Churches, nonprofits, and government agencies across Northwest Indiana are hosting free food distributions throughout March as some families adjust to tighter federal work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients. The updated rules apply to able-bodied adults ages 18 to 64 without dependents and eliminate several long-standing exemptions. To continue receiving benefits, affected recipients must […]
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan is the Business and Economic Development reporter for Capital B Gary.
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
Gary High School Partners With Indiana Universities to Offer Free College Degrees
The gym at 21st Century Academy buzzed with chatter Friday as elementary, middle, and high school students gathered in the stands. Excitement rippled through the crowd as they waited to hear the big announcement: They could get a college degree at no cost while still in high school. “We will not just give the money, […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Loose Dogs Leave Some Gary Residents Wary of Walking Their Own Blocks
When Penelope Love walks out of her Aetna home, some days she doesn’t know if it will be a good day or a day she may have to fight. And it’s all because of loose dogs. “Nobody wants to encounter a pack of dogs in any kind of situation,” she said. Over the past several […]
Posted inArts, Education, Youth
Gary Youth Art Exhibit Celebrates Black History Month Creativity
Families filled the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts on Friday night for a show put together by young people that featured artwork from teens and young adults across Gary and Northwest Indiana during Black History Month. Called Colors of Culture, the exhibition was created to give Black youth a place to show their […]
Posted inCommunity, Housing
Brothers’ Keepers Looks to the Future With New $3 Million Facility
Sunlight spilled across the Brothers’ Keeper shelter on Broadway on Monday as community members packed into the building for an announcement that could redefine how the city serves homeless men and veterans. The gathering centered on plans for a new Brothers’ Keeper facility, a project leaders said will expand services and create a more stable […]
Posted inCommunity, Politics & Policy
Free Groceries Still Available as SNAP Rules Change in Gary and Northwest Indiana
February could bring added strain for households across Gary and Northwest Indiana as new federal food assistance rules take effect. Starting Feb. 1, expanded work requirements under federal law now apply to some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients, including adults ages 55 to 64 and parents without children younger than 14. The changes also repeal […]
Posted inCommunity, Extreme Weather, Housing
Gary Warming Centers Serve Residents as Bitter Cold and Snow Grip the City
As Northwest Indiana remains locked in a stretch of bitter winter weather, Gary warming centers are continuing to serve residents seeking relief from dangerous cold and snow that are expected to linger through the weekend. The National Weather Service says temperatures in Gary are expected to remain dangerously low through the weekend, with overnight lows […]
Posted inEvents
Where to Celebrate MLK Day 2026 in Gary and Northwest Indiana
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 […]
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 […]