>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," MONROE COUNTY VOTERS ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE ANOTHER SCHOOL REFERENDUM THIS ELECTION.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ATTEST TO US THAT A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION CURRENTLY HAS COSTS, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONTRADICTION IN THAT.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE FEW DECISIONS FOR VOTERS TO MAKE ON A BOLL LOT OF -- BALLOT OF UNCONTESTED RACES.

>>> AFTER SITTING IDLE DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE BROWN COUNTY IS GOING TO BE ACTIVE.

>> IT WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE SIX FIGURES IF NOT A SMIDGE HIGHER.

>> AHEAD HOW THAT MONEY IS FUNNELED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND WE GET THE LATEST ON THE ONGOING LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE ANNEXATION OF LAND BY THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

WE'LL HAVE THOSE STORIES PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DRAMA IN THIS YEAR'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BLOOMINGTON WITH JUST ONE CONTESTED RACE, BUT FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT ELECTION, MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO APPROVE A REFERENDUM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CORPORATION.

THE REFERENDUM WOULD GO PARTLY TO COVERING THE COST OF TESTS AND CERTIFICATIONS NEEDED IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSES SUCH AS NURSING AND WELDING.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ATTEST TO US THAT A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION CURRENTLY HAS COSTS, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONTRADICTION IN THAT.

>> THE REFERENDUM ALSO WOULD EXPAND AND SUBSIDIZE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING.

FAMILIES AT THE 200% POVERTY LEVEL OR BELOW WITH A 3-YEAR-OLD WOULD GET TWO YEARS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COSTS COVERED.

>> THE LOW-INCOME THRESHOLD FOR EXISTING STATE AND FEDERALLY PROVIDED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS WEREN'T NECESSARILY REACHING ALL THE FAMILIES IT NEEDED TO REACH.

>> THE REFERENDUM ASKS COUNTY RESIDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR TAX RATE ON ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE BY 8.5 CENTS.

THAT WOULD END UP BEING $50 ON A HOME VALUED AT $250,000 FOR NEXT YEAR.

>>> LOCAL OFFICIALS, ELECTION WORKERS AND CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN BUSY PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION BUT AS BENTE BOUTHIER REPORTS, THESE OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS HISTORICALLY SEE LOWER PARTICIPATION RATES.

>> 11 MUNICIPAL POSITIONS POSITIONS AND RUN REFERENDUM ARE ON THE BALLOT.

OF THOSE, ONLY ONE RACE IS CONTESTED.

TRANT HEINISCH IS RUNNING FOR CITY DISTRICT 3, AND IS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN.

>> YOU END UP WITH ONE INSTITUTION DOMINATING EVERYTHING, IT BECOMES REFLECTIVE OF THAT INSTITUTION.

>> HEINISCH INTERNED FOR CONGRESSMAN TODD YOUNG.

HE STUDIED POLITICAL SCIENCE IN SCHOOL.

HE HAS SOME IDEAS FOR LOCAL POLICIES BUT WANTS TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR NEEDS.

>> I'M GOING TO SAND BY EVERYTHING I SAY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BUT NEW ISSUES I MAY NOT HAVE EVEN THOUGHT OF ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED TOO.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M HEARING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS SO THAT I CAN GET THOSE NEW NEEDS AS THEY COME UP ADDRESSED.

>> HE HOPES BRINGING A NEW OPTION TO THE TABLE WILL INCREASE VOTER ENGAGEMENT.

DAVID HENRY IS ON THE HON ROW COUNTY -- MONROE COUNTY ELECTION BOARD AND IS CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HE AGREES A CONTEST OF IDEAS IS IMPORTANT.

>> WHILE SOME DISTRICTS IN TOWN HAVE HAD THE SAME REPRESENTATIVE FOR A DECADE OR MORE, DAVE RALO COMES NO MIND.

DISTRICT 3 HAS HAD FOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE PAST 16 YORES.

