County-hired lawyer grilled about advice given to Philpot

HAMMOND | An attorney hired to advise the clerk's office during Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot's term testified for about three hours Thursday during Philpot's theft and fraud trial.

Day three of Philpot trial: Attorney advised Philpot OK to take payments

HAMMOND | Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot received a letter telling him he did not need County Council approval to receive incentive payments from a child support incentive fund, according to evidence introduced on the third day of his fraud and theft trial.

A life and legacy

Ruth Pelke was murdered in 1985, and her family says her legacy of love lives on through today.

Pelke's devotion to family, faith resonates decades after murder

Ruth Pelke's family has fond memories of holidays in her Gary home, complete with crocheted gifts, colored cookies and "Nana salad," Pelke's macaroni salad mixed with watermelon pickles.

Gary officer was recorded committing offenses

HAMMOND | A Gary police officer arrested Tuesday on drug trafficking and firearms charges was recorded committing the offenses, according to a criminal complaint.

Source: Search of surveyor's office related to suspicion of campaigning on county time

HAMMOND | A federal investigation into Lake County Surveyor George Van Til involves whether he engaged in campaigning activities while on the county clock, The Times has learned.

Staggering rape numbers for Indiana, youths

About one in five Hoosier women have been victims of rape at some point in their lifetime, according to recent shocking statistics from the Centers for Disease Control.

Young Chicago mother changes plea to guilty for aiding and abetting murder for Latin Kings

HAMMOND | A young Chicago mother changed her plea to guilty Wednesday for aiding and abetting a murder for the Latin Kings.

Illinois man, 37, enters into plea deal for heroin distribution

HAMMOND | A University Park, Ill., man entered into a plea agreement for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.

Second ex-Chicago cop changes plea to guilty in gang racketeering case

HAMMOND | A former Chicago police officer admitted to committing armed robberies in Illinois, Hammond and East Chicago for the Latin Kings street gang at a federal hearing Thursday morning.

Gary man, 18, enters plea deal in convenience store robbery

HAMMOND | An 18-year-old Gary man entered into a plea agreement Monday for robbing a Gary gas station and convenience store.

Gary woman pleads guilty to stealing $55K in Social Security benefits from kids

HAMMOND | A Gary woman accused of taking more than $50,000 in Social Security survivor benefits from children whose mother died plans to change her plea to guilty, according to court filings released Thursday.

Ex-Chicago cop to plead guilty to racketeering in Latin King case

HAMMOND | A former Chicago police officer has joined the majority ranks of those who signed plea agreements in the widespread Latin Kings racketeering case, according to court filings released Thursday.

Three Latin Kings enter into plea agreements

HAMMOND | Three more Latin King gang members entered into plea agreements with the government, leaving just a handful of defendants remaining for trial.

Defendant representing self in kidnapping trial calls victim to testify

HAMMOND | In a rare set of circumstances, the defendant in a kidnapping case asked his alleged victim questions under direct examination during his federal trial.

Two more alleged Latin King members plead guilty to racketeering

HAMMOND | More than half the defendants named in the sweeping Latin Kings racketeering indictments have entered into plea deals with the government, and more are expected in the coming week, according to court filings made Monday.

A second chance at life

Paula Cooper was sentenced to death for the murder of an elderly Bible school teacher in the 1980s. The state Supreme Court commuted her sentence to 60 years in prison, and now she shares her story and hopes for the future with The Times as the final year of her sentence winds down.

Paula Cooper: Convicted of murder at 15, a Gary woman prepares for her 2013 release

ROCKVILLE, Ind. | Paula Cooper mixed no-bake cookies, creating balls of sweet coconut and baking cocoa the size of a fist.

U.S. attorney stresses federal, state and local cooperation

GARY | U.S. Attorney David Capp, an alumnus of Gary's Lew Wallace High School, returned to the city Monday afternoon to speak at a Chamber of Commerce meeting about cooperative crime-fighting efforts in the region.

Notre Dame contraception lawsuit to be heard in Hammond court

HAMMOND | The national debate over religious freedom and health care reform will play out locally in a Hammond federal court case filed by the University of Notre Dame.