EDITORIAL: Government employees need ethics training

There's a difference between what's ethical and what's legal. What former Lake County Clerk Tom Philpot did — stealing child support money — was illegal. But it was unethical as well.

EDITORIAL: Justice is served, once more, in Lake County

When U.S. District Court Judge James T. Moody sentenced former Lake County Clerk Tom Philpot on Thursday, it was good news for ethics in government.

Judge: No new trial for Philpot

HAMMOND | A federal judge on Tuesday denied a request for a new trial for former Lake County official Thomas Philpot while agreeing to dismiss two of the five counts against him.

Philpot supporters inundate court with letters

HAMMOND | Fifty family members, longtime friends, former podiatry patients, neighbors, business associates and political leaders have written letters to a federal judge in support of former Lake County official Tom Philpot seeking leniency as he faces sentencing on five counts of embezzlement.

County-hired lawyer grilled about advice given to Philpot

HAMMOND | An attorney hired to advise the clerk's office during Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot's term testified for about three hours Thursday during Philpot's theft and fraud trial.

Day three of Philpot trial: Attorney advised Philpot OK to take payments

HAMMOND | Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot received a letter telling him he did not need County Council approval to receive incentive payments from a child support incentive fund, according to evidence introduced on the third day of his fraud and theft trial.

Philpot, attorneys seek delay in his federal corruption trial

HAMMOND | Indicted former Lake County Clerk Thomas Philpot is seeking a two- or three-month delay in his federal corruption trial, court records show.

Philpot takes one for the party

CROWN POINT | Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot has put his future political career on hold as he awaits trial on federal public corruption charges.

Former County Clerk Philpot indicted on charges of mail fraud, theft of federal funds

A grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot, alleging mail fraud and theft from a federally funded program, U.S. Attorney David Capp announced Thursday.

East Chicago councilwoman demoted

CROWN POINT | Lake County Clerk Mike Brown has demoted Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, days after her verbal dispute with his political ally.

MARK KIESLING: Pabey's gone, but his wife's not forgotten

If love is never having to say you're sorry, as the old movie had it, politics is never having to say you're unemployed.

Pabey's wife finds work at Lake County clerk's office

CROWN POINT | Lake County Clerk Mike Brown has hired the wife of disgraced former East Chicago Mayor George Pabey as a part-time employee.

State auditors seek reimbursement from ex-county clerk

CROWN POINT | A state audit covering the last year Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot served as county clerk reveals a bookkeeping system riddled with mathematical errors, omissions and unopened mail.

Last minute weddings

View and purchase photos of last-minute weddings at the Lake County clerk's office.

Price spike for Lake clerk's bond

CROWN POINT | Lake County commissioners want to debate an alarming sixfold jump in the cost of insuring the Lake County clerk's office against the potential loss of public funds.

State child support fell short

CROWN POINT | An analysis of the Title IV-D practices of the Lake County clerk's office revealed the office failed to report expenses over a 20-month period that could have brought in an additional $189,711 in reimbursements from the state.

Lake clerk is finally bonded

CROWN POINT | Lake County Clerk Mike Brown said Monday he has found a bond company to insure him as county officeholder nearly 10 months after taking office.