>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
>>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK," CASES AND
HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM COVID-19
ARE AT LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE
JANUARY, AND THAT HAS OFFICIALS
CONCERNED AS THE HOLIDAYS
APPROACH.
>> NO MATTER WHAT I SAY, NO
MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS ON TV,
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
GATHER.
VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
GATHER.
THEY WILL INTERMINGLE.
>> WE TALK WITH AN EXPERT ABOUT
THE LATEST NUMBERS AND THE
OMNICRON.
>> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING.
AND 60 MORE DAYS WE HAVE TO HAVE
THAT LOT FULL AGAIN.
IS IT POSSIBLE?
>> WHILE THE COST OF EQUIPMENT
HAS URGED, YOU MIGHT BE
SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT DEMAND
REMAINS SKY HIGH.
AND WHAT BLOOMINGTON'S PLAN TO
OVER 85% OF THE CITY WITH FIBER
OPTIC CABLE MEANS FOR YOU.
THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST
NEWS HEADLINES, RIGHT NOW ON
"INDIANA NEWSDESK"!
♪
>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
I'M JOE HREN.
THE OMNICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19
HAS NOT YET BEEN DETECTED IN
INDIANA, BUT THE DELTA STRAIN IS
CAUSING ANOTHER SURGE OF CASES
AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE
STATE.
BROCK TURNER HAS THIS REPORT.
>> COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS
THIS WEEK REACHED LEVELS NOT
SEEN SINCE JANUARY, WHEN THE
VACCINES WERE IN EXTREMELY
LIMITED SUPPLY.
THE VIRUS IS MORE CONTAGIOUS,
DELTA VARIANT IS FUELING THE
SURGE THAT FORCED THE NUMBER
HOSPITALIZED PAST 2700.
80 NEW DEATHS FROM THE VIRUS
WERE REPORTED ON WEDNESDAY
ALONE.
WHILE A VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE
HOSPITALIZED REMAIN
UNVACCINATED, THERE'S A GROWING
CONCERN A HIGH NUMBER OF CASES
COULD FUEL EVEN MORE INFECTIONS
AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON
APPROACHES.
DR. JOSH CULLISON, THE MEDICAL
TRENTOR AT THE RURAL HEALTH
CLINICS ENCOURAGES THOSE WHO
REMAIN UNVACCINATED TO
REEVALUATE THEIR PLANS.
>> NO MATTER WHAT I SAY, NO
MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS ON TV,
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GATHER.
UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
GATHER.
VAC SIPPATED PEOPLE ARE GO --
VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
GATHER.
>> CULLISON HAS SKIPPED FAMILY
GATHERINGS FOR THOSE WHO ARE
UNVACCINATED.
>> I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO CANCEL
YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS BUT I WANT
YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE ARE YOU
BEING -- THE RISK.
>> MANY ADMIT THEY ARE BURNT
OUT, AND HALF HOOSIERS REMAIN
UNVACCINATED.
OFFICIALS FEAR THIS SURGE COULD
RIVAL LAST YEAR'S.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
BROCK TURNER.
>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY BRIAN
DIXON, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
HEALTH INFORMATICS AT THE
REGANSTREET INSTITUTE IN
INDIANAPOLIS.
HELLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE THE
FIRST CASE OF THE OMNICRON
VARIANT WAS FOUND IN THE U.S.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT NOW
THAT WE DIDN'T THEN?
>> WELL, EARLY DATA SUGGESTS THE
VIRUS IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE,
MEANING THAT IT'S SPREADING MORE
QUICKLY THAN EARLIER VARIANTS,
INCLUDING THE DELTA VARIANT,
WHICH IS PLAGUING US HERE IN
INDIANA.
HOWEVER, IT REMAINS KIND OF TOO
EARLY TO CONCLUDE WHETHER THE
VIRUS IS MORE VIRULENT, MEANING
IT CAN CAUSE MORE SEVERE DISEASE
THAN THE OTHER VARIANTS.
SO MANY OF THE PATIENTS AND SOME
OF THE EARLY COUNTRIES ARE UNDER
50 YEARS OF AGE, WHICH WE WOULD
NOT EXPECT ANYWAY TO BE IN THE
HOSPITAL.
