UPDATE: Indiana Supreme Court upholds state’s abortion ban
The state’s high court nixed a preliminary injunction that has kept the ban on hold since September.
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Supreme Court rejects Biden’s plan to cancel $400 billion in student loans
The court held that the administration needs Congress’ endorsement before undertaking so costly a program.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with web designer who won’t do gay wedding websites
In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples.
Indiana ACLU executive director Henegar to retire
Jane Henegar plans to stay in her position with the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana until a replacement is found, leaving by Jan. 1.
What the Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admissions means for Indiana students
In Indiana, state leaders and others are already worried about the declining college-going rate, which is especially low for Black and Hispanic and Latino students.
Supreme Court strengthens protections for religious rights at work
The Supreme Court sided in part with a Sabbath-observant mail carrier who quit the U.S. Postal Service after he was forced to deliver packages on Sundays.
Indiana attorney general part of $2.5B Medicaid fraud action
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office, through its Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, joined more than a dozen states and the federal government Wednesday in a nationwide enforcement action against 78 individuals charged with Medicaid fraud.
Supreme Court says conviction for online threats violated 1st Amendment
To guard against a chilling effect on non-threatening speech, the majority said, states must prove that a criminal defendant has acted recklessly, meaning that he “disregarded a substantial risk that his communications would be viewed as threatening violence.”
Big Supreme Court decisions coming this week
The high court has 10 opinions left to release over the next week before the justices begin their summer break. The last opinions to be released cover some of the most contentious issues.
3M reaches $10.3B settlement over contamination of water systems
The deal would compensate water providers for pollution with per- and polyfluorinated substances, known collectively as PFAS—a broad class of chemicals used in nonstick, water- and grease-resistant products such as clothing and cookware.
Gannett sues Google and Alphabet, claiming they have monopoly on digital advertising
The largest U.S. newspaper publisher by total daily circulation alleges in the suit that Google controls how publishers sell their ad slots and forces them to sell an increasing amount of ad space to Google at lower prices.
Eviction filings 50% higher than in pre-pandemic in some cities as rents rise
After a lull during the pandemic, eviction filings by landlords have come roaring back, driven by rising rents and a long-running shortage of affordable housing.
Federal judge temporarily blocks much of Indiana’s ban on gender-transition care for minors
U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon wrote Friday that he was blocking the law from taking effect because its opponents had demonstrated potential irreparable harm to those undergoing treatment and shown “some likelihood of success” in arguments that it was unconstitutional.
Indiana’s high court to consider privacy in ‘bizarre’ Community Health case
An Indianapolis woman is suing Community Health Network after the hospital system mailed her test results to the wrong person and that person posted the information on Facebook.
Ex-Starbucks manager awarded $25.6M in suit over firing
Jurors in federal court have awarded $25.6 million to a former Starbucks regional manager who alleged that she and other white employees were unfairly punished after the high-profile arrests of two Black men at a Philadelphia location in 2018.
Judge hears bid to block Indiana’s ban on gender-transition care for minors
A federal judge in Indianapolis made no immediate ruling after hearing about 90 minutes of arguments from the Indiana attorney general’s office and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, which is seeking a preliminary injunction.
Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges that he illegally kept classified documents
The indictment unsealed last week charged Trump with 37 felony counts—many under the Espionage Act—that accuse him of illegally storing classified documents in his bedroom, bathroom, shower and other locations at Mar-a-Lago.
Local podiatry office manager charged with Medicaid fraud
According to a federal complaint, the woman submitted $556,797 in false claims to Medicaid for portable medical devices known as oximeters and wired the money to her personal bank account.
ACLU of Indiana files suit against new law on sexuality instruction in classrooms
The federal lawsuit filed on behalf of an IPS teacher claims that, in addition to First Amendment violations, the legislation is overly broad, as neither “instruction” nor “human sexuality” is defined.
Supreme Court rules for Jack Daniel’s in trademark fight over poop-themed dog toy
In a narrow, unanimous ruling, the justices sent back to a lower court the case testing the line between trademark protections and free-speech rights.