At Home: 10 steps to the perfect sofa

I still remember my shock and dismay when I realized that sofas had to be bought. Somehow I thought sofas just happened. They always simply showed up in homes, hotels, and offices without explanation or fanfare, like feral kittens or bills.

At Home: Fixin' to Sell

Maybe it’s because I was the youngest in my family. Maybe it’s because I’m five-foot-three and have a voice like snow white, but I lash out like a cornered rattlesnake when someone doesn’t take me seriously.

At Home: If you can dress, you can decorate

I know, I know, to many of you the idea of decorating an empty room feels as horrifying as one of those dreams where you're suddenly in public naked. But I'm going to fix that.

At Home: Turn Your Closet into a Boutique Just for You

Quick: Which room in your house needs attention the most? Kitchen? Bathroom? Garage?

At Home: How to sell what where

The author of "Garage Sale Millionaire" had come to Orlando to visit theme parks with his wife and 3-year-old son. I took it as a sign. Divine deliverance.

At Home: Parents’ possessions put past in perspective

Like my mother, the Roman God Janus — for whom January is named — had eyes in the back of his head. In fact, he had an entire face on the back of his head, so he could look backward and forward at once. This feature earned him the distinction of “god of doors.” He ruled comings and goings.

At Home: Resolving to repurpose

This time of year I always feel a little sick to my stomach, and not just because of those midnight romps at the dessert buffet with the bottomless glass of Prosecco. (Do they make a combo antacid headache tablet?)

At Home: A Look Back at Lessons Learned 2012, Part 2

A look back at the lessons the year served up reveals I once again had my share of jams, upheavals and awakenings. I faithfully reported these with what I hope some would call humor served with a dollop of advice on the side.

New book exposes Lincoln's obscure early career

I had never realized that Abraham Lincoln was a captain in the Black Hawk War in Western Illinois in 1832 – indeed, I had never even heard of that war. But its impact on the young Lincoln, who witnessed atrocities against civilians by Native Americans and who also had to protect an elderly P…

Bill aims to reduce barriers to veteran employment

A group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are supporting a bill introduced in earlier this week they say will help veterans transition from military service to civilian employment.

Rokita running for re-election

INDIANAPOLIS | Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita announced Monday he will run for re-election in 2012.

Federal budget cuts endanger workforce training centers

SPRINGFIELD | The state's unemployment rate may be dropping, but federal funding for job training is dropping faster.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Blow up the U.S. House for better representation

After the Indiana General Assembly redraws legislative boundaries this spring, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, will represent 710,767 people.

Illinois to lose U.S House seat, Indiana maintains in 2010 census count

Illinois residents will lose a voice in the U.S. House of Representatives while Indiana's congressional seats remain unchanged, according to 2010 census results released Tuesday.

Sleeping on the job

At least 15 percent of the 94 incoming members of the U.S. House of Representatives plan to sleep in their offices, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

EDITORIAL: We endorse Visclosky, Donnelly

The U.S. House of Representatives is the focus of the nation's attention as the balance of power could shift to Republicans and put a major roadblock in front of the Obama administration's agenda. Two of those races involve Northwest Indiana.