The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the civil rights leader and presidential candidate whose work helped reshape Black political power nationally and in cities like Gary, has died at 84. His death Tuesday prompted tributes across Indiana and the country from elected officials and community leaders who credited him with expanding opportunity and representation for Black […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Utilities
Soaring NIPSCO Bills Spark Protests Across Northwest Indiana
What began as a handful of frustrated Facebook posts has turned into a digital pressure cooker. In recent weeks, a Northwest Indiana Facebook group dedicated to rising NIPSCO bills has swelled with screenshots of triple-digit increases, stories of skipped groceries and late rent, and calls for action. Demonstrations have followed, including in Valparaiso and Hammond. […]
Posted inCommunity, Politics & Policy
Free Groceries Still Available as SNAP Rules Change in Gary and Northwest Indiana
February could bring added strain for households across Gary and Northwest Indiana as new federal food assistance rules take effect. Starting Feb. 1, expanded work requirements under federal law now apply to some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients, including adults ages 55 to 64 and parents without children younger than 14. The changes also repeal […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Government
What’s at Stake for Gary in Indiana’s 2026 Legislative Session
Gary residents once again have a lot at stake in this year’s state legislative session, from proposals targeting diversity initiatives to changes in Medicaid eligibility and renewed efforts to lure the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana. As lawmakers move deeper into the session, several high-impact bills have already advanced, while others have stalled or failed […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy
February 2026 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
February’s public meetings in Gary will center on decisions with direct implications for residents, including proposed sewer rate hikes, a sweeping zoning rewrite, and expanded redevelopment activity across the city. As those issues move forward, the Gary Common Council begins the year under new leadership. 5th District Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell now serves as council president, […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Safety, Redevelopment
Gary Secures $1.1 Million to Demolish Long-Abandoned West Side School
Abandoned school buildings have been among the biggest thorns in Gary’s side, standing as hulking reminders of decline. While some buildings have been torn down, the scale of the problem has continued to grow faster than funding to address it. Now, the city will use newly awarded congressional funding totaling $1.1 million to demolish the […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lake County Report Finds Poor Oversight, Low Morale and Years of Financial Errors
A recent internal report paints a stark picture of how Lake County operates, citing loosely enforced attendance policies and a leadership culture rooted in control and fear. The report says those conditions have created “a very unreliable workforce” and allowed serious financial failures to persist for years. The Lake County Organizational Needs Report, prepared by […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Redevelopment, Sports
Chicago Bears Weigh Indiana as Gary Unveils Detailed Stadium Proposal
For the first time in decades, Gary officials say they are offering more than just a nearby location in talks about bringing the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana. This time, they say they have a financial plan they believe Illinois cannot match. On Thursday, city leaders unveiled a proposal that lays out how Gary could […]
Posted inPartner Content, Politics & Policy, Public Safety
Ruling Absolving Legislature in Halting of Lawsuit Praised, Panned
This story was originally published by The Indiana Citizen. For the Gary gun lawsuit that has survived three appeals and multiple changes to state statute, the recent order to dismiss from the Court of Appeals of Indiana might be yet another chapter, rather than the end of the decades-old litigation. The December ruling from the […]
Posted inCommunity, Politics & Policy
Gary Demonstrators Condemn ICE Following Fatal Minneapolis Shooting
A group of Gary residents and activists gathered on a cold and wet Saturday morning to voice their discontent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the city and across the country. The demonstration took place in the Miller neighborhood near the South Shore Line train station and was one of several held nationwide […]