Salinas pleads guilty to federal bribery charge, resigns from council seat

Disgraced Hammond City Councilman Al Salinas resigned from office Monday, just a few hours after pleading guilty to taking more than $10,000 in kickbacks for steering city work to a contractor.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Ethics training pays off, but doesn't cost much

What has the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission done lately? Quite a lot but never enough. The commission is composed of seven member communities -- Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Highland, Munster, Schererville and Whiting. We are a nice mix of urban and suburban, large and small. We welco…

Schaap objects to delaying January sentencing hearing

HAMMOND | The sentencing for disgraced former Hammond megachurch Pastor Jack Schaap should proceed as scheduled later this month despite requested delays by federal prosecutors, Schaap's defense attorney argues.

Michigan City doctor indicted for insurance fraud

MICHIGAN CITY | A physician with practices in Michigan City and Chicago has been indicted on federal charges of submitting more than $3 million in false medical claims to private insurers and the government.

Republican election officials raise red flag over phony IDs

CROWN POINT | Lake County GOP officials are calling for an investigation into whether a ring of identity thieves also may have dabbled in vote fraud.

EDITORIAL: Shore up public's trust in local government

So many public corruption indictments have been handed down against public officials in Lake County over the years that voters run the danger of expecting local government officials to be corrupt. That should prompt action by good, decent, honest officials to shore up the public's trust.

NWI feds nab 6 in separate public corruption cases

HAMMOND | If Indiana's U.S. attorneys lag behind their nationwide colleagues in generating public corruption cases, as recently published federal statistics show, it wasn't apparent Thursday.

Feds: Gary man charged in drug trafficking case

CHICAGO | A Gary man faces a federal charge as part of a sweeping case against alleged members of two separate Chicago-area drug trafficking rings.

EDITORIAL: Philpot provides incentive for ethics training

Yet another politician has been removed from office because of public corruption. Former Lake County Clerk Thomas Philpot was convicted on five counts of theft and fraud charges.

EDITORIAL: Indictment promotes ethics in government

Friday's indictment of a school official has put government ethics in the spotlight once again.

MARK KIESLING: Start prosecutions low, then work your way up

Rumors are just that, unless you are dealing with politicians.

Illinois man indicted in sales of stolen appliances in NWI

HAMMOND | A Lake Forest, Ill., man faces charges in Hammond federal court of transporting more than 100 stolen household appliances into Northwest Indiana, court records state.

EDITORIAL: Bang on gangs in East Chicago

The weight of the federal government is finally pressing down on violent street gangs in East Chicago. It's going to be a messy process, but the result will be worth it.

MARK KIESLING: Mr. Philpot, you should've known better

If your lawyer told you it was safe to fling yourself into the Grand Canyon, I doubt many of you would take the advice.

DOUG ROSS: U.S. attorney isn't only one who can reform government

When I heard last Thursday's public corruption indictments were coming down, I tried to figure which two separate incidents they might be.

Gary man pleads guilty in drug case to firearm, dealing counts

HAMMOND | Darrell Loving, 22, of Gary, pleaded guilty in federal court this week in connection with a drug charge.

Government opposes Powell's plea for early end to sentence

HAMMOND | Federal prosecutors have told a judge that convicted former Lake County tax collector Roosevelt Powell deserves no early release from his sentence for bilking taxpayers.

Fraud indictments snare 2 tax preparers

A federal grand jury indicted two Northwest Indiana tax preparers on multiple fraud charges last week, according to a Hammond-based U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman.

Feds indict 3 region men on drug, gun immigration charges

HAMMOND | Three men were indicted in federal court this week, U.S. attorney's office officials said.

Holder: Cyber threats present 'urgent' challenge

HAMMOND | U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told dozens of law enforcement professionals and business leaders that the increasing frequency of Internet-based crime "is one of the most urgent and one of the most complex global challenges we face."