Gary residents could soon feel the effects of new state laws on everything from health care coverage to energy bills and public schools, local lawmakers warned last week. At a legislative town hall Saturday in Gary, state Sen. Mark Spencer and state Reps. Earl Harris Jr. and Vernon Smith walked residents through the changes, highlighting […]
Education
Posted inEducation, News, Youth
Teacher Suspended After ‘Monkeys in a Zoo’ Comment to Merrillville Students
A Merrillville Intermediate School teacher has been suspended with pay pending an investigation after telling students, “You all are acting like monkeys in a zoo,” according to Merrillville Community School Corporation Superintendent Dexter Suggs. The remark, which parents say was directed at a fifth-grade class on Feb. 24, sparked outrage at Tuesday’s Merrillville School Board […]
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 inEducation
West Side Students Stage Walkout Over Principal Carl Scott’s Removal
Students at West Side Leadership Academy staged a peaceful walkout Friday a day after the Gary Community School Corp. board voted not to renew Principal Carl Scott’s contract. The board declined to explain its decision, citing personnel policy. Scott could not immediately be reached for comment. The vote has sparked backlash from students, staff, and […]
Posted inHigher Education, Partner Content
Indiana’s Targeting of Degrees With Low Earnings Could Eliminate These Programs
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Indiana lawmakers are moving to eliminate state college degrees that aren’t earning graduates enough on the job market, mirroring the federal government’s targeting of career programs delivering poor results. SB 199 appears to only apply to a handful of degrees at […]
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 inEducation, Partner Content, Politics & Policy, State Government
From Cellphones to STEM: What Indiana Lawmakers Are Debating in 2026
This story was originally published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Stricter cellphone bans, more focus on STEM and increased school “efficiency” are shaping up as some of the highest-priority education debates Indiana lawmakers will tackle during a fast 2026 legislative session that starts back up next week. The session will be shorter than usual — […]
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 inEducation, Local Government, Public Meetings
October 2025 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
With the city’s proposed 2026 budget heading to a public hearing on Oct. 7 and a final adoption set for Oct. 21, residents will have a brief window to voice their priorities. This year’s process is under greater scrutiny as Gary faces tightening property tax revenues and less flexibility in American Rescue Plan Act-backed spending. […]
Posted inEducation
These ‘Floating Classrooms’ Bring Nature and Community Together in Gary
On the serene, undisturbed waters of Marquette Lagoon, nearly 20 people geared up for the annual Canoemobile Voyage. Four canoes filled with kids and adults pushed off from the shore. Participants quickly settled into a rhythm: left, splash; right, splash. Over and over, they traversed the transparent lagoon, framed by tall grasses, shimmering waters, and […]