After weeks of early voting, Lake County voters waited in lines to cast their ballots to elect Democrat Jerry Williams as the county’s first black sheriff. Frank Mrvan held onto his seat with more than 60% of the vote against GOP challenger Barb Regnitz as part of a Democrat landslide in retaking Congress. Statewide, Democrat […]
Lake County
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Trump Administration Plans to Monitor Lake and Marion County Voting on Election Day
State election officials and voting rights advocates are questioning the Trump administration’s decision to send monitors to polling stations in Marion and Lake counties on Election Day. Lake and Marion are the only two Indiana counties publicly identified for U.S. Justice Department federal monitoring during the Nov. 3 midterm election. Both counties are Democratic strongholds […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gary’s Council Seats to Be Filled Without Public Vote
Gary could have up to three new faces serving on the Common Council by the start of next year. And city residents won’t vote for any of the candidates. The Lake County Democratic Party will hold a caucus Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave., to fill […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Who’s Running for Office in Gary and Lake County?
Our state and federal races have received a lot of attention this election cycle, but there are some important races taking place in Lake County, too. Gary and Lake County voters will select a new sheriff, new auditor, prosecuting attorney, a county commissioner, and more. See who’s running in each race and what the winning […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
How to Vote Early in Gary and Lake County
Polls open across Indiana for early voting on Tuesday, Oct. 6, allowing those who prefer to cast their ballots before Election Day to do so now. What’s on the ballot in Gary? Gary voters will decide who will shape policing, taxation, and public services in six local contests. They will also choose who will represent […]
Posted inExtreme Weather, Public Services, Utilities
Federal Disaster Aid Is Now Available to Gary Residents Recovering From the Storm
Gary residents affected by the powerful Aug. 11 storm that knocked out power in much of the region for roughly weeks may soon get the help they need. Shortly after speaking this week with Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the […]
Posted inCommunity, Extreme Weather, Public Services, Utilities
Churches, a Lawsuit and the Governor Are Pressuring NIPSCO After Gary’s Blackout
As power slowly returns to homes and businesses in Gary and across Northwest Indiana, Black faith leaders and elected officials alike are turning their focus to restoration, accountability, and solutions for future weather events. Fewer than 2,500 NIPSCO customers in Gary remained without power as of Tuesday morning, but that is more than 70% of […]
Posted inCommunity
Where Families Can Get Free Food in June in Northwest Indiana
As summer begins, June brings another month of Northwest Indiana organizations working to provide relief from rising food costs and food insecurity. In Indiana, almost 10% of families and individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have had their benefits cut since last year. In Gary, nearly 40% of residents rely on SNAP benefits, while […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Lake County’s Primary Reveals a Stark Divide in Who Shows Up to Vote
Despite a primary ballot that featured a historic race for Lake County sheriff and several competitive county council contests, voter turnout across Lake County remained sluggish on May 5, with most communities failing to surpass 20%. Just 16% of the county’s more than 367,000 registered voters cast ballots, according to Lake County Board of Elections […]
Posted inCommunity
Where Families Can Get Free Food in May in Northwest Indiana
As summer rapidly approaches, organizations across Northwest Indiana are scheduling free food distributions throughout May to offer families some relief from rising food prices. In Northwest Indiana, roughly 1 in 7 residents and 1 in 5 children are considered food insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough nutritious food. In Gary, almost 40% of […]
