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 […]
Eddie Melton
Posted inCommunity, Culture
Joe Budden Podcast Faces Backlash After Negative Comments About Gary
Since the early days of his mayoral campaign, Mayor Eddie Melton has made the point that he’s out to change the algorithm related to the city of Gary. Last week, though, the new reputation Melton is attempting to build for Gary took a hit during a segment on the popular Joe Budden Podcast when the famed […]
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 inCommunity, Redevelopment
‘Bye Bye to Blight’: Gary’s Aetna Residents See Hope as Demolitions Continue
Since 2015, Penelope Love and her fellow neighbors of the Aetna Manor Revitalization Program have worked to restore the neighborhood through various cleanup projects. But eliminating blighted structures would take more than they could muster alone. Now, an ongoing city initiative fueled largely by volunteer efforts gives Aetna the boost Love sought. “It’s a good […]
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 inCommunity, Economic Development
Love Your Block Grant Empowers Gary to Reimagine Its Future
Daryl Cook and his family have been ingrained in Gary for over 50 years. His memories of a cleaner, more pristine city brought him to a round table on a Thursday night in Indiana University Northwest’s library. “My grandfather used to have a Cadillac. His brothers had Cadillacs. They lined them up on the street. […]
Posted inEducation, Politics & Policy
Gary Parents Depend on Head Start. Trump’s Budget Cuts Put It at Risk.
When Jessica Fullilove enrolled her 4-year-old son at Geminus Head Start-St. Mark Early Learning Academy in Glen Park, she expected a strong educational foundation. But the staff went far beyond that. “[They] actually caught a developmental delay that even the doctor didn’t catch on to right away, so I’m thankful for that,” Fullilove said. “The […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy
Gary’s $12M Revamp: Tearing Down the Past, Building the Future
Gary is tearing down the past to build its future. With $12 million in state, private, and federal funding, Gary’s demolition and redevelopment efforts are already underway, with the first structures coming this year as the city works to clear unsafe buildings, attract businesses, and reshape downtown. The first phase will target abandoned properties in […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy
President Biden Blocks U.S. Steel Sale, Raising Questions for Gary’s Future
President Joe Biden on Friday announced his decision to block the $14 billion sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns. The move could have serious implications in Gary, where U.S. Steel’s Gary Works plant remains a key employer and economic anchor and where local leaders had strongly supported the deal […]
Posted inNews
Through Our Lens: The Stories That Shaped Gary in 2024
Photos by Javonte Anderson, Capital B Gary Editor. It’s been a whirlwind year for Gary and the Capital B Gary newsroom. Fortunately, we were here to capture it all. This year, we were inside Gary like no other media organization. From citywide cleanup efforts to a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse drawing crowds to the beach, we […]