Thursday, December 4
Hi 25° Low 10° | 🌨️ Light AM Snow, Mostly Cloudy
A cold and cloudy day ahead with a small chance of light snow showers in the morning. Afternoon conditions stay quiet but chilly with a high near 25°F and a light W breeze. Tonight turns even colder with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 10°F as SW winds stay gentle.

🏘 Applications Open For ‘FORT-ify’ Neighborhood Leadership Program

🚬 Smoking Indoors? Cigar Lounge Bill Hits Fort Wayne City Council

🎰 Allen Co. Group Plans to Combat Casino Legislation Through Education

🚴 Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion Of Pufferbelly Trail’s ‘Golden Spike’

🌊 Plans Shifting For Portion Of Fort Wayne Riverfront Project

💰 3Rivers Credit Union Foundation Grants $90K To Indiana Nonprofits

🎁 United Steel Workers Local 903, Meijer Donate $24K To Salvation Army

🔫 Man Dies In Downtown Shooting, Suspect Arrested Later

🏒 Kallechy, Komets Cruising With Strong Start to Season

🏘 The City of Fort Wayne has opened applications for the 2026 FORT-ify Neighborhood Accelerator program. The program supports new, relaunching, and developing neighborhood associations to strengthen communities and create positive change. Applications are due by January 31, 2026, and two neighborhoods will be selected. Residents can attend Facebook Live on December 9, 2025 or in-person info sessions on January 7 & 8 to learn more. Information and applications are available here. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚬 Fort Wayne City Council preliminarily approved a bill 9-0 that could allow new cigar lounges to permit indoor smoking. The code does not change existing smoking ordinances for restaurants or retail tobacco stores. To qualify, lounges must limit smoking to cigars, hold a beer, liquor, or wine retailer’s permit, allow only 21+ customers, and ensure at least 20% of annual gross income comes from cigars and humidors. Enforcement will involve the Health Department, Fire Department, ATC, and IDEM. The bill aims to support a niche business model while complying with state law. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🎰 House Bill 1038 was introduced by Rep. Craig Snow to open a casino license in Allen County to a bidding process, rather than move the Rising Star Casino from southern Indiana. The Coalition for a Better Allen County opposes the bill, citing concerns about expanded gambling impacting local, fixed-income residents. Snow says the bill aims to start discussion and analyze data for the best option. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. supports a casino for potential economic benefits to local government, nonprofits, and businesses. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚴 The “Golden Spike” section of the Pufferbelly Trail in Fort Wayne officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 1.7-mile, 12-foot-wide asphalt trail from Ice Way to Washington Center Road provides access to nearly 700 businesses, Parkview SportONE Fieldhouse, and Icehouse. Amenities include a pavilion, rest area, bike repair station, drinking fountains, park benches, picnic tables, trash and dog waste stations, landscaping, signage, and ADA/PROWAG-compliant features. A bridge across Coliseum Boulevard will connect the north and south sides, expected by spring 2027. The project cost $4.2 million from community and business contributions, with $2.7 million from the Next Level Trails state grant. Completion of the trail and bridge will connect 130 miles of trails in the Fort Wayne area. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🌊 Plans for Riverfront Phase IIB along the north bank of the St. Marys River in Fort Wayne will no longer include the proposed tree canopy trail and public docks. Parks officials cited updated state and federal floodway permit requirements, which prevent certain elements due to a minor rise in base flood elevation. The project still includes the esplanade, discovery ascent, cascading steps, hammock grove, accessible boulder mound, north lawn amphitheater, urban swings, and improved streetscapes. Construction is expected to finish in 2026. Read more from WANE 15 here.

💰 Over 30 Indiana nonprofits received more than $90,000 in grants from 3Rivers Credit Union Foundation on Giving Tuesday. The funds help agencies like Gigi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne continue and expand programs, including “Gigi University,” which teaches life skills to adults with Down syndrome. The grants coincide with 3Rivers’ 90th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of its foundation. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🎁 DANA United Steel Workers Local 903, with Meijer donating $5,000, contributed over $24,000 in clothing, toys, and food to families in need through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. The donations aim to bring holiday cheer and support to children and struggling families in northeast Indiana. Angel Tree gifts are still being accepted through December 5. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🔫 A man was shot and killed Tuesday evening in downtown Fort Wayne near E. Washington Blvd. Police identified 34-year-old Domonique Drew as a suspect and arrested him about four hours later after a traffic stop nearby. Drew is charged preliminarily with murder and is being held at the Allen County Jail. There was no known threat to the public. Read more from WANE 15 here.

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🏒 The Fort Wayne Komets are off to a strong start, leading the ECHL Central Division by six points. The team went 5-1-1 in their last seven games, scoring 62 goals and allowing 38, the best in the Western Conference. James Stefan and Alex Aleardi each have 10 goals, while Kirill Tyutyayev leads with 10 assists and 3 goals. The Komets play Toledo Saturday and host Cincinnati Sunday at 5 p.m. Read more from WANE 15 here.

Sat, Dec 6 🏒
Toledo vs Fort Wayne — 7:15 PM EST

Sun, Dec 7 🏒
Cincinnati vs Fort Wayne — 5:05 PM EST