♪♪ >> HOOSIERS GETTING A TAX >> HOOSIERS GETTING A TAX REFUND.

REFUND.

OFFICIALS SOUND THE ALARM OVER OFFICIALS SOUND THE ALARM OVER THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE DELTA VARIANT.

PLUS, ILEARN SCORES AND MORE ON PLUS, ILEARN SCORES AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 16TH, 2021.

WEEK ENDING JULY 16TH, 2021.

>> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND ICE MILLER, A FULL STATIONS, AND ICE MILLER, A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

ICEMILLER.COM.

>> >> THIS WEEK, OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED HOOSIERS WILL GET A STATE TAX HOOSIERS WILL GET A STATE TAX REFUND WHEN THEY FILE THEIR REFUND WHEN THEY FILE THEIR TAXES NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S BECAUSE TAXES NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE STATE FINISHED THE YEAR WITH THE STATE FINISHED THE YEAR WITH A LOT MORE REVENUE THAN A LOT MORE REVENUE THAN EXPECTED, TRIGGERING INDIANA'S EXPECTED, TRIGGERING INDIANA'S AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND.

AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND.

>> >> THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND WAS CREATED A DECADE AGO AND WAS CREATED A DECADE AGO AND ONLY USED ONCE, IN 2012, SENDING ONLY USED ONCE, IN 2012, SENDING A ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN DOLLAR A ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN DOLLAR CREDIT TO HOOSIER TAXPAYERS.

CREDIT TO HOOSIER TAXPAYERS.

AFTER THAT, LAWMAKERS MADE IT AFTER THAT, LAWMAKERS MADE IT HARDER TO TRIGGER.

BUT IN JUST HARDER TO TRIGGER.

BUT IN JUST THE LAST THREE MONTHS, INDIANA THE LAST THREE MONTHS, INDIANA BROUGHT IN ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION BROUGHT IN ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN PROJECTED.

DOLLARS MORE THAN PROJECTED.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR CRIS JOHNSTON SAYS HE DIRECTOR CRIS JOHNSTON SAYS HE NEVER IMAGINED THE STATE WOULD NEVER IMAGINED THE STATE WOULD BE IN THIS STRONG A POSITION.

BE IN THIS STRONG A POSITION.

>> CRIS JOHNSTON: I THINK WE >> CRIS JOHNSTON: I THINK WE WERE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC BUT WERE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC BUT TO BE HAVING A TAXPAYER REFUND TO BE HAVING A TAXPAYER REFUND AT THIS MAGNITUDE - WE WEREN'T AT THIS MAGNITUDE - WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR THAT.

PREPARED FOR THAT.

>> THE REFUND WILL SHOW UP AS A >> THE REFUND WILL SHOW UP AS A TAX CREDIT WHEN PEOPLE FILE TAX CREDIT WHEN PEOPLE FILE THEIR TAXES NEXT YEAR.

AND THE THEIR TAXES NEXT YEAR.

AND THE EXACT AMOUNT PER PERSON WON'T BE EXACT AMOUNT PER PERSON WON'T BE DETERMINED UNTIL LATER THIS DETERMINED UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR, LIKELY AROUND NOVEMBER.

YEAR, LIKELY AROUND NOVEMBER.

>> IS A TAX REFUND THE BEST USE >> IS A TAX REFUND THE BEST USE OF THESE DOLLARS?

OF THESE DOLLARS?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

DEMOCRAT ARIELLE BRANDY.

DEMOCRAT ARIELLE BRANDY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

JOURNAL GAZETTE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

SMITH.

MIKE O'BRIEN, I WAS SURPRISED BY MIKE O'BRIEN, I WAS SURPRISED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE REACTED TO THIS HOW MANY PEOPLE REACTED TO THIS IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

SHOULD THE IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

SHOULD THE STATE HAVE SPENT THIS MONEY STATE HAVE SPENT THIS MONEY BEFORE IT TRIGGERED THE TAX BEFORE IT TRIGGERED THE TAX REFUND?

REFUND?

>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT >> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT LEGISLATORS, PEOPLE IN LEGISLATORS, PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT.

GOVERNMENT.

>> HOOSIERS, PEOPLE SURPRISED >> HOOSIERS, PEOPLE SURPRISED NOT HAPPY ABOUT GETTING A TAX NOT HAPPY ABOUT GETTING A TAX REFUND.

REFUND.

>> HOW THIS BUDGET CAME TOGETHER >> HOW THIS BUDGET CAME TOGETHER AT THE END.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE END.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS FRANTICLY TRYING TO SPEND WAS FRANTICLY TRYING TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN 96 HOURS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN 96 HOURS WHEN THE LATEST FORECAST CAME WHEN THE LATEST FORECAST CAME OUT TO SET THE FINAL NUMBERS IN OUT TO SET THE FINAL NUMBERS IN THE BUDGET.

THEY REALIZED THEY THE BUDGET.

THEY REALIZED THEY GOT BILLIONS MORE.

SO THEY PUT GOT BILLIONS MORE.

SO THEY PUT $1.9 BILLION INCREASE IN THE $1.9 BILLION INCREASE IN THE K12.

SET STANDARDS FOR TEACHER K12.

SET STANDARDS FOR TEACHER PAY.

DID A WISH LIST.

EVERYBODY PAY.

DID A WISH LIST.

EVERYBODY IN THE BUDGET WON.

WE WERE IN THE BUDGET WON.

WE WERE WATCHING LINE ITEM WATCHING LINE ITEM APPROPRIATIONS DOUBLE OR TRIPLE APPROPRIATIONS DOUBLE OR TRIPLE FROM WHERE THEY STARTED.

THEY FROM WHERE THEY STARTED.

THEY WERE TRYING TO SPEND THIS WERE TRYING TO SPEND THIS REMARKABLE INFLUX OF CASH THAT REMARKABLE INFLUX OF CASH THAT WAS A RESULT OF FEDERAL WAS A RESULT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT, RESULT OF GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT, RESULT OF SALES TAX, THROUGH THE ROOF SALES TAX, THROUGH THE ROOF BECAUSE OF STIMULUS HOURS, BECAUSE OF STIMULUS HOURS, PEOPLE WERE SPENDING THAT.

THERE PEOPLE WERE SPENDING THAT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF REASONS ALL THIS WERE A LOT OF REASONS ALL THIS MONEY CAME IN.

NOW THEY HAVE MONEY CAME IN.

NOW THEY HAVE EVEN MORE.

THE THEORY WHEN MITCH EVEN MORE.

THE THEORY WHEN MITCH DANIELS PASSED THIS, SET ITS DANIELS PASSED THIS, SET ITS BUDGET, BUILD A HEALTHY RESERVE, BUDGET, BUILD A HEALTHY RESERVE, AND STOP COLLECTING AND RETURN AND STOP COLLECTING AND RETURN IT TO THE PEOPLE -- IT IS NOT IT TO THE PEOPLE -- IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY.

IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S MONEY.

IT IS TAXPAYER'S MONEY.

WHEN HAVE YOU TAXPAYER'S MONEY.

WHEN HAVE YOU A BUDGET LIKE THIS THAT WE JUST A BUDGET LIKE THIS THAT WE JUST HAD, A BONANZA FOR EVERYBODY HAD, A BONANZA FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED, IT WAS LIKE THE POSTER INVOLVED, IT WAS LIKE THE POSTER CHILD EXAMPLE FOR AUTOMATIC CHILD EXAMPLE FOR AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND OUGHT TO BE NOT TAXPAYER REFUND OUGHT TO BE NOT ONLY -- OUGHT TO BE TRIGGERED ONLY -- OUGHT TO BE TRIGGERED WHY IT SHOULD BE THERE TO BEGIN WHY IT SHOULD BE THERE TO BEGIN WITH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WITH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY IS UPSET ABOUT.

