Fort Wayne news

• Forty years on, ISP's Marijuana Eradication Team is still at work to end illegal grows

  16-01-2025 23:30 via wane.com
  
  ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) ---Back in the 1980s and 90s during the federal government’s war on drugs, the Indiana State Police formed the Marijuana Eradication Team.The state’s effort that started in 1985 was sprawling with each county having its own team.Statistic from the Indiana State Police Marijuana Eradication Team.
  Nowadays, there are three troopers assigned full-time to the task of eradicating the plant from the state, according to Sgt. Wes Rowlader, public information officer
  
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• 'How much is the fine?': Break & Run owner faces felony charges over falsified alcohol permit

  16-01-2025 23:16 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- The owner of Break & Run faces felony charges after allegedly submitting paperwork for an alcoholic beverage permit under the now-deceased previous owner's name.59-year-old, Kirk Smith faces two level 6 felony charges for falsification of records for the Alcohol Tobacco Commission.A level 6 felony charge faces up to $10,000 in fines with the possibility of six months to two and a half years in jail.
  According to court documents filed with the Allen County Circuit C
  
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• Driver charged with OWI in life-threatening crash on US 27; BAC more than twice the legal limit

  16-01-2025 22:55 via wane.com
  
  ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) — Months after a crash in southern Allen County left a man with life-threatening injuries, the driver of the other car has been charged.Joey Miser, 45, faces a charge of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, according to Allen Superior Court documents filed Thursday.
  And those court records show his blood-alcohol level was nearly two and a half times the legal limit.On July 3, 2024, Miser's car collided with the victim's on US 27 at the inters
  
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• Even warmer tomorrow, rain/snow into Sat morning

  16-01-2025 22:37 via wane.com
  
  Temps received a big boost today - reaching the low 30s. For tonight, we drop back to the low 20s and, tomorrow, high temperatures climb even higher, into the mid-30s. This is a pleasant, temporary, warm up before a dangerous cold snap hits the area early next week.Temps fall only through the 20s tonight. Not as cold as nights earlier this week.15 Fury Alert Days have been issued for Monday and Tuesday, due to this extreme cold. 15 Fury Alert Days issued for extreme coldIt won't be as cold overn
  
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• 15 Fury Alert Days issued for extreme cold

  16-01-2025 22:17 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - With an incoming blast of cold air, Monday and Tuesday, January 20 and 21, will be 15 Fury Alert Days.The cold air starts to arrive over the weekend with temps falling through the day both on Saturday and Sunday. However, air temperatures will not reach below zero until late Sunday night/early Monday morning.Wind chills in the Monday and Tuesday time frame will be below zero all day with values ranging from -10° to -20°. At these wind chill levels, frostbite wil
  
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• Gov. Braun presents 2025-27 biennial budget proposal

  16-01-2025 22:16 via wane.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS -- On Thursday, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun presented the 2025-27 biennial budget proposal to the State Budget Committee, a budget that includes increased funding for law enforcement, universal choice scholarships and increased funding for K-12 schools.
  According to a news release from Braun's office, the budget emphasizes Braun's vision for a leaner, more efficient government that "puts Hoosier families first." The budget prioritizes tax relief, public safety and education, the release
  
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• New Haven sweet shop opens in Glenbrook Square

  16-01-2025 22:07 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A local bakery opened its second location Thursday in Glenbrook Square.Shoppers can find Taye's Treats next to Chick-Fil-A in the food court. It's run by Shante Smith, and this isn't the only place she has set up shop -- her storefront at 521 Broadway St. in New Haven opened in December 2023."Crack grapes" are a sweeter twist on the fruit.
  "If it wasn't for our customers, we would not be here today," said Tyler Click, general manager of the mall location.Customers can c
  
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• 'This is what I thrive at': Misti Meehan running for a second term as Allen County Democratic Chair

  16-01-2025 22:01 via wane.com
  
  ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) -- Misit Meehan hopes to return to her seat as the Allen County Democratic Party Chair for a second term after current chair Derek Camp announced he would not be seeking re-election.
  Meehan previously served as the Democratic Party Chair from 2017 to 2021, citing her reason for stepping away as exhaustion from the pandemic election.Allen County Democratic Party Chair Derek Camp to step down"It is a lot to be both a congressional chair and a county chair for a larger cou
  
