MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (CBS) — A powerful military procession was held in the Chicago area Monday night for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Lee Fassoth.

Fassoth, 27, of Merrillville, passed away on June 18 while on active duty. He was 27.

The Illinois Patriot Guard led the procession, which started at O’Hare International Airport and made its way all the way to the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel in Merrillville. The procession traveled through Indiana along Route 30.

The Indiana Patriot Guard took over at Dyer Town Hall, and a flag was hung over the procession in Schererville, Indiana, according to a witness report. 

People lined the streets along the route to honor the fallen soldier.

According to his obituary, Fassoth enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard during his junior year at Merrillville High School and completed his training as an infantryman in 2015—the same year he graduated.

Fassoth was assigned to the 2-151 Infantry Regiment with the Indiana Army National Guard, the Headquarters Support Company at the U.S. Army Training Center in Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training in Fort Eustis, Virginia, according to the obit.

“Brandon loved being an infantryman, training and mentoring soldiers, and all aspects of being a soldier in the U.S. Army,” the obit read. “Brandon enjoyed hiking, reading, and spending time with his cat, Fireball. He traveled the country seeking new hiking adventures and off-the-beaten-path locations to photograph. He loved being in the company of family and friends, sharing conversations and laughs. Fireball was his best fur friend, whom he loved dearly. He completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was pursuing his master’s degree. Throughout his military career, he completed multiple Army schools, including Air Assault and Joint Forces Leader Development.”

The obit story did not specify how Fassoth died.

The number of Hoosier families using an Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA)—meant to help students who require special education services—is up 200% for the upcoming school year, the Indiana Treasurer of State announced Monday.

The agency said more than 50% of the $10 million appropriated for ESAs in the 2024-25 academic year has already been committed to eligible students. The program application deadline is still two months away, on Sept. 1.

The office said that between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, the number of K-12 students with disabilities who applied for and received ESA dollars increased by more than 200%. 

Provider participation also increased by more than 130% for that same time period – with more joining “each week,” according to the treasurer’s office. 

Additionally, nonpublic schools educating ESA students increased by more than 350% between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 terms. 

“These numbers are proof positive that this program is hitting the mark with parents and nonpublic schools, and our provider pool is growing across the state,” said Tina Kaetzel, executive director of the ESA program within the state treasurer’s office. “That provider data point is crucial, because providers are significantly instrumental to both parents and nonpublic schools in providing support and services to customize education for our special-needs kids.” 

Kaetzel said the ESA program is continuing to grow, noting that 20% more providers are registered with the program for the 2024-25 school year compared to the year prior. The number of non-public schools participating in the program has additionally grown by 50%, compared to the 2023-24 school year. 

“We’re seeing strong activity, with more applications coming each day—so parents will have their best chance of funding availability if they apply now,” Kaetzel said.

To be eligible for an ESA, school-aged Hoosiers must have an active service plan, Individualized Education Plan or Choice Special Education Plan (CSEP). They must also have an income below 400% of the Federal Free or Reduced School Meals limit, according to the Indiana Department of Education.

Accounts set up by the state treasurer’s office provide each qualifying student with thousands of dollars for private school tuition and various other educational services from providers outside of their school district.

Other expenses can include transportation, examinations and assessments, occupational therapy, paraprofessional or education aides, training programs and more.

The ESA program was created by the General Assembly in 2021 despite pushback from public education advocates who argued that the program lacks oversight and takes money away from traditional public schools.

During the 2024 legislative session, a top state Republican lawmaker floated a bill to eliminate the ESA program in favor of a new grant program that would allow all Hoosier families, regardless of income, to choose where their students get educated. 

The proposal did not advance, but discussion around the measure previewed possible legislative momentum in 2025.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, not-for-profit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Wide receiver Myles Kendrick has committed to Indiana following his June 18 visit.

“Let’s work!!” Kendrick wrote in his commitment post on X.

Kendrick is a 6-foot, 165-pound wide receiver from Riverside High School in Jacksonville, Fla. As a junior, he made 40 receptions for 710 and nine touchdowns. He also rushed 16 times for 96 yards and a touchdown, according to MaxPreps.

Kendrick also played cornerback and competed in the 100-meter and 200-meter events for the track and field team. He was a regional qualifier and ran the 100-meter dash in 11.03 seconds.

Kendrick picked Indiana over offers from Alabama State, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, Colorado, Delaware, East Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Michigan State, South Florida, Tulane, UConn, UMass, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, and West Georgia.

Rivals gives Kendrick a three-star classification, though he is unranked by other major recruiting sites.

Indiana’s new wide receivers coach is Mike Shanahan, who is also the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator. He has worked on staff for head coach Curt Cignetti dating back to 2016 at Indiana University-Pennsylvania, along with stops at Elon and James Madison.

Kendrick is now the 18th player in Indiana’s 2025 recruiting class, which is ranked No. 48 in the nation.