GOP Secures Major Wins Across Indiana: US Senate, Governor’s Seat, and Allen County City Council

GOP Secures Major Wins Across Indiana: US Senate, Governor’s Seat, and Allen County City Council

https://youtu.be/SiZ7v3-MaXU?feature=shared The makeup of the Allen County Council will shift again in January, as local Republican candidates swept the three at large seats on the county’s fiscal body. The sweep came amid a very successful election day for Republicans nationwide, marked by Former President Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Congressman Jim Banks also handily defeated Democrat Valerie McCray for one of Indiana’s two U.S. Senate seats, while Senator Jim Braun beat Jennifer McCormick, Indiana’s last state superintendent of public instruction, for the governor’s office.  In remarks delivered to the assembled crowd Tuesday at the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne, Banks thanked his supporters and promised to fight for the state. Even...

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Land Banks: How They Work, and Why Fort Wayne Needs One

Land Banks: How They Work, and Why Fort Wayne Needs One

“We need land banks everywhere.” Nate Howard, the Executive Director of Muncie Land Bank, has seen what positive changes can come from rehabilitating abandoned and vacant properties in his area. An empowered land bank can reduce blight and save taxpayers money, plus contribute to the supply of affordable housing. He noted that in Ohio, most counties have their own land banks. Why not have more in Indiana? Within the state, the closest land banks to Fort Wayne are in Muncie and Indianapolis. “Where land banks really thrive, they are supported financially by the city, and the inventory they use comes through the county government. Where land bank legislation is more developed, a lot of those things are explicit in state law.” Land banks acquire property that has become tax-delinquent, and...

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Mobile Home Living in Fort Wayne: Get Grounded on the Rules, Rights, and Regulations

Mobile Home Living in Fort Wayne: Get Grounded on the Rules, Rights, and Regulations

Roiann Smolinski of Fort Wayne lived in a mobile home with her family about 40 years ago, and remembers it well.  “We had a small court, maybe only 30 homes, in a convenient location close to work. The court got plowed out early from snow. We had three bedrooms and two baths, and a nice sized kitchen. It served our purpose for living, until we bought a house six years later. My dad lived in the same court, so that was a bonus.” Smolinski also noted a few drawbacks, such as no access to covered or reserved parking spaces. Smolinski paid $135 for the home plus $190 for lot rent per month, which included landscaping and snow plowing but not utilities.  Despite the arctic chills that visit Fort Wayne each winter, their mobile home stayed cozy. “We didn't have any trouble with...

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The Collaborative Corner | Christi & Amanda Hille

The Collaborative Corner | Christi & Amanda Hille

https://youtu.be/x6l437kZhq8 In this episode, we're diving into the vibrant film culture of Fort Wayne with Christy and Amanda Hilly from Cinema Center. As board president and secretary, they’re also festival chairs for the Hobnobben Film Festival happening October...

National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17, 2024

National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 17, 2024

To promote voting and civic engagement, volunteers representing eight (8) local non-partisan organizations: League of Women Voters of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne (IN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Alive Community Outreach - Peacemakers, Northeast Indiana...

The Collaborative Corner | Christi & Amanda Hille

The Collaborative Corner | Rachel Blakeman

https://youtu.be/0c9D5O_gZcs Our latest episode of "The Collaborative Corner" features an insightful conversation with Rachel Blakeman, Director of the Community Research Institute (CRI) at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Learn about CRI's efforts to broaden its...