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• Indiana Fever set to open up new practice facility before 2027 WNBA season

  16-01-2025 20:01 via wane.com
  
  (AP) - The Indiana Fever have had a revival with the additions of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston over the last two seasons.Now the franchise, which made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, is building a new practice facility that's set to open before the 2027 WNBA season, the Fever announced Thursday.The $78 million performance center will be in downtown Indianapolis and connect to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Fever play, via a skybridge.“We are excited to partner
  
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• City of Fort Wayne encourages neighborhoods to apply for improvement grant

  16-01-2025 19:51 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- On Wednesday, the City of Fort Wayne opened applications for its annual Neighborhood Improvement Grant program.Supervised by the City of Fort Wayne's Community Development Division, the program aims to help neighborhoods "improve public spaces and foster community pride." Neighborhood associations registered with the city are eligible for up to $5,000 through the program.In order to be considered for the grant, the project must fit into at least one of four categories
  
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• Public Safety Alert issued for missing Fort Wayne girl

  16-01-2025 19:48 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) The Fort Wayne Police Department is looking for an 11-year-old girl who has turned up missing and may be in danger.Rajah Haley lives in the area of Stellhorn and Hobson Roads. She's 5' tall, weighs 125 pounds, with dark brown puffy hair, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a maroon Lilo & Stitch hoodie, burgundy leggings with bell bottoms. She was wearing a black arm brace and has a gap in her front teeth.Anyone who has seen her should call Fort Wayne police at
  
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• Public Safety Alert canceled for Fort Wayne girl

  16-01-2025 19:48 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) An 11-year-old girl who went missing Thursday was found later that day.The Fort Wayne Police Department was looking for Rajah Haley on the city's northeast side, according to a Public Safety Alert sent out around 1:30 p.m. Later that afternoon, dispatch confirmed she had been found.
  
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• 'Babies in the Budget' brings attention to senate bills

  16-01-2025 19:06 via wane.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) — A statehouse press conference introduced legislation that would help newborn parents on Thursday.State Senators Greg Walker (R-Columbus) and Rodney Pol Jr. (D-Chesterton) were joined by industry experts at the statehouse this morning to host the "Babies in the Budget" press conference. The meeting was held to promote support for two bills that are, as of Thursday, sitting in the State Senate.According to the Indiana General Assembly's website, Senate Bill 497 wo
  
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• US defense contractor to build 4,000-worker advanced manufacturing facility in central Ohio

  16-01-2025 15:52 via wane.com
  
  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — U.S. defense contractor Anduril Industries is preparing to build a massive advanced manufacturing facility in central Ohio, adding a planned 4,000 jobs to the area's burgeoning high-tech sector, state officials announced Thursday.The Cosa Mesa, California-based defense technology company plans to begin construction of what it's calling “Arsenal 1” as soon as state and local approvals are secured. The 5 million-square-foot (464,515-square-meter) f
  
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• 'We’ve lost two amazing animals:' Harbor seal, Chilean flamingo at Chicago zoo die from bird flu

  16-01-2025 15:32 via wane.com
  
  CHICAGO (WGN) — A harbor seal and a Chilean flamingo at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo died from avian influenza last week, zoo officials confirmed Wednesday.According to a spokesperson for the zoo, testing confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was the cause of death for a Chilean flamingo on Jan. 8 and a harbor seal on Jan. 9.Zoo officials said the harbor seal, named Slater, was 7 years old and known for his rambunctious and curious nature. He was described as a quick learne
  
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• Man sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message being extradited to US

  16-01-2025 12:41 via wane.com
  
  PARIS (AP) — French Appeal Court prosecutors said an American man accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, “So I raped you," was being extradited Thursday to the United States.The Appeal Court prosecutors’ office in Metz, in northeastern France, said Ian Cleary was handed over to U.S. authorities at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.This undated wanted poster, provided by the U.S.
  
