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 […]
end of year: 2024
Posted inSports
John Boyd Returns to Gary to Lead New Era at Bowman Academy
In a city searching for sparks of hope, John Boyd is back where it all began. The championship-winning coach has returned to Gary, not just to lead a team, but to reignite the pride of a community that shaped him. On the court at Bowman Academy, John Boyd patrols the sidelines, his voice cutting through […]
Posted inBusiness, Community Spotlight, Economy
Shoe Repairman in Gary Restores Community, One Sole at a Time
A quiet, cold air settled over the nearly abandoned shopping center in Gary, broken only by the faint creak of a door and the muted sounds of its lone open shop. Down the hallway, the squeak of worn soles echoed as customers hurried toward Anthony Rayford’s shoe repair shop, where he worked alone. “It’s a […]
Posted inYouth
This Youth Basketball League Is Bringing Hoops and Hope to Gary
The sharp squeak of sneakers echoed through the gym, cutting through the blare of whistles and a buzzing scoreboard at Gary’s Boys and Girls Club. Wesley Danzy hustled up and down the court guiding the young players, their faces alight with wide-eyed determination. It was opening day for the At All Cost Youth Basketball League, […]
Posted inAir Pollution, Health, Maternal Health
Toxic Air, Limited Care: The Risks of Pregnancy in Gary
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. Kimmie Gordon sat in her car, watching the sky darken as she waited for her 15-year-old son, Kaleb, to finish football practice. It is one of five sports her teenager plays despite living with chronic asthma. Over an hour stretched on, but […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, State Government
How Indiana’s Governor’s Race Could Determine the Future of Gary’s Budget
After days of hourslong budget hearings at City Hall, Gary Common Council Vice President Lori Latham had seen and heard enough. Throughout the week, department head after department head took to the podium in the council chambers, some with requests for additional funding, until she emphatically addressed the elephant in the room — the city’s […]
Posted inRural Issues
The USDA Is Finally Paying Back Black Farmers. Some Say It’s Not Enough.
John Jamerson knows the value of farming land. He is one of the last remaining family members that lives on Lyles Station, the last Black farming settlement in Indiana. As Black farm land — and landowners — evaporate nationwide, Jamerson said maintaining his family’s farm, Legacy Taste of the Garden, is their way of building […]
Posted inCommunity
Gary Resident ‘Nana’ Nadine Needs Help Saving Her Home. Here’s How You Can Help.
Nadine Stephens starts her busy day early. At 75, she gets up at 6 every morning to prepare her kitchen, where she cooks pickles, peppers, and other fresh produce to sell at the Miller farmers market every Sunday. Her garden is filled with juicy, chemical-free tomatoes, turnip greens, spices, herbs, squash, cucumbers, and strawberries, all […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight
This Gary Teen Got Tired of Buying Clothes, So He Started Making Them
When Amir Watson was deciding what to name his clothing brand, the 18-year-old knew it needed to roll off the tongue. MUGEN AMOUR, a combination of Japanese and French words meaning “infinite love,” is what he landed on — resonating with its evocative message and potential to set the brand apart from others. In the […]
Posted inHistory
This Black Man Made History at Indiana University. It Took Decades for Recognition.
Before Todd Deloney arrived at the Indiana University Northwest campus in Gary, he knew what he was in for. It was 1983, and the university was known in the region as “an oasis for whites.” “The irony of it all was that in this chocolate city, there was IU,” Deloney said. But, he didn’t let […]