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 […]
Northwest Indiana
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Utilities
Soaring NIPSCO Bills Spark Protests Across Northwest Indiana
What began as a handful of frustrated Facebook posts has turned into a digital pressure cooker. In recent weeks, a Northwest Indiana Facebook group dedicated to rising NIPSCO bills has swelled with screenshots of triple-digit increases, stories of skipped groceries and late rent, and calls for action. Demonstrations have followed, including in Valparaiso and Hammond. […]
Posted inCommunity, Politics & Policy
Free Groceries Still Available as SNAP Rules Change in Gary and Northwest Indiana
February could bring added strain for households across Gary and Northwest Indiana as new federal food assistance rules take effect. Starting Feb. 1, expanded work requirements under federal law now apply to some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients, including adults ages 55 to 64 and parents without children younger than 14. The changes also repeal […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Redevelopment, Sports
Chicago Bears Weigh Indiana as Gary Unveils Detailed Stadium Proposal
For the first time in decades, Gary officials say they are offering more than just a nearby location in talks about bringing the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana. This time, they say they have a financial plan they believe Illinois cannot match. On Thursday, city leaders unveiled a proposal that lays out how Gary could […]
Posted inEvents
Where to Celebrate MLK Day 2026 in Gary and Northwest Indiana
Jan. 19 is observed throughout the United States as a holiday honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday was officially established, in part, by a 1983 bill sponsored by Gary native and U.S. Rep. Katie Hall, and was first observed on Jan. 20, 1986. In an effort to bring community […]
Posted inCommunity
Where to Find Free Groceries in Gary and Northwest Indiana This January
January brings added financial pressure for households across Gary and Northwest Indiana, as heating costs rise and grocery prices remain elevated. Food insecurity continues to affect a significant share of people in the region. Nearly 1 in 7 residents in the region experience food insecurity, according to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Late last […]
Posted inEconomic Development, Politics & Policy, Sports
Why the Chicago Bears Are Looking Across State Lines for Their Next Stadium
The Chicago Bears said this week that they are expanding their search for a new stadium beyond Illinois, explicitly naming Northwest Indiana as a possible destination — a move that immediately reignited long-simmering speculation about whether the NFL’s oldest franchise could one day play across the state line. In a letter sent to fans, Bears […]
Posted inCommunity
Where to Find Free Food, Holiday Hams in Northwest Indiana This December
In Gary and across Northwest Indiana, cost and access remain two of the biggest obstacles standing between families and a healthy meal. Nearly 1 in 7 residents in the region experience food insecurity, according to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Amid recent federal shutdown-related disruptions to nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inBusiness, Community Spotlight
Biscuits and Breaking Barriers: How J’s Breakfast Club Brings People Together
This story originally published Oct. 31, 2025 The restaurant was still. Midday light slipped through the windows of J’s Breakfast Club on 26th Avenue and Broadway Avenue. In the back office, Joslyn Kelly sat at her desk, as the soft rustle of her staff moving in and out of the kitchen carried through the restaurant. […]
Posted inUnsafe Water
E. Coli Found in Gary Beaches, but Officials Say Risk Is Low
Kenyon Pool spent a recent July afternoon at Gary’s Lake Street Beach with his two children, having made the drive from Hammond to enjoy the summer weather. “It’s a nice day, so I wanted to let them get out and enjoy the water,” he said. But Pool said he doesn’t know how to check for […]