>>> 25 YEARS AGO TODAY, TERRORIST ATTACKS IN NEW YORK CITY AND WASHINGTON, D.C., MADE 9/11 A DAY TO NEVER FORGET.

WE'LL LOOK AT HOW THAT FATEFUL MORNING STILL IMPACTS THE LIVES OF HOOSIERS.

I.U.

IS NO LONGER LAST AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN FIRES NATIONAL FREE SPEECH RANKING.

AND WE MEET WITH THE COLUMBUS MAYOR.

WE'LL 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, TODAY MARKS 25 YEARS SINCE HIJACKED AIRPLANES STRUCK THE TWIN TOWERS AND THE PENTAGON, KILLING ALMOST 3,000.

HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY AND A QUARTER OF A CENTURY LATER, ETHAN SANDWEISS SAYS IT STILL SHAPES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN BLOOMINGTON.

[ BELL TOLLING ] >>> SEPTEMBER 11th, 2026, INDIANA UNIVERSITY HOSTS AN EARLY-MORNING COMMEMORATION AT SAMPLE GATES.

FEW STUDENTS ON THIS CAMPUS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER.

MOST OF THEM WERE NOT YET ALIVE.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- THAT I NEED TO TALK ABOUT, I NEEDED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IF THEY ASK.

>> 25 YEARS AGO, BUHER LED A CLASS OF 25 EMPLOYERS FROM CRANE NAVAL PACE TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING THEY MET WITH THE UNDERSECRETARY OF NAVY AT THE PENTAGON.

>> IT WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION.

ALL WE HEARD WAS IT WAS LIKE AIR RUSHING IN FAST, LIKE AN OLD DEPARTMENT STORE LIKE A WHOOM.

IT HIT.

AND HER COMMENT WAS, IT MUST BE A BOMB.

WE NEED TO GET OUT.

>> BUHER AND HIS GROUP COVERED THEIR MOUTHS AND CROUCHED LOW, THROUGH HALLWAYS FILLED WITH SMOKE.

WHAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WAS AN AIRPLANE HAD ENTERED THE BILLING ALMOST DIRECTLY BENEATH HIM.

MINUTES LATER, THAT SECTION OF THE PENTAGON COLLAPSED.

>> YOU COULD SEE AGAIN WHERE THE CONFERENCE ROOM WAS, WHERE WE WERE MEETING AND THERE'S WHERE THE PLANE CAME IN.

THAT'S THE PATH OF THE PLANE COMING IN.

RIGHT WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE CLASSROOM ITSELF.

>> IT'S LIKE ONE OF THE MOMENTS WHERE IT'S LIKE -- NOW IT'S SURREAL.

THIS IS SURREAL.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

IT'S LIKE, WHAT IS HAPPENING.

>> BECAUSE THERE WAS CONFUSION, MUCH OF THE PROCESS OF REMEMBERING AND REACTING TO 9/11 WAS ORIENTED TOWARD MAKING SENSE OF IT.

>> IN BODNAR'S RESEARCH ON AMERICAN PATRIOTISM, HE FOUND TWO COMPETING IMPULSES.

IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH, THEY WERE FORMED BY SHOCK AND LOSS.

THEY SEARCHED FOR MEANING.

>> MANY FELT WE HAD TO MOVE ON FROM THAT AS A NATION AND PEOPLE SO THAT WE DIDN'T SIMPLY REMEMBER THIS TERRORIST ATTACK AS DEBILITATING, THAT WE WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO RISE ABOVE IT AND FIGHT BACK.

>> HE SAYS PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY WERE DETERMINED TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

>> THE MAJOR IMPLICATION OR IMPACT OF STRUCTURING AMERICAN MEMORY OF 9/11 WAS THE DECISIONS TO GO TO WAR.

>> AT THAT POINT, IT'S LIKE WE'RE NATIONAL GUARD.

CHANCES OF US DOING ANYTHING ARE PROBABLY ILL TO NONE.

>> DECKARD VOLUNTEERED THE INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD TO FIGHT THE TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.

THEY WENT TO RESPONDING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS TO SERVING ON THE FOREIGN LINES.

HER JOB WAS TO COVER CACHE OF ENEMY ARMS.

>> FOR US IT WAS AN EVERYDAY THING.

YOU WAKE UP AND YOU SAY, WELL, I HOPE I'M BACK THIS AFTERNOON.

