Fort Wayne Update May 12th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Tuesday, May 12
Hi – 67° Low – 52° | 🌦 PM Showers → 🌧 Rain
A mild day starts with partial sunshine before clouds thicken and showers develop later in the afternoon. Highs reach 67°F with steady southerly winds. Rain becomes more widespread overnight with periods of steady showers, a damp low near 52°F, and humid conditions settling in.

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Chapman’s Brewing Company Shuts Down After 14 Years
• Chapman’s Brewing Company announced Monday that it is permanently closing due to financial hardships and unsustainable operations.
• The brewery was founded in 2012 and expanded with taprooms in Angola, Columbia City, Fort Wayne International Airport, and Electric Works.
• Electric Works said a new restaurant group will take over the former brewery space this fall with a different concept.
→ Read more from WANE

Allen County Deputies Launch Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign
• The Allen County Sheriff’s Department is participating in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign to promote seatbelt use.
• Deputies will conduct overtime patrols through the end of the month focusing on seatbelt compliance and child passenger safety.
• The effort is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through an Indiana safety program supporting injury reduction.
→ Read more from WPTA

FWCS Delays Vote on Junior Achievement 3DE Program
• Fort Wayne Community Schools postponed a planned vote Monday on renewing the Junior Achievement 3DE learning program.
• Parents and students previously raised concerns that seminar courses tied to the program were replacing electives like band, choir, and theatre.
• The district said more time is needed to provide information to board members and address questions before a tentative June 8 vote.
→ Read more from WANE

New Downtown Coffee Shop Draws Crowds Ahead of Grand Opening
• Snail Cafe in Fort Wayne’s West Central neighborhood begins regular service Monday after a busy soft launch week.
• Owners Josh Heckelsmiller and Emily Heins said the shop sold out of baked goods and drinks after gaining attention on TikTok and Instagram.
• The cafe currently serves coffee and pastries but plans to add a wine bar after securing alcohol permits.
→ Read more from WANE

National Salvation Army Week Prompts Local Food and Pet Drive
• Allen County is observing National Salvation Army Week, which highlights the organization’s community services across the country.
• Fort Wayne’s Salvation Army launched a Paws and Pantry Drive asking for donated human and pet food to support local families.
• Donations can be dropped off at 2901 North Clinton Street during weekday business hours, and volunteer inquiries are being accepted by phone.
→ Read more from WPTA

Fort Wayne Driver Identified After Fatal Old U.S. 24 Crash
• The Allen County Coroner’s Office identified the driver killed in Friday’s crash as 53-year-old Carlos Valadez of Fort Wayne.
• Police said Valadez crossed the center line on Old U.S. 24 and crashed into a pickup truck shortly before 5:30 a.m.
• The pickup driver was hospitalized, and the coroner ruled Valadez’s death accidental due to multiple blunt force injuries.
→ Read more from WANE

Man Hospitalized After Southeast Fort Wayne Shooting
• Fort Wayne police responded to a shooting in the 3500 block of Smith Street shortly after noon Monday.
• A male victim was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, and police said his injuries were not life threatening.
• Investigators have not confirmed suspect information, and the shooting remains under investigation.
→ Read more from WANE

Fort Wayne Homicide Victim Identified by Coroner
• The Allen County Coroner’s Office identified the woman killed in Thursday’s shooting as 48-year-old Shonte Evette McDonald.
• McDonald died from multiple gunshot wounds and her death was ruled a homicide.
• Police found her body at a home on Maple Grove Avenue just before 10 p.m. Thursday and investigators are seeking tips from the public.
→ Read more from WANE

Woman Charged With Murder After Deadly Fort Wayne Shooting
• Police said 22-year-old Arionna Miller was preliminarily charged with murder after a fatal shooting Saturday on Griswold Drive.
• Court documents state Miller called 911 and claimed she shot her girlfriend in self-defense after being threatened with a gun.
• Investigators recovered an AR platform rifle hidden under a car and found shell casings matching the weapon at the apartment scene.
→ Read more from WANE

Motorcycle Crash Temporarily Closes East Washington Boulevard
• Police and medics responded to a motorcycle crash at E Washington Boulevard and Kitch Street around 9:15 p.m. Sunday.
• Fort Wayne Dispatch confirmed the crash involved injuries but did not release the number of people hurt or their conditions.
• The road was closed in both directions for at least an hour before reopening to traffic.
→ Read more from WANE

Indiana Lawmaker Prepares Medical Marijuana Legalization Proposal
• State Sen. Mike Bohacek said he is drafting 2027 legislation to legalize medical marijuana in Indiana.
• The proposal would set rules for medical use, create a tax structure, and update state impairment laws related to THC.
• The plan follows federal reclassification of medical marijuana and signals from Gov. Mike Braun supporting discussion of legalization.
→ Read more from WPTA

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Trump Rejects Iran’s Response To US Peace Proposal As Gulf Conflict Escalates
• Iran rejected the latest U.S. proposal to end the war, demanding sanctions relief, sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and war reparations.
• President Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s response as “totally unacceptable,” signaling continued breakdown in diplomatic talks.
• The conflict has disrupted shipping in the Persian Gulf and contributed to rising global energy prices.

Why it matters here:
The ongoing war is affecting global oil routes and energy costs, which can impact fuel prices and economic stability worldwide.

→ 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

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

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

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

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

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

Ron Rumbaugh
2:00 pm @ The Cedars Retirement Community — Free

Sweetwater Acoustic Jam
5:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — Free

PrimeTime
6:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde — Free

Latch String Open Mic w/Chris Hambrick
10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill — Free🎓 Classes & Workshops

Four-Week Watercolor Class
9:00 am – 11:00 am @ Fort Wayne School of Art — $200

EVO in Action
10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound — $155.72

Yoga Fun
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm @ Peace Lutheran Church — $10

Fort Wayne Flax and Fleece Guilders Meeting
7:00 pm @ Salomon Farm Park — Free

Country Heritage Winery Singo
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — Free

O’Sullivan’s Karaoke
10:00 pm @ O'Sullivan's — Free

Tue, May 12th🏒
Fort Wayne Komets @ Toledo Walleye— 7:15 PM EDT

Thu, May 14th🏒
Central Division Finals vs Toledo Walleye: Game 3— 7:35 PM EDT

Fri, May 15th🏒
Fort Wayne Komets @ Toledo Walleye— 7:15 PM EDT

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— The Fort Wayne Update