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 […]
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan
Rayonna Burton-Jernigan is the Business and Economic Development reporter for Capital B Gary.
Posted inArts, Culture
Gary Film Festival Celebrates 15 Years of Storytelling and Pride
When Karen Toering first proposed hosting a film festival in Gary, she didn’t know who would be involved or how it would come together, but she knew she wanted to see one in her hometown. With no movie theater in the city, Toering wanted to create a space for residents to experience films and filmmakers […]
Posted inArts, Events
2025 Gary International Black Film Festival Guide: House Party, Panels, and Food
The Gary International Black Film Festival returns for its 15th year Oct. 9-12 at Indiana University Northwest, bringing more than 40 films, panel discussions, and cultural events to the city. Continuing its tradition of bringing filmmakers to Gary, the festival will feature films from local, regional, and international filmmakers that tell stories across the diaspora. […]
Posted inBusiness, Health
Fears Swirl in Gary as Post Suggests Only Walgreens Could Be Closing
When a Facebook video suggested that Gary’s only Walgreens pharmacy might be closing, alarm spread quickly in the comments. Residents fretted about where they would fill prescriptions if the store at West 25th Avenue and Grant Street disappeared. Capital B Gary reached out to the chain’s parent company, Walgreens Boots Alliance, about the rumor, and […]
Posted inArts
Roosevelt Graduate Highlights Gary Through a New TV Series
When filmmaker TJ Chester graduated from Roosevelt High School, she knew she wanted to change how people looked at Gary. And for her, that was through a camera and a movie-maker clapperboard. “We have so many different creatives here in Gary, and none of us are being recognized for what we’re trying to do in […]
Posted inHealth, Public Safety
Gary Health Crackdown Shutters Stores Over Mold, Mice and Safety Hazards
In a sweeping crackdown on food safety, the city of Gary has temporarily closed several grocery stores and restaurants in recent weeks after inspections uncovered multiple health and building code violations. City officials say the closures are part of a coordinated effort to raise standards and hold businesses accountable. The enforcement push has already affected […]
Posted inBusiness, Economic Development
Broadway’s Historic Fabric Store Still Thriving After Four Decades
This month, in celebration of Black Business Month, Capital B Gary is publishing a series of stories highlighting businesses, business owners, and entrepreneurs in the city. The bell above the door rang as customers walked through the large fabric store that offered everything from buttons for a suit to T-shirts for a dance team. “How […]
Posted inCommunity, Housing
‘Bringing Life Back’: Lewis Family Breaks Ground at Former Colonial Gardens Site
Tyrone Jackson stood among the crowd of workers and residents at the old Colonial Gardens site, which is slated to become a new subdivision by next year. “That’s actually the house that I was raised in right there,” he said, pointing to one of the still-standing structures on the property. “When the community went down, […]
Posted inBusiness, Community, Culture
From One Chair to a City Staple: This Gary Barbershop Is Keeping Tradition Alive
This month, in celebration of Black Business Month, Capital B Gary is publishing a series of stories highlighting businesses, business owners, and entrepreneurs in the city. At 12 years old, William “Bill” Coker came home from the barber college with a haircut he hated. Disappointed, he grabbed the clippers his mother kept in the house […]
Posted inBusiness, Community
How This Gary 4-Year-Old Turned Her Summer Dream Into Thriving Lemonade Stand
This month, in celebration of Black Business Month, Capital B Gary is publishing a series of stories highlighting businesses, business owners, and entrepreneurs in the city. Tabbitha Bogard didn’t realize her connection to the statement, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade,” until one cold February day. That’s when her 4-year-old daughter MiKailee Bogard, […]
