Fort Wayne Update March 18th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Wednesday, March 18
Hi – 38° Low – 31° | 🌨 Scattered Snow Showers → 🌙 Mostly Cloudy
Cloudy skies bring light snow showers today with a high near 38°F and SSW winds at 15–25 mph. Snow accumulation will be minimal, generally less than an inch, but the gusty winds make it feel brisk. Tonight, skies remain mostly cloudy with a low around 31°F and SSW winds at 10–15 mph, making it a chilly evening under the new moon.

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Shooting Victim Walks Into Fort Wayne ER
• An unidentified person arrived at Parkview Hospital Randallia with a gunshot wound around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
• Police say the injuries are not life-threatening and the location of the shooting is unknown.
• A shots fired call was reported around the same time, but police have not confirmed a connection.
→ Read more from WANE

Snowy Roads Lead to Dozens of Crashes in Fort Wayne
• Police responded to 32 property damage crashes and four injury crashes by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
• A jackknifed semi temporarily closed the ramp from I-69 northbound to I-469 east.
• Multiple crashes were reported across the area due to slick conditions from overnight snow.
→ Read more from WANE

SWAT Responds to Investigation in Southeast Fort Wayne
• SWAT teams and Fort Wayne Police responded to the 4500 block of Plaza Drive around 3 p.m. Tuesday.
• A section of the street was blocked off as authorities appeared to search a home.
• Police say the activity is part of an ongoing investigation, with possible connection to a shot fired call in the area.
→ Read more from WANE

Google Data Center Expansion Under Environmental Review
• IDEM is reviewing a water quality permit for Phase 3 of the Google data center project in southeast Fort Wayne.
• The expansion would add three buildings and impact streams and wetlands, including relocating over 3,400 feet of Adams Ditch.
• Public comments are open through April 3 and must focus on water quality impacts.
→ Read more from WANE

PBA Indiana Classic Comes to Fort Wayne
• Pro Bowl West is hosting the Indiana Classic starting Tuesday and running through Sunday.
• The event brings professional bowlers to Fort Wayne and is expected to draw visitors to the area.
• Finals will be streamed live on Sunday at 4 p.m. on the CW.
→ Read more from WANE

Purdue Fort Wayne Waives Application and Enrollment Fees for Fall 2026
• The university is eliminating the $30 application fee and $50 enrollment deposit for domestic undergraduate applicants starting March 17.
• The initiative aims to reduce financial barriers for students applying for the fall 2026 semester.
• Students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher are eligible for merit scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000 per year.
→ Read more from WPTA

Fort Wayne Launches Sidewalk Accessibility Audits in Three Neighborhoods
• The city will conduct “Project Sidewalk” audits in Beacon Woods, East Central, and Memorial Park neighborhoods.
• The effort focuses on areas where more than 17% of residents have vision or mobility-related disabilities.
• Volunteers will assess sidewalks and streets to identify needed improvements for accessibility.
→ Read more from WANE

Homestead Gymnastics Wins State Title, Creager Repeats All-Around Champion
• Homestead won the state championship with a score of 112.125, edging Carroll by 0.1 points.
• The title marks the team’s first state championship since 2001.
• Jillian Creager won the all-around title for the second straight year, becoming the 10th athlete in state history to do so.
→ Read more from WPTA

Man Takes Plea Deal in Fatal Fort Wayne Police Chase Crash
• Tyler Alberding pleaded guilty to multiple charges including dealing methamphetamine and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
• The June chase ended in a crash that killed 93-year-old Carolyn Hutchinson and left 80-year-old Larry Van Zant seriously hurt.
• His sentence will be determined at an April hearing, and he could face more than 50 years in prison.
→ Read more from WPTA

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Amazon Launches 1-Hour and 3-Hour Same-Day Delivery Nationwide
• One-hour delivery is available in hundreds of U.S. cities, while three-hour delivery covers over 2,000 cities and towns.
• Customers can see eligible products on the Same-Day shopping page with new search filters and a dedicated storefront.
• Prime members pay $9.99 for 1-hour delivery and $4.99 for 3-hour delivery, while non-Prime customers pay $19.99 and $14.99 respectively.

Why it matters here:
Customers now have faster access to essentials and over-the-counter medications, which is especially useful during extreme weather or for last-minute needs.

→ 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 Annual Juried Student Exhibition
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery — Free

The Spellbound Spirit: Photographs by Kirsty Mitchell
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

A Life Reflected in Glass
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

Squares
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art — Free

Mezzotint & The Power of Darkness
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art — $8 – $10

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

Art Will Set You Free: Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ First Presbyterian Gallery — Free

Art Madness
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Virginia Stoner Huguenard Art Gallery — Free

Chris Worth (Variety)
2:00 pm @ Park Place Senior Living — Free

Joe Justice (Variety)
2:00 pm @ Autumn Trace Senior Living — Free

Billy Ocean (Reggae)
7:00 pm @ Honeywell Center — $45 – $209

Q & The Cold Fusion (Jazz)
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

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

Bootlegger’s Saloon Karaoke w/ KC Ramone
9:00 pm @ Bootlegger’s Saloon — Free

Fri, Mar 20th 🏒
Fort Wayne @ Cincinnati Cyclones— 7:30 PM EDT

Sat, Mar 21st🏒
Fort Wayne @ Cincinnati Cyclones— 7:30 PM EDT

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

— The Fort Wayne Update