Here's how badly Indiana's schools did on the new ISTEP: Just four of 1,500 public schools that took the 2015 exam had more kids pass than the year before.

Students at West Lafayette's Cumberland Elementary School sent state Sen. Ron Alting more than 800 postcards and letters seeking his help in their mission to get the firefly named Indiana's official insect.

Shari Wagner steps into the role of Poet Laureate for Indiana as the state celebrates its bicentennial and the centennial of its state parks.

As Indiana government and health officials grapple with the state's ongoing drug abuse crisis, they say the problem begins and ends, in many ways, with the issue of stigma. And, it's an issue that can't be solved through a piece of legislative or administrative policy.

House Speaker Brian Bosma says he will do everything in his power to ensure the legislature's upcoming debate over LGBT civil rights is a respectful one. He is also calling for people to remain positive about the state's image.

Indiana's sales tax revenues have underperformed this fiscal year and a new revenue forecast predicts the state won't collect as much as previously predicted.

Indiana's unemployment rate held steady for the third consecutive month in November, still its lowest level in 14 years.

Alcohol sales of any kind in Indiana have long been banned on Christmas Day. But the change in state law that took effect in July allows Indiana residents to buy alcohol at any restaurant, bar, liquor store or grocery store that's open starting this Christmas Day.

State officials say they will send out general information bulletins, as well as specific alerts when there is an elevated or imminent threat of a terror attack in the U.S.