>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
>>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK," ON INDIANA
UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS, GRADUATE
WORKERS ARE STRIKING.
WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR
THE UNIVERSITY AND THE GRAD
STUDENTS TO COME TO TERMS?
THE LATEST JUST AHEAD.
>>> A FORMER ARMY SERGEANT
FROM INDIANA IS HELPING WITH
THE REFUGEE CRISIS UNFOLDING
IN UKRAINE.
COMING UP, LAUREN BOOKMYER
JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS
WHIRL WIND EXPERIENCE.
>> THEY HAVE NOTHING.
>> REMOTE WORK IS SHOWING IT
HAS STAYING POWER.
>> WITH 2.1% UNEMPLOYMENT,
IT'S HARD TO OPEN A BUSINESS
THAT NEEDS A THOUSAND
EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WHERE ARE
YOU GOING TO FIND THE PEOPLE?
COMING UP CORK, COULD ATTRACTING
REMOTE WORKERS BE THE WAY TO
REVIVE SOME INDIANA
COMMUNITIES?
THAT AND THE HEADLINES RIGHT
NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
♪
>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
I'M JOE HREN.
WELL, GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS
AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY
BLOOMINGTON'S CAMPUS ARE ON
STRIKE, DEMANDING THE SCHOOL
RECOGNIZE THEM AS A UNION, BUT
AS INDIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING'S JUSTIN HICKS
REPORTS, THE SCHOOL HAS NO
INTENTION OF BARGAINING WITH
THE GROUP AND HAS NO LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO DO SO.
>> WHAT KIND OF POWER?
>> UNION POWER!
>> THE INDIANA GRADUATE
WORKERS COALITION, UNITED
ELECTRICAL WORKERS WENT ON
STRIKE ON WEDNESDAY, DEMANDING
THE SCHOOL RECOGNIZE THEM AS A
UNION.
THEY SAY WITH RECOGNITION,
GRADUATE WORKERS COULD BETTER
BARGAIN FOR AN END TO AN
ANNUAL $700 STUDENT FEE AND
BETTER WAGES.
>> WHAT LOVES I.U.?
>> WE LOVE I.U.!
>> THE STRIKE COMES AFTER I.U.
DENIED A PETITION FROM ROUGHLY
1600 GRADUATE WORKERS EARLIER
THIS YEAR, ASKING THE SCHOOL
RECOGNIZE THE UNION AND HOLD
AN ELECTION PER ITS POLICY FOR
STAFF.
THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THAT'S
BECAUSE THE GRADUATE STUDENTS,
WHO GRADE PAPERS, TEACH
CLASSES AND CONDUCT RESEARCH,
AREN'T REALLY EMPLOYEES.
STUDENTS DISAGREE WITH THAT
CHARACTERIZATION.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> A UNION!
>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> NOW!
>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE W-2s.
WE DO LABOR.
WE HAVE OUR OFFICIAL PAPERWORK
SAYS WE ARE, YOU KNOW, .375
PART-TIME WORKERS BUT THE
ADMINISTRATION SAYS WE'RE
STUDENTS FIRST.
>> IN RECENT YEARS, THE NUMBER
OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES HAVE
RECOGNIZED GRADUATE STUDENT
WORKER UNIONS, BUT AS A PUBLIC
EMPLOYER, INDIANA ISN'T
LEGALLY REQUIRED TO RECOGNIZE
THE UNION UNDER STATE LAW.
STRIKING GRADUATE WORKERS
COULD BE FIRED WITH NO
REPERCUSSIONS OR EVEN FINED BY
A COURT.
>> IT'S ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO GO
ON STRIKE.
THE ONLY RIGHT YOU POSSESS IS
A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT UNDER
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION TO
BELONG TO A UNION.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO
BARGAIN OR FILE A GRIEVANCE.
IT'S THE RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION.
>> HERE WE ARE UNDER GRADS AND
GRAD STUDENTS UNITED.
I'M SAYING WE ARE MAKING OUR
DEMANDS PRETTY CLEAR, AREN'T
WE?
