🐦🔥 Weekly refresh
Good morning, Fort Wayne! 🌤️
Welcome back to Kekionga Today! From Glenbrook’s new chapter to Google eyeing wetlands, it’s a week of changes across the Fort.
Here’s the scoop ⬇️
🏬 Glenbrook Square Mall Gets a New Owner - Fort Wayne’s long-standing Glenbrook Square Mall has been acquired by Hull Property Group. The group plans to collaborate with local stakeholders to shape the mall’s future and keep it a regional shopping hub. (WOWO)
🐯 Tiger King in the Court Room - Joe Exotic (yes, that Tiger King) has filed a federal lawsuit against Indiana’s Black Pine Animal Sanctuary. He claims the rescue violated the Endangered Species Act by neutering, or planning to neuter, a white Bengal tiger named Elvis. (WANE)
🤖 Google Eyes Fort Wayne Wetlands for Expansion - Google is seeking permission to fill 2.44 acres of protected Class II wetlands at its Fort Wayne data center site. The company plans to offset the impact by purchasing over 4 acres of wetland mitigation credits. Public comments are being accepted through September 11. (WBOI)
📚 Free Books Touch Down at FWA - A new partnership between The Lighthouse and Fort Wayne International Airport is bringing free books into terminal waiting areas. (963xke.com)
🦟 West Nile Virus on the Rise - Health officials report 6 mosquito pools in Steuben County tested positive for West Nile virus this summer, up from the usual 1-2. No human cases yet, but the warning is clear: wear long sleeves, use repellent, clear standing water, and ensure window screens are intact. (WPTA)
📊 Data Breakdown: West Nile in Steuben County
0 - Confirmed human cases reported so far in 2025
1 week - Average time after a bite for symptoms (if they occur)
6 - Pools of water tested positive this summer (usually 1-2 a year)
1999 - The year West Nile virus first appeared in the U.S.
📊 By the Numbers
Quick stats from this week.
2.44 acres → Protected wetlands Google wants for its Fort Wayne data center expansion. 🌱
6 mosquito pools → Tested positive for West Nile virus in Steuben County this summer, up from the usual 1-2. 🦟
8th driest August → Fort Wayne recorded just over an inch of rain this month, making it the driest August since 1984 and the eighth driest on record. 🌦️
300+ homes → Fort Wayne’s East Side and Harvester neighborhoods, City Utilities replaced lead water pipes free-of-charge. 🏡
🗓️ Upcoming Local Events
From Beers to Bands, Fort Wayne’s Week Ahead
Need something to do? Check out this weeks event calendar!
🍻 Brewed IN the Fort Is Back - Saturday, September 6 (2-5 p.m., VIP at 1 p.m.), Headwaters Park turns into a craft beer playground! With Indiana-brewed beer, cider, mead, local food, and live entertainment. (Fort Wayne Trails)
🛍️ First Wednesdays Sidewalk Sale in New Haven - Each first Wednesday (through October), Broadway Street in New Haven transforms into an open-air shopping stroll from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - free to attend. (Visit Fort Wayne)
🎨 Arts Festival at Jefferson Pointe - Saturday, September 13 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), swing by for a one-day outdoor showcase of fine arts & crafts featuring local artists, live music by Joyce McNamara, and on-the-spot poetry by Scott Sprunger. (WPTA)
🎸 Punk Music Show @ Guitar Exchange - Friday, October 3 from 7-9 p.m., local punk-rock band Half Built Homes take the stage at the Fort Wayne Guitar Exchange along with other acts for a free evening of music. (Fort Wayne Guitar Exchange)
🎶 Trans‑Siberian Orchestra This Winter - Wednesday, December 3 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, TSO’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More” tour brings its epic light-and-music spectacle back to Fort Wayne. (Memorial Coliseum)
🚦 Traffic Report
This Week’s Cone Zone
🚧 Coldwater Lane Closures Delayed - Planned lane restrictions between Tillwater Lane and Wallen Hills Drive have started today as of 8 a.m., lasting through the afternoon, as City Utilities repairs roadway damage from a water main break. (WANE)
🚧 Paulding Road Closure Starts Today - Fully closed between Hoagland and Noll. Calhoun Street will also be closed at its intersection with Paulding during the project, which aims to improve safety, traffic flow, and pedestrian access. (City of Fort Wayne)
🚧 I‑69 On‑Ramp from Illinois Road Closing - Starting today the westbound on-ramp from Illinois Road (State Road 14) to southbound I‑69 will be closed for roughly two weeks. Drivers are advised to head north to Exit 309B. (US‑30/Goshen Road) (963xke)
🚧 Creighton Avenue Closing on Sept. 8 - Creighton Ave will be shut between Hanna Street & Weisser Park Ave from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Detour: South Anthony → East Pontiac → Hanna Street. (City of Fort Wayne)
💛 Local Heritage
A Miami Treaty House in Fort Wayne
Chief Jean-Baptiste de Richardville House
Fort Wayne sits on the site of Kekionga, the former capital of the Miami tribe. One trace of that heritage you can still visit today is the Chief Jean-Baptiste de Richardville House, built in 1827 with funds promised to the Miami in an 1826 treaty.
“The Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society acquired the property in 1991 and took on the difficult task of restoring the building’s exterior. Visitors may tour the interior of the house, where the chief and his family lived, view the large safe where he stored his wealth, and learn more about the rich Native American history of this area.”
Located at 5705 Bluffton Road, this historic home is recognized as the oldest Native American-built dwelling in the Midwest.
💬 From the Community
Reddit & Beyond
🏠 Home Accessibility Grant Program - Fort Wayne homeowners with a permanent disability and incomes below 80% of the area median can now apply for grants to install features like ramps, handrails, walk-in showers, or flooring adjustments. (963xke)
☕ Fort Wayne Coffee Favorites - Redditors in r/fortwayne are stirring up a storm! With shoutouts going to Old Crown for everyday drip, Kanela for espresso-style polish, and Tall Rabbit winning hearts for ambiance and purpose. Post by Reddit user u/organicwhale331. (Reddit)
📵 Vishing Alert: 3Rivers Customers Targeted - Fort Wayne residents who bank or pay utilities with 3Rivers have been targeted by phone scammers impersonating company reps to steal personal information. Stay sharp out there! (WANE)
That’s the scoop for this week. 🍦
If you think we missed something cool, don’t keep it to yourself. Hit reply or DM us. 💌
- Kekionga Today 🐦🔥