>> BUSH TOLD THE COUNTRY IT WAS FIGHTING A WAR ON TWO FRONTS.

THE PATRIOT ACT SUSPENDED THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE AT HOME SUSPECTED OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.

>> SPY PLANE, SLEEPER CELLS, THERE'S A TERROR CONNECTION IN INDIANA.

THE DETAILS YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

>> THERE WAS, LIKE, A CERTAIN ILLUSION THAT THIS IS THE WAY THINGS ARE IN AMERICA.

THIS IS YOUR PLACE IN, YOU KNOW, YOUR -- YOUR -- IT'S THE COUNTRY, BUT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

>> MOST OF THE BLOOMINGTON'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN 2001 WERE FOREIGN STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT OF THE MOSQUE.

>> THEY'RE LIKE TWO FBI AGENTS AT, YOU KNOW, AT THE DOOR AT ALL TIMES OUTSIDE.

THEY WOULD COME AND KNOCK, YOU KNOW, AT HIS DOOR AT 8 A.M.

IN THE MORNING.

>> MANY OF THEM LEFT THE COUNTRY, LEAVING SABRY IN CHARGE, THE I.U.

MATH PROFESSOR BECAME THE COMMUNITY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO BOTH THE MEDIA AND THE FBI.

HE SOON HAD TO CONTAIN WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT A BAHRAINI MAN WHO WORKED AT THE MOSQUE.

>> HE GOES BY THE NAME OF EL DOSARI AND HAS BEEN LINKED TO AN AL QAEDA SLEEPER CELL IN LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK.

>> HE WAS THERE AND THEN IN GUANTANAMO.

>> THEY INTERVIEWED SABRY IN 2003.

HE SAID, HE NEVER DID ANYTHING THAT I KNOW.

EXCEPT ONCE, THERE WAS AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE TALIBAN AND HOW GOOD THEY WERE AND HE WAS KIND OF SYMPATHETIC.

>> ON THE RIGHT, THERE WERE TWO, LIKE, SMALL FRAMES, WITH PICTURE OF THE MOSQUE AND MY PICTURE.

AND ON THE LEFT, A TRAINING CAMP IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> IN 2005, SOMEONE THREW A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL THROUGH THE KITCHEN WINDOW OF THE BLOOMINGTON ISLAMIC CENTER.

SABRY SAID MUSLIM WOMEN SOMEONE FACED HARASSMENT WEARING HEAD SCARVES IN PUBLIC.

DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT'S CLAIMS THAT AL DOSARI FOUGHT FOR AL QAEDA, HE WAS RELEASED IN 2007.

>> THIS WAS AN AFTERSHOCK OF REVENGE, OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY, ALMOST AUTHORITARIAN LEVEL OF AUTHORITY AND A DISREGARD FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND LEGAL RIGHTS THAT I BELIEVE ACCOUNTS FOR THE WAY IMMIGRATION HAS BECOME SUCH AN ISSUE.

>> SINCE 2001, DECKARD SAYS SHE'S SEEN PROGRESS ROLLED, BACK NOT ONLY THE COUNTRY SHE TRIED TO HELP, BUT ALSO AT HOME.

>> THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM LIKE IT'S GOING FORWARD.

IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE RACISTS ALL OF A SUDDEN.

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?

>> THE FACT THAT IT'S NOW APPARENT OR MORE SYSTEMIC IS A NATURAL KIND OF PROGRESSION.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IF YOU -- THE TOP LEADERSHIP ENCOURAGES THAT BEHAVIOR.

>> BODNAR SAYS HE ANTICIPATING TODAY'S CEREMONIES WITH CURIOSITY.

HOW WILL THE TRAGEDY OF 9/11 BE REMEMBERED AND WHO TELLS WHAT OF THE PARTS ARE WORTH TELLING.

>> THERE'S TRAGEDY, AND THERE'S A DARKER FALLOUT, A RESULT THAT HAS SORT OF STILL WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH OUR POLITICS AND THROUGH OUR CULTURE.

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

>>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON HOSTED ITS ANNUAL 9/11 REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY AT IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE THIS MORNING.

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

>>> HI, ELYSE.

>> HI, JOE.

