The Times won 10 first place awards and 22 honors overall in the Hoosier State Press Association's 2007 Better Newspaper contest, including a second place for general excellence among the state's largest newspapers.

Winners in the general excellence category "exemplify excellence in all aspects of newspaper publication, including mechanical excellence, editorial content, layout and general appearance," according to the Hoosier State Press Association.

Headlining The Times first place finishes was reporter Joe Carlson's ongoing news coverage of the Gary Urban Enterprise Association scandal.

In 2004, the Times exposed the high living of then-GUEA director Jojuana Meeks at the publicly funded organization's expense. A federal investigation followed and Meeks and five others have since been convicted of felonies in connection.

The Times also took second place for ongoing news coverage by staff for its coverage of the Feddler Landfill outside of Lowell.

Feature writer Molly Woulfe and page designer Karin Saltanovitz took home a first for best short feature story. The two brought to light a little-known health condition that effects one out five American women.

Times staff took first place in the community service category for "The Great Racial Divide," a comprehensive look at race relations in Northwest Indiana.

Times staff won first place for best news under deadline pressure for "Bailing Out!" it's coverage of the September 2006 floods. The Times placed third in the same category for its stories on the crash of a twin-engine plane in Munster that killed pilot and passenger.

In visual presentation, the Times garnered first place recognition in three categories. Bill Thornbro garnered a first for best use of graphics. Judges praised his IMAX graphic as "clean, easy to read, and fun." Staff photographer Christopher Smith took first place for best general news photo for his sensitive depiction of a soldier's funeral. Smith also took first for best video story.

The Times took home the first-place awards for best sports section, best feature section and best business section. All three were praised for strong writing and design.

Second place finishes were also garnered by staff photographer Evan Parker in the category of picture story with soundtrack, and by editorial page editor Doug Ross in the headline category.

Ross also took a third place for editorial page. Staff photographer Natalie Battaglia took third place in general news photo and best picture story with soundtrack categories. Columnist Mark Kiesling won third place among general columnists. Business writer Susan Erler won third place for business/economic news coverage. Saltanovitz and former features writer Barbara Rolek garnered third place for short feature stories.

The Times competes in the division for the state's largest newspapers, except in the Blue Ribbon category. In the Blue Ribbon daily category newspapers of all sizes compete on an equal footing.

The Herald-Times, of Bloomington, was named Indiana's Blue Ribbon newspaper. The Times took third in that category.