When Karen Toering first proposed hosting a film festival in Gary, she didn’t know who would be involved or how it would come together, but she knew she wanted to see one in her hometown. With no movie theater in the city, Toering wanted to create a space for residents to experience films and filmmakers […]
Gary
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Indiana Republicans Consider Redistricting That Could Weaken Gary’s Political Power
Indiana Republicans are weighing whether to redraw the state’s congressional map outside the normal 10-year cycle, a move that could weaken Democratic power in Northwest Indiana and reshape the state’s political balance. No formal proposal has been introduced, but conversations inside the Statehouse have intensified following Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Indianapolis last week, […]
Posted inCommunity, History, Politics & Policy
Gary Renames Grant Street in Honor of Former Mayor Richard Hatcher
A partly cloudy sky Monday could do nothing to damper the beaming pride of a city as it honored one of its brightest stars, former Mayor Richard G. Hatcher, with a rechristening of Grant Street as Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton — just the seventh mayor since Hatcher — recalled seeking the […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Unsafe Water
High Arsenic at Gary’s ‘Magic Water’ Well Triggers Closure and a Warning Sign
For decades, Gary residents filled jugs and bottles at the artesian well on Chase Street, a place many affectionately called the source of “magic water.” But now, the spout is dry. The water is shut off, and for the first time, a warning sign stands nearby, greeting those who come to drink. Officials said new […]
Posted inArts, Events
2025 Gary International Black Film Festival Guide: House Party, Panels, and Food
The Gary International Black Film Festival returns for its 15th year Oct. 9-12 at Indiana University Northwest, bringing more than 40 films, panel discussions, and cultural events to the city. Continuing its tradition of bringing filmmakers to Gary, the festival will feature films from local, regional, and international filmmakers that tell stories across the diaspora. […]
Posted inBusiness, Economic Development
‘Just The Beginning’: Gary Breaks Ground on $60 Million FedEx Distribution Center
Less than six months after announcing its arrival during his State of the City address, Mayor Eddie Melton christened what will become Gary’s new FedEx distribution center. Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony at 1 Buffington Harbor, which took place even as crews were at work on the 317,000-square foot facility, was attended by officials from every level […]
Posted inCommunity, Culture
Gary’s Brown Family Ranch Comes Alive With Rodeo Spirit
Photos by Javonte Anderson, Capital B Gary Editor. The Brown Family Ranch in Gary came alive on a toasty September weekend as riders and families packed the gallery. Barrel racing, relay races, and flag racing carried the action well into the night. Away from the arena, quieter moments unfolded around the competition: a horse being […]
Posted inEducation, Local Government, Public Meetings
October 2025 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
With the city’s proposed 2026 budget heading to a public hearing on Oct. 7 and a final adoption set for Oct. 21, residents will have a brief window to voice their priorities. This year’s process is under greater scrutiny as Gary faces tightening property tax revenues and less flexibility in American Rescue Plan Act-backed spending. […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy, Redevelopment
$15 Million Headed to Gary for Downtown Revitalization, Blight Removal
Gary will receive $15 million to help revitalize neighborhoods that have suffered from decades of disinvestment. The funding is part of a statewide initiative by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to support 17 projects with $131 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. The $15 million for Gary is part of a broader $250 million effort aimed […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy
How Gary Is Stopping Illegal Dumping Across the City Before It Starts
In the new series From Harm to Healing, Capital B is putting a spotlight on how pollution and environmental dangers are threatening Black communities, and the people who are working to fight back against these threats to health. Photographs by Javonte Anderson/Capital B A man stood in the bed of a pickup truck, his head on […]
