Fort Wayne Update February 9th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Monday, February 9
Hi – 31° Low – 24° | ☁️ Mostly Cloudy → 🌙 Partly Cloudy
Monday features mostly cloudy skies with a high around 31°F and light SSE winds at 5–10 mph, making for a crisp but manageable day. Overnight, clouds thin out to partly cloudy skies with a low near 24°F and gentle S winds 5–10 mph—perfect for a quiet evening under the last quarter moon.

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South Side High School Students Walk Out to Protest ICE
• Over 30 students walked off campus Friday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement near Calhoun Street and Rudisill Boulevard.
• The protest was organized by students through social media and followed national headlines about ICE enforcement actions.
• FWCS emphasized safety and supervision, noting that leaving school grounds without authorization could result in consequences under district policy.
→ Read more from WANE

Citilink Adds Accessibility Displays at Two Bus Stops
• New screens at The League and Turnstone stops provide real-time tracking and announce upcoming stops for passengers with low vision.
• The displays were developed in response to public input in 2022 and aim to improve accessibility for riders with disabilities.
• Citilink is seeking funding and partnerships to expand the feature systemwide.
→ Read more from WANE

United Way Offers Free Tax Help Through VITA Program
• The VITA program provides free tax assistance to residents with 2025 income under $69,000 through April 8, 2026.
• IRS-certified volunteers help file taxes and claim available credits at designated drop-off locations.
• In Allen County, the drop-off site is St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with additional locations in DeKalb, Noble, and Steuben counties.
→ Read more from WANE

Veterans Receive Free Tax Help and Health Screenings
• American Legion Post 148 hosted an event providing veterans with free health screenings, tax assistance, and resources for homeless veterans.
• DLS Tax Services offered complimentary tax filing, and Villages of Peace provided information on supportive housing for veterans.
• Organizers plan to continue hosting similar events throughout the year to support local veterans and their families.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Hosts Forum to Educate Residents on Immigration Law
• Mayor Sharon Tucker and city leaders held a forum clarifying what local law enforcement can and cannot do regarding ICE enforcement.
• Police and fire chiefs emphasized their departments focus on public safety, not immigration enforcement, and residents should not fear reporting crimes.
• Immigration attorney Jerri Mead advised residents on their rights, including not opening doors to ICE without a warrant and remaining silent during encounters.
• All resources presented at Saturday’s forum are accessible here.
→ Read more from WANE

Home Damaged in Fire Northwest of Downtown Fort Wayne
• A fire broke out Friday evening in the 1300 block of 3rd Street, with one woman and three children safely escaping.
• Fort Wayne Fire Department brought the blaze under control in 25 minutes, but no fire detectors were found in the home.
• The house sustained heavy damage as a result of the fire.
→ Read more from WANE

Ancient Roots, Fort Wayne’s First Grounding Center, Opens
• Ancient Roots opened Saturday at 212 East Collins Road, offering a space for community connection and restoration.
• The center was founded by Ashlee Lusch to provide holistic wellness options that support body, mind, and spirit.
• Lusch said the center aims to make visitors feel safe, seen, and at ease while promoting grounding and care.
→ Read more from WPTA

Humane Fort Wayne Hosts Poodle-Palooza After Puppy Post Goes Viral
• Families from across the Midwest lined up early to adopt puppies at Humane Fort Wayne
• A viral photo of puppies in a wagon inspired the shelter to create the Poodle-Palooza event
• All five poodles at the event were adopted by new families
→ Read More From WPTA

Woman Pleads Guilty To Child Exploitation, Trafficking
• Leticia Granados pleaded guilty to one count of promotion of child sexual trafficking and one count of child exploitation
• She faces a total of six years in prison if a judge approves the plea deal, with sentences served concurrently
• Charges stem from recruiting a 17-year-old girl in February 2025 for sex trafficking and exploitation
→ Read More From WANE

Fort Wayne Woman Bombarded With Threatening, Fraudulent Messages
• Angie Sturm received text messages containing death threats, her address, and names of close family members
• She was sent a threatening video and images of dead people and received repeated phone calls from the same number
• Fort Wayne police reviewed the messages and confirmed they were fraudulent
→ Read More From WANE

*A1 Roofing Helps Fort Wayne Homeowners Protect their Homes

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Trump Post Depicting Obamas as Primates Sparks Backlash
• The video was removed after widespread criticism, but Trump refused to apologize.
• The White House blamed a staffer and initially called outrage “fake.”
• Civil rights leaders, Democrats, and some Republicans condemned the post for racist imagery.

Why it matters here:
The incident underscores ongoing tensions over race and political discourse in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms.

→ 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, 275 W. Market St., Wabash — Free

Not Talking Out of School: The Hector & Carol Garcia Retrospective
8:00 am–9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Building, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne — Free

Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
9:00 am–9:00 pm @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne — Free

Art From the Heart
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Orchard Gallery of Fine Art, 6312 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne — Free

Fiber Collage & Functional Works
10:00 am–6:00 pm @ Orchard Gallery of Fine Art, 6312 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne — Free

Monday Blues Jam Sessions
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde, 1806 Bluffton Rd., Fort Wayne — Free

PFW Concerto, Aria, & Composition Orchestra
7:30 pm @ PFW Auer Performance Hall, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne — $5–$7

Zumba in the Park
10:30 am @ Promenade Park Pavilion, 202 W. Superior St., Fort Wayne — Free

Latch String Karaoke
10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill, 3221 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne — Free

Fri, Feb 13th 🏒
Indy Fuel @ Fort Wayne — 7:35 PM EST

Sat, Feb 14th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Indy Fuel — 7:00 PM EST

Sun, Feb 15th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Toledo Walleye — 5:15 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