The Gary Common Council made one of its most controversial decisions of the year last month, as the body narrowly approved a zoning change for the former Beckman School from residential to planned unit development in a 5-4 vote. Last month, the council interviewed candidates for appointments to the Redevelopment Commission, Transportation Board, School Board, […]
Lake County
Posted inMaternal Health, Politics & Policy
How the War Against DEI May Kill a Breastfeeding Program in Gary
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship. In the empty halls of the Gary Neighborhood Services building on Grant Street once stood the Milky Way Cafe, a casual space created for breastfeeding moms to meet, share supporting resources, and consult with professionals. But the clinic, one of the few […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Meetings
February 2025 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
February is shaping up to be an important month for Gary, with key public meetings set to address major changes. The Common Council will see a shakeup as a Democratic caucus selects a new 4th District representative, following Council President Tai Adkins’ move to Calumet Township Trustee — with a council vote to name a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local Government
Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince Sentenced to Probation, Avoids Jail Time
Jerome Prince, the former mayor of Gary, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to one year of probation and fined $26,750 for using campaign funds to buy a private residence. Prince, who pleaded guilty last year to misusing campaign funds, admitted in court documents to defrauding donors by falsely claiming their contributions were for campaign […]
Posted inLocal Government, Politics & Policy
January 2025 Public Meeting Schedule for Gary
As the new year begins, a critical meeting on Jan. 7 will shape the leadership of Gary’s Common Council for the year ahead. During the reorganization meeting, members will vote on positions within the council, including president, vice president and parliamentarian, as well as various committee assignments. These decisions set the tone for council priorities […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
How Gary Residents Made Strides Toward a Cleaner, Greener City in 2024
From a citywide clean-up campaign to resisting the arrival of behemoth polluting facilities, the fight to make Gary greener and more sustainable never stops. Gary, one of Indiana’s most polluted areas, is burdened by toxic air pollution, flagrant zoning and land use violations, and decades of economic disinvestment, which only heighten the stakes of the […]
Posted inEconomy
Gary Mayor Expresses His Support for Nippon Steel’s Acquisition of U.S. Steel
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 […]
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 […]