Carole Carlson

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

Kate Silver hugs husband Shawn, of DeMotte, along Deep River where the body of Rodrigo Montes was found Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Lake Station, Indiana. Shawn Silver said his children from a previous marriage were friends with Rodrigo Montes and his family. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Dive team finds missing Lake Station teen, suspect in custody

March 26, 2026 at 4:25 p.m.

Divers recovered the body of missing Lake Station teen Rodrigo Montes in Deep River Thursday morning.

Several family members and friends of Rodrigo Montes, an 18-year-old River Forest senior, stand near the site where a truck Montes was believed to be a passenger in crashed late Sunday or early Monday in Deep River near 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street in Lake Station, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Carole Carlson/For the Post-Tribune)

Search ongoing for Lake Station teen missing since Sunday

March 24, 2026 at 4:20 p.m.

Searchers continued on Tuesday to look for a Lake Station teen believed to have been in a vehicle that crashed into Deep River.

Students walked out of class at West Side Leadership Academy in Gary Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, after the school board voted for the nonrenewal of Principal Carl Scott's contract. The Gary Community School Corp. has put out a survey for input on a new leader for the school. (Joel Moore/provided)

Gary schools seek input for next West Side principal with survey

March 22, 2026 at 3:32 p.m.

The Gary Community School Corp. seeks feedback as officials prepare to appoint the next principal at West Side Leadership Academy.

Hobart's now-closed Ridge View Elementary has been sold to Geminus Head Start.

Hobart school board approves Ridge View sale to Geminus Head Start

March 22, 2026 at 11:13 a.m.

The Hobart School Board unanimously approved the sale of Ridge View school on Thursday to tenant Geminus Head Start for $1,271,000.

Governor Mike Braun answers questions in the parking lot of the Lake Village Emergency Operations Center during a tour of the tornado-damaged area on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun lends state backing to Turning Point USA as it builds school chapters

March 16, 2026 at 1:02 p.m.

Gov. Mike Braun singled out support for Turning Point USA Thursday as the conservative group expands its reach into high schools.

Graduating senior Emily Bahl smiles after handing her resume to Mary Jensen, director of exceptional learning for the School City of East Chicago, during the Indiana University Northwest School of Education teacher recruitment fair on campus in Gary, Indiana, Friday, March 13, 2026. Bahl, of Crown Point, is majoring in elementary and special education at IUN. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Young teacher candidates quiz recruiters at IUN job fair

March 14, 2026 at 5:28 p.m.

Class size and pay topped the questions teaching candidates asked school representatives at the Indiana University Northwest's job fair.

The town of New Chicago purchased the vacant American Legion Post 484 and plans to remodel it into a new town hall building. (Carole Carlson/For the Post-Tribune)

New Chicago eyes dormant Legion post for new town hall

March 13, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

The town of New Chicago hopes to transform the vacant American Legion Post 484 into its new town hall.

Indiana first lady Maureen Braun reads a book for children at the Gary Public Library in Gary, Indiana, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Braun’s visit was to promote the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Gary. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Indiana first lady Maureen Braun tells supporters Imagination Library effort nearing goal

March 12, 2026 at 1:35 p.m.

Indiana first lady Maureen Braun said she’s close to a fundraising goal for the state’s contribution to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Indiana has new A-F grade system state calls “student-centered”

March 5, 2026 at 12:47 p.m.

Indiana is forging ahead with a new K-12 school accountability model that will give schools letter grades this year for the first time since 2018.

Merrillville teacher suspended for ‘monkeys’ comment to class

March 4, 2026 at 3:19 p.m.

A Merrillville Intermediate School 5th grade teacher was suspended with pay pending an investigation for telling his students “You all are acting like monkeys in a zoo," Superintendent Dexter Suggs...

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