Fort Wayne Update May 15th

Good morning, Fort Wayne - Here’s your Update

— Jenny Sumangid & Jordan Bechtel
The Fort Wayne Update

Friday, May 15
Hi – 73° Low – 53° | ⛅ Partly Cloudy → ⛅ Partly Cloudy
A mild and pleasant day with intervals of sun and clouds early, becoming a bit cloudier later in the afternoon. Highs climb to 73°F with steady SSW winds adding a springlike feel. The evening stays calm and partly cloudy, cooling to a comfortable 53°F overnight.

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Fort Wayne is Fastest-Growing Big City in Midwest
• U.S. Census estimates show Fort Wayne’s population reached 275,203 as of July 1, 2025, up from 263,918 in 2020.
• The city recorded a gain of 11,285 residents since the 2020 census, representing a 4.28 percent increase.
• Fort Wayne ranked 26th among the fastest-growing U.S. cities with at least 250,000 residents.
→ Read more from WFFT

I&M Launches New Support Center To Help Customers Understand Energy Bills
• Indiana Michigan Power launched a new Bill Support Center to help customers better understand and manage electric bills.
• The platform includes tools for exploring rate options, billing styles, assistance programs, and detailed bill information.
• Company leaders said the goal is to provide customers with clear and easy to use resources for managing energy decisions.
→ Read more from WPTA

Eco Fest Returns To Fort Wayne Sunday
• The 7th annual Eco Fest will take place Sunday at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne.
• The free family friendly event will run from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• The festival will feature vendors, live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, and organizations focused on sustainability.
→ Read more from WPTA

Downtown Fort Wayne Businesses and Organizations Support Proposed Homeless Resource Center
• The City of Fort Wayne shared statements from nine downtown organizations backing a proposed 24/7 low-barrier homeless resource center at 333 E. Washington Blvd.
• Supporters said the facility would provide coordinated shelter and services for up to about 150 people daily, including families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Business and nonprofit leaders said the center would improve safety and downtown conditions while expanding outreach and services for unhoused residents.
→ Read more from WANE

Green Frog Inn Returns to Henry Family Ownership
• The Green Frog Inn, a longtime Fort Wayne bar operating since 1933, is back under ownership by the Henry family.
• Elizabeth Henry, daughter of former owner Cindy Henry, took over after the bar was previously sold following her mother’s death in 2024.
• Henry plans to restore menu items, host events, and continue the family tradition and community atmosphere at the bar.
→ Read more from WANE

Historic Fort Wayne Mansion Renovation Sparks Debate Over Pink Paint
• Preservation advocates said paint on the 1887 Baltes Mansion could trap moisture and damage historic brick and sandstone materials
• The Women’s Care Center said previously painted surfaces were updated while original interior features and natural elements were preserved
• The renovated downtown facility is expected to open Monday and serve women and families across Allen County
→ Read more from WANE

Former Parkview Nurse Sentenced in Fentanyl Theft Case
• A former Parkview nurse, 33-year-old Kyrstin Pierson, received a two-year prison sentence with two years suspended after pleading guilty to stealing controlled medications.
• Court documents said Pierson falsified records and documentation related to fentanyl that was never administered to a patient in severe pain.
• Investigators cited mismatched badge scans, dispensing logs, and hospital records that did not support claims that the medication was properly given or wasted.
→ Read more from WANE

FWPD Emphasizes Outreach as Public Camping Law Nears
• Indiana’s new public camping law takes effect July 1 and bans homeless encampments on public property with possible misdemeanor penalties.
• Fort Wayne Police say enforcement will include a 48-hour notice and efforts to connect people with shelter and outreach services before citations.
• Officials say officer discretion will guide enforcement decisions as concerns continue over shelter capacity and jail overcrowding.
→ Read more from WANE

FWCS Allows ‘Opt Out’ of Seminar Courses as Parents Raise Communication Concerns
• Fort Wayne Community Schools says high school students can opt out of new seminar courses through meetings with counselors and principals.
• Parents argue the process was communicated too late in the school year and still requires additional steps rather than a simple opt out.
• The seminars are linked to Junior Achievement’s 3DE program, which remains under review for renewal with a vote expected June 8.
→ Read more from WANE

