Gary/Chicago Airport expansion

Gary/Chicago International Airport interim Director Steve Landry stands last year on ground that has been graded for the extension of the airport's main runway. On Monday, the airport authority moved forward on arranging financing for the final phase of the $166 million expansion.

My favorite story about Rudy Clay

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, right, talks with Ron Sims, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development , left, and Mayor Rudy Clay as they inspect an abandoned home in Gary in June 2009.

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Buyers are gaining more confidence in the housing market.

A good building project starts with a good builder

A good builder should have some important attributes before being hired for a job including belonging to the home builder's association, having experience in a local market and strong communication skills.

Haley Hodges, Portage softball

Portage catcher Haley Hodges awaits a throw at the plate during a game against Lake Central. Hodges has been a major power source for the Indians, who play Saturday in the Class 4A Harrison (West Lafayette) Semistate.

Andrean's Cunningham hired to coach at Montana college

Andrean coach Carson Cunningham led his 59ers to the Class 3A northern semistate. Cunningham was hired as the basketball coach at Carroll College in Montana, an NAIA program.

Lake Surveyor Van Til indicted by feds

Lake County Surveyor George Van Til takes a call from Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist as he watches the election returns come in during the 2012 general election. Van Til is accused by the U.S. attorney's office of using public employees and equipment to do political work.

Gary/Chicago Airport expansion work

Using expanded polystyrene, workers construct a new bridge at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. Gov. Mike Pence on Friday also signed Senate Bill 585, thawing the Lake County property tax levy freeze, setting qualifications for Gary airport board members and providing for studies of re…

Mt. Carmel Caravan football

Mt. Carmel practices for an October game with Catholic League Blue rival St. Rita. The IHSA recently put limits on preseason practices.

Andrean's Cunningham will interview for college job in Montana

Andrean coach Carson Cunningham led his 59ers to the Class 3A northern semistate. Cunningham, who will lose nine seniors to graduation, is interviewing for the head coaching job at Carroll College in Montana, an NAIA program.

Zac Wells

Merrillville football coach Zac Wells was inducted into the St. Joseph’s College Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Nicole Vega, T.F. United

Thornton Fractional's Nicole Vega, left, has 43 goals this season for the United.

Garden and Pond Expo

Water's Edge Gift & Garden Pond Center foreman Mike Wisniewski, left, helps Kerry Highsmith and Melissa Foss-Brown with their questions at the 2011 Garden and Pond Expo at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

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An elaborate lighted pond display at the 2012 Waterscape Weekend Garden and Pond Expo at the Lake County Fairgrounds. This year's expo is set for April 27 and 28.

Bloom Township coaching search draws 27 applicants

Jasper Williams with Jataryan Dejareaux in a Class 4A Sectional semifinal game between in March. Williams retired after 1- yuears and 27 people have applied for his job.

Carey Pinkowski MUG

Chicago Marathon executive race director Carey Pinkowski, a Hammond High grad.

Water features, garden displays to inspire

Tanner, left, and Emmitt Mitsch, of Lowell, are enthralled with an elaborate lighted pond display at last year's Waterscape Weekend Garden and Pond Expo at the Lake County Fairgrounds. This year's expo is set for April 27 and 28.

Hammond day care appeals state license revocation

The Northwest Family Services day care facility in Hammond recently appealed revocation of its child care center license. The Indiana Bureau of Child Care revoked Northwest Family Services' license in March after state inspectors found 117 violations, state records show.

Portage's Kiley Jones is 4-2 overall with a 1.11 ERA.

Portage's Kiley Jones is 4-2 overall with a 1.11 ERA. She has 41 strikeouts in 38 innings this season.

Portage's Kiley Jones

Portage's Kiley Jones gets congratulated for a home run against Chesterton this season, the first of the Indians sophomore's career.

Chesterton's Mallory McKee

Chesterton's Mallory McKee, right, hits a leadoff home run against Portage on Tuesday.

Marvin Rea raises Class A state championship plaque

Bowman coach Marvin Rea holds the state Class A championship trophy after the 2010 finals. His Eagles are making their third trip to state this Saturday and will play for the 2A finals.

Highland focuses on redevelopment, quality of life

Cristina Calvillo from Tricoco University of Beauty Culture helps 7-year-old Alexa Regalada pick out feathers for her hair at the Midwest Zest Fest last September.

Skyler Moss, Andrean

Andrean's Skyler Moss pulls down a rebound over Plymouth's Kyser McCrammer in Saturday's Class 3A Plymouth Regional championship game. The 59ers won in overtime and will take their tough-minded game to Huntington North today to play Fort Wayne Concordia in the Northern Semistate.

Collin Wojcik, Andrean

Andrean's Collin Wojcik had great sophomore and junior seasons before having a shooting slump for most of this regular season. But since the playoffs began, Wojcik has been on a tear, shooting 17-of-24 from the 3-point line during sectional and regional play. Wojcik leads Andrean into Saturd…

Collin Wojcik, Andrean

Andrean's Collin Wojcik struggled for much of the regular season, unable to hit a shot from beyond the 3-point line. But since the postseason began the senior has shot 17-of-24 from beyond the arc. He leads the 59ers into Saturday's Class 3A Northern Semistate at Huntington North.

Valparaiso's Kevin Van Wijk

Valparaiso's Kevin Van Wijk tries to score during last Tuesday's Horizon League tournament championship.

Jelani Pruitt, Merrillville

Merrillville's Jelani Pruitt guards Munster's Adam Ostoich during the regular season. The two teams will battle today in the semifinal of the Class 4A Michigan City Regional.

Jelani Pruitt, Merrillville

Merrillville's Jelani Pruitt shoots over Munster's Nate Bubash during the regular season game. The two teams will battle in the semifinal of today's Class 4A Michigan City Regional.

Officials: January fire in downtown Whiting may have been set

Water is poured onto a building destroyed by a fire in January at the corner of Sheridan Avenue and 119th Street in Whiting. Investigators believe the fire may have been set intentionally.

Porter County's assets promote economic development

Valparaiso University President Mark A. Heckler addresses the Martin Luther King commemoration ceremony in January at Valparaiso University.

Groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings

Community Healthcare System COO John Gorski addresses the ribbon cutting ceremony in January of the new Valparaiso Health Center.

Marian Catholic celebrates

Marian Catholic celebrates its win over Marist in the Class 4A Mother McAuley Sectional final. The Spartans won the Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional and face Whitney Young at 8:15 p.m. today in one state semifinal.

Stephen Skvara

Skvara, 65, of Valparaiso, who died Feb. 19, was president of an Indiana Chapter of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, also known as SOAR, and also served on the group’s district executive board.

Local development exceeds pre-recession levels

Jim Staton from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and Frank Termini from Horizon Financial Management look over plans for the company's proposal to expand its operations in Merrillville.

East Chicago's future hinges on its schools

Elena Sanchez takes her third-graders through a reading lesson at Lincoln Elementary School in East Chicago.

Whiting works on lakefront project, attracting development

The new Oil City Stadium in Whiting is the centerpiece of the big Lakefront Park redevelopment project.

Dyer benefits from increased cooperation

Erick Cunningham, dressed as Spider-Man, holds his 5-month-old son Lawson, dressed as Captain America, as they wait for Dyer's 12th annual Halloween Parade last fall.

Merrillville's B.J. Jenkins and Jake Raspopovich

Portage's Jacob Bearss is sandwiched between Merrillville's B.J. Jenkins and Jake Raspopovich during the regular season. Both Pirates were tough-nosed football players in the fall. Merrillville is one of three region basketball teams playing in semistates today. All three, Andrean and Bowman…

Hammond commission approves deal for brewpub at Oxbow Landing

Owners of Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery will expand to Hammond under an agreement approved Tuesday by the Hammond Redevelopment Commission.

Hammond commission approves deal for brewpub at Oxbow Landing

Owners of Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery will expand to Hammond under an agreement approved Tuesday by the Hammond Redevelopment Commission.

Hammond commission approves deal for brewpub at Oxbow Landing

Owners of Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery will expand to Hammond under an agreement approved Tuesday by the Hammond Redevelopment Commission.

Mike Hackett, Munster

Munster coach Mike Hackett has the No. 1 team in the state of Indiana. The Mustangs got a tough draw on Sunday in the 103rd IHSAA state tournament. The Mustangs would like have to beat E.C. Central, West Side and Lake Central to cut down the nets.

Gary is showing proof of new day for city

Gary/Chicago International Airport is spending about $26.5 million to rebuild a rail line from north of the airport to this sugar plant. It will also build a new rail connection and spur to the plant.

Law enforcement, public must work together

Lake County and Munster police investigate the apparent homicide of a woman in Munster.

Valparaiso's Justin Osburn and Jacob Hamer

Valparaiso's Justin Osburn, left, is congratulated by teammate Jacob Hamer after hitting a half-court shot earlier this season.

Valparaiso's Justin Osburn; Crown Point's Alex Nickla

Valparaiso's Justin Osburn is guarded by Crown Point's Alex Nickla in a game earlier this season. The Vikings junior is averaging 7.8 points per game coming off the bench.

St. John marketing town's many assets

The Lake Central High School band prepares for state competition this in Indianapolis last fall. The high school, one of the largest in Indiana, is rebuilding the school in a major construction project.

Seton Academy's Tiffany Ellis

Seton Academy's Tiffany Ellis will help lead the Sting into one semifinal of the Class 2A Seton Academy Sectional tonight. Seton lays Collins academy at 6 p.m.

NWI casino revenues drop as competition revs up

Revenues at Northwest Indiana casinos dropped 8.8 percent in February, the second steep monthly drop in a row for the five boats. Horseshoe Casino, in Hammond, had the smallest drop at 2.6 percent. The state's largest grossing casino had a stronger finish to the month and a good first week o…