>> HENRY FEELS OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE OF HIGH DEMOCRATIC VOTER TURNOUT IN THIS YEAR'S PRIMARY, THOUGH THAT'S STILL JUST ABOUT 20% OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

THIS YEAR, 513 SEATS IN FAN ARE LIST -- IN INDIANA ARE LISTED AS NO ELECTION, MEANING THEY RAN UNOPPOSED AND LOCAL ELECTION BOARDS DECIDED NOT TO HOLD ELECTIONS FOR THOSE SEATS.

THOSE NOMINEES WOULD BE ELECTED.

THAT INCLUDES STINESVILLE AND HEELLETSVILLE WHERE THERE WERE NO CONTESTED RACES OF THE 109 MAYORAL RACES, 44 ARE UNOPPOSED.

HENRY SAYS THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO AMERICAN'S POLITICALLY BECOMING MORE POLARIZED WHICH STARTED IN THE 1970s.

>> THAT'S SORTING THAT'S GOING ON WHERE COUNTIES ARE GETTING EITHER REDDER OR BLUER INSTEAD OF PURPLER.

MONROE COUNTY IS MIRROR IMAGE OF NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WHERE YOU SEE A REPUBLICAN TURNOUT VERSUS A DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT.

>> AS OF TUESDAY, FEWER THAN 300 PEOPLE HAD VOTED IN MONROE COUNTY.

REGARDLESS OF TURNOUT, LEAD WORKERS START PREPARING ABOUT SIX WEEKS BEFORE EARLY VOTING BEGINS.

TALKING LAYOUT WITH THE ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR, RECRUITING WORKERS AND ONBOARDING PEOPLE TO WORK EARLY VOTING, JUST TO NAME A FEW TASKS.

>> IF YOU DIDN'T MARK IT, THERE'S NO ISSUE.

IF YOU DO MARK IT, THEN WE'VE GOT TO SHOW UP.

>> WHETHER IT'S A MUNICIPAL ELECTION OR A NATIONAL ELECTION, WE STILL GET CONCERNED ABOUT DOES EVERYTHING MATCH?

HAS EVERYTHING BEEN DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ELECTION LAW?

>> YOUR STANDARD FLOW OF PEOPLE COMING OVER HERE, YOU ARE GOING TO GET IN A RHYTHM.

>> HOPI STOSBURG FOR CITY DISTRICT 3 SAYS IT FEELS WEIRD TO BE THE ONLY CONTESTED RACE ON THE BALLOT.

>> SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY FORGET THAT I'M IN A CONTESTED RACE AT THIS POINT AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO THINK ABOUT ANY ELECTION.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT CAMPAIGNING.

THEY ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS I'M HAVING TO THINK ABOUT.

THEY JUST -- THEY SKIPPED THIS STEP.

>> SHE AND HEINISCH ARE RUNNING IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, HAVING ELECTED FOUR DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LAST 16 YEARS.

BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

BLOOMINGTON'S OTHER FIVE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT SEATS, THE THREE AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL SPOTS, CLERK AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE KERRY THOMPSON ARE UNOPPOSED ON THE BALLOT.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BENTE BOUTHIER.

>>> WHILE THERE'S NO CHALLENGER IN THE BLOOMINGTON MAYOR, TERRE HAUTE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ELECTION MAYOR BENNETT FOR THE FIFTH TEAM.

AND BRANDAN SAKBUN.

THE 63-YEAR-OLD BENNETT HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM INDIANA WESLEYAN.

NOW SAKBUN, A 27-YEAR-OLD IS A GRADUATE OF I.

U.

'S KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND SERVED AS A U.S. ARMY RANGER.

HE DEFEATED PAT GOODWIN IN THE MAY PRIMARY WITH 54% OF THE VOTE.

I SAT DOWN WITH BOTH AND FIRST ASKED WHY THEY DESERVE YOUR VOTE.

>> SOME OF THE BASELINE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IS THE FACT THAT WE BALANCED THE BUDGET BACK IN 2017.

