First lady joins effort to stem Chicago violence

CHICAGO | First lady Michelle Obama is joining Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago business leaders in an effort to raise $50 million to address youth violence.

2 Hanover schools recognized by first lady's Healthier U.S. School Challenge

Jane Ball Elementary School cafeteria assistant Cindy Yuhasz, left, and cafeteria manager Karen Hoover cook corn dogs at the school in Cedar Lake. All lunches include fruits and vegetables.

2 Hanover schools recognized by first lady's Healthier U.S. School Challenge

Fresh fruits and vegetables have been a big hit with students at Jane Ball Elementary School.

2 Hanover schools recognized by first lady's Healthier U.S. School Challenge

Students line up for lunch last month at Jane Ball Elementary School in Cedar Lake. The school won a silver award in first lady Michelle Obama's Healthier U.S. School Challenge.

2 Hanover schools recognized by first lady's Healthier U.S. School Challenge

CEDAR LAKE | Lincoln Elementary School second-graders have such discerning palates now they prefer red peppers to green peppers.

BRIAN HOWEY: Move up Indiana's primary election

In April 2008, Hillary Clinton made a campaign appearance at the Wigwam in Anderson. About two hours before she took the stage, a huge line of thousands of people encircled the historic basketball gym, waiting to get in.

Feature Focus

Lady Gaga unable to walk, postpones 4 shows

Jason Wu Again and Again

It’s déjà vu all over again with designer Jason Wu’s new contemporary line Miss Wu, introduced on January 7 and being exclusively sold through Nordstrom [both in stores and online] for one year. That is, its mod girly vibe feels very 1960’s, an image Wu has played up by having his models pho…

Inauguration: Say yes to the (second) dress

A rarified group of First Ladies get to have a second chance at restyling themselves for such a momentous occasion.

2012 styles that made our heads turn

Every year fashion offers up the good, the bad and the ugly. But what the industry is really built on, and consumers respond to, is buzz.

Guide to TV DVD sets as holiday gifts

A TV show DVD set represents more than a holiday gift that's easy to wrap. It also demonstrates respect: you know the recipient is mentally fit and couch-ready for a viewing marathon of "Doctor Who" or "House."

INTERVIEW: Maria Pinto's show at the museum

In a current show at Chicago’s Field Museum, fashion designer Maria Pinto indulges her inner anthropologist. Fashion and the Field Museum Collection—Maria Pinto (running through June 16, 2013) explores the universal world of design by mixing clothing from the museum’s collection hand-selecte…

Michelle Obama picked Kors for Election Night

As Michelle Obama stepped on stage with her husband in Chicago early Wednesday morning, she accepted her role not only as first lady but fashion tastemaker for four more years — this time, wearing a Michael Kors magenta silk chine pin-tucked dress.

Designer Narciso Rodriguez goes with Kohl's

Narciso Rodriguez is a designer known as much for what he doesn’t do as for what he does. He doesn’t do girly or overworked clothes. No ruffles, no poufs, no fluff. What Rodriguez does offer is sophisticated simplicity, suitable for women of any age. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue on…

Adventures in Everyday Living, Shorelines Thursday, October 11th

Shore's Marcia Froelke Coburn has debate deja' vu'. Sawyer's Barry and Linda Patejdl launch a wine club and Shore Good Life Columnist George Aquino will lead a European food tour in 2013.--- Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor.

Indiana not 'battleground' state this year

INDIANAPOLIS | A once-in-a-generation presidential candidate with a huge campaign cash advantage turned Indiana in 2008 from solidly Republican into a battleground state narrowly won by Democrat Barack Obama.

DOUG ROSS: Living large isn't what it's cracked up to be

If you're looking for broad assumptions about Hoosiers' largest problems, one of them should be obvious: We're large.

Michelle Obama cheers Illinois military family law

CHICAGO | Michelle Obama got a boost Tuesday from her home state of Illinois in her campaign to make it easier for military spouses to advance their own careers amid the frequent moves that come with life in a military family.