EVERYBODY IS UPSET ABOUT.

THEY'RE GETTING AN INCREASE IN THEY'RE GETTING AN INCREASE IN THEIR RETURN NEXT YEAR.

THEIR RETURN NEXT YEAR.

EVERYBODY WINS.

THE BUDGET WAS EVERYBODY WINS.

THE BUDGET WAS WAY BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER WAY BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING BEEN, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LITTLE MONEY BACK, ALLELUIA.

A LITTLE MONEY BACK, ALLELUIA.

>> I'LL PUT IT TO YOU SORT OF >> I'LL PUT IT TO YOU SORT OF THE SAME THING.

THE FOLKS I THE SAME THING.

THE FOLKS I HEARD FROM WERE OH, INSTEAD OF HEARD FROM WERE OH, INSTEAD OF SPENDING -- INSTEAD OF DOING A SPENDING -- INSTEAD OF DOING A TAX REFUND THAT WILL BE MAYBE A TAX REFUND THAT WILL BE MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS AT MOST COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS AT MOST FOR HOOSIER TAXPAYERS, THEY FOR HOOSIER TAXPAYERS, THEY SHOULD BE SPENDING THAT BILLION SHOULD BE SPENDING THAT BILLION DOLLARS THAT IT COMES OUT TO ON DOLLARS THAT IT COMES OUT TO ON ROADS, AND PENSIONS, AND TEACHER ROADS, AND PENSIONS, AND TEACHER SALARIES.

WAS THERE A BETTER WAY SALARIES.

WAS THERE A BETTER WAY TO SPEND THIS MONEY, OR WAS THIS TO SPEND THIS MONEY, OR WAS THIS JUST A WEIRD CONFLUENCE OF JUST A WEIRD CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS?

EVENTS?

>> I DO THINK IT WAS A WEIRD >> I DO THINK IT WAS A WEIRD CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS.

WE HAD ALL CONFLUENCE OF EVENTS.

WE HAD ALL THIS MONEY THAT WE WERE THIS MONEY THAT WE WERE STRATEGICALLY TRYING TO SPEND IN STRATEGICALLY TRYING TO SPEND IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACE.

EVEN WITH ALL THE RIGHT PLACE.

EVEN WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, I THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, I THINK THAT ALSO WAS ABLE TO SAVE THINK THAT ALSO WAS ABLE TO SAVE SOME OF OUR CITIES AND TOWNS AND SOME OF OUR CITIES AND TOWNS AND HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO BUDGET HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO BUDGET THEIR MONEY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THEIR MONEY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT FOR HOOSIERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FOR HOOSIERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT EXTRA MONEY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT EXTRA MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS FOR A REFUND, I IN THEIR POCKETS FOR A REFUND, I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE'S A BAD DON'T SEE WHERE THERE'S A BAD THING THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.

THING THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.

BUT I DO THINK WHEN WE'RE BUT I DO THINK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AS WE MOVE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET AS WE MOVE FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING SPENDING, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING HOW WE COULD ALLOCATE THAT MORE HOW WE COULD ALLOCATE THAT MORE AND BETTER.

AND BETTER.

>> THIS IS A CASE OF WE HAD THIS >> THIS IS A CASE OF WE HAD THIS HUGE REVENUE FORECAST IN APRIL HUGE REVENUE FORECAST IN APRIL RIGHT BEFORE THEY FINALIZED THE RIGHT BEFORE THEY FINALIZED THE BUDGET.

IN THE TWO MONTHS AFTER BUDGET.

IN THE TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, $1.2 BILLION MORE THAT, $1.2 BILLION MORE COLLECTED THAN WE THOUGHT.

IF COLLECTED THAN WE THOUGHT.

IF LAWMAKERS HAD ANY IDEA THAT WE LAWMAKERS HAD ANY IDEA THAT WE WOULD HAVE APPROACHED TRIGGERING WOULD HAVE APPROACHED TRIGGERING THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND WOULD THEY HAVE ALLOWED IT TO WOULD THEY HAVE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN?

HAPPEN?

>> NO.

AND I KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

>> NO.

AND I KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

I DID A STORY IN EARLY APRIL, I DID A STORY IN EARLY APRIL, AFTER THAT BASICALLY SAYING, AFTER THAT BASICALLY SAYING, HEY, ARE YOU GUYS CONSIDERING HEY, ARE YOU GUYS CONSIDERING GETTING US TO THE AUTOMATIC GETTING US TO THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND?

TAXPAYER REFUND?

AND TO A PERSON, EVERY BUDGET AND TO A PERSON, EVERY BUDGET OFFICIAL INVOLVED WAS LIKE, NO.

OFFICIAL INVOLVED WAS LIKE, NO.

THEY LITERALLY SOCKED MONEY AWAY THEY LITERALLY SOCKED MONEY AWAY EVERYWHERE THEY COULD.

HAD EVERYWHERE THEY COULD.

HAD RESERVE ACCOUNTS ON RESERVE RESERVE ACCOUNTS ON RESERVE ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS >> CREATED A BRAND-NEW RESERVE >> CREATED A BRAND-NEW RESERVE ACCOUNT.

ACCOUNT.

>> TOOK WHATEVER IS LEFT AND PUT >> TOOK WHATEVER IS LEFT AND PUT 600 MILLION IN PENSION.

THEY 600 MILLION IN PENSION.

THEY WANTED TO PRIORITIZE THAT WHERE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE THAT WHERE THEY DID.

THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY DID.

THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS MUCH MONEY WAS GOING TO THIS MUCH MONEY WAS GOING TO COME IN LIKE 60-SOME DAYS.

COME IN LIKE 60-SOME DAYS.

>> WHEN THIS TAXPAYER REFUND >> WHEN THIS TAXPAYER REFUND TRIGGER WAS CREATED BY -- AT THE TRIGGER WAS CREATED BY -- AT THE URGING OF GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS URGING OF GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS ABOUT A DECADE AGO, IT WAS ABOUT A DECADE AGO, IT WAS TRIGGERED ONCE AND LAWMAKERS TRIGGERED ONCE AND LAWMAKERS MADE IT MUCH HARDER TO EVER MADE IT MUCH HARDER TO EVER TRIGGER AGAIN.

THEY DON'T TRIGGER AGAIN.

THEY DON'T LIKE -- THEY WANT TO SPEND THE LIKE -- THEY WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY, THEY THINK THEY HAVE A MONEY, THEY THINK THEY HAVE A BETTER IDEA HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BETTER IDEA HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT THAN JUST GIVING BE SPENT THAN JUST GIVING SOME -- WHAT ULTIMATELY DOESN'T SOME -- WHAT ULTIMATELY DOESN'T END UP AMOUNTING TO A LOT OF END UP AMOUNTING TO A LOT OF MONEY TO INDIVIDUAL HOOSIERS.

SO MONEY TO INDIVIDUAL HOOSIERS.

SO DOES THIS PROMPT THEM TO GET RID DOES THIS PROMPT THEM TO GET RID OF IT ENTIRELY?

OF IT ENTIRELY?

OR IS THIS JUST SO WEIRD THAT OR IS THIS JUST SO WEIRD THAT THEY'LL BANK ON IT NOT HAPPENING THEY'LL BANK ON IT NOT HAPPENING AGAIN?

AGAIN?

>> IT IS SO WEIRD THAT THEY'LL >> IT IS SO WEIRD THAT THEY'LL BANK ON IT NOT HAPPENING AGAIN.