>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON PLACED SIXTH TO LAST AMONG AMERICAN CAMPUSES FOR FREE SPEECH ACCORDING TO AN ANNUAL RANKING BY THE FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION BUT AS ETHAN SANDWEISS REPORTS, IT'S A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT FROM LAST YEAR.

>> THE NONPARTISAN ADVOCACY GROUP F.I.R.E.

SURVEYS STUDENTS EACH YEAR TO REVIEW SPEECH POLICIES TO DETERMINE THEIR SCHOOLS.

F.I.R.E.

'S CHIEF RESEARCHER SEAN STEVENS SAYS CONFIDENCE IS SLOW TO RECOVER SINCE I.U.

'S HEAVY RESPONSE TO THE DUNN MEADOW PRO GAZA PROTESTS IN 2024.

>> WE HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ASK ABOUT STUDENT CONFIDENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, AND PROTECTING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND WHETHER THEY'RE LIKELY TO.

AND I.U.

STILL DOES VERY POORLY ON THOSE.

>> BUT THE SCORES SLIGHTLY INCREASED FROM LAST YEAR, MAINLY BECAUSE I.U.

ADOPTED THE CHICAGO PRINCIPLES, AFFIRMING FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS THAT FACTORS INTO F.I.R.E.

'S RESULTS.

>> IT'S GOOD TO DO THAT BUT IT'S ALSO -- WHEN THE RUBBER HITS IN THE ROAD IN A CONTROVERSY, WE' SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> IT SHOW PERCEPTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN SLOW TO RECOVER SINCE THEIR LOW TWO YEARS AGO.

>> THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FALLOUT AND IMPACT FROM HOW THEY HANDLED THE ENCAMPMENT PROTESTS IN THE SPRING OF 2024.

>> MORE SCHOOLS WERE ADDED TO F.I.R.E.

'S SURVEY LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH I.U.

IS HIGHER FROM THE BOTTOM, IT MOVE ONE SPACE DOWN IN THE RANKINGS.

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

>> LAST YEAR I.U.

RANKED LAST AMONG PUBLIC COLLEGES.

THIS YEAR THE UNIVERSITY FINISHED AHEAD OF RUTGERS, TEXAS STATE AND WASHINGTON.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S ENROLLMENT INCREASED TO NEARLY 90,000 STUDENTS ACROSS ITS NINE CAMPUSES AND ONLINE SCHOOL THIS FALL.

I.U.

BLOOMINGTON, OVER 81,000 STUDENTS APPLIED.

ABOUT 43% OF THE CAMPUS' INCOMING CLASS HAVE A 4.0 G.P.A.

AND FOR THE NINTH STRAIGHT YEAR STUDENTS FROM ALL 92 COUNTRIES ARE ENROLLED AT I.U.

NONRESIDENTS COME FROM 49 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C., AS WELL AS 50 COUNTRIES.

I.U.

INDIANAPOLIS HAS THE SECOND LARGEST ENROLLMENT OF CAMPUSES WITH OVER 23,000 STUDENTS THIS YEAR.

>> GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN SAYS THE STATE HAD NO ADVANCED NOTICE OF INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, NUMEROUS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND VIDEOS INDICATED AN INCREASED I.C.E.

PRESENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS, BLOOMINGTON AND OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE.

THE NEWS BROUGHT PROTESTS AND THE PROMISE OF CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY FROM DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ANDRE CARSON.

THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT HAS DECLARED SPENCER DEERY THE WINNER OF HIS DISTRICT 23 STATE RACE.

THE INCUMBENT DEERY WON IN MAY BY THREE VOTES BUT THEY THROUGH OUT SIX DEERY VOTES AND DECLARED COPENHAVER THE WINNER.

THEY OVERTURNED THE DECISION, QUESTIONING WHY THOSE BALLOTS HAD BEEN VOIDED.

DEERY WILL FACE DEMOCRAT DAVID SANDERS AND JOSHUA BRAND IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

>>> A NEW ONLINE DASHBOARD MAKES DATA ABOUT THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL POPULATION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE HOPE IS ADDED TRANSPARENCY WILL HELP PEOPLE ADDRESS QUESTIONS ABOUT INCARCERATION AND CRIME.

FOR EXAMPLE, ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF PRISONERS SAY THEY HAVE LIVED IN MONROE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.