WE'VE HAD EIGHT STRAIGHT YEARS OF BALANCED BUDGETS.

WE ARE IN A REALLY GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION NOW.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROWTH THAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH NEW BUSINESS IS COMING TO THE COMMUNITY, NEW CONVENTION CENTER, NEW POLICE STATION.

JUST A VIRGINIA AVA VIITY -- JUST A VARIETY OF INVESTMENT.

WE'VE SEEN MORE GROWTH IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THAN IN THE LAST 50.

>> I'M NOT FOCUSED ON RELITIGATING PAST BUT MOVING TERRE HAUTE TO THE FUTURE WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE, ACCESS TO EDUCATION, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FIELDS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE GOT TO INVEST IN OURSELVES HERE IN TERRE HAUTE, IN THE PEOPLE, THROUGH HOUSING REVITALIZATION, SIDEWALKS, STREETS, REIMAGINED AND REALLY GROWING AND MODERNIZING OUR ECONOMY.

>> I NEXT ASKED, DOES EXPERIENCE MATTER?

BENNETT HAS 16 YEARS IN OFFICE AND SAYS THINGS ARE ON A ROLL AND WANTS TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM.

CHALLENGER SAKBUN SAYS EXPERIENCE COULD ALSO MEAN STATUS QUO AND IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> YOU KNOW WHEN THE TIME TO GO AWAY IS, I THINK.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THAT, OR THE VOTERS CAN ALWAYS TELL US, YOU KNOW, EVERY FOUR YEARS WHEN IT'S TIME FOR I CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO TERM LIMITS IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN INDIANA.

AND SO IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FROM THE BEGINNING, AND, YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MAYORS THAT SERVED A LOT LONGER THAN ME ACROSS THE STATE.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN HERE TOO LONG AT ALL.

WE'RE JUST REALLY RAMPING UP TO GET GREAT THINGS DONE.

WE HAD TO GET OUR FINANCES IN ORDER AND GET THROUGH COVID.

AND NOW WE'RE POSITIONED REALLY WELL.

NOW IS THE TIME NOT FOR CHANGE, BUT TO GET THESE THINGS DONE AND ROLL THESE THINGS OUT.

AND SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M RUNNING AGAIN IS BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S ALL THE HARD WORK WE'VE PUT INTO THAT, NOW IT'S TIME TO DELIVER.

>> I THINK EXPERIENCE SOMETIMES CAN BE LOOKED AT THROUGH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, CALLED ENTRENCHMENT.

WE HAVE DONE IT THIS WAY.

WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE MINDSET WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

WE GOT TO BRING NEW FOLKS TO THE TABLE, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW CAN GOVERNMENT BE MORE EFFICIENT.

HOW CAN WE GROW ON AND IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES SO THAT WAY WE MAXIMIZE THE TAX DOLLARS WE BRING IN FROM THE PEOPLE OF TERRE HAUTE.

I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN FINANCE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FINANCE.

SO I ALWAYS DO LOOK AT THE CITY BUDGET, THE FINANCE SIDE OF IT, VIEWING TERRE HAUTE AS A BALANCE SHEET.

HOW DO WE GROW OUR REVENUES, RIGHT, GROWING THAT POPULATION AND LIMIT OUR EXPENSES.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 16 YEARS, A MYRIAD OF COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT JUST PASSED US BY BUT LEFT US BY.

>> NEXT, WE GET INTO A COMMON ISSUE AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND NO DOUBT HERE, HOUSING.

HOW CAN CITIES DEVELOP MORE HOUSING UNITS WITH INCREASING COSTS AND WAGES NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.

>> WE'VE GOT A HOUSING PLAN THAT'S JUST RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED.

WE DID AN INVENTORY OF WEST CENTRAL INDIANA, BUT THEN DRILLED DOWN TO VIGO COUNTY AND TERRE HAUTE.

WE KNOW ROUGHLY IN THE CITY OF TERRE HAUTE WE NEED GENERALLY SPEAKING ABOUT 2,000 NEW HOUSEHOLDS, WHETHER THAT'S SINGLE FAMILY.

