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 […]
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan is the Business and Economic Development reporter for Capital B Gary.
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 […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Snowfall Blankets Gary, Bringing Closures and a Busy Day for City Crews
As snow continues to cover Gary, city crews have been working around the clock to clear roads and prepare for more wintry weather. The conditions have already disrupted daily life, with the Gary Community School Corporation canceling classes on Monday because of unsafe streets. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 4 […]
Posted inCommunity
Nearly 2 in 5 Gary Residents Rely on SNAP. What Happens If Payments Stop?
With federal food aid in flux, organizations and residents across Gary and Northwest Indiana are stepping up to make sure their neighbors don’t go hungry. Among them is the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, where volunteers and staff are preparing for what could be one of their busiest months in years. Victor Garcia, the organization’s […]
Posted inCommunity, Youth
How Two Gary Teens Are Growing Their Own Food and Changing Their Community
A chill fall breeze drifted through the Brothers’ Keepers garden as community members moved slowly between batches of kale, mint, and herbs, checking what was still thriving in the cool air. Among them were teenage sisters Anna and Juda Mosley, clipping leaves to take home after a long afternoon of work. At 13 and 16, […]
Posted inCommunity
Where to Get Free Food in Gary and Northwest Indiana as SNAP Benefits Face Cuts
In Gary and Northwest Indiana, the struggle to put healthy food on the table often comes down to cost and access. A weekly mobile market is trying to change that, bringing fresh produce and protein to neighborhoods where nutritious options are often out of reach. As federal programs like SNAP and WIC face uncertainty, local […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight, Culture, Religion
One of Gary’s Oldest Churches Welcomes Its First Black Woman Pastor
Murmurs filled one of Gary’s oldest churches this week as members attended Bible study, tidied up, and completed their daily tasks. Pastor Nicole Guns walked around the area with a smile as clergy members asked questions and prepared for upcoming services. “I didn’t know much about Gary, Indiana, before coming, outside of Michael Jackson’s house […]