U.S. attorney plans Friday announcement in public corruption probe

HAMMOND | A news conference scheduled for Friday will announce "several matters" relating to public corruption, the Hammond-based U.S. attorney reported Thursday.

Salinas pleads guilty to federal bribery charge, resigns from council seat

Disgraced Hammond City Councilman Al Salinas resigned from office Monday, just a few hours after pleading guilty to taking more than $10,000 in kickbacks for steering city work to a contractor.

Pence OKs new criminal code, expungement law

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence has approved two of the most significant changes to Indiana's criminal law in decades.

EDITORIAL: Legislature must focus on unfinished work

On two issues -- sentencing reform and local government reform -- the Indiana General Assembly took a step in the right direction this year, but not far enough.

Hobart woman faces charge after man is wounded in leg

HOBART | A 34-year-old Hobart woman was charged with criminal recklessness after shooting a man in the leg, police said.

Two area men are charged with Hobart house burglary

HOBART | Two area men broke into a house in Hobart and stole a television, electronics and baseball memorabilia, police said.

GUEST COMMENTARY: A rewrite of Indiana’s criminal code

For the past several years, state legislators from both parties have been working with prosecutors, judges, public defenders and many other experts to reduce recidivism - the number of repeat offenders - in Indiana by overhauling the laws governing our criminal justice system. The end result…

Region lawmaker to shape state budget

INDIANAPOLIS | For the first time since 2007, a Northwest Indiana lawmaker will play a significant role in deciding how the state spends some $30 billion over the next two years.

Griffith man sentenced to prison for selling meth

HAMMOND | A Griffith man has been sentenced to about 10 years in federal prison for possessing and distributing at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.

EDITORIAL: Senate must recalibrate scales of justice

Indiana's criminal code, no less than any other mechanism, requires periodic maintenance.

Ind. criminal code rewrite wins House approval

INDIANAPOLIS | A five-year project to rethink and reform how Indiana sentences its felony criminals won approval by the House late Monday night.

Pistorius' brother facing charge in traffic death

JOHANNESBURG | The murder case involving Olympic star Oscar Pistorius took another unexpected turn Sunday with the news that his older brother, Carl, is himself facing charges for the death of a woman in a traffic accident.

Hobart police report two daytime house burglaries on Wednesday

HOBART | Two house burglaries believed unrelated were reported to police on Wednesday night, police Sgt. Jeremy Ogden said.

Criminal code rewrite clears second committee

INDIANAPOLIS | The first wholesale rewrite of Indiana's criminal code since 1977 is headed to the House floor after winning unanimous approval Monday by the Ways and Means Committee.

Man, 74, pleads guilty to lesser battery charge in child molestation case

CROWN POINT | A man suspected of child molestation — who was twice released by Texas authorities before finally facing justice — pleaded guilty to a lesser battery charge Wednesday in Lake County court.

EDITORIAL: Balance Indiana's scales of justice

Indiana needs sentencing reform to restore balance to the criminal justice system. House Bill 1006 offers the right road map for change.

Chicago Heights man accused of burglary at shop in Hobart

HOBART | A Chicago Heights man broke into a cigarette store in Hobart and stole cartons of cigarettes valued at nearly $4,000, police said.

Ex-title company employee admits embezzling in plea deal

HAMMOND | A Schererville woman has forged an agreement with federal prosecutors, admitting she stole $659,000 from the region title company that formerly employed her.