Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update
— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update
🌤 Today’s Weather
Thursday, Jan 29
Hi – 17° Low – -1° | ⛅ Partly to Mostly Cloudy → 🌙 Mostly Cloudy
A very cold day with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 17°F. A light west southwest breeze around 5 to 10 mph keeps it feeling sharp. Tonight stays mostly cloudy and frigid, with temperatures dipping to about -1°F and light winds.
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📰 Top Stories In Fort Wayne
Child poverty rises among Allen County school age kids despite low unemployment
• New Census Bureau SAIPE estimates show 17% of Allen County children ages 5 to 17 lived below the federal poverty threshold in 2024.
• The estimate equals about 12,307 children and increases from 15.6% in 2023 and 12.7% in 2022.
• Fort Wayne Community Schools has the highest district rate at 22.4% and Southwest Allen County Schools reports 5.9%.
→ Read more from WANE
$50,000 Powerball ticket bought in Indiana expires January 29
• A $50,000 Powerball ticket purchased in Indianapolis is set to expire tomorrow.
• The ticket matched four white balls and the Powerball for the August 2, 2025 drawing.
• It was bought at Crown Liquors #604 on North Post Road and must be claimed by 4:30 p.m. ET on January 29 at the Hoosier Lottery Prize Payment office on North Meridian Street.
→ Read More from WTHI
Indiana hospitals say finances are worsening and warn of service cuts
• A new Indiana Hospital Association analysis found hospital operating margins declined from 2.1% in 2024 to 1.9% in 2025 through August.
• Operating income fell 5.5% while operating expenses rose 4.7% over the same period, and about 40% of Indiana hospitals are estimated to be operating in the red.
• Greene County General Hospital reported a $1.4 million loss last year and plans to close its obstetrics unit on Sunday after more than 100 years because it could no longer absorb the losses.
→ Read more from WTHI-TV
City Council rejects West Jefferson parking lot rezoning again
• Fort Wayne City Council voted down a proposed parking lot rezoning for a second time after a 7 to 0 denial in 2024.
• The request involved Veerula Medical Practice at 3919 W. Jefferson Blvd seeking a rezoning to add a roughly 20 car lot across from the mall.
• The measure failed 3 to 4 and the Plan Commission also recommended against the rezoning with an 8 to 0 vote.
→ Read more from WANE
FWCS tells families rumors of ICE activity on campuses are not true
• Superintendent Mark Daniel said social media rumors raised concerns about immigration enforcement coming to FWCS campuses.
• Daniel wrote the district works closely with state law enforcement and has no reason to believe the rumors are true.
• Daniel wrote no FWCS employee will assist with immigration enforcement activities during their employment and the district will update families if anything changes.
→ Read more from WANE
Bellmont cheerleader moves up to varsity squad
• Kailyn Lane, also known as Kai, made the junior varsity cheer squad at Bellmont High School last year.
• This season she joined the varsity cheer squad and said her teammates helped make her dream possible.
• Her mother said cheering has given her purpose and connection and significantly boosted her confidence.
→ Read more from WANE
*Team Country helps Northeast Indiana buyers find “the one”
D.R. Horton has been building homes since 1978 and has delivered over 1,000,000 homes as of 2023.
In the Fort Wayne area, D.R. Horton offers 20+ communities with 2–5 bedrooms, 1,200–2,600 sq. ft., including single-family homes, villas, and paired villas.
You can explore loan options and incentives, including up to $4,000 off closing costs with DHI Mortgage,
Team Country is local and hands-on, helping you match a floor plan and financing.
→ Call Greg Barkley at 260.443.2221 to get a quick list of homes that fit your budget and timeline. Click here to learn more
🦅 One National Story
AI super PACs gear up to shape 2026 midterms
• A new group called Leading the Future is building a super PAC strategy to influence swing races and fights over AI regulation.
• AI donors are looking to copy Fairshake’s 2024 model after it became the top corporate political donor and supported more than 50 winning candidates.
• Polling cited in the piece shows Americans are more worried than excited about AI, and the coming policy battle centers on federal versus state control after a recent Trump executive order.
→ Get The Full Breakdown From Our Team At The Nova
📆 Whats Happening In Fort Wayne
🎭 Festivals & Gatherings
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder-Mystery Dinner Show — 6:00 pm @ Courtyard by Marriott Downtown $66.54
🎨 Art & Exhibits
Not Talking Out of School: The Hector & Carol Garcia Retrospective — 8:00 am @ PFW Visual Arts Building free admission
Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration — 9:00 am @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery free admission
Art from the Heart: Florals & Heart Motifs — 10:00 am @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art free admission
Watercolors — 10:00 am @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art free admission
Good Vibrations: The Prints of Victor Vasarley — 10:00 am @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art $8 – $10
Paper Made II — 10:00 am @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art $8 – $10
Mimesis: The Natural World of Glass — 10:00 am @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art $8 – $10
Kablam!: The Impact of Cartoons and Comics on Art — 10:00 am @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art $8 – $10
Midwest Regional — 10:00 am @ Artlink free admission
Storied: Narrative Art — 10:00 am @ Artlink free admission
Postcard Exhibition & Sale — 10:00 am @ Artlink free admission
Creative Resistance — 12:00 pm @ First Presbyterian Gallery free admission
Photo-Flo Opening Reception — 6:00 pm @ Dash-In free admission
🛍️ Markets & Vendors
Fort Wayne RV & Camping Show — 11:00 am @ Memorial Coliseum $3 – $12
⛸️ Sports & Recreation
Headwaters Ice Rink — 4:00 pm @ Headwaters Park $7
🎶 Music
Country Heritage Open Mic w/Chris Hambrick — 6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery Free
Joe Hess Band — 7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde Free
The Ragtag Bunch — 7:00 pm @ JK O'Donnell's Free
Dave Pagan’s Love Jams — 8:00 pm @ Wrigley Field Bar & Grill no cover
Tronic Thursdays — 10:00 pm @ O'Sullivan's no cover
😂 Comedy
Crux Crawford — 7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club $24.99 – $33.99
📚 Speakers & Authors
Hyde Brothers Last Thursday Series w/K. Anders, Julie Bruder, A.L. DeLeon — 7:00 pm @ Hyde Brothers Free
🎤 Karaoke, DJs, & Trivia
Chapman’s Brewing Bingo — 6:00 pm @ Chapman's Brewing at Electric Works Free
Singo Bingo: Modern Pop — 8:00 pm @ The Local Saloon Free
Latch String Karaoke — 10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill Free
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Thanks for reading. Together, we’re making Fort Wayne an even better place to live.
— The Fort Wayne Update
