Fort Wayne Update February 4th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Wednesday, February 4
Hi – 22° Low – 7° | ☁️ Cloudy → 🌙 Clearing
Wednesday brings a chilly, mostly cloudy day with a chance of snow in the southern areas. Highs reach 22°F with a crisp NNE breeze at 10–15 mph—bundle up if you’re heading outdoors! Overnight, skies gradually clear as temperatures drop to 7°F, perfect for catching the waning gibbous moon and enjoying some quiet winter stargazing.

Tap a logo or phone number to get in touch with local businesses Fort Wayne trusts.

Blessing Our Community Fort Wayne Seeks Donations
• The nonprofit provides free care packages and baby bags to people in need.
• Founder Bethany Williams started the organization after receiving community support following a house fire.
• Care packages include non-perishable and hygiene items, while baby bags include diapers and wipes.
• For those interested in donating, click this link here.
→ Read more from WPTA

Site Of Historic Fort Wayne Elementary School Transformed Into Housing For At-Risk Individuals
• Hillcrest Commons opened on the former Hillcrest Elementary site to provide permanent supportive housing for adults experiencing chronic homelessness.
• The three-story development includes 24 one-bedroom units, community spaces, and a courtyard honoring the former school.
• FWHA partnered with Parkview Behavioral Health Institute to provide residents access to resources for long-term stability.
→ Read more from WANE

Indiana Casino Relocation Bill Passes House
• Lawmakers approved a bill allowing Rising Star Casino to move to Allen, DeKalb, Steuben, or Wayne counties.
• Any casino license holder can bid for the license, with local government approval required.
• The bill now moves on to the Indiana Senate for consideration.
→ Read more from WPTA

Canterbury Green Complex Sold For $207.7M
• The 2,000-unit Fort Wayne apartment complex was sold for $207.7 million.
• Amenities include an 8-hole golf course, pools, fitness center, coworking space, theatre, restaurant, and sports courts.
• CBRE called it the largest single-asset multifamily transaction ever completed in Indiana.
→ Read more from WPTA

Five People Escape Southeast Fort Wayne House Fire
• Two adults and three children safely exited the burning home on Lillie Street Monday night.
• Two pet cats died in the blaze that spread from an attached garage to the kitchen.
• The fire caused significant damage to the primary residence and heat damage to a neighboring house.
→ Read more from WANE

Allen County Jail Chaplaincy Launches Winter Coat Drive
• The chaplaincy program is collecting coats, hats, gloves, and scarves for inmates transitioning out of Allen County Jail.
• Donations are needed in large, extra-large, and 2XL sizes for both men and women.
• Items can be dropped off at the Allen County Jail and labeled for The Chaplaincy or Chaplain Will.
→ Read more from WANE

New Dunkin’ Donuts Opens on South Anthony Boulevard
• The newest location for the coffee and donut chain is now open at 7607 South Anthony Boulevard.
• This site marks the eighth Dunkin’ Donuts to open within the city of Fort Wayne.
• The current franchise team has plans to open another location downtown later in 2026.
→ Read more from WANE

Urban League Kicks Off Black History Month With Annual ‘Race Card Project’, Honoring Local Trailblazer
• The Fort Wayne Urban League launched its third annual Race Card Project on Monday.
• The event honors former city councilman John Nuckols, Fort Wayne’s first Black council member.
• A bust of Nuckols will be displayed at the Urban League, and the project runs through the end of February.
→ Read more from WPTA

Indiana Mid-Session Deadline Sees Hundreds of Bills Stall
• Over 450 House and Senate measures missed Monday’s cutoff for third-reading votes and cannot advance on their own.
• Only 112 non-vehicle bills in each chamber remain eligible to move forward this session.
• Lawmakers can still revive stalled bills by inserting language into other measures before adjournment later this month.

Firing Squad Execution Bill Fails in House
• House Bill 1119 to allow firing squad executions fell short with 48 “yes” votes, missing the 51 needed for passage.
• A companion Senate bill also did not advance after the committee chair declined to hold a vote.
• Debate included concerns about capital punishment and logistical issues with lethal injection drugs.

Ten Commandments in Schools Proposal Stalls
• House Bill 1086, initially requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments, was amended to make display optional.
• The bill cleared the Education Committee but was not placed on the House calendar for a final vote.
• Amendments included prohibiting teachers from reading the text to students and adding it to Indiana’s list of “protected writings.”

Proposed Social Media Restrictions for Minors Paused
• Language restricting social media access for children under 13 was removed from Senate Bill 199.
• The amended bill now moves forward in the House without the social media provisions.
• Senate leaders cited legal challenges and parental rights concerns as reasons for dropping the restrictions.

Other Bills, Including Luxury Vehicle Ban and Gambling, Do Not Advance
• House Bill 1066 banning luxury vehicle purchases by local governments was excluded from the final House calendar.
• House Bill 1078 to allow online lottery sales did not receive sufficient support to move forward.
• Marijuana-related bills, including proposals to decriminalize possession or reclassify the drug, failed to advance before the deadline.
→ Read more from WPTA

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Siblings Rescued After Alleged Online Grooming and Kidnapping
• Two minor sisters, ages 12 and 15, were found safe after being allegedly kidnapped by a 19-year-old they met on Roblox and later communicated with on Snapchat.
• The suspect, from Nebraska, is charged with two counts of kidnapping and interference with child custody and is jailed in Georgia.
• Authorities say the case involved a grooming process with gifts and online contact, prompting warnings for parents to monitor children’s online activity.

Why it matters here:
The incident highlights the risks of online interactions for minors, emphasizing the need for parental oversight and awareness of social media and gaming platforms.

→ 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–9:00 pm @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery — Free

Mimesis: The Natural World of Glass
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Kablam!: The Impact of Cartoons and Comics on Art
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

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

Creative Resistance
12:00 pm–5:00 pm @ First Presbyterian Gallery — Free

Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Musical Mornings w/Harrison String Quintet
10:00 am @ Crescendo Coffee & More — Free

Pete Mroz
12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

Mitch Gallagher Band — Wednesday Jazz Sessions
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Music Without Limits
1:30 pm–2:15 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — $40

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

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

Open Mic Night
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — Free

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

Wed, Feb 4th 🏒
Wheeling Nailers vs Fort Wayne — 7:10 PM EST

Fri, Feb 6th 🏒
Iowa Heartlanders vs Fort Wayne — 7:35 PM EST

Sat, Feb 7th 🏒
Toledo Walleye vs Fort Wayne — 7:35 PM EST

Sun, Feb 8th 🏒
Bloomington Bison vs Fort Wayne — 2:05 PM EST

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Thanks for reading. Together, we’re making Fort Wayne an even better place to live.

— The Fort Wayne Update