SO MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED
THERE.
>> NOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME
STUDIES THAT SHOW THE PFIZER
VACCINE'S EFFICACY DROPS FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANTLY AGAINST OMNICRON,
WOULD A BOOSTER HELP AGAINST
THAT?
>> A BOOSTER MAY BE HELPFUL IN
NEUTRALIZING OMNICRON.
THESE EARLY STUDIED LOOKED
PRIMARILY AT PROTECTION AGAINST
INFECTION, NOT SEVERE OUTCOMES
AND HOSPITALIZATION.
AND STUDIES THAT WE HAVE DONE,
WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE VACCINES
CONTINUE TO PERFORM VERY WELL
AGAINST DELTA AND THE OTHER
VARIANTS.
SO WE WOULD EXPECT THAT THE
VACCINES GIVE YOU PROTECTION
AGAINST OMNICRON AS WELL, WHEN
IT COMES TO THE SEVERE
CONSEQUENCES OF COVID.
THAT SAID, OUR STUDIES ALSO SHOW
THAT EFFECTIVENESS DROPS OVER
TIME.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET A
BOOSTER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU
ARE -- IF YOU HAVE AN IMMUNO
COMPROMISED CONDITION OR RISK
FACTORS LIKE HYPERTENSION OR
DIABETES OR OLDER ADULTS ARE
ALSO MORE VULNERABLE TO
CORONAVIRUS.
>> A SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WONDERING WHAT BOOSTER TO GET,
DOES IT MATTER.
>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I THINK MOST OF OUR STUDIES
SHOWED THAT MRNA, THE PFIZER AND
MODERNA VACCINES, HAVE SLIGHTLY
HIGHER EFFICACY, OR
EFFECTIVENESS THAN THE
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.
I THINK ANY OF THE VACCINES WILL
GIVE YOU SOME PROTECTION.
BUT IF IT WAS MY LOVED ONES, I
WOULD RECOMMEND THEY GET THE
PFIZER OR THE MODERNA BOOSTER.
>> HOSPITALIZATIONS REACHING
NUMBERS NOT SEEN SINCE LAST
WINTER.
IS THERE A WAY TO TELL HOW LONG
THE SURGE COULD LAST?
>> AH, IT'S -- IT'S HARD TO TELL
HOW LONG IT WILL LAST.
THESE TRENDS, THOUGH, ARE VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW LAST
WINTER.
SO WE SHOULD ANTICIPATE HIGH
LEVELS OF HOSPITALIZATION
THROUGH JANUARY.
AT THAT TIME, WE THINK THE
HOPPIZATIONS WILL BEGIN TO
RECEDE.
THE -- THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WILL
BEGIN TO RECEDE.
THE WILD CARD IS OMNICRON.
IT MAY BOOST NUMBERS EVEN HIGHER
BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WILL BECOME
INFECTED.
SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE
HOSPITALIZATION RATES, ALL
THINGS EQUAL TO START COMING
DOWN IN THE SPRING, THAT'S THE
PATTERN THAT APPEARS TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH OTHER
CORONAVIRUSES.
>> BRIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> MANY EMPLOYEES ARE TURNING TO
RELIGIOUS EXCEPTIONS.
EXEMPTIONS ARE FEDERALLY
PROTECTED UNDER THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ACT OF 1964, BUT WHAT IS THE
HISTORY OF THESE EXEMPTIONS AND
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
LAUREN CHAPMAN REPORTS.
>> IMAM AHMED ALAMINE SPEAKS TO
HIS MOSQUE IN INDIANAPOLIS ABOUT
GETTING VACCINATED.
IN FACT, HE'S TRYING TO SET UP A
VACCINE CLINIC AT THE MOSQUE.
FOR HIM, GETTING PEOPLE
VACCINATED, IT'S JUST AS MUCH
ABOUT FAITH, AS IT IS PERSONAL.
HE HAD COVID IN 2020.
>> MY EXPERIENCE WITH MALARIA
WAS TERRIBLE, BUT COVID WAS
WORSE.
EVERY DAY THAT PASSED BY OR
NIGHT, I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE MY
LAST DAY OR NIGHT.
>> A HANDFUL OF VACCINES, SOME
MMR, SHINGLES USE PIG TECHNOLOGY
AS A STABILIZER.
