Gary and other Lake County residents are being asked to help gauge dangerous pollutants after an initial study found contamination at alarming levels. “By participating, you could learn more about pollution in your home, whether you have been exposed, and how that might affect the health of your family and the community,” said Ellen Wells, […]
Jenae Barnes
Jenae Barnes is Capital B Gary's health and environment reporter. You can reach Jenae at jenae.barnes@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inHealth
Gary Opens Doors to Its First NorthShore Health Center
NorthShore Health Centers opened its first Gary clinic Tuesday, complete with confetti and “Welcome Gary” signs. The new facility at 2200 Grant St. brings family practice, dental, optical, behavioral, and women’s health care under one roof — expanding access in a city served by just one hospital and sparing patients 10- to 15-mile trips for […]
Posted inCommunity
Gary’s ‘Magic Water’ Well Invites Community to the Outdoors
Editor’s note: Subsequent testing has found elevated levels of arsenic in the Chase Street well’s water, exceeding federal safety limits. In October, officials temporarily shut off the well and posted a warning sign advising residents of potential health risks. Nestled at an unassuming corner in Gary, sandwiched between construction trucks and railroad tracks, lies a “nonstop […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, News
Gary Hit Hard by Storms: 1 in 10 Residents Without Power
Heavy winds and thunderstorms blew through the city of Gary Thursday evening, causing nearly 8,000 residents to remain without power, according to NIPSCO, Indiana’s largest electric and power company. Approximately 57,000 NIPSCO customers were without power on Friday afternoon. That total includes 7,769 Gary residents, more than 10% of the city’s population. Gary ZIP code […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Lead, Iron, and Manganese Found in Gary’s Air and Soil
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. For decades, Gary has worn the title “Steel City” with pride. Today, researchers are finding that a by-product of that legacy is airborne particles laced with heavy metal contaminants that drift into homes and settle in lungs. Now, a new study offers […]
Posted inMaternal Health
The Black Maternal Health Crisis Is Getting Worse. One Expert Details the Resources Available to Help Solve It.
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. April is recognized as National Minority Health Month, a national initiative to advance health equity for racial and ethnic minorities. Within the month, Black […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy
Council Approves Rezoning of Former Beckman School for Industrial Use
Gary City Hall was filled with residents Tuesday evening, as Common Council members voted to approve a controversial new construction project that would rezone the area of the former Beckman Middle School. A new industrial complex proposed by two Illinois property developers is slated to be built on the shuttered Beckman School site, much to […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Planet Palooza in Gary Blends Culture, Nature, and Environmental Justice
On the sandy shores of the Indiana National Dunes, a dozen environmental organizations gathered on Saturday to celebrate — and protect — their planet. Kimmie Gordon, founder of Brown Faces Green Spaces, an environmental equity organization, said the event started six years ago with just a few vendors and attendees. Today, Planet Palooza, as it […]
Posted inHealth
Confirmed Measles Cases in Indiana Prompt Action in Lake County
With Indiana reporting its first confirmed measles cases of the year, Lake County health officials are expanding vaccination efforts to guard against a potential spread of the virus. This week, the Indiana Department of Health confirmed six measles cases in Allen County, nearly three hours away from Lake County and its Gary residents. All six cases […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Unsafe Water, Utilities
In Gary, Thousands of Lead Pipes Still Lurk Beneath Homes
The report card for America’s infrastructure is out – and it’s not looking good. The nation received a C- for drinking water, a “mediocre” ranking that reflects widespread deterioration and requires attention. “Some elements exhibit significant deficiencies in conditions and functionality, increasing vulnerability to risk,” the report stated. The American Society of Civil Engineers, which […]