>>> THE UNITED STATES IS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THIS TIME IN IRAN.

BUT WHY AND WHAT IS THE END GAME REMAINS AN OPEN QUESTION.

>>> THE INDIANA GRADUATE WORKERS COALITION WANTS I.U.

TO BECOME A SANCTUARY UNIVERSITY TO PROTECT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS.

>>> WE'LL TALK TO THE EDITOR OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE ABOUT THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WRAPPED UP LAST WEEK.

WE'LL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, LAST WEEKEND U.S.

AND ISRAELI FORCES BOMBARDED IRAN WITH IRE STRIKES.

THE NEW WAR -- AIRSTRIKES.

THE NEW WAR IS PROMPTING ECONOMIC CONCERNS, MOSTLY OVER THE PRICE OF OIL.

MEANWHILE SOME IRANIANS ARE EXCITEDLY HOPING FOR CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AFTER THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME LEADER WAS KILLED.

AUBREY WRIGHT HAS MORE DETAILS ON HOW THE WAR COULD AFFECT PEOPLE IN INDIANA.

>>> MOST HOOSIERS WILL SEE PRICES GO UP, AS THE WAR CONTINUES.

IT'S ALREADY DRIVING UP GAS PRICES, AND IT'S GOING TO COST PRODUCERS MORE TO TRANSPORT GOODS AND FOOD.

>> SO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL THE PRICE HIKE NOT ONLY AT THE PUMP, BUT ALSO IN SUPERMARKETS AS WELL.

>> HE SAYS IT'S UNCLEAR EXACTLY HOW LONG A WAR COULD LAST, BUT IRAN'S MILITARY SEEMS TO SIGNAL THAT IT'S WILLING TO CONTINUE FIGHTING.

>> THE QUESTION HERE IS, WHAT ARE THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVES THAT THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO PURSUE?

DOES IT WANT TO JUST NEUTRALIZE IRAN'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES OR DOES IT WANT TO UNDERTAKE REGIME CHANGE?

THOSE ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

>> THE U.S.

MILITARY HAS DEPLOYED MORE THAN 50,000 SOLDIERS TO THE REGION.

AT THE SAME TIME, AMERICANS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE GROWING SKEPTICAL OF ANOTHER WAR.

BUT AN IRANIAN LIVING IN BLOOMINGTON SAYS THAT'S A ONE-DIMENSIONAL WAY OF VIEWING THE SITUATION.

>> THIS IS A VERY HAPPY DAY FOR MANY, MANY IRANIANS.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THEM CHANT OR DANCE OR, YOU KNOW, MARCH THESE DAYS.

>> IN JANUARY, IRANIAN SECURITY FORCES KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING THE ISLAMIC REGIME.

CITIZENS ALSO ENDURED INTERNET SHUTDOWNS AND BLACKOUTS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THOSE OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO UNDERSTAND THE EXTENT OF THE VIOLENCE.

HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE STILL INVESTIGATING, AND SAY AS MANY AS 30,000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

HE SAYS IT COMPLETELY CHANGED HIS OUTLOOK ON MILITARY OPERATIONS.

>> AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF TRYING TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE TO -- YOU KNOW, THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING SO-CALLED MODERATE OR REFORMISTS POLITICIANS, IN THE GOVERNMENT, AND PROTESTS AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENTS AND SO ON.

WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH THIS LEVEL OF BRUTALITY, I THINK ALL OF THOSE CHANNELS ARE BLOCKED.

>> THE JANUARY PROTESTS CAME AFTER DECADES OF OPPRESSIVE AUTHORITARIAN RULE, AND WAR, UNDER SUPREME LEADER ALI KHAMENEI.

THE REGIME IS NO LONGER REFORMABLE.

>> IT'S KILLING PEOPLE BY THE THOUSANDS, AND THIS IS JUST NOT A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT.

>> HE ENCOURAGES LOCALS TO REACH OUT TO IRANIANS THAT THEY KNOW PERSONALLY WITHOUT PRESUMING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE WAR.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M AUBREY WRIGHT.

>>> ON OUR NOON EDITION PROGRAM ON WFIU TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN IRAN, ONE OF OUR GUESTS WAS A Ph.D.

STUDENT IN MATHEMATICS AT I.U.

FROM IRAN, WHO HAS BEEN IN THE STATES FOR TWO YEARS.

SHE SPOKE ABOUT WHAT SHE'S FEELING WITH HER HOME COUNTRY, WHERE HER FAMILY STILL IS UNDER ATTACK.

