HOBBS SAYS HE APPROACHED KEITH BECAUSE HE LIVED CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

THAT DOESN'T HOLD UP WITH ALL CRITICS BUT A COUNSELOR WHO VOTED AGAINST THE PURCHASE FOR FINANCIAL REASONS SAYS HE DOESN'T SEE EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION.

>> THIS IS A SMALL COMMUNITY.

IT IS TOUGH TO WORK WITH LANDOWNERS AND REAL ESTATE FOLKS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS THAT -- THAT DON'T KNOW PEOPLE AND HAVE CONNECTIONS.

IT'S TOUGH TO DO.

>> SO WHAT ABOUT THE USE OF A SINGLE REALTOR?

>> SOME RESIDENTS WORRIED THAT USING ONE REALTOR FOR BOTH SIDES THEY WILL BE MOTIVATED TO PRICE LAND HIGH AND RECEIVE A BIGGER COMMISSION.

>> WE ARE PAYING $90,200 AN ACRE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CAN BE JUSTIFIED.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEAL FOR ME IS THAT THE COUNTY DECIDED TO USE THE SAME REALTOR AS THE SELLERS.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THAT'S A LIMITED -- IT'S A LIMITED AGENT AGREEMENT AND ESSENTIALLY HE CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU ANYTHING.

HE CAN'T WARN YOU AWAY FROM THINGS.

HE CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT'S IN YOUR BEST INTEREST BECAUSE NOW HE'S GOT TO BE NEUTRAL.

>> THIS TYPE OF DEAL IS CALLED DUAL AGENCY AND WHILE IT'S PRETTY UNCOMMON IN A PRIVATE TRANSACTION.

>> THERE'S LESS NEGOTIATION.

INDIANA REQUIRES THERE BE TWO APPRAISALS OF THE PROPERTY AND THE OFFER CAN'T EXCEED THE AVERAGE OF THOSE TWO.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT LESS CONCERN ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS GETTING, YOU KNOW THE -- THE TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING A GOOD DEAL BECAUSE THEY ARE HEMMED IN BY THAT REQUIREMENT.

>> THAT $90,000 AMOUNT DENISE MENTIONED IS ABOUT 5,000 LESS THAN THE AVERAGE OF TWO OUTSIDE APPRAISALS.

SHE'S NOT CONVINCED THOSE ESTIMATES ARE ACCURATE.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC DISAGREEMENT BUT THE PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, UNLIKE IN MONROE COUNTY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS ABLE TO AGREE ON A SITE, EVEN IF IT'S -- IF THERE'S STILL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE COST OF THE PROJECT.

>> ALL RIGHT THANKS, ETHAN, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THE MONROE COUNTY JUSTICE BUILD REOPENED THIS MORNING AFTER BEING CLOSED SINCE MONDAY AFTER INMATES CAUSED A SECOND FLOOR TOILET TO OVERFLOW.

THEY USED A BREAD SACK FULL OF ECIGARETTES TO CAUSE THE SEWER LINE ON BLOCKED LAST FRIDAY, LEADING TO DAMAGE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

A COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER SAID AS LONG AS THE JAIL IS ABOVE COURTROOMS AND OFFICES, INCIDENTS SUCH AS THIS WILL CONTINUE.

>> WHEN WE GET THROUGH WITH DOING ANOTHER JAIL, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO DO, DO NOT PUT THE COURTS OR ANY OFFICES BELOW THE JAIL.

I MEAN, THAT'S -- ANYBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS WATER GOES DOWNHILL, YOU KNOW WHAT WENT WITH THIS WATER.

AND IT WENT RIGHT DOWN THEIR HEADS AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> THE COUNTY IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A SUITABILITY LOCATION TO BUILD A NEW JAIL.

THE ACLU HAS SUED THE COUNTY TWICE ON BEHALF OF INMATES OVER CONDITIONS AT THE CURRENT JAIL THAT THEY SAY ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

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

HELLO, ELYSE.

>> HI, JOE.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN IS GETTING A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS BONUS, THE MAXIMUM UNDER HER CONTRACT.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED TO GIVE WHITTEN THE BONUS.

IT AMOUNTS TO 25% OF HER YEARLY $1 MILLION SALARY.

>> FROM THE MOMENT SHE TOOK OVER THIS ROLE IN JULY OF 2021, FIVE YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT WHITTEN HAS LED A TRANSFORMATION OF OUR UNIVERSITY INTO A STRONGER, MORE INNOVATIVE, AND MORE STUDENT-CENTERED UNIVERSITY.

