With U.S. Steel employees surrounding him, Mayor Eddie Melton on Thursday announced his support for the company’s acquisition by the Japanese company, Nippon Steel. “As the 22nd mayor of Gary, I wanted to show my support for this effort because we have done our due diligence to make sure that it’s the right thing for […]
Lake County
Posted inUtilities
‘People Over Profits’: Hoosiers Protest NIPSCO Rate Hike Proposal
Colin Sanders, a licensed plumber and father of three, recently “celebrated” his lowest NIPSCO bill yet — a staggering $400, down from his usual $1,100. For Patricia Joyner, a preschool teacher and single mother, the weight of NIPSCO’s high costs hits even harder: She pays over $400 of her elderly mother’s $500 bill, leaving little […]
Posted inCourts, Politics & Policy
Appointed Judges Leave Black Indiana Voters Without Representation
When Gary and Lake County residents went to the polls this year, they had no voice in one of the most consequential areas of local government: electing the judges who decide on criminal justice, family disputes, and community life. This lack of representation is not an anomaly; it is the result of a decades-old system […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
How People Voted in Lake County: A Visual Breakdown of Key Election Trends
Lake County, long a Democratic stronghold in deep-red Indiana, shows signs of a rightward shift. In the latest election, fewer residents across nearly every municipality voted Democratic, while President-elect Donald Trump made notable gains, even in historically blue cities and towns. Once a reliable base for Democratic candidates, Lake County’s changing political landscape raises questions […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In Gary, Residents Share Barriers and Frustrations Around Voting
Donna Brandon sat at the downtown bus stop, her face lined with worry. Despite her intention to vote, there was a catch: she still didn’t have a photo ID. “I want to vote,” she said. “I really do. I’m just having a hard time with my ID.” For her, the hurdles go beyond paperwork — […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy, State Government
2024 General Election: Your Complete Voting Guide for Gary and Lake County
What’s on the ballot? What’s at stake? At the top of the ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are vying for the presidency in a race that could have an enormous impact on the future of reproductive rights, the U.S. Supreme Court, and democracy itself. In the governor’s race between Mike […]
Posted inPartner Content, Politics & Policy
AG Threatens to Sue Lake and St. Joseph Counties Over Immigration Dispute
This story was originally published in The Indiana Citizen Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has sent letters to the sheriffs of Lake and St. Joseph counties, demanding that their departments comply with requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or face a lawsuit from the state. The letters state the attorney general suspects the Lake […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local Government
Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince Agrees to Release Conditions in Wire Fraud Case
The conditions of former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince’s release were set this week after he pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges for misusing campaign funds. Prince will be required to turn over his passport and will be restricted to travel within the continental United States. He posted an unsecured bond of $20,000 and will […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Valerie McCray’s Historic Bid for U.S. Senate: Will a Black Woman Represent Indiana?
In U.S. politics, the path to power does not start at the top. Candidates typically start with modest pursuits like city councils and school boards before aspiring to higher offices. For Valerie McCray, the Democratic candidate seeking to be Indiana’s first-ever black woman U.S. senator, that journey began with a campaign for the highest office […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local Government
Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince to Plead Guilty to Misuse of Campaign Funds
Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince has acknowledged in court documents that he defrauded donors by using campaign funds for his personal expenses, including the purchase of a private residence. Court records filed Oct. 9 in U.S. District Court detail a scheme in which Prince misappropriated roughly $26,750 from his mayoral campaign between 2019 and 2020. […]