Fort Wayne Update June 5th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Friday, June 5
Hi – 85° Low – 64° | 🌦 PM Showers Possible → ⛅ Partly Cloudy
A warm day with mostly cloudy skies and the chance for a few rain showers, especially during the afternoon. Temperatures rise to around 85°F with light WSW winds and moderate humidity, while UV levels remain high when the sun breaks through. Skies gradually clear during the evening, leading to a pleasant night with partly cloudy conditions and a low near 64°F.

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AI Is Helping Fort Wayne Decide What Roads To Repair
• Fort Wayne has replaced manual road inspections with an AI powered system that rates street conditions using camera data and the PASER scoring system.
• City officials say the AI tool provides faster and more consistent evaluations than human inspectors and was developed with support from Purdue University researchers.
• The city is investing $37 million in infrastructure improvements but estimates it would take between $424 million and $881 million to repair all streets rated six or below.
→ Read more from WANE

Waynedale 2040 Plan Nears Adoption, Receives Do Pass Vote
• Fort Wayne City Council gave a do pass recommendation to the Waynedale 2040 Plan, setting it up for adoption on June 9.
• The plan focuses on public safety, business development, sidewalks and streetlights, community engagement, and park connectivity.
• More than 1,000 residents participated in developing the long-term neighborhood vision for Waynedale.
→ Read more from WANE

Debate Continues Over Fort Wayne Flock Camera Funding
• A local group called De-Flock Fort Wayne is urging City Council to reject a $120,250 contract renewal for the city's 36 Flock license plate reader cameras.
• Supporters in the Fort Wayne Police Department say the cameras have helped solve serious crimes, including homicide investigations, and improve case clearance rates.
• City Council delayed a vote on the contract until next month to allow more public discussion about privacy concerns and law enforcement benefits.
→ Read more from WPTA

Fort Wayne Changes Location Of July 4 Fireworks Display
• Fort Wayne's annual Fourth of July fireworks show will be launched from the Harrison Square parking garage next to Parkview Field this year.
• The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on July 4, or immediately after the Fort Wayne TinCaps game if it runs longer.
• City officials moved the display from the Indiana Michigan Power Center following guidance aimed at protecting a peregrine falcon and her unhatched egg.
→ Read more from WPTA

New Traffic Signal Coming To Airport Expressway And Smith Road
• A new traffic signal at the intersection of Airport Expressway and Smith Road will become fully operational at 10 a.m. on June 8.
• The signal will remain in flash mode before activation, and permanent "Signal Ahead" signs have been installed near the intersection.
• Drivers are asked to stay alert, follow traffic markings, and expect possible delays as traffic patterns adjust.
→ Read more from WPTA

Lunch On The Square Returns To Downtown Fort Wayne
• Lunch on the Square will be held at Freimann Square from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every other Thursday from June 4 through July 30.
• Food trucks and live local music will be featured during the lunchtime event as part of the Downtown Fort Wayne Summer Series.
• The Lunch Means More Program will donate an additional 15% of a featured food truck’s sales each week to The League through support from Barnes and Thornburg.
→ Read more from WANE

Botanical Conservatory Summer Concert Series Kicks Off
• The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory begins its Back to Our Roots summer concert series on June 4 with weekly performances through August 27.
• Local and emerging musicians will perform every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the conservatory.
• Thursday evening admission is reduced to $1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the concert series.
→ Read more from WANE

New Train At Fort Wayne Zoo Keeps Tradition On The Tracks
• The Fort Wayne Zoo unveiled its first new Z.O.& O. Railroad train since the zoo opened in 1965.
• More than 200 donors raised $475,000 to purchase a new engine and refurbish the original train cars.
• The new electric train uses recorded sounds from the original locomotive while reducing fuel costs and maintenance needs.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Zoo Welcomes New California Sea Lion
• A female California sea lion named Quinty arrived at the Fort Wayne Zoo from an accredited facility in Edmonton, Alberta, on June 3.
• Zoo staff monitored Quinty throughout the 30 hour trip using veterinary checks, camera surveillance, climate control, feeding schedules, and misting.
• Quinty is currently in quarantine at Coastal Cove while animal care teams monitor her health and help her adjust to her new environment.
→ Read more from WANE

One Critically Injured In Crash Near Coldwater Road And I-69
• Fort Wayne police responded to a crash shortly after 1 a.m. on the ramp from northbound Coldwater Road to I-69.
• At least one person was taken to a hospital in critical condition following the crash.
• The ramp was closed while officers investigated the incident.
→ Read more from WANE

Drivers Killed In I-69 Pile-Up Identified
• The Allen County Coroner identified the victims as 70-year-old Bradley Dale Maller of Kokomo and 15-year-old Drew Stephen Saddington of Fort Wayne.
• Investigators said a semi-truck struck two stopped vehicles in a construction zone, triggering a chain-reaction crash involving six vehicles.
• Authorities confirmed Saddington was driving a Homestead Driver Education vehicle, and his instructor was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
→ Read more from WANE

