(Music) >> Protest at IU over Israel's actions in Gaza.

Added administration moves to reclassify marijuana.

Families of medically complex children meet with the governor and more.

From the television studios at WFYI, is Indiana Week in Review.

>> Indiana Week in Review is made possible by the supporters of Indiana public broadcasting stations.

>> This week, the protester who was arrested and banned from Indiana University's campus for five years is lambasting police and university officials handling of recent demonstrations.

Bryce Greene is among more than four dozen people arrested by police during a Gaza solidarity protest.

Bryce Greene, one of the protest lead organizers says the police, not the protesters, has made the situation and they.

>> He claimed the school is protecting safety by militarizing the school.

>> Indiana State police confirmed sharpshooters were stationed on top of Indiana Memorial Union that overlooks this meadow.

President Pamela Whitten requested the state police to come and stated the day before the protest began.

>> This is an nonviolent demonstration, a peaceful demonstration.

We would not allow any violence or intention of violence to be allowed.

Any situation or insinuation otherwise is incorrect.

>> A statement from Pamela Whitten and Rahul Shrivastav said they become magnates for those making statements of violence.

They also say this movement coincides with rising antisemitism.

Screens as this conflates criticisms of Israel with antisemitism.

She also calls police claims that protesters have engaged in hate speech fabricated.

As the respondent -- has the response been proportional?

This is the question for our Indiana Week in Review panel.

Democrat Elise Shrock, Mike O'Brien, Whitney Downward, and Niki Kelly editor and chief of the Indiana Chronicle.

I am in the house host Brandon Smith.

Indiana is not alone in this.

Has this reaction specifically looked good?

>> None of it looks dead, it depends on your perspective and your position on the conflict of the war in Gaza.

It depends on whether you believe these are all students.

Because not necessarily at IU, but universities across the state, they do not know who these protesters are.

Echoes from an honest and earnest student movement and then converts, in some places, to a violent one moderated by outside forces.

>> I do not think we have seen that all here.

>> No, but we have seen it across the country.

So the responses for personal.

There is drama when you talk about the sharpshooters, they do have the obligation to keep the campus say.

You look at other places and say we cannot let it get to that, you may be due need to take nap but it does not look good for anyone.

>> Is the objective is that everyone on campus feels safe, it is worse.

>> Why is it worse?

>> The escalation, right off the bat to have state police and the visual of sharpshooters, looking down into this meadow, a place that has been a place of discourse for 55 years.

To escalate.

>> There was a fire there in 2002.

>> Mike O'Brien, sharpshooter!

I am sure there were.

To escalate back, -- back quickly in a place known for discourse, it is a college campus.

We are here to educate our young adults, we are here to teach them how to have these discussions.

So, to right off the bat take it that aggressive, right off the bat, but could not be a good idea.

Went from may be as certain group of folks did not feel safe, now no one feels they.

>> It was eerily similar, we have not had to do this in half a century in terms of how people respond to students protesting.

But half a century ago, I think they probably looked around the country and said we cannot let this evolve.

>> I get that, but also by trying to be quote proactive, just completely shifted.

The students were not doing anything besides standing around and chanting in a field.

Suddenly there are cops in riot gear.

>> May be passing the night before.

>> The night before, under the cover of secrecy.

It is a terrible look for WFIU in terms of free speech.

I don't care what side you are on, but free speech.

I want to give a lot of kudos to these students who have been protesting, that we have not seen the anti-somatic comments and actions that are very, I guess, bold in some of these other places.

Good on them for that.

>> Another twist was today with the Indiana as as you suing some of the students who were banned from camp -- campus.

>> Three students, a professor is and a resident got stains on both the campus for the studnts and professor but not the resident.

They had a conference today talking about how this was a violation, in their view, of First Amendment rights.

They were banned from talking in a public forum and really expressing their viewpoint about how their concerns about what is happening in Gaza and Palestine, it was actually really interesting to read that and hear that and think about the discussions we had during the general assembly legislative session.

We talked about antisemitism during this and also free speech on college campuses.

This is something that would be very interesting to see the response.

Because clearly some people really feel they overstepped their bounds.

