Fort Wayne Luers' Smith leads the way

Bishop Luers running back Jaylon Smith leads the three-time defending Class 2A state champion Knights into Andrean on Friday night for the Northern Semistate. Smith will play at Notre Dame upon graduation.

Feathering eagles' nest?

Jim Dedelow and Dave Sandrick pull an automotive dashboard from the banks of the Little Calumet River as volunteers help clean up an area along the river where an American Bald Eagle nest has been sighted.

Feathering eagles' nest

Volunteers help clean up an area along the Little Calumet River where American Bald Eagles have been sighted.

Feathering eagles' nest?

Dave Sandrick drags an old tire as volunteers help clean up an area along the Little Calumet River where there are reports an American Bald Eagle nest has been sighted.

Feathering eagles nest?

P.J. Wiltjer uses a mini-excavator to pick up debris as volunteers help clean up an area along the Little Calumet River where American Bald Eagles have been sighted.

Feathering eagles' nest?

Rebecca Flanigan, of Calumet Township, picks up garbage and debris as volunteers help clean up an area along the Little Calumet River. An American Bald Eagle nest reportedly was sighted in the area.

Lake Station's fairy-tale softball season comes to an end at regional

LAKE STATION | It was a bad day to have a bad game.

Lake Station's Acker carries big bat, high hopes for Eagles softball team

Since she first picked up a bat 10 years ago, Lake Station clean-up hitter Caitlin Acker has been hitting everything that's in her path, even if it's outside.

Lake Station rolls rival in second ever softball sectional championship

HAMMOND | Amongst the jumping, laughing, crying mob of red-clad Lake Station softball players celebrating the present, pitcher Shelby Jorgensen held a reminder of the past.

River Forest advances, sets up championship with Lake Station

HAMMOND | River Forest sent 17 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring 11 runs en route to a 16-1 five-inning victory against Bowman Academy on Thursday in the Class 2A Bishop Noll Sectional.

Jorgensen, Acker lead Lake Station upset of Wheeler

HAMMOND | After Lake Station beat Wheeler 2-0 at the Class 2A Bishop Noll softball sectional game, both coaches and dugouts remained emotional long after the last out.

Lake Station routs Bowman in baseball sectional opener

WHITING | Lake Station coach Tony Hicks has seen his team string together some big offensive innings throughout this season.

Eagles' freedom flight a testament to how far species has come

STARVED ROCK STATE PARK, Ill. | This crowd did not gather for a ball game or a protest, or to gawk at some sort of disaster.

Eagles' freedom flight a testament to how far species has come

The second of two young bald eagles is seen after being released on an island in the Illinois River across from Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Ill. The pair of males had been rescued after a storm knocked their nest from a tree in May near Batavia, Ill.

Conte prepares for showdown between Bears, Eagles

LAKE FOREST, Ill. | Third-round draft pick Chris Conte has given the Chicago Bears some much-needed stability in the secondary.

Zoo's eagles are big attraction

The bald eagle, the United States' national symbol, has found a home at Washington Park Zoo. The zoo houses three eagles which were injured and nursed back to health.