Fort Wayne Update February 20th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Friday, February 20
Hi – 47° Low – 26° | 🌦 AM Showers → 🌙 Partly Cloudy
Friday starts with a few morning showers and partly cloudy skies, with a high near 47°F and W winds at 10–20 mph—grab an umbrella if you’re heading out early. Clouds ease up later, and overnight, skies become partly cloudy with a low around 26°F and WNW winds at 5–10 mph, setting the stage for a crisp night.

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Water Main Project on West Jefferson to Affect Traffic for Weeks
• City Utilities will install a new 12-inch water main between Ardmore Avenue and Taylor Street starting Feb. 25.
• Lane restrictions will remain through the end of May, with at least one eastbound and one westbound lane open at all times.
• Traffic patterns may shift, and motorists are advised to plan extra travel time or use alternative routes during peak hours.
→ Read more from WANE

“No Kings” Protest Scheduled in Fort Wayne
• A local “No Kings” protest will take place at the Allen County Courthouse from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 28.
• More than 1,000 similar protests are planned nationwide next month, including in Decatur, Warsaw, and Van Wert.
• The No Kings Coalition is hosting virtual “Eyes on ICE” training sessions to teach Americans how to monitor federal enforcement safely and legally.
→ Read more from WPTA

‘My Cold-Hearted Valentine’ Event Returns to Fort Wayne
• Science Central’s annual 21-plus fundraiser runs Saturday from 6 p.m. for VIPs and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for general admission.
• Attendees act as investigators in a fictional murder mystery, exploring motives and forensic science.
• The event allows guests to explore the entire museum after hours.
• For those interested in getting tickets, click here.
→ Read more from WPTA

Local Shelters Urge Spaying and Neutering Ahead of Warm Weather
• Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control reports many cats arriving at the shelter, including kittens as young as 4 months old.
• Humane Fort Wayne offers spay and neuter surgeries by appointment, with $75 cat spays on National Spay Day, Feb. 24.
• FWACC encourages the public to foster kittens and provides all necessary materials for foster families.
→ Read more from WANE

Steel Dynamics Named One of the Most Sustainable Corporations in the World
• Corporate Knights recognized Steel Dynamics as a 2026 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporation and leader in the steelmaking industry.
• Recognition is based on sustainable investments, sustainable revenues, and sustainable revenue momentum among companies with over $1 billion in revenue.
• Steel Dynamics operates a circular manufacturing model using recycled scrap and is expanding into aluminum products for sustainable industries.
→ Read more from PR Newswire

Blue Jacket Seeks Clothing Donations for People with Employment Barriers
• The nonprofit offers a two-week academy teaching job skills to people facing employment barriers.
• Participants receive professional clothing to boost confidence and prepare for work, but supplies are depleted.
• Clothing donations can be dropped off at Blue Jacket locations on Lima Road, S Calhoun St., and E State Blvd.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Wins 2026 CPTED Project of the Year Award
• The High Street CPTED Pilot Area initiative earned recognition from the U.S. CPTED Association.
• Improvements like new sidewalks, streetlights, trees, murals, and motion sensors helped reduce crime by 40% in the area.
• CPTED uses environmental design to discourage crime and increase community safety, based on resident feedback.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Man Arrested on Multiple Child Molesting Charges
• Maurice Lyons, 65, was arrested Thursday on six counts of child molesting and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors.
• Alleged abuse was reported in December 2024 after the victim disclosed incidents to her mother and school counselor.
• Lyons is held at the Allen County Jail, and charges carry a potential prison sentence of over 180 years.
→ Read more from WPTA

Komets Win Fourth Straight, Defeat Norfolk 3-1
• Fort Wayne leads the ECHL Central Division after a 3-1 win at Norfolk, moving two points ahead of Toledo.
• Goals were scored by Kyrill Tyutyayev, Jayden Grubbe, and James Stefan, with Stefan adding an empty-net goal.
• Samuel Jonsson stopped 25 of 26 shots, and the Komets face the Admirals again Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
→ Read more from WANE

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Trump Administration Allows ICE to Detain Lawful Refugees Who Haven’t Secured Green Cards
• A new directive requires ICE to re-vet refugees one year after arrival if they haven’t obtained permanent residency, including detaining those who do not comply voluntarily.
• The policy reverses prior ICE rules that prevented detention solely for missing the one-year green card mark and allows extended custody during inspection.
• Officials say the review targets fraud or security risks, while advocates warn it punishes legally admitted refugees on dubious grounds.

Why it matters here:
Changes in refugee enforcement can directly affect local communities hosting resettled immigrants and raise concerns about civil liberties and due process.

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

Annual Fine Art Competition
8:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Clark Gallery at Honeywell Center — Free

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

Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
9:00 am – 6:00 pm @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery — Free

Art From the Heart
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Fiber Collage & Functional Works
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Living in Theory
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Between Light & Shadow
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Sticking Together
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

A Life Reflected in Glass
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

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

For the Love of Art
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Ruth Koomler Art Gallery — Free

Passage
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Garrett Museum of Art — Free

Seth, 3rd Son of Albert w/Gem
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — No cover

Autumn Lehman & Seth Jacquay
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — Free

BasketCase
6:00 pm @ 2Toms Brewing Company — No cover

Ethan Wm. Bowers
6:30 pm @ County Line Pizza & Pub — Free

Scream at the Sky
7:00 pm @ Stan's Room at Piere's — $17.85

Hubie Ashcraft & Missy Burgess
7:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars — No cover

Sea Shanty Sing-along w/Bobcat Opossum & Ben Traverse
7:00 pm @ JK O'Donnell's — Free

Classic Stones Live
7:30 pm @ Eagles Theatre — $42 – $62

Eli Young Band & Lanco
8:00 pm @ The Clyde Theatre — $43.25 – $46.75

Bandemonium w/Los Electro, The High Freqs, To Breathe Again, World.Hunger.Now
8:00 pm @ Baker Street Centre — $10

Sunglasses at Night
8:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Save Karis
8:00 pm @ The Venue Angola — No cover

Todd Harrold Band
8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — No cover

SmartyPants
9:00 pm @ Mitchell’s — $5

The Alt Vault
9:30 pm @ O'Sullivan's — No cover

DJ Arora
9:30 pm @ Pinhouse Social — Free

Emily How w/Necromoon
9:45 pm @ The Brass Rail — $7

The Trainhoppers Listening Party
7:00 pm @ Wunderkammer Company — $5

Headwaters Ice Rink
4:00 pm–9:00 pm @ Headwaters Park — $7

Emo Philips
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $28.29 – $38.99

Nick Rochefort & Scuffed Realtor
9:45 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $41.29

Karaoke Night w/DJ EJ Karaoke
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Knights of Columbus Council 1014 — Free

Birdie’s Rooftop Karaoke w/DJ Trend
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm @ Birdie’s Rooftop Bar — Free

Fri, Feb 20th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Norfolk Admirals — 7:05 PM EST

Sat, Feb 21st 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Norfolk Admirals — 7:05 PM EST

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— The Fort Wayne Update