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Indiana Legislature seeks to separate from AG in sexual harassment lawsuit

| Marilyn Odendahl

The Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate have filed separate motions in federal court to represent themselves in the sexual harassment lawsuit against Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr., claiming the state’s top lawyer cannot adequately defend their interests. Majority leaders of both the House and Senate announced late Monday afternoon they had hired outside counsel and are trying to intervene in the litigation brought by four women against Hill and the state of Indiana.

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Lawsuit filed against unlicensed Porter County midwife

The state of Indiana is suing a Porter County midwife who says she is exempt from state licensing requirements to continue practicing midwifery. A judge, meanwhile, has ordered the midwife to stop delivering babies and attending to expectant mothers.

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Expensive renovations lead to West Virginia impeachment, political feud

A taste for blue suede sofas, inlaid wooden floor maps and glass countertops has led to the retirement of two West Virginia Supreme Court justices and the impeachment of three others. It also has created a political firestorm, as Democrats accuse the Republican-led Legislature of using the impeachments to try to take control of the court, a separate branch of government.

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Landis, longtime head of Public Defender Council, to retire in July

Despite working on Indiana public defense reforms for 41 years, there are still goals Larry Landis wishes he could have accomplished before his impending retirement from the Indiana Public Defender Council. In a perfect world, Landis said his career would have led to more judicial sentencing discretion, a greater focus on mental health treatment, and a justice system that values restoration over punishment.

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State government confronts sexual harassment

With the rise of the #MeToo movement, organizations of all sizes, including state governments, have been forced to take a long look at themselves. After the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation this year to expand training and write a sexual harassment prevention policy for the legislature for the first time, the other two branches of state government are taking action.

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Drug takeback events aim to reduce abuse of prescription medications

At the Take Back the Circle medication collection event Friday on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, success could be measured in pounds. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill joined the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Covanta Indianapolis to collect unused, unwanted or expired medications from passersby.

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Indiana Senate GOP leader retiring from Legislature

The Republican leader of the Indiana Senate said Tuesday that he will step down from the Legislature later this year, making him the third high-profile GOP lawmaker to announce their departure from the chamber over the last year.

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State employees now blow whistle at own risk

A ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court that held the state cannot be sued under the whistleblower act has left some attorneys concerned for taxpayers and inspired at least one elected official to seek to change the law. But the ruling has not discouraged the state employee who started the fight.

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State pays $1.2M to settle suit over DCS search of vet’s office

The state of Indiana will pay an Indianapolis veterinarian $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit she filed claiming a Department of Child Services case manager conducted an illegal search of her office then posted a notice falsely informing her that her children had been removed from her home.

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