The Latest Indiana News Round-Up of Current Events
Find the latest headlines on severe weather, local arts, emergency alerts, government meetings, parks and recreation, police reports, press releases and more.
The Latest Indiana News: A Round-Up of Current Events is here to keep you updated on the most important stories in our region. It’s a great way to stay informed on what’s going on in Richmond, Wayne County and the surrounding area.
Birth Control Without a Prescription
In a move that could make it easier for women to get birth control without a prescription, Indiana is now joining 24 states that allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control pills, patches or rings. The law, which takes effect July 1, requires participating pharmacists to undergo training, give patients a self-screening risk assessment and refer them to their primary care providers.
Supporters say the new law will give more women in areas with physician shortages access to contraception and improve their health outcomes. Opponents, however, say they doubt the ability of pharmacists to provide the same level of care as physicians.
The move comes a month after Republican lawmakers passed a statewide abortion ban that remains in limbo while the state Supreme Court weighs arguments that it violates the state constitution. “This legislation will allow more Hoosier women to control when and if they grow their families and will enhance public health for years to come,” says Democratic Rep. Rita Fleming of Jeffersonville, co-author of HB 1568.
A High School Teacher Charged with Stalking
A high school teacher has been arrested for sending a 15-year-old student over 600 text messages including lewd jokes and memes. The teacher, Paige Simon of Osgood, has been charged with stalking and official misconduct, both Level 6 felonies.
She also reportedly had sex with the juvenile and another student in the classroom. The teacher even showed up at one of the student’s baseball games, according to FOX59.
She was arrested by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department on Friday. She is being held on $7,500 bail while awaiting her first court date. The deputies say she was the talk of the school. She was also caught on camera wearing a hat with an attached pocket for her cell phone and texting a student from her office. She allegedly had an office-sized iPhone, which she used to communicate with the student. She is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation. She is not expected to return to work until she completes her assessment.
A Delaware County Councilman Comes Out as a Native American Lesbian
A Delaware County Councilman may look like a typical White male, but he wants you to know that he is proud to be an Indian American lesbian. According to a Fox News report, the councilman is a proud member of the LGBTQ community and even has a t-shirt to prove it. He claims he is also the proud father of six children. He reportedly received some flack from his fellow members of the county council, but has since pushed back against some of the criticism.
This ain’t no small feat. For example, a recent Facebook post by Webb claiming to be the first Native American to ever be named a lesbian sparked some serious controversy. In fact, he has received more than a few death threats for his cheeky joke-making escapades.
The NBA Scored a Record 114.7 Points Per Game
The NBA reached a point of scoring this season that was not seen in more than half a century. Teams averaged 114.7 points per game this year, which is the ninth-highest mark in the league’s 77 seasons and the most since teams averaged 116.7 per game in 1969-70.
Teams shot a record 282,127 points this season, smashing the previous mark of 273,573 set in 2018-19. The NBA has never had a better season from the foul line, with teams shooting 78.2% this season. The Pacers rank 11th in the league in PPG, averaging 115.9 while allowing opponents to score 118.3. They connect on 1.5 more threes per game than their opponents do, 13.9 (fifth in the league) compared to 12.4. Their 41.5 rebounds per game rank 24th in the NBA, 3.9 fewer than their opponents grab each contest. Their -168 scoring differential is the eighth-largest in the league. They’ve also scored more points at home than on the road this season, 119.4 at home versus 118.9 away from home.