Fort Wayne Update April 22nd

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Wednesday, April 22
Hi – 73° Low – 49° | ⛅ Partly Cloudy → 🌙 Mostly Clear
A pleasant day with a mix of sunshine and clouds, reaching 73°F with a light WSW breeze and high UV levels. The evening turns calm and mostly clear, cooling to 49°F as winds shift, bringing a crisp and comfortable night.

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Erosion Forces Reroute of Rivergreenway Trail in Fort Wayne
• The Rivergreenway-Maumee pathway is closed due to flooding and riverbank erosion.
• The city plans to reroute the trail north through the former Lakeside Golf Course area.
• Construction is expected to begin this spring with the trail reopening targeted for fall 2027.
→ Read more from WFFT

State Wars Roller Hockey Tournament Returns to Fort Wayne This Summer
• The 2026 State Wars Roller Hockey Tournament will take place July 21 through August 3 at multiple Fort Wayne venues.
• The event will feature youth, junior, and adult divisions with teams from around the world competing in roller hockey.
• Officials say the tournament is expected to draw about 10,000 visitors and generate roughly $3 million in local impact.
→ Read more from WANE

FWPD Warns About Realistic Water Guns Used in Senior Assassin Game
• Police say some water guns used in the game closely resemble real firearms, raising safety concerns.
• Officials noted that many of these realistic-looking toys may not meet federal requirements for bright coloring or orange tips.
• FWPD urged parents to check what their children are using and warned that officers may treat reports of a gun as real threats.
→ Read more from WANE

Candlelight Vigil Honors Homicide Victims During Crime Victims’ Rights Week
• A candlelight vigil was held in Fort Wayne to honor homicide victims and support their families.
• The event aimed to raise awareness about the impact of violence and provide a space for grieving.
• Local leaders including the mayor and sheriff spoke at the gathering held at the Public Safety Academy.
→ Read more from WANE

Trek the Trails and Tread the Trails 2026 Season Kicks Off April 28
• The season begins with a kickoff event April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Promenade Park in downtown Fort Wayne.
• Trek the Trails bike rides will be held every other Tuesday throughout the summer with routes typically 8 to 9 miles long.
• Tread the Trails events for walkers, runners, and wheelchair users will also take place at multiple locations through June.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Groups Team Up to Distribute Food and Clothing
• Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry and Pie’s Clothing Closet are hosting giveaways April 21 and 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• The event is taking place at 1312 S Hanna St. with food and clothing provided by multiple local partners.
• Organizers said the goal is to support families in need, with no requirements beyond signing in to receive items.
→ Read more from WANE

YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne Receives $5M Grant for Camp Potawotami Upgrades
• The YMCA was awarded a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support improvements at Camp Potawotami.
• Funds will go toward building a new dining hall, expanding staff housing, and upgrading facilities across the site.
• The grant is part of a larger campaign to expand access and enhance camp experiences for youth across Indiana.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Zoo Introduces Baby Orangutan Raya
• Sumatran orangutan Raya was born January 11 to parents Tara and Tengku at the Fort Wayne Zoo.
• Zoo staff say the birth supports conservation efforts for the critically endangered species and is part of a survival plan program.
• Raya is being raised alongside her mother and older sister Asmara, with zoo staff monitoring development and learning behaviors.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 140 Years for Killing Two Teens in 2024
• Dionee White was sentenced to 140 years in prison for the murders of Lamarion Bailey and Adaija Okey.
• Police said the teens were shot multiple times and found dead inside a car on Romy Avenue in January 2024.
• White received two 60-year sentences plus a 20-year firearm enhancement after being convicted in March.
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Nonprofit Puts 2024 Olympic Trials Pool Up for Sale After Funding Falls Through
• Fort Wayne Swim and Wellness Alliance listed the 2024 Olympic Trials competition pool for sale after a planned facility project lost key funding.
• The group says it needs about $1.2 million to continue storing the pool, but efforts to secure additional partners were unsuccessful.
• The nonprofit originally had about $48 million in commitments toward a $58 million project but says delays and financial issues made it unworkable.
→ Read more from WANE

Man Pleads Guilty to Murder and Attempted Murder in 2025 Fort Wayne Shooting
• Shontrel Bright pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in a 2025 shooting that left one man dead and another injured.
• Prosecutors said Bright will serve 55 years for murder and 40 years for attempted murder, with the sentences running at the same time under the plea deal.
• The victim killed in the shooting was identified as 21-year-old Keitron Demos Adams, with another victim critically injured and surviving.
→ Read more from WANE

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American Airlines Falls After Company Rejects United Megamerger Talk
• American Airlines said it is not interested in merger discussions with United Airlines and rejected the idea of a deal.
• The company cited antitrust concerns and said a combination would harm competition and consumers.
• Shares of American Airlines dropped more than 4% in morning trading following the statement.

Why it matters here:
A major airline merger could reshape flight prices and competition, which can eventually affect travel costs for passengers.

→ 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

2026 Summer Selections
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery — 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 – 9:00 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

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

Joe Justice
10:00 am @ Ashton Creek Health & Rehab — $5

Austin Beliles
12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

Jeff McDonald
5:30 pm @ American Legion Post 296 — $5

PFW Pop & Rock Supershow
6:00 pm @ Sweetwater Training Center — Free

Early Music Concert: Consolation & Praise: Protestant Reflections of the Heart
7:00 pm @ Zion Lutheran Church — Free

The Mad Scatter w/Michael Patterson
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

PFW Percussion Ensemble
7:30 pm @ PFW Auer Performance Hall — $5–$8

Beetlejuice
7:30 pm @ Embassy Theatre — $51.85–$93.20

Watercolor Class for Adults
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm @ Fort Wayne School of Art — $200

Pauly Shore
7:00 pm & 9:30 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $34.29–$45.29

Hellcat Trivia
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Chapman’s Brewing at Electric Works — Free

Deer Park Karaoke
9:00 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — Free

Bootlegger’s Saloon Karaoke w/KC Ramone
9:00 pm @ Bootlegger’s Saloon — Free

Wed, Apr 22nd⚾
TinCaps vs Timber Rattlers— 6:35 PM EDT

Thu, Apr 23rd⚾
TinCaps vs Timber Rattlers— 7:05 PM EDT

Fri, Apr 24th⚾
TinCaps vs Timber Rattlers— 7:05 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update