Illinois will not have to turn over its statewide voter registration database to the U.S. Department of Justice after a federal judge dismissed the government’s lawsuit Friday, leaving the personal information of roughly 8 million registered voters protected. U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless ruled that the Justice Department lacks the legal authority under the Civil […]
Calvin Davis
Calvin Davis is Capital B Gary's government and politics reporter. You can reach Calvin at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy
August 2026 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
A busy month lies ahead for Gary officials as demolition begins at Broadway Manor, budget season gets underway and several major projects continue to move through the city’s boards and city council. The Gary Housing Authority confirmed this week that demolition is moving forward on the Broadway Manor public housing complex, on the 1200 block […]
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy
What Gary Residents Need to Know About Indiana’s New Medicaid Work Requirements
Thousands of Hoosiers on the Healthy Indiana Plan will soon have to prove they meet new work requirements to keep their health insurance. But for many, the countdown starts this fall. Anyone applying for or renewing coverage in January 2027 will have to show they were working, attending school, or volunteering beginning in October because […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health, Politics & Policy
Gary Common Council Backs Medicare for All, Presses Nippon for Cleaner Air
The Gary Common Council unanimously approved two resolutions Tuesday night backing Medicare for All and urging U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel to invest in cleaner steelmaking technology at Gary Works. The measures are symbolic and carry no legal force. Together, however, they add Gary’s voice to national debates over expanding healthcare coverage and modernizing one […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Utilities
Gary Leaders Fear Indiana’s AI Boom Might Mean Higher Utility Bills for Residents
Gary Common Council members are back at the table with a familiar question: As AI data centers multiply across northern Indiana, who ends up paying for the power they need? Kerwin Olson, executive director of the Citizens Action Coalition, argued at a public forum Wednesday that residents already squeezed by rising NIPSCO bills could be […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, Public Meetings
Gary Invests $1.4 Million in Homeless Shelter as Sleeping Outside Carries New Penalties
Gary is putting roughly $1.4 million toward a new homeless shelter at a moment when the availability of a bed could mean the difference between a place to sleep and a criminal charge. The City Council approved the money for Brothers’ Keeper as a new Indiana law raises the stakes for people sleeping outside. They […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
New Indiana Laws Now in Effect Will Impact Some Gary Residents
Beginning today, some Gary residents could face new hurdles to keeping food assistance. People experiencing homelessness may face fines or jail time for camping or sleeping on public property. And city leaders trying to tackle blight have a new tool for selling vacant lots. Those changes stem from three new laws that took effect July […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Redevelopment
As Gary Pursues New Development, a Black-Owned Landmark Is Fighting to Survive
The meetings had been going well. For months in early 2025, attorney Macarthur Drake and his family met with Gary officials about the future of downtown Broadway. The conversations centered on how the city planned to protect Drake’s building at 487 Broadway while demolishing the vacant structure next door. Four meetings. Maybe five. Each one […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Meetings
June 2026 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
Many of the decisions regarding infrastructure, housing, and development projects will be finalized in the coming months. The Gary Redevelopment Commission is laying the groundwork for the pending demolition of the Genesis Center by approving the purchase of storage containers that will be used to salvage usable materials, including wood, flooring, and staging equipment. Progress […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Lake County’s Primary Reveals a Stark Divide in Who Shows Up to Vote
Despite a primary ballot that featured a historic race for Lake County sheriff and several competitive county council contests, voter turnout across Lake County remained sluggish on May 5, with most communities failing to surpass 20%. Just 16% of the county’s more than 367,000 registered voters cast ballots, according to Lake County Board of Elections […]