BANK ON IT NOT HAPPENING AGAIN.

ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT IT DID ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN -- IF YOU THINK HAPPEN AGAIN -- IF YOU THINK THEY WERE UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE THEY WERE UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE OLD DAYS GIVING THEMSELVES A PAY OLD DAYS GIVING THEMSELVES A PAY INCREASE, THIS IS EVEN WORSE INCREASE, THIS IS EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.

AND SO FOR THAT THAN THAT.

AND SO FOR THAT REASON I THINK THEY WILL JUST REASON I THINK THEY WILL JUST HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT OCCUR.

HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT OCCUR.

TO PARAPHRASE WHAT YOU SAY AT TO PARAPHRASE WHAT YOU SAY AT THE END OF EACH WEEK'S SHOW, A THE END OF EACH WEEK'S SHOW, A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK BACK TO THE YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK BACK TO THE BUDGETARY SITUATION, CERTAINLY BUDGETARY SITUATION, CERTAINLY AT THE START OF COVID, I THINK AT THE START OF COVID, I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE SAID WE ARE EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE SAID WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A HEAP OF HURT.

GOING TO BE IN A HEAP OF HURT.

WE HAD TO ASSUME THERE WOULD BE WE HAD TO ASSUME THERE WOULD BE SOME FEDERAL STIMULUS, BUT SOME FEDERAL STIMULUS, BUT NOTHING OF THE -- TO THE DEGREE NOTHING OF THE -- TO THE DEGREE THAT WE SAW, AND EVEN IF WE THAT WE SAW, AND EVEN IF WE COULD HAVE ENVISIONED THAT COULD HAVE ENVISIONED THAT STIMULUS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY STIMULUS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALIZED JUST HOW MUCH OF AN REALIZED JUST HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE DIRECT IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE DIRECT IMPACT IN TERMS OF SALES TAX AND IMPACT IN TERMS OF SALES TAX AND SO FORTH.

SO NOBODY FORESAW IT, SO FORTH.

SO NOBODY FORESAW IT, COULD HAVE FORESEEN IT, AND I'M COULD HAVE FORESEEN IT, AND I'M GUESSING NOW THEY'RE THINKING IT GUESSING NOW THEY'RE THINKING IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

I CAN'T HELP WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

I CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH, THOUGH, AGAIN, IF YOU BUT LAUGH, THOUGH, AGAIN, IF YOU GO BACK, SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN GO BACK, SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME.

PEOPLE AROUND HERE A LONG TIME.

PEOPLE USED TO FIGHT TO GIVE THE MONEY USED TO FIGHT TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

BOTH PARTIES, REPUBLICANS BACK.

BOTH PARTIES, REPUBLICANS SAY THIS HAS BEEN THEIR CALLING SAY THIS HAS BEEN THEIR CALLING CARD.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS, CARD.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS, DEMOCRATS WERE USING THIS AS DEMOCRATS WERE USING THIS AS THEIR CALLING CARD.

WHOEVER HAD THEIR CALLING CARD.

WHOEVER HAD CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN THERE WAS A BUDGET SURPLUS, THEY THERE WAS A BUDGET SURPLUS, THEY WERE THE ONES WHO WERE REACHING WERE THE ONES WHO WERE REACHING THEIR HANDS INTO HOOSIER'S THEIR HANDS INTO HOOSIER'S POCKETS, AND IT IS TIME TO GIVE POCKETS, AND IT IS TIME TO GIVE IT BACK.

WHO KNOWS?

IT BACK.

WHO KNOWS?

IN TEN YEARS WE WILL HAVE IT IN TEN YEARS WE WILL HAVE IT WHEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN WHEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND MAYBE THEN REPUBLICANS MAY AND MAYBE THEN REPUBLICANS MAY CALL TO -- CALL TO -- >> ONE THING I'LL SAW, A LOT OF >> ONE THING I'LL SAW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAVE ASKED ME DID THEY USE DAYS HAVE ASKED ME DID THEY USE ALL THAT FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY ALL THAT FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO PAD THIS?

TO PAD THIS?

AND THEY USED $440 MILLION FROM AND THEY USED $440 MILLION FROM THE CARES ACT TO PAY THE THE CARES ACT TO PAY THE SALARIES OF STATE WORKERS WHO SALARIES OF STATE WORKERS WHO WERE DOING COVID RELIEF OVER THE WERE DOING COVID RELIEF OVER THE LAST YEAR.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S LAST YEAR.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S ALL INDIRECT.

YES, THERE IS ALL INDIRECT.

YES, THERE IS DEFINITELY AN IMPACT BECAUSE OF DEFINITELY AN IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE STIMULUS, BECAUSE OF HOW THE STIMULUS, BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH -- MUCH -- >> WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THE STATE >> WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THE STATE DOLLAR AND SPEND THE FEDERAL DOLLAR AND SPEND THE FEDERAL DOLLAR.

DOLLAR.

>> NO, IT WASN'T BILLED >> NO, IT WASN'T BILLED DIRECTLY, THEY WEREN'T PADDING DIRECTLY, THEY WEREN'T PADDING THE STATS USING THE FEDERAL THE STATS USING THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

STIMULUS MONEY.

>> INDIANA HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY >> INDIANA HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE NOT PLANNING ANY MORE THEY'RE NOT PLANNING ANY MORE STATEWIDE COVID-19 STATEWIDE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS EVEN AS THEY SOUND RESTRICTIONS EVEN AS THEY SOUND THE ALARM ABOUT A RISE IN CASES THE ALARM ABOUT A RISE IN CASES RELATED TO THE VIRUS'S DELTA RELATED TO THE VIRUS'S DELTA VARIANT.

VARIANT.

>> INDIANA'S COVID POSITIVITY >> INDIANA'S COVID POSITIVITY RATE WAS REPORTED AT ITS LOWEST RATE WAS REPORTED AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LEVEL SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

SINCE JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AGO.

SINCE THEN, THE RATE HAS MORE THAN THEN, THE RATE HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED.

THAT COINCIDES WITH DOUBLED.

THAT COINCIDES WITH WHAT STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER WHAT STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DOCTOR KRIS BOX CALLS A DOCTOR KRIS BOX CALLS A “SIGNIFICANT INCREASE” IN THE “SIGNIFICANT INCREASE” IN THE DELTA VARIANT.

DELTA VARIANT.

>> DR. KRIS BOX: THIS IS >> DR. KRIS BOX: THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE MUTATIONS OF THE VIRUS HAVE BEEN MUTATIONS OF THE VIRUS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE MORE INFECTIOUS - SHOWN TO BE MORE INFECTIOUS - MORE EASILY TRANSMITTED - AND TO MORE EASILY TRANSMITTED - AND TO POTENTIALLY CAUSE MORE SEVERE POTENTIALLY CAUSE MORE SEVERE ILLNESS THAN THE ORIGINAL ILLNESS THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

STRAIN.

>> BOX SAYS THE STATE IS NOT, >> BOX SAYS THE STATE IS NOT, HOWEVER, PLANNING ANY NEW OR HOWEVER, PLANNING ANY NEW OR RENEWED STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS.

RENEWED STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS.

>> DR. KRIS BOX: BUT INDIVIDUAL >> DR. KRIS BOX: BUT INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS IN COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS IN CONSULTATION WITH THEIR LOCAL CONSULTATION WITH THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH MAY DECIDE TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH MAY DECIDE TO MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS BASED ON THE DIFFERENT DECISIONS BASED ON THE LEVEL OF INFECTION AT THAT TIME.

