Thursday, October 9
Hi – 67° Low – 42° | ☀️ Sunny → 🌙 Mostly Clear
Plenty of sunshine with a cool, comfortable high around 67°F and a light ENE breeze classic early fall weather. Tonight stays mostly clear and crisp with a low near 42°F, perfect for an evening walk or stargazing.

✈️ Bombardier To Open Aircraft Service Center At Fort Wayne International

🏫 SACS Proposes Change To Enrollment And Transfer Policies

🚗 Traffic Flowing Again After Two Crashes On I-69

🛩️ Honor Flight 53 Takes Local Veterans To Nation’s Capital

💰 Fort Wayne City Council Begins 2026 Budget Process

🇺🇸 Federal Shutdown Nears One Week

🐣 Meet The Wattled Crane Chick At Fort Wayne Zoo

👮 Man Arrested After Monday Muggings

🏆 Bruins Blank Legends To Open Girls Soccer Sectional Play

✈️ Bombardier announced plans to open a new 64,500-square-foot aircraft service center at Fort Wayne International Airport, creating about 100 high-wage jobs when it opens in late 2026. The facility will provide maintenance, modifications, avionics installations, and AOG support for aircraft serving militaries, governments, and companies like Delta and United. Officials, including Governor Mike Braun and Mayor Sharon Tucker, attended the announcement. The site will accommodate up to six aircraft and serve as a Midwest hub for Bombardier customers. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🏫 Southwest Allen County Schools (SACS) is considering updates to its enrollment and transfer policies as part of a four-phase strategic plan. The proposed changes would allow students to transfer between schools within the district and permit out-of-district students to enroll, something currently limited to children of SACS staff. Superintendent Josh St. John says the goal is to fill empty classroom seats, boost enrollment, and expand student opportunities without overcrowding. If approved, the plan gives priority to in-district students, followed by transfer applicants. A vote is set for October 21. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚗 Traffic in the northbound lanes of I-69 was slowed Wednesday morning after two separate crashes occurred just before 7 a.m. near the Airport Expressway and Lower Huntington Road interchange. The delays caused significant backups, but traffic has since returned to normal. Details about the number of vehicles involved or possible injuries have not been released. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🛩️ Honor Flight 53 from Honor Flight Northeast Indiana took off Wednesday, carrying 84 veterans from the Korean War, Cold War, and Vietnam to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials honoring their service. A final 2025 flight is scheduled for November 5, with applications open for eligible veterans. The public is invited to welcome the group home at Fort Wayne International Airport around 8 p.m., with carpooling encouraged due to construction. Read more from WANE 15 here.

💰 City officials kicked off the 2026 budget process Tuesday, facing a nearly $30 million shortfall caused by Senate Bill 1, which cuts $25 million in property tax revenue. Controller Pat Roller said the city will use $8.8 million from reserves to balance the budget. Departments are holding spending flat, with fewer road improvements planned but no major program cuts. Mayor Sharon Tucker emphasized maintaining safety and connectivity projects despite tight finances. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🇺🇸 As the federal government shutdown nears one week, most local services remain unaffected. The U.S. Postal Service confirmed its operations continue normally since it’s funded through product and service sales, not tax dollars. However, some federal agencies, including the TSA and FAA, are impacted — with TSA unable to respond to inquiries and air traffic controllers working without pay. While Fort Wayne International Airport has reported some delays, most local services are still running smoothly for now. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🐣 The Fort Wayne Zoo welcomed its first-ever parent-reared Wattled Crane chick, named Sunny. Hatched on August 29 to parents Starling and Hannibal, Sunny set a North American record for the latest chick to hatch in the season. The name “Sunny” came from her “sunny side up” position at birth. Wattled Cranes are monogamous, with both parents caring for their chick. The species is considered vulnerable in the wild, making Sunny’s birth a significant milestone for conservation. Read more from WANE 15 here.

👮 A 42-year-old man, Avery Loran Gaines, was arrested Monday after mugging multiple women in Fort Wayne. He faces charges of Attempted Robbery (Level 3 felony) and Robbery (Level 5 felony). Police say Gaines stole bank paperwork from one woman and tried to take another woman’s purse near Clinton and Douglas Streets. He was later found and confessed to taking the paperwork but denied the robberies. Read more from WANE 15 here.

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🏆 Northrop’s Sarah Kemme Nash scored four goals as the Bruins defeated North Side 9–0 in the opening round of the 3A Sectional 5 girls soccer tournament at Spuller Stadium. Elley Tedeschi added two goals, while Alison Diaz, Nury Sibri Carmona, and Anna Gerber each scored one. Northrop advances to face Carroll in the sectional semifinals Thursday at 7:30 p.m., following the Snider vs. Leo match at 5:30. Read more from WANE 15 here.