Munster symposium to focus on heart health

MUNSTER | It takes a half hour on the treadmill to burn off the calories in two chocolate drops and two to three hours of working out to burn off the calories consumed in the average sports drink.

Methodist breaks ground on new emergency department

MERRILLVILLE | In less than a year, the emergency department at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus in Merrillville will have more rooms, more high-tech equipment and a more efficient layout.

Hammond may boost revenue stream

HAMMOND | City officials are counting on something that keeps people alive to help sustain the city.

Schererville to welcome several new businesses

SCHERERVILLE | The new year brings new development to Schererville and the resurrection of an old idea.

Slice of Life: A spacey visit to Texas

I was mid-sentence when I realized my husband was no longer part of the conversation. I turned and saw him leap atop a concrete pillar.

Science competition brings local students to IUN

GARY | Triston Hillman stood Saturday in the gym at Indiana University Northwest, twirling the plastic bag and bent carbon rod remains of his helicopter egg drop.

The mark of love: baby born on Valentine's Day with heart shape on leg

HAMMOND | With a blond-haired mother and dark-haired father, it was strange enough that little Julianna Valencia was born with red hair, especially on Valentine's Day.

Hammond probes city businesses for porn, pipes, fake pot

HAMMOND | City officials targeted pornography, pipes and fake pot Wednesday, making unannounced stops at convenience stores and gas stations around the city to check compliance with city ordinances.

SLICE OF LIFE: Faking it with football

With today being a big sports day, I have exciting news to share: pitchers and catchers report this month.

Hammond to consider 'bailout' ordinance

HAMMOND | The City Council is considering an ordinance that would allocate a portion of district council members' gaming revenue toward public safety costs this year.

Sock hop is blast from past

WHITING | Chicago radio legend Dick Biondi brings his recognizable voice back to Whiting for a second annual sock hop.

Chess pulls pieces together for Hammond man

HAMMOND | For Ed Blanco, chess has been a constant.

Hammond businesses notified of '18 and older' ordinance

HAMMOND | Gas stations, convenience marts and certain retail shops citywide have been notified of a new city law prohibiting adult materials from being displayed in plain sight.

Hammond City Council to start bimonthly meetings earlier

HAMMOND | The City Council has rolled back its meeting time by two hours.

Hammond council prioritizes public safety amid Fire Department tension

HAMMOND | City leaders have taken formal action to name public safety a priority in Hammond.

Mayor discusses development, water sales at luncheon

HAMMOND | Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. addressed local business leaders Thursday about the upcoming year, something he has done at the start of each year during his tenure.

Hammond drops annual dinner cruise

HAMMOND | The popular dinner cruise that precedes the annual Festival of the Lakes has been canceled this year.

Temporary barriers to two streets come down in Hammond

HAMMOND | The city on Tuesday removed temporary barriers that had blocked off two streets since October after officials reviewed the results of a survey asking residents whether they wanted the streets barricaded permanently.

SLICE OF LIFE: A Rose in full bloom

God willing, my Grandma Rose will turn 94 on Thursday.

Construction to begin on Haven House project

HAMMOND | A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled Friday for the construction of a transitional housing project for a women and children's shelter.

Bones found in October identified as 38-year-old woman

HAMMOND | Bones found buried on the site of a former bait and tackle shop have been identified as Francine Carlson, who was 38 when she was reported missing in 1999, Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said.

Merrillville soldier Brian Leonhardt laid to rest

HAMMOND | Fifty-nine framed pictures of uniformed men and women line a wall inside First Baptist Church under the words Our Country At War.

Hammond's first black teacher speaks of need for tenacity during MLK event

HAMMOND | In September 1960, Annie Hicks entered Maywood Elementary School as the first black teacher employed in Hammond.

McDermott wants to pool gaming money for overtime police patrols

HAMMOND | Some Hammond City Council members are bristling at the mayor's decision to pool part of their gaming money for overtime police patrols, instead of leaving the expenditures at their discretion.

Job creation program awards first loan

HAMMOND | A downtown business is the first to receive a loan through the Job Creation Business Expansion program, which uses U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dollars to help local businesses.

Neighborhood residents to decide fate of barriers

HAMMOND | Property owners who live near roadblocks that were set up without warning three months ago will decide whether they will stay or go.