>> BEFORE THIS BROADCAST, MY MOM CALLED ME AND SHE SAID PROBABLY YOU HEARD THAT TWO BOMBING HAPPENED THIS MORNING IN OUR CITY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE ARE OKAY.

DON'T BE WORRIED.

SO IT JUST A PIECE OF WHAT'S GOING ON THESE DAYS, AND AS I SAID, IT'S REALLY A MIXTURE BECAUSE, LIKE, WHAT BABEK SAID, WE ALSO HAVE HOPE OF REGIME CHANGE, OF BETTER FUTURE, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED, ESPECIALLY MY PEERS, YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT JUST ASKED NORMAL LIFE, LIKE YOU AND I, NOTHING MORE THAN THAT.

AND INSTEAD OF WHAT WE'RE DEMANDING, WHICH IS COMPLETELY BASED ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEY HAD TO ASK THAT, THEY RECEIVED SHOTGUN.

SO, YEAH, IT'S REALLY MIX OF EVERYTHING.

>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO TODAY'S NOON EDITION PROGRAM AND PAST PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE WTIUNEWS.ORG UNDER THE NOON EDITION TAB.

>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR DAVID REINGOLD ADDRESSED THE IMPACT OF A SENATE BILL AT A BLOOMINGTON FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY AS ELYSE PERRY REPORTS, BEFORE THE MEETING, INDIANA'S GRADUATE WORKERS COALITION PROTESTED ANOTHER NEW LAW TAKING EFFECT.

>> SENATE BILL 199 DIRECTS THE INDIANA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION TO REVIEW DEGREE PROGRAMS AT STATE COLLEGES WITH WAGES BELOW THE AVERAGE OF AN INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.

THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MUSIC AT THE JACOBS SCHOOL OF MUSIC HAS BEEN POINTED AT AS MEDIA OUTLETS AS ONE THAT FALLS BELOW THE STANDARD.

>> I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN ONE -- IF ONE WERE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE EARNINGS OF GRADUATES FROM THE JACOBS SCHOOL IN THAT MAJOR, THAT IT WILL FALL ABOVE WHATEVER THAT THRESHOLD IS.

>> HE SAYS IF THE DEGREE DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT, HE HAS CONFIDENCE THAT I.U.

CAN WORK WITH THE ICHE TO ENSURE THE MUSIC PROGRAM IS NOT IMPACTED.

REINGOLD SPOKE AS MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATE WORKERS RALLIED IN THE FOYER OF FRANKLIN HALL AGAINST 1776.

IT MANDATES THAT SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AGENTS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THE IGWC IS DEMANDING INDIANA UNIVERSITY TO BECOME A SANCTUARY CAMPUS TO PROTECT INTERNATIONALS IF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE ON CAMPUS.

>> THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF A UNIVERSITY IS SORT OF LIKE SET ASIDE FOR A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND WORKERS BECAUSE OF THIS SORT OF PERSISTENT, LIKE BACK OF THE HEAD ANXIETY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN NERVOUS TO VISIT THEIR FAMILIES OVER THE SUMMERS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER THE COUNTRY AGAIN.

>> THERE ARE 4,000 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT I.U.

BLOOMINGTON ACCORDING TO THE IGWC, PRIORITIZING UNIVERSITY'S EDUCATIONAL MISSION MEANS STANDING UP FOR THESE STUDENTS SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON LEARNING.

>> I. U. HAS SEEMINGLY DONE VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO OPPOSE THIS BILL AND I THINK THAT INDICATES SORT OF LIKE THE SENSE OF ABANDONMENT.

>> HE SAYS I.U.

SHOULD CREATE SAFE SPACES ON CAMPUS AND PERHAPS INSTITUTE AN ALERT SYSTEM FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ON CAMPUS.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ELYSE PERRY.

>>> REINGOLD DID NOT SPEAK ON THE INDIANA GRADUATE WORKERS COALITION'S SANCTUARY UNIVERSITY DEMAND DURING HIS PRESENTATION TO THE FACULTY.

>>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY SHELBY BROWN, FOR HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>>> HI, SHELBY, WELCOME.

>> THANKS, JOE.

BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A RESOLUTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT THAT WILL GIVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE BLOOMINGTON'S CHIEF OF POLICE SIX WEEKS TO PROVIDE IT WITH BEING -- WITH A BRIEFING ON THE CITY'S AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM.

>>> SEVERAL RESIDENTS ADVOCATES FOR THE CITY TO END ITS CONTRACT WITH FLOCK, WHICH OPERATES LICENSE PLATE READING CAMERAS.

