Report touts National Lakeshore's economic benefit to region

A report issued Monday by the National Park Service shows visitors to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 2012 pumped close to $60 million into the local economy.

Report: Indiana, Illinois break heat records in 2012

A report and interactive map released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council puts Indiana and Illinois in the top 10 states in the nation for the most heat records broken in 2012.

EPA: Study of residential yards in The Pines planned

THE PINES | A study of radiation levels in The Pines requested by concerned citizens and area environmental activists will come sometime early this year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Steve Schilke, left, of the Illinois Department of Transportation fields questions from concerned southern Lake County residents Wednesday evening during a public meeting on the proposed Illiana Expressway.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Richard and Marilyn Davies, of Center Township in Lake County, point to an area of concern Wednesday evening on a map showing the corridor state transportation officials are studying for the proposed Illiana Expressway. They were among hundreds of region residents who attended a public meeti…

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

One of the comments left on a map Wednesday during a meeting at Crown Point High School asks state transportation officials how a proposed Illinois Expressway would affect cricks and ditches that empty into the Kankakee River.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

A note placed Wednesday night on a corridor map for the proposed Illiana Expressway points out the omission of Buckley Homestead County Park, which is near Lowell.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

A note placed at Schneider on a large map warns state transportation officials that an ethanol plant planned for the southern Lake County town will bring more than 100 trucks a day once operational.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Residents listen as state transportation officials answer questions Wednesday during a Illiana Expressway Corridor study meeting at Crown Point High School.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Residents left comments on an aerial map Wednesday at a public meeting held for the Illiana Corridor study.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Residents listen as state transportation officials answer questions Wednesday evening during an Illiana Expressway corridor meeting at Crown Point High School.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Lowell resident Ruth Herr, left, talks Wednesday evening with Steve Schilke of the Illinois Department of Transportation during a public meeting on the proposed Illiana Expressway. Officials are in the preliminary stage of studying a broad corridor for highway, which would run from Interstat…

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

A note placed Wednesday night on a corridor map for the proposed Illiana Expressway during a meeting in Crown Point suggests moving the highway to Newton County because of drainage issues.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

Residents left comments on an aerial map Wednesday at a public meeting held for the Illiana Corridor study.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

A note placed near Ind. 55 in southern Lake County says state transportation officials "Need to save our farm land!" A meeting Wednesday night in Crown Point gave residents a chance to weigh in on the proposed Illiana Expressway.

Illiana Corridor study public meeting

A note placed near Beecher, Ill., instructs state transportation officials to ignore a proposed south suburban airport when planning the Illiana Expressway. The note was placed Wednesday night during a public meeting at Crown Point High School.

Crown Point woman finds calling in communications

Monica Hamline, of Crown Point, went back to school at Purdue University North Central in Westville to study communications and graduated this spring.

Crown Point woman finds calling in communications

Monica Hamline, of Crown Point, went back to school at Purdue North Central to study communications.

Crown Point woman finds calling in communications

Monica Hamline, of Crown Point, went back to school at Purdue University North Central to study communications and graduated this spring.

POTW May 15-May 21 - Valparaiso University Poo Study

Valparaiso University senior biology student Alex Zapata holds up vials with neurospora mold growing on human stool, Monday. Valparaiso University professors Michael Watters and Jon Schoer have received a grant from the Indiana Space Grant Consortium to study the mold and its edible nature.