>> THE PRESIDENT'S PAST YEAR HAS BEEN RELATIVELY SMOOTH COMPARED TO THOSE PRECEDING IT WHICH WERE DEFINED BY STUDENT PROTESTS, FREE SPEECH ISSUES AND I.U.

'S SUCCESS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD HAS EARNED WHITTEN GOODWILL WITH MANY ALUMNI.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS ADDING HISTORIES OF THE FIRST 200 WOMEN.

FIRST 200 WEBSITE INCLUDES THE WOMEN'S BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS, LIFE EXPERIENCE, FINDINGS AND INFORMATION ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY.

THE PROJECT TOOK SIX YEARS TO COMPLETE.

>> IT GIVES A VOICE WHERE PERHAPS THERE HASN'T BEEN AS MUCH OF A VOICE.

AND AS I SAID EARLIER, WHEN RESEARCHING THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY, IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING.

>> THE FIRST 200 WEBSITE STEMS FROM A LARGER ONGOING ONLINE PROJECT.

THE DEGREE COMPENDIUM WHICH HAS THE DEGREE RECORDS OF FROM 1830 TO PRESENT.

>>> STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO ACCESS TIKTOK ON PURDUE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES MORE THAN THREE YEARS AFTER BANNING THE SOCIAL MEDIA APP.

THEY FELT THAT TIKTOK'S DATA CHANGES.

THEY WILL START WITH SPECIFIC UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS AND ALLOW THE APP TO BE ACCESSED ON CAMPUS INTERNET NETWORKS.

>>> MONROE COUNTY IS CANCELING THE CONTRACT WITH FLOCK SAFETY.

THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TO PAY FLOCK SAFETY ABOUT $3,000 TO REMOVE SIX CAMERAS BEING USED BY THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THE CAMERAS ARE USED TO IDENTIFY VEHICLES THROUGH THEIR LICENSE PLATES, BUT HAVE RAISED PRIVACY CONCERNS.

>> I APPRECIATE THE ADVOCACY OF THE CITIZENS WHO SPOKE BEFORE THE CITY ON THIS ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE WORTH PAYING THAT $3,000.

>> IN APRIL, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ANNOUNCED IT WOULD NOT RENEW ITS CONTRACT WITH FLOCK SAFETY OF PROTESTS FROM CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES.

>>> AS KIDS RETURN TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK, BLOOMINGTON POLICE WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AS PART OF A SAFETY BLITZ.

MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS START WEDNESDAY.

WITH THAT COMES PORE TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS.

BLOOMINGTON'S POLICE CHIEF SAYS MORE POLICE WILL BE PRESENT, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE MORE RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT UNSAFE DRIVING AND WHERE CASH DATA IS HIGHER.

>>> -- CRASH DATA IS HIGHER.

>> MAKE SURE THAT THEY STOP AT STOP SIGNS.

MAKE SURE THEY DON'T TURN ON RED AT INTERSECTIONS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WHERE PEDESTRIANS MIGHT ANTICIPATE A CAR TO STOP, AND THEY MIGHT START TO WALK AND IF THE DRIVER HASN'T STOPPED, THEN THERE'S A HIGHER CHANCE THAT THE PEDESTRIAN COULD BE STRUCK.

>>> OFFICERS ARE USING A ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH AND WILL PULL PEOPLE OVER FOR SPEEDING, FAILING TO YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS, USING A PHONE WHILE DRIVING AND MORE.

THE BLITZ WILL LAST A FEW WEEKS.

>>> WHEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURN, THEY WILL SEE A 20% INCREASE.

THE FEDERAL REGULATION CONTROL THE PRICES IN MEALS, THE INCREASES WERE DONE WITH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

ALL EAR MEAL PRICES INCLUDING STUDENT BREAKFAST, ELEMENTARY LUNCH, AFTER SCHOOL AND PRESCHOOL SNACK AND ADULT LUNCH AND BREAKFAST WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

>>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON WILL PAY $37,500 IN LEGAL FEES TO THE LAW FIRM THAT SUED TO THE ANNEXATION.

AND IS RULING MONROE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, NATHAN NEWKIRK COULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO PAY MORE THAN ANNEXATION CASES.

>>> A PURDUE UNIVERSITY REPORT FINDS ACCIDENTS DECLINED.