IT WILL BE A MIX OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES, DUPLEXES, MULTIUNIT, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, BUT WE NEED NEW HOUSES.

WE NEED NEW PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, AND SO JUST LAST WEEK, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED $5 MILLION TO GO INTO THE FUND TO BE ABLE TO HELP DEVELOPERS TO BUILD THESE HOMES.

THE COUNTY COMMITTED $5 MILLION.

WE'VE GOT $900,000 LEFT IN THE READI FUNDS FOR HOUSING AND SO I WOULD EXPECT NEXT SPRING, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A TREMENDOUS PUSH THEN TO GET THESE BUILDERS TO BUILD HOUSES AND DO THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> WE HAVE SOME OF THE OLDEST HOUSING STOCK IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

THAT'S NOT JUST BAD FROM A PHYSICAL EYE PERSPECTIVE, BUT, I MEAN, NOW WE ARE TALKING LEAD PAINT, IN THE GRASS, IN THE ROOFS, IN THE WALLS, AND REALLY, I WOULD LOOK TO USE A REDEVELOPMENT HOUSING DIRECTOR TO USE REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND INCOMING CASINO FUNDS TO CREATE 1,000 HOMES IN IS THOUSAND DAYS-TYPE MINDSET.

HOW ARE WE REBUILDING OUR VACANT LOTS, OUR CONDEMNED PROPERTIES AND DILAPIDATED PROPERTIES?

WELL, WITH THE RISE OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE COST TO CONNECT TO A SEWAGE LINE, TO ELECTRICITY, AGAIN THE BASICS, GOVERNMENT NOW HAS TO COVER SOME OF THOSE COSTS TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE FOR OUR LOCAL BUILDERS AND EVEN OUT-OF-TOWN BUILDERS TO WANT TO INVEST IN OUR CITY.

>> WE HAVE THE FULL INTERVIEWS WITH MORE QUESTIONS ONLINE AT WFIUNEWS.ORG.

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th.

>>> A BLOOMINGTON ART GALLERY IS DISPLAYING PAINTINGS BY AN INMATE ON DEATH ROW.

ETHAN SAND WEISS WAS THERE TO FIND WAS THERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST AND INMATE, YURI KADAMOV.

>> YURI KADAMOV IS A LITHUANIA ARTIST ON FEDERAL DEATH ROW IN TERRE HAUTE.

IT WAS "I WAS A PRISONER AND YOU CAME TO ME."

KADAMOV HAS BEEN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTECT FOR 22 YEARS.

>> BECAUSE HE'S A FOREIGN NATIONAL AND HIS FATHER IS A MUSLIM, HE WAS PUT IN EXTREME DOMESTIC PROTOCOLS WHERE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK OR TOUCH ANYONE.

WHEN HE WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK, HE HIS VOCAL CHORDS WERE PARALYZED.

>> I LOOK UP, I EXIST.

THAT PROVES THAT I'M A HUMAN BEING.

I STILL EXIST.

SO HIS WORK FOR HIM IS EXISTENTIAL IN THE MOST LITERAL WAY.

>> ALTHOUGH THEY CAN'T SEE EACH OTHER, KADAMOV TEACHES ART TO OTHER PRISONERS ON FEDERAL DEATH ROW.

AS AN INMATE, IT DEPENDS ON THE WHIMS OF THE PRISON.

>> NOW HE CAN HAVE LIKE ONE COLOR AT A TIME, OTHER THAN BLACK AND WHITE.

SO HE'S KIND OF FORCED INTO A LIMITED PALATE.

>> KADAMOV INCORPORATES ELEMENTS OF HIS CELL INTO HIS ART.

CHIPSOF THE PLASTER FROM THE WALLS AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND CLIPS OF LETTER FROM THE MAIL.

WITHOUT PRINT MAKING SUPPLIES CREATING A SINGLE GRAPHIC T-SHIRT REQUIRES DAYS OF LABOR.

