>>> "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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