>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK," LAWMAKERS WANT TO
LIVE POLICE MORE FLEXIBILITY
WHEN USING DRONES.
BUT SOME DEPARTMENTS SAY A BILL
MOVING THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE
IS UNNECESSARY.
>> IT'S AN EXERCISE IN
SEMANTICS.
I WOULD RATHER SEE IT FAIL,
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING
OTHER THAN REASSURE CERTAIN
PEOPLE IN THAT THEY CAN DO THEIR
JOB.
>> THE DEBATE DRONES ON AHEAD.
ONE FAMILY'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE
NO MORE INFANTS WILL DIE OF THE
TREATABLE DISEASE THAT HAS
AFFLICTED THEIR SON IS NOW STATE
LAW.
>>> AND THE FOUNDERS OF AN
ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER WAS
SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR
POSSESSION CHARGE IN 2014.
BUT A SUPREME COURT RULING LATE
LAST YEAR SET HER FREE.
>> WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO ARGUE.
I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE!
>> NOW SHE'S BACK WORKING WITH
HER DAUGHTER TO HELP THOSE IN
RECOVERY.
THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST
NEWS HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE
STATE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
♪♪
>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
I'M JOE HREN.
A BILL THAT WOULD EXPAND THE USE
OF POLICE DRONES IS MOVING
FORWARD AT THE STATE HOUSE.
INDIANA IS ONE OF SEVERAL STATES
THAT REQUIRES POLICE TO OBTAIN A
SEARCH WARRANT BEFORE PUTTING A
DRONE IN THE AIR, UNLESS IT'S AN
EMERGENCY.
NOW REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE
SAYS HIS LEGISLATION WOULD
CREATE ADDITIONAL EXCEPTIONS,
BUT AS BARBARA BROSHER REPORTS,
SOME QUESTION IF IT'S NECESSARY.
>> WHEN DEPUTY BRANDON CHORDAS
PUTS A DRONE INTO THE SKY.
>> RIGHT NOW, I WILL RAISE THE
LANDING GEAR.
>> HE GETS A PERSPECTIVE HIS
DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
>> IT'S CUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME
WE ARE SPENDING AT THE SCENE
DOWN CONSIDERABLY, AND WE NEED
LESS MANPOWER TO COVER LARGE
AREAS, THEY USE THE TECHNOLOGY
TO FINDING MISSING PERSONS TO
TAKING PHOTOS OF A CRIME SCENE
AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY DON'T
HAVE TO GET A SEARCH WARRANT
BEFORE FLYING THE DRONES.
>> MOST TYPICALLY WE ARE
DEPLOYING OUR DRONES IN RELATION
TO A PURSUIT OR SEARCHING FOR A
SUSPECT, KNOWN AS EXAT THE GENT EXAT THE GENT
CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> FIRST RESPONDERS NEED A
SEARCH WARRANT BEFORE DEPLOYING
A DRONE, UNLESS IT'S AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION.
BUT A PROPOSAL AT THE STATE
HOUSE AIMS TO CHANGE THAT.
>> AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL
THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN USE
NOW.
>> REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT MORRIS'
BILL WOULD CREATE MORE
SITUATIONS WHERE POLICE CAN FLY
A DRONE WITHOUT A PARENT.
THEY WOULD NO LONGER NEED ONE IF
THEY ARE SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC
AT A PUBLIC EVENT OR PLACE, OR
COLLECTING EVIDENCE AT A PLACE
WHERE THERE'S NO REASONABLE
EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY.
MORRIS SAYS IN ONE CASE, FORT
WAYNE POLICE DIDN'T OBTAIN A
SEARCH WARRANT BECAUSE THEY
WANTED TO RESTORE TRAFFIC FLOW
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> AND IN COURT CURRENTLY, IF
YOU DO NOT HAVE A WARRANT TO
SHOOT THOSE PICTURES, THEY THROW
ALL THE PICTURES OUT.
THEY COULD IN THE USE THOSE IN
COURT.
>> THE FORT WAYNE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS IN FAVOR OF THE
CHANGES.
LIEUTENANT JOHN BAUERS SAYS THE
CURRENT LAW IS FLAWED.
