GUEST COMMENTARY: Indiana's water is cleaner than it once was

We want to make sure Northwest Indiana residents receive accurate information about Indiana’s efforts to address mercury and PCBs in our waterways.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Health care ruling evokes memories of past court intrigue

The U.S. Supreme Court, surprising many media pundits as well as more expert observers, has upheld the controversial mandate in the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act. The decision was 5-4 division, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining liberals Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg,…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Reward pets' friendship in any way you can

In honor of National Pet Adoption Month, I invite you to reflect with me on the age-old bond between human beings and our two best-loved, furry friends.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Career, technical education plan borrows from best

Our schools must work for all our children, regardless of where they start in life and regardless of where they want to start their careers. Recently, I announced a plan to make career, technical and vocational education a priority in every high school in Indiana.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Art education improves students' minds, academic performance

Arts education in not just about finger-painting or stick figures on the fridge.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Education a key to public safety

Northwest Indiana residents are resilient. During the recent economic crisis, we experienced many of the same challenges that have been felt both statewide and nationwide. Yet our quality of life continues to improve. However, there remain opportunities and challenges ahead.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Online courses are becoming an important higher education learning component

Never before in the history of the planet has information been more readily available. With the click of a mouse, we can find answers to almost any question. When the questions are simple and factual, the Internet is a useful resource. But when the questions are more complex, we cannot depen…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Egg legislation is good for consumers, animals, farmers

How often do you hear people say, “That’s a great idea!” about things happening in Congress? Probably not that often. But one of the most recent bills introduced in Congress is something to support if you eat at least one of the 76 billion eggs America’s hens produce each year.

GUEST COMMENTARY: On Memorial Day, don't forget unions, middle class

And then there were 10. Ten who died for you and me.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Got a question for Lugar-Mourdock debate? Submit it

Hoosier voters, especially those who choose a Republican ballot for the May 8 primary election, face a difficult decision this spring. Longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar faces a spirited re-election challenge from state Treasurer Richard Mourdock for the GOP Senate nomination.

YOUNG VOICES: School band program is instrument of change

Seven of us, dressed in our best black uniforms, watch each other with anxious eyes and giddy smiles. We stand in a tight circle; eagerly, we pile our hands into the middle, linking our desire to succeed with the adrenaline pumping through our veins. Mr. Cramer adds his hand to the pile, smi…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Women, don't be afraid to follow your dreams

There are women who let things happen, and then there are women who make things happen. It's a trait not isolated by gender, but let's talk about the ladies this time, in honor of Women's History Month.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Higher ed flexibility meets quality in Indiana

I applaud the Indiana Commission for Higher Education for its just-released agenda: Reaching Higher, Achieving More -- an ambitious new strategic plan targeted at doubling the number of college degrees in Indiana. The plan calls for a higher education system in our state that is mission-driv…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Indiana working to ensure students are learning properly

During the past couple of years, the state of Northwest Indiana's schools has been brought to the forefront with special concern directed at our lowest performing schools.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Negative views of Gary's schools must be 'left behind'

Over the past five years, the Gary Community School Corp. has shown fiscal integrity by effectively balancing its budget. This was accomplished despite significant decreases in state and federal funding, the adverse effect of the 2 percent circuit breaker tax cap legislation and a moderate h…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Youths need jobs to learn job skills

On March 9, the U.S. Department of Labor reported an additional 227,000 jobs had been added to the nation's economy and the unemployment rate remained at 8.3 percent for the second consecutive month.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Public transportation is unfinished business

Public transportation was one of the first issues addressed by the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council. In April 2000, it considered the need for a public transit authority in Lake County. All but one of the 48 elected officials interviewed agreed on the need for such an entity. In Sep…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Afghanistan killings are reminder of brutal face of war

The killing of 16 unarmed civilians in Afghanistan is a brutal reminder of the true nature of war. The U.S Army soldier alleged to have committed the crime is under intense media scrutiny. Our court systems, military and civilian, reinforce this individual focus.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Indiana is open for business

With the 2012 Indiana legislative session in the rearview mirror, the two-year work of the 117th General Assembly elected in November 2010 is complete. Despite unprecedented protests, boycotts and walkouts, Republican leaders continued our charge to "Keep calm and carry on" for Hoosier taxpa…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Bus riders need a funding rescue soon

Unless the elusive leprechaun's pot of gold appears before June 30 for the Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority, the bulk of bus transportation in the region will cease to exist: easyGo transit services for fixed routes, complementary paratransit for the elderly and people with disabilit…