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 […]
Culture
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
Meet the Woman from Gary Who Secured MLK Day as a Federal Holiday
Katie Hall, a trailblazing congresswoman from Gary, played a pivotal role in the fight to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. As the first Black woman to represent Indiana in Congress, Hall authored and sponsored the legislation honoring King’s legacy, ensuring his dream of justice and equality would be celebrated nationwide. […]
Posted inBusiness, Community Spotlight, Economy
Shoe Repairman in Gary Restores Community, One Sole at a Time
A quiet, cold air settled over the nearly abandoned shopping center in Gary, broken only by the faint creak of a door and the muted sounds of its lone open shop. Down the hallway, the squeak of worn soles echoed as customers hurried toward Anthony Rayford’s shoe repair shop, where he worked alone. “It’s a […]
Posted inCulture
Tito Jackson Is Honored in Gary with Heartfelt Tributes
A single red rose, locked to the fence of the small house on Jackson Street in Gary, carried a simple yet heartfelt message: “RIP Tito, Love You Forever.” As the news of Tito Jackson’s passing spread Monday, visitors from across the country began to gather at the house where the Jackson 5 was born, paying […]
Posted inCulture, History
Gary’s Latest Thriller, but This Time It’s a Movie
A Gary story is back in the headlines thanks to a new movie, and it offers a mixture of reviews from longtime residents of the community. The Deliverance, a new Lee Daniels film on Netflix, follows the story of Ebony Jackson (played by Andra Day) as she moves into a new home with her three […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight, Education
Cultivating Dreams: How a Gary Teen Discovered His Future in Farming
Surrounded by dozens of packing boxes and duffel bags in his childhood Gary home, Reid Hall prepares himself for his next adventure: going to college. Stuffing suitcases full of clothes, shoes, and golf clubs, he hasn’t fully packed for his move out of state. But he said he is excited to begin a new chapter […]
Posted inCulture, Tourism
Michael Jackson’s Gary Home a Place of Remembrance on Anniversary of His Death
On a recent Saturday morning, a quiet block in Gary stirred to life. Cars rolled up to a modest house on the corner of 2300 Jackson Street. One by one, people turned down the one-way street, parked, and stepped out to capture the moment with photos and videos. License plates told a story of their […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight
This Gary Teen Got Tired of Buying Clothes, So He Started Making Them
When Amir Watson was deciding what to name his clothing brand, the 18-year-old knew it needed to roll off the tongue. MUGEN AMOUR, a combination of Japanese and French words meaning “infinite love,” is what he landed on — resonating with its evocative message and potential to set the brand apart from others. In the […]
Posted inCommunity, Culture, History
Gary Residents Celebrate Juneteenth and Black Freedom
On a sunny Saturday morning just days before Juneteenth, Gary’s Midtown neighborhood came alive with excitement. Juneteenth flags fluttered in the breeze, symbolizing a celebration of freedom and unity. A procession led by dancers, slingshot sports vehicles, and emergency vehicles wound its way from the intersection of 25th Avenue and Broadway to Roosevelt High School. […]
Posted inEducation, LGBTQ, Partner Content
Indiana Tells Schools to Ignore LGBTQ Student Protections as Title IX Fight Begins
This story was originally published by WFYI Indiana’s education department is telling school districts not to adopt new federal protections for LGBTQ+ students and sex-based discrimination until several lawsuits challenging the regulations, including one by the state’s attorney general, are settled. The new Title IX guidelines, released by the U.S. Department of Education, forbids discrimination […]