>> Want to dig deeper, nothing happens in a vacuum and certainly not this.

Coming off a legislative session where Pamela Whitten took a lot of criticism over what they see as antisemitism on college campuses, is this immediate escalation in part, do you think, a reaction to the people who can control the purse strings in a year from now or less than a year from now in the government?

That they were unhappy so she had to go the other direction?

>> Even before there was any.

>> In the absence, there are also debates about how you have to Coram and how you handle yourself in a public meeting.

Either protecting not or squash what you don't agree and encourage it when you do.

So I can see the legislature reacting that way.

Typically, the immediate political reaction is going to be softened.

But the legislature has taken situations like this and come in, whether it is school board meetings or other public forums.

Shoved back alright, the Biden administration announced this week it is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

That move could put more pressure on the Indiana General assembly to take some steps for cannabis legalization.

>> The federal proposal would make marijuana a schedule 3 drug on par with ketamine, some steroids and codeine.

Justin Swanson works on cannabis issues and says this is based on more momentum that has been building in Indiana.

>> The medical route, again, you will hear from every day Hoosiers whose quality of life is improved medically or physically because of these products.

>> Justin Swanson argues that more regulation helps ensure the black market is eliminated.

>> That is also how you unburdened law enforcement.

We have not seen many states get this right and I think Indiana is in a good position to put the red state model on cannabis reform.

>> Has been one of the voices against recreational use in legislation and says they still oppose medical use without further testing in clinical trials.

>> Elise Shrock, Justin talked about momentum and there has certainly been momentum.

Is this the final push Indiana needs?

>> It is momentum but it will not be the final pledge.

I remember in, you know, around 2010 in in staff with the Indiana Senate contest -- Congress and they worked to author one of the very first bills to look at marijuana reform.

And when she did that, the only people who initially knew about it where the bilge after from LSA, Chief of Staff, me and our leader.

We know as soon as this gets out, it will be done on arrival.

Was about a decade ago and things are drastically different now.

This concept still faces some massive barriers.

The governor has been pretty outspoken about not seeing any type of reform.

And has historically regulated substances in Indiana.

It takes a while.

We are still operating from a patchwork quilt of alcohol laws based from prohibition.

So, it has got some momentum and is definitely, you know, taking fire around the rest of the state.

But here, I just don't see it being the thing that pushes us over.

>> I think there is very little chance that recreational marijuana becomes legal in Indiana in 2025.

Is something like this the push they need to at least go the medical route?

>> What the governor said is, to my knowledge, he has not really taken a position on the issue.

He has taken a position on the process.

It needs to be rescheduled at a federal level and we can have another conversation.

>> But Eric Holcomb won't be in office by the time we have General Assembly.

>> But he does try to create this culture.

Legislative leaders have, they are clearly opposed to a.

>> More vocal than Mark brave but... >> More outspoken, generally.

Shipment for governor, a couple have had medical... >> They are a 50-50 split.

>> Three have said absolutely not, including, I think, Mike.

Mike Braun.

>> He is hard to nail down.

Hard to nail down.

>> Certainly, we will see this gives advocates like Justin who has worked on this for years, it changes the board you are playing on.

It gives you another argument.

>> The general assembly is going to do with the general assembly wants.

We see what the governor thinks is not always an impediment to at the general assembly will do.

So whoever is next may not have that much influence over what lawmakers do.

Certainly if they were more open to it, we will give that side of the debate more momentum.

But, is there a sense, let's say it is Mike Braun for the sense of argument.

Is there a sense that we know what he thinks about cannabis?

>> Previously we or somebody else asks the question outright about marijuana, recreational versus medical.

Everyone said no to recreational and Mike Braun did say yes to medical.

It was Suzanne Crouch who said no, I think.

It would depend on which way the winds blow.

I think that Mike Braun is going to be a lot more susceptible to the general assembly wins then he is right now.

General assembly is not ultimately going to pass something on marijuana right now that will legalize it recreationally.

I would be very surprised if they did it additionally because there is very little discussion about it.

And so, I would be pretty, I think Mike Braun would be pretty hard-pressed to find an marijuana bill on his desk if he is governor.