>> SO IF I HAVE A CAMERA AND I'M
STANDING ON A PUBLIC PLACE AND
I'M TAKING A PICTURE OF A CRIME
SCENE BUT SENATOR MORRIS IS
FLYING A DRONE FOR ME, HE NEEDS
A WARRANT BUT I DON'T.
>> BUT THE INDIANA PUBLIC
DEFENDER COUNSEL HAS CONCERNS
ABOUT PRIVACY.
THE AGENCY WORRIES IF THE
PROPOSAL PASSES, THE LEGISLATURE
COULD RELAX THE REQUIREMENTS
EVEN MORE IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE TERMS OF THIS BILL ARE
TROUBLING, BUT THEY ARE NOT
ONEROUS.
THEY ARE NOT THROWING IT WIDE
OPEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
HOWEVER, IT IS CREATING MORE
INCREMENTAL TO A STRONG
STATUTORY SCHEME THAT WAS PUT IN
PLACE IN 2014 AND THE CONCERN
WOULD BE THAT MORE INCREMENTAL
EXCEPTIONS WOULD FOLLOW WITH IT.
>> WHILE THE BILL MOVES FORWARD
AT THE STATE HOUSE, THE DEPUTIES
WITH THE NOBLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT SAY THEY DON'T SEE
THE POINT OF THE LEGISLATION.
THEY DON'T THINK THE PROPOSAL
MAKES ANY CHANGES TO WHAT'S
LEGAL UNDER CURRENT LAW.
>> IT DOES NOT MAKE MY JOB ANY
EASIER THAN IT ALREADY, NOR DOES
IT MAKE IT ANY MORE DIFFICULT.
>> IN FACT, BAKER SAYS HE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE BILL FAIL
BECAUSE HE THINKS EXISTING LAW
IS STRONG ENOUGH.
>> IT SIMPLY SAYS IF YOU DON'T
HAVE AN EXTIGGENT CIRCUMSTANCE,
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO GET A SEARCH
WARRANT.
FOR ME, I BELIEVE WHOLLY IN THE
CONSTITUTION AND I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE
PUSHING THE BOUNDS OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
SO I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE
FACT THAT THE LAW REQUIRES A
WARRANT.
>> TO FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK,"
I'M BARBARA BROSHER.
>>> AND THAT POLICE DRONES BILL
WAS JUST ONE PART OF A BUSY WEEK
FOR LEGISLATORS AT THE STATE
HOUSE.
POLITICAL REPORTER BRANDON SMITH
JOINS US NOW TO TALK THE LATEST
FROM THE CAPITOL.
HI, BRANDON.
>> HEY THIS, JOE.
>> SO FIRST OFF, WE HAVE ANOTHER
WRINKLE IN A SEEMINGLY UNENDING
STORY OF HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION
IN INDIANA.
SO UPDATE US ON WHAT HAPPENED
THIS WEEK.
>> WELL, PROBABLY THE END GAME.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOUND THEIR
PREFERRED SOLUTION TO THIS HATE
CRIMES DEBATE AND THEY QUICKLY
APPROVED IT.
NOW, THEIR HATE CRIMES LANGUAGE
SAYS THAT A JUDGE CAN IMPOSE A
HARSHER SENTENCE IF A CRIME WAS
COMMITTED IN PART BECAUSE OF
BIAS.
IT ALSO REFERENCES A LIST OF
BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS THAT
ALREADY EXISTS IN STATE LAW, BUT
THAT LIST DOESN'T INCLUDE SEX,
AGE, OR GENDER IDENTITY, AND
THAT HAS MANY ADVOCATES AND
DEMOCRATS SAYING IT DOESN'T GO
FAR ENOUGH.
NOW, GOVERNOR HOLCOMB SAID
INITIALLY THAT HE WAS IN FAVOR
OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
LANGUAGE, AND THEN HE LATER SAID
THAT HE WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE
HIS LIST, WHICH IS MORE
COMPREHENSIVE.
>>> AND LAWMAKERS APPROVED
LEGISLATION THIS WEEK ALONG
PARTY LINES THAT BANNED DILATION
AND EVALUATION ABORTIONS.
WHAT DID DOCTORS SAY ABOUT THE
ISSUE AT A HEARING THIS WEEK?
