INDIANAPOLIS — State and local health officials are investigating a recent surge in cases of hepatitis A in southern Indiana, including many linked to a large outbreak in Kentucky.

The Indiana State Department of Health said Monday that 17 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed statewide in the last month, including 11 in Clark and Floyd counties. Since Jan. 1, it has confirmed 40 cases of the highly contagious liver infection statewide. Typically, fewer than 20 cases are confirmed each year in Indiana.

The agency said many of the cases have involved inmates in the Clark County Jail. An elementary school in Clark County and a restaurant in New Albany also are involved.

Hepatitis A is transmitted by consuming contaminated food or water and other means.

EVANSVILLE — One Indiana congressional candidate is running her campaign online while living overseas.

The Courier & Press reported Rachel Covington, 25, is running for the 8th District congressional seat for Indiana. She’s been campaigning primarily on her website and on Facebook while living in Japan as an English teacher.

Covington said she’ll move back to Indiana if she’s nominated during the Republican primary in May. The U.S. Constitution says Covington would have to establish residency in Indiana by the Nov. 6 general election in order to be elected.

She’s seeking to unseat four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is reminding motorists and others that all license branches will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday.

It said branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours Saturday.

More information on branch locations and hours, BMV Connect self-service kiosk locations and completing an online transaction is available at myBMV.com.

ANDERSON — A fire station in central Indiana has been temporarily shut down so exterminators can deal with an infestation of bedbugs and ants.

Anderson Fire Department Chief Dave Cravens told The Herald Bulletin that he closed Station 7 on Monday so the bugs can be dealt with after a bedbug problem was discovered last week. He said the station should reopen this weekend or early next week.

Cravens said there is no reduction in services to the public while the station is closed, since fire vehicles have been moved to other locations.

The station is in line for a remodeling later this year.

RICHMOND — Crews are about to start tearing down an abandoned hospital complex that’s become an eyesore targeted by vandals and thieves in recent years.

Richmond city controller Beth Fields said the demolition contractor is expected to start April 9 on taking down the former Reid Hospital complex.

The (Richmond) Palladium-Item reported workers have been cleaning out asbestos and doing interior demolition since December. The demolition project has an expected completion date of July 2019 at a cost of about $4.3 million.

CORYDON — An elementary school teacher faces three dozen counts of child molestation that occurred over a three-year period, authorities said Monday.

A not-guilty plea was entered on behalf of Corey Faith, 40, during an initial hearing in Harrison Superior Court. The Corydon man was being held at the Harrison County Jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond.

Faith admitted the incidents of molestation occurred from 2005 to 2007 in his home, his classroom at New Middletown Elementary School in Corydon and elsewhere, Harrison County Prosecutor Otto Schalk said. A probable cause affidavit said the alleged victim was 12 years old when the molestations began. She had been a student of Faith’s when he taught sixth grade.

—Associated Press