Indiana

ndiana Right to Life is hailing today as the date on which sweeping pro-life policies passed by the Indiana legislature will go into full effect, saying these provisions are the most significant improvements to Indiana’s abortion law in nearly four decades.

“These are monumental advances in state policy that place Indiana on the leading edge of national efforts to curb abortion,” said Indiana Right to Life president and CEO Mike Fichter.

One of the new provisions will require abortionists to inform women that human physical life begins at fertilization. more >>

The search for Lauren Spierer, a missing Indiana University student, has gone viral, spurring on social media efforts throughout the world to find her.

Having been missing for nearly a week now, close friends and family of the 20-year-old have used networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to the search and get the word out quickly.

Over 20 Facebook groups were created for the missing IU student, garnering prayer support and donations. Volunteer search groups were also organized all throughout the city. more >>

Amid pressure from its surrounding community, a Mennonite liberal arts college denied banning the performance of the national anthem at sporting events, saying it is simply finding an alternative that better resonates with its core values.

In a Facebook message posted Wednesday afternoon, Indiana's Goshen College distanced itself from rumors that it had "banned" the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" at sports games because the lyrics were "violent."

"Goshen College HAS NOT 'banned' the National Anthem. The Board HAS asked President James E. Brenneman to find an alternative to playing the Star-Spangled Banner that fits with sports tradition," the message clarified. more >>

A federal judge indicated Monday that she will decide by July 1 whether Indiana can implement a law that cuts off Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt heard over 90 minutes of arguments Monday on a Planned Parenthood request for an injunction to block Indiana's new abortion law.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana, represented by American Civil Liberties Union, argued that if the state continues to withhold funds then several clinics will run out of money and close and 9,300 Medicaid patients will be denied services. more >>

Indiana officials received notification from the Obama administration on Wednesday stating that if the state continued to withhold some funds from Planned Parenthood, the state could potentially lose over $4 billion in Medicaid funds.

In late April, the Indiana legislature passed HB 1210, a law cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, a leading abortion provider. Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the bill into law on May 10 and has not yet commented on yesterday’s letter.

The letter signaled the Health and Human Services Department was denying Indiana’s May 12 application. more >>

A 31-year-old woman from Fort Wayne, Ind., was found guilty last week for the slaying of her two-year-old son in a ritual to drive out demons.

After deliberating for five hours, a jury convicted Latisha Lawson of murder, neglect and battery charges – rejecting dense attorneys’ claim that Lawson was delusional and incapable of understanding right from wrong. The verdict was handed down Friday.

In November 2009, Lawson and another woman believed that their four children were possessed and allegedly forced them to ingest a mixture of vinegar and olive oil. The children vomited, but the women prevented Latisha’s son Jezaih from regurgitating the liquid until he stopped breathing, police reported. more >>