>>> IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES ON THE GOVERNMENT'S CUTS TO MEDICAID PROGRAMS, WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT THE LOSS IN FUNDING IS HAVING ON HOOSIER CHILDREN.

INDIANA IS AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS IN TORNADOES THIS YEAR.

AHEAD WE TALK WITH METEOROLOGIST AND STORM CHASERS ABOUT THE INCREASE IN TORNADIC ACTIVITY IN THE STATE.

>>> AND VOLUNTEERS AT ROSE HILL CEMETERY ARE SERVING THE OLDEST PARTS OF THE PROPERTY TO PRESERVE HEADSTONES AND THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE BURIED THERE.

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.

WELL, LAST WEEK OUR ETHAN SANDWEISS EXPLORED THE STRUGGLES OF HOOSIERS LOSING MEDICAID COVERAGE AFTER THE END OF THE COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES ON MEDICAID CUTS ETHAN TAKES A LOOK AT THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON CHILDREN AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

>> IT DOES ALL THE -- >> KIM SHEPARD AND HUSBAND JAMES ADOPTED TWO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, SAWYER, YAYA AGE 7 IS GREGARIOUS AND ENERGETIC WITH A PENCHANT FOR CLIMBING.

HIS OLDER BROTHER PREFERS READING AND WATCHING VIDEOS ON THE TABLETS.

BOTH BOYS WERE SEVERELY NEGLECTED BEFORE THE SHEPHERDS ADOPTED THEM.

IT LEFT THEM WITH HEALTH ISSUES THAT WILL AFFECT THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

SHEPHERD ESTIMATES THAT CHILD CARE AND HEALTHCARE COSTS THEIR HOUSEHOLD AROUND $3,000 PER MONTH.

>> THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I SKIPPED MEALS.

THERE'S -- I GO WITHOUT MY MEDS PRETTY FREQUENTLY.

IT'S -- IT'S NOT IDEAL.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A FAMILY SUPPORTS WAIVER FROM THE INDIANA FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, WHICH WOULD COVER HOME-BASED CARE AND THERAPY SERVICES.

>> IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT A TWO AND A HALF TO THREE-YEAR WAIT TO GET THE WAIVER BUT IT'S BEEN FROZEN A YEAR NOW, CLOSE TO A YEAR.

>> THE SHEPHERD FAMILY ISN'T ALONE.

SINCE INDIANA BEGAN RESTRICTING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND ADDING ADDITIONAL CHECKS AFTER THE PANDEMIC, FAMILIES WITH DISABLED KIDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SIGNING UP FOR KEEPING STATE SUPPORT.

>> AS FAR AS PERCENTAGE OF LOSS IN THE COUNTRY, WE RANK NUMBER ONE, ALMOST 20% OF THE KIDS WHO WERE ON MEDICAID TWO YEARS AGO ARE NOW NO LONGER ON IT.

>> THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUES AS EVERYONE ELSE WHO RELIES ON THE SYSTEM, STRICTER DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS ADMINISTRATIVE LAG AND CUTS TO FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING.

THOSE WHO LIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WITHOUT LEGAL DOCUMENTATION MUST CONTEND WITH NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM THE STATE ABOUT HOUSEHOLD CITIZENSHIP.

>> THE KID IS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, BUT HIS FAMILY HAS HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO APPLY OR NOT.

>> BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY MEDICAID ISSUE AFFECTS THE SHEPHERDS.

BOTH PARENTS ARE THERAPISTS WHO WORK WITH MEDICAID PATIENTS.

LAST YEAR, THE FSSA, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERED THE HOURS OF THERAPY IT WOULD COVER FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> MOST OF MY CLIENTS I WAS SEEING TWO TO FOUR HOURS A WEEK.

AND SO SIX HOURS A MONTH IS ABSURD.

>> MEDICAID CAPS COST THEM A LOT, BUT SHEPHERD SAYS TO PROVIDE THEIR CLIENTS ADEQUATE CARE THEY OFTEN WORK WITHOUT PAY.

