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Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Students, 2 drivers injured in Union Township bus crash

UNION TOWNSHIP | Four people, including two students, were sent to local hospitals Thursday after a school bus and an SUV collided, officials said.

Valpo man surrenders after standoff

VALPARAISO | A nearly four-hour standoff ended just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, as a man holed up inside a business surrendered to police.

Sheriff's program promotes neighborliness to prevent crime

VALPARAISO | From her living room window, Gladys Kravitz kept constant watch over the goings-on in her neighborhood. While many consider the character from TV's "Bewitched" to be the prototype busybody, Sheriff Dave Lain said some crime could be prevented if the county's residents adopted a …

Family, friends remember Porter County sheriff's officer

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP | While taking someone to Porter County Jail, it wasn't uncommon for Officer Phil Pratt to engage in some friendly banter or allow the person cuffed in his back seat to pick the radio station.

Former cop pleads guilty to Election Night DUI

VALPARAISO | A former Porter County sheriff's officer pleaded guilty Monday to driving under the influence after causing two crashes while celebrating the 2010 election victory of his then-boss, Porter County Sheriff David Lain.

Three fallen officers honored remembered

VALPARAISO | It was 31 years ago that then-Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy was shot in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Family: Officer always dreamed of joining force

VALPARAISO | Officer Phil Pratt lived his dream.

Sheriff's department mourning officer killed in Wednesday crash

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Flags outside the Porter County Sheriff's Department were at half-staff Thursday as officers mourn one of their own.

Board terminates Porter County sheriff's officer following crashes

VALPARAISO | A Porter County sheriff's officer involved in five vehicle-related incidents was relieved of his duties Thursday afternoon.

Hammond man charged with murder in Valpo-area double homicide

VALPARAISO | A 19-year-old Hammond man has been charged with two counts of murder after police said they encountered him outside a house where two people lay shot inside and found his semiautomatic assault rifle behind the home.

Porter Co. officer honored with life saving award

A Porter County sheriff's officer this week received the Life Saving Award from the Porter County Council for saving a family of four from a burning vehicle.

Sheriff rolls out red carpet for boy suffering with recurring tumors

VALPARAISO | The walk from a patrol car to the Porter County Jail doors is a walk most dread. For Aidan Carter, it was a birthday dream come true.

Valpo hires broker to sell old North Coast property

VALPARAISO | By this time next week, Valparaiso could be the owner of the North Coast Distributing property on Silhavy Road.

High-profile investigations taking toll on Porter County Sheriff's Department

VALPARAISO | Investigations into high-profile crimes such as the slaying of Portage resident Amanda Bach are taking a financial toll on the Porter County Sheriff's Department.