THAT AGAINST DIETARY
RESTRICTIONS FOR SOME JEWS AND
MUSLIMS WHICH ARE A COMMON
REASON FOR RELIGIOUS VACCINE EX.
IONS.
ALAMINE SAYS THE KORAN MAKES AN
EXCEPTION FOR MEDICINE.
>> IT DOES ALLOW YOU TO DO
SOMETHING THAT IS NORMALLY
FORBIDDEN, USE IT AS A
MEDICATION.
IT IS GOING TO BE AN ACCEPTED
WAY TO TREAT, AS LONG AS IT
HELPS SAVING SOMEBODY'S LIVE.
>> NON-OF THENONE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINES IN
THE U.S. USE THE PORCELINE
JELLY.
WITH MORE PEOPLE PUSHING FOR
BROADER EXCEPTIONS, HE SAYS ALL
FAITH TRADITIONS SHOULD
ENCOURAGE VACCINES.
>> WE HAVE TO USE THE FAITH TO
SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WE SHOULD NOT USE FAITH TO
DESTRUCT HUMANITY, TO CAUSE HARM
TO HUMANITY.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE
VACCINE, THAT'S YOUR CHOICE.
BUT PLEASE, DO NOT USE FAITH AS
A WEAPON.
>> THERETHERE'S A LONG HISTORY OF
PROTECTION RELIGIOUS EXCEPTIONS.
RACHEL OLIVERY, LAW PROFESSOR AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SAYS
THESE ARE IN A SECTION CALLED
TITLE VII WHICH DISCUSSES
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AND
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR
SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS.
>> THE COURTS ARE VERY RELUCTANT
TO INTRUDE TOO DEEPLY ON WHAT A
PERP'SPERSON'S SINCERELY HELD
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS CAN BE.
IT BE A MORE PERSONALIZED BELIEF
SYSTEM.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS FOR COURTS
DECIDING WHAT COUNTS AS RELIGION
AND WHAT DOESN'T.
>> AND SO COURTS HAVE GIVEN WIDE
BIRTHS TO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
TITLE VII SAYS EMPLOYERS DON'T
NEED TO CREATE ACCOMMODATIONS
WHERE THERE'S AN UNDO BURDEN.
THAT'S WHERE THE LIMITATIONS LIE
FOR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FOR
COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.
>> IT'S VERY CLEAR WHEN IT COMES
TO THE TITLE # VII MANDATES THE
RELIGIOUS EXCEPTION IS NOT A
GIANT LOOPHOLE YOU CAN JUST WALK
THROUGH.
>> PANE THERE'S A REASON NOR
THAT.
EX.
IONS -- EXEMPTS CAN HAVE REAL
CONSEQUENCES.
HE SAYS WITH ANY NONMEDICAL EX.
ION TO VACCINES, IT REQUIRES A
GOLDILOCKS APPROACH.
IF EXEMPTIONS ARE TOO HARD TO
OBTAIN, OMER SAYS PEOPLE WILL
FIND OTHER WAYS TO NAVIGATE
AROUND MANDATES.
>> AND IF THEY ARE FREELY
AVAILABLE, WE KNOW THAT THEY
TEND TO CLUSTER, AND WE HAVE
SHOWN AGAINST MULTIPLE DISEASES
NOW, THAT THEY CAN IMPACT THE
LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DISEASE
AND CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH
OUTBREAKS.
>> THOSE CLUSTERS HAVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR UNVACCINATED
PEOPLE SINUATED AND VACCINATED
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE MRNA COVID-19 VACCINES
POSTED A 90% EFFICACY.
BUT NO VACCINE IS 100%.
>> THAT INCREASES EVERYONE'S
RISK.
THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR
FOLKS.
>> THERE WERE HEALTH EXPERTS
THAT WERE INVITED TO TALK TO HIS
MOSQUES ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING
AND VACCINES.
HE CALLED THIS A
JIHAD.
THEY KNOW ABOUT THE EXTREME
VIOLENCE BUT JIHAD SIMPLY MEANS
A STRUGGLE AND RESISTANCE AND
THIS IS OUR JIHAD, IT'S OUR
RESISTANCE AGAINST A VIRUS THAT
CLAIMED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS AROUND THE WORLD.
>> FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCAST,
I'M LAHRI'M LAUREN CHAPMAN.
>> MIKE BRAUN DOESN'T SUPPORT
VACCINES.
BRAUN IS CURRENTLY A BIPARTISAN
FIGHT IN CONGRESS TO FIGHT
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RULE TO EITHER
GET THE WORKERSERS VACCINATED OR
UNDERGO WEEKLY TESTING.
BRAUN DOES NOT SUPPORT MEASURES
THAT WOULD PREVENT COMPANIES
FROM REQUIRING THE VACCINE ON
THEIR OWN.
THE INDIANA STATE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE CURRENTLY
PUSHING A BILL THAT WOULD
EFFECTIVELY DO JUST THAT.
>> I'M A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ON
THAT HAPPENING, SIMPLY BECAUSE
OF WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN TO WHERE
YOU TRY TO IMPACT BUSINESSES AND
THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON OTHER
ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD, THE
PRECEDENT IT MIGHT SET.
>> BRAUN ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO
GET THE VACCINE, CALLING IT A
MIRACLE.
>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
>> SUPPLY ISSUES AND INFLATION
ARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR
FARMERS TO FIND AND AFFORD NEW
AND USED EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR
FIELDS.
>>> AND BLOOMINGTON HAS PLANS TO
COVER MUCH OF THE CITY WITH
FIBER OPTIC CABLE.
AHEAD, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU.
>> THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT
HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
WTIU NEWS HAS RECEIVED BODY
CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM INDIANAPOLIS
POLICE VAUHXX BOOKER'S ARREST
EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF
AN INDIANAPOLIS BAR AND GRILL
AFTER WHAT BOOKER DESCRIBED AS
ANOTHER RACIAL INCIDENT.
MITCH LEGAN REPORTS.
>> THEY LITERALLY CALLED ME A
BOY.
>> FORMER BLOOMINGTON ACTIVIST
VAUHXX BOOKER WAS ARRESTED FOR
SHOVING A POLICE OFFICER.
IT HAPPENED AFTER INDIANAPOLIS
METROPOLITAN POLICE RESPONDED TO
A DISTURBANCE CALL AT A
RESTAURANT.
>> IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO OLLIE.
IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE, PERIOD.
AND I APOLOGIZE TO YOU THAT THAT
HAPPENED.
>> AND ONE BODY CAM VIDEO,
OFFICER ALLEN HOPKINS SPEAKS
WITH BOOKER ABOUT THE INCIDENT
AND SAID HE'S UNABLE TO ARREST
PEOPLE FOR SAYING THINGS.
>> THE BARTENDER, DO YOU KNOW
HIS NAME?
>> I TOLD YOU, HE'S THE DISTRICT
OFFICER.
HE'S THE DISTRICT OFFICER.
BYE-BYE.
>> BOOKER FOLLOWS HOME KINS,
ASKING FOR -- HOPKINS ASKING FOR
HIS I.D. BACK.
>> GET OPEN THE SIDEWALK.
>> HE HAS MY I.D.
>> DON'T PUSH ON ME.
>> DID YOU REALLY JUST PUSH ME?
THREE OFFICERS WERE PRESENT AT
THE SCENE BUT ONLY ONE BODY CAM
SHOWS THE INCIDENT.
HE HAS A PRETRIAL HEARING
SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 1st.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
MITCH LEGAN.
>> WERE NOT GOING TO BUMP
THROUGH ME.
>> BOOKER INTENDS TO ENTER THE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS
REGARDING AN INCIDENT AT LAKE
MONROE LAST SUMMER.
THE AGREEMENT SAYS IF BOOKER
COMPLETES THE PROCESS, CHARGES
WILL BE DROPPED.
BOOKER SAYS HE WAS NEARLY
LYNCHED BY WHITE MEN AS HE WAS
CELEBRATING THE 4th OF JULY AT
THE LAKE.
THE TWO SIDES AGREE TO TRY TO
SETTLE THE ISSUE USING
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BUT BOOKER
WITH DREW FROM THE PROCESS IN
AUGUST.