>> CURRENTLY INDIANA
UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON
VOLUNTARILY RECOGNIZES TWO
UNIONS, ONE FOR CUSTODIANS AND
ANOTHER FOR CLERICAL STAFF.
WITH ROUGHLY 2500 STUDENT
ACADEMIC APONTEES ON CAMPUS,
IT COULD EASILY BECOME THE
LARGEST BARGAINING UNIT IF
RECOGNIZED.
THE GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS
SAY THEY WILL STRIKE FOR AT
LEAST A WEEK, BUT COULD EXTEND
IT IF THE MAJORITY OF THE
UNION VOTE IN FAVOR.
MEANWHILE STUDENTS AND FACULTY
GROUPS AT I. U. AND UNIONS
ACROSS THE STATE HAVE VOICED
THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE STRIKE.
FOR INDIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING, I'M JUSTIN
HICKS.
>>> AND MY COLLEAGUE JUSTIN
HICKS JOINS US NOW.
SO JUSTIN, WHAT MAKES A PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY DIFFERENT FROM A
PRIVATE SCHOOL WHEN IT COMES
TO THESE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS?
>> YES, SO IT BOILS DOWN TO
LABOR LAW.
SO PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OR
PRIVATE EMPLOYERS ARE
THEREFORE GOVERNED BY FEDERAL
LABOR LAW THROUGH THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.
THEY HAVE RULES THAT SAY
ANYONE CAN UNIONIZE, PRIVATE
EMPLOYEES CAN UNIONIZE AND
THEY CAN TAKE A VOTE.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
THAT THE BUSINESS HAS TO SORT
OF LISTEN TO THEM AND
NEGOTIATE WITH THEM, BUT IT
GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO BE
RECOGNIZED BY THE NLRB AS A
UNION.
THE PUBLIC ENTITIES, NLRB
DOESN'T TOUCH THEM AND INDIANA
DOESN'T GIVE MANY PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS
OF FIREFIGHTERS AND TEACHERS,
THINGS LIKE THAT, IT DOESN'T
GIVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES THE
RIGHT TO UNIONIZE AND TO BE
RECOGNIZED.
SO THEY CAN BE VOLUNTARILY
RECOGNIZED LIKE I.U.
VOLUNTARILY RECOGNIZED TWO
UNIONS ALREADY, HOWEVER, THEY
DO NOT HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THEM
UNDER INDIANA LAW.
>> JUSTIN, ARE THERE
SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES AT OTHER
UNIVERSITIES?
DO THESE STUDENTS HAVE A
ROADMAP FORWARD?
>> YES, SO RIGHT NOW,
ACTUALLY, PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES
HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GRADUATE
STUDENTS UNIONIZING.
RECENTLY, M.I.T. THE GRADUATE
STUDENTS UNIONIZED.
AND WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS AT
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, ALSO A
PRIVATE UNIVERSITY.
SUCCESSES ARE ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE LOOKING
TO UNION.
THEY ARE HAVING MORE SUCCESS
AT PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES THAN
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES SO FAR.
>> JUSTIN, JUST UNDER 30
SECONDS REALLY QUICK IF I.U.
IS SUCCESSFUL KIND OF THE
OPPOSITE, SO WHAT IMPACT COULD
THAT HAVE ON OTHER CAMPUSES IN
INDIANA?
>> YES, SO OTHER -- I CAN
IMAGINE OTHER PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENTS
LOOKING TO UNIONIZE IF THEY
ARE SUCCESSFUL AT I.U.
WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS AT
PURDUE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN
THIS AND MAY CONSIDER IT AS
WELL.
>> JUSTIN, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> OF COURSE.
THANK YOU.
>>> WELL, AS WORK EVOLVES
AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS, IT'S
BECOMING CLEAR THAT FOR MANY
REMOTE WORK IS HERE TO STAY.
