Indiana
Indiana judge rejects abortion providers’ challenge to near-total ban
An Indiana judge on Wednesday has ruled against abortion providers seeking to challenge the state’s near-total abortion ban.
The ruling, handed down by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Kelsey Blake Hanlon, denies efforts by the providers, including Planned Parenthood, who sought a permanent injunction to expand medical exceptions within the ban and remove restrictions limiting abortion procedures to hospitals.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Indiana outlawed abortions except when the mother’s life or health is in jeopardy, or in instances of rape, incest and deadly fetal anomalies under limited circumstances. The law, enacted in August 2022, makes Indiana one of the most restrictive states in the U.S. regarding access to the women’s health care procedure.
In her decision on Wednesday, Hanlon, who conducted a three-day bench trial in late May, denied the providers’ request for the permanent injunction against both elements of the state law, known as S.B. 1, stating that while the court considered evidence on the impact of the law, it could not substitute the legislature’s decision-making. Hanlon, a Republican appointed to oversee the case, emphasized that the Indiana General Assembly holds the authority to shape policy on the matter.
“Significant and compelling evidence regarding the policy implications of S.B. 1 and its effect on medical professionals in particular was presented. However, the Court cannot substitute its own policy preferences for that of the Indiana General Assembly,” Hanlon wrote.
The case comes after the state’s Supreme Court upheld the ban in June 2023, but maintained that the Indiana Constitution still safeguards a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy if her life or health is at risk.
But abortion providers argue that the language in the law is so vague that many doctors are hesitant to perform abortions, even in cases that technically qualify under the exemptions.
While Hanlon, in her 50-page order, acknowledged the difficulties posed by the law’s language—particularly for doctors operating under the threat of criminal liability—and recognized that the “politically charged environment” creates challenges, she ultimately sided with the state’s argument. She said that providers did not identify a situation where the health and life exemption or the hospital requirement prevented a woman from obtaining an abortion.
Newsweek has reached out to Planned Parenthood Federation of America via email for comment on Wednesday.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
The ruling also upheld the requirement that all abortions be performed in hospitals, rejecting the providers’ plea to allow outpatient clinics to offer the procedure, stating that hospitals are better equipped to manage cases involving serious health risks, fetal anomalies and cases of rape or incest.
“The evidence demonstrates that many women receiving abortion care when they are seriously ill or at risk of becoming seriously ill will likely be receiving in-hospital care irrespective of the hospital requirement,” Hanlon wrote.
In response to the ruling, Planned Parenthood Federation of America warned in a joint statement with the ACLU of Indiana and other plaintiffs that the court’s ruling means “lives will continue to be endangered by Indiana’s abortion ban,” adding that they “are still evaluating all options” on whether or not they will appeal the ruling.
“Already, Hoosiers with serious health complications have been forced to endure unjustifiable suffering due to miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other pregnancy-related issues or leave the state to access appropriate care,” the statement said.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita praised the decision, calling the state’s abortion law both “reasonable and constitutional.”
Abortion has been a key issue for the Republican and Democratic campaigns as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris vie for the presidency.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe, many Republican-controlled states have enacted abortion restrictions, with 21 states banning or restricting the medical practice at every stage of pregnancy.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
A woman suspected in a Springfield Township homicide Monday morning was fatally shot after a vehicle pursuit in Indiana.
Springfield Township police responded to a home in the 2700 block of Lincoln Avenue around 7 a.m. for a shooting, according to a press release from Springfield Township police. There, they found 33-year-old Lacresha Black suffering from gunshot wounds on her front porch. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives identified the suspect as Terea Brown, 42, who officials said fled the scene in a dark-colored Chevrolet Cruise before officers arrived. A regional broadcast was issued to law enforcement agencies with Brown’s description and vehicle information.
Brown had traveled to Clinton County, Indiana, where she was involved in a vehicle pursuit with Indiana State Police, according to the press release. A gunshot was fired from inside Brown’s vehicle after the pursuit, police said, and pursuing troopers returned fire. She was pronounced dead.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Springfield Township police at 513-729-1300 or Indiana State Police investigators at 765-567-2125.
Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided the photo for this report.
A huge battle between top-five ranked Big Ten teams kicks off as No. 2 Ohio State welcomes No. 5 Indiana on Saturday. Here’s how the oddsmakers are predicting the game right now.
Ohio State moved to 6-1 in Big Ten play but still sits in third place in the standings thanks to that 1-point loss at Oregon earlier this year, and this game will determine second place in the league.
Standing in the Buckeyes’ way is arguably the surprise team in college football this season: undefeated Indiana, playing its first-ever 10-win season behind the nation’s second-ranked scoring offense under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti.
What do the wiseguys expect will happen as the Buckeyes host the Hoosiers this weekend?
Let’s check in with the early predictions for Ohio State vs. Indiana in this Week 12 college football game, according to the oddsmakers.
Ohio State is an 11.5 point favorite against Indiana, according to the lines at FanDuel Sportsbook.
The book lists the total at 52.5 points for the game.
And it set the moneyline odds for Ohio State at -465 and for Indiana at +350 to win outright.
Ohio State: -11.5 (-110)
Indiana: +11.5 (-110)
Over 52.5 points: -104
Under 52.5 points: -118
Ohio State is 5-5 against the spread (50%) overall so far this season …
Indiana is 8-2 (80%) ATS in ‘24, the third-best mark nationally …
Ohio State is 3-3 against the spread at home this year …
Indiana is 3-0 ATS on the road …
The total went under in 6 of Ohio State’s last 7 games …
Indiana is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road …
Ohio State is 8-4 against the spread in its last 12 home games …
Indiana is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road against Ohio State …
Ohio State is 4-2 against the spread in its last 6 games in November …
The total went over in 7 of Indiana’s last 9 games …
A plurality of bettors expect the Hoosiers to give the Buckeyes a good scare this weekend, according to the spread consensus picks for the game.
Indiana is getting 66 percent of bets to either win outright in an upset, or to keep the margin under a dozen points in a loss.
The other 44 percent of wagers project Ohio State will win the game and cover the big spread.
The game’s implied score suggests a comfortable win for the Buckeyes against the Hoosiers.
When taking the point spread and total into consideration, it’s implied that Ohio State will defeat Indiana by a projected score of 32 to 21.
Our early pick: Indiana +11.5 … Ohio State hasn’t performed well against the spread and its defense has been prone to exposure by aggressive passing offenses. Buckeyes by 10.
When: Sat., Nov. 23
Time: 12 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox network
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Indiana
Desperate family of pregnant Indiana mom of four who vanished in October begs for public’s help with search
Desperate family and friends of a pregnant mother of four who disappeared in Indiana last month are hoping to rally support to bring her — and her possibly newborn child — home.
Emma Baum, 25, was last seen at her boyfriend’s house in Gary, Ind. on Oct. 10, her family said. She was heavily pregnant at the time and likely due in just days.
“We are looking for my sister. She was one centimeter dilated on October 4. She has been missing since October 10,” Baum’s sister, Abigale Smith, said at a press conference on Friday.
“At this point, we have done everything we can, and now we ask the public to please help us.”
Jamie Baum, Emma’s mother, believes her daughter’s boyfriend had something to do with her sudden disappearance.
“I would like my daughter home. We miss her. Her babies need her. Her family needs her,” she said at the press conference.
Emma’s boyfriend has since been taken into custody, but in connection to an unrelated case for a failure to appear warrant, Gary police Commander Jack Hamady said.
A missing persons report wasn’t filed for Emma until Oct. 28 — 18 days after she was last seen at her boyfriend’s house.
Police say that they have dedicated their search efforts to the three primary locations that have come up during the investigation and are pivoting to scour old video footage in the areas where Emma was last seen.
The young mom is approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 136 pounds. She frequently wears wigs and different hair pieces but is naturally a brunette.
“We love you, Emma. And if you can hear us, there is nothing that you have done to make any of us stop loving you. We trust that somebody knows something and we want her home,” Smith said.
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