LEVEL OF INFECTION AT THAT TIME.

>> >> BOX SAYS THE BEST DEFENSE BOX SAYS THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST THE VIRUS AND ITS AGAINST THE VIRUS AND ITS VARIANTS IS TO GET VACCINATED.

VARIANTS IS TO GET VACCINATED.

>> >> ARIELLE BRANDY, WHAT SHOULD THE ARIELLE BRANDY, WHAT SHOULD THE STATE BE DOING TO HELP PROTECT STATE BE DOING TO HELP PROTECT HOOSIERS AGAINST THIS HIGHLY HOOSIERS AGAINST THIS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VARIANT?

INFECTIOUS VARIANT?

>> WELL, I THINK DR.

BOX'S VERY >> WELL, I THINK DR.

BOX'S VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ADAMANT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING VACCINATED.

WE SHOULD BE GETTING VACCINATED.

WE VERY MUCH SHOULD BE DOING SO.

I VERY MUCH SHOULD BE DOING SO.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR GOVERNOR HAS AGREED ON AND THAT GOVERNOR HAS AGREED ON AND THAT DR.

BOX HAS AGREED ON.

AND IT'S DR.

BOX HAS AGREED ON.

AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT GREAT TO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT BELIEVES IN SCIENCE, AND REALLY BELIEVES IN SCIENCE, AND REALLY WANTS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WANTS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT WE NEED TO, FOLLOWING WHAT WE NEED TO, WHETHER IT IS CDC GUIDELINES OR WHETHER IT IS CDC GUIDELINES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT HAVE YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO MASK MANDATES, THE VACCINATION MASK MANDATES, THE VACCINATION AS A WHOLE, BUT HOW WE'RE AS A WHOLE, BUT HOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF HOOSIERS, WHAT THE AMERICAN HOOSIERS, WHAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE RESCUE PLAN, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THAT BEING ABLE TO HAVE TO SEE THAT BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE VACCINATIONS HAS ACCESS TO THESE VACCINATIONS HAS DEFINITELY HELPED.

WE KNOW IN DEFINITELY HELPED.

WE KNOW IN INDIANA THAT THE CASES ARE STILL INDIANA THAT THE CASES ARE STILL RISING, AND PEOPLE GETTING RISING, AND PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED IS NOT HAPPENING AS VACCINATED IS NOT HAPPENING AS FAST AS WE SHOULD.

SO I THINK FAST AS WE SHOULD.

SO I THINK THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF BECOME THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF BECOME VACCINATED, IF YOU WANT TO WEAR VACCINATED, IF YOU WANT TO WEAR YOUR MASK STILL, PLEASE YOUR MASK STILL, PLEASE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO DO SO.

UNTIL ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO DO SO.

UNTIL WE GET ON THE PATH OF HAMMERING WE GET ON THE PATH OF HAMMERING DOWN THE FACT THAT WE NEED FOLKS DOWN THE FACT THAT WE NEED FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED AND WE NEED TO TO GET VACCINATED AND WE NEED TO MAKE THIS PANDEMIC NOT POLITICAL MAKE THIS PANDEMIC NOT POLITICAL AND ABOUT THE HEALTH OF AND ABOUT THE HEALTH OF HOOSIERS, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING HOOSIERS, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE POINT MAKING SURE TO GET TO THE POINT MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT DYING FROM THIS WE'RE NOT DYING FROM THIS PANDEMIC BUT COMING OUT AHEAD.

PANDEMIC BUT COMING OUT AHEAD.

>> A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE SHOW, >> A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE SHOW, YOU HAD A REALLY ACTIVELY YOU HAD A REALLY ACTIVELY MEMORABLE ANSWER TO A QUESTION MEMORABLE ANSWER TO A QUESTION ABOUT VACCINATIONS.

WHERE YOU ABOUT VACCINATIONS.

WHERE YOU KIND OF EXPRESSED, I DON'T KNOW KIND OF EXPRESSED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL PEOPLE WHO JUST WHAT TO TELL PEOPLE WHO JUST AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED.

IS AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED.

IS THIS PERHAPS THE WAY WE REALLY THIS PERHAPS THE WAY WE REALLY START TO PUSH THE NUMBER HIGHER START TO PUSH THE NUMBER HIGHER IN INDIANA?

IN INDIANA?

AS CASES ARE GOING UP, MAYBE IT AS CASES ARE GOING UP, MAYBE IT WILL GET MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WILL GET MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE GETTING THE SHOT?

GETTING THE SHOT?

>> IF THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS >> IF THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO DO TO THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO DO TO PROTECT PEOPLE, IT IS WHAT ARE PROTECT PEOPLE, IT IS WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO DO TO PEOPLE GOING TO DO TO THEMSELVES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THEMSELVES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT A 99.4% DO -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT A 99.4% OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED ARE OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED ARE UNVACCINATED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW UNVACCINATED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER AND GO YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER AND GO STILL NOT SURE.

FINE, BE NOT STILL NOT SURE.

FINE, BE NOT SURE, I'M GOING TO LUNCH, I'M SURE, I'M GOING TO LUNCH, I'M GOING TO BE AT A BAR TONIGHT.

GOING TO BE AT A BAR TONIGHT.

CONTINUE LIVING YOUR LIFE BEING CONTINUE LIVING YOUR LIFE BEING UNSURE OF THE VACCINE.

BUT KNOW UNSURE OF THE VACCINE.

BUT KNOW THAT YOU ARE TAKING ON THAT THAT YOU ARE TAKING ON THAT RISK.

AT SOME POINT, THE RISK.

AT SOME POINT, THE GOVERNMENT REMARKABLY PULLED GOVERNMENT REMARKABLY PULLED EVERY LEVER IT COULD TO LEVERAGE EVERY LEVER IT COULD TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE INDUSTRY, TO GET A PRIVATE INDUSTRY, TO GET A VACCINE AVAILABLE TO MARKET.

IF VACCINE AVAILABLE TO MARKET.

IF THIS IS A SUPPLY PROBLEM, A THIS IS A SUPPLY PROBLEM, A HEALTHCARE NETWORK PROBLEM, THAT HEALTHCARE NETWORK PROBLEM, THAT DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WERE IN IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WERE IN BLACKOUT AREAS THAT COULD NOT BLACKOUT AREAS THAT COULD NOT GET ACCESS TO A VACCINE, THAT IS GET ACCESS TO A VACCINE, THAT IS ONE THING, THAT IS NOT THIS ONE THING, THAT IS NOT THIS SITUATION, THIS IS PEOPLE WHO SITUATION, THIS IS PEOPLE WHO ARE CLAPPING AT THE CONFERENCE ARE CLAPPING AT THE CONFERENCE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS MISSING WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS MISSING THEIR VACCINATION RATES.

AND THEIR VACCINATION RATES.

AND THEY'RE CELEBRATING THE FACT THEY'RE CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

OKAY.

I MEAN, THAT'S VACCINATED.

OKAY.

I MEAN, THAT'S FINE.

BUT AT SOME POINT THE FINE.

BUT AT SOME POINT THE GOVERNMENT HAS GOT TO SAY WE DID GOVERNMENT HAS GOT TO SAY WE DID OUR JOB AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN OUR JOB AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GO BACK AND LIVE YOUR LIFE, GO BACK AND LIVE YOUR LIFE, YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT WE >> IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT WE SEE STATE-WIDE RESTRICTIONS OF SEE STATE-WIDE RESTRICTIONS OF ANY KIND IN INDIANA AGAIN?

ANY KIND IN INDIANA AGAIN?

>> BOY, I DON'T SEE IT.