>> WELL, DOCTORS QUITE FRANKLY
ARE SPLIT ON THE ISSUE.
NOW ANTIABORTION PHYSICIANS IN
FAVOR OF THE BILL SAY THAT
FETUSES CAN FEEL PAIN AND THEY
CALLED THIS PROCEDURE BARBARIC,
BUT OTHER DOCTORS SAY THAT
ACCEPTED MEDICAL SCIENCE SAYS
THAT FETUSES LITERALLY CANNOT
FEEL PAIN AT THAT STAGE OF
DEVELOPMENT.
THEY ALSO ARGUE THAT D.N.E.s
ARE THE SAFEST ABORTION
PROCEDURE AT THAT STAGE OF
PREGNANCY.
>> WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THAT
BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW?
>>> WELL, QUITE FRANKLY,
D.N.E.s WOULD LARGELY BE
BANNED IN THIS STATE EXCEPT FOR
SITUATIONS WHERE THE WOMAN FACES
SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS, BUT THE
ACLU OF INDIANA HAS ALREADY SAID
THAT THEY WILL SUE OVER THIS
BILL IF IT BECOMES LAW AND THE
ACLU HASN'T LOST AN ABORTION
CASE IN INDIANA THIS DECADE.
>>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE BILL THAT
GIVES PAYOUTS TO EXXONEREES OR
THE WRONGLY IMPRISONED.
IT DIDN'T FACE OPPOSITION.
>> IT'S THE FIRST REAL
OPPOSITION WE HAVE SEEN TO THAT
BILL THIS SESSION.
NOW, THE BILL GIVES $50,000 TO
PEOPLE WHO -- TO INNOCENT PEOPLE
FOR EVERY YEAR THAT THEY SPEND
WRONGLY IMPRISONED.
A COUPLE OF REPUBLICAN SENATORS
IN THE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK
THOUGHT $50,000 WAS ACTUALLY TOO
MUCH MONEY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
ACTUALLY LESS THAN WHAT THE
STATE HAS PAID OUT IN
SETTLEMENTS TO EXONEREES.
>> A VERY BUSY BRANDON SMITH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JOE.
>>> FIRST BILL GOVERNOR HOLCOMB
SIGNED THIS YEAR WILL REQUIRE A
TEST THAT COULD SAVE THE LIVES
OF SOME HOOSIER NEWBORNS.
TYLER LAKE REPORTS ON A BILL
THAT ADDS THREE NEW DISEASES TO
MEDICAL SCREENINGS OF NEWBORNS.
>> THIS IS BRYCE CLAUSEN AND HIS
PARENTS SAY HE'S THE INSPIRATION
FOR A BILL THAT WOULD ENSURE NO
OTHER PARENTS WOULD LOSE THEIR
CHILD LIKE THEY WILL LOSE HIM.
>> WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE DID ALL THAT WE COULD TO MAKE
SURE THAT NO OTHER HOOSIER
FAMILIES HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS
AND HAD TO LOSE THEIR BABY FROM
A DISEASE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
TREATED.
>> KRABBE IS A RARE NEUROLOGICAL
CONDITION THAT AFFECTS ONE IN
100,000 AMERICANS.
IT CAN BE TREATED WITH AN EARLY
STEM CELL TRANSPLANT BUT IF NOT
TREATED EARLY, THE DISEASE
USUALLY RESULTS IN DEATH BY AGE
2.
AND THE CLAUSENS BROUGHT BRYCE
TO THE BILL SIGNING TO CELEBRATE
HIS LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENT ON
HIS 14th MONTH BIRTHDAY.
>> WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT
HAPPENED IN 49 DAYS.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST INSANE TO
US.
WE NEVER IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD
HAPPEN IN THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, BECAUSE THEY PUT THE
BILL IN AFTER THE SESSION HAD
STARTED.
SO WE ARE JUST KIND OF IN AWE
THAT IT ALL HAPPENED.
>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB WAS
CLEARLY MOVED AS HE SIGNED THE
BILL, THANKING THE CLAUSENS AND
PRICE FOR THE CHANGE THEY
BROUGHT ABOUT.
