Fort Wayne Update March 20th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Friday, March 20
Hi – 61° Low – 38° | ☁️ Mostly Cloudy → ☁️ Mostly Cloudy
A mainly cloudy day with a high near 61°F and SSE winds shifting W at 10–15 mph. Tonight stays mostly cloudy with a low around 38°F and WNW winds at 10–15 mph, under the waxing crescent moon—a cozy evening for indoor plans.

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Rezoning Approved for 700-Home Development Near Fort Wayne Airport
• Allen County Plan Commission approved rezoning for a 689-unit housing project on 170 acres off Coverdale Road.
• The land will change from agricultural to residential to allow construction of the Communities of Calusa development.
• Commissioners requested a commitment to exclude certain housing types, such as apartment buildings.
→ Read more from WANE

Road Closures Planned on North Clinton Street
• Clinton Street will close between Wallen Road and Brooks Road starting March 23 for road improvements
• A separate closure at Clinton Street and Diebold Road will include road work and installation of a traffic signal
• Both closures will require detours and are expected to last through late May and early June
→ Read more from WFFT

Pickle Palooza Festival Coming to Parkview Field This Summer
• Pickle Palooza will take place August 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Parkview Field.
• The event will feature pickle-themed foods, flavored treats, specialty drinks, wrestling, and a 90s concert.
• Attendees can join a priority list for early ticket access ahead of the event.
→ Read more from WANE

Sweetwater to Host National Band Expo
• The event will take place May 16 at Sweetwater’s Fort Wayne campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Musicians can try intermediate and advanced band instruments and receive guidance from specialists during 30-minute consultations.
• Manufacturer rebates, 0% financing, and special deals will be available for students, band directors, and instructors.
→ Read more from WFFT

Charter School Approved to Open in Fort Wayne
• Williams Arts and Technology Academy received approval from the University of Southern Indiana to open in fall 2027.
• The school will serve about 120 students in kindergarten through third grade at 1331 Gay St.
• The charter agreement is for three years, after which USI will decide whether to continue the school’s operation.
→ Read more from WANE

VA Medical Center to Launch New Health Record System
• The Fort Wayne VA Medical Center will implement a new electronic health record system in August.
• The system upgrade was announced during a visit by the VA Deputy Secretary.
• Oracle Health was contracted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the changes.
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control Launches New Adoption App
• Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control partnered with the Petszel app to streamline the pet adoption process
• The app provides access to medical records, vaccine reminders, and microchip information for adopted pets
• The free app is available to new adopters, who receive a registration link after completing an adoption
→ Read more from WFFT

Free Meal Giveaway at Bravas Supports Local Farms
• Nourishing Our Neighbors will distribute 300 free meals starting at 4 p.m. on March 23 at Bravas.
• Country Gardens near Aboite is partnering with the organization for the event.
• Organizers hope the giveaway will increase awareness and support for local farms.
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Hosts NCAA D3 Men’s Basketball Tournament for 6th Year
• The city will hold the quarterfinals and semi-finals starting Thursday, continuing a streak since 2019.
• Hosting the tournament brings an average of $1.3 million in annual economic impact to local hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
• Fort Wayne’s events, including adaptive sports, have increased the city’s visibility for national and international tournaments.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Nonprofits Receive $471K in Opioid Settlement Funds
• Mayor Sharon Tucker announced 12 local organizations will share $471,761 to support addiction recovery programs.
• Funding targets services for pregnant women, veterans, justice-involved individuals, immigrant communities, and the homeless.
• Recipients include Amani Family Services, Healthier Moms and Babies, Hope Alive, Neighborhood Health, Parkview Hospital, and others.
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Nonprofit Struggling With Rising Gas Prices
• Community Transportation Network says gas prices have increased more than 30% in Indiana, straining its budget
• The organization provides medical rides to about 1,000 seniors and people with disabilities across more than 25,000 trips each year
• Leaders say they need an additional $15,000 to $20,000 and are seeking donations ahead of their May 28 fundraiser
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Man Arrested in Shooting Over Bracelet
• Kyzier Powell, 19, was arrested after a man arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach.
• The shooting occurred during a dispute over a bracelet given to Powell’s girlfriend.
• Powell faces charges of battery with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness, and shooting into an inhabited dwelling.
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Man Pleads Guilty in 2025 Gas Station Shooting
• Davonte Grant pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness and attempted aggravated battery related to a July 2025 shooting at Hanna and Lewis Streets.
• The shooting involved Grant allegedly targeting his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend while they were at a gas station, causing property damage and prompting 911 calls from neighbors.
• The plea agreement states Grant could serve six years in prison if accepted by a judge.
→ Read more from WANE

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USPS Proposes Raising Stamp Price To As High As 95 Cents
• The U.S. Postal Service is considering increasing first-class stamp prices from 78 cents to between 90 and 95 cents.
• The agency reported a $9 billion loss in 2025 and warned it could run out of cash within 12 months without changes.
• Officials say higher stamp prices could help address financial losses as mail volume continues to decline.

Why it matters here:
Higher stamp prices would increase everyday mailing costs for Fort Wayne residents and small businesses.

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

Spring Equinox Open Studio Weekend at The Art Farm
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ The Art Farm — Free

Mitchell Wiebell: Kleinfunde
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Garrett Museum of Art — Free

Fort Wayne Photographers Club’s Spring Exhibition
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ 1736 Wells Street Fort Wayne

River Road Band
12:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

Joe Justice
3:00 pm @ Astral at Auburn — Free

The Sick Within w/Red Light Running, Death Blight, Price the Evil, Cecropia
5:00 pm @ Piere’s — $21.28

Jimmie’s Chicken Shack w/Days of Disaster, The Elephant March
7:00 pm @ Stan’s Room at Piere’s — $21.28

Drunkin’ Grownups
7:00 pm @ American Legion Post 241 — Free

The Isaacs
7:30 pm @ Niswonger PAC — $36.20 – $91.20

Whoa, Man! (Women of Rock Tribute)
8:00 pm @ The Fairfield — $12.51

Cherry Bomb
8:00 pm @ Dicky’s Wild Hare — Free

Velour (Friday Night Vibes)
8:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Todd Harrold & Eric Clancy
8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — No cover

The Hubie Ashcraft Band
9:00 pm @ The Venue Angola — $5

Exterminate All Rational Thought w/Long Square, The Feat, Dormant
9:00 pm @ The Brass Rail — $7

Rogers Ritual Band
9:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill — $5

Big Dick & The Penetrators
9:00 pm @ Rex’s Rendezvous — $5

Footloose
7:30 pm @ Arts United Center — $25 – $40

Neo Art & Soul
7:30 pm – 10:00 pm @ The Fairfield — $15 – $35

Watercolor Classes
9:00 am – 11:00 am @ Fort Wayne School of Art — $200

Killers of Kill Tony w/David Jolly, Hans Kim, Martin Phillips, Ahren Belisle
7:00 pm @ Embassy Theatre — $43.15 – $74.25

Josh Firestine
7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $22.99 – $30.29

Bored Teachers Comedy Tour
7:30 pm @ Honeywell Center — Price varies

Karaoke Night w/DJ EJ Karaoke
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Knights of Columbus Council 1014 — Free

Birdie’s Rooftop Karaoke w/DJ Trend
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm @ Birdie’s Rooftop Bar — 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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— The Fort Wayne Update