🌱 Patch AM: How Gary teens are training with police to defuse violent confrontations

Hello Gary! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Gary teens are training with police to defuse violent confrontations
• What led to an officer shooting a knife-armed man in Gary?
• Why Gary advocates say EPA and state cuts put residents at risk

Also on today's calendar: The Disco Circus and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What did the stop sign say to the yield sign? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Breezy and not as cold, with a high of 27 and low of 17 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Tuesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, temps: high: 38, low: 31.
• Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 40 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Gary students experience de-escalation training (chicagotribune.com) — Gary high school students are training side-by-side with Gary police using a new $200,000 de-escalation simulator at the Gary Area Career Center, funded through federal dollars. The hands-on program lets teens practice high-stress scenarios like shootings and traffic stops while learning how officers try to avoid deadly force and explore careers in law, forensics, and policing.
   

• Person armed with knife shot by police officer in northwest Indiana (nbcchicago.com) — Gary police say an officer shot a man armed with a knife Sunday after responding to a suicidal person call near Tennessee Street and East 22nd Avenue. The man, who had reportedly stabbed himself and advanced toward the officer, was hit in the arm; his condition wasn’t immediately known, and NBC Chicago has not yet independently confirmed police accounts.
   

• Indiana among states with cuts as EPA lessens oversight, report says (chicagotribune.com) — Indiana’s environmental agency has cut funding and staff over the past decade, and local advocates from Gary say Northwest Indiana communities are feeling the health impacts. A new report warns that shrinking state and federal oversight could leave industrial areas, especially Black and Brown neighborhoods, more exposed to pollution, while state officials insist Indiana’s permitting system remains efficient and effective.
   

📸 Around Gary

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Gary

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 16

• Gary Truck Driving Recruiting Event at Schneider
  Schneider National Gary, IN, 7372 17th Ave, Gary
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 26

• The Disco Circus
  Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana , 5400 W 29th Ave , Gary
  9:00 pm
• The Disco Circus at Hard Rock Cafe
  Hard Rock Cafe , 5400 W 29th Ave , Gary
  9:00 pm
• THE DISCO CIRCUS at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, IN!
  Hard Rock Cafe , 5400 W 29th Ave , Gary
  9:00 pm

📣 Gary Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 15

• Kids Holiday Crafterevening
  Children's Program Room Hobart -
  5:00 pm
• Exploring World Foods: Cornmeal Cookies - Ages 16 & Over
  Programming Room Hobart -
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Storytime: Ages 4-5
  Lake Station-New Chicago Branch of the Lake County Public Library , 2007 Central Ave , Lake Station
  10:30 am
• Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
  Hobart Zoom Room Hobart -
  11:30 am
• Tween & Teen: Checkmate Chess Club
  Programming Room Hobart -
  3:30 pm
• Edison Music Department Winter Performance
  Alexander Hamilton Elementary Sch , 3304 Parkside Avenue , Lake Station
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Teen Gaming
  Lake Station-New Chicago Branch of the Lake County Public Library , 2007 Central Ave , Lake Station
  3:00 pm
• Teen Game Night
  Large Meeting Room Hobart -
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We are still looking for some young creative artists to participate in our upcoming Black History Month 2026 Exhibition.
  "Colors of Culture: A Celebration of Black Creativity," at the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District running February 6th - March 13th, 2026. This… (Nextdoor Emerson)
• Well today was interesting early morning pre coffee…..
  I’m on Montgomery when this beautiful doe walks into the street and stops staring at me like voodoo So I open the door as the windows were frozen and… (Nextdoor Miller Beach)

• Travel America / Petro - TA Operating, LLC posted a job opening for Server / Cashier - PT in Gary. Apply here.
• PLS Financial Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Service Representative in Gary. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gary here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lake Station

• Lake Station Man Charged With Multiple Felonies After Domestic Violence Investigation (regionnewssource.org)

Hobart

• Franciscan Health Palliative Care offers hope to patients with chronic illness (wimsradio.com)

Hammond

Ok Gary! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know either. They were speaking in sign language.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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