SHE DOES HER BEST TO OFFSET THE LOST HOURS BY PROVIDING DAY HABILITAION, BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN INCOME.

>> AND SO REC THERAPY PAYS -- I HAVE MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN A CLINICAL FIELD, IT PAID $50 AN HOUR.

THE H.I.

IS $19 AN HOUR.

>> FISCAL CONSERVATIVES SAY THERE ARE GOOD REASONS TO RESTRICT BILLABLE HOURS AND ADD MORE ELIGIBILITY CHECKS.

AT 22% OF THE STATE BUDGET MEDICAID IS INDIANA'S SECOND LARGEST EXPENSE AFTER K-12 EDUCATION.

LAST YEAR, THE FSSA RETURNED $310 MILLION TO THE INDIANA GENERAL FUND AFTER LONG RUNNING A SIZABLE DEFICIT.

>> MY NAME IS MITCH AND I'M THE SECRETARY OF SOCIALISM.

>> AND WE ARE BACK IN BLACK.

AFTER -- AFTER A LONG 18 MONTHS, WE ARE NOW BACK IN BLACK.

>> ROBE CRITICIZED PROVIDERS WHO HE SAID OVERCHARGED FOR VISITS, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN'S AUTISM THERAPY WHICH CAN COST OVER $600 PER HOUR, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

>> AND FORTUNATELY FOR THOSE PROVIDERS IN THE ROOM, WHO DON'T DO THAT, YOU GET -- YOU GET -- Y'ALL GET LUMPED IN THE SAME BARREL, RIGHT?

AND I'M -- I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS PROBABLY UNFAIR, BUT I KNOW NO OTHER WAY.

>> BUT THAT'S HARD TO ACCEPT FOR THERAPISTS AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

>> PEOPLE ARE -- KIND HAVE THIS ATTITUDE OF THAT'S JUST LIFE, AND LIKE WE CAN'T HELP AT ALL.

AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF PLAYING A FACT OVER TOO.

>> SHEP ED SAYS FAMILIES ARE REACHING A BREAKING POINT AND BEGINNING TO SPECK UP.

SHE'S SEEING A LEVEL OF NEWS COVERAGE OVER DISABILITY COVERAGE THAT HASN'T HAPPENED OVER TIME.

>> WE DON'T COUNT ON PEOPLE HELPING US AND HAVING MONEY, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF MEDICAID DID WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO AND IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY LISTENED AND HELPED WOULD BE REALLY GREAT.

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

>>> FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, DON FISCHER HAS CALLED THE TRIUMPHS, THE HEART BREAKS AND DEFINING MOMENTS OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS FROM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND ICONIC BUZZER-BEATERS TO UNFORGETTABLE FOOTBALL SATURDAYS, HIS VOICE HAS BECOME INSEPARABLE FROM THE HOOSIER EXPERIENCE.

TONIGHT, A DOCUMENTARY ON THE LEGENDARY VOICE OF I.U.

SPORTS CALLED "TIMELESS: DON FISCHER'S HALF CENTURY BROADCASTING SPORTS" WILL DEBUT ON WTIU.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE TRAILER.

>> THREE ON THE WAY.

OH, IT WENT IN!

IT WENT IN!

AND INDIANA WINS THE BALL GAME!

CHRISTIAN WATTFORD WITH A THREE!

AND THE HOOSIERS -- >> DON HAS BEEN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER FOR I.U.

FOOTBALL AND I.U.

MEN'S BASKETBALL FOR I BELIEVE 53 SEASONS.

>> SO IT'S DON FISCHER OVER ALL OF THOSE YEARS ON INDIANA BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL.

THE ATTACHMENT, THE FAMILIARITY, THAT VOICE IS A VOICE YOU HAVE HEARD SINCE YOU WERE A LITTLE KID IF YOU GREW UP AN INDIANA FAN.

