Chicago Crusader

Huge trees, some nearly a century old, have fallen in recent weeks at Oak Woods Cemetery after several powerful thunderstorms. Maintenance workers in recent weeks have been overwhelmed with removing fallen trees near grave markers. One huge tree fell on top of a mausoleum. In the far east section of the cemetery, piles of trees sit off a winding road. During the Fourth of July weekend, one thunderstorm delayed the burial of Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Gary residents who participate in the city’s residential recycling program will see several significant changes beginning July 1 as city officials roll out a revised system designed to improve service, reduce contamination and ensure that recyclable materials are processed more effectively. The City of Gary announced the changes following what officials described as a year-long review of the city’s recycling operations.

By Crusader Staff The Henry E. Bennett Achievement Foundation, in partnership with the Gary (IN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, has awarded college scholarships to 17 graduating seniors from high schools across Northwest Indiana. The scholarships recognize students who demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, community service and a commitment to pursuing higher education.

Music, celebration and civic pride filled the air Saturday as thousands gathered at U.S. Steel Yard for the inaugural Greater Gary Music Fest, a daylong event city leaders hope marks the beginning of a new era for large-scale entertainment in the Steel City. Held Saturday, June 27, 2026, the free festival brought together residents, visitors and families from throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond for what city officials described as Gary’s first major music festival in decades.

By Crusader Staff Food, music, public art and community pride will take center stage on Saturday, July 11, as eight locally owned restaurants join forces for Brunchin’ on Broadway, a community celebration designed to showcase the Broadway Corridor as one of Northwest Indiana’s emerging dining and cultural destinations.

By Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. Closing out June as Black Music Month and entering into the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, I want to lift up the song “All Along the Watchtower.” The song was originally written and performed by the great Bob Dylan and later covered by that prolific and phenomenal scientist of sound, James Marshall Hendrix.

Chairman Repay: No Republican will get a free lunch in Lake County Lake County’s Democrats made the reorganization of its city and town precinct organizations easier for its county chair, Mike Repay. Nearly 400 precinct committeemen and vice committeemen convened Saturday morning, June 20th, to select leadership teams for their respective towns and cities at the Merrillville union hall of the Operating Engineers Local 150.

Town sets up an emergency response fund to assist residents as they recover and rebuild Contributed By: The 411 News Out for a walk with his dog Friday morning, Billy Navarro called the devastation from the tornado that touched down in his Merrillville neighborhood “disheartening.” Some of his neighbors’ homes were gone. “Total losses, unlivable. They had just bought and rehabbed them a couple years ago; now they’re homeless.

As families prepare for the start of the 2026-27 school year, the Gary Community School Corporation is reminding parents and students that Indiana’s statewide restrictions on student cellphone use remain in effect, requiring electronic communication devices to remain stored and inaccessible throughout the school day. District officials say it is important for families to understand that the policy is not unique to Gary.

A new mobile health clinic will begin traveling through communities across south suburban Cook County and parts of Chicago next week, bringing mental health care, primary care coordination and other health services directly to residents who may face barriers to accessing treatment.