This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Indiana leaders this week welcomed an order from President Donald Trump intended to close the U.S. Department of Education, saying it will give the state more control over education and greater flexibility to spend federal funds. The long-expected step directs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to “take all […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Safety, Utilities
Day After Tornadoes, Gary Residents Begin to Rebuild and Reflect
A day after tornadoes ripped through Gary, residents and officials alike are continuing to grapple with the devastation left behind. Friday morning marked a slow return to normalcy for many, as utility crews worked tirelessly to restore power and residents sifted through debris. “It’s tough to look at, but people are doing what they can,” […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Safety, Utilities
Shaken Gary Residents Dig Out After Tornado Touches Down in Region
Toppled power lines. Caved-in roofs. Lumbering trees crashed into the Earth. And residents left stunned. These were just a few of the images greeting Gary this morning after a tornado whipped through the city Wednesday evening, devastating dozens of homes in the Tolleston neighborhood and leaving thousands of Northwest Indiana residents without power. By Thursday […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics & Policy
Gary’s Historic Fight Against Gunmakers Faces New Challenge
One of the nation’s longest-running legal battles over guns — with a predominantly Black city facing off against the nation’s leading gun manufacturers, retailers, and the state of Indiana — is intensifying as Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita seeks its dismissal after Lake County Superior Court Judge John M. Sedia ruled in the city’s favor […]
Posted inMaternal Health, Politics & Policy
How the War Against DEI May Kill a Breastfeeding Program in Gary
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. In the empty halls of the Gary Neighborhood Services building on Grant Street once stood the Milky Way Cafe, a casual space created for breastfeeding moms to meet, share supporting resources, and consult with professionals. But the clinic, one of the few […]
Posted inCourts, Partner Content, Politics & Policy, Reproductive Rights
Indiana Doctors Fight to Keep Abortion Records Private Amid Legal Battle
This story was originally published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. The fight over whether terminated pregnancy reports (TPRs) filed with the state are public records took a new turn Wednesday as lawyers argued in a hearing on a preliminary injunction that the documents are used to harass doctors who perform abortions. The two doctors who […]
Posted inBusiness, Economic Development, Local Government
‘This Is the Right Time’: Melton Pushes for Convention Center in Gary
Chatter bounced off the high ceilings of St. Timothy’s Church on Thursday as hundreds of Lake County residents filled the pews, waiting for an answer to a question that has stirred both hope and doubt: Could Gary become home to the long-awaited Lake County Convention Center? With the decision narrowed to two locations, Hard Rock […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Government
Unprecedented Turnout for Gary Town Hall Amid Policy Concerns
State Rep. Vernon Smith has represented the 14th District in Indiana’s legislature for more than 30 years. In that time, he’d never witnessed a turnout for a town hall quite like what he witnessed this past weekend. “I have never seen this much interest before,” Smith said, overlooking the packed auditorium and nearly 20 people […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Meetings
March 2025 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
As the second half of Indiana’s legislative session picks up steam, the Gary Common Council is weighing the creation of a new legislative committee to track bills moving through the Statehouse that could soon become law and impact the city. The political landscape has shifted locally, too. Council member Marian Ivey has stepped into the […]
Posted inPartner Content, Politics & Policy
Where Do Federal Funding Cuts Leave Indiana?
This story was originally published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. The state of Indiana receives more than $20 billion from the federal government annually, or 44% of its budget, and is the third-most reliant state — behind only Louisiana and Mississippi, according to an analysis from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Under President […]
