Fort Wayne Update March 4th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Wednesday, March 4
Hi – 59° Low – 47° | ☁️ Showers Possible → 🌧 Showers
Cloudy skies dominate the day with a 50% chance of rain showers and a high near 59°F, W winds at 10–15 mph keeping things breezy. Tonight, rain showers continue with a low of 47°F, WSW winds at 5–10 mph, and humidity on the rise—perfect weather to curl up indoors or catch the waning gibbous moon through the clouds.

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Work Begins on U.S. 30 Improvements Near Sweetwater and Amazon
• The U.S. 30 Corridor Improvements Project runs from Kroemer Road to Stahlhut Road to enhance safety and support future growth.
• Planned work includes a diverging diamond interchange at Flaugh Road, an overpass at O’Day Road, roundabouts on California Road, and closing the Stahlhut Road intersection.
• Construction on the Flaugh Road interchange will occur in 2026 with minimal traffic impacts, including lane closures when needed.
→ Read more from WANE

Indiana Governor Signs Casino Bill, Requires Local Referendum
• Governor Mike Braun signed House Bill 1038, allowing for a potential $500 million casino in northeast Indiana.
• A referendum in Allen, DeKalb, or Steuben counties must pass in November 2026 for a casino application to be approved.
• The bill establishes a national open-bidding process overseen by the Indiana Gaming Commission with required capital investment and regulatory review.
→ Read more from WANE

Iconic Waynedale Hot Dog Stand Opens for the Season
• The Stand reopened Tuesday at 11 a.m., serving hot dogs, ice cream, chili, and more.
• The seasonal vendor has operated since 2004 and stays open from early March through October.
• The Stand is located at 5200 Bluffton Road beside Bobick’s Golf and is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
→ Read more from WANE

ACPL Offers Themed Memory Kits for Those With Memory Loss
• Allen County Public Library provides memory kits with music, photos, and hands-on activities to spark memories and conversation.
• The initiative, started in 2022, aims to support people with memory challenges and promote inclusion and comfort.
• Kits check out for three weeks and can be renewed if not on hold, with additional outreach services available through the library.
→ Read more from WPTA

Cut Footloose at the Arts United Center
• Fort Wayne Civic Theatre and Fort Wayne Dance Collective are staging a modernized version of Footloose.
• Performances begin March 7 and run on weekends through March 22.
• Tickets are available online or at the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre box office at 303 E. Main St.
→ Read more from WANE

City of Fort Wayne Holds Neighborhood Presidents Meeting
• Neighborhood leaders attended the quarterly meeting to discuss topics like historic preservation, rezoning, and neighborhood grants.
• City officials gathered feedback on the 2026-2030 consolidated plan and local housing needs.
• A public hearing on the consolidated plan will be held April 29 at the Downtown Allen County Public Library.
→ Read more from WANE

AAA: Average Price of Gas Jumps 11 Cents Overnight in the US
• The national average price for a gallon of gasoline increased 11 cents overnight to about $3.11.
• Some Fort Wayne stations reached $3.29 per gallon, while others still offer gas at $2.72 or less.
• Oil futures rose sharply after U.S. strikes on Iran, with benchmark crude up 8.6% to $77.36 a barrel.
→ Read more from WPTA

‘Out of a Jam’ Appoints New Executive Director
• Meegan Siegwarth has been named Executive Director of Out of a Jam after a months-long search.
• The nonprofit helps feed the greater Fort Wayne area while supporting individuals in finding successful paths.
• Siegwarth’s experience includes leadership, marketing strategy, fundraising, and community engagement.
→ Read more from WANE

Peregrine Falcons Return to Downtown Fort Wayne Nest
• Moxie, 15, and Jamie, 16, have returned to their nesting box atop the Indiana Michigan Power building.
• Moxie is preparing the nest and is a few weeks away from laying her first egg of the season.
• The I&M nest has produced more than 70 chicks over 30 years, including one named Fern last year.
→ Read more from WPTA

Warrant Issued for Accused of Raping Fort Wayne Woman He Met on Facebook Dating
• Lucino F. Esquivel, 38, is charged with one count of rape and faces up to 16 years in prison.
• The victim said Esquivel, who she met on Facebook Dating, arrived at her home after missing a planned date.
• Police identified Esquivel using security camera footage and a photo array, and the victim received treatment at a Sexual Assault Treatment Center.
→ Read more from WPTA

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Investigation Finds Unreviewed Chemicals Added to U.S. Foods without FDA Notice
• An Environmental Working Group review identified at least 111 substances added to foods, drinks, and supplements without notifying the FDA under the GRAS system.
• Forty-nine of those chemicals were found in about 4,000 products listed in the USDA FoodData Central database, including extracts such as green tea, aloe vera, and mushrooms.
• Experts cited cases such as Tara flour and concentrated green tea extract to show how some ingredients were linked to serious health issues before federal review.

Why it matters here:
Many everyday grocery items may contain ingredients that were never independently reviewed for safety, raising concerns about oversight and transparency.

→ 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

Portraits of Lives Affected by Incarceration
9:00 am – 9:00 pm @ ACPL Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery — Free

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

2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners
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

Chris Worth (Variety)
6:30 pm @ Club Paradise — No cover

Mitch Gallagher Band (Jazz)
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Intimate Voices
7:30 pm @ Fort Wayne Philharmonic Center — $28

PFW Bands Concert III w/ Fort Wayne Children’s Choir (Variety)
7:30 pm @ PFW Auer Performance Hall — $5–$8

Tiny Musicians
10:00 am @ Sweetwater Sound — $60

Music Without Limits
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — $40

Weekly Watercolor Class
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm @ Fort Wayne School of Art — $200

Weekly Drawing Class for Adults
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Fort Wayne School of Art — $240

Chris Worth (Variety)
6:30 pm @ Club Paradise — No cover

Mitch Gallagher Band (Jazz)
7:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Intimate Voices
7:30 pm @ Fort Wayne Philharmonic Center — $28

PFW Bands Concert III w/ Fort Wayne Children’s Choir (Variety)
7:30 pm @ PFW Auer Performance Hall — $5–$8

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

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— The Fort Wayne Update