BROCK TURNER HAS MORE ON HOW
SOME COMMUNITIES ARE HOPING TO
ATTRACT THOSE WORKERS AND
THEIR HIGHER THAN AVERAGE
SALARIES TO INDIANA.
>> FOR DOUG AND CASEY WALTZ
MOVING TO GREENSBURG WAS AN
EASY DECISION.
SHE HAS FAMILY HERE, AND MOVED
TOO HER GRANDMOTHER'S
LONG-TIME HOME.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE
PROBABLY GOING TO RELOCATE TO
GREENSBURG ANYWAY, BUT
RECEIVING A $5,000 STIPEND,
FREE COWORKING SPACE
MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER PERKS
MADE THIS DECISION EASIER.
>> AND I JUST REALLY WANTED TO
BE CLOSER TO MY FAMILY.
I WANTED TO BE CLOSER TO MY
GRANDMA AT THE TIME.
SO THAT WAS PART OF IT.
WE WANTED TO BE BACK IN INDY
FOR MY JOB.
>> THEY ARE ONE OF TWO NEW
COUPLES WOULD RECENTLY
RELOCATED TO GREENSBURG AS
PART OF THE MAKE MY MOVE
CAMPAIGN.
THAT PROGRAM IS THE BRAIN
CHILD OF TMAP AN INDIANAPOLIS
COMMUNITY THAT HELPS
COMMUNITIES PERSUADE REMOTE
WORKERS TO RELOCATE.
THE COMPANY IS TRYING TO
ATTRACT SOME OF THE ESTIMATED
40 MILLION REMOTE WORKERS.
OVER HALF OF WHOM ARE OPEN TO
MOVING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS.
CASEY'S HUSBAND DOUG CERTAINLY
FITS THE MOLD.
>> SO IF YOU BUY SOMETHING ON
AMAZON, ARE YOU GETTING THE
RIGHT THING?
ARE YOU GETTING TOO MANY?
ARE YOU GETTING TOO LESS?
STUFF LIKE THAT.
I WORK ON BIG GLOBAL PROJECTS
TO HELP IMPROVE ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT PROCESSES AND
MECHANISMS.
>> THE COUPLE MOVED TO
GREENSBURG A COUPLE MONTHS
AGO.
THE WALTZES HAVE PURCHASED
RENTAL PROPERTIES AND EYEING
DOWNTOWN STOREFRONTS FOR A
RESTAURANT AND CASEY HAS TOYED
WITH THE IDEA OF OPENING A
PRESCHOOL.
THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE TYPES OF
PEOPLE THAT GREENSBURG MAYOR
JOSHUA MARSH IS HOPING TO
ATTRACT.
>> HOW CAN WE BE A PLACE THAT
THEY WANT TO LIVE AND BE A
PART OF.
THAT ALLOWS US TO ATTRACT
OTHER EMPLOYERS WITH 2.1%
UNEMPLOYMENT, IT'S DIFFICULT
TO OPEN A BUSINESS THAT NEEDS
1,000 EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WHERE
ARE YOU GOING TO INDIANA
PUBLIC TOO THE PEOPLE?
>> MARSH SAYS HE AND CITY
LEADERS ARE RECRUITING
INDIVIDUALS MAKING AT LEAST
$80,000 PER YEAR, WELL ABOVE
GREENSBURG MEDIAN INCOME OF
$55,000.
ON THE SURFACE THAT MIGHT
SOUND PRODUCTIVE BUT SOME
ARGUE SUCH TACTICS COULD
EXACERBATE EXISTING HOUSING
SHORTAGES A PROBLEM THAT MARSH
KNOWS WELL.
>> WE LEEK A LOT OF RURAL
COMMUNITIES IN INDIANA ARE
EXPERIENCING A HOUSING
SHORTAGE AND SO OUR DEMAND FOR
HOUSES ARE HIGH AND OUR STOCK
IS LOW.
>> EVAN HOCK WHO IS ONE OF
MAKE MY MOVE'S COFOUNDERS
ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHALLENGES.
