CHICAGO – With the carved image of Martin Luther King Jr. as their backdrop, state House Democrats from Indiana and Texas, in a show of cross-state solidarity, coalesced in Chicago’s Marquette Park to highlight their joint resistance against Republican-led redistricting plans. The meeting linked two minority caucuses from deeply conservative states, each facing legislatures dominated […]
Calvin Davis
Calvin Davis is Capital B Gary's government and politics reporter. You can reach Calvin at calvin.davis@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inEconomic Development, Policing
$3 Million Investment to Bring Modern Police Squad Cars to Gary Streets
Gary police will soon patrol the streets in a new fleet of high-tech squad cars, thanks to a $3 million investment in partnership with Hard Rock Casino designed to boost public safety and community service. “This investment marks a major step towards strengthening public safety and ensures giving our officers the modern tools and technology […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Government
Vice President Vance’s Visit to Indiana Sparks Debate Over Redistricting
Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Indiana last week reignited a partisan clash over redistricting, with Republican leaders welcoming his support for the effort and Democrats accusing the GOP of trying to undermine voting rights. The visit, which included discussions on redistricting with Gov. Mike Braun and state lawmakers, drew swift criticism from Indiana Democrats, […]
Posted inCrime, Criminal Justice
Gary Police Report Sharp Decline in Homicides and Non-Fatal Shootings
Homicides in Gary decreased by more than 50% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, with city leaders attributing this to investments in proactive policing and community partnerships, which contributed to a broader decline in crime and traffic incidents. According to the Gary Police Department’s 2025 Mid-Year Public […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy
Gary Council Advances Plans for Convention Center, Eyes Rental Regulations
Gary city officials moved one step closer to making the long-awaited Lake County Convention Center a reality Monday night. The Common Council advanced an ordinance that sets up a special convention fund for city and state matched funds, along with private contributions from Hard Rock Casino, to jointly bankroll the project with new appropriations outlined […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy
August 2025 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
Gary’s Common Council dealt primarily with zoning issues during its meeting in July. As a result, two new auto dealerships have been greenlighted for Fifth Avenue on the city’s West Side. Starting today, the council will address short-term rentals in the Miller neighborhood as it issues a final vote today on the rezoning of a […]
Posted inEducation
Virtual Teachers Spark Community Outrage in Gary; Union Cites Unfair Labor Practices
Members of the Gary Teachers Union and concerned residents filled the union office for a standing-room-only meeting Thursday to discuss the Gary Community School Corporation’s decision to enlist virtual teachers amid a nationwide teacher shortage. On July 9, the Gary School Board voted to retain Proximity, a company based in Austin, Texas, to supply up […]
Posted inEconomy
Congressional Visit to Gary Spotlights Urgent Need for Workforce Training in Northwest Indiana
U.S. Reps. Frank Mrvan, Gary’s representative in the U.S. House, and Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, hosted a workforce development roundtable Wednesday in Gary focused on expanding federal investment in job training and education. Held at the United Steelworkers Local 1066 union hall, the discussion brought together union leaders, educators, and nonprofits from across Northwest Indiana to […]
Posted inCommunity, Sports
6 Hometown Heroes Inducted Into the Gary Sports Hall of Fame
Six Gary sports legends each had their name and likeness immortalized in Gary sports lore Friday at the fourth annual Gary Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony. The list of inductees spanned multiple generations of Gary sports history, from world-renowned track and field stars and coaches like Marce Gonzalez Sr., who graduated from Froebel High School […]
Posted inElections, Health, Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, Mental Health, Politics & Policy
New Indiana Laws Could Strip Health Coverage, Voting Access in Gary
New state laws that took effect July 1 are drawing attention across Indiana, particularly in places like Gary, where access to health care and the ballot box is already uneven. In a city like Gary, where voter turnout is often low and civic trust is fragile, the new laws raise the stakes ahead of the […]