>> THE SHOCKER IS THAT I'M EVEN INVOLVED, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A GREAT STUDENT.

>> HE DID WHAT HE WANTED TO DO AND HE WENT AND DID IT.

>> IT'S BACK UP.

HE'S GONNA GO THE DISTANCE.

♪ >> HOLLYWOOD ON US NOW, DON?

>> TRUST ME, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY ELYSE PERRY FOR MORE ON THE DOCUMENTARY AND DON.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, FIRST.

YOU HELPED PRODUCE THE SHOW ALONG WITH MARK ALICIA.

BOY, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> WELL, JOE, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST GRADUATED COLLEGE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THIS WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST PROJECT I'VE TAKEN SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN JOURNALISM.

AND IT HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE, BOTH GETTING TO KNOW DON AND GETTING TO KNOW THE SIDE OF JOURNALISM A LOT BETTER.

WORKING IN, LIKE, PROFILE, BUT MAKE IT VIDEO, THAT IT'S BEEN FUN.

AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW DON HAS JUST BEEN A REALLY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.

>> AND THIS DOCUMENTARY REALLY GETS INTO MORE ABOUT DON.

IT'S NOT A HIGHLIGHT REEL, PER SE, RIGHT?

>> OH, NO, IT'S NOT A HIGHLIGHT REEL.

WE DO HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF HIS FAMOUS CALLS.

>> THERE ARE SOME.

>> STARTING FROM HIS FIRST YEAR ALL THE WAY TO THIS PAST YEAR BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A HIGHLIGHT REEL.

WE GET INTO WHO DON IS OFF OF THE MIC, OUTSIDE OF WORK.

WE THINK THAT WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB AT MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE BOTH TO BIG SPORTS FANS AND ALSO TO JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING MAYBE EVEN NEW TO I.U., JUST KNOWING WHAT I.U.

SPORTS ARE ABOUT AND DON FISCHER.

>> BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE BREADTH OF IT ALL.

HE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR, WHAT, 53 YEARS?

>> YEAH, WHEN HE ACTUALLY STARTED, IT WAS HIS THIRD YEAR, WHEN I.U.

HAD THAT 1976 UNDEFEATED BASKETBALL SEASON.

AND HE'S BEEN HERE FOR 50 YEARS.

HE WAS ABLE TO JUST CALL ANOTHER UNDEFEATED SEASON THIS TIME IF FOOTBALL.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT, ESPECIALLY WHERE HE STARTED HOW OUR FOOTBALL TEAM USED TO BE.

IT'S AMAZING HIS LONGEVITY, HIS LEGACY HERE IS -- YOU KNOW, HE'S ACTUALLY BEEN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY BROADCASTER FOR 93% OF -- >> WOW!

>> OF I.U.

'S CURRENT LIVING ALUMNI BASE WHICH IS HUGE.

>> AND YOU WERE ABLE TO GO TO HIS HOUSE AND PREMIER IT WITH HIM.

DID DON LIKE IT?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

SO DON REALLY LIKED IT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED THE DOCUMENTARY, HE DID SEEM SURPRISED THAT SOMEONE WOULD EVEN WANT TO DO A DOCUMENTARY OF HIM.

HE HAD MADE A COMMENT ALONG THE LINES OF, WHO WOULD WANT TO SEE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ME?

AND I THINK THAT HE'S REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE MADE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, EVERYONE CAN WATCH IT, WHAT, TONIGHT AT 6:30 ON WTIU AND -- >> ALSO ON WFIU, IT WILL BE ON AS A RADIO DOCUMENTARY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE ARE JOINED NOW BY ELYSEA CORY FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>> HELLO, ELIAS.

WELCOME.

>> BLOOMINGTON MAYOR KERRY THOMSON SAYS SHE'S PLANNING TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

DURING A RECORDING OF WFIU'S ASK THE MAYOR, KERRY SAYS SHE'S DOING BACKGROUND WORK.

