Today’s Weather

Friday, July 18
Hi – 83° Low – 69° | ⛅ Mostly Cloudy | Wind ESE 5–10 mph (day), SE 5–10 mph (night)
Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy throughout the day with a high near 83°F. Humidity hovers around 70%, and an easterly breeze will keep conditions fairly calm. Despite the clouds, the UV Index is very high, so sun protection is still essential. Friday night stays mild with continued cloud cover and a low of 69°F. Winds remain light, and humidity increases to 85%.

In today’s edition:

♿ Visit Fort Wayne Launches Accessibility Survey

💰 $50K Powerball Ticket Sold in Fort Wayne

🛍️ Downtown Fort Wayne Hosts Summer Sale

🛑 Malfunctioning Stoplight on I-469 Exit

🚧 Leesburg Road Extension Project Ramping Up

🥎 Police vs. Fire in Annual Softball Fundraiser

🐾 Humane Fort Wayne in Urgent Need of Supplies

🍔 Powers Hamburgers Breaks Sales Record

🎬 New Film Incentive Law Impacts Local Universities

Sports

🏀 Goode Joins Fort Wayne Champs for TBT

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📰News

♿ Visit Fort Wayne is working to make the city and Allen County more accessible as part of its 10-Year Tourism Master Plan. With support from the AWS Foundation, the organization is launching a five to six-month review to identify accessibility improvements. Residents and visitors are encouraged to complete a 10–15 minute Accessibility Action Survey by Sunday, August 3, for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card. Read more from WANE 15 here.

💰 A winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was sold at the Kroger Fuel Center on N. Clinton Street in Fort Wayne. The winning numbers for Wednesday were: 4-21-43-48-49 with the Powerball of 22. The local winning ticket matched four out of five numbers and the Powerball. The winner is advised to store the ticket safely and contact Hoosier Lottery customer service for next steps. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🛍️ The Downtown Fort Wayne Summer Sale runs July 17–19, offering shopping discounts, dining specials, and family-friendly activities at participating businesses. The event includes Ladies Night Out on July 17 with shuttle service, extended store hours, and live music by Alicia Pyle. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🛑 Drivers exiting I-469 at Exit 29 can’t turn left onto southbound Maplecrest Road due to a malfunctioning traffic light. INDOT says the issue is with the electrical cabinet, and there's no timeline for repair. Northbound Maplecrest traffic heading onto I-469 is not affected. Remember: treat flashing red or dark signals as all-way stops. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚧 Fort Wayne's $12 million Leesburg Road extension project is now in Phase I. Crews will extend the road from Main Street to Jefferson Boulevard, adding a traffic signal at Jefferson and building a roundabout at Leesburg and Main to improve safety and reduce accidents. The project includes a crossing over the Junk Ditch this winter, with the roundabout planned for next year. Full completion is expected by fall 2026. Read more from WFFT here.

🥎 Fort Wayne’s police and fire departments faced off in the 51st annual Rager-Stiverson Memorial Softball Game, honoring two fallen first responders. The free event raised funds for FWPD Officer Justin Koehl, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2024. Hosted by Guns N Hoses, the game offered a family-friendly evening at Fort Wayne Turners. FWPD won the matchup 16–14. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🐾 Humane Fort Wayne is urgently asking for donations after reporting “dangerously bare” supply shelves. With over 100 kittens in the shelter, the nonprofit needs wet kitten food, unscented cat litter, and paper bowls. Donations can be dropped off at 901 Leesburg Road or sent through their Amazon Wishlist. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🍔 Powers Hamburgers beat its own sales goal during its 85th anniversary celebration, selling over 5,000 sliders surpassing its 3,000-slider target. The record-setting day capped off Powers Fest, which also featured merch giveaways, a kids day, a car show, and a slider eating contest where WANE 15’s Ethan Dahlen placed second. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🎬 Senate Enrolled Act 306 is now in effect in Indiana, offering tax incentives to film and media projects over $300,000. The law aims to retain creative talent in-state and attract productions. Huntington University, which has produced three feature films in five years, plans to apply for the tax credit. Gov. Mike Braun will hold a ceremonial signing at the university Thursday. Read more from WANE 15 here.