>> IT KIND OF GOES AGAINST SOME OF THE NARRATIVES I'VE HEARD IN TOWN THAT A LOT OF INMATES ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN HERE, RECENTLY COME TO BLOOMINGTON, RECENTLY COME MONROE COUNTY BUT WHAT THE DASHBOARD SHOWS IS THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE ARE THOSE WHO LIVED HERE MORE THAN 11 YEARS.

>> THE DASHBOARD INCLUDES DATA GOING BACK TO 1985, INCLUDING POPULATION LEVELS BUT ALSO THE GENDER, RACE AND AGE OF INMATES.

>>> TWO FLOCK SAFETY CAMERA POLES NEAR WALMART WE ARE CUT DOWN OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE SOLAR PANELS AND BATTERIES REMAIN BUT THE CAMERAS ARE GONE.

MONROE COUNTY DEPUTY SAYS NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

IT COULD RESULT IN VANDALISM OR CRIMINAL MISCHIEF CHARGES.

THEY ENDED THE CONTRACT WITH FLOCK SAFETY IN JULY.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NO LONGER HAS ACCESS TO THE CAMERAS.

>>> WORK IS BEGINNING ON A NEARLY $5 MILLION BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS.

THE PROJECT WILL REPLACE THE EAGLESON AVENUE BRIDGE NEAR LAW LANE AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURROUNDING INTERSECTION.

THE UTILITY WORK INN BEGINS THIS WEEK, WHICH WILL UPDATE SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS TO MEET ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

>> WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR PEDESTRIANS AS MUCH AS TRAFFIC, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS USE THAT CROSSING.

SO IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES OR ANYTHING, OR ANY CONCERNS THAT WE CAN TRY TO HELP ADDRESS, WE WILL.

>>> DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT A PARTIAL CLOSURE AROUND SEPTEMBER 22nd.

A FULL CLOSURE IS PLANNED JANUARY TO JULY.

>>> THE INAUGURAL BROWN COUNTY DRIVE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE BROWN COUNTY INN.

IT'S RUN BY A GROUP THAT RUNS A BIG QUEER HANGOUT.

>> WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF GREAT SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT LARGE.

IT'S REALLY SURPRISING HOW SUPPORTIVE THE COMMUNITY IS AS A WHOLE, FOR HELPING MAKE THIS COME TOGETHER.

>> THE FESTIVAL WILL HAVE AN OUTDOOR MARKET WITH FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAY AND LIVE PERFORMANCES IN THE EVENING.

>> JACOBS LIVE AT THE MOVIES RETURNS THIS WEEKEND AT THE I.U.

AUDITORIUM WITH DISNEY'S FROZEN.

THE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA WILL PLAY THE SCORE AS THE AUDIENCE WATCHES THE MOVIE ON THE BIG SCREEN.

HE SAYS REHEARSING A SCORE TO A MOVIE HAS TECHNICAL CHALLENGES BUT HE BELIEVES THOSE BRING THE CONDUCTOR AND MUSICIANS CLOSER TOGETHER.

>> I'M BEGUILED BY THIS ORCHESTRA, I HAVE TO TELL YOU.

I HAVE SUCH LOVE FOR WORKING WITH THEM, THAT I FEEL ALREADY CONNECTED TO THEM.

>> AND, JOE, TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR BOTH WEEKEND PERFORMANCES AT THE I.U.

AUDITORIUM.

>>> SOUNDS LIKE A FUN FAMILY EXPERIENCE!

HEY, THIS IS YOUR LAST SHOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK AND WE'LL BE KEEPING IN TOUCH.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WE VISIT WITH COLUMBUS MAYOR MARY FERDON AS THE CITY CRAFTS A BUDGET WHILE DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT CUTS.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WELL, IN LAST WEEK'S ASK THE MAYOR PROGRAM ON WFIU, I SPOKE WITH COLUMBUS MAYOR MARY FERDON, ONE REVOLVES AROUND THE BUDGET.

SHE SAYS IT'S ALL PART OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS.

>> A BUDGET IS A POINT IN TIME AND WE ARE RELIANT ON STATE DATA AND SO WE'LL WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE, AND IN THE PAST, PROBABLY YEAR OR SO WE'VE HAD ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT KIND OF A GENERAL FUND RESERVE WE LIKE TO KEEP.