THEY RAISE CONCERNS OF PRIVACY VIOLATIONS AND RISKS TO MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SYSTEM TO BE USED IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

>> WE EMPATHIZE WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THE MORE THAT OUR CITY INVESTS IN DATA COLLECTION, ALLIES WITH PROFIT-DRIVEN COMPANIES AND FAILS TO TAKE A FIRM STAND ON OUR COMMUNITY'S BASIC RIGHTS, THE LESS LIKELY OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WILL FEEL SAFE TO UTILIZE POLICE FOR WHEN THEY THEMSELVES ARE VICTIMS OF A CRIME.

>> POLICE CHIEF MIKE DIEKHOFF SAYS FLOCK CAMERAS HAVE BEEN USED TO SOLVE CRIMES INCLUDING TWO MURDERS AND A RAPE.

>>> BLOOMINGTON IS PREPARING FOR A LAW THAT MAKES HOMELESS CAMPS ON PUBLIC LANDS ILLEGAL.

VIOLATORS FACE FINES UP TO $500, OR EVEN JAIL TIME.

>> PROPONENTS OF THE NEW LAW SAY THE THREAT OF A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR WILL FORCE UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO SEEK THE HELP THEY NEED.

CRITICS LIKE BLOOMINGTON MAYOR KERRY THOMSON SAYS IT WILL ONLY FURTHER COMPLICATE THE ISSUE.

>> THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS ARREST PEOPLE.

WE KNOW WE CAN'T ARREST PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

WE KNOW IT WILL CREATE FINES FOR PEOPLE AND CREATE SITUATIONS THAT ARE MORE COMPLICATED.

>> THEY ARE PLANNING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE EXISTING PLANS TO CURB HOMELESSNESS BEFORE THE JULY 1st HEADLINE WITH THE COUNTY JAIL BEING A PLACE OF LAST RESORT.

THE LAND CAN BE AUTHORIZED FOR HOMELESS CAMPS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS EXPLORED BEFORE BUT DECIDED AGAINST DUE TO THE COST OF SECURITY AND THE SUPPORT OF SERVICES.

>> IF YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SECURITY, IF YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, ET CETERA, PUTTING UP A SIMPLE BUILDING, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY A TEMPORARY ONE TO GET PEOPLE INSIDE, IT'S NOT MUCH HARDER.

>> THOMSON SAYS BLOOMINGTON HAS MORE THAN 100 UNHOUSED AND UNSHELTERED PEOPLE.

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

>>> WE'LL HAVE MORE ON HOW BLOOMINGTON OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS ARE PLANNING TO DEAL WITH THE BILL NEXT WEEK.

>>> THE ACLU OF INDIANA HAS FILED TWO LAWSUITS AGAINST BALL STATE UNIVERSITY FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING STUDENTS' RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.

BOTH SUITS FOCUS ON STUDENT PROTESTERS WHO.

ENTERED THE UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IN NOVEMBER TO OBJECT TO THE SCHOOL'S FINANCIAL TIES TO ISRAEL.

ONE STUDENT WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE UNIVERSITY FOR A SEMESTER AND FILED A SEPARATE SUIT.

>> FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THIS POLICY REALLY DOES BAN A GIGANTIC AMOUNT OF SPEECH ON CAMPUS.

>> UNIVERSITY POLICY BANS STUDENTS FROM PROTESTING WITHIN 50 FEET OF MOST CAMPUS BUILDINGS.

>>> VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY HAS REJECTED A STUDENT'S REQUEST TO REESTABLISH A TURNING POINT U.S.A.

CHAPTER, AS BEING TOO PARTISAN.

IT COMES WHEN THE STATE LEADERS ARE WORKING WITH TURNING POINT U.S.A.

TO EXPAND ITS PRESENCE IN EVERY COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE.

>> THE COLLEGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU KNOW, ONE ENTITY THAT DECIDES HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> TURNING POINT U.S.A.

IDENTIFIES AS NONPARTISAN, BUT ADVOCATES CONSERVATIVE IDEALS OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND FREE MARKET.

>>> VOLUNTEERS SPENT PART OF LAST WEEKEND CLEANING UP DEBRIS ON THE WEST SIDE OF BLOOMINGTON, AFTER LAST MONTH'S TORNADO.

THEY GATHERED IN THE MORNING AT VAN BUREN COMMUNITY CENTER BEFORE HEADING OUT IN THE FIELDSTONE AND STONE CHASE NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH WERE AMONG THE AREA HIT BY THE TORNADO.