I MEAN >> BOY, I DON'T SEE IT.

I MEAN LOOK AT THE -- WE'RE STILL LOOK AT THE -- WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE RAMIFICATIONS, DEALING WITH THE RAMIFICATIONS, THE FALLOUT FROM THE MANDATES THE FALLOUT FROM THE MANDATES THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE AT THE THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S GOING TO BE SORTED OUT FOR GOING TO BE SORTED OUT FOR MONTHS IF NOT YEARS TO COME IN MONTHS IF NOT YEARS TO COME IN COURTS AND ELSEWHERE.

I DON'T COURTS AND ELSEWHERE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF APPETITE THINK THERE'S A LOT OF APPETITE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR, ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR, CERTAINLY NOT ON THE PART OF THE CERTAINLY NOT ON THE PART OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVEN IF THEY GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVEN IF THEY WERE TO CALL THEMSELVES BACK WERE TO CALL THEMSELVES BACK INTO SESSION, TO DO SOMETHING ON INTO SESSION, TO DO SOMETHING ON THIS FRONT.

I THINK MIKE'S THIS FRONT.

I THINK MIKE'S EXACTLY RIGHT, IT COMES DOWN TO EXACTLY RIGHT, IT COMES DOWN TO COMMON SENSE.

THE UNFORTUNATE COMMON SENSE.

THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS IF IN FACT LARGE THING IS IF IN FACT LARGE ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS OF ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO PRACTICE PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO PRACTICE THE WAY THEY WANT TO BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WANT TO BECAUSE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S RELUCTANCE.

I'LL OTHER PEOPLE'S RELUCTANCE.

I'LL CITE OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AS CITE OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AS AN EXAMPLE.

NOW, I WOULD HATE TO AN EXAMPLE.

NOW, I WOULD HATE TO SEE RESTRICTIONS -- SPORTING SEE RESTRICTIONS -- SPORTING EVENTS CURTAILED OR CROWDS EVENTS CURTAILED OR CROWDS LIMITED, OR INCLASS LEARNING AND LIMITED, OR INCLASS LEARNING AND LABORATORIES BE SUPPLANTED AGAIN LABORATORIES BE SUPPLANTED AGAIN BY VIDEO OR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, BY VIDEO OR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LECTURES, IF IN FACT SIMPLY LECTURES, IF IN FACT SIMPLY BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE DUG IN BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE DUG IN THEIR HEELS.

IT IS ABOUT EACH OF THEIR HEELS.

IT IS ABOUT EACH OF US TRYING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, US TRYING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT LET'S -- THE UPSHOT HAS TO BUT LET'S -- THE UPSHOT HAS TO BE THAT EVERYBODY WHO DOES IT BE THAT EVERYBODY WHO DOES IT THE RIGHT WAY NEEDS TO BE FREE THE RIGHT WAY NEEDS TO BE FREE TO LIVE LIFE AS HE OR SHE SEES TO LIVE LIFE AS HE OR SHE SEES FIT.

FIT.

>> WE TALKED A LOT -- SOME ON >> WE TALKED A LOT -- SOME ON THE SHOW ABOUT PRIVATE INDUSTRY THE SHOW ABOUT PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND WHAT DECISIONS THEY'RE GOING AND WHAT DECISIONS THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING ABOUT REQUIRING TO BE MAKING ABOUT REQUIRING EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED, AND EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF CASES THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF CASES CONTINUE TO RISE AT THE RATE CONTINUE TO RISE AT THE RATE THEY'RE RISING RIGHT NOW, ARE WE THEY'RE RISING RIGHT NOW, ARE WE GOING TO START TO IS HE A LOT OF GOING TO START TO IS HE A LOT OF PRIVATE COMPANIES GOING, IF PRIVATE COMPANIES GOING, IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED YOU'RE NOT COMING TO WORK HERE?

COMING TO WORK HERE?

>> I THINK YOU PROBABLY WILL SEE >> I THINK YOU PROBABLY WILL SEE A LITTLE MORE OF IT.

THE PAST A LITTLE MORE OF IT.

THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS WHEN IT HAS BEEN COUPLE MONTHS WHEN IT HAS BEEN SO LOW THERE HASN'T BEEN A REAL SO LOW THERE HASN'T BEEN A REAL REASON TO MAKE THOSE HARD REASON TO MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS.

I AGREE WITH MIKE A DECISIONS.

I AGREE WITH MIKE A LOT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE LOT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE A TON.

ONE AREA I DO THINK IS A TON.

ONE AREA I DO THINK IS WORTH MORE DISCUSSION IS THE WORTH MORE DISCUSSION IS THE ISSUE OF MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

AND ISSUE OF MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

AND IT IS A VERY POLARIZED ISSUE.

IT IS A VERY POLARIZED ISSUE.

BUT I PERSONALLY DON'T BUT I PERSONALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND FOR THE KIDS UNDER 12 UNDERSTAND FOR THE KIDS UNDER 12 WHO CAN'T GET VACCINATED HOW WHO CAN'T GET VACCINATED HOW RIGHT NOW IS ANY DIFFERENT THAN RIGHT NOW IS ANY DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR WHEN THEY WERE LAST YEAR WHEN THEY WERE MANDATED.

THOSE KIDS ARE NOT MANDATED.

THOSE KIDS ARE NOT PROTECTED, THEY CANNOT PROTECTED, THEY CANNOT PHYSICALLY BE PROTECTED.

NOW PHYSICALLY BE PROTECTED.

NOW WE'RE CREATING A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE CREATING A SITUATION WHERE KIDS CAN GET BULLIED OVER THEIR KIDS CAN GET BULLIED OVER THEIR DECISION WHERE THEY WEAR A MASK.

DECISION WHERE THEY WEAR A MASK.

YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON THEM TO YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON THEM TO WEAR IT AND REQUIRE IT.

I DON'T WEAR IT AND REQUIRE IT.

I DON'T KNOW AN 8 OR 9-YEAR-OLD WHO CAN KNOW AN 8 OR 9-YEAR-OLD WHO CAN STAND UP FOR CONFERENCE,S WHEN STAND UP FOR CONFERENCE,S WHEN KIDS ARE MAKING FUN OF THEM FOR KIDS ARE MAKING FUN OF THEM FOR WEARING THEIR MASK.

THAT IS THE WEARING THEIR MASK.

THAT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I KEEP HEARING ONLY ONE THAT I KEEP HEARING FROM HOOSIERS ABOUT IS, YOU FROM HOOSIERS ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS 12 AND UNDER, IF KNOW, THE KIDS 12 AND UNDER, IF WE'RE FOLLOWING CDC GUIDANCE, WE'RE FOLLOWING CDC GUIDANCE, THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD BE WEARING THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD BE WEARING MASKS.

SO I DON'T REALLY MASKS.

SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THE STATE HAS UNDERSTAND WHY THE STATE HAS BACKED AWAY FROM THE MANDATE OF BACKED AWAY FROM THE MANDATE OF THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.

THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT PASSING THE >> YOU TALK ABOUT PASSING THE DECISION DOWN, YOU'RE PUTTING IT DECISION DOWN, YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON KIDS, AND NOW INDIVIDUAL ON KIDS, AND NOW INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> TO TRY AND MAKE THAT >> TO TRY AND MAKE THAT UNPOPULAR CHOICE.

UNPOPULAR CHOICE.

>> AND MANY FRANKLY, WE NEED TO >> AND MANY FRANKLY, WE NEED TO POINT OUT ARE GOING MASK POINT OUT ARE GOING MASK OPTIONAL WHICH IS AGAINST CDC OPTIONAL WHICH IS AGAINST CDC GUIDANCE GUIDANCE >> TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

>> TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR QUESTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ICEMILLER E-MAIL AND TEXT ICEMILLER E-MAIL AND TEXT ALERTS.