INDIANA HAD SIX CONFINED SPACE INCIDENTS LAST YEAR WHICH WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

NATIONWIDE RESEARCHERS DOCUMENTED 48 CONFINED SPACE INCIDENTS, INCLUDING 22 FATALITIES AND 26 INJURIES IN 2025.

THAT'S DOWN LIGHTLY FROM 2024 AND BELOW THE TEN-YEAR AVERAGE.

>>> INDIANA'S FOOTBALL SEASON IS STILL A MONTH AWAY, BUT CURT CIGNETTI IS IN MID-SEASON FORM.

HE TOOK A VEILED SHOT AT THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE, CALLING THE BIG TEN THE BEST FOOTBALL CONFERENCE IN THE NATION.

>> WE DON'T RUN A HYPE MACHINE UP HERE IN THE MIDWEST.

WE BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT EARNED, NOT GIVEN.

AND WHEN WE FALL SHORT, WE SAY WE FELL SHORT.

WE DON'T CRY A RIVER, WHINE AND COMPLAIN.

ALL RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE THE BEST.

>> THE HOOSIERS WERE THE BEST TEAM IN THE NATION LAST YEAR, WINNING THEIR FIRST NATIONAL TITLE.

BUT THEY'LL HAVE A LOT OF NEW FACES THIS YEAR, INCLUDING AT QUARTERBACK, WHERE JOSH HOOVER STEPS IN FORE HEISMAN WINNER FERNANDO MENDOZA.

>> HE HAS AN INNATE ABILITY TO PLAY THE POSITION AT QUARTERBACK, KIND OF A NATURAL PASSER AND VERY ACCURATE AND PROCESSES VERY QUICKLY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS WE'LL ASK HIM TO DO IS DIFFERENT THAN THE THINGS TCU ASKED HIM DO.

>> AND INDIANA KICKS OF THE SEASON ON SEPTEMBER 5th AT HOME AGAINST NORTH TEXAS.

>> ARE YOU EXCITED.

>> OF COURSE I'M EXCITED.

>> I CAN'T WAIT.

I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT ANY BOWL PREDICTIONS ON THE TEAM THIS YEAR.

>> I GOTTA SAY ANOTHER NATTY.

>> THERE WE GO.

COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I.U.

CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT IS HELPING TO COLLECT ORAL NARRATIVES IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE BLACK HISTORY IN THE STATE.

>>> AND WE LOOK AT WHAT TO EXPECT AT THIS WEEKEND'S TASTE OF BLOOMINGTON AFTER LAST YEAR'S ROUSING RETURN OF THE FESTIVAL.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT IS PARTNERING WITH THE INDIANA LANDMARKS BLACK HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM TO UNCOVER AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE ACROSS STATE.

OUR ISABELLA VESPERINI.

SPOKE WITH PEOPLE INVOLVED TO LEARN MORE.

>> WHEN ERNEST HUGHES WAS A TEENAGER IN THE '50s IN INDIANAPOLIS, HE COULDN'T PICK UP HIS FOOD FROM THE FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT.

>> AND THE EATING PLACE OUT THERE, WE HAD TO GO -- GO AROUND TO THE BACK, GET OUR FOOD OUT OF THE WINDOW.

>> HUGHES TOLD THE STORY IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OLIVIA NOVAK, AN ORAL HISTORY INTERN AT THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT.

THE CENTER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE INDIANA LANDMARKS BLACK HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM TO PRESERVE BLACK HISTORY IN THE STATE.

>> WE ARE CONFRONTING ERASURE EVERY DAY AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO SPARE.

OUR ELDERS ARE DYING AND WITH THEM OFTEN GOES THOSE STORIES.

SO THIS WORK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> THE WORK THAT NOVAK AND OTHER INTERNS HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS INVOLVED INTERVIEWING HUNDREDS OF BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING WHAT THEIR CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION WERE LIKE.

>> WE ALSO WOULD ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, LIKE, HISTORICAL EVENTS AND SO WE WOULD ASK ABOUT -- LIKE, IF THEY REMEMBERED THINGS LIKE WORLD WAR II, THE JIM CROW LAWS, SEGREGATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> MANY STORIES NOVAK DOCUMENTED CONCERNED RACIAL INJUSTICE.

SHE RECALLED SPEAKING WITH ONE WOMAN WHO HAD A NEGATIVE INTERACTION WITH A WHITE GIRL WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE.

>> ONE TIME THEY WERE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, AND SHE WAS THINKING HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT GIRL WAS, AND THEN THE GIRL CALLED HER A SLUR, AND SO -- AND SHE ACTUALLY, LIKE, STARTED TEARING UP WHEN SHE WAS REMEMBERING THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS SAYING THAT SHE WAS HAVING, LIKE -- YOU KNOW, LIKE, THESE LOVELY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PERSON AND THAT'S WHAT THE PERSON WAS THINKING ABOUT HER.

>> THE PARTNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AN INTERACTIVE STORY MAP OF HISTORICAL BLACK AREAS IN VINCENNES.

>> THIS IS THE STORY MAP.

DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT ARE EXTENT AND THEN SOME THAT ARE NONEXISTENT.

YOU CLICK ON ANY OF THESE TABS HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, MARIAH CREEK, YOU WILL SEE HERE THE -- THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHERE MARIAH CREEK IS.

YOU CAN CLICK AND FIND THE FOUL STORY HERE.

>> THAT MAP WILL INCLUDE THE IDAHO NEIGHBORHOOD, AN HISTORICAL BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE EARLY 20th CENTURY LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT IT OR ITS INHABITANTS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IS BASICALLY PHOTOGRAPH EVERY LOT THAT IS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT -- YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY WITH -- WITH THE REAL ESTATE AND ALSO WE LIKE TO TOUCH BASE WITH EVERY PERSON WE CAN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD USING AN ORAL INTERVIEW.

>> WITHIN THE IDAHO NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DUNBAR SCHOOL WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS A COLORED SCHOOL IN THE MID-1800s DURING THE ERA OF SEGREGATION, BUT THERE'S NO EXISTING DOCUMENTATION ON WHO ATTENDED IT.

BARTHOLOMEW IS WORKING TO REBUILD A YEARBOOK FOR THAT SCHOOL.

>> WE'RE LOOKING THROUGH NEWSPAPER RECORDS, AND IT -- IT'S -- I MEAN IT SEEMS ARDUOUS, BUT SAMMY FREDERICK WHO I'M WORKING WITH, IS GOING THROUGH NEWSPAPER RECORDS AND ANY REFERENCE SHE CAN FIND TO A STUDENT AT DUNBAR WE'RE WRITING IT DOWN TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHEN THAT KID WENT THERE.

AND -- AND, YOU KNOW, IN ESSENCE, TRYING TO REBUILD A YEARBOOK.

>> THROUGH RESEARCH, THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN INDIANA.

MANY BLACK SETTLEMENTS ACROSS STATE COULD HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW.

>> AND LET'S LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF INDIANA, THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS, IT'S NOT TAUGHT -- YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THE -- IN COLLEGES.

SO IT'S -- IT'S LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY.

>> BARTHOLOMEW STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF GATHERING ORAL HISTORIES AND CONSERVING THEM IN A SAFE SPACE.

>> WHETHER YOU ARE 80 OR 90 YEARS OLD AND SOMEBODY IS ASKING ABOUT YOUR HISTORY OR YOUR AGE OR OLIVIA'S AGE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT THAT HISTORY TOO.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT DOING A BATHROOM SELFIE WITH YOUR PHONE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GET THE PICTURES IF IT'S ON YOUR PHONE OR REGULAR CAMERA, AND BACK THEM UP.

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

>>> THE ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE ON STATE'S INDIANA MEMORY WEBSITE.

>>> PORTIONS OF DOWNTOWN WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY FOR THE TASTE OF BLOOMINGTON FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL.

NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED LAST YEAR'S TASTE OF BLOOMINGTON.

THE FIRST IN FIVE YEARS, FAR EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS.

THAT LED ORGANIZERS TO MAKE SOME CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENT.

WE TALKED WITH THE EVENT ORGANIZER AND VENDORS ABOUT THOSE CHANGES AND WHAT TO EXPECT AT THIS YEAR'S EVENT ON TODAY'S NOON EDITION.

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> LET ME JUST START THERE.

BUT IT WAS SO GREAT, IT WAS REALLY CROWDED.

IT'S -- >> YEAH.

>> SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO SPREAD OUT THE FOOTPRINT.

I THINK MOTHER NATURE WILL HELP US A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, KIND OF TEMPER THE CROWDS.

BUT, YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE ADDED -- LAST YEAR WAS A RECORD NUMBER OF FOOD VENDORS, AS FAR AS I KNOW OF 50 AND WE HAVE 75.

