Doug Ross

Doug Ross ia a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.

‘The world under one roof’: Valparaiso festival celebrates many cultures

September 21, 2026 at 1:33 p.m.

Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso took on an international flavor Sunday for the annual World Cultural Festival sponsored.

Girl Scout Troop 35579 member Heidi O’Bannion, of Lake Station, stocks the new pet pantry for dogs and cats Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Woodland Park dog park in Portage while Scout Brianna Naumann, of Portage, watches. (Doug Ross/for the Post-Tribune)

Portage Girl Scouts build pet pantry for dogs, cats

September 20, 2026 at 3:18 p.m.

Girl Scout Troop 35579 used the Little Free Library concept to build a pet pantry for dogs and cats. It now stands outside Portage’s Woodland Park dog park.

Charity Sorrells, left, and Deena Stronczek hand out lunches to brothers Preston and Ethan Hawkins during a storm-relief food and water distribution event sponsored by the Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana at Portage High School on Aug. 13, 2026. Even as the response to the Aug. 11 derecho continues, Northwest Indiana leaders are considering how to plan for the next major disaster. (Andy Lavalley/for the Chicago Tribune)

NWI planning commission suggests preparing for future disasters

September 20, 2026 at 2:31 p.m.

Even as the response to the Aug. 11 derecho continues, Northwest Indiana leaders are considering how to plan for the next major disaster.

Jackie Schiemann, who is nearly blind due to the disease achromatopsia, gets a kiss from her guide dog Tyrus after the pair waded in Lake Michigan at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk in Portage, Indiana, Friday, September 18, 2026. Schiemann, of Mayfield, Ohio, said Friday’s visit was her ninth national park and she plans to experience as many possible. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Legally blind woman, guide dog visit Indiana Dunes National Park

September 19, 2026 at 4:41 p.m.

Jackie Schiemann enjoyed wading in Lake Michigan on Friday at Indiana Dunes National Park’s Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. Her guide dog Tyrus, not so much.

Sisters Erin Wenneker, left, and Katie Cavinder clear downed trees along Jefferson Street in Portage, Indiana, on Aug. 11, 2026. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

Region leaders offer lessons from Aug. 11 derecho

September 19, 2026 at 12:14 p.m.

Northwest Indiana leaders expressed frustration and offered lessons to learn from the Aug. 11 derecho on Thursday.

Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District director Keri Marrs Barron points out the various sizes of chunks in a pile of ground up tree debris at the Portage compost site on Friday, September 18, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

Staggering amount of storm debris piles up across Northwest Indiana

September 18, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

The numbers attempting to quantify the severity of the Aug. 11 derecho are staggering, while the strain on municipal resources is obvious.

Azteca Fresh Market owner Javier Carrillo listens while Portage Mayor Austin Bonta speaks during a ribbon-cutting Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2026, for the new family-owned grocery. (Doug Ross/for the Post-Tribune)

Portage family opens Azteca Fresh Market with taco bar, other offerings

September 17, 2026 at 2:34 p.m.

Javier Carrillo got way more response than he expected at Wednesday’s grand opening for the family-owned Azteca Fresh Market in Portage.

Portage Township Schools Superintendent Amanda Alaniz, at Ayelseworth Elementary School Tuesday, May 5, 2026, told the school board Monday that students will not need to make up days missed from the Aug. 11 derecho. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

No make-up days for Portage students after Aug. 11 storm

September 16, 2026 at 9:35 a.m.

Portage Township students won’t be forced to make up days missed because of the Aug. 11 derecho, Superintendent Amanda Alaniz told the School Board.

From left, Portage Mayor Austin Bonta, Police Chief Michael Candiano and City Attorney Dan Bartnicki explain how Portage police officers use Flock camera images and guardrails put in place to deter misuse of the system. (Doug Ross/Post-Tribune)

Portage officials discuss Flock camera locations, policies

September 15, 2026 at 1:50 p.m.

The Flock presentation came at Mayor Austin Bonta’s normal monthly “Mayor’s Monday” discussion. Bonta, Candiano and City Attorney Dan Bartnicki stressed the need for transparency, presenting facts on how the...

Presidential historian Jon Meacham autographs his latest book, “American Struggle,” for Lionel Cohen of Gary following Meacham’s speech Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus as part of the PNW Sinai Forum lecture series. (Doug Ross/for the Post-Tribune)

Viewing opponents as enemies is harmful to democracy: presidential historian

September 14, 2026 at 2:46 p.m.

Democracy is in crisis in the U.S., presidential historian Jon Meacham said, but history has shown that Americans can rise to the occasion.

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