>> I THINK HE SPENT ABOUT 50 HOURS ON EACH OF THESE T-SHIRTS.

SO IT'S AN ACT OF LOVE ON EACH OF THEM.

>> KADAMOV DESCRIBES IT ART AGAINST DEATH.

A PERSONAL AFFIRMATION OF LIFE AND POLITICAL STATEMENT AGAINST MURDER AND EXECUTION.

EVERY PIECE INCLUDES A REPRESENTATION OF A PIECE OF ROPE GIVEN TO YURI BY ANOTHER INMATE TO HANG HIMSELF.

>> HE CONSIDERED SHOULD I KILL MYSELF RIGHT NOW?

AND HE DECIDED, NO, I WILL USE THIS FOR LIFE AND NOT DEATH.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," THE BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER IS ON TRACK FOR ITS MOST PROFITABLE YEAR EVER!

BUT WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO?

AND THE LATEST IN THE ONGOING COURT BATTLE BY RESIDENTS TRYING TO KEEP FROM BEING ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY CALI LICHTER FOR THE HEAD LINES FROM THE AROUND THE AREA.

>> A COURT HOLD ON BLOOMINGTON ANNEXATION PROCEEDINGS FOR AREAS DESIGNATED 1A.

AND 1B.

WAS LIFTED ON THURSDAY.

IT CAN NOW GO TO TRIAL.

THE TRIAL HAD BEEN PUT ON HOLD DEPENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE CASE FILED BY THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON AGAINST THE STATE REGARDING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF A 2019 LAW ABOUT HOW REMONSTRANT WAIVERS WERE COUNTED.

IT WOULD WAIVE ANY DEFENSE REGARDING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY, THE 2019 LAW AND ANY APPEAL OF THE LOCAL CASE.

TRIAL HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 23rd.

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WANTS TO MAKE SEVERAL CHANGES TO ESTATE ROAD 45 ON BLOOMINGTON'S EAST SIDE.

THEY INCLUDE WIDENING STREET AND ADDING LEFT AND RIGHT TURN LANES, BIKE LANES AND SIDEWALKS ON THE ROAD FROM THE STATE ROAD 46 BYPASS, THE INTERSECTION OF PETE ELLIS DRIVE AND DISCOVERY PARK WAY.

IN-DOT WANTS TO REPLACE CURRENT TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND ADD MORE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN NOVEMBER 2024.

>>> THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS NOT GOING TO REINSTALL STOP SIGNS AT FOUR INTERSECTIONS ALONG 7th STREET, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

CITY COUNCILMEMBERS DECLINED TO VOTE ON OVERRIDING LAST WEEK'S VETO OF THE PLAN BY MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON.

THE SIGNS WERE REMOVED DURING INSTALLATION OF THE SEVEN LINE IN 2021.

>>> THE MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTED A $131 MILLION COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUDGET FOR 2024 TUESDAY NIGHT.

AS PART OF THE BUDGET, THE COUNCIL APPROVED 8.5% RAISES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS BASED ON THE INCREASED COST OF LIVING.

COUNCILMEMBER MARTI HAWK VOTED AGAINST GIVING RAISES TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> WE STARTED OUT HEARING FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, WELL, EVERYBODY CAN HAVE 8.5.

THEN WE HEARD, AT THAT VERY FIRST MEETING, OH, NO, WE'RE GOING TO BE WAY IN THE DEFICIT.

>> HAWK DID SUPPORT GIVING EMPLOYEES RAISES.

MOST COUNTY FUNDS WILL RECEIVE INCREMENTAL INCREASES NEXT YEAR.

>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PLANS TO CLEAN UP DEBRIS AT THE SITE OF A MASSIVE FIRE IN RICHMOND NEXT MONTH.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS THE FIRE AT THE FORMER PLASTICS RECYCLING BUSINESS IN APRIL DISPLACED MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE AND SENT HARMFUL SMOKE AND DEBRIS INTO THE AIR.

