Cooking class teaches kids kitchen basics

You probably won't hear the word "gross" from kids who attend the Southlake YMCA's no-bake cooking class.

School City of Hobart continues free breakfasts, lunches this summer

HOBART | The School City of Hobart and the federal government are offering free meals to children 18 years and younger at several sites through Aug. 10.

Lunch fees for Portage Twp. schools could rise by nickel

PORTAGE | The cost of a school lunch likely will increase by a nickel for the 2012-13 school year.

Valpo to use forestry grant to replace ash trees

VALPARAISO | The city is getting a little help from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in its battle with the emerald ash borer.

LARRY DeBOER: Soil productivity factors and farmland property taxes

The assessed values of farmland for property taxes have been rising. Mostly this is because of increases in the "base rate" per acre of farmland. But now, another element of the assessment calculation, the "soil productivity factors," might rise as well.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Big Sugar's Valentine's Day surprise

As couples across Indiana, and across the country, celebrate Valentine's Day today by presenting chocolates, candies and other sweets to their sweethearts, we are reminded once again of the sour effect the U.S. sugar program has on businesses and consumers.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Feeding the world one degree at a time

When considering a current hot topic in agriculture that I could address in this column, I only needed to look at what my fellow "aggies" were posting about on their Facebook pages.

Farm agency mulls office hybrid

LOWELL | Lake County farmers don't want to see their Farm Service Agency office in Crown Point closed, and they made that clear Wednesday during a nearly two-hour public hearing.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Farm bill must help economy grow

Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out his priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill. This bill is about a whole lot more than farming: it's about supporting the jobs of the future, it's about keeping pace with the changing needs of agriculture and rural America, and it's…

Rural NWI communities selected for USDA program

A team of rural communities in Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Starke counties has been selected for a federal program that will help the communities create economic development plans.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Who's to blame for high food prices?

If you ever had an economics class, the phrase "supply and demand" might sound familiar to you, but when you're pacing the aisles of the grocery store, do you ever think back to those days when you were sitting in your econ class doodling in your notebook?