GUEST COMMENTARY: Asia’s currents of conflict highlight global maritime commerce

Current maritime conflicts echo earlier wars, launched over history to control global commerce and territory, while underscoring the durable importance of traditional trade routes.

Indiana lawmakers unlikely to adopt lower drunken driving threshold

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's federal-phobic Legislature likely won't follow a national safety panel's recommendation that states reduce their drunken driving limits to 0.05 blood alcohol content from 0.08.

“The Other Conquest” travels to the Midwest

HAMMOND | Some stories are not easily told.

Scouting combine shows NFL's global progress

INDIANAPOLIS | Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah knew nothing about the NFL when he was growing up. Now, he could be a first-round pick in April's draft.

YOUNG VOICES: Americans have power to ease Mexico's woes

New leadership, particularly with a different political party, usually means there will be various changes in the government.

Adventures in Everyday Living, Shorelines Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Mayan descendants at Maroma Beach are unconcerned about a possible apocalypse; Prancer Redux exhibit and party in LaPorte, Fashion on the Shore Model Call and a unique holiday gift idea.---Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore Magazine.

SHELF LIFE: The Minimalists explore simplicity as lifestyle

There’s an old joke about how a millionaire on vacation in Mexico tries to convince a fisherman that he should start a business selling his fish, work 60 to 70 hours a week running it, make tons of money and then he can do anything in the world he wants.

Holiday vacations can create family memories

Instead of making the traditional trek over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house, many Northwest Indiana residents are using the holidays as a time to get away from it all.

New book exposes Lincoln's obscure early career

I had never realized that Abraham Lincoln was a captain in the Black Hawk War in Western Illinois in 1832 – indeed, I had never even heard of that war. But its impact on the young Lincoln, who witnessed atrocities against civilians by Native Americans and who also had to protect an elderly P…

Mom-and-pop decor companies carve out niches

For small, mom-and-pop shops that produce goods for the home but don't have big advertising budgets, the Internet helps level the playing field, bringing customers who are looking for something different.

Mexican national sentenced for bringing heroin to NWI

HAMMOND | A Mexican citizen was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday after admitting he had helped move about 45 pounds of heroin to Northwest Indiana.

NWI residents among those ready for 'deferred action' immigration program

Dreams of becoming a civil engineer seem finally in reach for a Hammond 19-year-old who moved with her parents from Mexico to the U.S. at age 9.

Man accused of lying to avoid being deported to Mexico

HAMMOND | Johan Sanchez-Castaneda is accused of unlawfully eluding examination and inspection by immigration officers to stay in the United States.

OLYMPIC ROUNDUP: Agnel wins 2nd gold in 2 nights at London Olympics

LONDON | Yannick Agnel bested Ryan Lochte for the second night in a row at the London Olympics, upstaging the American as the biggest star in the pool so far in these games.

Ind. Attorney General trains Mexican prosecutors

INDIANAPOLIS | Lawyers from the Indiana attorney general's office are training 50 Mexican prosecutors in American-style court practices via videoconference this week.

PHIL WIELAND: Valpo art walk proves the last shall be worst

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. After a visit to the Valparaiso art walk, you might be holding your eyes and wondering, "Is it art?" or, more likely, "They want HOW MUCH for that?"

Shaw Thoughts: Beach life leaves an enduring impression

This magazine, like many others, assigns every issue a theme or two. And this columnist, like many others, follows the theme when it feels right and doesn't when it doesn't. This issue has twin themes: America the Beautiful and Beach Life. And since both are so relevant to me, I had to think…

Mexican national pleads guilty to international drug trafficking

HAMMOND | A Mexican citizen pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to taking part in smuggling 47 pounds of heroin from Mexico to Gary, court records show.

20 charged in drug trafficking indictments

CHICAGO | Two local men are among 20 defendants charged in a series of indictments stemming from a federal investigation into drug trafficking and the flow of its proceeds, officials announced Wednesday.