PHIL WIELAND: Just because speech is free, we don't have to hear it

I've complained in the past about Porter County's emergency warning sirens because they supposedly warn us of about 50 different potential disasters, and it can be tough figuring out why they are going off.

Hebron OKs ordinance restricting funeral protesters

HEBRON | A proposed ordinance dealing with protests at funerals drew a brief protest before it was approved Tuesday by the Hebron Town Council.

Year end stories 2012 - Illinois

Marchers opposed to the location of a proposed detention facility march into Crete for a rally on April 1.

Gov. Daniels signs right-to-work into law

Local 81 union member Keith Ward, of Valparaiso, screams in opposition to the right-to-work bill during protests Feb. 1 outside the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.

Groups hope to draw attention to fiscal cliff debate

Ruth Needleman, of Gary, protests potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on Monday outside U.S. Pete Visclosky's office in Merrilville.

Groups hope to draw attention to fiscal cliff debate

Ruth Needleman, left, of Gary, Pat Lane, center, of Chesterton, and AFL-CIO organizer Becky Smith, protest potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on Monday outside U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky's office in Merrilville. The protest was organized by the Indiana AFL-CIO.

Groups hope to draw attention to fiscal cliff debate

Ruth Needleman, of Gary, protests potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on Monday outside U.S. Pete Visclosky's office in Merrilville. The protest was organized by the Indiana AFL-CIO. "I am totally dependent on Medicare and it is totally inadequate," Needleman said.

Groups hope to draw attention to fiscal cliff debate

Chick Pullman, center, of Gary, and others protest potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid outside U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky's office in Merrilville on Monday.

Daniels shrugs off Purdue critics

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels says he's not bothered by critics of his appointment as Purdue University president, and their naysaying won't stop him next year from leading the six-campus school that includes sites in Hammond and Westville.

Revs. Jackson, Pfleger picket Riverdale firearms dealer they believe supplies guns to streets

RIVERDALE | For village President Deyon Dean, Saturday was a day of conflict.

Protesters at bike ride charity event say animal center's firing of employee 'a disgrace'

GRIFFITH | More than 50 people spent Saturday demonstrating at Lake County Sheriff John Buncich's first 10K Bicycle Ride to raise funds for the department's animal adoption center, objecting to Thursday's firing of the shelter's longtime community liaison, Victoria Beasley.

Animal shelter official's firing protested

Protesters display signs Saturday objecting to the firing of Lake County Animal Shelter employee Victoria Beasley. They were at the entrance of the Oak Ridge Savannah Bike Trail in Oak Ridge Prairie County Park in Griffith where Lake County Sheriff John Buncich was holding a charity bike rid…

Animal shelter official's firing protested

Protesters display signs Saturday at the entrance of the Oak Ridge Savannah Bike Trail in Oak Ridge Prairie County Park in Griffith to raise awareness about a petition to reverse this month's firing of Lake County Animal Shelter employee Victoria Beasley.