>> THERE WILL BE SOME MARKET
IMBALANCES AS NEW PEOPLE COME
IN.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME CASES WHERE,
YOU KNOW, HOUSING HAS BEEN A
PROBLEM IN THE VERY NEAR TERM
BUT WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT NEW
RESIDENTS THEY OFTEN WILL BUY
AND BUILD NEW HOUSES.
SO A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE
THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A
MECHANISM TO GET NEW HOUSING
STOCK.
NOT -- NOT NECESSARILY THESE
PEOPLE WOULD CONSUME ALL THE
EXISTING STOCK.
>> BUT HE BELIEVES THE
LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR
COMMUNITIES ARE WORTH THE
INITIAL INVESTMENT.
>> HISTORICALLY, YOU KNOW,
COMMUNITIES SPEND ABOUT
$10,000 PER JOB TO BRING TO A
REGION AND THIS IS A VERY
EFFICIENTLY WAY TO BRING
INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR JOB.
>> AN HOUR WEST OF GREENSBURG,
THE STORY IS THE SAME IN
BLOOMINGTON.
THE COMMUNITY HAS RECENTLY
WELCOMED 14 REMOTE WORKERS,
HIGHER THAN ITS INITIAL GOAL.
>> INITIALLY WE WANTED TO
RECRUIT TEN FOLKS HERE.
AND WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO GET
MAYBE 100 APPLICATIONS.
WE RECEIVED ALMOST 1,000
APPLICATIONS.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN FROM ALL
PARTS OF THE U.S. AND ALL
PARTS THE WORLD.
I THINK WE ARE UP TO MAYBE 40
OR SO STATES, AND MAYBE 20 OR
SO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
>> BUT THE SECRET IS GETTING
OUT.
AS A GROWING NUMBER OF INDIANA
COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY SIGN ON TO THE
PLATFORM, COMPETITION BECOMES
EVEN GREATER.
HOCK EXPECTS INCENTIVES TO
FOLLOW.
>> THE COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE
TO GET CREATIVE.
HOW DO WE DIFFERENTIATE EVEN
AS COMPETITION HEATS UP?
THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
WAYS TO DO THAT.
WE EXPECT THAT THE INCENTIVES
WILL GET RICHER AS THE
COMMUNITIES ARE REALLY, YOU
KNOW, VYING FOR THE TALENT.
>> THAT'S AWHY BALL STATE
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR MICHAEL
HICKS BELIEVES SOME
COMMUNITIES WOULD BE BETTER
OFF INVESTING IN AREAS THAT
WOULD ATTRACT AND RETAIN
RESIDENTS, RATHER THAN
MARKETING.
>> PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW
GRADUATE WORKERS THINGS ARE.
-- PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD
OUR THINGS ARE, WE NEED TO
MARKET IT.
>> HICKS SAYS HIS RESEARCH
CONFIRMS ALL OF INDIANA COULD
BENEFIT FROM INCREASED
EDUCATION SPENDING.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
STATEHOOD, EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT NUMBERS ARE
TRENDING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
>> IF YOU HAVE A PRODUCT THAT
IS BELOW AVERAGE QUALITY, DO
YOU MARKET IT MORE OR DO YOU
IMPROVE THE QUALITY?
OUR CHOICE TOO OFTEN IS MARKET
IT MORE INSTEAD OF IMPROVING
THE QUALITY.
THAT'S CATCHING UP TO INDIANA.
IT'S CATCHING UP TO INDIANA IN
WAYS THAT REALLY CHALLENGE THE
CAPACITY OF OUR ECONOMY TO
GROW IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DECADES.
>> BUT THOSE AREN'T DINNER
TABLE CONVERSATIONS BACK IN
GREENSBURG.
THE WALTZES ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO ENGAGING IN THEIR
NEW COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY IS A
BLACK TIE GALA WITH TICKETS
PROVIDED BY THE MAKE MY MOVE
PACKAGE WHICH HELPED BRING
THEM HERE.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
BROCK TURNER.