ALERTS.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: IF COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO IF COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO RISE AS THE DELTA VARIANT RISE AS THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADS IN INDIANA, WILL STATE SPREADS IN INDIANA, WILL STATE OFFICIALS EVER AGAIN IMPOSE OFFICIALS EVER AGAIN IMPOSE STATEWIDE COVID RESTRICTIONS?

STATEWIDE COVID RESTRICTIONS?

A YES, B, NO.

A YES, B, NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: WILL THE U.S. SENATE APPROVE A WILL THE U.S. SENATE APPROVE A SIGNIFICANT ELECTION REFORM SIGNIFICANT ELECTION REFORM BILL?

BILL?

27% YES, 73% NO.

27% YES, 73% NO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

>> INDIANA EDUCATION OFFICIALS >> INDIANA EDUCATION OFFICIALS SAY NEWLY-RELEASED TESTING DATA SAY NEWLY-RELEASED TESTING DATA IS JUST ONE PART OF IS JUST ONE PART OF UNDERSTANDING COVID-19'S IMPACT UNDERSTANDING COVID-19'S IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING LAST SCHOOL ON STUDENT LEARNING LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

INDIANA PUBLIC YEAR.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS, THE STATE UNVEILED REPORTS, THE STATE UNVEILED RESULTS FOR PANDEMIC-YEAR ILEARN RESULTS FOR PANDEMIC-YEAR ILEARN ASSESSMENTS THIS WEEK.

AND ASSESSMENTS THIS WEEK.

AND ACCORDING TO THE DATA, LESS THAN ACCORDING TO THE DATA, LESS THAN 29 PERCENT OF STUDENTS PASSED 29 PERCENT OF STUDENTS PASSED THE ENGLISH AND MATH PORTIONS OF THE ENGLISH AND MATH PORTIONS OF THE TEST.

THE TEST.

>> DAMIAN BETEBENNER IS AN >> DAMIAN BETEBENNER IS AN ANALYST FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER ANALYST FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ASSESSMENT WORKING WITH THE FOR ASSESSMENT WORKING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

HE SAYS IT'S ESSENTIAL TO LOOK HE SAYS IT'S ESSENTIAL TO LOOK AT HOW STUDENTS' RATE OF AT HOW STUDENTS' RATE OF LEARNING, OR GROWTH, HAS CHANGED LEARNING, OR GROWTH, HAS CHANGED DURING THE PANDEMIC, TO BETTER DURING THE PANDEMIC, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS FOR UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS FOR ACADEMIC RECOVERY.

ACADEMIC RECOVERY.

>> DAMIAN BETEBENNER: IF WE >> DAMIAN BETEBENNER: IF WE SLOWED DOWN AND WE JUST GET BACK SLOWED DOWN AND WE JUST GET BACK TO THE SPEED WE NORMALLY WENT, TO THE SPEED WE NORMALLY WENT, WE DON'T REALLY CATCH UP AGAIN.

WE DON'T REALLY CATCH UP AGAIN.

THE DATA SHOWS LONG-STANDING THE DATA SHOWS LONG-STANDING GAPS PERSISTED AMONG STUDENT GAPS PERSISTED AMONG STUDENT GROUPS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MANY GROUPS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MANY SAW A DOWNWARD SHIFT IN SCORES SAW A DOWNWARD SHIFT IN SCORES AT SIMILAR RATES, BUT SOME SAW AT SIMILAR RATES, BUT SOME SAW STEEPER DECLINES IN GROWTH STEEPER DECLINES IN GROWTH COMPARED TO OTHERS.

COMPARED TO OTHERS.

>> NIKI KELLY, WE KNEW TEST >> NIKI KELLY, WE KNEW TEST SCORES WOULD BE BAD.

BUT IS THIS SCORES WOULD BE BAD.

BUT IS THIS WORSE?

WORSE?

>> IT'S PRETTY ALARMING.

I GOT >> IT'S PRETTY ALARMING.

I GOT TO BE HONEST.

I HAD MORE PEOPLE TO BE HONEST.

I HAD MORE PEOPLE REACTING TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR REACTING TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, WOW, IN LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, WOW, IN 2019, ONLY 37%.

LIKE 37% -- 2019, ONLY 37%.

LIKE 37% -- EXACTLY.

THEY WERE SHOCKED AT EXACTLY.

THEY WERE SHOCKED AT THAT ONE.

AND NOW WE'RE 28 THAT ONE.

AND NOW WE'RE 28 SOMETHING.

AND SO I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING.

AND SO I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY FRUSTRATING, DEFINITELY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS WHO WERE ESPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS WHO WERE PUT IN THESE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS PUT IN THESE HORRIBLE SITUATIONS AND KIND OF JUST HAD TO GO WITH AND KIND OF JUST HAD TO GO WITH THE FLOW AND TRY TO TEACH AS THE FLOW AND TRY TO TEACH AS BEST THEY CAN, IN VARIOUS BEST THEY CAN, IN VARIOUS MODALITIES THAT THEY HAD.

I AM MODALITIES THAT THEY HAD.

I AM INTERESTED, THEY'RE DOING SOME INTERESTED, THEY'RE DOING SOME FURTHER STUDY ABOUT HOW THOSE FURTHER STUDY ABOUT HOW THOSE MODES OF INSTRUCTION MIGHT HAVE MODES OF INSTRUCTION MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED THOSE NUMBERS.

THEY HAD IMPACTED THOSE NUMBERS.

THEY HAD SCHOOLS REPORT HOW OFTEN THEY SCHOOLS REPORT HOW OFTEN THEY WERE IN HYBRID, INPERSON OR WERE IN HYBRID, INPERSON OR VIRTUAL.

IF YOU WERE IN A VIRTUAL.

IF YOU WERE IN A CERTAIN MODE, WAS YOUR DROP LESS CERTAIN MODE, WAS YOUR DROP LESS THAN OTHER MODES?

THAN OTHER MODES?

>> I'LL BE REALLY INTERESTED.

I >> I'LL BE REALLY INTERESTED.

I SUSPECT THAT WILL BE A FUTURE SUSPECT THAT WILL BE A FUTURE TOPIC ON THIS SHOW.

JON, I'LL TOPIC ON THIS SHOW.

JON, I'LL ASK A SIMILAR QUESTION WHEN WE ASK A SIMILAR QUESTION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE INITIAL ISTEP TALKED ABOUT THE INITIAL ISTEP SCORES, WHATEVER THE HECK THE SCORES, WHATEVER THE HECK THE TEST IS CALLED NOW.

WE KNEW IT TEST IS CALLED NOW.

WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE BAD.

THIS IS WAS GOING TO BE BAD.

THIS IS REALLY BAD.

BUT CAN EVERYBODY REALLY BAD.

BUT CAN EVERYBODY JUST SAY, OOP, PANDEMIC?

JUST SAY, OOP, PANDEMIC?

>> THEY CAN SAY THAT IN THE >> THEY CAN SAY THAT IN THE SHORT-TERM, IN TERMS OF SHORT-TERM, IN TERMS OF RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM, AND THE RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM, AND THE NEED TO FIX IT.

WHAT WE CAN'T DO NEED TO FIX IT.

