Friday, October 3
Hi – 85° Low – 57° | ☀️ Sunny → 🌙 Clear
A sunny and very warm day with highs near 85°F and light winds which is great for soaking up the outdoors. Tonight stays clear and mild, cooling to 57°F for a comfortable evening under the stars.

🚔 Indy Man Driving Stolen Car Accused Of Attempted Murder

🚧 New Traffic Patterns at I-469 and US 24 Begin

🏛️ Study Finds Heritage Tourists Spent $300M In Fort Wayne

🔫 FWPD Urges Parents, Community To Help Curb Youth Gun Violence

👮 Governor Braun Visits Fort Wayne For Public Safety Event

🎄 Tickets On Sale For Festival Of Trees At The Embassy

🌾 Worst Allen County Drought since 2012

🏈 ND’s Tae Johnson Credits Jaylon Smith for Success

🚔 A cross-county police chase ended in Plymouth after 37-year-old Jamarius Bryant of Indianapolis crashed a stolen Ford Edge. During the pursuit, Bryant struck a child who stumbled while trying to move out of the car’s path. He now faces charges of attempted murder, resisting law enforcement, and theft. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚧 Drivers should prepare for changes at the I-469/US 24 interchange starting overnight October 1. INDOT announced southbound traffic will now use a newly completed off-ramp with a temporary signal, while crews work on the existing ramp. The on-ramp to southbound I-469 remains the same. A new loop ramp is expected to open by the end of October, weather permitting. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🏛️ A new study by PlaceEconomics found that 2.12 million heritage visitors came to Fort Wayne in 2024, spending $313 million. That accounted for 23% of all city visitors but 29% of total visitor spending. The findings were presented at the Indiana Historic Preservation Conference, highlighting the growing role of historic districts and cultural resources like the genealogical center. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🔫Fort Wayne police are calling on parents and the community to step up as youth gun violence rises. Officers recently seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and equipment from a 16-year-old. Detective Chris Felton said many teens are tied to hybrid gangs, which can lead to reckless violence. Police stressed that curbing the trend will take collaboration between schools, parents, and the broader community. Read more from WANE 15 here.

👮Governor Mike Braun visited Fort Wayne Wednesday to celebrate local law enforcement at the Indiana State Police post near Jefferson Boulevard and I-69. He recognized officers’ daily sacrifices, addressed the rise in youth gun violence, and praised the region’s public safety successes. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🎄The Embassy Theatre’s Festival of Trees returns for its 41st year from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3. Tickets are now available, with admission set at $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages 1–12, and free entry for infants. Seniors 65+ get in for $8 on Dec. 2. This year’s kickoff on Nov. 26 runs from 3–9 p.m., overlapping with Fort Wayne’s Night of Lights. Special programming includes sensory-friendly hours, breakfast with Santa, and a screening of Elf. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🌾 Allen County is now under extreme drought for the first time since August 2012, following Fort Wayne’s driest September in 30 years. The National Drought Mitigation Center warns that corn crops may be a total loss, soybeans are severely stressed, and low lake and reservoir levels are impacting farming, gardening, and wildlife. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, as breezy days could spark dangerous fires. Read more from WANE 15 here.

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🏈 Former North Side standout Tae Johnson has quickly risen in Notre Dame’s defense, moving into the starting lineup by game three this season. Johnson says Fort Wayne native and fellow Irish alum Jaylon Smith inspired his path, even wearing Smith’s No. 9 in tribute. Despite missing most of last year with injury, Johnson is now tied for second in passes defended and fifth in tackles for the Irish. Notre Dame hosts Boise State Saturday at 3:30 p.m.. Read more from WANE 15 here.