As the holiday season approaches, many families are navigating the uncertainty of rising food costs. With the tightening of state and federal eligibility requirements in recent months, changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the aftermath of the Aug. 11 storm, many more residents are seeking additional food assistance. In response, churches, schools, […]
Northwest Indiana
Posted inCommunity, Politics & Policy
FEMA Deadline Is Less Than a Week Away.
The FEMA deadline for Gary and other Northwest Indiana residents to apply for assistance is less than a week away. The Aug. 11 storm that knocked out power for more than 38,000 Gary utility customers for two to three weeks is behind us. But many residents are still recovering from the toll, including physical, mental, […]
Posted inCommunity
Gary Residents Have 4 Days Left to Get FEMA Help in Person
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in Gary, offering a one-stop shop for Northwest Indiana residents affected by the Aug. 11 storm. The recovery center is at McBride Hall in United Steelworkers Local 1014, 1301 Texas St., Gary. State and federal officials will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 2. […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Transportation
Gary’s Airport Is Getting an $18 Million Control Tower as It Eyes More Growth
Gary residents who want to see the city’s airport flourish got more good news last week when the airport broke ground on a new air traffic control tower. The new tower at Gary/Chicago International Airport will modernize communications and improve safety for air traffic controllers and pilots. It is also slated to create 120 new […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Volunteers Are Preparing to Help Gary Voters Who Run into Problems at the Polls
Julia Vaughn has been hearing a question from voters she says she’s never been asked in previous cycles: “Do I need a passport to cast a ballot?” They don’t, the Common Cause Indiana executive director tells them. But the question itself, she said, illustrates how proposals to change election laws, court battles and conflicting information […]
Posted inCommunity, Events
Where to Find Free Food in Northwest Indiana This September
Following the Aug. 11 storm that caused widespread damage across Northwest Indiana, including Gary, local organizations and nonprofits are hosting dozens of free food distributions and relief events throughout September. Below is a list of food distributions, disaster relief, and hot meals scheduled throughout September: Thursday, Sept. 10 Calumet Township Multi-Purpose Center1900 W. 41st Ave., […]
Posted inCommunity, Extreme Weather, Politics & Policy, Utilities
Gary Residents Survived a Historic Blackout by Turning to One Another
It was a regular Tuesday for Adriana Harris. She had just left breakfast and stopped at a gas station on the way home when the sky went white. “It started pouring down, raining like crazy,” she said. “Everything turned white. The rain was so hard you couldn’t even see the pumps.” She and her boyfriend […]
Posted inCommunity
Need Help After the Storm? Resources Are Available for Northwest Indiana Residents.
Northwest Indiana residents still recovering from last week’s storm and widespread power outage can get free food, oxygen refills, cleanup assistance, and other support at locations across the region. As power restoration and cleanup efforts continue, city officials, churches, nonprofits, and businesses have mobilized to provide essential services. Free Hot Meals Tuesday, Aug. 18 Dean […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Utilities
Gary Leaders Fear Indiana’s AI Boom Might Mean Higher Utility Bills for Residents
Gary Common Council members are back at the table with a familiar question: As AI data centers multiply across northern Indiana, who ends up paying for the power they need? Kerwin Olson, executive director of the Citizens Action Coalition, argued at a public forum Wednesday that residents already squeezed by rising NIPSCO bills could be […]
Posted inCommunity
Where to Find Free Food Across Northwest Indiana This July
July welcomes new changes and food insecurity problems, as benefits for those receiving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program changed this month. Starting July 1, Indiana will tighten SNAP eligibility through new verification requirements, including limiting how much money and assets a family can have to qualify for the program. In addition, the state is ending […]