WHAT WE CAN'T DO AND WHAT WE HAVE TO GUARD AND WHAT WE HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST IS A SOCIETY IS TO SAY AGAINST IS A SOCIETY IS TO SAY PANDEMIC, AND THIS GROUP, THIS PANDEMIC, AND THIS GROUP, THIS COHORT, WILL BE WITH A STAR NEXT COHORT, WILL BE WITH A STAR NEXT TO THEIR NAMES TO THE END OF TO THEIR NAMES TO THE END OF THEIR LIVES.

WE CAN'T SAY FUTURE THEIR LIVES.

WE CAN'T SAY FUTURE EMPLOYER, THAT'S THE COVID EMPLOYER, THAT'S THE COVID GENERATION.

IF IN FACT WE NEVER GENERATION.

IF IN FACT WE NEVER ALLOW THOSE KIDS TO CATCH UP, ALLOW THOSE KIDS TO CATCH UP, SHAME ON US.

KEEP IN MIND, SHAME ON US.

KEEP IN MIND, NEIGHBORS AND GRANDPARENTS WERE NEIGHBORS AND GRANDPARENTS WERE DYING, MOM AND DAD HAD ALTERED DYING, MOM AND DAD HAD ALTERED SCHEDULES.

THE STRESS LEVEL SCHEDULES.

THE STRESS LEVEL WHICH ADULTS FELT PROBABLY EVEN WHICH ADULTS FELT PROBABLY EVEN IF THE KIDS COULDN'T ARTICULATE IF THE KIDS COULDN'T ARTICULATE IT WAS PROBABLY COMPOUNDED IT WAS PROBABLY COMPOUNDED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY ABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY ABLE TO DISCERN WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO TO DISCERN WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO EVEN IF YOU HAD GREAT INTERNET EVEN IF YOU HAD GREAT INTERNET ACCESS, EVEN IF YOU COULD SIT IN ACCESS, EVEN IF YOU COULD SIT IN FRONT OF THAT COMPUTER SCREEN FRONT OF THAT COMPUTER SCREEN AND SOAK UP EVERY BIT, I'M NOT AND SOAK UP EVERY BIT, I'M NOT SURE THAT ALONE WOULD HAVE MADE SURE THAT ALONE WOULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS SO MANY THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS SO MANY OTHER ISSUES DEALING WITH STRESS OTHER ISSUES DEALING WITH STRESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT WE GOT AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE KIDS SO TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE KIDS SO THAT THEY DON'T -- IT'LL DOG THAT THEY DON'T -- IT'LL DOG THEM IN THE SHORT TERM, YES, BUT THEM IN THE SHORT TERM, YES, BUT WE CAN'T LET IT DO IT LONG-TERM.

WE CAN'T LET IT DO IT LONG-TERM.

>> IF YOU ARE A STATE, A SCHOOL >> IF YOU ARE A STATE, A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, TELLING PARENTS SUPERINTENDENT, TELLING PARENTS ABOUT THESE SCORES, ARE PARENTS ABOUT THESE SCORES, ARE PARENTS GOING TO BE OKAY WITH WELL IT GOING TO BE OKAY WITH WELL IT WAS PANDEMIC DON'T WORRY ABOUT WAS PANDEMIC DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT?

IT?

>> I THINK THEY WILL BE, AS LONG >> I THINK THEY WILL BE, AS LONG AS THERE IS A STRATEGY GOING AS THERE IS A STRATEGY GOING FORWARD, HOUSE BILL 1008 WAS THE FORWARD, HOUSE BILL 1008 WAS THE CATCH-UP.

THERE IS NEW GRANT CATCH-UP.

THERE IS NEW GRANT PROGRAMS COMING ONLINE FROM THE PROGRAMS COMING ONLINE FROM THE STATE FOR NON-PROFITS, AND STATE FOR NON-PROFITS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THESE KIDS.

PARTICULARLY SERVE THESE KIDS.

PARTICULARLY THE ONES MOST VULNERABLE IN POOR THE ONES MOST VULNERABLE IN POOR COMMUNITIES.

BUT THE SAME THING, COMMUNITIES.

BUT THE SAME THING, IS THE LAW FIRM GOING TO LOOK IS THE LAW FIRM GOING TO LOOK TWICE AT SOMEONE THAT PASSED THE TWICE AT SOMEONE THAT PASSED THE OPEN BOOK BAR EXAM.

A LOT OF OPEN BOOK BAR EXAM.

A LOT OF THOSE TYPE OF CONSEQUENCES.

THOSE TYPE OF CONSEQUENCES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT SEGMENT, TOO.

I SAID A YEAR AGO, SEGMENT, TOO.

I SAID A YEAR AGO, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SHUTDOWNS AND THESE PUNITIVE SHUTDOWNS AND THESE PUNITIVE RULES.

WE HAVE TO ZOOM OUT AND RULES.

WE HAVE TO ZOOM OUT AND UNDERSTAND AS WE ASK NEW UNDERSTAND AS WE ASK NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DELTA QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT AND SHUTTING DOWN AGAIN, VARIANT AND SHUTTING DOWN AGAIN, DO THIS OR THAT TO COMBAT THAT.

DO THIS OR THAT TO COMBAT THAT.

WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY HEALTH AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY CONSEQUENCE, THERE ARE PUBLIC CONSEQUENCE, THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES TO POVERTY, HEALTH CONSEQUENCES TO POVERTY, AND TO NOT BEING WELL EDUCATED AND TO NOT BEING WELL EDUCATED AND FORCED TO STAY HOME WHEN AND FORCED TO STAY HOME WHEN HAVE YOU AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE.

HAVE YOU AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE.

THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES TO ALL OF THESE CONSEQUENCES TO ALL OF THESE DECISIONS MADE, WHETHER OR NOT DECISIONS MADE, WHETHER OR NOT MY SUSPICION ULTIMATELY IS GOING MY SUSPICION ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO BE NOT, WAS DID IT PAY OFF TO BE NOT, WAS DID IT PAY OFF VERSUS THE ALTERNATIVE OF VERSUS THE ALTERNATIVE OF STAYING OPEN OR NOT BEING AS STAYING OPEN OR NOT BEING AS STRICT.

THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS STRICT.

THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO ASK, AND HELP INFORM WE HAVE TO ASK, AND HELP INFORM THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IF IT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> IN TERMS OF TALKING TO >> IN TERMS OF TALKING TO PARENTS WHO ARE UNDERSTANDABLY PARENTS WHO ARE UNDERSTANDABLY AND OBVIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT AND OBVIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THEIR KIDS ARE AT THE WHETHER THEIR KIDS ARE AT THE LEVEL THEY NEED TO BE.

HOW MUCH LEVEL THEY NEED TO BE.

HOW MUCH OF THE ALLAYING OF THOSE FEARS OF THE ALLAYING OF THOSE FEARS IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT COMES NEXT IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT COMES NEXT IN THE NOT JUST THE NEXT FEW IN THE NOT JUST THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT EVEN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT EVEN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

MONTHS?

>> I THINK A LOT DEPENDS ON T. I >> I THINK A LOT DEPENDS ON T. I AM A MOTHER OF TWO SCHOOL AGE AM A MOTHER OF TWO SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, THIS SCHOOL YEAR WAS CHILDREN, THIS SCHOOL YEAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US, MY VERY DIFFICULT FOR US, MY DAUGHTERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE DAUGHTERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE BEHIND THAN WHAT THEY WERE LAST BEHIND THAN WHAT THEY WERE LAST YEAR WHEN THEY ENTERED THE YEAR WHEN THEY ENTERED THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO MY CONCERNS ARE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO MY CONCERNS ARE DEFINITELY WITH HOW WE'RE GOING DEFINITELY WITH HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AS A SCHOOL TO MOVE FORWARD AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DISTRICT BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO CATCH UP THOSE KIDS THAT ARE NOW CATCH UP THOSE KIDS THAT ARE NOW GOING TO BE A GRADE LEVEL GOING TO BE A GRADE LEVEL BEHIND, WHAT DOES THAT PLAN LOOK BEHIND, WHAT DOES THAT PLAN LOOK LIKE FOR US?

