Thursday, September 18
Hi – 86° Low – 60° | 🌤 Mostly Sunny → 🌙 Clear
Mostly sunny with just a few afternoon clouds, reaching a pleasant 86°F and light winds. A nice day to be outside without the heat feeling overbearing. Tonight stays clear and calm with lows near 60°F, ideal for unwinding under the stars.

🤝 All In For Welcoming Week 2025

🌉 Parnell Avenue Bridge Reopens After Renovation

🫁 IU Fort Wayne Hosts Mobile Lung Screening

🚒 Mayor Calls Fire Union Rhetoric ‘Dangerous’

🏙️ Fort Wayne Studying Ways To Bring Business Back

🌳 Parks And Recreation Shares Plans With Council

🚔 Coroner IDs Man Killed In Police-Involved Shooting

🔥 Man Dies In Fort Wayne House Fire

🏍️ Coroner Names Motorcycle Rider Killed In Crash

🚗 Coroner IDs Driver Killed in Crash South of Fort Wayne

⚾ TinCaps’ Mendez, Hawkins Named MWL All-Stars

🤝Welcoming Week is underway in Fort Wayne, running September 12–21 with hundreds of nonprofits and community partners joining to celebrate the city’s diversity. Events include Ask an Attorney, Welcoming Civics Lab, and the Welcoming Fort Wayne Awards to honor individuals and organizations building a more inclusive community. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🌉 The Parnell Avenue Bridge reopens Sept. 18 with a ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. Mayor Sharon Tucker, city officials, and business leaders will celebrate the $2.687 million rehabilitation project. Upgrades included a new bridge deck, repaired arches, improved sidewalks, and erosion protection. Built in 1927 and widened twice before, the bridge was closed since May 12. The work is part of Fort Wayne’s $41.4 million 2025 infrastructure plan. Read more from WFFT here.

🫁 Indiana University Fort Wayne will host the state’s first mobile lung screening program on Sept. 24. The 40-foot mobile unit, equipped with a CT scanner, is run by IU Health with Healthy IU and End Lung Cancer Now. The program aims to improve early detection of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, by reducing access barriers. In 2025, the mobile unit is expected to complete 2,000 scans while traveling to IU campuses statewide. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit here. Read more from WFFT here.

🚒 Mayor Sharon Tucker voiced disappointment over Fort Wayne Metro Firefighters 124 social media posts criticizing FWFD leadership, saying the rhetoric is “dangerous” and fuels misinformation. Some posts drew threats against Chief Eric Lahey, including one with a noose image, later deleted. The union responded that it does not condone threats, defended its concerns, and challenged city leaders to a public forum. Tucker reiterated her support for Lahey and said Councilman Jason Arp is working with both sides to ease tensions. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🏙️Fort Wayne’s Community Development Division is working with consultant &Access to identify ways to bring more business to three corridors: East State Blvd., South Calhoun St., and Waynedale. A public survey is open through October 2, with early results showing requests for more sit-down restaurants. A final report with action steps and recommendations will be released by the end of October. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🌳 Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel presented updates to City Council, highlighting 89 parks covering 2,840 acres, year-round programming, and strong staff and volunteer efforts. This summer, more than 12,000 youth center visits were logged with over 13,000 meals served. Capital projects included playground replacements and the Mechanic Street Bridge renovation. Future plans include six new playgrounds, the Headwaters Park Splashpad opening in spring, possible restoration of Foster Park Golf Course, and continued riverfront development. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚔 The Allen County Coroner’s Office identified 81-year-old William Joseph Peters as the man killed in Friday’s police-involved shooting. He died from multiple gunshot wounds, ruled Homicide–Police Action Shooting. The incident began when a deputy investigated a suspicious vehicle near I-469 and Schwartz Road, leading to a standoff with multiple police agencies. Peters was killed, and a Fort Wayne officer was injured. The case remains under investigation by several agencies. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🔥The Allen County Coroner identified 35-year-old Selvin Perez-Polanco as the victim of a house fire Sunday night on East Crown Lane, between Calhoun and Lafayette streets. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner ruled the cause of death as thermal burns and smoke inhalation, with the manner of death listed as accidental. The fire remains under investigation. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🏍️ The Allen County Coroner identified 22-year-old Jacob Taylor Kharbas of Fort Wayne as the motorcycle rider killed Friday in a crash on Rohman Road. His motorcycle crossed the center line and collided with an SUV, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, with the manner of death listed as accidental. The crash remains under investigation. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🚗 The Allen County Coroner identified 49-year-old Jeremy Fredrick Spicer of Fort Wayne as the man killed in a Sept. 8 crash near East Ferguson and Muldoon roads. His pickup truck veered off the road, over-corrected, collided with an SUV, then rolled several times. A passenger in the SUV was seriously hurt. Spicer died at the scene from blunt force injuries, and his death was ruled an accident. Read more from WANE 15 here.

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⚾ TinCaps pitchers Miguel Mendez and Garrett Hawkins have been named 2025 High-A Midwest League All-Stars, the first Fort Wayne pitchers to earn the honor since moving to High-A in 2021. Mendez posted a league-best 1.32 ERA and 70 strikeouts before a promotion to Double-A. Hawkins set a franchise record with 34 consecutive scoreless innings and ranked among league leaders in wins, saves, and strikeouts. Read more from WANE 15 here.