Local runners relieved Boston manhunt is over

Valparaiso resident Crystal Siewin, who crossed the finish line of last week's Boston Marathon less than a half-hour before the deadly bombings, was pleased Saturday with how quickly authorities hunted down the two brothers believed responsible for the attack.

Renovations to 122-year-old C.P. building approved, with one hitch

Renovations planned to 101 N. Main St. in Crown Point would restore the original look to much of the circa 1891 building's first floor.

Dawn Food Products looks to consolidate in M'ville

MERRILLVILLE | Dawn Food Products has plans to consolidate its Crown Point and Munster facilities into one distribution center in Merrillville.

Troops home, physically or digitally, for Christmas

Seven-year-old Ariana Ferguson, of Dyer, received the unexpected joy of having her father home for Christmas this year.

New hire sworn in on Crown Point Police Department

Crown Point police Sgt. Dave Benson stands in front of police motorcycles during a Wednesday inspection of the Crown Point Police Department's fleet of vehicles.

New hire sworn in on Crown Point Police Department

Crown Point police Officer Mike Brazil readies a squad car for a Wednesday inspection of Police Department vehicles.

Area resident reflect, pray on anniversary of 9-11

The Rev. Tom Shanahan, associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Crown Point, talked Tuesday about the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks.

Indiana attorney general investigating BP gas recall

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said his office has opened an investigation into the BP gasoline recall to ensure consumers' rights are protected, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

Eisenhower school principal wins AdvancED award

Eisenhower Elementary School student Abby Novotny, 10, stands beside school Principal Mary Ann Chapko during morning announcments Wednesday at the school. Chapko received the Indiana AdvancED Excellence in Education Award.

Local soldiers come home from war as part of troop withdrawal from Iraq

Joy Wilson had to pinch herself in October when President Barack Obama declared an end to the Iraq war and announced all U.S. troops would be home by year's end.

Crown Point City Court caseload cut

CROWN POINT | Crown Point City Judge Kent Jeffirs said he is seeking a meeting with county officials after learning the county prosecutor plans to cease filing cases in Crown Point City Court.

1950 blast from past

Edna Toney stands in the gym of the community building on North Court Street in Crown Point. Toney is planning a big-band dance at the location.

No relief

Bob Zea, of DeMotte, came to a cooling center Tuesday at DeMotte Town Hall for water. His home has been without power since Saturday.

Region's outdoors mean good times and good health

Bicyclists wait for the new Crown Point section of the Erie-Lakawanna Bike Trail to open.

Two more C.P. school buses hit by BBs on 109th Avenue

CROWN POINT | Shots believed fired from a BB gun struck two school buses early Friday on 109th Avenue near the Interstate 65 overpass.

Bistate shooting victims give chilling account of surviving attack

DYER | Matt Burton watched in horror as first his best friend, Josh Garza, and then his co-worker Rolando Alonso were hit by gunfire.

C.P. man's weight loss nets 'Today' show appearance

Rick Gosser is shown after he lost 105 pounds.

Woman's gown dreams nearly extinguished

EAST CHICAGO | With wedding guests gathering in the church, bride Tiffany Collins had a last touch of lip gloss applied, slipped into her satin shoes and watched as a feathery headpiece and delicate veil were placed on her perfectly done hair.

C.P. bike trail extension opens

Bicyclists wait for the new Crown Point section of the Erie-Lakawanna Bike Trail to open.

Dyer Crash

A sport utility vehicle that hit a NIPSCO poll in Dyer in loaded onto a tow truck Tuesday evening.

Car strikes utility pole in Dyer

DYER | NIPSCO crews were called to the scene of an accident Tuesday evening at Hart and Greiving streets in Dyer when a vehicle struck a utility pole, causing it to tilt.

U.S. 231 crash kills two

ST. JOHN | A head-on crash Monday on U.S. 231 killed both drivers, one of them a Bourbonnais, Ill., eye doctor.

Home explosion investigation continues

MERRILLVILLE | The man who died in a home explosion Tuesday in Merrillville has been identified as Jonathan W. Krantz, 37, a Lake County coroner's spokesman said.

2 arrested in beating death of Gary child

Police took a man and a woman into custody late Thursday in connection with the beating death of 5-year-old Leon D. Walker, of Gary, police Cmdr. Tom DeCanter said.

Police hunt for suspects in 2 E.C. shootings

EAST CHICAGO | One person was critically wounded Wednesday when shots were fired into a moving vehicle at 150th Street and Baring Avenue.

Gary fire kills woman, 65

Smoking has been determined to be the cause of a fire that left one woman dead and another injured late Sunday in Gary, Fire Chief Jeff Ward said.

Proponent: NWI to get $71M for high-speed rail

A local high-speed rail proponent said funding for a $71.4 million project to improve passenger rail service through Northwest Indiana is expected to be green-lighted in an announcement today from top White House officials.

Body found near railroad tracks

EAST CHICAGO | Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying a man whose decomposing body was found Tuesday near CSX railroad tracks west of Central High School.

Natural gas rupture forces evacuations

HAMMOND | NIPSCO crews capped a gas main leak Thursday evening that for hours spewed natural gas and debris into the air at 169th Street and Ridgeland Avenue.

Natural gas rupture forces evacuations in Hammond

HAMMOND | NIPSCO crews capped a main leak Thursday evening that for hours spewed natural gas and debris into the air at 169th Street and Ridgeland Avenue.

Chicago man dies after being struck by 2 vehicles on U.S. 20

A Chicago man died early Saturday in Michigan City after being struck by two vehicles.

Police dig near Hobart home

Authorities dug for evidence Thursday in an alleyway behind the Hobart home of missing 2-year-old Jada Justice's baby sitter.

Search intensifies for missing toddler

GARY | The FBI and U.S. marshals joined the Gary Police Department on Wednesday night in searching for missing Portage toddler Jada Justice.

4 bodies found at funeral home may be ID'd today

GARY | Serenity Gardens Funeral Home once vowed "because life is meaningful, death is sacred" at its now-defunct Gary facility, state documents show.

Flooding forces evacuation of Dyer hospital

DYER -- Saint Margaret Mercy hospital's Dyer campus shut down its emergency room and began evacuating 67 patients early Friday afternoon when nearby Hart Ditch overflowed onto the medical center campus.

The final countdown

There's still time left, and stores are waiting for the procrastinators -- some say they're mostly male -- who haven't finished or even started Christmas shopping.

Lakeshore plan sails along

Big industry built a landscape of furnaces and smokestacks when it set up shop a century ago on the Northwest Indiana lakefront.

Legality of game at Ho-Chunk Expo Center questioned

LYNWOOD | The Ho-Chunk Nation-owned sports complex will house its first games of chance when a bingo-like raffle gets underway today.

Michigan City girl drowns at Mount Baldy

A day at the beach with friends turned deadly Saturday for 11-year-old Veronica Bush, of Michigan City.

East Chicago, Gary swim solo on Marquette plan

EAST CHICAGO | The city of East Chicago presented the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority on Tuesday with a vision of the lakefront that would include stores, offices, condominiums and a residential enclave.

Sand Creek CC on sales block, Coffee Creek going, going, ...?

CHESTERTON | NiSource Inc. may be making a major step toward exiting the land development business as major sales appear in the offing at its Coffee Creek and Sand Creek holdings.

More in store

Retailers have "to expand or die," Purdue University professor Richard Feinberg said

Steelworkers react to merger with optimism, concern

Region steelworkers voiced hope Monday that the marriage between Ispat Inland Inc. and International Steel Group Inc. would create a stronger company, and therefore, more secure jobs and pensions.

Cash crop

Soybean grower John Remster's 150 acres delivered up a bountiful yield this year, more than he'd dreamed. "The beans are better than I first anticipated," Remster said, as a combine chopped and swallowed row after lush, green row of the plants on his farm east of Valparaiso.

Labor unity

EAST CHICAGO -- Nearly a half-century ago steelworkers met in union halls to gather strength for what would become the 116-day work stoppage of 1959.

Casino revenues dip below $100 million

Combined revenues for Northwest Indiana's five casinos slipped below $100 million in September for the first time since June, ringing up at $99.6 million.

County Seat Plaza might get rehab

VALPARAISO -- Renewed talk of condemning the County Seat Plaza came as a surprise to the retail center's owner, an owner spokesman said.

Labor unions pledge support for casino workers

Powerful area labor unions are promising to boycott Northwest Indiana gambling boats if casino workers strike.

Moving along

VALPARAISO -- An electronic cable manufacturer with potential for 120 area jobs readied for its first production run this week.

Airport 'friends' promote use

VALPARAISO -- Tom Galovic and his wife flew out of the Gary/Chicago International Airport earlier this year, finding it the best bargain for a weekend flight to Florida.