>>> "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.
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