>>> WELL, INFLATION AND
CHALLENGES WITH THE GLOBAL
SUPPLY CHAIN ARE PUSHING THE
PRICE OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
HIGHER.
FOR FARMERS, THE SITUATION IS
EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.
BROCK TURNER HAS MORE ON WHAT'S
CAUSING SOME USED TRACTORS TO
SELL FOR MORE THAN WHAT THEY
COST WHEN NEW.
>> BROCK KEESLER IS NO STRANGER
TO EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS.
>> SOLD!
>> CEASE LETTER IS HEREKEESLER IS LOOKING FOR A NEW
HEAD UNIT FOR HIS CROP.
HE'S YOUNG AND GETTING A START
IN AGRICULTURE.
GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT IS NOT AN
OPTION.
>> BANKS WON'T HARDLY LEND ME
ANY MONEY ON USED THINGS.
IT PRETTY MUCH LIMITS YOUR
GROWTH.
>> KEESLER WILL LIGHTNINGLY HAVE
HAVE -- WILL LIKELY HAVE A HARD
TIME FINDING THINGS FOR NEXT
SPRING.
>> WE EXPECT SPRING OF 2023.
A LOT OF THOSE MODELS ARE COMING
UP JUNE 2023, FEBRUARY 2023.
>> PROBLEMS ACQUIRING STEEL, AND
COMPUTER CHIPS FOR LARGER MODELS
MAKE IT EVEN HARDER TO PROVIDE
THE TYPE OF SERVICE THEY ARE
CUSTOMED TO.
>> WE ARE PROBABLY 25 UNITS
BEHIND RIGHT NOW.
SO BY THE TIME WE GET CAUGHT UP,
YOU KNOW, WE WILL PROBABLY BE
HALFWAY THROUGH 2022, AND WE ARE
IN THE SAME BOAT AGAIN.
>> McCLURE SAYS MANY OF THE
TRACTORS ON HIS LOT ARE ALREADY
SOLD AND AWAITING FINAL
ACCESSORIES BEFORE THEY CAN BE
SHIPPED.
WHILE THESE TYPE OF SUPPLY CHAIN
CHALLENGES AFFECT EVERYTHING
FROM THE MORNING CUP OF COFFEE
TO YOUR CAR, THE SITUATION IS
UNIQUE TO FARMERS.
MANY PURCHASED SEED, FERTILIZER
AND OUR INPUTS BEFORE TODAY'S
CHALLENGES THAT.
COMPARED TO A STRONG HARVEST
THIS YEAR, MANY FARMERS ARE
SITTING ON LARGER THAN NORMAL
PROFITS.
THE PRICE OF USED FARM EQUIPMENT
AT AUCTION CAN BE UP TO 30%
HIGHER.
[ AUCTIONEER ]
>> FARMERS HAVE DISPOSABLE.
SO THEY HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.
TAX LAWS REALLY -- REALLY FAVOR
PURCHASING EQUIPMENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT MOST FARMERS
WRITE OFF THEIR EQUIPMENT USING
EXCEPTION 179 EXPENSING AND
PRETTY FAST DEPRECIATION RATES
PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO IF THEY WANT TO SHELTER ANY
OF THIS 2021 INCOME, THEY NEED
TO DO IT WITH A CAPITAL
PURCHASE.
>> SHH KNIT CAN ISHHHE IT'S IT'S SUPPLY AND
DEMAND.
>> PRIOR TO THAT, IT'S SUPPLY
PROBLEMS WITH THE CHIP
MANUFACTURING -- THE CHIP
SHORTAGES THAT WE SAW.
SO THERE'S THOSE ISSUES AND THEN
THERE'S JUST THE LABOR ISSUES
WHICH IS IMPACTING EVERYBODY.
>> KEESLER HAS ATTENDED
EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS FOR YEARS BUT
THIS IS FIRST TIME HE'S GONE
WITH THE HOPE OF DRIVING HOME
ONE OF THESE COMBINES.
[ AUCTIONEER ]
>> BUT THE HIGHER PRICES WERE
BEYOND HIS BUDGET.
>> A YEAR AGO, IT WAS PROBABLY
30% LESS THAN IT IS NOW.
BUT JUST DUE TO THE FARMING
ECONOMY CURRENTLY, AND IT SEEMS
LIKE EVERYBODY HAS GOT PLENTY OF
MONEY.
