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 […]
Health
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 inEvents, Reproductive Health
Breast Cancer Walk Returns to Marquette Beach This Weekend
Hundreds of Gary residents will lace up their shoes this weekend for a life-saving cause that affects nearly 1 in 8 women in the United States. On Saturday, Sept. 27, at 9 a.m., Community HealthNet Health Centers will host its annual 5K Breast Cancer Walk at Marquette Beach Park. The event invites families, friends, and […]
Posted inHealth, Unsafe Water
How Safe is The Chase Street Well Drinking Water? An Upcoming Test Should Find Out.
Gary residents will soon get clarity on potential health risks from the city’s Chase Street well after officials announced new testing, a month after federal scientists reported arsenic levels above safety limits. The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission announced Wednesday it will launch new testing the week of Sept. 22, following community pressure for […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, Local Government
Health Inspectors Threatened as Gary Cracks Down on Unsafe Food Businesses
In the wake of multiple temporary store closures following a wave of citywide health inspections, the City of Gary and the Gary Police Department confirmed today that the Gary Health Department received a threatening phone call directed toward its inspectors. “This type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Gary Police Chief […]
Posted inBusiness, Health
Mold, Mice, and Dirty Floors: Inside Gary’s Food Inspection Records
When Gary shut down neighborhood groceries and restaurants in recent weeks, city officials described the move as a sweeping crackdown to raise health and safety standards. Residents applauded the crackdown as a long overdue step toward holding local stores and restaurants to higher standards, while some expressed concern about losing food access. Now, inspection records […]
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 inHealth, Maternal Health
Why Breastfeeding Is a Solution to Gary’s Sky-High Infant Mortality Rate
Black Breastfeeding Week, observed each year from Aug 25-31, was created to close gaps in breastfeeding rates among Black families. Breastfeeding is a critical public health strategy to decrease high infant mortality rates, which disproportionately impact Black communities. Across Northwest Indiana and throughout the state, infant mortality among Black residents is significantly higher than among […]
Posted inHealth
West Nile Virus Found in Lake County, Health Department Confirms
The Lake County Health Department announced Thursday it had received confirmation of West Nile virus in Northwest Indiana. The news comes a few days after the state’s first West Nile virus case this year, found in a Vanderburgh County resident. The Indiana Department of Health said that several of its mosquito surveillance trap samples tested […]
Posted inElections, Health, Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, Mental Health, Politics & Policy
New Indiana Laws Could Strip Health Coverage, Voting Access in Gary
New state laws that took effect July 1 are drawing attention across Indiana, particularly in places like Gary, where access to health care and the ballot box is already uneven. In a city like Gary, where voter turnout is often low and civic trust is fragile, the new laws raise the stakes ahead of the […]