Paul Harding Jr. High Receives Brand-New Musical Instruments
• Paul Harding Junior High School music department received about 12 new instruments ahead of an upcoming concert.
• The instruments were funded through a grant from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation with support from the NAMM Foundation and the Van Halen family.
• Staff say the donation helps replace aging equipment and reduces costs for students who cannot afford their own instruments.
→ Read more from WFFT

Fort Wayne Groups Focus on Youth Violence Prevention Ahead of Summer
• Local organizations say summer break increases risk for youth violence due to more unsupervised time for teens.
• Programs like Peacemaker Academy in FWCS schools focus on mentorship, conflict resolution, and trauma-informed support.
• Leaders report reductions in school fight referrals and growing youth participation in peace and prevention initiatives.
→ Read more from WFFT

Crews Rescue Dog in Northeast Fort Wayne House Fire
• Fort Wayne Fire Department responded to a reported house fire on Meadowbrook Drive after a neighbor saw smoke and reported a dog inside.
• Firefighters arrived within four minutes and found light smoke before entering the home to begin extinguishing the fire.
• Crews located a caged dog inside and removed it safely with no injuries reported.
→ Read more from WANE 15

Coroner IDs Man Killed in Shooting at Canterbury Green Apartments
• The Allen County Coroner identified the victim as 19-year-old Noah Price, who died from a gunshot wound to the torso.
• Police responded to reports of a shooting around 2 p.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of Abbey Drive in northeast Fort Wayne.
• Officials ruled the death a homicide and said the investigation is ongoing with no suspect identified.
→ Read more from WANE

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El Niño Is Arriving Faster Than Expected And Could Become Historically Strong
• NOAA says El Niño is expected to develop by next month and has a strong chance of lasting through winter.
• Forecasters now estimate about a one in three chance that it could become a rare “Super” El Niño by late 2026.
• A stronger El Niño could influence global weather patterns, including hurricanes, droughts, flooding, and record-breaking heat.

Why it matters here:
Major El Niño events can affect weather worldwide, influencing storms, temperatures, agriculture, water supplies, and wildfire risks.

→ 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

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

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

Stacks
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Ruth Koomler Art Gallery — Free

Color Me Spring
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Virginia Stoner Huguenard Art Gallery — Free

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

BigMeow
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Downtown Huntington — Free

Brendan Starr w/Superhawk, Day After Night, Widow’s Hatchet, Catherine’s X
5:00 pm @ Century Music Hall — $21.28

Trevor Hunt & The Sleepers
6:00 pm @ Country Heritage Winery — Free

Misha Thomas & Eric Adams
6:00 pm @ Charlie's Place — Free

Summit City Honey
6:00 pm @ Vinland Reserve Winery — Free

Garry Jones
6:30 pm @ Two-EE's Winery — No Cover

The Sweetwater All Stars
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm @ The Pearl District — Free

Mike Conley
7:00 pm @ Mad Anthony Brewing Co. — Free

The Hubie Ashcraft Band
7:00 pm @ Commons Park — Free

Chris Worth
7:00 pm @ American Legion Post 241 — No Cover

Square Dance w/Caller
7:00 pm @ Hoagland Hayloft — $15

Whoa, Man! Women of Rock Tribute
7:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars — $10

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

Jiggs Hendrixson
8:00 pm @ Lakelife Bar & Grill — No Cover

Susan Mae & The New Yesterday
8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub — No Cover

Juandissimo & Friends w/Sahara, Shelta
9:30 pm @ The Brass Rail — $7

Elmo’s Got the Moves
6:00 pm @ Embassy Theatre — $46.50–$77.60

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
7:00 pm @ PPG ArtsLab — $10–$15

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

She Loves Me
7:30 pm @ Eagles Theatre — $20

Once Upon a Time
8:00 pm @ Three Rivers Music Theatre — $15–$20

Market on Main: Paws Edition
3:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ Downtown Huntington — Free

Kevin Smith
7:00 pm & 9:45 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club — $54–$70.50

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

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— The Fort Wayne Update