>>> IN 2020, THE KILLINGS OF
SEVERAL BLACK PEOPLE CREATED A
NATIONAL MOVEMENT AROUND
RACIAL INJUSTICE.
AND NOW A GROUP OF SCHOLARS
WANTS TO LOOK AT THE RACIAL
WEALTH GAP.
AS KAYAN TERRA EXPLAINS A
DIGITAL TIMELINE EX PLAINS HOW
RACISM OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS
LEADS TO INCOME DISPARITIES
THAT STILL LAST TODAY.
>> THE DIGITAL RESOURCE
DETAILS EXPERIENCES OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS IN ACQUIRING AND
LOSING LAND AND COMMUNITIES
OBTAINED AND CREATED TO
ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.
THIS INDIANA LIBRARIAN
CONCEIVED THE COLLECTION.
SHE WANTS THE DIGITAL RESOURCE
TO PEOPLE WITH VERIFIED
RESOURCES.
>> IT EXPLORES HOW THE
COMMUNITIES WERE ESTABLISHED
BUT THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH
THEY WERE EVENTUALLY
DESTROYED, SOME BY OUTRIGHT
VIOLENCE, AND SOME BY
GOVERNMENT POLICY, SOME BY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
>> SHE SAYS THE COLLECTION
ALSO AS AN INDIANA SPOTLIGHT,
NOTING THE DESTRUCTION OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
IN THE STATE.
THIS DIGITAL COLLECTION SHOWS
THE BREADTH AND THE DEPTH OF
U.S. HISTORY, SAYS DELIST
HOLIDAY, THE MULTICULTURAL
OUTREACH PRIMARYIAN FOR THE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANS AND IT
THE HEAD OF THE BLACK CULTAL
CENTRAL LIBRARY.
>> WE OUGHT TO BE VERY AWARE
OF WHERE WE LIVE, WHICH IS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES AND READ THEIR
HISTORIES AND LEARN THEIR
HISTORIES.
>> THE COLLECTION IS A
COLLABORATION AMONG THE
SCHOLARRY COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT, THE NEIL MARSHALL
BLACK CULTURAL CENTER LIBRARY,
THE LILLY LIBRARY AND THE
EDUCATION LIBRARY HERE AT
INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
I'M KAYAN TARA.
>>> 60% OF AMERICANS SAY
THERE'S TOO MANY INCOME
INEQUALITY, REGARDLESS IT HAS
PERSISTED AND EVEN INCREASED
THE DIFFERENCE IN HOUSEHOLD
INCOMES BETWEEN BLACK AND
WHITE AMERICANS IS NOW UP TO
ABOUT $33,000.
>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK," VOLUNTEERS ARE AT
THE HEART OF THE HUMANITARIAN
RESPONSE TO THE WAR IN
UKRAINE.
AHEAD, A LOCAL MAN SHARES HIS
STORY DELIVERING AID TO THOSE
FLEEING THE CRISIS.
AND IN THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES,
HOLDEN AB SHIRE WILL ABSHIER, WHEN YOU CAN
EXPECT YOUR AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER
REFUND FROM THE STATE.
>>> THESE STORIES AND MORE
RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
UNITED STATES IS CONTINUING TO
EXPAND ITS SUPPORT FOR
UKRAINE'S WAR EFFORT.
THE U.S. HAS DONATED MORE THAN
$2.5 BILLION IN WEAPONS AND
IT'S ALSO ISSUED WIDE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS AND CONTINUES TO
PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE
INFORMATION.
MORE THAN A QUARTER OF
UKRAINE'S POPULATION HAS FLED
SINCE RUSSIA INVADED THE
COUNTRY AT THE END OF
FEBRUARY.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE IN NEED
OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.
I SAT DOWN ON ZOOM WITH A
NORTHERN INDIANA MAN WHO JUST
RETURNED FROM HELPING AT
UKRAINE'S BORDER WITH POLAND.
LIKE MANY OF US, HE FELT
HELPLESS WATCHING THE INVASION
ON TV, AND WANTED TO DO MORE.
