CHICAGO — “Alls my life I has to fight!” Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics reverberated through the electric atmosphere of the United Center in Chicago as California Gov. Gavin Newsom proudly announced California’s 482 delegate votes for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22. Georgia declared its votes to a bass-heavy Lil […]
Calvin Davis
Calvin Davis is Capital B Gary's government and politics reporter. You can reach Calvin at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gary Delegates Make Their Mark at the Democratic National Convention
As state Rep. Vernon G. Smith, D-Gary, finally stepped off the bus Monday evening after a tedious three-hour ride through Chicago traffic and ironclad security, the towering facade of the United Center came into view, adorned with Democratic National Convention banners. “After we got in, I felt the energy,” Smith said. “There’s an exuberant feeling […]
Posted inEducation, Health, Politics & Policy
Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Hosts Gary Town Hall Ahead of Democratic Convention
Days before the Democratic National Convention, Indiana’s Black Legislative Caucus gathered in Gary on Saturday for a community town hall, providing residents with a review of key legislative outcomes from this year and a glimpse of the caucus’s priorities for the upcoming session. At Indiana University Northwest’s Bergland Auditorium, nine of the caucus’s 14 members […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Public Safety
Kidnapping at Michael Jackson’s Childhood Home Alarms Neighbors, Provokes Spirited Response From Gary Officials
A Gary man is in custody after being charged with multiple felonies related to the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl and her father as they visited the childhood home of Michael Jackson. “It’s a crazy feeling because nothing like that has happened in this area,” said Lathaniel Staten, who has lived on the block […]
Posted inSports, Youth
USA Basketball Camp Comes to Gary, Builds on City’s Rich Hoop History
Jamie Walker settled into a front-row seat in the bleachers, her eyes locked onto her sons’ every dribble and jump shot. On this August afternoon, the West Side Leadership Academy gymnasium thrummed with the echoes of bouncing basketballs and youthful exuberance. “I feel like if you have kids, whether it’s a boy or a girl, […]
Posted inLocal Government, State Government
Gary Political News: Major Decisions and Updates
Another busy month around Gary’s political landscape is officially a wrap. As we get deeper into the presidential election season, Capital B Gary is ensuring local political decisions are understood by keeping tabs on some of the most consequential news in the city, county, and state. This month, city and county lawmakers provided financial boosts […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Kamala Harris’ Presidential Ambitions Spark Gary Women Into Action
Gary native Tearanie Chinn joined more than 40,000 women on a Zoom call Sunday organized by a group called Win With Black Women to support the cause of electing the first woman to the White House. “The energy was electrifying,” Chinn told Capital B Gary about the call, which raised more than $1.5 million while […]
Posted inEconomic Development
Gary Partners with Notre Dame to Create Downtown Revitalization Plan
Gary officials, including Mayor Eddie Melton, announced a partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture to develop a transformative master plan for revitalizing downtown Gary. Speaking at an empty lot near the Genesis Towers, Melton outlined his vision for downtown, featuring a new train station to replace the Adam Benjamin Metro Center […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Government
President Biden Ends Reelection Bid; Indiana Democratic Chair Urges Support for Harris
President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, leaving the Democratic Party scrambling for a new nominee just months before the election. Shortly after announcing his withdrawal, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the candidate to run against Trump in November. “Today, I want to offer […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Gary Police Deploy $264K for High-Tech License Plate Readers to Improve Safety
The Gary Police Department announced on Monday a $264,000 federal investment in advanced license plate reading systems to enhance its crime-fighting technology. Funded through the Community Project Funding grant program and secured by U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-1st, Gary’s representative in the U.S. House, the investment will equip Gary’s police force with both stationary […]