>> IT MEANS EVERYTHING, HAVING PEOPLE COME TOGETHER DURING THIS TIME.

IT'S JUST A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT AND A LOT OVERWHELMS YOU AND TO HAVE PEOPLE JUST COME AND HELP AND ORGANIZE THINGS AND GET THINGS GOING, IT MEANS EVERYTHING.

>> THE EF-2 TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR ALMOST 4 MILES STARTING WEST OF THE AIRPORT AND LIFTING JUST BEFORE I-69.

>>> THE SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL SCHOOL IS PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS IN SURROUNDING AREAS TO CREATE A NEW ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

TRIRIVERS OF BEGIN COMPETITION IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE WITHIN HOUR OF ONE ANOTHER.

SEVEN OAKS CURRENTLY PLAYS SCHOOLS TWO HOURS AWAY.

>> THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES, GRANDMA AND THEIR AUNTS AND THEIR FRIENDS CAN ALL ATTEND GAMES THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

>> OTHER SCHOOLS WILL BE LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IN BLOOMINGTON, MOORSVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AND MORE.

AND THEY WILL COMPETE IN SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, CROSS COUNTRY AND BASKETBALL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.

>> THANKS, SHELBY.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT RECENTLY WRAPPED UP.

>>> AND WE VISIT A PIZZA CHAIN IN INDIANA THAT ALL HOOSIERS KNOW FOR ITS UNIQUE STYLE.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

INDIANA GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN GIVES HIMSELF A B PLUS FOR THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SAYING THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION SUCCESSFULLY TACKLED ISSUES OF AFFORDABLE AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

DESPITE AN EARLY ROCKY START TO THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THE FAILED REDISTRICTING VOTE, BRAUN PRESENTED A PICTURE OF SUCCESS MARKED BY A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE LAWMAKERS.

HE SAYS OUT OF 58 BILLS THAT WERE A PRIORITY FOR HIS OFFICE, 51 WERE PASSED.

>> VERY MUCH OPEN CONVERSATION, TRANSPARENT.

WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER.

IF YOU LOOK AT THESE RESULTS, THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

>> WHILE BRAUN HERALDED THE SESSION'S WORK AROUND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, DEMOCRATS SAY THIS YEAR'S BILLS STILL DON'T ADDRESS HOOSIERS EVERYDAY CONCERNS.

WE'RE JOINED NOW BY NICKY KELLY, THE EDITOR OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE, WHO COVERS THE STATEHOUSE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, NICKY.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG WINS FOR REPUBLICANS THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO CLAIM THE AFFORDABILITY WINS, BOTH IN AN ELECTRIC UTILITY BILL AND A BILL ON HOUSING REGULATIONS, THAT THEY HOPE WILL BRING DOWN THE COSTS OF HOUSING.

BUT THOSE ALSO HAVE A BIG ASTERISK, BECAUSE, RIGHT, IT WILL TAKE TIME TO TELL, ESPECIALLY THE RATE MAKING PIECE OF THE UTILITY BILL WILL TAKE YEARS BEFORE WE SEE NEW RATES USING THOSE PERFORMANCE METRICS.

>> NOW, THE SESSION STARTED OFF WITH A BIG LOSS FOR BRAUN, WHEN SENATE REPUBLICANS REJECTED REDISTRICTING.

SO WHAT DOES THAT SIGNAL ABOUT THE PULL BRAUN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE OVER THE LEGISLATORS?

>> I HONESTLY THINK IT'S LESS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MIKE BRAUN AND MORE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE ARE MORE LOCAL RACES, AND A LOT OF THESE SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE LONG-TIME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE ENTRENCHED AND THEY LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

AND SO THEY WERE HEARING NO LOCALLY AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WENT WITH.

>> NOW, YOU WROTE ABOUT LESS HERALDED BILLS, THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE?

>> THERE WERE A FEW OF THEM THAT ARE GOING TO TRY TO HELP KIND OF, I WOULD SAY, ON THE EDGES OF CHILD CARE ISSUES.

AND SO WHETHER IT BE ALLOWING COMPANIES TO TAKE MORE TAX CREDITS TO OFFER CHILD CARE OR ALSO THERE WERE SOME BILLS THAT ADDRESSED SOME DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SERVICES INVESTIGATIONS.

RIGHT NOW MANY ARE SHROUDED IN SECRECY AND OFTEN THEY LET MISINFORMATION KIND OF RULE THE DAY AND THESE BILLS WOULD ALLOW A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT INFORMATION TO COME OUT.