>> A U.S. ARMY VETERAN, A
CARPENTER, A POLICE OFFICER, A
TRADESMAN AND NOW A
HUMANITARIAN.
>> I HAVE JUST ALWAYS BEEN
SOMEONE WHO, I DON'T KNOW,
JUST KIND OF MAYBE LEAPS
BEFORE I LOOK PERHAPS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I GET AN IDEA
IN MY HEAD, I JUST GO WITH IT.
>> MUNSTER INDIANA RESIDENT,
LOREN, BOOKMYER SAYS IT CAME
FROM A LONG PHONE CALL WITH A
FRIEND HE MET WHEN STATIONED
IN GERMANY.
>> DURING THIS CONVERSATION, I
SAID, LET ME SEE IF I CAN
AFFORD A PLANE TICKET OVER TO
POLAND OR BUDAPEST AND, YOU
KNOW, THEN LET'S SEE WHAT WE
CAN DO.
>> BY THE NEXT DAY, HE CREATED
A NONPROFIT, A WEBSITE AND A
FACEBOOK PAGE AND MONEY
STARTED COMING IN.
>> OUR PRIMARY GOAL WAS TO GET
TO THE BORDER AND START
TALKING TO PEOPLE, FIND OUT,
YOU KNOW WHO WAS IN CHARGE,
WHAT THE NEEDS WERE AND HOW WE
COULD START PUTTING OUR MONEY
TO USE.
>> THEY STARTED IN SLOVAKIA
AND WITHIN 24 HOURS, THEY WERE
SITTING WITH THE MAYOR.
>> THEY SAID WE HAVE A NEED
FOR LAUNDRY SERVICES.
WE CAN PURCHASE WASHING
MACHINES AND DRYERS AND SET UP
A LAUNDRY SERVICE.
>> HIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT,
HUMANKIND FUND HAS RAISED MORE
THAN $26,000.
AND BOOKMYER SAYS EVERY CREPT
GOES TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
>> WITH US, NOBODY INVOLVED
GETS A SALARY.
WE -- THE VOLUNTEERS, ALL OF
US WHO WENT OVER THERE, THE
INITIAL FOUR OF US, YOU KNOW,
WE PAID FOR OUR OWN
TRANSPORTATION.
WE PAID FOR OUR OWN FOOD.
>> HE SAYS THE FUNDS ARE
HELPING TO PROVIDE 400 BEDS TO
REFUGEES IF POLAND AND
SLOVAKIA.
>> THEY HAVE NOTHING.
THEY HAVE WHATEVER THEY COULD,
YOU KNOW, RUN OUT OF THEIR
HOUSE WITH.
YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF
BACKPACKS AND USUALLY WHATEVER
MINIMAL SUPPLIES THEY COULD
GRAB FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
>> BOOKMYER SAYS WHAT KEEPS
HIM GOING IS THE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND APPROACH.
HE SAYS THAT GIVES HIM AN
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO BEING
AWARE OF THE UKRAINIAN NEEDS.
>> PEOPLE OF ALL COUNTRIES,
FROM EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, SO
CONCERNED AND WILLING TO, YOU
KNOW, GIVE AND HELP THAT IT
DOES GIVE YOU HOPE.
IT GIVES YOU RENEWED FAITH IN
MANKIND.
>> HE SAYS HE HOPES TO RETURN
SOON FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF AID
AND SEE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOW HIS EXTENDED
FAMILY.
>> MAYBE NEXT TIME MY WIFE
WILL GIVE ME PERMISSION TO
ACTUALLY HELP DELIVER SOME OF
THESE ITEMS INTO UKRAINE, BUT
WE'LL SEE.
>> FOR INDIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING I'M JOE HREN.
>> BOOKMYER SAYS THE
ORGANIZATION SENT $5,000 TO
BUY PROPANE TANKS FOR COOKING
AND BOILING WATERS AND OTHER
NECESSARY SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE.
HE PLANS TO KEEP POSTING
UPDATES TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE
AS THEY COME IN.
