Steel production rises 17,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 659,000 tons in the week ended Feb. 16, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Steel still relevant in auto production despite competition

HOBART | Steel isn't leaving its position as a dominant material in automobile production as automakers work to meet more stringent fuel economy standards in the next two decades.

Longtime USW Local 1014 official dies

Former United Steelworkers Local 1014 official and United States Steel Corp. retiree John Fritz died Tuesday after spending more than 60 years in various roles with the union and company.

Steel lobbying group sets public policy agenda

A Washington, D.C.-based steel trade association is urging the nation's political leaders to support a pro-manufacturing policy agenda that helps improve the international competitiveness of key economic sectors.

Steel production falls 15,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 642,000 tons last week, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Report: 2 Chicago-made Ford vehicles may head to Michigan

CHICAGO | It has been more than three months since Detroit-based media reported Ford Motor Co. was interested in moving the next generation Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles to a Michigan assembly plant.

Michigan City snack maker expanding, to add up to 51 jobs

An Illinois-based company is moving forward with plans to expand its Michigan City food manufacturing facility and create up to 51 new jobs in LaPorte County by 2016.

Steel production rises 5,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 657,000 tons in the week that ended Saturday, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Steel mill project hits stumbling blocks

United States Steel Corp. officials expect to start up a second module in Gary during late summer to produce a substitute for a critical raw material to make steel.

Police raid Harvey house, arrest 4

Four Harvey residents were arrested Friday and are facing drug and weapons-related charges following the raid of a residence that contained illegal drugs, police said.

East Chicago shooting kills 1, injures toddler

EAST CHICAGO | One person was killed and a 2-year-old was injured Saturday when a vehicle was shot at multiples times.

Land trust buys former Girl Scouts camp in Liberty Township

The Shirley Heinze Land Trust said Friday that it bought the former Camp Meadowbrook in Liberty Township.

Public officials, residents continue protest of airport board changes

GARY | Community members continued to galvanize support Saturday to change language in proposed state legislation that would alter the composition of the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority.

Katz seeks spot as Lake County GOP chair

Lake County GOP Chairwoman Kim Krull said Saturday she is endorsing party member Allan Katz to succeed her as chair of the county Republican Party.

CFS Bancorp swings to 4Q profit of $1.6 million

The Munster-based parent of Citizens Financial Bank swung to a fourth quarter profit of $1.6 million as improved economic conditions helped reduce the funds the institution had to set aside to cover loan losses.

Steel production falls 15,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 652,000 tons in the week that ended Saturday, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

MANUFACTURING: Choppy recovery causing turbulence in sector

Manufacturing activity in the United States is following a similarly volatile pattern as it continues to recover from the impact of the Great Recession.

BANKING: Better economy lifts bank earnings

Northwest Indiana bank executive David Rose said income statements of many banks around the country remain better than they were a few years ago as a result of improved economic conditions.

LABOR: NWI missing out on state job gains

Although local union leader Jim Robinson said the economy "seems" to be getting better, there isn't a large share of job growth occurring in Northwest Indiana, especially within the manufacturing sector.

AUTOMOTIVE: Auto sales reflecting boost in economic activity

Light vehicle sales in the United States rising 13.4 percent in 2012 from a year earlier shows that the industry continues to show improvements from the depths of the recession, said automobile dealership owner Tim Roper.

RETAIL: See-saw sales patterns define 2012

Retail performance during the 2012 holiday shopping season was largely disappointing because of expectations formed based on sales early in the year, Joshua Halpern said.

CONSUMERS: Opportunists working to profit from East Coast tragedies

Con artists are continuing to use seemingly philanthropic ventures to profit from tragedies occurring late in 2012 such as Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown, Conn., school shooting, said Gail Zurek.

COMMERCE: Porter County still reaping development interest from hospital

The location of Porter Regional Hospital in Liberty Township has spurred development interest in other businesses in the area, said Valparaiso economic development official Rex Richards.

GROCERY: Competition, costs driving consolidation within segment

Conditions within the grocery segment are encouraging the trend of smaller chains of stores selling out to become part of larger "super-independent" ones, said Dave Wilkinson.

THE TIMES BOARD OF ECONOMISTS: No economic tonic for uncertainty

Northwest Indiana business executives are seeing the signs of a sustained -- yet slow -- economic recovery in the region this year. But the 22-member Times Board of Economists is split on how quickly challenges such as elevated unemployment will be resolved.

