Plenty of hearings but nobody speaking in Valpo

VALPARAISO | The City Council held five public hearings on different issues, most involving spending tax money, at Monday's meeting without garnering any public comments.

Outlook ominous for Indiana transportation funding

INDIANAPOLIS | Without new money for transportation, Indiana will be fighting a losing battle to keep the state's bridges and roads in satisfactory condition, INDOT Commissioner Mike Cline warned state lawmakers Wednesday.

Valpo opens new Vale Park/Ind. 49 interchange

VALPARAISO | As a fan of roundabouts, Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas said the opening of the new interchange at Vale Park Road and Ind. 49 was a special treat.

Daniels warns U.S. tax hikes would hurt sluggish economy

MUNSTER | Despite President Barack Obama's optimistic talk about an improving national economy, Gov. Mitch Daniels isn't convinced things are getting better.

Lawmakers see rough road ahead for transportation funding

INDIANAPOLIS | With money from the Indiana Toll Road lease set to run out in the next three years, a panel of state lawmakers Thursday began looking at how Indiana will pay for roads and bridges in the future.

EDITORIAL: Gov. Daniels prepares to Boiler Up

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has skills that will, we hope, serve Purdue University well when his term as governor ends and he transitions to his new role as university president.

PHIL WIELAND: Chesterton's possible misuse of funds is complex

It's been about eight weeks, and apparently the Chesterton chapter of Ethics in Government, Tar and Feather Division, was too caught up in Super Bowl fever to get too worked up over the alleged misuse of Major Moves money by town officials.

Valpo receives honors, OKs spending

VALPARAISO | It was a night for receiving awards and spending money at Monday's City Council meeting.

Valpo budgets CEDIT, Major Moves funds

VALPARAISO | The City Council is expected to approve spending more than $2.1 million in county economic development income tax money and another $241,543 in Major Moves funds at its Feb. 13 meeting.

DOUG ROSS: Use proceeds for real economic development

Sometimes an act is criminal, sometimes it's illegal but not criminal, sometimes it's legal but wrong. Where does Chesterton's misuse of Major Moves money fit among those three categories?

ANDREA NEAL: When feds spend highway money, taxpayers get fleeced

Right before his inauguration in 2009, Barack Obama invited the nation's governors to meet with him in Philadelphia to discuss the nation's economic problems. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels teamed up with his buddy, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, to start a conversation about federal stimulus spe…

ANDREA NEAL: Daniels' legacy is Indiana's infrastructure

With a full year left of Mitch Daniels' governorship, there's not much left on his "to do list" because he's done it already. His foremost accomplishment boils down to one word: infrastructure.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Daniels to Northwest Indiana: Drop dead!

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' new book only reconfirms his longtime contempt and disgust for an entire region of the state — Northwest Indiana. In it, he perpetuates old and stale stereotypes such as "governmental corruption," and he rips the area as hostile to new employers for what he calls …

EDITORIAL: Find solutions to transportation troubles

A number of ideas have been percolating lately to try to figure out how to address the substantial transportation needs in Northwest Indiana. Keep brewing, rather than pull the plug, but be quick about it.

Legislative infrastructure panel sees challenges ahead for Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS | In the past five years, Indiana has built up a substantial infrastructure advantage over its neighbors, but the road ahead appears riddled with potholes.

Road work closes 101st west of Broadway for next month

CROWN POINT | The Indiana Department of Transportation will close a portion of 101st Avenue at Broadway (Ind. 53) beginning Tuesday to widen the western portion of the intersection.

Governor celebrates fifth birthday of Toll Road lease

BRISTOL, Ind. | Gov. Mitch Daniels stood close enough to an Indiana Toll Road exit to almost be drowned out by trucks at times Wednesday as he celebrated the fifth birthday of the "jobs deal of a generation."

Daniels touts 'Major Moves' impact

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels said the lease of the Indiana Toll Road was "an extraordinary moment" in the state's history.

EDITORIAL: Too bad Daniels chose not to run

With Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels finally deciding not to enter the 2012 presidential race, the Republican Party has lost one of the better potential candidates.

Valpo park benefits big from year-end discount

VALPARAISO | It didn't take the city's parks department long to follow the advice of its master plan consultant and take advantage of an unusual funding opportunity to upgrade the playground equipment at Westside Park.