
The latest news & upcoming events in Fort Wayne Indiana
- Jenny Sumangid, Jordan Bechtel
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Good morning, Fort Wayne! Here is today’s update.
Today’s Weather
Tuesday, October 28
Hi – 57° Low – 39° | 🌥 Increasing Clouds → 🌧 Showers Late
Clouds build through the day with a few light showers possible by afternoon. Highs reach the upper 50s with a cool easterly breeze. The night stays overcast with occasional light rain and lows near 39°F, keeping things damp and chilly.
In today’s edition:
✊ NAACP Leaders Urge Transparency on Google Data Center
🎗️ Breastie Boxes Brings Comfort to Cancer Patients Year-Round
🎸 She Rocks The Fort Raises Funds For Fort Wayne’s First Short-Term DV Shelter
🌟 Night Of Lights Unsung Hero Keeps Fort Wayne Glowing
🎃 Trick-or-Treating Hours Around Northeast Indiana
🕊️ Coroner Identifies 22-Year-Old Killed In Illinois Road Crash
Sports
🏐 Carroll, Bishop Dwenger & Southwood Capture Regional Volleyball Titles
Events and Live Music Schedule
📰News
✊ During the NAACP State Convention in Fort Wayne, national and state leaders called for transparency and stronger community involvement regarding the proposed Google AI data center. Speakers, including Abre’ Conner of the NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice and Denise Abdul-Rahman, Indiana’s Environmental and Climate Justice Chair, emphasized that residents deserve early engagement before construction begins. They raised concerns about electricity and water use, potential pollution, and the automation of local jobs. The NAACP pledged ongoing support and encouraged community participation through public comment sessions and advocacy efforts, including “Just Say No” awareness campaigns. Full story at WFFT.
🎗️ Founded by breast cancer survivor Erica Hyatt and Samantha Glassley, whose mother passed away from the disease, Breastie Boxes is a Fort Wayne nonprofit providing comfort to breast cancer patients every month not just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each curated box includes toxin-free, locally sourced, and small-business-made products designed to support women through diagnosis and treatment. Supporters can either purchase a box for someone they know or donate one to a patient in need, with boxes starting at $85. Read more at WANE 15.
🎸 Fort Wayne’s first short-term crisis home for women may soon become reality thanks to She Rocks The Fort, a fundraiser for Jennifer’s Harbor, a nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence and trafficking. The event featured seven female-led rock bands and women-run vendors, all working toward building Abie’s Haven, a secure, 24/7 shelter for women and families needing up to 60 days of safety and support. Founder Deb King said the $350,000 project is vital, as domestic violence cases continue to rise. The organization has already raised nearly half of the needed funds. Read more from WANE 15 here.
🌟 For more than three decades, Debbie DeMerritt has quietly kept Fort Wayne’s Night of Lights shining bright. From organizing the Flagstar Bank trees to helping reintroduce the magic of downtown Christmas displays, she has been a driving force behind the city’s holiday tradition. Known for her humility and passion, Debbie has worked with Young’s Greenhouse and Floral to make each year’s display more vibrant. Though she has stepped away this year, her legacy continues to light up Calhoun Street and warm the community’s spirit. Read more from WANE 15 here.
🎃 WANE 15 has released a full alphabetical, town-by-town guide to Halloween trick-or-treating times for northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. Most communities will celebrate on Thursday, October 31, between 5 PM and 8 PM, though several towns like Angola, Churubusco, and Geneva hosted downtown or parade events earlier on Saturday, October 25. Others, including Defiance, Nappanee, and Ligonier, are observing trick-or-treating on October 30, while Convoy, Edgerton, and Wakarusa will wrap up the festivities on November 1. Families can check their local listings for exact times and additional festivities like costume contests, hayrides, and Halloween parades. See the complete list here.
🕊️ The Allen County Coroner has identified the woman who died after a crash Friday morning on Illinois Road as 22-year-old Sydney Grace Griffith of Fort Wayne. Investigators say Griffith’s car rear-ended a semi near Sutton Avenue. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition but later died from multiple blunt force injuries. The collision remains under investigation. Read more from WANE 15 here.
Home insurance costs continue to climb, with premiums rising over 9% this year and more than 60% in the past five years. However, coverage hasn’t kept pace, leaving many homeowners paying significantly more for less protection. With affordability becoming a growing concern, it’s more important than ever to compare options—check out Money’s handy home insurance tool to find the best fit for you.
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✨ Local Event You Won’t Want to Miss! ✨

Events
🎨 Art
Annual High School Juried Art Exhibition
8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery
FreeSteven Garst: Making Space
9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Clark Gallery at Honeywell Center
Free…Something Blue
10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
$5 – $7Figure Now
10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ USF Rolland Art Center
FreeDia de los Muertos
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
$8 – $10Animals in Art
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
$8 – $10From Antiquity to the Inevitable: Work from Baldwin and Guggisberg in Wales 2015–2025
10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
$8 – $10The Illusion of Permanence: The Art of Su A Chae & Kay Gregg
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ First Presbyterian Gallery
Free
🎶 Music
Todd Harrold Band (Smooth Tuesdays)
6:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde
FreePFW Woodwind Showcase Recital
7:30 pm @ PFW Rhinehart Recital Hall
FreeLatch String Open Mic w/Chris Hambrick
10:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill
Free
🎭 Theater
Mrs. Doubtfire
7:30 pm @ Embassy Theatre
$44.95 – $86.30
🎡 Festivals & Gatherings
The Haunted Jail
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ The Haunted Jail
$25 – $40
💃 Classes & Workshops
Preschool Art and Literacy Class
9:00 am – 10:00 am @ Fort Wayne School of Art
$140Beat Making for Girls
7:00 pm @ Sweetwater Sound
$10
🎤 Karaoke & Trivia
Bobby McGee’s Karaoke
10:00 pm @ Bobby McGee’s
Free
🏃 Sports & Recreation
Social Run/Walk Club
5:30 pm @ Union Street Market at Electric Works
FreeYoga Fun
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm @ Peace Lutheran Church
$10
🏀🏈Sports🏒⚾
🏐 Five northeast Indiana girls volleyball teams; Carroll, Bishop Dwenger, Southwood, Lakeland, and South Adams claimed regional championships Saturday. Carroll swept Harrison behind 11 kills from Bailey Sinish and eight blocks from Lola Sasse. Bishop Dwenger battled past West Lafayette in five sets for its first regional title since 2020. Southwood, South Adams, and Lakeland also swept their matches, with Lakeland earning its first-ever regional crown. Semi-state championships are set for next Saturday across Indiana. Read more from WANE 15 here.
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