>> FEW PEOPLE WILL GET MORE DONE
BEFORE THE AGE OF 2 THAN BRYCE.
>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M
TYLER LAKE.
>> POMPE DESEASE AND HURLER'S
SYNDROME OR THE OTHER TWO
DISEASES ADDED TO THE LIST FOR
NEWBORN SCREENINGS.
BARBARA BROSHER HAS LATEST ON
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES.
>> THANKS, JOE.
MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
AMANDA BARGE SUSPENDED HER
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN AGAINST JOHN
HAMILTON AFTER SEXUAL
ALLEGATIONS BY DRAKE.
THE MONROE COUNTY LEGAL
DEPARTMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT IN
RESPONSE TO THE ALLEGATIONS
AGAINST BARGE THAT FOCUSED
SOLELY ON DRAKE'S JOB
PERFORMANCE.
DRAKE SAYS THAT INFORMATION IS
IRRELEVANT.
HE SAYS THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE IS
A DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL
ISSUE.
>> WHO WOULDN'T COME TO WORK
DISGRUNTLED?
WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO WORK AND
HAVE A POOR JOB PERFORMANCE IF
YOU HAD TO EVERY DAY WONDER IF
YOU ARE GOING TO BE HARASSED?
>> BARGE SUSPENDED HER MAYORAL
CAMPAIGN BUT SAYS SHE DOESN'T
PLAN TO STEP DOWN AS A COUNTY
COMMISSIONER.
THE MOVE LEAVES MAYOR JOHN
HAMILTON AS THE ONLY CANDIDATE
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.
AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY EXPERT
SAYS IT'S HARD TO HOLD ELECTED
OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN
INCUMBENTS GO UNCHALLENGED.
>> PEOPLE ARE NOT ANGELS.
WE GOVERN OURSELVES.
ALL THE MORE REASON WHY YOU NEED
REALLY ACTIVE ELECTION CYCLES.
>> HE SAYS THE SAME HAPPENS WITH
THE MAJORITY OF CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATES WHO WENT ON THE SIDE
OF THE PREDOMINANT POLITICAL
PARTY.
REPUBLICAN AND LIBERTARIAN
PARTIES HAVE UNTIL NOON ON
JUNE 30th TO CHOOSE A
CANDIDATE TO CHALLENGE HAMILTON.
INDIANA'S PRIMARY ELECTION IS
MAY 7th.
>> A SECOND GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
FROM RONCOLY HIGH SCHOOL.
COUNSELOR LYNN STARKEY FILED
SHELLEY FITZGERALD IN FILING
CLAIMS WITH THE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
COMMISSION AGAINST THE SCHOOL,
SAYING THEY WERE DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION.
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF INDIANAPOLIS
SAYS CONTRACTS ARE GUARANTEED
FOR ONE YEAR.
AND STARKEY WAS IN VIOLATION OF
HER CONTRACT BECAUSE OF HER
CIVIL UNION.
LAST YEAR, THE SCHOOL RECEIVED
$1.7 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS FROM
SCHOOL VOUCHERS.
NOW ONCE THE COMMISSION REVIEWS
THE CLAIMS, STARKEY AND
FITZGERALD CAN FILE LAWSUITS.
>> FORMER VIGO COUNTY SCHOOL
CORPORATION SUPPLEMENT DANIEL
TANOOS WILL TRY TO GET THREE
FELONY COUNTS OF BRIBERY
DROPPED.
HE'S ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING BRIBES
IN EXCHANGE FOR A CONTRACT WITH
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HIS ATTORNEY REQUESTED THE COURT
OF APPEALS APPEALS REVIEW A PORTION OF
THE CASE THIS WEEK BEFORE IT
REACHES TRIAL.
THIS COMES AFTER THE COURT
DENIED A MOTION EARLIER IN THE
WEEK TO DISMISS ALL CHARGES
AGAINST TANOOS.
A STATUS HEARING IS SCHEDULED
FOR APRIL 24th IN MARION
COUNTY.
>>> A PART-TIME MEDICAL CLINIC
FOR VETERANS HAS CLOSED LESS
THAN A YEAR AFTER OPENING IN
KOKOMO.