AND SO THIS YEAR, OUR BUDGET USED A LITTLE BIT MORE RESERVE THAN COUNCIL WANTED US TO, BECAUSE WE HAVE A -- WE ALWAYS PRESENT A VERY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET WITH WORST CASE SCENARIO AND HISTORICALLY, WE'VE NEVER SPENT WHAT WE'VE BUDGETED, BUT WE WANT IT IN JUST IN CASE.

WE HAD SOME CONCERNS AND WE ADJUSTED AND COUNCIL DOESN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ALL OF OUR ADJUSTMENTS.

SO WE WENT BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT WHICH IS THE NORMAL BIPLAY BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE AND I -- I BELIEVE WE'VE GOTTEN TO A BUDGET WHERE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE, WE'RE COMFORTABLE.

>> NOW, ONE THE THINGS IMPACTING THE BUDGET PROCESS WAS A DECREASE IN FUNDING FROM THE STATE DUE TO CHANGES IN THE PROPERTY TAX LAW.

FUNDING CUTS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE ALSO HAVING AN IMPACT IN THE CITY, INCLUDING THE RIVER FRONT PROJECT.

>> WE REALLY -- WE CUT OUT THE IN RIVER PIECE OF OUR RIVER FRONT AND SO BETWEEN TIF DOLLARS AND SOME LOCAL STATE GRANTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET, WE'RE MOVING AHEAD ON THE RIVER FRONT.

AS YOU KNOW IN OCTOBER, WE'LL BE CUTTING RIBBON ON THAT.

THAT BEING SAID, WHERE WE WERE STYMIED WE GOT A GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP REMOVE, AND IT'S BEEN APPROVED AND APPROPRIATED BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROZE -- FROZE GIVING US THE FUNDING UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

SO, YOU KNOW -- AND WE CAN'T PAY FOR IT AHEAD OF TIME, BECAUSE THEN WE'LL NEVER GET REIMBURSED.

SO IT DOES AFFECT US WHEN -- PARTICULARLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN THEY FREEZE GRANTS OR DECIDE NOT TO FUND SOME PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN FUNDED, HAS BEEN IN PLACE AND BEEN FUNDED BY THAT PROGRAM.

>> AND A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE ARE DEALING WITH PROPOSALS FOR DATA CENTERS WITH MANY CALLING FOR BANS ON THEM.

NOW COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT BAN DATA CENTERS BUT DID CREATE SOME OVERSIGHT ON THEM.

>> THEY PASSED AN ORDINANCE WHICH BASICALLY SAID THAT IT'S -- IT'S -- INSTEAD OF A -- IT'S A PERMITTED USE BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

AND SO THAT'S THE ONE CHANGE THAT THEY MADE, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE SOME GOVERNMENT BODY WHO -- WHO HAS OVERSIGHT OF ANY DATA CENTER COMING IN.

AND THE BIGGER ISSUE THERE IS THAT IT ALLOWS PUBLIC INPUT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MEETS, THE PUBLIC CAN COME IN.

BACK TO ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED?

THERE'S ALWAYS DEVELOPERS OR LAND, PEOPLE WHO ARE SITING LAND AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE, AND WHAT IS THE APPETITE FOR A DATA CENTER.

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED AND SO WE SHOW THEM THE ORDINANCE AND THEN I KNOW THAT THEY -- THEY TALK WITH LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

BUT IT IS A -- IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> FERDON ALSO SAID SHE'S PLANNING TO RUN FOR A SECOND TERM AS MAYOR NEXT YEAR AND LIKE WITH KERRY THOMSON IN BLOOMINGTON, SHE WILL FACE A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE SPRING.

YOU CAN CATCH ALL THE PREVIOUS EPISODES OF ASK THE MAYOR ON OUR WEBSITE, WTIUNEWS.ORG.

>>> A BLOOMINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO RECEIVE A RENOVATION GRANT FROM A NEW BIG TEN CONFERENCE PROGRAM.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTH VISITED FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY AND HAS MORE ON HOW THE GRANT WAS USED.

[ CHEERS ] >>> WITH A SNIP OF A RIBBON, FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GOT THE FIRST LOOK AT A NEWLY RENOVATED LEARNING SPACE.

IT'S FIRST STOP FOR THE BIG TEN'S NEW BIG BUILD PROGRAM.

EACH PROJECT WILL RECEIVE A $50,000 INVESTMENT TO RENOVATE A LEARNING SPACE.