IF YOU FIND A REALLY CHERRY
PIECE OF USED EQUIPMENT, THINGS
ARE BRINGING TOP DOLLAR.
ALMOST AS MUCH OR MORE THAN WHEN
THEY WERE BROUGHT NEW.
>> WHILE NEARLY EVERYONE AGREES
THIS ISN'T SUSTAINABLE LONG
TERM, CURRENTLY THE MARKET IS
SHOWING FEW SIGNS OF COOLING.
KURT EVERETT IS A BUYER AT ONE
OF THE INDIANA'S LARGEST FARM
EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS.
>> RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT.
IN 60 MORE DAYS, WE'VE GOT TO
HAVE THAT LOT FULL AGAIN.
IS IT POSSIBLE?
I DON'T KNOW.
I HOPE SO.
I MEAN, WE ALWAYS SAY IT'S NOT
GOING TO BE, AND WE ALWAYS MADE
IT.
BUT IT'S GETTING TOUGHER.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT.
>> MANY FARMERS ALREADY SEE THE
END OF THIS BOOM IN PROFITS
COMING, INPUTS LIKE SEED AND
FERTILIZER COST TWO TO THREE
TIMES MORE THAN LAST YEAR, BUT
RIGHT NOW, IN THE SHORT RUN,
MANY SEE DOLLAR SIGNS, THE PRICE
OF CORN IS UP 75% SINCE MARCH.
>> WHEN GUYS START SEEING THAT
RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR CORN,
EVEN IN THE USED MARK, EVERYBODY
NOW THINKS THEY WANT TO BE A
BIG-TIME FARMER AND MAKE A
LITTLE MONEY.
>> EVERETT WORRIES ABOUT WHAT
COULD HAPPEN WHEN THE MARKET
DOES SLOW.
>> WE ARE WAY OUT HERE ON THE
LIMIT.
WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT THING TO
BREAK OFF.
AND I HOPE I DIDN'T HAVE A BUNCH
OF INVENTORY WHEN IT DOES BREAK.
>> NEARLY EVERYONE INTERVIEWED
AGREES THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
>> DO YOU THINK A LOT OF FARMERS
ARE OVERPAYING FOR STUFF NOW?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH.
>> AND I'M OVERPAYING FOR STUFF,
YOU KNOW?
EVERYTHING IS WAY OUT OF TOUCH.
WAY OUT OF TOUCH.
WILL IT COME BACK?
I DON'T KNOW.
I KIND OF LIKE FOR IT TO GO BACK
THE WAY IT WAS, YOU KNOW, BUT
WHO KNOWS.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, EVERETT SAYS
HE WILL CONTINUE SCOURING
DEALERSHIPS ACROSS INDIANA AND
NEIGHBORING STATES TO PUT
AUCTIONS TOGETHER.
A TASK THAT'S BECOMING
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.
KEESLER IS NOT LOSING HOPE
EITHER.
HE WILL HAVE TO TINKER WITH THE
CURRENT COMBINE TO ENSURE IT'S
READY FOR HARVEST NEXT YEAR.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
BROCK TURNER.
>>> LAST MONTH, THE CITY OF
BLOOMINGTON ANNOUNCED PERHAPS TO
BUILD A FIBER NETWORK TO BRING
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET TO AT LEAST
85% OF RESIDENTS WITH GLOBAL
INVESTOR ME MERIDIAN.
NO FORMAL AGREEMENT HAS BEEN
SIGNED BUT IT WILL BOOST EQUITY.
>> MOST INTERNET SERVICE
PROVIDERS BUILD THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THEY USE TO
PROVIDE INTERNET ACCESS TO
INDIVIDUAL HOMES.
THIS CAN RESULT IN COMPANIES
SELECTIVELY LAYING FIBER IN
HIGH-INCOME OR DENSE AREAS.
BLOOMINGTON IS SOLVING THE
PROBLEM BY MAKING INTERNET MORE
ACCESSIBLE WITH AN OPEN ACCESS
MODEL.
THIS MEANS A THIRD-PARTY COMPANY
WILL LAY DIGITAL FIBER
THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE CITY AND
LOCAL INTERNET SERVICE COMPANIES
WILL LEASE THE SPACE.
>> ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF
INTERNET PROVIDERS, AT THE SAME
TIME BEING THE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROVIDERS, IS THAT THERE IS A
CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE
CONTENT YOU PROVIDE AND THE
INTEREST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> MERIDIAN IS THE GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTOR THAT
BLOOMINGTON SIGNED AN AGREEMENT
BADGE IN OCTOBER.
THE COMPANY'S EXPERIENCE -- BACK
IN OCTOBER.
THE COMPANY'S EXPERIENCE IN
FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIES COMBINE TO MAKE A
UNIQUE BUSINESS STRATEGY.
>> DESIGN THE STRATEGY OF
INVESTING IN THINGS THAT MAKE
SENSE, AND IT'S HELPING SOCIETY.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE SUCCESSFUL
WHEN YOU ARE A LONG-TERM
INVESTOR IF YOU ARE KNOT SOLVING
THE PROBLEM.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND BROADBAND
PROJECT IN INDIANA, BUT THE
SECOND IN THE UNITED STATES.
THEY PLAN TO INVEST IN SIMILAR
PROJECTS GIVEN THE RECENT
IMPACTS OF COVID-19.
>> LEARNING FROM HOME AND
WORKING FROM HOME REQUIRES GOOD
INTERNET ACCESS.
AND NOT HAVING THAT GOOD
INTERNET ACCESS CREATES AN
INEQUALITY.
>> BEFORE OPENING THE NETWORK TO
MULTIPLE INTERNET SERVICE
PROVIDERS SUCH AS AT&T, AND
COMCAST, MERIDIAN WILL ENTER
INTO A CONTRACT WITH ONLY ONE
INITIAL PROVIDER FOR AN
UNDISCLOSED PERIOD OF TIME.
>> MANY MANY OF US HAVE AT&T AND
COMCAST -- MANY OF US HAVE AT&T
AND COMCAST HOME SPEEDS WHICH IS
25 MEGA BITES, MAYBE 5, MAYBE
50, MAYBE 75 MEGA BITES 75 MEGABYTES UP AND
DOWN.
DIGITAL FIBER ALLOWS YOU TO GET
1,000 MEGA BYTES UP AND DOWN.
>> THEY EXTENDED THE DATE UNTIL
JANUARY 31st TO BETTER DEVELOP
OUTREACH TO LOW-INCOME AREAS.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
HOLDEN AB ABSHIER.
>> AND YOU MAY HAVE A HARD TIME
FINDING A CHRISTMAS TREE THIS
YEAR.
THAT'S DUE TO CLIMATE AND
SHIPPING ISSUES.
>> THIS TREE FARM PRESIDENT SAYS
THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND DROUGHTS
HAVE BEEN TAKE TAKING A TOLL ON THE
INDUSTRY.
IF YOU HAVE TWO YEARS OF DROUGHT
IN A ROW, YOU WILL HAVE DECREASE
OF FOR YEARS.
GROWING FRASIER FIRS HAS BEEN
DIFFICULT TO GROW IN INDIANA
BECAUSE OF WARM WEATHER.
AND SPRUCE TREES TREES HAVE A FUNGUS.
>> IF YOU CUT A ROSE AND YOU
WANT TO USE IT A MONTH FROM NOW.
THE TRUES CAN'T HOLD THE
MOISTURE THAT LONG.
>> THEY HAVE TO COME FROM PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE STABLE
WEATHER CONDITIONS, MAKING IT
EXPENSIVE FOR FARMERS TO GET
THEM SHIPS AND DRIVING SELLING
PRICES UP.
IT TAKES 7 TO 9 YEARS TO GROW
THE TREES AND KEEPING THEM BUSY
MONTHS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON
STARTS.
>> PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ONLY
WORK AT CHRISTMAS, BUT WE ARE
WORKING ALL YEAR LONG.
WE HAVE TO TRIM EVERY TREE,
EVERY YEAR.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT MOWED, TO
KEEP THE DISEASE AND THE FUNGUS
DOWN.
>> IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO
TAKE OUT OF THIS SHORTAGE.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
NICOLE QUIMBO.
>> OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT
WTIUNEWS.ORG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY: