Children with disabilities are entitled to a public education but when schools don't fulfill that obligation, it's often left to parents to fight for their rights under federal law.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources said the spotted lanternfly has now entered Elkhart, Porter, and St. Joseph counties.

Many experts say it is harmful to isolate children with disabilities. Nationally, however, public districts paid for about 166,000 students with disabilities to attend segregated schools.

Schools across the country struggle to hire enough special education teachers and paraprofessionals. The shortage is so severe at one Indiana school that parents and educators worry it’s unsafe. They blame the problem on years of low pay and a reliance on inexperienced and unqualified staff.

A northwestern Indiana middle school student faces a charge of possessing a destructive device after two improvised explosive devices were found inside a backpack, authorities said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has declared Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties an Economic Development District.

Officials in Porter County and 10 other Indiana counties are testing a risk-assessment program to determine whether people who have been arrested should be required to post bail while awaiting trial.

Like other national parks around the country, the government shutdown has impacted Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in northwest Indiana.

About 3 million tourists visit the county each year, primarily for Lake Michigan and its beaches.

The Porter County prosecutor requested the special prosecutor because his senior staff members are acquaintances with the developer.