U.S. SENATOR JOE DONNELLY LAST
YEAR HAD ASKED THE V.A. TO
INVESTIGATE AFTER SOME VETERANS
SAID THAT THE CLINIC DIDN'T
PROVIDE ENOUGH SERVICES.
>> I FELT LIKE THEY NEVER
REALLY -- THERE WAS -- I WILL
JUST BE CLEAR.
I FEEL LIKE THE V.A. NEVER
REALLY COMMITTED TO THE LOCATION
AND TO THE PROJECT ITSELF.
>> THE CLINIC WAS LOCATED IN THE
JOINT CITY COUNTY WELLNESS
CENTER.
A SPOKESPERSON AT THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SAYS STAFF HAD TO BE TRANSFERRED
TO A V.A. CLINIC IN MARION.
>>> A DETERIORATING DOWNTOWN
PARKING GARAGE IN BLOOMINGTON IS
YET AGAIN IN QUESTION BY THE
CITY COUNCIL.
MEMBERS ARE SPLIT ON WHETHER TO
FUND A NEW GARAGE WHERE THE
CURRENT ONE STANDS.
MAYOR JOHN HAMILTON IS ASKING
THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT BUILDING
A NEW GARAGE, AND SO DID
REPRESENTATIVES FROM CFC
PROPERTIES, WHICH OWNS A NUMBER
OF DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS.
>> PARKING IS SO VALUABLE, AND
IF WE DO NOT PROVIDE PARKING
NECESSARY, IT IS GOING TO HAVE
AN IMPACT ON BUSINESSES.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON
THE TOURISM DOWNTOWN.
THE CITY PROPOSED USING AN
$18.5 MILLION TAX REVENUE BOND
TO ACQUIRE, DEMOLISH, AND
CONSTRUCT A NEW GARAGE WITH A
MAXIMUM OF 550 PARKING SPACES.
A REPORT FROM STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERS REVEALS THAT THE TRUE
COST OF REPAIRS TO THE 4th
4th STREET GARAGE WOULD BE
ALMOST $1.6 MILLION.
THAT'S NEARLY 25% MORE THAN THE
INITIAL ESTIMATE.
THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE A FINAL
VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL NEXT WEEK.
>>> WELL, BLOOMINGTON COMPANY IS
USING VIRTUAL REALITY TO HELP
TRAIN PEOPLE FOR REAL WORLD
SITUATIONS.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST
APPLICATIONS IS SEXUAL
HARASSMENT TRAINING.
REGATTA V.R. USES VIRTUAL AND
AUGMENTED REALITY ALONG WITH
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO HELP
COMPANIES TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES.
>> IT MIMICS CONVERSATIONS WITH
PEOPLE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX AND
ENCOURAGES THE PERSON TO ANSWER
CORRECTLY AND TRACKS THEIR EYE
MOVEMENT AND THEIR MOVEMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING TO THE PERSON, BUT MAYBE
WHERE YOU ARE LOOKING, HOW YOU
ARE ACTING, HOW CLOSE YOU GOT TO
THEM, WHERE THEY MIGHT FEEL
VIOLATED.
>> AND AS MORE COMPANIES LOOK TO
EDUCATE THEIR EMPLOYEES ABOUT
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WAKE OF
THE #ME TOO MOVEMENT, HE SAYS IT
PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S A SAFE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
CAN MAKE MISTAKES WHILE
LEARNING.
>>> AND JOE, I ACTUALLY GOT TO
TEST OUT THE TECHNOLOGY.
YOU REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE
IN A ROOM AND THESE REAL WORLD
SITUATIONS WHEN YOU PUT THOSE
GOGGLES ON.
>> THAT'S AMAZING, BARBARA.
THANK YOU.
>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA
NEWSDESK," ESKANAZI HEALTH IS
EXPANDING A PROGRAM TO BRING IN
VOLUNTEERS TO OLD BABIES IN THE
NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TO
GIVE THEM A MUCH NEEDED HUMAN
TOUCH.
>>> AND AFTER THINKING SHE COULD
SPEND THE NEXT 30 YEARS IN
PRISON, A SUPREME COURT RULING
FREED A SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMAN
AFTER TEN MONTHS.