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Events 

Friday, July 18th

🎨 Arts

• Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes: New Views of the Universe
  10:00 am – 4:00 pm @ Science Central
  $10 – $12

• 47th Members’ Showcase
  10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink
  Free

• Watercolors & Mononprints by Laura Barnhardt Corle; Otis Family Pottery
  10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art
  Free

• Habatat International Glass 53rd Invitational
  10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
  $8 – $10

• Echoes of Home
  10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
  $8 – $10

• 20th Century Japanese Prints
  10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
  $8 – $10

• Weaving the Narrative: The Works of Dinh Q. Le
  10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
  $8 – $10

• Buried Treasure: Edward Curtis’ Unpublished Works
  5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Garrett Museum of Art
  $10

• Friday Night Live Outdoor Art Experience
  5:00 pm – 11:00 pm @ Junk Ditch PlayHouse
  Free

🎶 Music

• Katie & Jed (Featured)
  12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound
  Free

• Fleetwood Party of 2
  5:00 pm @ St. Joe Pickle Festival, Riverdale Elementary School
  Free

• Moonfire
  6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery
  Free

• Todd Harrold & Eric Clancy – Weekends Uncorked
  6:30 pm @ Two-EE's Winery
  No cover

• Joe Justice
  6:30 pm @ Vinland Reserve Winery
  Free

• Heath Brothers
  6:30 pm @ Club Soda
  Free

• Alfie Jean & Fella Jack
  6:30 pm @ Nick's
  No cover

• Chris Worth
  7:00 pm @ American Legion Post 241
  No cover

• Kentucky Headhunters w/Confederate Railroad
  7:00 pm @ Central Park Glover Pavilion, Warsaw
  Free

• Earth to Mars: Bruno Mars Tribute – Feel Good Fridays
  7:30 pm @ Fountain Park, Van Wert
  Free

• Terry Lee & His Million Dollar Band
  7:30 pm @ St. Joe Pickle Festival, Riverdale Elementary School
  Free

• Bad Money – Bad Company/Eddie Money tribute
  7:30 pm @ DeKalb Outdoor Theater
  Free

• Thunderstruck: AC/DC Tribute – Kehoe Park Summer Concert Series
  8:00 pm @ Kehoe Park, Bluffton
  Free

• Pink Droyd w/Kid Gloves – Pink Floyd tribute
  8:00 pm @ Foellinger Theatre
  $22.50

• Sunglasses at Night – Friday Night Vibes (Featured)
  8:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde
  No cover

• Motor Folkers
  8:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars
  No cover

• Smokestack Jack
  8:00 pm @ Lakelife Bar & Grill, Warsaw
  No cover

• Cicadas
  8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub
  No cover

• The Alt Vault
  10:00 pm @ O'Sullivan's
  No cover

🎉 Festivals

• St. Joe Pickle Festival: Day 2
  10:00 am – 10:00 pm @ Riverdale Elementary School, St. Joe
  Free

• Vineyard Vibes w/Moonfire
  6:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery
  Free

🎭 Stage

• You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
  7:00 pm @ New Hope Church, Huntington
  $12 – $15

• Sweeney Todd
  7:30 pm @ Homestead High School
  $19.90 – $24.10

• Steel Magnolias (Featured)
  8:00 pm @ Wagon Wheel Theatre, Warsaw
  $21 – $51

• Hadestown: Teen Edition
  8:00 pm @ Three Rivers Music Theatre
  $20 – $30

🎤 Special Events

• Eric Eaton
  7:00 pm & 9:45 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club
  $25 – $35

• Mad Anthony Karaoke
  9:00 pm @ Dicky's Wild Hare
  Free

🏀🏈Sports🏒⚾

🏀 Homestead grad and former IU player Luke Goode will play for the Fort Wayne Champs in this year’s The Basketball Tournament (TBT). The Champs play Locked In Elite on Saturday, July 19 at 9 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse. A win sends them to the second round on July 21 at 6 p.m. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🗓️ Tincaps Schedule

Fri, July 18
⚾ @ Lake County— 7:00 PM EDT

Sat, July 19
⚾ @ Lake County— 7:00 PM EDT

Sun, July 20
⚾ @ Lake County— 1:00 PM EDT

A Message from The Fort Wayne Update

Members make it possible.

The Fort Wayne Update helps readers like you stay in the know quickly and clearly.

If you love what we do, becoming a Member is the best way to support it.

You will help us cover more of the city, and give back to the community.
Members also get exclusive perks along the way.

👉 Become a Fort Wayne Update Member