Maya Wilkins

Interested in more? Check out my story @chicagotribune.com

Kennedy also spoke about measles during the press conference's question-and-answer portion. More than 700 measles cases have been seen nationwide.

Kennedy encourages doctors to know how to treat measles because "we can't simply rely on the vaccine," which he later called "leaky."

Braun's nine executive orders focus on SNAP benefits and prioritizing fresh food from Indiana farms.

However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently canceled more than $1 billion in funds for schools and food banks to buy foods directly from local farmers.

RFK Jr., Oz join Gov. Braun to talk ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’ Federal leaders Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz joined Gov. Braun to announce changes through the “Make Indiana Healthy Again” initiative.

I tuned into Gov. Mike Braun's press conference yesterday with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Mehmet Oz, where they announced the start of the "Make Indiana Healthy Again" initiative.

Braun released nine executive orders as part of the agenda.

More here:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/15/r...

Documents allege Gary council president worked for Calumet Township without city, parks department knowledge Recently received nearly 4-year-old documents allege Calumet Township paid Gary Common Council President Tai Adkins’ company $38,400 for a project that city leadership and parks department didn’t k…

Earlier this week, I revealed that Adkins' company, ARC Group Contractors, was paid $38,400 by Calumet Township when ex-Trustee Kim Robinson was in office.

Documents allege that Adkins should've received city approval before the project.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/12/d...

Gary council president wins Calumet Township trustee caucus Gary Common Council President Tai Adkins won the seat after two voting rounds at the Thursday caucus. She won with 25 votes, needing 24 to win.

Gary Common Council President Tai Adkins was elected Calumet Township trustee in a caucus last night.

Adkins won with 25 votes in the second round. #nwi #nwindiana #hoosierbsky @chicagotribune.com

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/17/g...

House bill threatens to dissolve Indiana township government A newly introduced Indiana bill aims to dissolve township government in all but one Indiana county by Jan. 1, 2027. The bill was introduced one week before the caucus to replace ex-Calumet Township…

Indiana's township government is on the chopping block again as a bill presented last week would close all township offices and give 91 counties a new elected trustee to handle duties countywide. From @mayawilkinss.bsky.social

#nwindiana #nwi #Hoosierbsky @chicagotribune.com

House bill threatens to dissolve Indiana township government A newly introduced Indiana bill aims to dissolve township government in all but one Indiana county by Jan. 1, 2027. The bill was introduced one week before the caucus to replace ex-Calumet Township…

House Bill 1233 threatens to abolish Indiana township government in all but one county.

The bill was shared one week before the caucus for Calumet Township trustee. #nwi #nwindiana #hoosierbsky @chicagotribune.com

More in my latest:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/16/h...

Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince sentenced after taking plea deal for illegal use of campaign funds Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Hammond for using campaign funds to buy a home in the city’s Miller neighborhood.

Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince was sentenced to one year of probation and a $26,750 fine today in a Hammond federal court.

Prince in October plead guilty to using campaign funds to buy a house in the city's Miller neighborhood.

I've got more here:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/16/f...

The Indiana State Comptroller mistakenly sent $12.3 million to Gary that should’ve been distributed to East Chicago and Michigan City to ease the financial burden following the move of the Majestic Star casinos to Hard Rock along I-94.

Gary must pay $12.3 million to East Chicago, Michigan City after state comptroller error Gary will have to pay approximately $12.3 million to East Chicago and Michigan City after the Indiana State Comptroller made an accounting mistake. The Indiana State Comptroller mistakenly sent $12…

The city of Gary must pay $12.3 million to East Chicago and Michigan City after a state comptroller error, according to House Bill 1448.

"For this bill to be brought up at the last minute to address this egregious oversight is unjust."

More info here:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/15/g...

A caucus has to be held because ex-Trustee Kim Robinson resigned from the position.

On Dec. 23, Robinson pleaded guilty in Hammond’s U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud, which can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Eight candidates vying for Calumet Township trustee; Gary councilman no longer running As a caucus approaches Thursday, eight candidates have filed to run for Calumet Township trustee, with the latest application received 30 minutes before the deadline.

Eight candidates are vying for Gary's Calumet Township trustee position. A caucus will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center.

Check out my latest for the Post-Tribune:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/14/e...

House Bill 1136 calls for a school district to dissolve if more than half of students in its legal settlement area attend school elsewhere by the fall 2024 student count date.

Gary School Corp. has the highest enrollment loss in the state, dropping 73% from 2007 to 2023.

Gary Common Council asks community to voice concerns about bill targeting city’s public schools As the Indiana legislative session begins, Gary Common Council members urge the community to speak out against a bill that impacts the Gary Community School Corporation. “Please call down state imm…

The Gary Common Council on Tuesday asked the community to voice their concerns about House Bill 1136, which if passed, members said will lead to the end of the Gary School Corporation.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/08/g...

Families, friends ask for help finding missing people in Gary, Northwest Indiana People don’t realize how much they love or miss someone until they’re not around, said Abigale Smith, who’s been searching for her sister, Emma Baum for nearly three months. Baum and her newborn ba…

In Gary, 82 people are missing, according to the Indiana Missing Person Bulletin.

Friends and family of those missing in Northwest Indiana asked for more help and awareness Tuesday in Crown Point.

My latest for the Post-Tribune:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/06/f...

Gary parks director no longer employed by city after ghost payment, harassment accusations LaVetta Sparks-Wade is no longer the city of Gary’s parks director, according to a statement from spokeswoman Erika Blackwell. “Effective Dec. 30, 2024, LaVetta Sparks-Wade is no longer an employee…

Lavetta Sparks-Wade is no longer the city of Gary’s parks director, a spokeswoman confirmed to me today.

Sparks-Wade was accused of accepting ghost payments and harassment earlier this year.

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/30/g...

Gary parks director no longer employed by city after ghost payment, harassment accusations LaVetta Sparks-Wade is no longer the city of Gary’s parks director, according to a statement from spokeswoman Erika Blackwell. “Effective Dec. 30, 2024, LaVetta Sparks-Wade is no longer an employee…

Gary Parks Department Director LaVetta Sparks-Wade let go in wake of accusations, writes @mayawilkinss.bsky.social

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/30/gary-parks-director-no-longer-employed-by-city-after-ghost-payment-harassment-accusations/

#nwindiana #nwi #hoosierbsky @chicagotribune.com

Kim Robinson may face probation for using Calumet Township funds for her Gary rent Federal prosecutors alleged that ex-Calumet Township Trustee Kim Robinson used $11,200 in township funds to pay her Gary rent.

Calumet Twp. Trustee pleads guilty to one count of wire fraud for using township funds to pay rent on an apartment owned by Gary's Hatcher family #nwindiana #nwi #northwestindiana #Hoosierbsky @mayawilkinss.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com

Gary Redevelopment Commission approves transfer of properties for veterans housing project The Gary Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday approved a transfer of 14 properties to the housing authority for a $2.1 million project geared toward homeless veterans.

The Gary Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday approved a transfer of 14 properties to the housing authority for a $2.1 million project geared toward homeless veterans.

The project will create 20 rental homes in the Emerson neighborhood.

Check out my latest:

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/19/g...

Gary parks director accused of harassment, ghost payments Lakesha Mosley, a former city of Gary employee, claims that Lavetta Sparks-Wade, director of parks, harassed her during her time working for the department. Mosley also says that Sparks-Wade receiv…

ICYMI: Earlier this week, my piece about accusations against a Gary employee published.

The city's parks director is accused of harassment and ghost payments for a summer youth coordinator position.

Read more here:

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/15/g...

Biden plans to formally block U.S. Steel sale, Bloomberg reports With about 40 days until President-elect Donald Trump takes office, President Joe Biden is expected to block a Japanese company’s acquisition of U.S. Steel. On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Bide…

President Joe Biden plans to formally block the sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese-owned Nippon Steel, Bloomberg reported.

If passed, the deal would have brought about $300 million to the company's Gary Works facility.

Read more from me:

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/10/b...

Gary council postpones multiple ordinances, approves finance items At its meeting Tuesday, the Gary Common Council postponed multiple American Rescue Plan Act ordinances and approved multiple city finance-related items. Council members also heard an update on the …

The Gary Common Council met last night, approving multiple end of the year finance-related items and postponing ARPA-related ordinances.

The council has until Dec. 31 to allocate ARPA funds.

One of my latest for the Post-Tribune:

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/04/g...

Northwest Indiana leaders reflect on possibility of Trump blocking U.S. Steel deal A Japanese company’s acquisition of U.S. Steel must first be approved by the U.S. president, and leaders worry the incoming Donald Trump administration could impact the pending approval’s likelihoo…

With the President-elect Donald Trump slated to take over Jan. 20, Northwest Indiana leaders reflect on the likelihood of Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel.

"The benefits are overwhelmingly clear."

I teamed up with Alex Kukulka for this story:

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/04/n...

Maya Wilkins

For the full list of my work, check out my staff profile, linked below.

As always, thanks for supporting local journalism! 🗞️

www.chicagotribune.com/author/maya-...

State legislators, union officials discuss priorities ahead of 2025 legislative session To prepare for the upcoming legislative session, four Indiana legislators on Wednesday night participated in a roundtable discussion, covering topics including union issues and new diploma requirem…

State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, last night hosted a roundtable discussion at Indiana University Northwest. Topics included Indiana's new graduation requirements and issues affecting unions.

Three other state legislators participated.

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/21/s...

Gary Common Council approves ARPA funds for bus system; remaining funds must be allocated by end of 2024 The Gary Common Council on Tuesday approved using American Rescue Plan Act funds to assist the city’s public transportation system. In a 7-0 vote, the council unanimously passed two ordinances rela…

As the deadline to obligate American Rescue Plan Act funds nears, Gary Common Council on Tuesday approved using ARPA funds to assist the city's public transportation system.

The council will continue to vote on using funds through the end of the year.

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/20/g...

IUN showcases local art teachers in Biennial Regional Educator Exhibition Indiana University Northwest on Monday opens its Biennial Regional Educator Exhibition, which highlights the artwork of local middle and high school educators across Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

Indiana University Northwest on Monday opened its Biennial Regional Educator Exhibition, which highlights the artwork of middle and high school teachers throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

The exhibition runs through Dec. 19.

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/17/i...

‘Cause for concern’: Trump’s presidency could have negative environmental effects, some say Leaders have several concerns, including rollbacks of environmental protections, effects on the Environmental Protection Agency and reduced regulations.

I can't think of a better first post on Bluesky than promoting my work!

🧵 Here's a thread of everything I've worked on in the past week, starting with a story highlighting leaders' environmental concerns for a Trump presidency.

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/16/c...