EVANSVILLE — A man accused of killing an Evansville woman and dismembering her body has made his first court appearance in the case.

A judge entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Earl Martin, 38, during Thursday’s initial hearing. He’s charged with murder and obstruction of justice in the December shooting death of Erica Bradfield, 41.

The Evansville Courier & Press reported Bradfield’s body parts were found in trash bags behind the home Martin shared with his mother.

Court records show Vanderburgh County prosecutors plan to seek a sentence of life without parole if Martin is convicted. He’s being held without bond.

A message seeking comment was left Friday with Martin’s public defender.

Martin also was charged last week with murder and robbery in the December death of a 20-year-old man.

INDIANAPOLIS — A longtime Republican leader in the Indiana House of Representatives is retiring.

Rep. Bill Friend, of Macy, said he will finish out his term but won’t run again in 2018.

Friend serves as speaker pro tempore and wields the gavel on the House floor when Speaker Brian Bosma is away.

Friend said it’s time to step back after four decades in elected office and let someone else have a turn.

He has represented north central Indiana in the legislature since 1992. He served in local government before that as a township trustee, County Council member and county auditor.

Friend is a hog farmer by trade. He plans to remain active in his community, church and business, but also wants to travel more with his wife to visit their grown children.

INDIANAPOLIS — Ivy Tech Community College plans to more than double the number of degrees and credentials awarded annually over the next five years.

The Indianapolis Business Journal reported that Ivy Tech officials also hope to boost enrollment rates statewide by over 25 percent by 2023.

President Sue Ellspermann said the plan launching next week is designed to increase Indiana’s available workforce for the anticipated 1 million jobs that will be open by 2025.

Ellspermann’s predecessor faced scrutiny for low graduation rates and declining enrollment.

Ivy Tech faces the challenge of increasing enrollment during a period of low unemployment, which is at 3.7 percent. Ellspermann said it’s difficult to recruit students when they’re fully employed.

The school’s looking to recruit from new areas, such as the Department of Corrections to train ex-offenders.

MARION — Animal control officials in a northeastern Indiana city are trying to find whoever left a dog outside in a crate to apparently freeze to death.

The dog’s frozen carcass was found Wednesday in a crate abandoned in a wooded area of Marion, about 60 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

Michael Edwards told WXIN-TV he began crying when he lifted a blanket covering the crate and found the dog dead inside, next to a bowl of food. He said the horrible sight “broke my heart.”

Marion Animal Care and Control is investigating, with Marion police’s help.

Police said Friday no arrests have been made and a necropsy is pending.

But local Humane Society President Brenda Volmer says the caged dog could only “stand there and freeze to death” in frigid temperatures.

—Associated Press