Mac Catalina 10.15 Spotlight error "privacy list error" prohibits removing a source I want to search

First this is a thank you to all the good folks who offered solutions and provides you all an update.

None of that worked- I NOW KNOW WHY and offer it as a sharing.

My "HOME" folder showed in the SystemPreferences>Spotlight>Privacy folder and I was not able to remove same. Finally gave up and did a Mac OS system restore and spotlight works perfectly.

Don't know how HOME was flagged for do not seach but thank you to all who tried.

Thanks for the reply.

I did the "get info" for user/home folder STEVE (me; only user and have admin privileges); unlocked the little padlock and selected apply to all. Progress appears to show all 9,000 files but did not resolve the problem.

Then I selected USERS and did a "get info," unlocked and saw that "system" had r/w but admin type users (me) were read only. When I tried to change r/w for admin, I get the error msg The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have the necessary permission.

Also did Mac OS restore.

I note that in the SPOTLIGHT "Privacy" tab, I see user/folder "STEVE" shown (which is the Do-not-search-here) and selecting the "-" (minus sign) to remove that folder gives a similar message "Privacy List Error"

Yes

single user (me) "Steve" admin privileges,

folder/user "Steve" listed in SPOTLIGHT Privacy tab and I cannot remove it to permit searches.