NOW SHE'S BACK HELPING OTHERS
RECOVER FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
THESE STORIES AND MORE RIGHT
HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA
NEWSDESK."
WELL, WE FIRST INTRODUCED YOU TO
LISA LIVINGSTON A YEAR AGO.
SHE WAS AWAITING SENTENCING ON
SEVERAL DRUG-RELATED CHARGES.
HER FATE AND THAT OF THE WOMAN'S
RECOVERY CENTER SHE FOUNDED WAS
UP IN THE AIR.
ULTIMATELY, A JUDGE ORDERED HER
TO 30 YEARS.
MY COLLEAGUE BROCK TURNER HAS
BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY FOR
OVER A YEAR NOW, BROCK AND
THAT'S NOT WHERE LISA'S STORE I
ENDS.
>> NO -- STORY ENDS.
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
SHE STARTED SERVING HER SENTENCE
IN MARCH.
HER ATTORNEYS FILED MULTIPLE
APPEALS AND IT SEEMED LIKE SHE
WOULD SERVE HER FULL PRISON
SENTENCE.
IN OCTOBER 2017, LISA LIVINGSTON
OPENED THE BREAK AWAY.
HER ARREST IN 2013 FOR METH
POSSESSION WAS THE WAKE-UP CALL
SHE NEEDED TO GET CLEAN AND TAKE
IT A STEP FURTHER TO HELP OTHER
WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.
SINCE THEN 19 HAVE GRADUATED TO
LIVES OF SOBRIETY.
BUT WHEN SHE WAS SENTENCED, IT
WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER OR NOT THIS
HOME IN NEW ALBANY WOULD
SURVIVE?
>> SHE'S CERTIFIED.
I KNOW SHE HAS MY BACK.
SHE'S ALWAYS HAD MY BACK.
SHE'S MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS
AND I JUST KNOW THAT I MADE A
PROMISE TO HER THAT I WOULD DO
WHATEVER I HAD TO DO TO KEEP HER
DREAM ALIVE, TO KEEP THE HOUSE
GOING, TO KEEP THE WOMEN SAFE,
AND TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
GRADUATIONS AS IF SHE WAS HERE.
>> JUDGES HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO
SEND LIVINGTON TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTION.
MANDATORY MINIMUMS REQUIRED, IT
HOWEVER SHE AND HER ATTORNEY
HOPED LIVINGSTON COULD SERVE THE
ENTIRE OF HER SENTENCE IN A
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS SYSTEM
AWAY FROM PRISON, WHERE SHE
COULD CONTINUE TO WORK AT THE
BREAKAWAY.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THE MANDATORY MINIMUM WAS LONGER
THAN WHAT MANY DEEMED PRACTICAL
TO SERVE IN COMMUNITY
CORRECTIONS OR HOUSE ARREST.
>> IT WAS A SUCKER PUNCH TO THE
GUT IS WHAT IT FELT LIKE.
>> HER CASE MADE HEAD LINES
BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE WAS
DOING TO HELP OTHER WOMEN
THROUGH RECOVERY.
DURING HER TIME IN PRISON, HER
ATTORNEYS FILED A PAIR OF
APPEALS.
SHE TRIED TO FIND ACCEPTANCE.
>> I THREW MYSELF IN CHURCH.
SO I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
TO KNOW GOD AND READ MY BIBLE,
AND I SPENT EVERY 10, 30 COUNT
AND I WOULD GET ON MY KNEES AND
PUT MY SHOWER SHOES SHOES UNDER MY
KNEES AND I WOULD STAY THERE
UNTIL IT GEARED WHICH IS USUALLY
ABOUT AN HOUR.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE MY
DAUGHTER'S AGE, 53 YEARS OLD AND
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BETWEEN
25 AND 30.
>> SON DECEMBER 28, THE INDIANA
SUPREME COURT CHANGED EVERYTHING
IN A RULING THAT THEY SAID IS
EXTREMELY RARE, THEY ALTERED
LISA'S SENTENCE AND RELEASED HER
FROM PRISON.
SHE WOULD GET TO GO BACK TO
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS.
>> WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO ARGUE.
I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
IT WAS FILED BY BRIEF, AND RULED
ON BY BRIEF.
WHICH IS REALLY STUNNING.
SIGNAL
>> COLETTEA SAYS IT SETS A
PRECEDENT FOR NONVIOLENT DRUG
OFFENDERS TO HAVE THEIR
SENTENCES SHORTENED, BUT
LIVINGSTON DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS
WITHOUT A PURPOSE.
HER DAUGHTER LACY OVERDOSED.
PARAMEDICS USED MULTIPLE DOSES
OF NARCAN IN AN ATTEMPT TO
REVIVE HER, BUT LACEY'S HEART
STOPPED.
PARAMEDICS PERFORMED CPR AND
EVENTUALLY SHE REGAINED
CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE WAY TO A
LOUISVILLE HOSPITAL.
>> I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I
WELCOMED DEATH.
I KNEW WHEN I CAME TO IN THE
BACK OF THE AMBULANCE, IT ENDED
UP HAPPENING WHEN I MY MOM GOT
LOCKED AWAY, I CRIED AND I CRIED
TO THE EMT.
I SAID, HELP ME.
I CANNOT STOP!
I CAN'T STOP!
>> FOR LACY, THAT MOMENT PAIRED
WITH THE SHORT STAY IN JAIL WAS
HER BREAKING POINT.
SHE ENROLLED IN THE BREAKAWAY,
THE RECOVERY HOME HER MOM
STARTED.
>> ALL OF THESE EMOTIONS THAT WE
DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH,
WE ARE TAUGHT HOW TO DEAL WITH
THAT.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I WAS
GETTING HIGH OVER AND STAYING
HIGH OVER, I DEALT WITH THOSE
THINGS IN THIS HOUSE.
AND THE BEST PART WAS I DIDN'T
DEAL WITH THEM ALONE.
I HAVE A WHOLE HOUSE FULL OF
WOMEN THAT HELPED ME THROUGH,
EVEN THE HARD TIMES WITH THE
FACT THAT MY MOM WAS GOING TO BE
IN PRISON FOR 30 YEARS.
YOU KNOW?
THE LADY WHO RUNS THIS PLACE,
SHE LOVED ME BACK TO LIFE.
>> AFTER JUST SIX MONTHS IN THE
HOUSE, LACY RECENTY THERE
GRADUATED FROM THE 12-STEP
PROGRAM.
WHILE THE ROAD AHEAD MIGHT BE
DIFFICULT, BOTH LACY AND LISA
KNOW THEY NOW HAVE EACH OTHER TO
RELY ON.
>> SHE'S A CHILD THAT I HAVEN'T
SEEN FOR TEN YEARS.
AND WHEN I HAVE SEEN -- I KNOW I
KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN
I SEEN WHAT THIS HOUSE DID FOR
HER, I'M JUST LIKE, OH, MY GOD.
WHEN YOU SEE OTHER PEOPLE DO IT,
ONCE AGAIN, AND THEN WHEN YOU
WATCH YOUR DAUGHTER DO IT AND
THE CHANGES YOU SEE IN YOUR OWN
DAUGHTER, IT'S AMAZING.
SO GETTING TO BE THERE IS --
IS -- I'M EXTREMELY BLESSED.
>> AND IT'S A BLESSING THAT
ISN'T LOST ON THE WOMEN WHO KEPT
THE HOUSE GOING IN LISA'S
ABSENCE.
>> I THINK EVERY STRUGGLE WAS
NEEDED, INCLUDING HER BEING GONE
FOR THE TEN MONTHS THAT SHE HAD
TO GO AWAY.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT GAVE HER
DAUGHTER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME
HERE, FOCUS ON HERSELF, AND
BECOME THE WOMAN THAT SHE'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.
>> MANY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS,
PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES I SPOKE
WITH AGREE THERE'S MORE OF A
NEAT FOR RECOVERY OPTIONS ACROSS
THE STATE, WHILE THERE'S DEBATE
ABOUT THE ROLE INCARCERATION
PLAYS, MANY DO AGREE INDIANA
WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE RECOVERY
OPTIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA
AFFILIATION OF RECOVERY
RESIDENCES LESS THAN 2% OF THOSE
IN NEED HAVE ACCESS.
