Good morning, Fort Wayne.

The YLNI Farmers Market on Barr Street elected a new ceremonial mayor on Saturday—five-month-old golden retriever Pebbles—whose owner said she will visit local events, enjoy live music and pup cups at Tom’s Food Truck while deputy Spike assists her campaign to boost national recognition.

A public forum on a proposed low-barrier homeless shelter drew about 300 locals to the Grand Wayne Center Monday night.

Attendees both supported and questioned converting a downtown building on East Washington Blvd into a 24-hour shelter, with the city set to vote on the plan Sept. 1.

Zesto’s owner explained what’s unfolding on Broadway Avenue, highlighting shifts in business operations & upcoming community improvements.

The discussion offers a closer look at planned updates that may reshape the local storefront environment soon.

Former IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher will serve as the grand marshal for Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival’s Parade of Classics on Saturday, Sept.

5 in Auburn (the festival marks its 70th year).

New data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development shows that Fort Wayne's unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in July from 3.8% last year.

The metro area had 233,056 employed workers and the overall job market remains steady as the second half of the year begins.

GasBuddy data show that Fort Wayne regular gas prices dropped 17.2 cents over the past week to $3.48, with Sunday prices ranging from $3.33 to $3.69 and remaining 38.5 cents above last year's levels (while the national average rose to $4.05).

North Side High School announced major leadership changes Monday as Stephanie Leslie (with 25 years of experience) replaced David West as principal.

Former NFL linebacker Jaylon Smith took over head coach duties with Larry Davis as assistant to support the school’s legacy.

Fort Wayne Community Schools announced leadership changes at North Side High on Monday when principal David West and coach Ben Johnson left, and Stephanie Leslie was named interim principal to ensure students' success.

The board approved a $255,429 LED stadium lighting contract for Wayne High, with installation scheduled for December.

Gov. Mike Braun’s administration cut the average processing time for professional licenses nearly in half, lowering it from about 12 days in January 2025 to six days by July 2026 (without reducing safety or training standards), which will help local workers start jobs faster.

The American Red Cross teamed up with Hello Kitty to boost the blood supply by offering exclusive plush clips and sticker packs to donors from Sept 1 through Sept 20 in Fort Wayne.

The promotion has already prompted more than 17,000+ signups plus nearly 3,000+ appointments in the first week.

North Side football announced that head coach Johnson is out — interim coach Jaylon Smith takes charge ahead of upcoming games.

The Fort Wayne TinCaps lost 2-0 on Sunday in an extra-inning game at Parkview Field against the Great Lakes Loons, with Conner Westenburg’s lone extra-base hit in the seventh inning and Kannon Kemp pitching five scoreless innings, and they face Dayton today at 6:35 p.m.

On Saturday night (Aug.

22), the Fort Wayne TinCaps rallied to beat the Great Lakes Loons 6-5 in a come-from-behind win at Parkview Field. Catcher Lamar King Jr. drove in the winning run in the 10th inning.

Monarch Festival

The Little River Wetlands Project announces its annual Monarch Festival to be held on Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve barn, located at 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. This family-friendly event celebrates the incredible lifecycle and transformation of monarch butterflies through a variety of engaging programs and activities.