>> There has been momentum building in Indiana and members of both parties offering legislation every year now.

Wants just back ventures and write legislation, I mean... >> I mean, I think if you put a bill up right now, you know, yes or no for medicinal, I think it would pass.

But the problem is the Republicans are not letting you get out of the zoo perjury first.

They say and less most of the caucus wants to move it forward, we will not.

If they did, I think between the Democrats and some split from the Republicans, they would probably be an F support but they seem to shut it down in the caucus pretty quick.

>> Doesn't even get out of the committee, one hearing and not even about.

>>, not even a vote.

>> Justin pointed this out, we have had surrounding states with recreational marijuana for a while now.

Kentucky now will have medicinal marijuana in 2025.

He said if lawmakers, Indiana lawmakers love model legislation and that state did it away that we like, let's do it here.

Been able to point to a fairly conservative state it is in your backyard, doing it this way, is not the sort of thing that can be influential with lawmakers who might be more on the fence?

>> I think it can be influential.

To Nikki's point, they are getting stopped at in the process right now.

To expect that to happen even in, I think, the next three years or next couple of legislative sessions, we have come a long way.

Respectfully, since that first bill was passed.

But I don't know that this type of momentum is enough to punish Backlick of a reaction.

>> I think what could also change the mood is respected and IU comes out and says, because they made this change, we have spent this time studying, here are our findings.

>> If only we can have a referendum.

>> That is what using a lot of parts of the country.

Is not legislature is doing this, a lot of the time it is voters themselves.

Time for viewer feedback.

Each week we pose an online poll question.

This week's question is should Indiana legalize cannabis?

First, recreational use.

Been cannabis use or no accommodation in.

Should all pre-k teachers, through sixth grade and special education teachers create complete 80 hours of education training despite previous training?

38% say yes and 62% say no.

If you would like to take part, go to our website and look for the Paul.

Was about two months left before as significant change to a medical program for medically complex individuals, the administration -- some say the administration has failed to communicate with stakeholders.

Grassroots organization of family caregivers that the governor and FSSA this week will meet to express concerns with the change.

>> FSSA says caregivers were no longer be able to provide care, instead shifting to the structured care program on July 1.

To provide the governor of the FSSA with nine recommendations.

That overdue it is the mother and caregiver of the medically complex child.

She says the recommendations would clarify the process, improve communication and address concerns about how the transition is being handled.

>> We have families going days, weeks and some families, at this point, one month without any options or any care because of the ineffective process and communications that they are experiencing from FSSA.

>> Jennifer Dewitt says she hopes to hear from the governor and FSSA within a week on the needs for medically complex individual families.

>> Thank you Niki Kelly, how has it taken this long for a meeting?

>> You know, it did seem to take a while and I am glad he met with them.

And you know, I think they have some really good points.

One of the main ones was, you know, we are stuck on step one.

They are transitioning to this program and you are supposed to be evaluated so you know which you are in and what services you can get, what your stipend will be.

They still have no criteria for the evaluation.

$$TRANSMIT's I think they probably made some good points, in fact I think they already came out with a few things that they, you know, are moving forward on the recommendation.

>> FSSA is doing these webinars every other week leading into July 1 where people can talk about this shift.

Two of the 9/10 items that the group came to the governor with were on the list in this last webinar is okay, we are doing these things.

Is this progress going fast enough considering it is going to be July 1?

>> No.

Simply put, July 1 is a very big day for FSSA on several points.

They are also transitioning to managed-care for elderly Hoosiers and disabled Hoosiers.

This is not only going to be the same service providers, they need to completely re- ontract.

And so, this is a lot that needs to happen before July 1, before we can launch all of these programs.

You know, when you as FSSA have timetables or deadlines for these things, they are not necessarily transparent about when they need to finalize, what is the criteria for these children?

How do we decide what care they need?

On the senior care side, one thing is finalize contractors for specific services.

So, a couple of people are not very confident that it will all launch smoothly on July 1.

>> Looking at where we are, something I was struck by because, you know, we cover enough of these things were people want to meet with the governor on an issue they are having.

A lot of times it feels unfocused and here are so many things they had.

This is the last.

A lot of them had to do with process.

Given where we are on May 3 with July 1 less than two months away, is there any chance this is going to go well?

>> I think it is all hands on deck to try to make sure it goes well.

This is a massive, all title you dollar program for the most radically complex people in Indiana, they have the resources.

So, you know, that is not easy to pull off a stop I know they are doing claims data, claims testing right now to make sure that the systems, and to a system level if everything is.

>> Weatherly, Ya.

>> Providers providing care and they can pay for it.

So they are making sure they are in that space.

But we have rolled out huge social and programs, with the FSSA before.

And sometimes, for reasons that, they are complicated!

>> Making sure you are communicating with people.

If there are a lot of questions coming in, when you are a caretaker or caregiver, the things that offer you a small amount of control in the field where you have very little control is consistency and routine.

So to know that is going to be shaken up, it is not for lack of bipartisan effort.

We saw the legislature tried to address that list we saw representative care and reporter, Senator all working on something that ultimately did not pass.

So I do believe it is all hands on deck.

People are trying to say we need resources, it is not important.

I think that the nine recommendations are spot on.

I think the respite care is incredibly important.

And an ombudsman.

If this is a huge program or project we are rolling out, create an ombudsman's of the communication can be clearer and more effectively transmitted.

>> And it feels like the thing to do because so many times, we have these shifts in state programs.

If something didn't go well, we spent the next year plus going okay, let's review everything we did so we can do it better next time.

That is not a bad thing, that is a good thing.

If you are actively doing that while it is happening, it would at least speed up the process so we do improve down the line, we will see what happens.

Primary election day is finally, Tuesday!

Indiana has competitive races of the nomination for Governor and the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

There are also a significant number of competitive primaries and congressional seats as well as state has representatives.

We are the show before the election so it is prediction time.

First up, will there be a surprise with the GOP governors race?

Or will it be Mike Braun like we have kind of slipped suspected for about a year now?

>> We started this week with the analysis, it is usually the Winick OS and the analysis is Mike Braun, that has been all indication.

>> We have been trying to talk ourselves into this.

>> All that said, it feels like it is moving, it feels like it is getting closer.

30/25 point, however it has been, that margin is very hard unless there is outside variable.

>> Is it Mike Braun?

>> It is Mike Braun's to lose, I have set it from the beginning.

You cannot say that Suzanne Crouch has not made up some ground in the fundraising she has put up, it has not... >> Super impressive.

>> Super impressive!

And not self-funded.

She is bringing in actual donors.

You know, I think that is something to be considered.

But like we were saying, Mike Braun's to lose.

>> But if it is anybody other than Mike Braun, it is Suzanne Crouch?

>> Yeah, I think they are hoping that treatment to single digits but it ends up being 8%, ou know?

>> And the problem with the approaches the other four candidates are still getting votes.

>> Yes.

So I think, you know, you don't need 51% to win, you just need a bigger percentage than your competitors.

>> Second, will Valerie McCray be the first Black woman to win in United States history!

>> This one, it is a name idea thing and they are not necessarily different, candidates are not that different.

Carmichael is a former, you know, office folder but that was a long time ago.

So this one we are going to have to wait and see.

>> All attempts for this rate, the Democrats don't have a lot of money.

Is this really a tossup connection Mac I think so.

Who is first on the ballot?

In most bipartisan state, if they hold up.

>> Really quickly, is Victoria Sparks going to win the last congressional race that she laughed and then rejoined connection Mac I think she will win but it is going to be a little tight.

She is clearly spending like she is worried that they are catching up on her.

>> Closing up, maybe it will cinched it but yes.

>> Alright, that is Indiana Week in Review for this week.

Our panel is Democrat Elise Shrock.

Publican Mike O'Brien.

Whitney Downward as Indiana Chronicle and Niki Kelly of the Indiana capital Chronicle.

You can find Indiana Week in Review podcast at the website or on the PBS at.

I and Brandon Smith as Indiana public broadcasting.

Please vote and join us next time because a lot can happen in the Indiana week.

(Music) >> The opinions expressed are solely those of the panelists.

Indiana Week in Review is a