Indiana state Rep. Rita Fleming announced Monday that she is retiring, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.

The Democratic lawmaker from Jeffersonville in southern Indiana was first elected to the statehouse in 2018. Fleming’s statement said she is leaving office immediately.

“I have 15 grandchildren, and they and the rest of my family are my priority,” Fleming said in a statement. “Legislative sessions are long up at the Statehouse in Indianapolis and it takes a lot of work to properly represent House District 71.”

INDIANA REP. SPARTZ FENDS OFF GOP PRIMARY CHALLENGERS IN BID TO RETAIN HOUSE SEAT

Fleming was facing a rematch in the general election against Republican Scott Hawkins, who she narrowly beat in 2022 by a margin of about one point. A caucus will chose her replacement on the November ballot.

Fleming was the the ranking minority member of the insurance committee and served on the natural resources and public health committees.

A retired obstetrician-gynecologist, Fleming is known for authoring and backing legislation related to reproductive healthcare, including a 2022 law that prohibits the shackling of inmates during labor and delivery.

This year, she authored a bill requiring hospitals to offer postpartum Medicaid patients birth control. Democrats became divided over it after a committee removed the option to offer intrauterine devices or IUDs.

The final law signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb requires hospitals to offer those patients a subdermal contraceptive arm implant birth control option after giving birth.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“As a retired physician with decades of experience under her belt, Rita’s empathy, care and firsthand insights helped her improve Indiana’s public health and healthcare policy,” House Democratic leader state Rep. Phil GiaQuinta said in a statement.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The transfer portal has closed for new entrants, but plenty of players that have already entered the portal are still looking for new schools.

That includes UT Martin forward Issa Muhammad, who has received interest from Indiana, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, San Diego State, Utah, FIU, New Mexico, Eastern Michigan, Mercer, Wright State, Southern Indiana, Montana, Appalachian State, East Carolina and more, according to The Portal Scoop on Sunday.

Muhammad is a 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward with one year of remaining eligibility. He played the 2023-24 season at UT Martin after beginning his career with two seasons at Daytona State College, followed by one season at Northwest Florida State College and one season at New Mexico State.

As a senior in 2023-24, Muhammad started 28 games and played 29.6 minutes per game for a UT Martin team that went 21-11 and won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title. He averaged 11.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field, 26.7% from 3-point range (4 for 15) and 62% from the free throw line.

Among all OVC players last year, Muhammad ranked third in offensive rebounding percentage (10.6%), fourth in defensive rebounding percentage (22.1%), 11th in effective field goal percentage and 15th in block percentage (2.62%). He was named to the All-OVC second team.

Muhammad spent the 2022-23 season at New Mexico State, where he started 18 games and played 24.3 minutes per game. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while 58.2% from the field, 27.3% from 3-point range (3 for 11) and 53.1% from the free throw line. New Mexico State suspended its season in February after hazing allegations.

Muhammad played one season at Northwest Florida State College, a junior college program in Niceville, Fla. He averaged 10 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 34 starts as the Raiders won the 2021-22 NJCAA national championship.

Muhammad began his career at Daytona State College, a junior college program in Daytona Beach, Fla. During the 2020-21 season, he averaged 15.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game while shooting 42.5% from the field, 34.3% from 3-point range (23 for 67) and 65.4% from the free throw line. As a true freshman in 2019-20, he averaged 9.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.

Indiana has two open scholarships heading into the 2024-25 season and currently has the No. 2 ranked transfer portal class in the nation, according to 247 Sports. Coach Mike Woodson has added four transfers, including guard Myles Rice (Washington State), center Oumar Ballo (Arizona), guard Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) and wing Luke Goode (Illinois), along with freshman Bryson Tucker, a five-star recruit ranked No. 20 in the nation.

These additions, as well as a core group of returners, have led to Indiana being ranked No. 16 in the nation, per ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25. Ballo and Malik Reneau figure to start at center and power forward for the Hoosiers, but Indiana still has a need for a player like Muhammad in the front court after losing Kel’el Ware, Anthony Walker and Payton Sparks from last season’s roster.

Indiana Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

The New York Knicks are in desperate need of home cooking. After opening the series with two consecutive wins, the Knicks now find themselves knotted up with the Indiana Pacers at two games a piece. Things went horribly wrong in Indiana, especially in Game 4. But thankfully, the Knicks return to New York for Game 5. And while home court isn’t as good as having a healthy OG Anunoby, Madison Square Garden has been incredibly kind to the Knicks so far this postseason. And that home-court advantage could rejuvenate a Knicks team that has looked increasingly beaten down.

Knicks’ home court has been good this postseason

The Knicks are presently 4-1 when they play at home this post-season. That’s not terribly shocking, but the fact remains that home-court advantage still exists in New York. Madison Square Garden was especially loud in the Knicks’ first-round matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. They did their best to intimidate and psych out the 76ers with a special focus on reigning MVP Joel Embiid. And for the most part, they did their job. 

The crowd was slightly less engaged in Game 1 against the Pacers, but they woke up late in the game. To be fair, even fans suffer emotional hangovers after advancing past a rival in a hard-fought series. They were sharper in Game 2, but there is considerably more motivation for Knicks fans to come back with a healthy dose of energy and vitriol for Game 5. 

The logic behind why Knicks’ fans will be motivated is obvious; namely, a blowout Game 4 loss in Indiana. But despite being pretty banged up when the series began, New York is even more banged up now. OG Anunoby suffered a hamstring strain that cost him Game 3 and Game 4. Anunoby is questionable for Game 5. Jalen Brunson also tweaked his right foot. And while he hasn’t missed a game, he has not looked like a fully healthy version of himself since the injury, especially in Game 4.

Can MSG replace injured OG Anunoby?

Anunoby’s injury is especially worrisome. His presence is obviously a major boost for New York, who is 26-5 with Anunoby in their lineup. He is among the best defensive stoppers in the game, and he’s shown impressive flashes on the offensive end in the second-round matchup with Indiana.

Thankfully, the Garden crowd is a powerful sixth man. They have been especially engaged this postseason, and they are an intimidating bunch. Expect an extra degree of motivation for Game 5, as Knicks’ fans are likely bitter about how Game 3 ended and the lack of a fight in Game 4.

But home-court advantage isn’t exactly new to the Knicks. They were tied for the ninth-best record at home throughout the regular season and closed out the year 7-3 at MSG. That’s impressive, especially for a team that was dealt its fair share of injuries this season.

Hopefully coming home has a powerful effect on the Knicks. Otherwise, their season could be over. New York’s injuries have left them rather undermanned. And that’s hamstrung a team whose depth was a major strength. Now, they’re struggling to fill out their rotation. And playing Brunson and Josh Hart more than 40 minutes per game has already taken a toll.  The longer this series goes, the worse it looks for the Knicks’ chances of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, which they haven’t done in 24 years.