In a sweeping crackdown on food safety, the city of Gary has temporarily closed several grocery stores and restaurants in recent weeks after inspections uncovered multiple health and building code violations. City officials say the closures are part of a coordinated effort to raise standards and hold businesses accountable. The enforcement push has already affected […]
Eddie Melton
Posted inEconomic Development, Policing
$3 Million Investment to Bring Modern Police Squad Cars to Gary Streets
Gary police will soon patrol the streets in a new fleet of high-tech squad cars, thanks to a $3 million investment in partnership with Hard Rock Casino designed to boost public safety and community service. “This investment marks a major step towards strengthening public safety and ensures giving our officers the modern tools and technology […]
Posted inCrime, Criminal Justice
Gary Police Report Sharp Decline in Homicides and Non-Fatal Shootings
Homicides in Gary decreased by more than 50% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, with city leaders attributing this to investments in proactive policing and community partnerships, which contributed to a broader decline in crime and traffic incidents. According to the Gary Police Department’s 2025 Mid-Year Public […]
Posted inElections, Health, Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, Mental Health, Politics & Policy
New Indiana Laws Could Strip Health Coverage, Voting Access in Gary
New state laws that took effect July 1 are drawing attention across Indiana, particularly in places like Gary, where access to health care and the ballot box is already uneven. In a city like Gary, where voter turnout is often low and civic trust is fragile, the new laws raise the stakes ahead of the […]
Posted inHealth, Mental Health, News
Gary Launches Behavioral Health Division, Awarding $900K to 10 Local Health Organizations
Gary is launching a new Behavioral Health Division and awarding $900,000 in grants to local organizations, marking a major step in the city’s effort to expand access to mental health and addiction services. At a press conference on Thursday, Mayor Eddie Melton announced the new division along with the recipients of the funding while highlighting […]
Posted inArts, Community, Culture
Gary’s Jackson 5 Mural: It’s Bigger. It’s Better. And It’s Back.
In 2013, when the first Jackson 5 mural was unveiled in downtown Gary, it became one of the most beloved pieces of public art in the city. But over time, it gradually deteriorated and the building was torn down in 2018. Now, over a decade later, the mural has been reborn on Lake Street. Commissioned […]
Posted inRedevelopment
What’s Next for Gary’s Genesis Convention Center? The City Turns to Residents for Ideas.
The city of Gary is looking to the community for help in bringing life back to downtown through a new project initiative. The city has issued a request for interest for the future of the Genesis Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown. “We are committed to creating a vibrant and thriving downtown Gary,” […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Politics & Policy
Trump announces deal between Nippon and U.S. Steel
President Donald Trump on Friday announced a partnership between the U.S. Steel and Japanese steelmaker Nippon that he says will keep the headquarters in Pittsburgh and add billions of dollars to the U.S. Economy. “From Pennsylvania to Arkansas, and from Minnesota to Indiana, AMERICAN MADE is BACK,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, Redevelopment
FedEx to Build $60 Million Distribution Center in Gary
Mayor Eddie Melton delivered his second State of the City address Tuesday, using the milestone to highlight the city’s progress as it continues rebuilding. The address, delivered at Embassies of Christ Church, comes nearly 18 months since he took office and offered a shift from campaign promises to a review of the administration’s accomplishments thus […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy
Gary vs. Hammond: Battle Brews Over Casino-Backed Convention Center
Tensions are rising across Northwest Indiana as the Lake County Board of Commissioners nears a decision in the coming weeks between Gary and Hobart to host a new multimillion-dollar convention center. The proposal has surfaced a regional divide, with officials in nearby cities that host competing casinos taking public stances on the possibility of the […]