Rudy Clay

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and other Democrats during a campaign rally at the Wicker Park Social Center.

TF South graduates 458

LaTika Martin, left, and Kiahsha Shavers celebrate after graduation ceremonies Thursday evening at Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing. Officials said the class of 2013 collectively earned $3.2 million in college scholarships.

TF South graduates 458

TF South senior Jacob Lee Reed was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship, awarded each year to only 1,000 graduatiing seniors across the country. Recipients can use the scholarship for up to 10 years to earn their undergraduate degree and continue on to the graduate level if they study in…

TF South graduates 458

Valedictorian Peyton Padjen speaks at graduation ceremonies Thursday for Thornton Fractional South High School at the campus in Lansing.

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Brandon Lee Austra (glasses) and his classmates watch the graduation ceremonies. TFSouth graduated 458 grads on Thursday evening 5/23/13 in the gymnasium of the school at 18500 S. Burnham, Lansing, IL. The class of 2013 collectively earned 3.2 million dollars in college scholarships. Photo f…

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L-R: the end of the finals of the 110 High Hurdles: Andrew Helmin of Providence Catholic, Tifonte Hunt of Thornton, Daylen Hubbard of Bloom, Nikita Smith of TFNorth, and Elijah Douglas of Crete Monee. Area atheletes compete in the Boys 3A Sectional Track & Field Meet on Thursday evening …

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T.F. North's Alex Lane finishes his triple jump at the Class 3A Sectional on Thursday.

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Marian Catholic's Matthew Martinson competes in the triple jump at Thursday's Class 3A Sectional.

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Jesse Unzueta of Thornwood pushes himself to finish in the 3,200-meter final Thursday at the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional.

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T.F. North's Marvel Thompson, left, and Thornton's Tifonte Hunt battle it out in the 200-meter dash preliminaries during Thursday's Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional.

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Thornwood's Matthew Kind, middle, pushes near the end of the 3,200 run at the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional. .

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Thornwood's Ken Allen winces in pain after the 100-meter dash finals Thursday.

Biking from Munster to Merrillvile for breakfast, one cyclist's route

Bob Huffman bikes through the region weekly. The 69-year-old Munster resident uses local bike trails to ride to Glenwood and Merrillville to meet his wife for breakfast.

Biking from Munster to Merrillvile for breakfast, one cyclist's route

Bob Huffman, 69, has been riding his bicycle in Northwest Indiana for 40 years. He says, in recent years, trails for bikes have improved.

Mile by mile, local bike trails adding amenities, connectivity

Bob Huffman, 69, has been biking in Northwest Indiana for 40 years.

Mile by mile, local bike trails adding amenities, connectivity

Sign for the bike trail near Torrence in Lansing.

Mile by mile, local bike trails adding amenities, connectivity

Bob Huffman bikes each week from his home in Munster to a restaurant in Merrillville, 14 miles, to meet his wife for breakfast. Huffman, 69, has been biking in Northwest Indiana for 40 years and says trails for bicyclists have improved in recent years.

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Bloom Township's Gina Narcisi finishes third in the 3,200-meter run on Thursday at the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional.

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Marian Catholic's Ulis and his teammates won the program's first sectional title on Friday. The Spartans face Edwardsville tonight in the Class 4A Illinois State Supersectional. Ulis is averaging 21.9 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 steals and 3.6 rebounds for the 29-3 Spartans.

Easter Bunny

Sophia Hodge 3, visits with the Easter Bunny after filling her basket with candy and goodies at the Easter Egg Hunt at Park Plaza at Ridge Road and Grant Ave in Lansing on a rainy Saturday morning.

Bloom's Johnny Griffin is an impact player

Bloom Township's Johnny Griffin, right, is averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game and is a big reason the Blazing Trojans have won 15 in a row and are looking to make a return trip to Peoria.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr. shoots over Marist's Zack Cody during a recent game. Weems is the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,270 points and was a Class 2A all-state selection last year.

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Seton (33) Ebony Bailey shoots. Seton Academy plays Walther Lutheran in the 2A Concordia supersectional game played at Concoriia University at 7400 W. Augusta, River Forest, Il on Monday night 2-19-13. Photo for NWI Times by Judy Fidkowski

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Walther Lutheran (15) Isimeme Edeko steals a rebound from Seton (44(Tiffany Ellis in the final quarter of their Supersectional game. Seton Academy plays Walther Lutheran in the 2A Concordia supersectional game played at Concoriia University at 7400 W. Augusta, River Forest, Il on Monday nigh…

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Seton (15) Charlita Berry in game action. Seton Academy plays Walther Lutheran in the 2A Concordia supersectional game played at Concoriia University at 7400 W. Augusta, River Forest, Il on Monday night 2-19-13. Photo for NWI Times by Judy Fidkowski

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Seton (15) Charlita Bery and Seton (23) Bria Rogers battle Walther Lutheran defenders in first half action. Seton Academy plays Walther Lutheran in the 2A Concordia supersectional game played at Concoriia University at 7400 W. Augusta, River Forest, Il on Monday night 2-19-13. Photo for NWI …

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Seton bench reacts to the final minutes of their 57-47 Supersectional loss to Walther Lutheran. Seton Academy plays Walther Lutheran in the 2A Concordia supersectional game played at Concoriia University at 7400 W. Augusta, River Forest, Il on Monday night 2-19-13. Photo for NWI Times by Jud…

Seton Academy's Jaylin Clemons

Seton Academy's Jaylin Clemons, left, is guarded by Marist's LJ McIntosh in first-half action.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr. shoots over Marist's Zack Cody in the first half of Tuesday's game.

Seton Academy's Alex Foster

Seton Academy's Alex Foster, left, is guarded by Marist's Ken Rivard in first-half action at Marist.

Seton Academy's Myles Harrison

Seton Academy's Myles Harrison, left, guards Marist's Jack Barry in the first half of Tuesday's game.

Seton Academy's Alex Foster

Seton Academy's Alex Foster battles for the rebound with Marist defenders.

Seton Academy's Johnny Patterson

Seton Academy's Johnny Patterson chases down a loose ball in first-half action against Marist.

Seton Academy's Alex Foster

Seton Academy's Alex Foster shoots around Marist's Ken Rivard in first-half action Tuesday.

Seton Academy's Eron Evans

Seton Academy's Eron Evans, center, steals a defensive rebound from Marist's Zak Niemiera as Seton's Mark Weems, Jr. watches during Tuesday's game.

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Bloom Township's Bria Gaines recently reached the 1,500-point mark in her outstanding career. Gaines, The Times 2012 Player of the Year, will play at Western Kentucky next year.

John Konecki named Crete-Monee director of football operations and head coach

Crete-Monee offensive coordinator John Konecki has been named the program's director of football operations and head coach.

T.F. South's James Cooper lookng for success at SSC meet

T.F. South's James Cooper, left, has been consistent this season. He will wrestle at 145 pounds for the South Suburban Conference meet and the state tournament.

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Marian's Tyler Ulis drives around Bloom Township's Dejahown Freeman in the championship game of the McDipper Tournament. The Spartans are 16-1 after beating state power Quincy. They face Benet Academy Thursday in a big East suburban Catholic Conference showdown.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team

Marian Catholic celebrates its 61-58 win over Bloom Township to win the recent McDipper 40. It marked the first time the Spartans have won the tournament.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team wins McDipper 40 title

Bloom's Jared Johnson and Johnny Griffin (3) battle Marian Catholic's Ki-Jana Crawford (5) for a rebound in the second half of the championship game of the McDipper Boys Basketball Tournament.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team wins McDipper 40 title

Marian's Tyler Ulis (3) drives around Bloom's James Coleman (23) in the second half of the championship game of the McDipper Boys Basketball Tournament.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team wins McDipper 40 title

Marian players celebrate their 61-58 win over Bloom in the championship game of the McDipper Boys Basketball Tournament at Rich South High School in Richton Park on Saturday.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team wins McDipper 40 title

Marian's Tyler Ulis (3) drives around Bloom's Dejahown Freemand (2) in the second half of the championship game of the McDipper Boys Basketball Tournament.

Marian Catholic boys basketball team wins McDipper 40 title

Marian Catholic's Kevin Phillips and Bloom's Josiah Daley (23) battle for a rebound in the championship game of the McDipper Boys Basketball Tournament.