STEEL: Products need demand to be sold

As the economy goes, so does United States Steel Corp.

Record earnings welcome at region banks

Several regionally based banks had a strong 2012 as improved economic conditions allowed banks to boost lending on track to earning record profits.

Wintrust Financial acquires Lansing-based bank

Wintrust Financial Corp. said Tuesday that it signed an agreement to buy the Lansing-based parent of First National Bank of Illinois for an estimated $38.5 million.

Porter County cops arrest 2, net $286K in drug bust

PORTAGE | Police from the Porter County Sheriff's Department said they arrested two men Wednesday after they found cocaine and heroin valued at $286,000 in their vehicle during a traffic stop.

Steel production rises 7,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 667,000 tons in the week that ended Saturday, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Peoples Bank earns record profit in 2012

The Munster-based holding company for Peoples Bank said Friday its earnings in 2012 were up 27.3 percent and the institution set a record for profits earned.

Illiana Block owner seeks fresh start despite bankruptcy

Nearly seven years after receiving a state-touted $8.7 million low interest loan for opening a manufacturing operation in Gary, the owners of a Crown Point-based business are seeking to reorganize their debts after filing for bankruptcy.

Jobless rate rises to 8.2% in Indiana

Despite Indiana's unemployment rate rising in December to 8.2 percent, a state official called job growth in 2012 "exceptional."

Federal court judge tosses RTW challenge

A challenge of the constitutionality of Indiana's right-to-work law in U.S. District Court in Hammond was dismissed Thursday.

Citizens dedicates center to boosting small business lending

Citizens Financial Bank is setting aside $10 million to lend to small business clients in conjunction with the bank opening its Center for Small Business in Highland.

Steel production rises 21,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 660,000 tons in the week that ended Saturday, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Gary seeks partnerships for economic development agenda

GARY | Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said Monday she is optimistic the city will continue to improve its reputation in the business community this year as key economic development projects are completed and as benefits are realized from local, state and federal partnerships.

Teamsters members say union calculates dues structure unfairly

MUNSTER | Pepsi Beverages Co. transport driver Tom Albano said he's had no problem paying dues to unions during more than 30 years working in the steel and transportation industries.

Low water levels add pressure to NWI, Chicago maritime businesses

Stevedoring companies and cargo carriers in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area may be missing business opportunities as a result of lower than expected water levels on the Mississippi River and other sections of the inland waterway system.

Legislators push to extend duties on foreign steel

Members of the Congressional Steel Caucus are pushing for a U.S. trade panel to extend duties on corrosion-resistant steel from Germany and South Korea to avoid an import surge.

ArcelorMittal raising $3.5B to help reduce debt load

ArcelorMittal said Wednesday it wants to raise $3.5 billion from a common stock and debt offering in the United States to reduce its current debt load.

Steel production falls 44,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 639,000 tons in the week that ended Saturday, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

Lake tourism group says $4.6M in activity generated from its efforts

Sporting events and conventions the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority helped attract to Northwest Indiana generated more than $4.6 million in economic activity in 2012, the Hammond-based tourism group said Monday.

LaPorte firm casts net for innovation assistance

Executives at a LaPorte-based manufacturing firm said a lack of innovation in recent years threatened the company's existence.

U.S. steel production up 3 percent in '12

Production of raw steel in the United States is expected to have increased about 3 percent in 2012 from a year earlier, according to early estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

State, others want farmers markets to take SNAP benefits

State agencies and Indiana educational and nonprofit organizations are hosting a seminar in Merrillville later this month to teach operators of farmers markets how accepting federal food assistance benefits can create benefits for shoppers and the markets.

Region public TV, radio station seek fresh start after CEO exit

The new chief of Lakeshore Public Television and Radio will have to manage in an evolving technological landscape for broadcast media and continue to grow the stations' reach and revenue, according to members of the stations' board of directors.

Unlimited deposit coverage ending at banks, credit unions

Banks and credit unions in Northwest Indiana and around the country have been preparing depositors for the expiration of a program that provided unlimited insurance coverage on funds in certain types of accounts.

Region economy slows as cliff fears take shape

Lackluster growth in retail sales and a drop in regional employment took some holiday cheer out of Northwest Indiana's economy last month, according to an index that gauges regional economic dynamics.

Steel production rises 20,000 tons in Great Lakes states

Raw steel production in the country's Great Lakes region was 679,000 tons in the week that ended Saturday, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute.