Man celebrates the release of his grandmother's killer

ROCKVILLE, Ind. | On Monday, region native Bill Pelke celebrated the release of one of his grandmother's killers from prison.

Activists call for end to violence in Gary

GARY | Myrtle Curry said her grandson, Richard Taylor, is more powerful in death.

M'ville T.G.I. Friday's suit alleges racial bias

HAMMOND | Twenty-seven people are suing the T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in Merrillville, claiming they were denied the ability to eat there because they are black, according to federal court complaint filed Tuesday.

Lowell High School graduate sues school officials over suspension

HAMMOND | A Lowell High School graduate is suing officials at her former school, claiming they had no right to suspend her for a comment she posted on Twitter, federal court records state.

Gary native won't let life in prison deter him from pursuing dreams

Former Gary boxer Charles "Duke" Tanner's fight for freedom has taken a lyrical twist.

Wounded warrior builds new life after losing three limbs in Afghanistan

Retired Master Sgt. John Masson vowed losing both legs and part of his left arm in Afghanistan would not keep him from walking again.

Thomas Stefaniak to become new Lake Juvenile Court judge

CROWN POINT | Lake Criminal Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak said Friday afternoon he will be the new Lake Juvenile Court judge.

Illinois man admits guilt in Gary home rehab scheme

HAMMOND | An Illinois man agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud relating to a mortgage scheme involving a Schererville-based residential rehabilitation company, federal court records show.

Supreme Court prohibits Schiralli's transfer to Juvenile Court

Lake Superior Court Judge Nicholas Schiralli cannot transfer into the Lake Juvenile Court, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Hammond day care fires one, reprimands others

HAMMOND | Multiple teachers have been reprimanded and at least one person fired in the wake of a state investigation into Northwest Family Services, state records show.

Lake Superior judges, magistrates fail to reach deal over Juvenile Court vacancy

Lake Superior Court judges and magistrates were unable to reach a compromise in their legal squabble regarding how to fill the Lake Juvenile Court vacancy, court records filed Wednesday show.

DCS continues to roll out program to provide mental health services to youth

INDIANAPOLIS | Twenty-five Indiana children are receiving mental health services as part of state officials' pledge to close a funding gap, said an Indiana Department of Child Services official.

Hammond day care appeals state license revocation

HAMMOND | A Hammond day care facility has appealed revocation of its child care center license, a state spokeswoman said Friday.

More than 350 attend forum on child abuse, neglect

GARY | William Kellibrew IV was 10 years old the day he says he stared down a gun and begged for his life.

Griffith police to hold press conference on status of murder investigation

GRIFFITH | The Griffith Police Department has announced a press conference for 3 p.m. today to announce updates in their multi-agency investigation into the murder of 76-year-old Mary Austgen.

Griffith police have suspect in custody for kidnapping, slaying of Mary Austgen

GRIFFITH | Police have a suspect in custody relating to the kidnapping and killing of 76-year-old Mary Austgen, a police spokesman confirmed Wednesday morning.

Former C.P. teacher fired from Florida school district

A former Crown Point teacher has been terminated from his position in a Florida school district after an investigation relating to his conduct in another state.

State report: 5 region children died of abuse, neglect injuries in a year

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana was home to five of Indiana's 40 children who died of abuse or neglect between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, a state report released Monday shows.

Indiana Department of Education letter to Northwest Family Services

State suspends food program funding for Hammond day care

HAMMOND | The Indiana Department of Education has suspended funding to a Hammond day-care facility, citing "serious deficiencies" in the facility's operation, state records show.

State, Hanover sue former school treasurer

CEDAR LAKE | The state and Hanover Community School Corp. are suing a former school treasurer to recover $44,378.20 in missing textbook rental fees and audit expenses, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Lake Superior Court.

State revokes Hammond day care's license after finding 117 violations

HAMMOND | The Indiana Bureau of Child Care has revoked a Hammond child care center's license after state inspectors documented 117 violations, state records show.

Crown Point orthodontist sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud

AMARILLO, Texas | A Crown Point orthodontist was sentenced Tuesday to more than four years in federal prison and ordered to pay about $1.8 million in restitution for health care fraud, Texas federal prosecutors said.

Visclosky: 'We don't govern anymore'

MUNSTER | U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, said he is frustrated by the government's inability to get its finances in order.

Embattled LaPorte athletic director receives two awards for his work

LAPORTE | Embattled LaPorte High School Athletic Director Ed Gilliland received awards this year for merit and distinguished service, according to the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

High court requires mediation in Lake County tussle

The Indiana Supreme Court is ordering mediation in the Lake Superior Court judges and magistrates' legal tussle over how to fill the Lake Juvenile Court vacancy, court records filed Monday show.

