Pence tried to protect media phone records from government snooping

INDIANAPOLIS | The U.S. Justice Department seizure of reporter telephone records likely would be a crime if Gov. Mike Pence had won passage of the federal media shield law he championed in Congress.

Man accused of beating child to death sentenced to 40 years in prison

MICHIGAN CITY | A Michigan City man accused of beating to death a 4-year-old boy was sentenced to 40 years in prison, officials said.

OFFBEAT: Country music king George Jones dead at age 81

Country music icon George Jones died Friday at 81 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, according to his publicist Kirt Webster. He was hospitalized with fever and irregular blood pressure, forcing him to postpone two shows.

Former Wallace football head coach dies after collapsing at school

Many students at Lew Wallace High School had tears in their eyes on Wednesday and heavy hearts at the Glen Park school. Thomas Powell, a math teacher and former football coach for the Hornets, died.

Sheriff says foul play unlikely in Schneider woman's death

CROWN POINT | Foul play is not suspected in the death of a Schneider woman at this time, according to a news release issued Thursday by the office of Lake County Sheriff John Buncich.

OFFBEAT: CNN snags rights to 'Blackfish' doc about local Sea World trainer

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Missing man found dead on Gary service road

GARY | A man who had been missing since January was found dead Thursday on a Cline Avenue service road in Gary, police said.

OFFBEAT: Dick Clark honored with 2-hour NYE tribute tonight

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: NYC cartoonist back in NWI to speak to youth

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Cook County logs 2nd cold-related death of season

CHICAGO | Authorities in Chicago say a 42-year-old homeless man is the second person in Cook County to die of cold exposure this season.

Patient jumps out of ambulance, dies in Chicago

CHICAGO | Authorities in Chicago say a 20-year-old man is dead after he jumped out of an ambulance as it was taking him to a hospital.

OFFBEAT: Psychic Irene Hughes bright as stars she consulted

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Psychic Irene Hughes dead at age 92

Irene Hughes, who went from being a Chicago Heights housewife to one of the world's most acclaimed psychics, died early Friday morning. She was 92.

Psychic Irene Hughes dead at age 92

Psychic Irene Hughes, shown speaking at Annie's Tea Room in Crete, Ill., at an August 2007 event, died Friday. She was 92.

Psychic Irene Hughes dead at age 92

Psychic Irene Hughes, shown at home in 2004, has amazed the masses with her accurate predictions. Hughes died at 92 on Friday morning.

OFFBEAT: It's a special year for 'Christmas Schooner' theater audiences

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Authorities investigate death of 5-week-old child in Griffith

GRIFFITH | The Lake County coroner's office and police are investigating the death of a 5-week-old infant in Griffith.

1 dead, 3 in custody after police chase in Hobart, home invasion in Porter County

One suspect in a Porter County home invasion is dead and three others are in custody after a police chase that ended near Westfield Southlake Mall.

Chicago woman, 76, dies after being hit by Megabus

CHICAGO | A 76-year-old Chicago woman has died from injuries suffered when a bus struck her as the driver attempted to make a turn on a downtown street.