RAILCATS: Former Japanese pitcher joins roster

The RailCats will be the first American home to right-handed pitcher Takahiro Matsuka, a reliever with Japanese Major League experience.

WEDNESDAY'S ILLINOIS PREP ROUNDUP: Ill. lawmaker pushes IHSA to adopt tackle limits

A bill that would have required high school football teams to limit tackling in practices to one day a week didn't make it through the Illinois General Assembly. But its sponsor hopes the state's prep sports governing body adopts the measure aimed at concussion prevention.

Winter storm blows through region

It might not seem like spring is only two weeks away after the area received heavy snowfall Tuesday.

Former Gary resident dies trying to save boy, 5

COLUMBUS, Ohio | A Columbus man, and former Gary resident, who died trying to save a little boy from drowning is being hailed as a hero who may have been thinking of his own young son when he sprang into action.

Groups hope to draw attention to fiscal cliff debate

MERRILLVILLE | Steve Kramer spent Monday night drawing attention to the “fiscal cliff” debate in Congress by standing on the curb in front of the Merrillville office of U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky.

Judge rules DEA agent used reasonable force in fatal '07 shooting

HAMMOND | A judge ruled a federal agent used reasonable force in the 2007 shooting death of Rosalio Rincon in a parking lot at a busy Hobart crossroads.

American Suzuki files for bankruptcy protection

BREA, Calif. | American Suzuki Motor Corp. on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it will cease selling automobiles in the U.S. as part of a plan to restructure its business.

Valpo-based National Guard unit that lost 6 in Afghanistan returns

GARY | An Indiana National Guard unit that lost six members of its company during a nearly yearlong deployment in Afghanistan returned Wednesday to Northwest Indiana.

Steger man sentenced to life in killings of wife, father, girlfriend

CHICAGO | A Steger man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty of murder in 2009 spurred by jealousy that left his estranged wife and former girlfriend dead and eventually killed his father.

Lake County prosecutor to seek extradition of Whiting homicide suspect

CROWN POINT | Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said he will move to return a former East Chicago man here to be tried for a 13-year-old Whiting homicide.

RG Steel files for bankruptcy protection

Struggling Maryland-based steelmaker RG Steel LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware.

Illinois passes 'quick take' for Illiana Expressway

The Illinois House has passed legislation giving the state the power to acquire private property for a proposed expressway connecting Interstate 65 in Indiana with Interstate 55 in Illinois.

Dyer soldier dies in Afghanistan

FORT CARSON, Colo. | A soldier from Dyer on his third deployment to Afghanistan died Sunday from injuries he suffered in an improvised explosive device attack in Kunar province.

Hammond native Eric Toth on FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list

INDIANAPOLIS | The newest member of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list is a Hammond native accused of possessing and producing child pornography.

Robinson, Marrero named to Indiana All-Stars

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Lake Central's Glenn Robinson III and Bowman Academy's DeJuan Marrero will join Indiana Mr. Basketball Gary Harris of Hamilton Southeastern in leading the Indiana All-Stars boys high school team against their Kentucky counterparts in June.

DirecTV-Tribune reach deal, will broadcast Cubs opener

Cubs fans rest assured, your team's home opener will air on DirecTV after all.

Obama shifts G-8 from Chicago to Camp David

WASHINGTON | The White House abruptly announced Monday that it had scuttled plans to hold the upcoming G-8 economic summit in Chicago, and would instead host world leaders at the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland.

Lake County shelter volunteers lead animal rescue effort

Lake County Animal Control shelter volunteers Peter and Lisa Madafferi took part in a last-minute animal rescue mission Sunday to the storm-ravaged southern part of the state.

Death toll at 38 from storms

Emergency crews desperately searched for survivors Saturday, a day after a violent wave of Midwest and Southern storms, including the tornado that flattened downstate Indiana communities, left behind a trail of shredded homes, downed power lines and streets littered with tossed vehicles.

NIPSCO hire of state energy czar raises concern

Government watchdog groups are questioning NIPSCO's hiring of a top Indiana state energy policy adviser, who now will oversee the utility's relationships with regulators.

Union suing to block Indiana right-to-work law

Union members are asking a federal judge to block Indiana's new right-to-work law. International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 filed a suit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond claiming the right-to-work law violates the federal and state constitutions.

Controversy over PUC professor's comments continues

Pa.-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has sent a letter to PUC's chancellor exhorting him to halt a disciplinary investigation of professor Maurice Eisenstein for what the group called harassment because of Eisenstein's expression of political and religious opinions online.…

Region digs out after snowy day

Most local police Friday night reported no major weather-related incidents due to the day's winter storm.

Indiana's jobless rate remains at 9 percent

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's unemployment rate remained steady at 9 percent in November, lagging behind the U.S. rate of 8.6 percent.

Purdue student from Crown Point found dead of unknown causes

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. | Purdue University officials say a 23-year-old student, whose Facebook page indicates he was from Crown Point, has been found dead at an off-campus residence.

Indiana jobless rate rises for 4th straight month

Indiana's unemployment rate continued its recent upward trend by increasing to 8.9 percent for September-but jobless rates dipped in each of Northwest Indiana's seven counties.

Indiana jobless rate rises for 4th straight month

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's unemployment rate has continued its recent upward trend by increasing to 8.9 percent for September.

Power restored after night of heavy winds

Heavy winds downed power lines, uprooted trees and knocked out power to more than 3,000 NIPSCO customers late Wednesday and early Thursday.

Study: Great Lakes shipping important to economy

A study released Tuesday said the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry supports 227,000 jobs and generates billions of dollars in wages, tax revenue and purchases into the U.S. and Canadian economies.

Study: Great Lakes shipping a pillar of economy

A new study says the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry supports 227,000 jobs and generates billions of dollars in wages, tax revenue and purchases into the U.S. and Canadian economies. Shipping along Lake Michigan's shoreline represented $14 billion of economic activity a…

All Toll Road lanes open following crane collapse

State police say a crane toppled onto its side on the Indiana Toll Road construction zone near Grant Street late last night, forcing all lanes to be closed for hours so that it could be moved.

East Coast rocked by strongest quake since 1944

MINERAL, Va. | The most powerful earthquake to strike the East Coast in 67 years shook buildings and rattled nerves from South Carolina to Maine on Tuesday. Frightened office workers spilled into the streets in New York, and parts of the White House, Capitol and Pentagon were evacuated.

Man sentenced to 20 years in slaying of Hammond native

The husband of a Hammond native was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in a Minnesota prison for her murder.

North Carolina man charged after Steger woman's body found in trunk

A North Carolina man faces homicide and fugitive from justice charges after police in western Virginia discovered a woman's body in his car's trunk.

Crews scramble to restore power after severe storms

Severe storms whipped through the region Monday morning, knocking out power to thousands and causing delays on the South Shore and Metra commuter lines.

Two shot in Calumet City

CALUMET CITY | Detectives are investigating the shooting of two men who were wounded while talking with neighbors on the street where they live.

Body of missing woman recovered in Hobart pond; boyfriend in custody

HOBART | The body of a missing Michigan woman was found Thursday morning in a suitcase in a Hobart pond.

Penguins give Valpo resident Reirden extension

PITTSBURGH | The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed assistant coaches Tony Granato, Todd Reirden -- a Valparaiso resident -- and Gilles Meloche to multi-year contract extensions.

Businessman Barden dies after long illness

Founder of the Majestic Star Casino company and prominent businessman Don Barden has died in Detroit of complications from lung cancer. Barden, 67, had a variety of business interests, including casinos, cable TV and real estate.

Businessman Don Barden dies after long illness

Founder of the Majestic Star Casino company and prominent businessman Don Barden has died in Detroit.

Former NFL Referee from MC Remembered

Dave Parry made it to the big time as a pro and college football referee.

New al-Qaida threat similar to 2007 Metra incident

CHICAGO | Emerging details about an al-Qaida plot to derail a U.S. train are eerily similar to a 2007 incident involving the Metra Electric Line over the Bishop Ford Freeway on Chicago's Southeast Side.

Quinn: Sauk Village facility should create 40 jobs

CHICAGO | Gov. Pat Quinn says investment incentives the state has offered to a packaging manufacturer should create at least 40 jobs in Illinois.

Blackhawks score late, then fall in OT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia | Alex Burrows scored his second goal 5:22 into overtime, Roberto Luongo made 31 saves and the Vancouver Canucks avoided a historic playoff collapse by knocking the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks out in the first round with a 2-1 win in Game 7 on Tuesda…

Former cops charged in statewide drug ring

HAMMOND | Two former Hoosier police officers have been indicted on federal drug charges for allegedly trafficking drugs in Northwest Indiana.

State treasurer pulls in $159K for Senate race

GRIFFITH | Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock said Wednesday he's raised about $159,000 in his campaign to unseat Sen. Dick Lugar in the May 2012 Republican primary election.

Ind. jobless rate drops to lowest level since 2008

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent in February, marking the first time since December 2008 that the jobless rate has dipped below 9 percent.

Advocates reach invasive species deal with EPA

Advocacy groups say they have reached a deal with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a legal dispute over discharges of ship ballast water that could contain invasive species.

Gold Star mother 'disgusted' with Westboro ruling

LANSING | The mother of a U.S. Marine whose funeral service was targeted by the Westboro Baptist Church is "disgusted" with the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the controversial church's right to stage similar protests.