Hammond city councilman may reintroduce proposal limiting paid positions for city employees

HAMMOND | City Councilman Bob Markovich pulled a proposal Monday to bar Hammond employees from serving in more than one paid position in the city.

Opinker returns as Hammond City Council president

HAMMOND | The Hammond City Council voted in familiar leadership for 2013, renaming Councilman Michael Opinker to another term as president.

Hammond city councilman sees conflict of interest in union hall project

HAMMOND | A Hammond city councilman contends the architect who is helping United Steelworkers Local 1010 with the union's move to a new hall in the city has a conflict of interest in the project.

Hammond budget proposal contains 1 percent raise for city employees

HAMMOND | A 2013 budget proposal received by the Hammond City Council on Friday provides funding for 1 percent raises for all city employees.

Hammond City Council sets fees for false alarms

HAMMOND | The Hammond City Council set new fines Monday for false alarms to the police and fire departments. The fines will increase for repeat violations.

Hammond City Council to weigh creating new fund, increasing alarm fees

HAMMOND | The Hammond City Council will consider setting up a new account to hold cash police officers seize when making arrests.

Hammond begins contract negotiations

HAMMOND | City administrators and labor leaders are heading to the bargaining table as the Hammond's major union contracts come up for renewal.

Hammond City Council considers increasing fines for false alarms

HAMMOND | Fines for false alarms to the Police and Fire departments will increase under a proposed ordinance before the Hammond City Council.

McDermott cancels starting negotiations with firefighters union after charges against councilman

HAMMOND | Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. has canceled a meeting to start contract negotiations with the city's firefighters union in protest over pending charges within the labor organization against City Council President Michael Opinker.

Hammond firefighters union formalizing charges against city councilman

HAMMOND | The Hammond firefighters union intends to file charges within the labor organization against City Council President Michael Opinker tied to the controversial overhaul of the city's health insurance program.

New option in mix for proposed health insurance overhaul in Hammond

HAMMOND | A less expensive health insurance option for city employees is in the mix as Hammond looks to trim its medical costs.

Hammond gaming dollars fund Dumpsters, neighborhood cleanups

Editor's Note: An abbreviated version of this story appeared in some Sunday editions. The complete report appears below.

Hammond City Council president experiences week as mayor

HAMMOND | With his boss in China, City Council President Michael Opinker got a crash course last week in being mayor.

Hammond City Council president experiences week as mayor

Hammond City Council President Michael Opinker confers with Community Development Director Owana Miller on Thursday before speaking at the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities annual awards breakfast. Opinker filled in for Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. last week while McDermott was on a business …

Hammond City Council president experiences week as mayor

Michael Opinker, president of the Hammond City Council, was the acting mayor last week while Thomas McDermott Jr. and the city's No. 2 in command, City Controller Bobby Lendi, were in China.

Hammond City Council president experiences week as mayor

City Council President Michael Opinker, who filled in for Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. last week, checks his notes Thursday before speaking at the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities annual awards breakfast.

Hammond City Council president experiences week as mayor

Michael Opinker checks his notes Thursday before speaking at the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities annual awards breakfast. Opinker filled in last week for Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. "Stressful, very stressful," Opinker said.