*Team Country Homes Helps You Upgrade to Comfort, Style, and Modern Living
• D.R. Horton has delivered more than 1,000,000 homes since 1978, creating communities designed around convenience, quality, and contemporary living.
• In Fort Wayne, buyers can explore upscale 2–5-bedroom homes featuring spacious kitchens, open living areas, smart home technology, and thoughtfully designed layouts.
• Select financing programs may include up to $4,000 in closing cost incentives through DHI Mortgage for eligible buyers.
• Team Country Homes provides a refined, hands-on buying experience with local expertise to help you find the right home in the right community.

→ Call Greg or Kody Barkley at 260-443-2221 to explore available luxury-inspired homes today. Click here to learn more.

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Flesh-Eating Screwworm Detected In Texas Cattle For First Time Since 1966
• The USDA confirmed a case of New World Screwworm in a three-week-old calf near La Pryor, Texas, marking the parasite’s first detection in the United States in 60 years.
• The parasite spreads when flies lay eggs in wounds, allowing larvae to feed on living tissue and potentially kill untreated animals.
• Federal and state officials are establishing a quarantine zone and plan to release millions of sterile flies to help stop the parasite from spreading.

Why it matters here:
A wider outbreak could impact cattle production, livestock operations, and beef prices while requiring increased monitoring by ranchers and animal owners.

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

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

2026 Summer Selections
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery — Free

Austin Beale
9:00 am – 3:00 pm @ Dash-In — Free

Workers Behind the Wheels Gallery
9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum — $10–$15

Fort Wayne Artists Guild 48th Annual Ventures in Creativity
9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ USF Rolland Art Center — Free

Color In Motion
10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory — $5–$7

Julie Wall: Grounded In Light
10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory — $5–$7

Experiments in Form: Glass of Paper Works of Marvin Lipofsky
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Green Wheels
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Memories of Water
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Fight Club
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

Jeff Schofield: Green Wheels: The Art of Electric Vehicles
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Artlink — Free

The Art of Ezra Tucker
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Chuck Sperry: Archetypes
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

The Fashion of Art Deco: Lifestyle in the Jazz Age
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8–$10

Kim Lanoue: Pastel Paintings
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Joe Justice
2:00 pm @ Towne House Retirement Center — Free

Ron Rumbaugh
3:00 pm @ Astral at Auburn — Free

Drunkin’ Grownups
6:00 pm @ The Lake Shack — No Cover

Summit City Honey
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — Free

Chris Worth
6:00 pm @ Hilton Garden Inn North Patio — Free

The Wailhounds
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Downtown Columbia City — Free

Alicia Pyle Duo
6:30 pm @ Club Soda — Free

Todd Harrold & Eric Clancy
6:30 pm @ Charlie's Place — Free

Los Electro
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm @ The Pearl District — Free

Sunglasses at Night
7:00 pm @ Byler Lane Winery — No Cover

Feel Good Friday Summer Concert Series: Ladies of The 80s Night Out
7:30 pm @ Fountain Park, Van Wert — Free

Those Two Guys In Suits & Ties
7:30 pm @ Nick's Martini & Wine Bar — No Cover

Casual Friday
8:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Under the Covers
8:00 pm @ Louie's Bar & Grill — No Cover

The Johnny Folsom 4: Johnny Cash Tribute
8:00 pm @ Kehoe Park — Free

Meka Schwartz
8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — No Cover

Maximiano w/The Namby Pamby, Caleb North
9:00 pm @ The Brass Rail — $7

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

Come Herf
6:00 pm @ Rudy's — Free

Columbia City Connect’s First Fridays: Motorcycles & Markets
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Downtown Columbia City — Free

10th Annual Huntington Trails Beer & Wine Festival
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Huntington County Fairgrounds — $10–$45

Roanoke Farmers Market
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Downtown Roanoke Main Street — Free

Cats
8:00 pm @ Wagon Wheel Theatre — $25–$55

At the Corner of Black & Broadway
8:00 pm @ Three Rivers Music Theatre — $15–$20

The Benjamin Jackson Comedy Hypnotist Show
7:00 pm @ Stan's Room at Century Music Hall — $34

Matt McCusker
7:00 pm&9:45pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $37–$50.50

AJ’s Karaoke w/Ultimate Karaoke Company
8:00 pm @ AJ's Bar and Grill — Free

Fri, June 5th⚾
TinCaps vs Lake County — 7:05 PM EDT

Sat, June 6th⚾
TinCaps vs Lake County — 6:35 PM EDT

Sun, June 7th⚾
TinCaps vs Lake County — 1:05 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update