>> EPA ON-SITE COORDINATOR, JEFFREY WAWCZAK SAYS IT WILL CLEAN UP THE MATERIAL THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SCRAP METAL AND OTHER DEBRIS ON THE PROPERTY.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO WET IT DOWN TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE CONTAMINANT GO INTO THE AIR.

WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ASBESTOS IN THE BUILDING.

>> THE AGENCY LETTER R MOVED DE -- ALREADY REMOVED THE DID E BRIE THAT FELL IN PEOPLE'S YARDS, INCLUDING IN OHIO.

THIS IS EXPECTED TO COST $2.8 MILLION.

THAT MONEY WILL COME FROM FEDERAL TAXES UNTIL THE EPA CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE.

>> WE WILL START OUR CLEANUPS AND PURSUE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES WHILE WE'RE DOING THEM, AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF -- OF THE CLEANUP AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE ARE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> RICHMOND RESIDENTS HAVE NAMED THE FORMER OWNER OF MY WAY TRADING COMPANY IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, AS WELL AS THE CITY WHICH CURRENTLY OWNS PART OF THE PROPERTY.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN INDIANA ARE UP 17% OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF SPEEDING TICKETS AND WARNINGS IN INDIANA WENT DOWN 12% DURING THAT SAME TIME.

LAWMAKERS ARE TOLD IT'S NOT BECAUSE DRIVERS ARE SLOWING DOWN.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS ON THE ROAD TO ENFORCE THAT.

YOU CAN'T PULL EVERYBODY OVER.

AND SO IT'S THE CULTURAL SHIFT.

IT'S THAT UNDERSTANDING, THAT YOU KNOW, FASTER CARS EQUATE TO MORE FAY FATALITIES.

>> BESIDES SPEED, McDONALD SAYS IMPAIRED DRIVING IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF CRASHES AND DEATHS AND JOE, HE SAYS DRUG-IMPAIRS DRIVING NOW EXCEEDS ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVING.

>> CALI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER IS ON TRACK TO HAVE THE FIRST PROFITABLE YEAR.

SOME RESIDENTS WANT TO KNOW IF THE FUNDS WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY THAT THE VENUE RESIDES IN.

WE WILL FIND OUT HOW IT WILL GIVE BACK TO NASHVILLE IN 2014.

>> SINCE BEING BUILT IN 2019, THE BROWN COUNTY MUSIC SCENE HAS BECOME A FIXTURE.

BUSINESS OWNERS LOVE SEEING WHO COMES TO PLAY THE VENUE.

>> IN MY OPINION, THE MUSIC CENTER HAS BEEN A GREAT THING.

I'VE BEEN TO SEE SEVERAL SHOWS THERE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL VENUE.

NOT A BAD SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

THEY SEEM TO ATTRACT A LOT OF GOOD TALENT.

>> COMMUNITY MEMBER LORI FARLEY SAYS THE CENTER KEEPS THE TOWN BUSINESSY.

>> EVER SINCE THEY BUILT THE MUSIC CENTER, WE'VE HAD LOTS MORE BUSINESS, LIKE THE HOTELS ARE FULL.

THE RESTAURANTS ARE HAVING LOTS OF BUSINESS.

THE STORES ARE HAVING MORE TOURISM.

PEOPLE SHOPPING.

SO I'M REALLY, REALLY PLEASED WITH IT.

>> BUT FROM THE BEGINNING, NOT EVERYONE IN TOWN WAS ON BOARD WITH THE VENUE.

JONATHAN I WILL IS IS A RESIDENT AND HOBBYIST MUSEUM FROM NASHVILLE.

>> PERSONALLY, I WAS ONE OF THEM.

I HATE SEEING, YOU KNOW, MORE STRUCTURES GO UP.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THIS COUNTY.

AND THAT WAS A PRETTY COOL OPEN FIELD AND EVERYTHING.

>> THERE WERE OTHER CRITICISMS AS WELL.