SHE RAN UNOPPOSED IN 2023 AFTER WINNING THREE-WAY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THAT YEAR WITH 43% OF THE VOTE.

>> I FULLY INTEND TO RUN.

I'M REALLY STAYING OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION UNTIL AFTER THE MIDTERMS.

WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE RUNNING FOR REALLY IMPORTANT SEATS AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT THOSE FOLKS.

>> DEMOCRATIC COUNCILMEMBER SYDNEY ZULICK ANNOUNCED HER RUN THIS PAST WEEKEND.

>> DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR INDIANA SECRETARY STATE, BO BAYH SPOKE TO THE BLOOMINGTON'S HEALTH CLUB ON WEDNESDAY.

HIS DECISION TO RUN WAS MOTIVATED BY DIEGO MORALES' ALLEGED CORRUPTION, INCLUDING NO BID CONTRACTS FOR DONORS AND SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY ON LUXURY VEHICLES.

HE SAYS HE SUPPORTS AUDITING THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE AND THE CITIZEN-LED BALLOT INITIATIVES.

>> THAT KIND OF OFFENDS MY SENSE OF WHAT A PUBLISH SERVANT SHOULD BE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THIS OFFICE IS SO IMPORTANT, YOUR HANDS IS THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> HE'S THE DONE OF EVAN BAYH AND GRANDSON OF BIRCH BAYH.

>> THE BLOOMINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY PLANS TO BUY FIVE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ACROSS TOWN THIS FALL.

THE VHA SAYS TAKING OVER THE COMPLEXES COULD PRESERVE OVER 900 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WHICH ARE BECOMING SCARCER IN THE CITY.

THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE BASEWOOD, KINGSTON MANOR AND SUMMIT POINT.

>> IF THEY ARE ANYWHERE NEAR CAMPUS, THEY ARE GETTING BOUGHT BY DEVELOPERS, DEMOED AND REDEVELOPED FOR LUXURY STUDENT HOUSING.

WE WANT TO PREVENT SOME OF THAT AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE THESE UNITS AROUND TOWN.

>>> THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PLANS TO SELL $100 MILLION IN BONDS TO PAY FOR THE APARTMENTS.

>>> THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IS WORKING WITH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO HELP IMPROVE OBSTETRIC AND PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE IN EMERGENCY ROOMS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

INDIANA WAS AWARDED OVER $200 MILLION BY THE FEDERAL RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.

THE GOAL WAS TO HELP ENSURE THAT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE EDUCATION, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ASSESS AND STABILIZE PEDIATRIC AND OBSTETRIC PATIENTS.

>> THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE INCREASING NUMBERS OF MATERNITY CARE DESERTS AND A LITTLE BIT MORE LIMITED ACCESS TO OBSTETRIC CARE IN RURAL PLACES.

>> ABOUT 56 HOSPITALS SENATE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.

>>> COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE A HIGHER RISK OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VIOLENCE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO THANKSGIVING BREAK.

A PERIOD KNOWN AS THE RED ZONE.

IT'S A NATIONAL TREND THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE NEW STUDENTS ARE UNFAMILIAR, COLLEGE AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM.

IT'S ALSO A TIME OF AN INCREASED NUMBER OF SOCIAL EVENTS.

>> UTILIZE RESOURCES, LIKE I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH, PLEASE COME TO MY OFFICE IF SOMEONE EXPERIENCES A TRAUMA OR YOU ARE A FRIEND OF SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED A TRAUMA, WE CAN TALK THROUGH THAT.

I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.

NO STUDENT SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ON THEIR OWN.

>> THOMAS SAYS ABOUT 50% OF ALL SEXUAL VIOLENCE CASES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL OCCUR DURING THE RED ZONE.

>> AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WHO TEACHES A CLASS CALLED THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF DOLLY PARTON IS REFLECTED ON THE BELOVED STARS DEATH AND LEGACY.

PARTON DIED TUESDAY AT AGE 80.

ALONG WITH BEING A SINGER AND SONGWRITER.

SHE WAS KNOWN AS A PHILANTHROPIST, AUTHOR AND ARTIST.

HER CLASS ABOUT PARTON IS A WAY TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO SOCIOCULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY THROUGH THE LENS OF STAR.

>> DOLLY PARTON REALLY EMBODIED THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.

THAT SPIRIT OF DREAMING, THAT SPIRIT OF A LITTLE GIRL GROWING UP IN THE SMOKING MOUNTAINS WITH NO WATER AND NO ELECTRICITY, BELIEVING IN HERSELF AND BELIEVING THAT SHE COULD BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR.

>> AND, JOE, PHILIPS SAYS THAT PARTON WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HER GENEROSITY AND HER LOYALTY TO WHERE SHE CAME FROM IN EASTTENNESSEE.

>> YEAH.

AMAZING PERSON.

REALLY GOING TO BE MISSED.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

INDIANA IS AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS WITH OVER 90 REPORTED TORNADOES THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER DATA.

AND AS MIA LEMKULE REPORTS WITH SO MANY TORNADO EVENTS HAPPENING LOCAL STORM CHASERS AND DIGITAL WEATHER NETWORKS ARE FILLING GAPS IN SEVERE WEATHER COVERAGE.

>> WOW!

I HEAR RAIN FALLING IN THE FIELD BEHIND ME.

>> FOR STORM CHASER NATHAN LORENZO, BEING HOT ON A STORM TRACK AND DOCUMENTING NATURE'S POWER, IT COMES DOWN TO A MANTRA.

>> DON'T GET TWISTED.

>> HE ANESTHESIA PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANA STATEWIDE CHASERS.

THE GROUP HAS 239,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK PROVIDE SEVERE WEATHER EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY AWARENESS ABOUT STORMS.

LORENZEN HAS BEEN A CHASER FOR 17 YEARS, SCOUTING STORMS ACROSS INDIANA.

HE SAYS THE DANGER OF SEVERE STORMS PIQUED HIS INTEREST IN WEATHER.

>> THE FEAR.

I TELL A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IT'S A LOT LIKE BATMAN IN HOW HE WAS SO SCARED OF BATS.

I WAS SCARED OF TORNADOES, I STILL AM BUT TO A RESPECTFUL LEVEL.

BUT THE FEAR TURNED INTO A HEALTHY OBSESSION.

>> I.S.C.

IS ONE OF MANY LOCAL NETWORKS FILLING IN THE GAPS, SOME SAY MORE TRADITIONAL WEATHER MEDIA LEAVES BEHIND FOR AUDIENCES NEEDING TIMELY WEATHER FORECASTING BEFORE AND DURING SEVERE WEATHER.

CODY SNYDER IS ACTIVELY TRAINING TO TRAIN THE I.S.C.

NETWORK AS A STORM CHASER.

HE JOINS STORM CHASERS AS A FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING SEVERE WEATHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN A TORNADO TOUCHES DOWN.

>> HAVING ANY STORM CHASER LIVE STREAMS AND BEING ABLE TO WATCH IT TOUCH DOWN AND KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT IS, THE SECOND THAT IT'S THERE, THAT'S MUCH SAFER THAN WAITING FOR, YOU KNOW, A TORNADO WARNING TO BE ISSUED.

>> INDIANA WEATHER NETWORK WITH 374,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK ALSO PROVIDES FREE WEATHER COVERAGE AND FORECASTING.

PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND STORM CHASER RYAN HARRIET SAYS WHAT CAUSED HIM WAS WHEN HE SAW A STORM TURN THE SKY PURPLE AND GREEN.

>> I WAS LIKE, WOW, PEOPLE DO THIS FOR A LIVING?

AND LO AND BEHOLD, TEN YEARS LATER, WE HAVE A DIGITAL METEOROLOGY PLATFORM THAT IS DOING WHAT I LOVE AND MY PASSION.

