Indiana
Mom of two dies from drinking too much water after feeling dehydrated on family trip
![Mom of two dies from drinking too much water after feeling dehydrated on family trip](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000017943434.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024)
An Indiana mother of two who told her family it felt like she couldn’t drink enough water to feel satiated collapsed and died from water toxicity — a rare consequence of drinking too much water too quickly.
Ashley Summers, 35, was out at Lake Freeman with her husband and two young daughters over the Fourth of July weekend when she began feeling severely dehydrated.
“Someone said she drank four bottles of water in 20 minutes,” her brother Devon Miller told WRTV. “I mean, an average water bottle is like 16 ounces, so that was 64 ounces that she drank in a span of 20 minutes. That’s half a gallon. That’s what you’re supposed to drink in a whole day.”
On the last day of the family’s trip, the mom began feeling like she couldn’t drink enough water.
Summers’ family said that she was feeling lightheaded and had a stubborn headache, her family said.
“My sister, Holly, called me, and she was just an absolute wreck. She was like ‘Ashley is in the hospital. She has brain swelling, they don’t know what’s causing it, they don’t know what they can do to get it to go down, and it’s not looking good,’” said Miller.
After returning from the trip, Summers passed out in her garage before being taken to IU Health Arnett Hospital.
She never regained consciousness, and doctors told her family she had died from water toxicity.
“It was a shock to all of us. When they first started talking about water toxicity. It was like this is a thing?” Miller recalled.
Dr. Blake Froberg, a toxicologist with the hospital, told the outlet the rare cause of death is more likely to occur during the summer or if someone works outside or exercises frequently.
“There are certain things that can make someone more at risk for it, but the overall thing that happens is that you have too much water and not enough sodium in your body,” Froberg said, later noting it’s important for people to drink things that have electrolytes, sodium and potassium.
Symptoms of water toxicity include feeling generally unwell as well as having muscle cramps, soreness, nausea and headaches.
Summers was an organ donor and was able to donate her heart, liver, lungs, kidneys and some of her long bone tissue, ultimately saving five other lives, her family said.
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Indiana
Military procession for fallen soldier stretches from O’Hare to Merrillville, Indiana
![Military procession for fallen soldier stretches from O’Hare to Merrillville, Indiana](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/07/02/820a71d0-177b-4e5d-872a-2aec67217f49/thumbnail/1200x630/02721863bbf1a16aa31ff17fddc71a90/patriot-guard-procession.png?v=57e8061b2038d609da26e467de5ddfb8)
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.
Indiana
Indiana’s Education Scholarship Accounts see boosted participation – Inside INdiana Business
![Indiana’s Education Scholarship Accounts see boosted participation – Inside INdiana Business](https://cdn.insideindianabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Classroom-Stock-2.jpg)
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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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Indiana
Wide Receiver Myles Kendrick Commits to Indiana Football
![Wide Receiver Myles Kendrick Commits to Indiana Football](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_277/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/hoosiers_now/01j1qbrdbjkjkm2c4d3g.jpg)
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.
Let’s Work!! @CoachEddie2 @CoachShanahan_ @CCignettiIU @JohnGarcia_Jr @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/CVGCbcYOKV
— Myles Kendrick 3⭐️ ATH (@mkendrick2025) June 29, 2024
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.
Beyond eager to make some noise this season.. Big junior year ahead!! @Mobellent @_COACH35 @_CoachLucas @CoachBillyG pic.twitter.com/IsFvHDJsQ0
— Myles Kendrick 3⭐️ ATH (@mkendrick2025) July 29, 2023
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.
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