Jan. 19 is observed throughout the United States as a holiday honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday was officially established, in part, by a 1983 bill sponsored by Gary native and U.S. Rep. Katie Hall, and was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986. In an effort to bring community […]
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan is the Business and Economic Development reporter for Capital B Gary.
Posted inCommunity
Where to Find Free Groceries in Gary and Northwest Indiana This January
January brings added financial pressure for households across Gary and Northwest Indiana, as heating costs rise and grocery prices remain elevated. Food insecurity continues to affect a significant share of people in the region. Nearly 1 in 7 residents in the region experience food insecurity, according to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Late last […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy, Sports
Why the Chicago Bears Are Looking Across State Lines for Their Next Stadium
The Chicago Bears said this week that they are expanding their search for a new stadium beyond Illinois, explicitly naming Northwest Indiana as a possible destination — a move that immediately reignited long-simmering speculation about whether the NFL’s oldest franchise could one day play across the state line. In a letter sent to fans, Bears […]
Posted inArts
Gary Civic Symphony Orchestra Enters a New Era Under a New Conductor
Silence swept the room as Lamar Grear, the Gary Civic Symphony Orchestra’s new conductor, walked onto the stage with his baton under his arm. His footsteps echoed as he took the podium, turned from the audience and opened his score, scanning the musicians before him. The house lights dimmed inside the Main Stage Theatre at […]
Posted inEducation
Gary Students Get a New Route to Tuition-Free College at IUN
As college applications start to roll in for students, the question of how to pay for it is something every parent and student worries about. But through a new Gary partnership, that’s a question some students may no longer have to worry about. The initiative, a partnership with Hard Rock Casino, the Urban League of […]
Posted inCommunity
Where to Find Free Food, Holiday Hams in Northwest Indiana This December
In Gary and across Northwest Indiana, cost and access remain two of the biggest obstacles standing between families and a healthy meal. Nearly 1 in 7 residents in the region experience food insecurity, according to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Amid recent federal shutdown-related disruptions to nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inBusiness, Community Spotlight
Biscuits and Breaking Barriers: How J’s Breakfast Club Brings People Together
This story originally published Oct. 31, 2025 The restaurant was still. Midday light slipped through the windows of J’s Breakfast Club on 26th Avenue and Broadway Avenue. In the back office, Joslyn Kelly sat at her desk, as the soft rustle of her staff moving in and out of the kitchen carried through the restaurant. […]
Posted inHousing, Politics & Policy, Redevelopment
Aetna Sees Hope as Gary Shifts From Demolition to Homebuilding
Community members strolled down the sidewalk on East 10th Avenue last week to a home that represented a stepping stone in the city’s redevelopment efforts. A breeze of hope blew through the small crowd of people gathered outside the new house at 5544 E 10th Ave. “Today is such a joyous day. It’s been a […]
Posted inCommunity
Inside Gary’s New YMCA: Upcoming Features and Programs
The Tolleston neighborhood is one step closer to welcoming its new community hub as construction continues on Gary’s new YMCA campus Gary’s new YMCA is taking shape, with construction moving steadily toward a planned September 2026 opening and several newly confirmed amenities and youth programs now taking form in the Tolleston neighborhood. Construction has reached […]
Posted inCommunity, Events
Gary Thanksgiving Food Drives: Where Families Can Get Meals This Year
Thanksgiving is a time of family, community, and giving thanks. Community members and organizations throughout Gary are hosting food drives and free plate giveaways to ensure residents have access to a meal this holiday season and to alleviate stress on community members experiencing food insecurity. Nearly 38% of Gary residents rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]