>> HARRIET STARTED MICHIGAN WEATHER NETWORK BEFORE ACQUIRING STAFF IN INDIANA.

HE SAYS A NEED FOR DIGITAL WEATHER COVERAGE IS DUE IN PART TO LIMITATIONS IN BROADCASTING.

POINTING TO 24/7 SOCIAL MEDIA AND STREAMING AS WAYS AUDIENCES CAN GET INFORMATION QUICKLY.

>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO QUOTE/UNQUOTE COMPETE WITH THEM.

WITH ERR TRYING TO FILL GAPS AND DO WHAT WE LOVE.

>> CHASING WITH HELP THOSE MONITORING RADAR IMAGES TO TELL THOSE IN THE PATH OF SEVERE WEATHER.

>> MIKE RYAN SAYS THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ONE CAN TELL OVER RADAR VERSUS BEING ON THE GROUND, GETTING LIVE INFORMATION FROM SPOTTERS AND CHASERS.

>> IN SOME CASES THAT ALLOWS US TO ACCENTUATE AND HEIGHTEN THE WORDING IF WE HAVE GREATER CONFIRMATION THAT WE DO, IN FACT HAVE A TORNADO ON THE GROUND.

>> RYAN POINTED TO AN INCIDENT IN MARCH OF 2024 WHEN A STORM BY THE OHIO BORDER PRODUCED AN EF-3 STRENGTH TORNADO, MEANING SEVERE DAMAGE AND WINDS OF 158 TO 206 MILES PER HOUR.

AFTER RECEIVING MULTIPLE REPORTS FROM SPOTTERS ON THE GROUND THAT A TORNADO HAD TOUCHED DOWN, NWS INDIANAPOLIS UPGRADED THE WARNING TO THOSE IN THE AREA.

>> THAT PROBABLY SAVED THEIR LIVES OR KEPT THEM FROM SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.

THOSE ARE THE SUCCESS STORIES WE'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE ARE ISSUING THESE WARNINGS.

>> RYAN SAYS DESPITE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS, THE LEVEL OF NFC THAT NWS INDIANAPOLIS PROVIDES HOOSIERS WILL NOT CHANGE.

DUE LARGELY TO RELATIONSHIPS BELT WITH STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS.

EVEN THOUGH THE CHASERS PROVIDE VALUABLE REALTIME INFORMATION, SOME CHALLENGE A MISCONCEPTION THAT CHASERS ARE ALL ADRENALINE JUNKIES THAT PUT SAFETY SECOND TO GETTING THE SCOOP ON A STRONG STORM.

LORENZEN SAYS THEY TRY TO SET THEMSELVES APART BY PRIORITIZING SAFETY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION TO GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE ACTION.

>> STORM CHASING IS A DESEN CITIESED.

WE LIKE TO ENJOY THE STORM FROM A DISTANCE AND KEEP IT SAFE.

>> RYAN SAYS THE TRUE MISCONCEPTION IS THAT ANYONE WITH A CAMERA CAN GET IN THEIR CAR AND PURSUE A SEVERE STORM.

>> THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THE WEATHER SERVICE DOES NOT CONDONE STORM CHASING.

WE KNOW WHAT GOES ON.

WE DON'T CONDONE IT.

WE ULTIMATELY WANT PEOPLE TO BE SAFE.

>> SNYDER HAS BEEN STORM CHASING FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WITH PLANS TO FORMALLY JOIN THE I.S.C.

UMBRELLA NEXT YEAR AFTER GETTING SKY WARN CERTIFIED.

>> I LIVED THROUGH SOME STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

I LIVED THROUGH A COUPLE OF TORNADOES AND JUST -- I DON'T HAVE A FEAR OF IT.

THEY JUST FASCINATE ME AND LIVING THROUGH THEM IT GIVES MY A RESPECT FOR THEM.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MIA LEMKULE.

>> OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS TO GET SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION ABOUT SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA INCLUDE INDIANA STORM CHASERS AND INDIANA WEATHER NETWORK AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND MONROE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

>>> THIS SUMMER, ROSE HILL CEMETERY VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SURVEYING THE OLDEST PART OF THE GROUNDS.

NATALIE FITZGIBBONS HAS MORE ON THE WORK BEING DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE OVER 1600 PEOPLE BURIED THERE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

>> THE OLDEST SECTION OF ROSE HILL CEMETERY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF BLOOMINGTON IS HOME TO MANY NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS.

THIS INCLUDES WAR VETERANS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S FIRST PRESIDENT ANDREW WYLIE AND FORMER STATE GOVERNOR PARIS DUNNING WOULD PROMOTED FREE COMMON SCHOOLS AND EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.

>> WE'RE STANDING IN THE OLDEST PART OF THE ROSE HILL CEMETERY.

IT'S CALLED -- AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S CALLED THIS, IT'S CALLED THE SPENCER EDITION.

AND THIS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1819 BY MONROE COUNTY.

AND WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A GRAVEYARD.

>> RIFE SAYS RECORDS WERE NOT KEPT OF THOSE WHO WERE BURIED UNTIL 1892, WHEN THE LADY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION STARTED TO MANAGE THE CEMETERY AND NAMED IT ROSE HILL.

>> OPERATIONS COORDINATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR ROSE HILL CEMETERY, AMY LINEBECK SAYS FOR ABOUT THE LAST TEN YEARS, THE CEMETERY HAS MONEY DEDICATED TO PRESERVING HEADSTONES THAT ARE DETERIORATING.

>> THEY STARTED TO HELP BY REQUESTING GRANTS.

>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE IDEA FOR GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE OLDER SECTION AND DOCUMENTING EVERY HEADSTONE, AND TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT NEED?

TAKING PICTURES AND THEN CREATING A SYSTEM SO THAT WE COULD LOOK AT, YOU KNOW RANKING BY NUMBERS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE A PLAN OF WHICH ONES ARE MOST IN NEED TODAY, AND THEN WE CAN PRIORITIZE OUR FUNDS.

>> THE CITY DESIGNED A SURVEY TOOL WHERE VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE AND UPLOAD PHOTOS OF HEADSTONES AND COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

>> EVERY PERSON IN THIS CEMETERY, IN THIS SECTION HAS AN I.D.

SO WE CONNECT THE I.D.

TO A PHOTOGRAPH THAT WE TAKE OF THE GRAVESTONE AND A LARGER ONE SO WE CAN SORT OF GET AN AREA OF WHERE THEY ARE AND THEN WE TAKE A LIKARD SCALE AND RATE THE GRAVESTONE IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE THE STRUCTURE OF THE STONE, IS IT IN DANGER OF TOPPLING.

WE DO A 1 TO 4 LIKARD SCALE.

IS IT COVERED IN LICHENS S. IT BLACK AND SPOTTED?

IS IT READABLE.

ARE THE BREAKS CUTTING THROUGH THE INSCRIPTION, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE NOTE.

>> THE SURVEY WAS COMPLETED LAST WEEK.

NEXT, THE DATA WILL BE REVIEWED AND EDITED BEFORE THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

>> WE WILL HAVE A LIST OF THESE ARE THE ONES WE NEED TO START WITH, AND THEN HERE'S KIND OF A MIDDLE SECTION WE CAN GET TO LATER.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR, AND WITH OUR GRANT FUNDS AND OUR FUNDS FROM OUR REGULAR BUDGET, WE CAN START HAVING OUR RESTORATIONISTS WORK ON THOSE STONES.

>> LINEBECK SAYS THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROJECT.

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

>> AND WHEN INDIANA OPENS ITS FOOTBALL SEASON NEXT WEEKEND, IT WILL DO SO WITH THE NATION'S MOST ACCURATE KICKER, NIKO RADOVICH WAS THE BIG TEN KICKER OF THE YEAR.

WE COVER OUR NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

"INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: