Indiana DCS releases 2019 child fatality report
The number of Indiana children who died from neglect or abuse totaled 61 in 2019, down four from the previous year, the Indiana Department of Child Services said in a report released Thursday.
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Trump, on tape, presses Ga. official to ‘find’ him votes
President Donald Trump pressured Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to “find” enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state’s presidential election, repeatedly citing disproven claims of fraud and raising the prospect of a “criminal offense” if officials did not change the vote count, according to a recording of the conversation.
Q&A: Here’s what we know now about COVID vaccines in Indiana
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has called vaccines the “light at the end of the tunnel” to the pandemic that has hospitalized and killed thousands of Hoosiers. But it could be weeks or months before you can get one.
AG Hill: No charges recommended in fetal remains case
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has recommended no criminal charges or licensing actions after concluding an investigation into more than 2,000 sets of fetal remains found last year at the suburban Chicago garage of a late prolific abortion doctor.
Inspector General Torres joining AG-elect Rokita as chief deputy, chief of staff
Indiana Inspector General Lori Torres will move into a new public position next month, transitioning to the role of chief deputy attorney general and chief of staff to Attorney General-elect Todd Rokita.
Indiana expands COVID-19 vaccination to nursing homes, assisted living
Indiana health officials reported 2,494 new coronavirus infections and 43 additional deaths Monday as administration of a vaccine began for nearly 1,000 long-term care facilities across the state.
Indiana officials forcing out longtime casino executive
Indiana casino regulators voted Wednesday to force a longtime heavyweight in the state’s gambling industry to give up his ownership stake in a Lake Michigan casino, saying he had continued exerting control over its parent company in violation of state orders.
Plaintiffs in protracted CAFO litigation hit with counterclaim
Farmers and neighbors who battled over an 8,000-hog confined animal feeding operation in Hendricks County are starting a second round of fighting with the farmers filing a counterclaim, arguing the lawsuit brought by their neighbors and litigated for multiple years through four courts was “frivolous.”
Lawsuit challenges Indiana laws on disposal of fetal remains
An Indianapolis abortion clinic is suing the state of Indiana, challenging provisions of a state law upheld last year by the U.S. Supreme Court requiring fetal remains to be buried or cremated after an abortion.
Year in Review: What Indiana Lawyer readers most read in 2020
While COVID-19 dominated the headlines in the past year, Indiana Lawyer readers had a bounty of other news during an eventful year. Here are the 50 most-read editorial stories posted on theindianalawyer.com during 2020 through Dec. 8, originating either on our website or in our print edition.
State has been reporting inaccurate COVID-19 positivity rate due to computational error
Indiana health officials have erred in reporting the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate since the beginning of the pandemic due to a problem with the way it was computed, resulting in a lower rate than would be accurate.
Indiana virus hospitalizations down but deaths remain high
Indiana’s coronavirus-related hospitalizations continued their recent decline over the weekend, pointing to possible improvement even as the state’s daily rate of COVID-19 deaths has gone up slightly to a new high.
Lawmakers seek to shield businesses from COVID lawsuits
Businesses, not-for-profits, schools, religious organizations and other entities could soon be shielded from responsibility for COVID-19 infections.
Indiana restaurant sues governor, state over mask mandate
An Indiana restaurant that was shut down over the state’s mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus is taking the issue to court, saying it was improperly closed for violating masking requirements and capacity limits.
Holcomb’s agenda calls for increasing K-12 funding, continuing existing programs
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he will try to increase funding for K-12 education in the state’s next two-year budget and, at a minimum, restore previous funding levels for higher education institutions.
Senate hearing elevates baseless claims of election fraud
Republican senators on Wednesday further perpetuated President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, two days after Democrat Joe Biden’s victory was sealed by the Electoral College.
Justices split in Bloomington’s favor in annexation dispute with Holcomb
A divided Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of the city of Bloomington, upholding a ruling against the Indiana governor and striking down “special legislation” targeting the city’s annexation efforts. Dissenting justices, however, warned that the majority’s holding “erodes separation of powers.”
Indiana gets COVID-19 vaccine, health workers top priority
Indiana’s first doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine arrived Monday and several workers at a Fort Wayne hospital became the first in the state administered the shots to protect them from the coronavirus, state health officials said.
Mothers in birth certificate case win at US Supreme Court
In an order issued Monday, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari in an Indiana birth certificate case, ending the state’s long-running fight to prevent non-birth mothers in same-sex marriages from being listed as a parent on their children’s birth certificates.
COVID puts Legislature in fiscal vise in upcoming budget session
As Indiana lawmakers prepare to craft the state’s next two-year budget, leaders promise K-12 education will be the top priority — but they also acknowledge that every line item in the spending plan is at risk of cuts.