Thursday, December 25 🎄
Hi – 45° Low – 33° | ☁️ Cloudy → 🌧️ Light Rain Late
A gray and cool Christmas Day with steady cloud cover and northeast winds around 10–15 mph. Highs top out near 45°F, with a damp feel thanks to high humidity. Tonight, light rain develops after midnight. Areas along and north of US 6 could see freezing rain, creating slick roads. Lows fall to around 33°F.

🟢 Fort Wayne area marijuana reality

🤖 Indiana Tech gets $150K grant for AI education innovation

🏙️ Fort Wayne seeks team for new downtown plan to boost growth

⚖️ Fort Wayne native enters role as U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Indiana

🎄 Fourth largest Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.7 billion

Fort Wayne area marijuana reality
Indiana residents often travel to Michigan and Ohio for legal marijuana because possession remains illegal in Indiana, and local police enforce that law. Neighboring states’ adult-use markets draw Hoosiers despite legal risks. A federal order to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III could ease research barriers, especially for pharma. Many details vary by state. Read more from WFFT

Indiana Tech gets $150K grant for AI education innovation
Indiana Tech received a $150,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance teaching, learning, faculty development, and industry engagement. The funding is part of a statewide initiative supporting 35 Indiana institutions as they address opportunities and challenges posed by rapidly evolving AI technologies in higher education. Read more from WFFT here.

Fort Wayne seeks team for new downtown plan to boost growth
Fort Wayne is seeking a consultant team to create a new downtown plan guiding the next decade of growth and investment. The plan would expand the city’s downtown boundary north and west across the St. Marys River, including nearby neighborhoods. Proposals are due February 2, 2026, with work expected to begin by late March. Read more from WFFT here.

Fort Wayne native enters role as U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Indiana
Adam Mildred, an Allen County Deputy Prosecutor from Fort Wayne, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 53–43 vote to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. Nominated by Donald Trump, Mildred was sworn in following the vote, replacing M. Scott Proctor. Read more from WANE 15 here.

Fourth largest Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.7 billion
The Powerball jackpot reached an estimated $1.7 billion after no winners in Monday’s drawing, marking the fourth-largest prize in game history. The current run spans a record 46 drawings, with the next drawing scheduled Wednesday night. Winners can choose annuity or lump-sum payouts, both before taxes. Read more from WFFT here.

Trump administration orders 2 Indiana power plants to keep burning coal
Federal officials ordered two Indiana coal-fired power plants to delay shutdowns for at least 90 days, citing electric grid reliability and rising power demand, including from data centers. The order affects NIPSCO’s Schahfer station and CenterPoint’s Culley plant. Utilities said they will comply, while environmental groups criticized potential cost and pollution impacts. Read more from WTHI here.

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