Gary officials have put a hold on plans to end curbside recycling, keeping the current program in place while they work through logistical challenges and community concerns about a shift to a drop-off system. The decision follows growing frustration over the lack of community input, accessibility to drop-off sites, and uncertainty about how the sites […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inPublic Services
Curbside Recycling Ends in Gary, Drop-Off Sites to Replace Service
Paper, cardboard, or plastic? For Gary residents, the question just got more complicated. Starting next month, the city will suspend curbside recycling, a move city officials say is necessary due to rising costs. Instead, residents will be able to recycle at four monitored drop-off locations throughout the city, where paper, clean plastics, and broken-down cardboard […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Services
Gary Warming Centers: Where to Go During Extreme Cold
As Gary braces for a blast of bitter cold, the city has expanded its network of warming centers to protect residents from subzero temperatures expected in the coming days. Among the options is a newly reopened Ambridge-Mann Community Center on Fourth Avenue, providing critical overnight shelter for families, children, and the elderly at risk from […]
Posted inUtilities
‘People Over Profits’: Hoosiers Protest NIPSCO Rate Hike Proposal
Colin Sanders, a licensed plumber and father of three, recently “celebrated” his lowest NIPSCO bill yet — a staggering $400, down from his usual $1,100. For Patricia Joyner, a preschool teacher and single mother, the weight of NIPSCO’s high costs hits even harder: She pays over $400 of her elderly mother’s $500 bill, leaving little […]
Posted inUtilities
How Lead Pipes Are Being Removed From Gary
In a historic first for the country, the Environmental Protection Agency last month ordered the replacement of lead pipes in drinking water systems within the next 10 years to combat toxic exposure that has endangered public health for decades. The mandate could be a game-changer for cities like Gary, which struggles with aging infrastructure and […]
Posted inUtilities
Your NIPSCO Bill Could Increase in 2025. Here’s How Much.
NIPSCO, Indiana’s largest natural gas and second-largest electric company, plans to raise its average electricity bill by $32 a month — a proposal that would significantly increase costs for its customers statewide. If approved, the hike would begin in the fall of 2025. For Gary residents, especially those on fixed incomes, the proposed increase adds […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Meetings, Public Services
Packed Forum Teaches Gary Residents How to Report Issues to City Departments
Sandra Starling sat patiently with her hand raised, hoping to question Mayor Eddie Melton directly about issues in her neighborhood. Although she wasn’t called, she accomplished part of her mission simply by attending. “Belief in Gary brought me out tonight,” Starling said. Starling, a retired 30-year veteran of the Gary Community School Corporation, has continued […]
Posted inLocal Government, Money, Public Safety, Public Services
Gary Residents Look Forward to Brighter Streets After City’s $3.4 Million Streetlight Investment
Darkened streets in Gary will soon shine brighter in areas that have gone without adequate street lighting for nearly a decade. The Gary Common Council passed an ordinance this week supporting a proposed $3.4 million project to address the longstanding issue of inactive streetlights throughout the city. The addition of streetlights was welcoming news to […]
Posted inPublic Services
Gary Taps Law Enforcement, County Resources to Crack Down on Illegal Dumping
A man driving a dump truck pulled into a hidden spot near Tolleston Park, attempting to unload large trees and debris in a city he didn’t live in. This time, a vigilant resident’s call brought officers to the scene. They caught the suspect from Hebron, Indiana, in the act, ordered him to reload all the […]
Posted inPublic Services, Utilities
Heads Up, Gary: Water Bill Rates Are Starting to Climb
Indiana American Water Co.’s decision to increase water rates recently took effect, to the surprise of some Gary residents. The rate hike, intended to cover operating costs and infrastructure investments, sparked protests and concerns about affordability and quality of service last fall. Residents say that the new increase, while less than the company initially proposed, […]
