Gary residents could soon feel the effects of new state laws on everything from health care coverage to energy bills and public schools, local lawmakers warned last week. At a legislative town hall Saturday in Gary, state Sen. Mark Spencer and state Reps. Earl Harris Jr. and Vernon Smith walked residents through the changes, highlighting […]
Gary
Posted inCommunity
Where to Get Free Food in Northwest Indiana This March
Churches, nonprofits, and government agencies across Northwest Indiana are hosting free food distributions throughout March as some families adjust to tighter federal work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients. The updated rules apply to able-bodied adults ages 18 to 64 without dependents and eliminate several long-standing exemptions. To continue receiving benefits, affected recipients must […]
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
Gary High School Partners With Indiana Universities to Offer Free College Degrees
The gym at 21st Century Academy buzzed with chatter Friday as elementary, middle, and high school students gathered in the stands. Excitement rippled through the crowd as they waited to hear the big announcement: They could get a college degree at no cost while still in high school. “We will not just give the money, […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Loose Dogs Leave Some Gary Residents Wary of Walking Their Own Blocks
When Penelope Love walks out of her Aetna home, some days she doesn’t know if it will be a good day or a day she may have to fight. And it’s all because of loose dogs. “Nobody wants to encounter a pack of dogs in any kind of situation,” she said. Over the past several […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy, Public Services
Gary Businesses Face Higher Stormwater Bills as New Rates Take Effect
Many Gary businesses and other commercial property owners will soon see higher stormwater bills after the city approved a significant rate increase that shifts more of the cost of sewer and drainage upgrades onto nonresidential properties. The new structure raises stormwater charges to $14.38 per 1,000 gallons for commercial and industrial properties — an increase […]
Posted inRedevelopment
Citywide Demolition Plans to Clear Dozens of Unsafe Buildings
Snow fell lightly Monday as an excavator’s steel claw hovered and tore through a century-old house, shattering windows and siding that had been warped by years of neglect. The three-story home, which once stood at 674 Harrison St., was the first of 60 structures to fall during this year’s Citywide Blight Blitz scheduled to take […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy, Sports
Chicago Bears Move One Step Closer to Northwest Indiana
The Chicago Bears’ long-running stadium search moved closer to becoming reality in Northwest Indiana on Thursday, as state officials signaled Hammond as the preferred site and lawmakers advanced legislation designed to support construction of a new NFL stadium. The shift comes as excitement around the franchise has surged following a strong season that included a […]
Posted inHigher Education, Partner Content
Indiana’s Targeting of Degrees With Low Earnings Could Eliminate These Programs
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Indiana lawmakers are moving to eliminate state college degrees that aren’t earning graduates enough on the job market, mirroring the federal government’s targeting of career programs delivering poor results. SB 199 appears to only apply to a handful of degrees at […]
Posted inHistory, Politics & Policy
The Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84; His Roots in Gary Shaped a Movement
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 […]
Posted inUtilities
As Utility Bills Rise, Northwest Indiana Lawmakers Want More Help For Families
As Northwest Indiana residents’ utility frustrations mount over triple-digit increases, legislators, too, are feeling the pressure to use the tools at their disposal to help provide relief. At the Statehouse on Thursday, lawmakers debated the details of House Bill 1002, a proposal intended to help customers manage higher utility costs through expanded payment plans, assistance […]