Lowell businessman earns top drag racing award

Melanie Csepiga Times Correspondent

LOWELL | With wraparound headphones on and a National Hot Rod Association cap atop his head, 85-year-old Ken Hirata talks up a vendor before switching to a conversation with a Lake County planner on expanding one of his buildings immediately …

Allegiant stops service at Gary airport

Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

GARY | Allegiant will discontinue air service in August, officials at the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority announced late Friday.

Chicago Ford plant operating at capacity

Andrea Holecek Time Correspondent

CHICAGO | The nation’s improved economy and the sales of Police Interceptors has the Ford Chicago Assembly plant working at maximum capacity.

Does Your Image Impact Your Career

Times Staff

MICHICAN CITY | Goodwill Industries of Michiana is offering a Women’s Career Workshop on Image from 10 to 11 a.m. June 4 at the Impact Office in Michigan City.

Investors shift focus to growth stocks

STEVE ROTHWELL AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK | Growth stocks, neglected at the start of the year, are starting to get a bit of love from investors again.

Summer travel forecast: Better, but no blowout

JONATHAN FAHEY and SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writers

NEW YORK (AP) — This summer, high rollers are flying to lavish hot spots for their vacations. The rest of us are driving to less luxurious places like nearby campgrounds.

Real estate investment group hosts inaugural meeting

Times Staff

SCHERERVILLE | The founder and publisher of Personal Real Estate Magazine will speak at the first meeting of the Financial Momentum Club on Tuesday.

Marketing session set at INnovation Center

Times Staff

HAMMOND | The Hammond INnovation Center and Northwest Indiana SBDC present their next Lunch and Learn Workshop, "Marketing the Message of 'What’s In It for Me'"

Elected officials discuss 2013 State Legislative Session

Rob Earnshaw Times Correspondent

GARY │ A wrap-up of the 2013 state legislative session and how it will affect Gary was provided on Thursday by elected representatives at Ivy Tech Community College.

NIRPC public participation vote postponed

By Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

Action on a public participation plan was postponed Thursday at the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission due to concerns raised by disability rights advocates and confusion over what was to be voted on.

Why worry? Less aid by Fed would point to recovery

PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON | Investors have grown nervous that the Federal Reserve will scale back its efforts to boost the U.S. economy sooner than many expected.

LaPorte unveils propane-powered buses

Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

LAPORTE | Two new public transit buses that run on propane were unveiled Thursday in LaPorte.

The Times presents seminar about marketing in a digital age

Times Staff

MUNSTER | The The Times Media Co. is offering solutions to ensure businesses are found in the realm of Internet searches and how business owners and executives can stay on top of how their business is being represented online.

IUN plans resource workshop for women, minority business owners

Times Staff

Indiana University Northwest and the Indiana Department of Administration invite minority and women business executives to a resource workshop.

A divided Fed wrestles with when to slow bond buys

MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON | The Federal Reserve is torn over when to slow its aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy.

Gas prices are Memorial Day weekend wild card

Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

Americans will be traveling slightly farther on average to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend this year, but gas prices in the Midwest may have drivers locally looking for ways to skimp on some of their fun.

Enviro leader touts ecotourism, partnerships

Lauri Harvey Keagle lauri.keagle@nwi.com, (219) 852-4311

CHESTERTON | More needs to be done to help build partnerships between businesses and environmental organizations to maximize tourism dollars generated by our local natural resources, according to one local leader.

Gander Mountain shifts to firearms super center

Lu Ann Franklin Times Correspondent

MERRILLVILLE | Gander Mountain’s new focus on firearms debuts Friday at the Westfield Southlake Mall store.

NWI home sales continue winning streak

Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

Northwest Indiana single-family home sales increased 26 percent in April as compared to one year ago, marking the 22nd straight month home sales have increased in the region.

Steel production falls 19,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Matt Saltanovitz matthew.saltanovitz@nwi.com, (219) 933-4089

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 667,000 tons in the week ending May 18, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

South Suburban College, Thornton Township team up for job fair

Rob Earnshaw Times Correspondent

SOUTH HOLLAND │ More than 30 hiring companies welcomed throngs of job seekers to the South Suburban College and Thornton Township community career fair Tuesday.

RDA in negotiations to lure 250 jobs to region

Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority Board on Tuesday approved working with the state to land a new employer for the region that could create more than 250 new jobs.

Yahoo takes big leap with $1.1B deal for Tumblr

Michael Liedtke AP Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO | Yahoo is buying online blogging forum Tumblr for $1.1 billion as CEO Marissa Mayer tries to rejuvenate an Internet pioneer that had fallen behind the times.

Tumblr CEO's mom gushes over billion-dollar baby

Meghan Barr Associated Press

NEW YORK | As a teenager, Tumblr CEO David Karp would canvass the streets of New York City's Upper West Side, offering to build websites for local businesses. After his freshman year of high school, the precocious, computer-savvy kid decided …

New angel investment group starts in NWI

Diane Poulton Times Correspondent

CROWN POINT | Northwest Indiana is now home to its own so-called "angel" investment group, the Lakeshore ArchAngels.

PUC students claim awards in information systems competition

Times Staff

HAMMOND | Vying against other Midwestern college and university students, two Purdue University Calumet computer information systems seniors returned from the recent Ball State University Information Systems Project and Case Competition with …

M'ville's CLR Auto Transport receives top award

Times Staff

CLR Auto Transport of Merrillville received a top award and special recognition at Diversity Business’ 13th Annual National Business Conference and Awards Ceremony at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas.

STORY OF THE WEEK

Laser technology shaves time off bacteria turnaround

Professionals on the move

By Matthew Saltanovitz

Russ Bereolos, an American Family Insurance agent in Munster, and John Hamilton, an American Family Insurance agent in Portage, and Ken West, an American Family Insurance agent in Hobart, have earned 2013 American Star Excellence in Customer …

Steel execs address strengths, challenges of North American industry

Lu Ann Franklin Times Correspondent

To stay competitive globally and to grow, the North American steel industry needs reasonable, streamlined and effectively enforced policies from the U.S. and Canadian governments, top steel executives said.

Former Indy airport CEO reboots at Gary

Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

One day, he spent five hours straight at City Hall talking to representatives of major investment banks from all over the world. Other days he was on the phone with a $170 billion global hedge fund.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Chicago Health & Fitness

Andrea Holecek Times Correspondent

HOBART | As owner of Chicago Health & Fitness, Mario Daklala has found the perfect balance between career and hobby.

It's more than money for community banks

Andrea Holecek Times Correspondent

Community banks say they are committed to offering more than financial services because they have a symbiotic relationship with the communities they serve.

Bridal shop now offers tuxes, expanded hours

Times Staff

VALPARAISO | Here Comes the Dress, 3907 Calumet Ave., Suite 202, Valparaiso, has added tuxedo rental services.

South Shore CVA receives three awards

Times Staff

HAMMOND | The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority received three awards recognizing its newly updated website and the 2012 South Shore Air Show event poster.

Jobless rate in NWI falls dramatically; Indiana rate bumps down

Times Staff

The unemployment rates in the region dipped dramatically, while Indiana's unemployment rate dipped slightly in April, according to government data released Friday.

Environmental protections hike airport expansion cost

By Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

The Gary/Chicago International Airport's expansion project is facing mounting costs, but officials say it can still be completed within its current $166 million budget.

Gary airport puts out help wanted sign for director

By Keith Benman keith.benman@nwi.com, (219) 933-3326

Gary/Chicago International Airport is advertising nationwide for an airport executive director as the airport prepares for some of the biggest changes in its history.

Excellence in construction and safety honored

Rob Earnshaw Times Correspondent

HOBART │ Safety and construction excellence in Northwest Indiana was recognized Thursday at Avalon Manor.

Regulators approve Ameristar Casinos, Pinnacle Entertainment merger

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS | Nevada regulators have approved a merger between Pinnacle Entertainment and rival Ameristar Casinos.

Health care data management firm joins Purdue Research Park

Times Staff

MERRILLVILLE | Family caregivers and professional health care providers may benefit from online products developed by a data management firm that has become a tenant in the Purdue Research Park of Northwest Indiana.

Noted entrepreneur joins Elevate Ventures

Times Staff

Elevate Ventures has added Kelly Schwedland as an entrepreneur-in-residence for its Northwest and North Central Indiana regions.

Strack & Van Til opens Cedar Lake store

Melanie Csepiga Times Correspondent

CEDAR LAKE | After hungering in a food desert for three years, residents of this lakeside community happily converged on the first-of-its-kind Strack & Van Til grocery store Thursday following grand opening ceremonies.

Ending gridlock at Calumet Avenue/45th Street still years away

Lu Ann Franklin Times Correspondent

MUNSTER | Beginning to end the traffic gridlock on Calumet Avenue at the Canadian National railroad tracks is still three or four years away, but progress is being made on the first phase of the project, said Town Manager Tom DeGiulio.

Lunch and learn set for OTR diesel truck operators

Times Staff

MERRILLVILLE | South Shore Clean Cities, in partnership with EcoDual LLC, will host a lunch and learn for owners and operators of heavy duty over-the-road diesel trucks from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Co…

Gas prices could drop in next few days

Rob Earnshaw Times Correspondent

After reports of an increase in Northwest Indiana on Tuesday, retail gas prices are expected to drop by the weekend.

Local banks earn national honors

By Times Staff

The parent companies of Munster-based Peoples Bank and Michigan City-based Horizon Bank have received recognition as ranking among the nation's top community banks.

Rally commemorates 1937 Memorial Day Massacre

Diane Poulton Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | Steelworkers and others will gather Saturday to mark one of the tragic events that started the modern labor movement.

Job fair scheduled at South Suburban College

Times Staff

SOUTH HOLLAND | Thornton Township and South Suburban College Community will host its annual job fair from 10 .a.m to 2 p.m. Tuesday at South Suburban College Fitness Center, 15800 South State St.