>> "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: