Indiana Dunes National Park eyes its first-ever entrance fees

The National Park Service wants to charge entrance fees for the first time at the Indiana Dunes National Park, citing a dramatic increase in visitors in recent years and the need for more revenue for park maintenance.

Tornado watches through Saturday evening as severe weather batters Chicago area again

Tornado warnings were issued for a dozen cities and towns in the Chicago suburbs on Saturday, including Bradley, Manteno, Peotone, Lansing and Bourbonnais. Tornado sirens briefly blared in parts of Chicago Saturday afternoon, but a tornado warning was allowed to expire after rotation clouds passed over the North and Lower West sides of the city.

Tornado rips up homes, knocks down trees and power lines in Chicago suburbs of Naperville, Woodridge

A tornado ripped off rooftops and knocked down trees in the Naperville and Woodridge areas overnight Sunday into Monday. Damage was also reported in Darien, Plainfield, Burr Ridge, Portage and South Haven.

Man killed in I-94 crash in NW Indiana

An 81-year-old man was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Friday on Interstate 94 in northwest Indiana.

NW Indiana buried by 18 inches of snow

A winter storm has dumped up to a foot and a half of snow on parts of northwestern Indiana, while a large swath of the state received between 6 inches and 8 inches of snow, creating hazardous road conditions.

Restaurant robbed at gunpoint in Portage Park

A restaurant was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday morning in Portage Park on the Northwest Side.

Woman dies in Porter County crash with semi

A 29-year-old Valparaiso woman died after crashing head-on with a semitrailer Monday afternoon in Porter County.

Video shows aftermath of house explosion in northwest Indiana

Bodycam footage was released Wednesday that shows the moments after a house exploded in September in Porter, Indiana.

Ex-northwest Indiana mayor faces retrial on bribery charge

A former northwestern Indiana mayor is facing a December retrial on a federal charge alleging that he solicited a bribe from two local businessmen.

Woman accidentally shoots self on Indiana Toll Road near Valparaiso

A 20-year-old woman accidentally shot her leg inside a stalled car last week on the Indiana Toll Road, prompting a nearby state trooper to apply a tourniquet to her.

Natural gas explosion suspected in fire that injured 7

A natural gas explosion is suspected in a house fire that injured seven people including a 3-year-old girl, authorities said Friday.

Girl, 9, drowns at private campground in NW Indiana

A 9-year-old girl drowned Sunday while swimming at a private campground in Portage, Indiana.