THE LARGEST OF WHICH WERE ABOUT HOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VENUE WAS FUNDED.

SOME WERE NOT FOUND OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO CREATE THE MUSIC CENTER.

IT'S AN INNKEEPER TAX LEVIED ON HOTEL AND AIRBNB OWNERS.

>> THEY USED THAT AS A BACKSTOP TO HELP THE LOAN, THE $12.5 MILLION LOAN TO BUILD THIS.

AND AS AN INDEPENDENT VENUE, WE HAD CERTAIN BUSINESS DEALS THROUGH TICKETMASTER THAT GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A FLOAT TO START THE FIRST FEW SHOWS.

>> OUTSIDE OF THE TAX DOLLARS TO GET A LOAN.

THERE'S NO FINANCIAL BACKING FOR THE VENUE.

>> WE ARE A 501(c)(3), WE ARE DESIGNATED THAT, WHICH HELPED TO GET THIS BUILDING BUILT.

SO BY DEFINITION OF A NONPROFIT, ANY OPERATING DOLLAR THAT WE HAVE FROM $1 TO $1 MILLION AT THE END OF A CALENDAR YEAR, WE GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTY.

>> 2023 MARKS FIRST YEAR THE VENUE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO THE COUNTY AS IT WAS CLOSED FOR 650 DAYS DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC AND WASN'T PROFITABLE IN 2022.

>> 75% OF THE -- OF IT GOES TO THE BROWN COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, AND 25% GOES TO THE COUNTY ITSELF.

WHAT THEY DO WITH IT, THAT'S GOING TO BE THEIR CHOICE.

>> WEBB WASN'T PREPARED TO SHARE EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD RECEIVE, DUE TO THE TIGHT MARGINS CONCERT VENUES RUN AND THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF HOW FUTURE SHOWS WOULD SELL BUT HE DID PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE.

>> THE MONEY DOES EBB AND FLOW.

I WILL TELL YOU IT WILL BE A VERY NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE, PROBABLY IN THE SIX FIGURES IF NOT A SMIDGE HIGHER.

>> THE C.E.O.

OF THE BROWN COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, SAYS THE FUNDS WILL BE FURTHER SPLIT FOR DISPERSEMENT.

>> SOME OF THEM MAY GO INTO A PERMANENT ENDOWMENT, SO THE CHARITABLE GIFTS CAN LIVE IN PERPETUITY AND ENDURE, AND SOME ARE USED FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SOME EXAMPLES SHE GAVE OF WAYS THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY GRANTED OUT MONEY INCLUDES PROVIDING RADIOS FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, HELPING FUND THE BUILDING OF THE TOWN LIBRARY, AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS AT THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE BROWN COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

AS FOR THE OTHER 25%, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS AS NEEDED FOR WHATEVER PROJECTS THE RESIDENTS FEEL ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, SUCH AS ROAD RESURFACING OR SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.

THE SPLITTING OF FUNDS GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING THE NASHVILLE COMMUNITY.

>> COLLABORATING WITH THE BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER AND THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED THERE, IT'S -- IT'S AN AMAZING COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE REPLICATED, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>>> AND WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE INDIANA FOOTBALL SEASON AND HEAD COACH TOM ALLEN STILL HAS A QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY ON HIS HANDS.

ALLEN SAYS WHOEVER STARTS SATURDAY'S HOMECOMING GAME AGAINST RUTGERS WILL BE THE STARTER THE REST OF THE WAY.

HE'S JUST NOT SAYING WHO THAT WILL BE.

>>> WE'RE TRYING TO DO A GREAT JOB AS A STAFF TO HELP HIM AND EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP HIM MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND HELP HIM HAVE ENOUGH ON HIS PLATE TO BE MULTIPLE BUT ALSO SIMPLE ENOUGH TO EXECUTE AT A HIGH LEVEL.

>> SATURDAY'S GAME KICKS OFF AT NOON.

>>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: