Eight days after a historic storm knocked out power to most of Gary, a NIPSCO official announced that the utility is targeting 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, to fully restore power to the city. For some Gary residents, that could mean nearly two weeks without electricity. Melody Birmingham, executive vice president and utilities group president […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inPublic Safety, Utilities
Gary Residents Turn to Each Other as Storm Recovery Stretches Into a Second Week
The trees lining West Seventh Avenue in front of the former Brunswick Elementary School had weathered decades of storms, their thick trunks and sprawling roots becoming fixtures of the neighborhood. Within minutes, those roots were lifted up by a force of wind stronger than the area had seen before. “Those trees have been there longer […]
Posted inPublic Safety, Utilities
Days After Historic Storm, Thousands in Gary Are Still in the Dark
Nearly a week after a historic storm ripped through Northwest Indiana with hurricane-force winds, more than 100,000 NIPSCO customers remained without power Monday morning as communities continued grappling with widespread damage and disruptions. As NIPSCO crews worked through the weekend to repair the battered electrical system after the Aug. 11 storm, federal assistance was also […]
Posted inPublic Safety, Utilities
Gary Declares Disaster Emergency After Storm Leaves Thousands Without Power
The city of Gary declared a local disaster emergency Wednesday after a powerful storm packing hurricane-force wind gusts tore through Northwest Indiana and parts of Illinois, causing widespread destruction, leaving thousands without electricity, and disrupting daily life across the region. Tuesday’s severe weather produced wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, heavy rain, and lightning. The storm […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Redevelopment
Brothers’ Keeper Breaks Ground on New Gary Homeless Shelter
The sound of hammers and conversation filled the corner of Washington Street and 22nd Avenue on Friday as dozens of Gary residents gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Brothers’ Keeper’s new homeless shelter. Isaac Mootye, Brothers’ Keeper executive director, greeted guests and officials with a smile on his face. Ahead stood the new construction site […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Accessing Illinois Voter Data
Illinois will not have to turn over its statewide voter registration database to the U.S. Department of Justice after a federal judge dismissed the government’s lawsuit Friday, leaving the personal information of roughly 8 million registered voters protected. U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless ruled that the Justice Department lacks the legal authority under the Civil […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy
August 2026 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
A busy month lies ahead for Gary officials as demolition begins at Broadway Manor, budget season gets underway and several major projects continue to move through the city’s boards and city council. The Gary Housing Authority confirmed this week that demolition is moving forward on the Broadway Manor public housing complex, on the 1200 block […]
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy
What Gary Residents Need to Know About Indiana’s New Medicaid Work Requirements
Thousands of Hoosiers on the Healthy Indiana Plan will soon have to prove they meet new work requirements to keep their health insurance. But for many, the countdown starts this fall. Anyone applying for or renewing coverage in January 2027 will have to show they were working, attending school, or volunteering beginning in October because […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health, Politics & Policy
Gary Common Council Backs Medicare for All, Presses Nippon for Cleaner Air
The Gary Common Council unanimously approved two resolutions Tuesday night backing Medicare for All and urging U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel to invest in cleaner steelmaking technology at Gary Works. The measures are symbolic and carry no legal force. Together, however, they add Gary’s voice to national debates over expanding healthcare coverage and modernizing one […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, Public Meetings
Gary Invests $1.4 Million in Homeless Shelter as Sleeping Outside Carries New Penalties
Gary is putting roughly $1.4 million toward a new homeless shelter at a moment when the availability of a bed could mean the difference between a place to sleep and a criminal charge. The City Council approved the money for Brothers’ Keeper as a new Indiana law raises the stakes for people sleeping outside. They […]