THAT TRANSLATES TO MORE THAN
TWO-THIRDS OF INDIANA COUNTIES
MANY OF WHICH ARE IN RURAL PARTS
OF STATE THAT DON'T HAVE A
FACILITY.
THERE'S CURRENTLY A NEED FOR
66,000 BEDS ACROSS THE STATE.
>> BROCK, GREAT STORY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> APPRECIATE IT, JOE.
>>> WELL BEING PROGRAMS FOR
VOLUNTEERS TO HOLD BABIES IN THE
INTO HEIO NATAL INTENSIVE CARE
UNIT ARE -- NEONATAL INTENSIVE
CARE UNIT ARE BECOMING MORE
POPULAR.
ESKANAZI IS EXPANDING THEIR
PROGRAM AND MARY KATE MET WITH
THEM.
>> WHEN MARY ROBBINS NIERSTE
HEARD ABOUT THE CUDDLE BUDDIES,
SHE JUMPED AT THE UNIT.
>> I RETIRED AND I WANTED TO DO
SOME VOLUNTEER.
I FOUND A COUPLE OF THINGS
AROUND THE CITY AND THEY STARTED
THIS PROGRAM AND I WAS -- I WAS
RIGHT -- I WAS RIGHT THERE, THE
FIRST ONE.
>> ESKANAZI HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY
IT HELPS INFANT DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH HUMAN TOUCH.
INFANTS CAN EXPERIENCE IMPROVED
SLEEP, FASTER GROWTH, LOWER PAIN
LEVELS AND SHORTER HOSPITAL
STAYS JUST BY BEING HELD.
>> HELLO THERE.
>> TEN-DAY-OLD BABY ALYNE IS A
RESIDENT AND ONE OF THE NEWBORNS
THAT USES A CUDDLE BUDDY.
>> SOME OF THEM, YOU CAN FEEL
THEM RELAX, AND YOU JUST KNOW
THAT IT'S A GOOD THING THAT YOU
ARE DOING FOR THEM.
AND I WAS AMAZED AT THAT WHEN I
FIRST STARTED.
>> BUT ROBBINS SAYS IT'S NOT
JUST THE BABIES THAT BENEFIT
FROM THIS PROGRAM?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST HAD THIS TOTAL CALMING
EFFECT ON ME.
>> THE SERVICES OFFERED WHEN
PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE
OBLIGATIONS THAT TAKE THEM AWAY
FROM THE HOSPITAL.
MARY COMES INTO THE HOSPITAL
ONCE A WEEK FOR THREE HOUR SHIFT
AND HAS VOLUNTEERED WITH THE
PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
>> I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO
MY THURSDAYS.
IT'S CERTAINLY MY FAVORITE DAY
OF THE WEEK.
I DO OTHER VOLUNTEER THINGS, BUT
THIS IS CERTAINLY MY FAVORITE.
>> SINCE RECEIVING THE HUGGIES
NO BABIES UNHUGGED GRANT,
ESKANAZI HEALTH HAS HAD TO
CREATE A WAITING LIST FOR INFLUX
OF VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN
BECOMING A CUDDLE BUDDY.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MARY
KATE HAMILTON.
>> AND CREWS SAY THEY WILL BE
DONE RECONSTRUCTING A COVERED
BRIDGE IN MONROE COUNTY BY NEXT
MONTH.
THE ORIGINAL BRIDGE DATES BACK
TO THE 1880s, BUT IT WAS
DESTROYED IN A FIRE IN 1976.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE
STATE OF INDIANA TRAVEL ALL
AROUND JUST TO GO SEE A COVERED
BRIDGE.
SINCE THIS IS NEW, YEAH.
WE DO EXPECT -- I'M SURE THE
NEWNESS WILL WEAR OFF QUICK, BUT
IN THE BEGINNING I'M SURE WE
WILL HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC OUT
THERE DURING THE SUMMER.
>> BRIDGE SAYS FEDERAL MONEY IS
FUNDING 80% OF THE $1.6 MILLION
PROJECT.
AT ONE TIME MONROE COUNTY HAD 14
COVERED BRIDGES.
>>> THAT' THE END OF THIS
PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES
ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT
WTIUNEWS.ORG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
♪♪
>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY: