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 […]
Public Services
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, […]
Posted inPublic Services, Utilities
High Energy Bills, Gary? Here’s How You Can Save on Your NIPSCO Bill.
Clee Ross still remembers the price of his first car. “$3,382, for a brand-new, 1973 Oldsmobile ’88 Royale,” Ross said. “Midnight blue, trimmed in light-blue vinyl top.” But nowadays, the 73-year-old Gary resident said cars can cost what houses used to, and house payments can be as pricey as an energy bill, especially in the […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Services
Indiana Black Lawmakers Prioritize Housing in Legislative Plan
Black lawmakers in Indiana are introducing multiple housing bills to enhance homeownership accessibility for all Hoosiers statewide. State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, and chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, said that each year the cohort selects a theme and issue they want to tackle collectively. “It’s not a secret that housing is an […]
Posted inPublic Services
Gary Test Drives New Electric Transit Vehicles to Help Reduce Emissions, Costs
On the streets of Gary, the rumble of diesel engines are starting to be replaced with the hum of electric buses in a significant and eco-friendly shift toward sustainable urban transit. Gary Public Transportation Corp. unveiled four new electric buses this fall, not only marking a transition toward reducing the city’s carbon footprint, but also […]