>> NOW, DEMOCRATS WERE, AGAIN, UP AGAINST A SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS, BUT WERE THEY ABLE TO HAVE MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE SESSION?

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY NOT.

I MEAN, THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

THEY OFFER AMENDMENTS.

THEY FILE BILLS.

MANY OF THEM ARE NOT ACCEPTED, AND SOMETIMES WHEN THEY ARE, LIKE, IT WILL BE A DEMOCRAT PUSHES A BILL FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND THEN A REPUBLICAN WILL FILE IT THE NEXT YEAR AND THEN IT WILL PASS.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME EXAMPLES HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS WITH THE NEWS THAT BLACK ROCK IS PART OF A CONGLOMERATE THAT BOUGHT A.E.S.

INDIANA.

THERE WAS A DEMOCRAT BILL TO BLOCK THAT, BUT SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTED THEM DOWN.

>> AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING BATTLE.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE MIDTERMS?

>> WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO MAKE THE RACES IN THE SENATE INTERESTING.

I THINK SIX CANDIDATES FROM SENATE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, MET WITH THE PRESIDENT ON WEDNESDAY.

AND HE HAS ENDORSED, I THINK FIVE OF THE SIX.

SO THEY ARE CERTAINLY TRYING TO GET WHO THEY CONSIDER TO BE MORE PRO TRUMP, MORE CONSERVATIVE IN THERE AND I BELIEVE CLEARLY, A FEW OF THESE RACES WITH INCUMBENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN -- PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY COMPETITION AT ALL, MUCH LESS COMPETITION PUSHED BY THE PRESIDENT.

>> SO BEFORE WE GO, BRAUN GAVE HIMSELF A B PLUS, DO YOU THINK THAT'S VALID?

>> YEAH, UM, I MIGHT LOWER IT JUST A LITTLE, ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE WAS CLEAR WHAT REALLY WAS PART OF HIS AGENDA.

THEY NEVER REALLY, LIKE, SAID, THESE ARE A LIST OF THESE BILLS THAT ARE OUR BILLS AND HE JUST SHOUTED OUT A FEW BILLS DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE.

SO I THINK SOME OF US WERE CONFUSED WHAT HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS TRULY WORKING ON AND WHAT THEY WEREN'T.

AT THE END, HAVING SEEN THEIR LIST, THEY DID DO A LOT OF WHAT THEIR LIST, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT LIST EXISTED UNTIL NOW.

>> NICKY KELLY, EDITOR OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> NO PROBLEM.

>>> WE'RE TAKING A LOOK BACK AT A STORY WE BROUGHT YOU ABOUT A PIZZA PLACE JUST ABOUT EVERY HOOSIER HAS HEARD OF, WHICH IS PRETTY REMARKABLE, CONSIDERING MANY LOCATIONS HAVE NO ADVERTISING BUDGET.

PIZZA KING'S DOT THE CORNERS OF SMALL TOWNS ALL OVER THE STATE AND MOST HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS.

AS FORMER COLLEAGUE BARBARA BROSIER REPORTS, THAT'S WHAT MAKES GENERATIONS OF HOOSIERS LOYAL TO THEM.

>> YOU MIGHT CALL LARRY COMMONS A CREATURE OF HABIT.

>> I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.

>> HE COMES TO THIS PIZZA KING IN EVANSVILLE AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK AND HE ALWAYS ORDERS THE SAME THING.

>> STROMBOLI, MEDIUM WELL DONE.

>> WE WOULD SAY HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR THE RESTAURANT IS UNMATCHED, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF HOOSIERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PIZZA PLACE.

>> IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU DON'T GET EVERYWHERE.

SO IT MAKES IT SPECIAL.

>> THE SPECIAL BRAND OF PIZZA GOT ITS START IN INDIANA IN 1956.

THAT'S WHEN WENDEL SCHWARTZ AND HIS BROTHER OPENED THE FIRST RESTAURANT IN LaFAYETTE.

THEY DEVELOPED THE SIGNATURE CRUST, SAUCE AND TOPPINGS PIZZA KING IS STILL KNOWN FOR TODAY.

>> THE ORIGINAL COMMISSARY WAS WAS AT THE CORNER OF 52 AND McCARDY LANE HERE IN LaFAYETTE INDIANA.

HIS BROTHER AFTER A YEAR OF BUSINESS DECIDED THAT HE WANTED A DIFFERENT MODEL.

SO WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY DIVIDED THE STATE.

WENDEL TOOK THREE-QUARTERS OF STATE AND THEN HIS BROTHER ENDED UP GETTING ROUGHLY A QUARTER OF IT.

>> WENDEL'S BROTHER TOOK THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE, THE PIZZA KINGS WHERE YOU CAN RING THE KING AND ORDER PIZZA FROM A PHONE AT YOUR TABLE.

THAT COMPANY DECLINED TO DO AN INTERVIEW FOR THE STORY.

THE LARGER OF THE TWO PIZZA KINGS, FAMOUSLY FEATURES A TRAIN IN SOME OF ITS RESTAURANTS.

>> YOU DELIVER THE DRINKS TO THE KIDS IN THE BOOTHS AND THEY CAN OPEN UP THE GLASS AND GET THEIR DRINKS OUT.

>> THIS WAS TRAUMATICALLY INCREASING THE REACH AND NOW YOU FIND DOZENS OF RESTAURANTS ACROSS STATE, BUT NO TWO OR QUITE THE SAME.

PIZZA KING ISN'T A FRANCHISE, BUT HAS WHAT'S CALLED A SUPPLY AGREEMENT.

>> WE CAN'T TELL YOU HOW TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS.

THE OWN THING YOU DO IS YOU BUY SCORE PRODUCTS FROM US.

SO THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU ARE STILL YOUR OWN BOSS, ALL RIGHT?

AND YOU GET TO USE ALL THE PIZZA KING MEMORABILIA, THE LOGOS, CATCH PHRASES.

AND ALSO, THE RECOGNITION OF THE PIZZA KING MAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT IT IS.

>> PIZZA KINGS GET THEIR CRUST, TOMATO PASTE, CHEESE AND SIGNATURE CHOPPED SAUSAGE AND PEPPERONI FROM THE CORPORATE COMMISSARY EVERY WEEK BUT YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF VARIATIONS ON HOW THE PIZZA IS PREPARED ACROSS STATE AND WHAT YOU WILL FIND ON THE MENU CAN VARY TOO.

AMOURE HAS CHANGED ITS LOCATION AND THE LOOKS OVER THE YEAR BUT THE RECIPES REMAIN THE SAME.

>> CORN MEAL IS ONE THING THAT WE DO TO PREP THE DOUGHS ON.

I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S MANY OUT THIS DOING IT.

>> THAT FAMILIAR TASTE IS WHAT KEEPS SO MANY PEOPLE COMING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SOME EVEN CALL WANTING PIZZA SHIPPED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> OUR FRIENDS WHO GRADUATE AND MOVE AWAY, THE FIRST THING THEY DO WHEN THEY COME BACK TO TOWN, THEY COME HERE.

>> IT'S THE SAME BACK DOWN IN EVANSVILLE WHERE STROMBOLIS ARE ACTUALLY KING.

THEY ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 70% OF THIS RESTAURANT'S BUSINESS.

>> WE ARE PROBABLY STARTING TO SERVE OUR FOURTH GENERATION STROMBOLIS TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT PIZZA KING DIDN'T BECOME SO BELOVED IN INDIANA BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL INGREDIENTS OR THE CONSISTENCY OF THE PRODUCT.

HOOSIERS LOVE PIZZA KING BECAUSE IT TASTES LIKE HOME.

>> OUR SON LIVES IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AND WHEN HE COMES IN, FIRST STOP -- THEY DRIVE HERE.

>> IF YOU START WITH YOUR GRANDPARENTS AND YOUR PARENTS HAD IT AND THEN YOU HAVE IT, AND YOU GO TO PIZZA KING AND YOUR SON AND DAUGHTER, YOU FEED THEM THAT, IT HAS NOT RUN ITS COURSE.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M BARBARA BROSIER.

>> THE BOGAN FAMILY PURCHASED THE PIZZA KING IN 2020 AND OPERATE MORE THAN 60 LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE.

>>> INDIANA FOOTBALL COACH CURT CIGNETTI IS CASHING IN ON WINNING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK CIGNETTI SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR A NEW EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT THAT PAYS HIM $13.2 MILLION PER SEASON.

IT'S AN INCREASE OF $1.6 MILLION AND MAKES CIGNETTI THE SECOND HIGHEST PAID COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH, BEHIND ONLY GEORGIA'S KIRBY SMART.

THE 64-YEAR-OLD CIGNETTI HAS A 27-2 RECORD IN TWO SEASONS AT INDIANA, WHERE HE SAYS HE PLANS ON STAYING UNTIL HE RETIRES.

>>> 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