>>> NOW FOR HEADLINES, WE GO
OVER TO HOLDEN ABSHIER WHO HAS
THE LATEST ON THIS WEEK'S TOP
STORIES.
HI, HOLDEN.
>> THANKS, JOE.
COULD YOU RECEIVE YOUR
TAXPAYER REFUND FROM THE STATE
AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH.
MORE THAN 4 MILLION HOOSIERS
ARE GETTING THE $125 REFUND.
THIS IS SEPARATE FROM ANY
STANDARD REFUND YOU MIGHT GET
WHILE FILING YOUR TAXES.
IF YOU FILED YOUR STATE INCOME
TAX RETURN BY APRIL 18th,
AND INCLUDED YOUR BANKING
INFORMATION FOR DIRECT
DEPOSIT, THAT'S HOW YOU WILL
GET YOUR $125.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT
INFORMATION FILED WITH THE
STATE, IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO
GET YOUR TAXPAYER REFUND.
PAPER CHECKS WILL START GOING
OUT IN LATE JULY.
THE STATE'S GOAL IS TO GET
EVERYONE THEIR $125 BY
SEPTEMBER 1st.
COVID CASES ARE CONTINUING
THEIR DECLINE, BUT INDIANA
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE KEEPING
AN EYE ON THE SUBVARIANT OF
THE NEW SUBVARIANT AB.2.
THE NEW VARIANT HASN'T BEEN
FOUND IN INDIANA YET.
>> BUT WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE
EYE ON THAT, BECAUSE WITH
PEOPLE NOW TRAVELING MORE, YOU
KNOW, FOR WORK AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES IN AND OUT OF THE
STATE, WE MAY START TO SEE
SOME INCREASES.
>> CURRENTLY THOSE NUMBERS ARE
PROMISING.
THERE ARE ABOUT 90% SINCE THEY
PEAKED IN MID-JANUARY AT ABOUT
3500.
>>> RELATIVES OF FIVE OF THE
EIGHT PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOT AND
KILLED LAST YEAR AT AN
INDIANAPOLIS FEDEX WAREHOUSE
ARE SUING THE SHIPPING GIANT
AND A SECURITY COMPANY.
IN THE SUIT THEY ACCUSE THE
COMPANIES OF NEGLIGENCE AND
FAILING TO ENSURE THAT THE
WORKPLACE WAS SAFE.
THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT
ALLEGATIONS THAT THE GUNMAN,
BRANDON SCOTT HOEHL HAD MENTAL
ILLNESS.
HE WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF
THE FEDEX FACILITY.
FEDEX SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT
IT WAS AWARE OF THE LAWSUIT
AND REVIEWING THE ALLEGATIONS.
>>> TERRE HAUTE'S $35 MILLION
CONVENTION CENTER IS OPEN FOR
BUSINESS AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF
PLANNING.
MORE THAN 60 EVENTS ARE BOOKED
FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS
WHILE THE SCHEDULE RAMPS UP
WITH MORE LONG-TERM BUSINESS.
>> I THINK MORE MEETING
PLANNERS WILL LOOK AT SMALLER
CITIES BECAUSE WE ARE MORE
AFFORDABLE.
YOU KNOW?
THE BUSINESS THAT WE PUT HERE
ISN'T THE SAME BUSINESS THAT'S
GOING TO GO IN THE
INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION
CENTER.
>> SHE SAYS SHE HOPES THE NEW
THAT SILLITYFACILITIES AND DRAWS HOTELS
AND PARKING GARAGES WITHIN
WALKING DISTANCE.
THEY CAN HOST UP TO 1,000
PEOPLE OR SEAT 700 FOR A
FORMAL DINNER.
LARRY BIRD MUSEUM IS UNDER
CONSTRUCTION WITH PLANS TO
OPEN NEXT YEAR.
>>> INDIANA OFFICIALS SAY
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
CREATED BY THE BIDEN
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL LAST YEAR
WILL HELP ADD TO THE STATE'S
ALREADY ROBUST ROAD FUNDING
PLANS.
INDIANA PASSED ITS OWN
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IN 2017.
BY RAISING GAS TAXES AND B & V
FEES, THE STATE ESTABLISHED A
20-YEAR FULLY FUNDED ROAD
CONSTRUCTION PLAN.
GOVERNOR ERR HOLCOMB ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS IT
WILL DELIVER BILLIONS TO THE
STATE STARTING THIS YEAR.
AND WHILE INFLATION IS DRIVING
UP COSTS, HIGHER GAS PRICES
MEANS THE MORE REVENUE GOING
TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
>>> INDIANA'S SENIOR SENATOR
IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST RECENT
ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM ON
INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S
BLOOMINGTON CAMPUS.
SENATOR TODD YOUNG MET WITH
STUDENTS THIS WEEK AT THE HAD
HILLEL JEWISH CENTER.
THEY TORE DOWN SACRED JEWISH
SYMBOLS AND POSTED
ANTI-SEMITIC MESSAGES ON
STUDENT FORUMS.
>> I WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE
OF SOLIDARITY TOT PEOPLE
HERE -- TO THE PEOPLE HERE BUT
IMPORTANTLY TO THE FOLKS BACK
HOME SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT
INDIANA, ALL COMMUNITIES
SHOULD BE WELCOMING PLACES.
>> YOUNG'S VISIT WAS PART OF
HIS REELECTION TOUR IN
SOUTHERN INDIANA.
HE HAS HELD THAT SENATE SEAT
SINCE 2017.
>>> AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC,
ELECTRICITY DECISIONAL FIRST
NATIONS ANNUAL POW-WOW RETURNS
TO THE I.U. CAMPUS.
THE DAY'S EVENTS INCLUDED
SOCIAL DANCES, DRUM GROUP
PERFORMANCES AND DISPLAYS OF
TRADITIONAL REGALIA FROM
INDIGENOUS TRIBES FROM AS
COULD THE U.S. AND CANADA.
-- FROM ACROSS THE U.S. AND
CANADA.
>> THE CEREMONIES ARE SUCH A
BIG, IMPORTANT PART TO OUR
CULTURE.
SO, LIKE, NOT HAVING THAT FOR
A FEW YEARS AND THE FACT THAT
A LOT OF NATIVE COMMUNITIES
REALLY GOT IMPACTED BY
COVID-19.
>> TRADITIONAL POW-WOWS,
GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE GATHERED
RENEW THEIR FRIENDSHIP, AND
CELEBRATE THEIR IDENTITY
THROUGH SINGING AND DANCING.
PARTICIPANTS CAME FROM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY FOR THIS
CELEBRATION.
>>> WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME
WE HAVE FOR HEADLINES THIS
WEEK AND WE'LL SEND IT BACK
OVER TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, HOLDEN THANK
YOU.
>>> LOCAL AND FEDERAL
OFFICIALS GATHERED AT THE
INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT TO UNVEIL A TRAVELING
MURAL EXHIBIT.
IT DETAILS AFGHAN REFUGEE
TEAMS AND EXPERIENCES AT CAMP
ATTERBURY.
IT LOOKS A BIT LIKE AN
ABSTRACT CLOCK.
IT REPRESENTS WAITING EVAC WAITING EVACUEES
EXPERIENCED.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ANDRE
CARSON ATTENDED THE EVENT.
HE SAYS THE EXHIBIT SERVES AS
A REMINDER OF HOOSIER
HOSPITALITY AND AMERICA'S
STRENGTH AND DIVERSITY.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTRY
SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
OF ALL BACKGROUNDS CAN ESCAPE
OPPRESSION AND BEGIN A NEW
LIFE.
YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE
LATEST CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN
STORY.
>>> THE EXHIBIT WILL BE AT THE
AIRPORT UNTIL MAY, WHEN IT
WILL BEGIN TRAVELING THE
STATE.
THEN THE PLAN IS TO SEND IT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WELL, THAT'S THE END OF THIS
PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK
CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER
THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
♪
>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE
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