Pamela Johnson worries about what could happen to her grandson, Robin Johnson Singleton, if Medicaid is cut. Robin, who has Down syndrome, has been on Medicaid since birth. The nine-year-old is now in third grade and, thriving after several surgeries, relies on Medicaid for the care that keeps him healthy. “I would think the people […]
Jenae Barnes
Jenae Barnes is Capital B Gary's health and environment reporter. You can reach Jenae at jenae.barnes@capitalbnews.org.
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy
EPA Rollbacks Mean More Pollution, Less Justice for Black Communities
For a quarter of a century, a Black neighborhood in Beaumont, Texas, where Chris Jones lives has been the subject of two federal civil rights investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency that explore the role of race in his community’s disproportionately high levels of air pollution. In San Francisco, Kamillah Ealom’s neighborhood has been the […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Safety, Utilities
Shaken Gary Residents Dig Out After Tornado Touches Down in Region
Toppled power lines. Caved-in roofs. Lumbering trees crashed into the Earth. And residents left stunned. These were just a few of the images greeting Gary this morning after a tornado whipped through the city Wednesday evening, devastating dozens of homes in the Tolleston neighborhood and leaving thousands of Northwest Indiana residents without power. By Thursday […]
Posted inMaternal Health, Politics & Policy
How the War Against DEI May Kill a Breastfeeding Program in Gary
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. In the empty halls of the Gary Neighborhood Services building on Grant Street once stood the Milky Way Cafe, a casual space created for breastfeeding moms to meet, share supporting resources, and consult with professionals. But the clinic, one of the few […]
Posted inAir Pollution, Environmental Justice
Braun’s Executive Order Sparks Alarm in Polluted Communities Like Gary
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s latest executive order eliminating environmental justice protections is sparking concern in communities like Gary, a city long plagued by industrial pollution. Environmental advocates warn that gutting oversight will leave vulnerable residents with fewer safeguards against toxic emissions and hazardous waste. Earlier this week, Braun signed an executive order eliminating “environmental justice” […]
Posted inHealth
Gary’s Edgewater Health Celebrates International Women’s Day
For nearly a century, International Women’s Day has recognized the contributions and legacies of women across the world. This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” underscores the urgency of breaking down systemic barriers and biases that women face, including lower pay, unequal access to resources, and discrimination. At the current pace, full gender equality won’t be reached […]
Posted inMaternal Health
Black Mamas Matter: Addressing Maternal Health Disparities in Gary
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. “What can we do to improve Black maternal health?” The question, from a single Gary mom, fell on the empathetic ears of nearly 20 other women at J’s Breakfast Club in Gary. But the query, all too common, has reached far beyond […]
Posted inCommunity, Culture, Education
Gary Students Learn From Harlem’s Finest at Dance Workshop
“And five, six, seven, eight!” Warming up to the tunes of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” and James Brown’s “Super Bad” with stretches and steps, a room full of Gary students gathered in the student of Indiana University Northwest to boogie down with a few of Harlem’s best dancers. The Dance Theatre of Harlem, a […]
Posted inLocal Government, Utilities
Gary Pauses Plan to End Curbside Recycling Amid Community Concerns
Gary officials have put a hold on plans to end curbside recycling, keeping the current program in place while they work through logistical challenges and community concerns about a shift to a drop-off system. The decision follows growing frustration over the lack of community input, accessibility to drop-off sites, and uncertainty about how the sites […]
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
Tuskegee Airmen’s Legacy Lives On in Gary Amid National Debate
The legacy of Black aviation is a point of pride in Gary, where the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen — trailblazing pilots who fought for America abroad and equality at home — are honored through tributes like a statue at the Gary Aquatorium and a bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport. These service members helped pave […]