The anticipation was palpable as the lights dimmed just after 8 p.m. Tuesday in Indiana University Northwest’s Raintree Hall. Dozens of Gary residents filled the lecture hall, eyes fixed on the screen for the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. In her first-ever debate as a presidential nominee, […]
Calvin Davis
Calvin Davis is Capital B Gary's government and politics reporter. You can reach Calvin at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Public Safety
‘Enough Is Enough’: Gary Leaders and Family Call for Action After Mother of Six Is Killed by a Stray Bullet
Charlotte Tidwell spoke softly, clutching a tissue as she recounted her daughter’s final moments. “My daughter turned that corner on Grant Street and made a left to head to Portage so she could go home and cook. She didn’t make it back,” she whispered. Tidwell was surrounded by family members and friends who gathered at […]
Posted inMoney, Politics & Policy
U.S. Steel’s Sale Is at Risk. Here’s What’s at Stake for the City It Founded a Century Ago.
With reports that President Joe Biden is preparing to block U.S. Steel’s sale to a Japanese company, a high-stakes battle with significant political and labor implications is unfolding. But as the political theater plays out on a national stage, the stakes are more tangible in Gary, a city originally founded as a company town where […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, State Government
Potential $800K Budget Boost from Gary Airport, Park Improvements Highlight Latest Political News
As budget season approaches, Gary is at the intersection of local growth, political maneuvering, and statewide education reform, all of which promise to reshape the city’s future. In August, Gary’s local leaders stayed busy tackling a range of issues, from a potential $800,000 boost to the city’s budget via changes at Gary/Chicago International Airport to […]
Posted inHousing, Politics & Policy
Harris Team Introduces Comprehensive Plan to Address Housing Crisis
As the presidential election heats up, newly minted Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who has come under pressure to unveil her policy plans, has released a portion of her economic strategy to combat what is widely viewed as an affordable housing crisis in the United States. According to Gallup polls, the cost of housing is becoming […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Safety
Gary Braces for Heat Wave as Temperatures Approach Triple Digits
Gary is bracing for a surge of extreme heat this week, with temperatures nearing triple digits and deteriorating air quality prompting health and safety warnings from local authorities. As temperatures rise, the combination of scorching heat and high humidity is expected to create dangerous conditions for Gary residents. The National Weather Service has forecast that […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Beyond The Main Stage: From Church Pews to Museum Halls, Black Spaces and Culture Shine at the DNC
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 […]
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 […]