Hammond crime drops 4%

HAMMOND | Crime is down 4 percent in Hammond compared to last year, according to figures the Police Department released Thursday.

Nominee paying back those who aided him

GARY | For Richard "Chappy" Woods, there are few greater joys in life than pulling walleye, bass, crappie and perch from Canadian fishing holes. But, his heart belongs to youth football.

Hammond GOP chair to step down Feb. 1

HAMMOND | Former Fourth District Councilwoman Kimberly Poland is stepping down as chairwoman of the Hammond Republican Party, effective Feb. 1.

Hammond council elects Opinker to lead 2012

HAMMOND | Fifth District Councilman Michael Opinker was elected Monday to serve a one-year term as City Council president.

Firefighters, McDermott divided on unmanned ladder truck decision

HAMMOND | Firefighters canvassed the area around Fire Station No. 1 on Monday, distributing fliers and telling residents their safety may be compromised.

SLICE OF LIFE: Cardboard man in the mirror

You know how when you tell someone you like a particular thing — like birds or the White Sox or Precious Moments — some form of that shows up in the gifts they give you?

Untapped water capacity a factor in possible future Hammond water sales

HAMMOND | If Hammond decides to sell water to more Chicago suburbs, it may need approval from a multijurisdictional group that oversees the Great Lakes.

Dyer man shoots at suspected police impostor

HAMMOND | An 18-year-old Dyer man shot twice at a man who posed as a police officer Thursday night in the 600 block of 177th Street, police said.

Cheer Fund wraps up holiday drive with than $30K in donations

MUNSTER | Generous region residents again pushed the Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund more than $5,000 beyond its $25,000 fundraising goal.

Hammond to Hollywood: Woman shares story of sweet success

Jill Williams works chocolate the way a whittler works a block of wood, giving personality to a blank canvas.

Prepping the water for winter

HAMMOND | Under the undulating waves in Hammond Marina lies the secret to banishing thick sheets of ice from its surface: air bubbles and warm water.

Hammond to pool gaming dollars for infrastructure

HAMMOND | Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said Hammond is going to tighten how gaming revenue is spent so it can continue upgrades to the 127-year-old city's aging infrastructure.

Hammond floats possibility of selling water to Illinois municipalities

HAMMOND | The city of Hammond is considering selling water to Illinois, a move that could generate millions of dollars to help buoy the city's finances and lessen its reliance on gaming money, Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said Friday.

McDermott outlines plans to cut Hammond's costs for 2012

HAMMOND | Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.'s agenda to reduce city expenses in 2012 includes suspending plans to relocate City Hall, un-manning a Fire Department ladder truck and shutting down the Hammond Urban Enterprise Association and three TIF districts.

Former region resident missing in Arkansas

An Arkansas woman with region roots has been missing for more than a week. Her car was found burned in a national forest on Christmas Day.

Bakery could open at former shelter site

HAMMOND | A former homeless shelter slated for demolition could have new life as a wholesale bakery.

SLICE OF LIFE: Christmas brings about reindeer games

You know Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.

The perfect gift: Whiting woman donates kidney to childhood friend's husband

HAMMOND | Felix Vazquez's Christmas gift from Allison Buell didn't come with a bow, but it's better than anything he could find under the tree.

Hammond chief of staff retains position

HAMMOND | The chief of staff for Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. will retain that title in 2012 on a contractual basis.

Robert Frost enthusiasts venture into Hammond woods on shortest day

HAMMOND | On the darkest day of the year, near a sign reading "No. 12 tee" with an arrow pointing to the right, a group of people paused to reflect on the work of a beloved American poet.

Pay raise approved for Hammond elected officials

HAMMOND | The Hammond City Council gave itself a pay raise for the first time in three years, but it took multiple attempts to garner enough votes.

Cheer Fund exceeds $25,000 goal

MUNSTER | Fundraising didn't come down to the wire this year for the Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund.

Hammond extends retirement option to Dec. 31

HAMMOND | The City Council has extended an early retirement option to the end of the year for eligible employees.

Cheer Fund goal within reach

MUNSTER | Generous contributions from familiar names and new ones are bringing the Good Neighbor Christmas Cheer Fund closer to its $25,000 fundraising goal.