Ridge lauds efforts of Porter County officers

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The nation's first secretary of Homeland Security shared a message about courage and preparedness Friday as Porter County Sheriff's Department officers remembered those from the department who died in the line of service.

Adventures in Everyday Living, Shorelines Thursday, April 11, 2013

Northwest Indiana radio came alive on Friday night in Valparaiso with a star-studded cast including Senator Ed Charbonneau as Superman, Heather McCarthy and Leigh Morris and Saturday afternoon John Records Landecker broadcasting from Top Dog in Michigan City.---Pat Colander, Associate Publis…

Bach family, Porter Co. officials news conference

Porter County law enforcement officials and Amanda Bach's family spoke with the media following Tuesday's conviction of Dustin McCowan in Bach's murder.

OFFBEAT: Michigan City our final community access TV station in NWI

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Porter County Jail inmates graduate from drug program

VALPARAISO | More than 40 male inmates at the Porter County Jail graduated from the 10-week Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program on Wednesday morning, a program through Porter-Starke Services that has been helping prisoners kick alcohol and drug problems for the past 10 years.

Porter County inmate sues over jail conditions

HAMMOND | A Porter County inmate is suing the sheriff and jail officials, claiming overcrowded and unsanitary jail conditions, federal court records show.

Region law enforcement combine forces to combat illegal drugs

Region law enforcement seized more than $19 million in drugs and assets in 2011, according to a report by the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Retailers selling outlawed synthetic drugs put on notice

CROWN POINT | Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller gave a personal push Tuesday to a statewide initiative geared toward removing a growing plethora of synthetics drugs from retailers' shelves.

Sheriff's officer on unpaid leave following traffic stop

VALPARAISO | A Porter County Sheriff's Department officer is serving a 15-day unpaid suspension stemming from a traffic stop in Chesterton.

Federal lawsuit on Indiana immigration law to proceed

HAMMOND | An East Chicago-based organization's legal challenge to Indiana's new immigration law will proceed, federal court records show.

Federal judge throws out suit targeting Porter Co. officials

HAMMOND | A federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit that had accused several Porter County Jail officials of mistreating an inmate, records state.

High-profile investigations taking toll on Porter County Sheriff's Department

VALPARAISO | Investigations into high-profile crimes such as the slaying of Portage resident Amanda Bach are taking a financial toll on the Porter County Sheriff's Department.

South Haven is hosting 9/11 service at Field of Dreams Park

SOUTH HAVEN | A 9/11 flag dedication ceremony will be held at the Field of Dreams Park, corner of McCool Road and County Road 700 North, at 4 p.m. Sunday to honor those who perished and those who endured.

Uncontrollable 'bath salts' users a menace to cops, community, themselves

With names like Stairway to Heaven and Tranquility, synthetic street drugs dubbed bath salts give the impression of a serene high. But a video of a man who ingested the drug shows its effects are anything but.

Porter County joins federal drug enforcement effort

VALPARAISO | Officers from Porter County will be joining a collaborative effort to combat the proliferation of drugs and gang activity after being named a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the federal government Monday.

Collaboration in education helps region fight crime

More than 1,000 local and federal Northwest Indiana law enforcement officers train together each year to stay ahead of the evolving criminal underground and learn new crime-fighting strategies.

Fenters pleads not guilty to fleeing, DUI charges

VALPARAISO | A decorated Porter County sheriff's officer accused of hitting two parked cars after a night out celebrating the sheriff's re-election last year pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Father of Portage man sues Porter County jail for son's death

HAMMOND | The father of a man who died from medical issues allegedly not treated while he was at the Porter County Jail plans to seek at least $1 million in damages, his lawyer said.