Gary official pleads guilty to tax evasion

Gary Councilwoman Marilyn Krusas agreed Monday to plead guilty to tax evasion, federal court records show.

C.P. teen dies in dirt bike accident

Sixteen-year-old Matthew Soper died Saturday night in an accident while riding a dirt bike in Leroy, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Family Christian Center faces third mortgage foreclosure case

MUNSTER | Family Christian Center is facing a third mortgage foreclosure case — this one relating to a residence in Schererville, according to documents filed this week in Lake Superior Court.

Judge outlines goals for new job as head of DCS

Lake Juvenile Court Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura will soon trade her judge's robes for a new job involving the welfare of children.

Lake County Bar Association rates federal judges, magistrates

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kent Lindquist received the highest rating of nine federal judges and magistrates who work in Lake County, according to a survey by the Lake County Bar Association.

Griffith Public Schools, students settle lawsuit relating to Facebook comments

HAMMOND | Griffith Public Schools reached a settlement with three girls who were expelled after making Facebook comments discussing killing several classmates and teachers, according to federal court documents filed Monday.

Regional Mental Health Center, EEOC settle discrimination lawsuit

HAMMOND | The Regional Mental Health Center has agreed to pay $200,000 to settle a federal lawsuit stemming from its treatment of an employee with breast cancer, federal court records show.

Letter indicates Lake judges are ignoring a law they deem unconstitutional

State legislators overreached their authority when they passed a law prohibiting judges from transferring to a different court unless they have gone through merit selection, Chief Judge John Pera wrote Monday in a letter to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Attorney: LaPorte prosecutors won't put school officials on trial

Two LaPorte High School officials accused of failing to report an inappropriate relationship between a junior varsity volleyball coach and an underage girl will not be prosecuted, an attorney for the girl's family said Monday, noting the family was told such a prosecution would "cost too muc…

Indiana mother, son recall tortuous journey to secure mental health services

When R.D. Riley was 3 years old, his therapist told him he would become a mass murderer, the boy and his mother recall.

Chief judge to respond to call for merit selection to replace Bonaventura

Chief Judge John Pera said he is preparing a written response to Lake Juvenile Court Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura's letters seeking intervention from the Indiana Supreme Court.

Outgoing judge questions process of filling juvenile court vacancy

Lake Juvenile Court Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to issue an order requiring her replacement be chosen through merit selection rather than seniority, according to letters obtained Friday by The Times.

Lowell man seeks presidential pardon

HAMMOND | A Lowell man is seeking a presidential pardon, according to a letter filed Tuesday in Hammond federal court.

Former C.P. high school teacher denies inappropriate conduct with student

HAMMOND | A former Crown Point High School teacher denied allegations he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with one of his students, federal court records filed Monday show.

Fate of South Shore Air Show uncertain

GARY | The 14th annual South Shore Air Show may fall victim to impending automatic federal spending cuts, tourism officials said Wednesday.

Judge approves agreement to extend financial administrator's role with local megachurch

CROWN POINT | Family Christian Center won't regain control of its own finances for at least six months, according to an agreement approved Friday in Lake Superior Court.

Local megachurch faces new foreclosure case

MUNSTER | Family Christian Center faces a new legal hurdle in its leaders' efforts to restore the financial health of the megachurch, according to documents filed this week in Lake Superior Court.

Kansas man sentenced to 40 years in kidnapping case

HAMMOND | A Kansas man barely seemed to notice as he was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in federal prison for kidnapping and obstruction of justice.

Local megachurch navigates precarious path

MUNSTER | While the Family Christian Center was spending millions of dollars annually on leadership compensation, travel, meals and jet fuel, it was falling behind on its mortgage payments and racking up a list of past-due bills, a Times investigation found.

Gary woman faces federal embezzlement, theft charge

HAMMOND | A Gary woman is accused in Hammond federal court of embezzling an undisclosed amount of funds from a region labor union, a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday shows.

Whiteco Industries sues over performance that resulted in a fire at Star Plaza

HAMMOND | The owners of Merrillville's Star Plaza Theater are suing the New Shanghai Circus and its affiliates, claiming the circus is responsible for a 2011 fire that caused nearly $600,000 of damage to the facility.

Feds: E.C. cop indicted in ghost payrolling scheme

HAMMOND | An 18-year veteran of the East Chicago Police Department was indicted Wednesday on 12 fraud charges relating to an alleged ghost payrolling scheme, federal court records state.

Homewood woman sues police over shooting death of her son

CHICAGO | A Homewood woman is suing local police, seeking damages in the shooting death of her son, federal court records show.

DCS official: First leg of pilot project went 'better than planned'

INDIANAPOLIS | The first phase of state officials' plan to close the gap in mental health services for children has been a success, one official said.