Monday, November 17
Hi 48° Low 32° | 🌤 Mostly Sunny / 🌧 Light Wintry Mix Late
A mostly sunny start to the day with just a few afternoon clouds drifting in. Highs reach around 48°F with a gentle WNW breeze making it feel cool but pleasant. Tonight turns more unsettled. Clouds thicken quickly and a light wintry mix or chilly rain showers may develop later in the night. Lows dip to about 32°F with light NE winds. Keep an umbrella or jacket handy if you’ll be out late.

❄️ City Offering Winter Shelter Resources

🏡 Former ‘Freeland Estate’ Under Contract

🍗 Hundreds Line Up For Hot Chickz’ First Anniversary

🎄 Fantasy Of Lights: Opening With New Additions

📚 Botanical Conservatory Publishes Book With Local Author For New Exhibit

🕊️ Jesus And Therapy: Conference On Faith And Mental Health

🚗 Crash Cleared On West Jefferson Boulevard

🏒 Komets Tripped By Toledo In Final Road Game Before Home Opener

❄️ The City of Fort Wayne is offering daytime warming centers and overnight shelter options for unhoused individuals and families starting December 1 as part of its Winter Contingency Plan. Overnight shelters include the Rescue Mission, Saint Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter, and Just Neighbors, with warming centers available through the day and early evening. You can find those locations here. The city is also running a donation drive through December 1 to collect essential winter supplies for those in need. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🏡 An offer has been made and accepted for Fort Wayne’s former ‘Freeland Mansion,’ now called ‘The Hamilton,’ putting the 40-acre estate under contract. Listed in late October for $6.75 million, the property features eight bedrooms, nine full baths, six half baths, nine fireplaces, and over 5,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space. The home is located at Liberty Mills Road and West Hamilton Road in southwest Allen County. The sale is not final until closing. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🍗 Hundreds of people lined up to celebrate the first anniversary of Hot Chickz, a locally owned chicken restaurant at 1716 E. Pontiac Street. Founded in November 2024 by Salah Alwatahi, Adel Algermi, and Mo Alwatahi, the restaurant offered free food and prizes on Nov. 15 to mark its milestone. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🎄 Fantasy of Lights, the annual drive-through light show in Franke Park, is returning with new additions this year. For the first time, it is collaborating with the Fort Wayne Zoo’s Wild Lights show, allowing visitors to walk through the zoo midway through the Fantasy of Lights route. Tickets are sold separately for each show, but either grants access to the Christmas Village. The event kicks off Nov. 17, with Wild Lights starting Nov. 28. Visitors can also bike through the lights on “Just Bicycle Night” this Sunday. Read more from WANE 15 here.

📚 The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is launching a new exhibit, Fern’s Fairylight Express, based on a children’s book created in-house with local author-illustrator Talitha Shipman. Running from Nov. 22 to Apr. 12, this will be the longest exhibit in the conservatory’s history. Visitors can explore Fairy Glen, follow the story’s characters, and purchase the book in the gift shop. The Allen County Public Library also has 20 copies for free admission to families who check them out. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🕊️ Christian leaders in Fort Wayne are hosting the Jesus and Therapy Conference to explore the intersection of faith and mental health. Aaron and Janell Lane of Courageous Healing are partnering with City Church for the event, which takes place Nov. 22, 2025, at 9:00 AM at the Parkview Mirro Center. Six speakers will guide attendees on addressing stigma, sharing tools, and building understanding so people can find healing without choosing between faith and therapy. Tickets are just under $80. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚗 A car crash on West Jefferson Boulevard near Palatine Drive, just south of Apple Glen Crossing Shopping Plaza, caused heavy traffic earlier today. Traffic has since cleared. It is currently unknown if there were any injuries. WANE 15 will provide updates as more information becomes available. Read more from WANE 15 here.

Not all car insurance is created equal. Minimum liability coverage may keep you legal on the road, but it often won’t be enough to cover the full cost of an accident. Without proper limits, you could be left paying thousands out of pocket. The right policy ensures you and your finances are protected. Check out Money’s car insurance tool to find the coverage you actually need.

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🏒 The Fort Wayne Komets lost 2-1 to Toledo in their final game of an 11-game season-opening road trip at the Huntington Center. Jordan Ernst scored for Toledo in the second period, with a second goal early in the third. Komets captain Alex Aleardi scored Fort Wayne’s lone goal, but the team couldn’t tie the game. Fort Wayne (8-3) returns home next weekend to host the Bloomington Bison on Friday at 7:35 p.m. Read more from WANE 15 here.