FAIRVIEW PRINCIPLE KELSEY PEARSON SAYS THEY CHOSE A ROOM FROM EVERYTHING FROM MUSIC AND DRAMA.

AND WE CHOSE OUR LARGE GROUP INSTRUCTION ROOM FOR THAT RENOVATION.

>> NEW TABLES ALL NEW CHAIRS AND THE FURNITURE THAT'S OUTLINING THE SPACE IN HERE, ALL THE STORAGE UNITS ARE ALL BRAND NEW IN THE BACK CORNER.

WE HAVE A SENSOR AREA FOR STUDENTS AND THOSE ITEMS ARE ACTUALLY MOBILE.

>> THE PROJECT BUILDS AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAIRVIEW AND I.U.

ATHLETICS.

STUDENT-ATHLETES ALREADY VISIT THE SCHOOL AS READING, LUNGE AND RECESS BUDDIES -- LUNCH AND RECESS BUDDIES.

>> WE ACTUALLY SEE THEM HERE AND SEE THE STUDENTS' REACTIONS WHETHER IT'S A READING BUDDY OR A LUNCH BUDDY, RECESS BUDDY, IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPACTFUL.

>> FOR PEARSON THAT PARTNERSHIP IS PERSONAL.

SHE GREW UP IN BLOOMINGTON AND WAS HERSELF AN I.U.

STUDENT-ATHLETE.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.

I GREW UP IN BLOOMINGTON.

SO BLOOMINGTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY HOME, BUT HAVING I.U.

RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACK YARD AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THEY PROVIDE, I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE EVEN AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WE WERE HAVING ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> FAIRVIEW IS THE FIRST OF SIX BIG BUILD PROJECTS PLANNED THIS FALL.

THE PROGRAM WILL EVENTUALLY REACH COMMUNITIES AROUND ALL 18 BIG TEN UNIVERSITIES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

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

>> AND THE HOWARD BISON ARE UP NEXT AS FIFTH RANKED INDIANA FOOTBALL TEAM LOOKS TO START THE SEASON 2-0.

ONE OF THE STARS OF LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP RUN, WIDEOUT CHARLIE BECKER LED THE HOOSIERS IN RECEIVING YARDS AND CAUGHT TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN LAST WEEK'S OPENER.

BECKER CREDITS THE CONNECTION HE'S MADE WITH THE NEW QUARTERBACK JOSH HOOVER.

>> I'M ALWAYS WATCHING FILM WITH JOSH.

SO WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TALKING THROUGH THE FILM LIKE IF THEY'RE PLAYING THIS DEFENSE AND HE -- YOU KNOW, WE WALK THROUGH ALL THE PLAYS KIND OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE RUNNING THIS ROUTE DURING THIS COVERAGE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

WHAT AM I THINKING?

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET OPEN?

>> HOOVER ENDEARED HIMSELF TO FANS AND TEAMMATES WHEN WITH BLOOD STREAMING FROM A CUT ON HIS NOSE AFTER A VICIOUS FACE MASK, THREW A TOUCHDOWN TO BECKER.

>> I MEAN, THE KID IS A TOUGH KID.

HE -- YOU KNOW, I CAME BACK TO THE HUDDLE AND HE'S GOD BLOOD ALL OVER HIS FACE.

I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW -- HE DIDN'T GO OUT, WHICH IT WAS REALLY MOTIVATING FOR OUR WHOLE OFFENSE.

>> SATURDAY'S GAME AT MEMORIAL STADIUM KICKS OFF AT NOON ON BIG TEN NETWORK.

A WIN WOULD BE A NATION-LEADING 18th STRAIGHT FOR THE HOOSIERS.

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

NOW WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH SOME MORE SCENES FROM THIS MORNING'S 9/11 CEREMONY THE SAMPLE GATES ON THE I.U.

CAMPUS.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> OH, GOD OF ALL THE NATIONS, A SONG OF PEACE FOR THEIR LAND AND MINE.

MAY TRUTH AND FREEDOM COME TO EVERY NATION.

MAY PEACE ABOUND WHERE STRIVE HAS RAGED SO LONG.

THAT EACH MAY SEEK TO LOVE AND BUILD TOGETHER A WORLD UNITED RIGHTING EVERY WRONG.

A WORLD UNITED IN ITS LOVE FOR FREEDOM, FOR CLAIMING PEACE TOGETHER IN ONE SONG.

>> PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE