Fort Wayne Update April 9th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Thursday, April 9
Hi – 70° Low – 50° | 🌦 Sct. PM Rain → ☁️ Mostly Cloudy
A breezy and mild day with highs near 70°F as strong SW winds pick up, with gusts over 40 mph possible. A few showers may develop later in the day. The night stays mostly cloudy and calm, cooling to 50°F with steady southern winds.

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Fort Wayne Council Approves Extra $125K For Winter Snow Removal
• Council voted unanimously to increase the city’s snow removal contract by $125,000 due to heavy snowfall and ice events
• The funding covers $92,119 in invoices and other unforeseen expenses under the contracted service
• Mayor Sharon Tucker said drivers logged over 7,200 hours clearing roads during the winter, well above the normal 5,500 hours
→ Read more from WANE

Indiana Gas Tax Suspended For 30 Days Amid Rising Prices
• Gov. Mike Braun announced a 30-day suspension of the Indiana gas tax to provide relief from high fuel costs
• The suspension takes effect immediately under an emergency declaration and will be reviewed at the end of the 30 days
• Officials will monitor gasoline retailers for price gouging to ensure consumers benefit from the tax holiday
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne City Council Narrows Public Comment to “City Business” Amid Concerns Over Threats and Political Speech
• Council President Marty Bender announced new limits prohibiting commercial or political topics during public comment
• Some residents expressed confusion over what qualifies as commercial speech; one attendee left fliers for a local event despite the restriction
• Changes stem from recent threats and controversial political remarks directed at council members
• Council plans to review the language to clarify what is allowed; next public comment session set for April 21
→ Read more from WANE

Illinois Road Lane Restrictions Cause Traffic Backups, Affect Local Businesses
• Lane restrictions along Illinois Road are slowing traffic during peak hours as part of a $9 million improvement project
• Construction includes road resurfacing, intersection upgrades, ADA ramps, sidewalks, and a two-mile multi-use trail
• Local businesses report delays for deliveries and customers, with effects expected to continue through fall 2027
→ Read more from WANE

Sheetz Plans 100-Store Expansion Into Indiana, Bringing Jobs and Investment
• Sheetz will enter Indiana starting in the Indianapolis area in 2027, aiming for 100 locations over the next decade
• Expansion expected to create 3,000+ jobs, with an investment of nearly $1 billion
• Northeast Indiana, including Fort Wayne, is being evaluated for future sites, but no specific locations or timelines have been announced
• Chain continues its charitable tradition with a $25,000 donation to Special Olympics Indiana
→ Read more from WANE

North American Brass Band Association Returns To Fort Wayne
• The event is bringing 1,500 musicians from across the United States and Canada to compete from Thursday through Saturday
• Performances include soloists, ensembles, and full bands along with workshops and vendor displays
• Events are held at the Grand Wayne Convention Center and nearby venues and are open to the public
→ Read more from WPTA

Fort Wayne Parks And Recreation Offers Free Tree Seedlings
• The department is giving away 200 tree seedlings in partnership with Trees Indiana, limited to one per household
• Residents must register by April 22 by calling during business hours to secure a seedling
• Pickup is scheduled for April 24 at Franklin School Park with White Pine and Chestnut Oak available
→ Read more from WPTA

Crash On Fort Wayne’s Northeast Side Briefly Blocks Traffic
• A crash at Rothman and Maplecrest Roads caused closures on eastbound Rothman and southbound Maplecrest
• Police responded around 8:30 a.m. with no details released on injuries or cause
• The scene has since been cleared and all lanes have reopened
→ Read more from WPTA

Walmart and Sam’s Club Launch ‘Fight Hunger. Spark Change.’ Campaign
• 13th annual campaign runs through May 3, supporting local food banks like Community Harvest
• Shoppers can donate at checkout, buy participating products, or give directly online
• Aims to help the 48 million Americans, including 14 million children, facing food insecurity
• Community Harvest CEO Carmen Cumberland highlights the campaign’s role in building stronger communities
→ Read more from WANE

Man Accused Of Rape In Fort Wayne
• A warrant was issued for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman last month
• The victim told police she was given alcohol, felt dizzy, and was assaulted despite saying no
• Investigators identified the suspect through surveillance footage and a photo lineup
→ Read more from WPTA

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IRS Warns of AI Tax Scam Risks Ahead of Tax Day
• AI-generated robocalls are increasingly being used to trick taxpayers with realistic IRS terminology.
• The IRS will generally contact taxpayers by mail first and will not demand immediate payment or threaten arrest.
• The agency cautions against relying on AI for tax advice or calculations due to accuracy risks.

Why it matters here:
Taxpayers should be extra vigilant for phone scams and verify any tax-related claims to avoid financial loss.

→ 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 Annual Juried Student Exhibition
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery — Free

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

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

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

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

2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

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

46th National Print Exhibition
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Nothing is Something
10:00 am – 8:00 pm @ Artlink — 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

Country Heritage Open Mic w/Chris Hambrick
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — Free

Double Shot
6:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars — No Cover

Ron Rumbaugh
6:30 pm @ Blind Tiger — Free

The Cold Hearts – Nashville Thursdays
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

PFW Piano Studio Recital
7:30 pm @ PFW Rhinehart Recital Hall — Free

Dave Pagan’s Love Jams
8:00 pm @ Wrigley Field Bar & Grill — No Cover

Tronic Thursdays
10:00 pm @ O'Sullivan's — No Cover

Randy Feltface
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $30.49–$41.49

Jackrabbit Comedy w/Ken Carlson
9:30 pm @ Dicky's Wild Hare — Free

Chapman’s Brewing Company Bingo
6:00 pm @ Chapman's Brewing at Electric Works — Free

Latch String Karaoke
10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill — Free

Hawkins Karaoke Night w/DJ Jay Mars
10:00 pm @ Hawkins House of Fish — Free

Fri, Apr 10th🏒
Blackout Night | Kalamazoo Wings @ Fort Wayne Komets— 7:35 PM EDT

Thu, Apr 9th⚾
TinCaps vs. Lugnuts— 7:05 PM EDT

Fri, Apr 10th⚾
TinCaps vs. Lugnuts— 7:05 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update