The Indiana Department of Health reported more than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, crossing yet another milestone in its late summer surge.

According to the state's vaccine dashboard, only about half of Indiana’s long-term care workers are currently vaccinated.

Earlier this month, the Penn-Harris-Madison school board adopted a mask-optional policy for the 2021-22 school year, drawing backlash from local doctors.

Indiana's breakthrough cases -- COVID-19 infections in people who are fully vaccinated -- are rising. But experts say while the increase in cases is concerning, it doesn’t show a lack of protection from vaccines.

Rockport Elementary School in Spencer County has entered its second week of virtual learning with more than half of its students and staff members in COVID-19 quarantine.

Local school board members are on the frontline of what is a health crisis at its core. Some school board members and superintendents across the state speak of a tough spot they’re put in. Some convey a message of confidence that things will be under control soon but others question why public health officials are not making these decisions in the middle of a resurging global pandemic.

Indiana's latest surge in COVID-19 infections has pushed hospitalizations and intensive care unit treatments for the illness to levels last seen in January.

The Indiana Department of Health's school cases dashboard updates every Monday. This week it recorded 3,504 new student COVID-19 cases -- 3,028 of which were reported in the last seven days.

Students who participated in the Indy Summer Learning Labs made significant gains on math and reading tests after the five week program.

The vote comes after the county health department released numbers showing the district had a disproportionately high number of students quarantined because of exposure to COVID-19.