Become a resident tourist, tour guide

Children splash in the water along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Mount Baldy.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore superintendent to retire

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Constantine "Costa" Dillon stands behind the park headquarters in 2010. Dillon on Tuesday announced plans to retire in August.

Porter County's assets promote economic development

Jack Powers, left, Jeremy Powers, center, and Ben Powers, all from South Carolina, walk on the Indiana Dunes State Park beach while a cargo ship sails over Lake Michigan behind them last spring.

Dune Acres dedicated to neighbors, environment

The National Parks Conservation Association and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore work with college student and faculty volunteers in June 2011 to plant native species at Cowles Bog in Dune Acres.

Ogden Dunes teams up to protect its natural resources

Ogden Dunes is a tight-knit beach community nestled in the Dunes.

K-12 education's future appears uncertain

Fifth-grader Tariah Doyle gets some individual social studies help from her teacher Laura Charpentier at the Charter School of the Dunes in Gary.

Visitor spending means big business in NWI

Valparaiso resident Jeff Gatz walks his dog Zoe along the Indiana Dunes State Park beach under brilliant white clouds last September. The Indiana Dunes area is a top tourist draw.

State considering Moon Valley purchase even without mandate

INDIANAPOLIS | Legislation requiring the state to purchase Moon Valley, a 57-acre Michigan City dune habitat, will not be acted on this session — but Indiana may end up acquiring the land anyway.

Charter School of the Dunes to finish building despite nonrenewal of charter

Charter School of the Dunes is under construction at U.S. 20 and Old Hobart Road in Gary.

Charter School of the Dunes to finish building despite nonrenewal of charter

Mike Norman, of Valparaiso, cuts drywall in the elementary school section of Charter School of the Dunes in Gary. The $13 million structure is a 64,000-square-foot, pre-engineered steel building.

Charter School of the Dunes to finish building despite nonrenewal of charter

A construction worker walks through the Charter School of the Dunes in Gary. Work continues on the school despite it having lost its charter. The school has filed an appeal.

Students learning at the Charter School of the Dunes School

Fifth-grader Tariah Doyle gets individual social studies help from her teacher Laura Charpentier at the Charter School of the Dunes in Gary.

Students learning at the Charter School of the Dunes School

Jamelle Edwards and Haylie Barnes examine a stone in a vial during a lesson in their environmental science class at the Charter School of the Dunes in Gary.

Students learning at the Charter School of the Dunes School

Stacie Shine and Jordan Summers examine a stone in a vial during a lesson in the environmental science class at the Charter School of the Dunes in Gary.

Students learning at the Charter School of the Dunes School

Kelly Bennett conducts environmental science class at the Charter School of the Dunes in Gary.

Students learning at the Charter School of the Dunes School

Students can watch live as their new Charter School of the Dunes is being built in a new location in Gary.

Allison Hannon on Forbes 30 under 30

Ogden Dunes native Allison Hannon has been named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in the energy category. Hannon is co-founder of Root3 Technologies which develops software to use data in making municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals more energy efficient.

Allison Hannon on Forbes 30 under 30

Ogden Dunes native Allison Hannon has been named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in the energy category. Hannon is co-founder of Root3 Technologies which develops software to use data in making municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals more energy efficient.