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• State Road 5 in LaGrange County back open

  16-01-2025 12:30 via wane.com
  
  LAGRANGE COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) A multi-vehicle crash closed State Road 5 between the town of Topeka and U.S. 20, but the highway has since reopened according to the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department.The crash took place around 5:30 a.m. between 200 S and 300 S. The sheriff's department also sent out an alert about a separate crash on another county road.
  A dispatcher told WANE 15 that lake effect snow is falling in the area although it's not known if that played a factor in the crashes.It's not
  
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• Multi-vehicle crash closes State Road 5 in LaGrange County

  16-01-2025 12:30 via wane.com
  
  LAGRANGE COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) A multi-vehicle crash has closed State Road 5 between the town of Topeka and U.S. 20 according to the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department.The crash took place around 5:30 a.m. between 200 S and 300 S. The sheriff's department also sent out an alert about a separate crash on another county road.
  A dispatcher told WANE 15 that lake effect snow is falling in the area although it's not known if that played a factor in the crashes.
  This story will be updated when more in
  
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• Light snow with thawing temperatures today

  16-01-2025 09:43 via wane.com
  
  Warmer air is moving into our area today, with highs in the 30s. This warmer pattern will last for the next 36 hours before another blast of arctic air moves into the area.Temperatures will be much warmer this afternoonPeriods of light snow with minimal accumulations and temperatures rising into the upper 20s by noon.
  Expect minimal snowfall accumulation across the region through this afternoonSouthwest winds will help to elevate temperatures into the lower 30s this afternoon with only a few flu
  
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• Bluffton Road Bridge project set to begin, expected to last over a year

  16-01-2025 04:45 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Bluffton Road Bridge, a vital structure built in the 1980s, is about to undergo a major renovation aimed at improving its safety and functionality.
  The project, discussed in a recent public hearing Wednesday night, is expected to take a year and a half to complete while addressing structural issues and enhancing pedestrian access.The bridge currently has a 12-ton load limit due to cracks in its beams. Once the renovation is complete, the load restriction
  
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• Some snow Thursday and the start of a brief warmup

  16-01-2025 04:27 via wane.com
  
  Our next snow-producing weather system is moving through, bringing scattered snow showers through the early morning and continuing during the daytime Thursday. Temperatures are on the rise with out-the-door morning temps in the 20s.While the snow may fall at a heavy rate, at times, total snow amounts will be light = 1" or less across the entire region by the end of the day.A light total snow amount is expected Thursday. However, the snow may fall rapidly/heavily at times.Our Thursday sky is clou
  
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• Indiana Republicans introduce bill to legalize recreational marijuana

  16-01-2025 03:48 via wane.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS -- A Republican-led coalition introduced a bill that would allow Hoosiers over the age of 21 to legally use marijuana.
  House Bill 1630, which was introduced by State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo), faces an uphill climb in both the Indiana House and Senate.”It’s time for Indiana to join our neighbors and most of the rest of the country in legalizing marijuana,” State Rep. VanNatter said.If the bill passes this session, Indiana would become the first state in the c
  
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• Fort Wayne death doula's case heard at appeals court

  16-01-2025 03:47 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — After receiving a cease and desist order from the Indiana Attorney’s General office, it seemed like Death Done Differently might never operate again.
  As a result, Lauren Richwine, owner of the company, began a legal battle against the State of Indiana, who claims she’s violating Indiana’s funeral home laws.Richwine -- who operates without owning a funeral home or having a funeral home license -- provides "non-medical forms of logistic, emoti
  
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• Henry Najdeski's estate receives $700K from City of Fort Wayne through tort claim

  16-01-2025 01:53 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- The family of Henry Najdeski received a $700,000 settlement from the City of Fort Wayne after a police officer struck and killed him with a vehicle while he crossed a downtown street.The February payment was discovered by WANE 15 in an examination of city expenses for 2024.A spokesperson with the City of Fort Wayne confirmed to WANE 15 that the city issued the settlement as a result of a tort claim filed by Najdeski's estate. In Indiana, $700,000 is the maximum amount
  
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• Feature film with Fort Wayne ties premieres nationwide next week

  16-01-2025 01:03 via wane.com
  
  FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)— "Between Borders," a feature film with Fort Wayne producers, premieres in more than 800 theaters across the U.S. on Jan. 26.The movie is based on a true story. It follows the Petrosyan family as they flee from violence in Azerbaijan, seek refuge in Eastern Europe, and ultimately find a home in northeast Indiana.Lonnie and Isaac Norris are executive producer and producer, respectively. Lonnie said in the 1990s, he and his family did mission work in Russia, where he
  
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