SO WE -- AND THEN LAST YEAR, THERE WERE EIGHT DIFFERENT PLACES TO BUY ALCOHOL AND THIS YEAR, THERE'S 16.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR ATTENDEES BY SPREADING IT OUT, MAKING IT LESS CONGESTED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT TO THE GRADUATE BY HILTON, THEY LET US TOP INTO THEIR POWER.

WHEN WE WENT TO KIRKWOOD, WE THOUGHT HOW DO WE GET POWER TO ALL OF THESE VENDORS.

AND THEN FORTUNATE, THE GRADUATE, IT SERVES ON THE BLOOMINGTON BOARD WITH MYSELF AND HE WAS SO KIND TO SAY BEING YOU CAN USE OUR POWER.

WE HAVE WAY MORE CAPACITY THAN WE NEED.

SO WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE VENDORS IN THE 200 BLOCK BUT THEN RUBICON, THE RAISING CANE VENDOR.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE MAIN THING.

WE WANT IT TO BE CROWDED.

WE WANT TO SHOWCASE THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING BLOOMINGTON HAS TO OFFER TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

SO IN OUR MIND, THAT WAS A GREAT THING.

LIKE, YEAH, IT CAN BE A LITTLE CONGESTED.

HOW DO WE PUSH TO HAVE THE SAME SIZE OR EVEN BIGGER CROWD WHILE MAKING THE EXPERIENCE A LITTLE MORE ENJOYABLE.

>> MM-HMM.

OKAY.

AND YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INVOLVED, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO LET PEOPLE COME IN AND USE THE RESTROOM TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> WHICH HAS GOT TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FESTIVAL.

>> WE HAD A LOT OF RESTROOMS SET UP.

THERE WOULD BE PRETTY LONG LINES FOR THE PORT-A-POTS AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD PLENTY OF BOTTLED WATER AND NOT TRASH OVERFLOWING AND PEOPLE CAN USE THE RESTROOMS.

DON'T BECOME FIRE FESTIVAL BASELINE.

WE UPPED THE NUMBER BY 25% TWO DAYS BEFORE BECAUSE WE SAW HOW BEAUTIFUL THE FORECAST WAS AND WE JUST THE BUZZ.

WE THOUGHT IT WOULD POP, MAYBE NOT THE WAY IT DID BUT WE KNEW IT WOULD BE A BIG EVENT.

WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF RESTROOMS TO THE PARKING LOT TO THE EAST OF HISTORY CENTER AND THE UPSTAIRS PUB, IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER THIS.

BUT ON TOP OF THAT, WE WILL HAVE THE BUSKIRK-CHUMLEY AND SHOUT OUT TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH THERE AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND KIRKWOOD, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR DOORS OPEN AS WELL.

THERE SHOULD BE A LOT OF OPTIONS.

>> SO I'M -- IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR YOU TALK, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PLAN.

AND YOU'RE KIND OF LIKE THE COACH CIGNETTI OF THE -- >> THAT IS THE KIND ENVIRONMENT THING.

I WILL -- THE KINDEST THING.

I WILL TAKE THAT ALL DAY.

>> YOU SAID THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

I'M SAYING SOME OF, BUT YOU ALSO SAID IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE FREE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE COST OF FOOD LOW.

SO YOU'VE SET UP ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YOU'RE JUST CHECKING BOXES AS YOU GO.

>> YEAH.

>> HOW DO YOU KEEP THE FOOD PRICE DOWN TO WHERE JORDAN SAYS IT MUST BE?

>> YOU GIVE IT AWAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OH.

>> IT'S A GREAT FORM OF ADVERTISING AND IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY EVENT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO ENTER INTO THE EVENT FOR PROFIT, THEN YOU ARE IN IT FOR THE WRONG REASON.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED MORE BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN.

WE'RE A COMMUNITY.

WE CAN ONLY BUILD THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND SO THAT'S PARTICIPATING IN THESE TYPES OF EVENTS.

YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO GET RICH ON THIS DAY.

YOU'RE LEARNING TO THANK YOUR CUSTOMERS TO GET NEW CUSTOMERS FOR THE FUTURE AND INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO YOUR PRODUCT LIKE WEIRDO COOKIES.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND SEEING BUSINESSES THAT I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED.

>> YOU CAN WATCH TODAY'S ENTIRE NOON EDITION PROGRAM AND PREVIOUS NOON EDITION SHOWS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

NOON EDITION AIRS LIVE EVERY FRIDAY AT NOON ON WFIU.

>>> WELL, THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH SOME SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM LAST YEAR'S TASTE OF BLOOMINGTON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪ >>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE