The Story of Sophia: Something Very Bad Happened in Hammond

The taxi driver was startled when a woman in white waved him down as he was driving into Hammond. Still, a fare was a fare. As he pulled up, he realized her fancy gown was, in fact, a wedding dress. The style was old-fashioned, but it looked good on her. She was young, with long blond hair a…

Environmental activists want energy park instead of coal gasification plant

CHICAGO | The environmental activists who opposed development of a coal gasification plant at the one-time site of Republic Steel on the city's Southeast Side said Wednesday they support development of an “energy park” to convert existing silos along the Calumet River into a renewable clean …

Bill rider speeds timeline of invasive species study

The federal transportation bill Congress approved Friday affects how authorities will respond to the threat invasive species such as Asian carp pose to the Great Lakes.

Water district unsure whether to support proposal to prevent Asian carp influx

LANSING | Officials with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago haven't decided whether to support cutting off the Chicago River in an effort to prevent the possible encroachment of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Hobart officials question flood control bill

HOBART| The City Council on Wednesday voiced concerns but took no action in response to a Lake County flood control bill being considered by the Indiana General Assembly.

What really happened to the Cline Avenue bridge?

Sad to say, but the closed bridge over the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal is becoming a symbol of the Calumet Region.

Invasive species, other issues at center of presentations for lawmakers, officials

PORTAGE | Managing Asian carp was the top agenda item Thursday during a legislative panel discussion about environmental issues facing the state.

Rebuilding begins on Torrence Ave. bridge over Calumet River

CHICAGO | The reconstruction of the historic Torrence Avenue bridge over the Calumet River is under way, with work expected to be complete in fall of 2012.

Bridge makes Little Cal preserve accessible

CHESTERTON | Hikers walked across a new bridge Saturday morning to easily gain access to the newest preserve managed by the Shirley Heinze Land Trust.

Gary council backs conservancy district

GARY | The City Council voted 7-1 to make Gary the first municipality to commit to a proposed conservancy district charged with upkeep of Little Calumet River levees.

Portage City Council rejects conservancy district

PORTAGE | The Portage City Council unanimously rejected the idea of creating a conservancy district to support projects along the Little Calumet River.

MARK KIESLING: Mayor, councilman need to show leadership

If you are chosen to be a leader, and you are paid to be a leader, shouldn't you be a leader?

Would district conserve flood spending?

County Surveyor George Van Til wants to form a new taxing district over nearly 160,000 north county property parcels to raise more than $3 million annually to continue shoring up the flood-prone Little Calumet River and its tributaries.

MARK KIESLING: Use facts, not fantasies, in levee debate

It's one thing to oppose a project based on fact, but it is quite a different thing to oppose that project based on fantasy.

MARK KIESLING: Let's keep personalities out of levee debate

Don't kill a good project because you don't like the people who support it.

Porter Co. officials criticize conservancy district concept

A proposal to create a conservancy district to fund maintenance and improvements in the Little Calumet River watershed isn't sitting well with some Porter County officials.

Van Til working to perfect sliding fee scale to pay for Little Cal floodwalls

CROWN POINT | Tens of thousands of property owners in the Little Calumet River's watershed may be asked to pay a sliding-scale fee to complete and maintain its floodwall system.

United Water wants federal suit tossed

HAMMOND | A contractor accused of breaking federal water protection laws said it committed no crimes and was following the government's requirements.

Fed case against United Water advancing

HAMMOND | A federal case status report reveals the depth of the government's case against United Water for alleged environmental crimes.

Contract awarded to clean area of Little Calumet

PORTAGE | The Redevelopment Commission awarded a contract Wednesday to clean debris from the east arm of the Little Calumet River from the September 2008 storms and flooding.