A former police officer and commander with the Gary Police Department was arrested and indicted Thursday on federal charges for allegedly coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. The officer, James W. Bond, 52, of Crown Point, appeared and pleaded not guilty in federal court in Hammond via Zoom on Thursday. Bond’s attorney […]
Public Safety
Posted inCriminal Justice, Public Safety
‘Enough Is Enough’: Gary Leaders and Family Call for Action After Mother of Six Is Killed by a Stray Bullet
Charlotte Tidwell spoke softly, clutching a tissue as she recounted her daughter’s final moments. “My daughter turned that corner on Grant Street and made a left to head to Portage so she could go home and cook. She didn’t make it back,” she whispered. Tidwell was surrounded by family members and friends who gathered at […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Safety
Gary Braces for Heat Wave as Temperatures Approach Triple Digits
Gary is bracing for a surge of extreme heat this week, with temperatures nearing triple digits and deteriorating air quality prompting health and safety warnings from local authorities. As temperatures rise, the combination of scorching heat and high humidity is expected to create dangerous conditions for Gary residents. The National Weather Service has forecast that […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Public Safety
Kidnapping at Michael Jackson’s Childhood Home Alarms Neighbors, Provokes Spirited Response From Gary Officials
A Gary man is in custody after being charged with multiple felonies related to the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl and her father as they visited the childhood home of Michael Jackson. “It’s a crazy feeling because nothing like that has happened in this area,” said Lathaniel Staten, who has lived on the block […]
Posted inHealth, Public Safety
Chicago Rapper G Herbo Talks Impact of Trauma With Gary Youth
About 70 kids in neon orange shirts eagerly awaited rapper G Herbo’s arrival at a youth center in Gary. When the “PTSD” lyricist appeared, the crowd erupted in cheers, with every phone out and aimed his way. Herbo joined local activist Aaliyah Stewart on Thursday to discuss his mental health struggles from gun violence, how […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Gary Police Deploy $264K for High-Tech License Plate Readers to Improve Safety
The Gary Police Department announced on Monday a $264,000 federal investment in advanced license plate reading systems to enhance its crime-fighting technology. Funded through the Community Project Funding grant program and secured by U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-1st, Gary’s representative in the U.S. House, the investment will equip Gary’s police force with both stationary […]
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 Safety
South Shore Collides With Dump Truck in Gary; Three People Taken to Hospital
The South Shore Line train collided with a dump truck early Monday morning in Gary, sending two passengers and a train employee to the hospital. According to Mike Noland, president of South Shore Line, the truck driver reported that his vehicle stalled on the train tracks and that he exited the truck before the collision […]
Posted inPartner Content, Public Safety
Inside the Historic Suit That the Gun Industry and Republicans Are on the Verge of Killing
This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. As America emerged from the pandemic, communities continued to experience a rising tide of gun violence. School shootings and the rate of children and teens […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Facing the Freeze: How Gary and Its Residents Are Battling a Severe Cold Snap
Frank Kirk stepped out of Fresh County Market on Wednesday, his chin buried in his coat against the 19-degree cold. Kirk, his hands full of grocery bags, said he appreciated the brief reprieve from the recent arctic weather. “This is like summer vacation compared to what we just went through,” the 59-year-old said with a […]