Fort Wayne Update April 17th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Friday, April 17
Hi – 76° Low – 61° | ⛅ Isolated Storm Chance → 🌧 Showers
A mix of sun and clouds starts the day, with a few afternoon showers possible and highs near 76°F under SSW winds. Rain chances increase into the evening, turning into steadier showers overnight with a mild low around 61°F.

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New Fort Wayne Apartments Offer Below-Market Rent Near Electric Works
• The Elex, a new mixed-income apartment building near Electric Works, has officially opened in Fort Wayne.
• The development includes 296 total units, with 89 designated for below-market-rate housing.
• Plans for the property include future amenities such as a gym and an early learning center.
→ Read more from WANE

YMCA Branch To Open Near Foster Park
• The YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne announced plans for a new Turpin Family YMCA near Foster Park at The Summit Athletic Center.
• Construction is expected to begin in August, with the facility projected to open in early 2027.
• The 25,000-square-foot branch will include two basketball courts, programming for all ages, and no swimming pool.
→ Read more from WANE

Painted Tree Boutique Vendors Scramble After Sudden Closure
• Vendors at Painted Tree Boutiques, including the Jefferson Pointe location, were given closure notices and must remove inventory by April 24.
• Many sellers say the closure disrupted their main source of income and left them searching for new retail spaces.
• A local organizer is planning a free pop-up event in May to help affected vendors reconnect with customers and other venues.
→ Read more from WANE

Google Contributes $700K In Community Support Funding
• Google provided $700,000 in funding to Allen and Morgan County communities focused on emergency needs, energy affordability, and student connectivity.
• The company distributed Chromebook accessories and mobile hotspots to six school districts to support student access to education.
• Google also partnered with local nonprofits to provide $100,000 for heating assistance and $100,000 for food and essential winter items.
→ Read more from WPTA

Visit Fort Wayne Wins State Award For Hosting Volleyball Event
• Visit Fort Wayne received recognition from the Indiana Tourism Association for its work bringing major events to the city.
• The group was honored for helping host the Paravolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup at Turnstone in October.
• It also earned an award for bringing the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies conference to Fort Wayne.
→ Read more from WANE

Summer Concert Series To Take Over Pearl Street Every First Friday
• Pearl District will launch a summer arts series on Pearl Street during the first Friday of each month starting May 1.
• Pearl Street will be closed between Maiden Lane and Webster Street from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for five Friday events through September.
• The Sweetwater All Stars will perform at the opening event, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Police Department’s Traffic Unit Is Stopping Fewer People
• The FWPD Traffic Unit has made fewer traffic stops in early 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
• In the first quarter of 2026, the department recorded 7,011 total stops, with 1,336 conducted by the traffic unit.
• Officers say targeted enforcement in high-crash areas is intended to deter violations and reduce dangerous driving behaviors.
→ Read more from WANE

OPS Adventures Granting Lifelong Wishes For Seniors
• One Purpose Senior Adventures is a Fort Wayne nonprofit that helps seniors fulfill lifelong dreams through special experiences and outings.
• Past activities have included ziplining, Chicago trips, and attending Indianapolis Colts games.
• The group will host a “Poodle Skirts and Purpose” fundraiser on April 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
→ Read more from WANE

Construction Begins on the Landing Exchange in Downtown Fort Wayne
• A groundbreaking ceremony was held for The Landing Exchange at Columbia Street and Harrison Street in downtown Fort Wayne.
• The project will include 40 mixed-income apartments and 5,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
• Construction is expected to finish in late 2027 as part of the third phase of The Landing historic district revitalization.
→ Read more from WANE

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Trump Administration To Launch Tariff Refund Portal For Businesses
• A new online system called CAPE will open April 20 to let companies apply for refunds on certain tariffs ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.
• Businesses must file claims themselves, as refunds are not automatic and only apply to specific eligible tariffs.
• Approved refunds could take 60 to 90 days, though delays may occur due to errors or eligibility limits.

Why it matters here:
Trade policies and tariffs can influence global prices and supply chains, affecting businesses and consumers worldwide.

→ Get the full national breakdown from our team at The Nova

Not Talking Out of School: The Hector & Carol Garcia Retrospective
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Building — Free

Workers Behind the Wheels Gallery
9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum — $10–$15

Bachelor of Science Interior Design & Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition
9:00 am – 6:00 pm @ ACPL Downtown — Free

The Spellbound Spirit: Photographs by Kirsty Mitchell
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Mezzotint & The Power of Darkness
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Experiments in Form: Glass of Paper Works of Marvin Lipofsky
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

46th National Print Exhibition
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Nothing is Something
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Sue Davis: Familiar Paths & New Directions
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Echoes of the Earth: Works by Tom Sherbondy
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Ruth Koomler Art Gallery — Free

Color Me Spring
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Virginia Stoner Huguenard Art Gallery — Free

Mitchell Wiebell: Kleinfunde
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Garrett Museum of Art — Free

Hunter Wainscott
12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

Joe Justice
3:00 pm @ Astral at Auburn — $5

Ethan William Bowers (Alt-Country/Americana)
6:30 pm @ County Line Pizza & Pub — No cover

Southpaw w/Arcline (Country Rock)
7:00 pm @ Stan’s Room at Century Music Hall — $15.57

Mike Conley
7:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars — No cover

Sunglasses at Night (80s)
7:00 pm @ American Legion Post 241 — No cover

Sanctus Real (Christian)
7:30 pm @ Eagles Theatre — $30–$44

#IYKYK Band (Rock)
8:00 pm @ Mitchell’s — $5

Angie Marquardt (Singer-Songwriter)
8:00 pm @ Pinhouse Social at The Fairfield — Free

Ty Causey (R&B/Soul)
8:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Meka Schwartz
8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — No cover

He Said, She Said (Rock)
8:30 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill — $5

Sun.Dyle w/oxenfree, Wampus Milk Daddies (Soul/Funk)
9:00 pm @ The Brass Rail — $9

Big Dick & The Penetrators (Classic Rock)
9:00 pm @ Rex’s Rendezvous — $5

The Kickbacks w/Angel Reborn, Cherry Bomb (Rock)
10:00 pm @ O’Sullivan’s — No cover

By Still Waters
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Memorial Coliseum — $94

Emmanuel Lutheran Church Spring Rummage & Bake Sale
10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church — Free

The God Committee
7:30 pm @ PPG ArtsLab — $15–$22

Love, Tricks, & Trouble: An Evening of Opera Scenes
7:30 pm @ PFW Rhinehart Recital Hall — $5–$8

Falsettos
7:30 pm @ USF North Campus Auditorium — $23.44–$33.64

Dustin Nickerson
6:00 pm & 8:45 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $30.29–$41.29

Michael Cheselka w/Amanda Xavier, Dennis Piper
7:30 pm @ Fort Wayne Comedy Club — $17.50–$44.50

Gary Owen
8:00 pm @ Embassy Theatre — $49.30–$119.20

Sun, Apr 19th🏒
Regular Season Finale | Kalamazoo Wings @ Fort Wayne Komets— 5:05 PM EDT

Fri, Apr 17th⚾
TinCaps @ Lake County— 6:35 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update