Court: Ariz. citizenship proof law illegal

WASHINGTON | The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states cannot on their own require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.

Gin Blossoms to highlight Valpo Popcorn Fest

VALPARAISO | The nationally known pop rock group Gin Blossoms will be the headline act for September's 35th annual Popcorn Fest, the Valparaiso Community Festivals and Events office announced recently.

Buckeyes on brink of second Final Four appearance

LOS ANGELES | LaQuinton Ross hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play, and Ohio State advanced to the brink of its second straight Final Four appearance with a 73-70 victory over Arizona on Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals.

Crusaders take a day to relax after clinching NCAA tournament berth

VALPARAISO | The lights were out, doors were locked and all was quiet at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Wednesday afternoon.

All-American final at Match Play Championship

MARANA, Ariz. | Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar gave the Match Play Championship its first all-American final in five years.

Samardzija, Cubs win home spring opener

MESA, Ariz. | Valparaiso native Jeff Samardzija made a strong spring debut and the Cubs scored four unearned runs in the first inning against San Francisco Giants ace Matt Cain, then held on for a 4-3 victory Sunday at HoHoKam Stadium.

No looking back to last season for Cubs

MESA, Ariz. | Cubs manager Dale Sveum knows exactly what he'll say about last year's 101-loss season when he meets with his team for the first time this spring.

NFC championship: 2 teams, different perspectives

ATLANTA | The Falcons are well aware of just how desperate this city is for its first Super Bowl championship.

Owners say ferrets are pets, officials say pest

The difference between owning a ferret in Hawaii and one in Pennsylvania can be up to three years in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

Parents struggle to find gender-neutral toys

Parents who hope to expose their children to different kinds of play, like science sets for girls and dolls for boys, for example, can find themselves stymied by a toy industry that can seem stuck in the past when it comes to gender roles.

Growing animal rescue group is work of teen actor

The person behind one of the country's fastest-growing animal rescues can't even vote yet. And neither can most of the people leading its 10 chapters across the nation.

NFL INSIDER: Bears in do-or-die territory

It's the time of year when the men are separated from the boys in the NFL.

Tennis-like game picking up steam with seniors

Renee Coplan played racquetball for 28 years, but had to give it up as she got older and chasing a ball around a large court became too much.

Mom-and-pop decor companies carve out niches

For small, mom-and-pop shops that produce goods for the home but don't have big advertising budgets, the Internet helps level the playing field, bringing customers who are looking for something different.

The Daily Fix

Offering perspective on today's issues

The Daily Fix

Offering perspective on today's issues

GUEST COMMENTARY: Obama's immigration policy is right on target

Immigration — always an emotional issue — is back on the front burner with President Barack Obama’s recent announcement of a partial change in federal policy. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Arizona’s “show your papers” law will no doubt further inflame passions.