LIKE FOR US?

EVERYONE HAS SAID WE CAN BLAME A EVERYONE HAS SAID WE CAN BLAME A LITTLE BIT ON THE PANDEMIC AND LITTLE BIT ON THE PANDEMIC AND THINGS WERE WEIRD, IT WAS HARD THINGS WERE WEIRD, IT WAS HARD TO ADJUST TO WORKING AT HOME AND TO ADJUST TO WORKING AT HOME AND HAVING YOUR KIDS AT HOME AT THE HAVING YOUR KIDS AT HOME AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT WE WERE SOMETIMES SAME TIME.

BUT WE WERE SOMETIMES VIRTUAL, SOMETIMES HYBRID, VIRTUAL, SOMETIMES HYBRID, SOMETIMES IN PERSON.

THAT ALONE SOMETIMES IN PERSON.

THAT ALONE WAS A LOT FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO WAS A LOT FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, IF FIGURE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, IF KIDS ARE GOING TO BE IN SCHOOL, KIDS ARE GOING TO BE IN SCHOOL, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO GET THEM WHAT IS THE PLAN TO GET THEM CAUGHT UP, IS THAT STAR GOING TO CAUGHT UP, IS THAT STAR GOING TO BE NEXT TO THEIR NAME WHEN THEY BE NEXT TO THEIR NAME WHEN THEY DECIDE TO MOVE ON, SOMETHING DECIDE TO MOVE ON, SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER TO, ARE THEY PREPARED?

TO, ARE THEY PREPARED?

>> MIKE REFERENCED THIS.

>> MIKE REFERENCED THIS.

>> INDIANA SET A NEW RECORD IN >> INDIANA SET A NEW RECORD IN 2020 - ONE IT DIDN'T WANT.

2020 - ONE IT DIDN'T WANT.

ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE CDC, INDIANA LOST MORE THAN 22 CDC, INDIANA LOST MORE THAN 22 HUNDRED HOOSIERS TO OVERDOSE HUNDRED HOOSIERS TO OVERDOSE DEATHS LAST YEAR.

WFIU'S MITCH DEATHS LAST YEAR.

WFIU'S MITCH LEGAN LEGAN REPORTS, STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE REPORTS, STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND FENTANYL ARE TO BLAME.

FENTANYL ARE TO BLAME.

>> >> EXPERTS SAY LOCKDOWNS AND OTHER EXPERTS SAY LOCKDOWNS AND OTHER PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS ISOLATED PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS ISOLATED DRUG USERS AND MADE IT DIFFICULT DRUG USERS AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO GET TREATMENT.?

TO GET TREATMENT.?

INDIANA DRUG CZAR DOUG INDIANA DRUG CZAR DOUG HUNTSINGER SAYS THOSE SOCIAL HUNTSINGER SAYS THOSE SOCIAL DISRUPTIONS, COMBINED WITH THE DISRUPTIONS, COMBINED WITH THE POWERFUL SYNTHETIC OPIOID POWERFUL SYNTHETIC OPIOID FENTANYL, INCREASED INDIANA'S FENTANYL, INCREASED INDIANA'S OVERDOSE DEATHS BY 33 PERCENT.

OVERDOSE DEATHS BY 33 PERCENT.

>> DOUG HUNTSINGER: WE'RE SEEING >> DOUG HUNTSINGER: WE'RE SEEING FENTANYL NOT JUST IN OPIOIDS, FENTANYL NOT JUST IN OPIOIDS, WE'RE SEEING IT IN WE'RE SEEING IT IN METHAMPHETAMINES AND METHAMPHETAMINES AND COCAINE.

AND NOT JUST IN OUR COCAINE.

AND NOT JUST IN OUR LARGE POPULATION CENTERS.

IT IS LARGE POPULATION CENTERS.

IT IS VERY PERVASIVE STATEWIDE.

VERY PERVASIVE STATEWIDE.

>> CDC DATA ESTIMATE FENTANYL >> CDC DATA ESTIMATE FENTANYL WAS INVOLVED IN ABOUT 70 PERCENT WAS INVOLVED IN ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S OVERDOSE DEATHS.

OF THE STATE'S OVERDOSE DEATHS.

>> ARIELLE, WE HEARD DURING THE >> ARIELLE, WE HEARD DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT IT WOULD PANDEMIC THAT IT WOULD EXACERBATE THE OPIOID CRIES IN EXACERBATE THE OPIOID CRIES IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

BUT LOOKING AT IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

BUT LOOKING AT IN DATA, IS IT REALLY FENTANYL THAT DATA, IS IT REALLY FENTANYL THAT HOOSIERS SHOULD BE WORRIED HOOSIERS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT?

ABOUT?

>> I THINK MIKE TOUCHED ON IT >> I THINK MIKE TOUCHED ON IT WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IT IN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IT IMPACTS SO MANY PARTS OF YOUR IMPACTS SO MANY PARTS OF YOUR LIFE.

WE KNOW ADDICTION AND LIFE.

WE KNOW ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE TIME OF MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE TIME OF PANDEMIC WERE HEIGHTENED MORE PANDEMIC WERE HEIGHTENED MORE THAN BEFORE.

SO I DON'T THAN BEFORE.

SO I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARILY THINK THAT IT'S EXACTLY FENTANYL.

WE KNOW EXACTLY FENTANYL.

WE KNOW EVERYBODY WAS GOING THROUGH SO EVERYBODY WAS GOING THROUGH SO MUCH.

SEEING THAT UPRISE IN THE MUCH.

SEEING THAT UPRISE IN THE OPIOID ADDICTION IN JUST THE OPIOID ADDICTION IN JUST THE CASES THAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW IT CASES THAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW IT IS MORE THAN JUST THE DRUG IS MORE THAN JUST THE DRUG ITSELF.

THERE ARE A LOT FACTORS ITSELF.

THERE ARE A LOT FACTORS THAT CAME INTO PLAY FOR THAT.

THAT CAME INTO PLAY FOR THAT.

AND WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF AND WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT ONLY TO COVID-19, PEOPLE, NOT ONLY TO COVID-19, BUT ALSO TO ADDICTION AND TO BUT ALSO TO ADDICTION AND TO MENTAL HEALTH LACK OF SERVICES.

MENTAL HEALTH LACK OF SERVICES.

SO I HOPE WE PRIORITIZE IT AS A SO I HOPE WE PRIORITIZE IT AS A STATE GOING FORWARD.

STATE GOING FORWARD.

>> ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH WE'RE >> ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH WHAT WE TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH OVER THE LAST JUST WENT THROUGH OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

BEFORE WE LEAVE THE YEAR OR SO.

BEFORE WE LEAVE THE SHOW, WE WANT TO SEND OUR SHOW, WE WANT TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FORESTAL, A SHINING STAR IN THE FORESTAL, A SHINING STAR IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE HE HAD TO LEAVE UNDER A CLOUD HE HAD TO LEAVE UNDER A CLOUD WITH HIS STRUGGLES WITH WITH HIS STRUGGLES WITH ADDICTION, WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR ADDICTION, WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR HE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.

HE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ARIELLE OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ARIELLE BRANDY.

BRANDY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY OF THE FORT WAYNE AND NIKI KELLY OF THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

JOURNAL GAZETTE.

IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER.

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SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

"INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A "INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING WITH INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.