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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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 3rd-6th. Discover what makes Cinema Center a cultural hub for independent and foreign films, and how the festival brings together filmmakers, film lovers, and the curious alike to share in the magic of storytelling. For more information visit fwmediacollaborative.com or cinemacenter.org The Collaborative Corner is a production of the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative with the goal of connecting listeners to the stories and culture of Northeast Indiana. Hosted by WBOI Program Manager, Zach Bernard, and Digital Media Coordinator...

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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 research scope beyond economic, workforce, and population data. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in community research and development. The Collaborative Corner is a production of the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative with the goal of connecting listeners to the stories and culture of Northeast Indiana. Hosted by WBOI Program Manager, Zach Bernard, and Digital Media Manager for the Fort Wayne Media Collaborative, Brianna Datta-Barrow. Produced by Brianna Datta-Barrow. Thank you to Fort Wayne Media Collaborative Program...

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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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Full House: Generations of Families Share Homes and Lives

Full House: Generations of Families Share Homes and Lives

What happens when the adult kids come home to ride out the Covid lockdown and then settle in? Where can Mom or Dad go when they can’t live on their own anymore? Oftentimes, to conserve money and other resources, adult family members consolidate into one household. Due to the sharp jump in housing prices in Northeast Indiana and elsewhere within the past few years, this trend is increasing. According to the 2020 census, 7.2% of US homes were multigenerational. These homes were most common in the southern US and across the eastern seaboard as well as in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. By this measure, Indiana was only slightly below the national average, with the share of multigenerational households in most counties between four and seven percent. Similar trends were noted for children...

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Fort Wayne’s first Innovative Housing Showcase seeks to fill gaps in the local market

Fort Wayne’s first Innovative Housing Showcase seeks to fill gaps in the local market

As an architect from Detroit, Rena Bradley noticed Fort Wayne was lacking diverse housing styles when she moved here in 2015.  At the time, she was working for Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries on the city’s Southeast side, addressing challenges in the neighborhood, like a housing shortage and a surplus of smaller, empty lots. Bradley thought that if she could bring a concept, like shipping container homes, to Fort Wayne it could benefit families and the city alike, giving residents an attainable path to homeownership and reactivating vacant lots too small for traditional housing. As an added bonus: It would give her more interesting homes to choose from, too. “I wanted to bring the type of housing to our community that I myself wanted to live in,” Bradley says. “Something...

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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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Home Free: How the Forty Percent Live

Home Free: How the Forty Percent Live

Fort Wayne homeowner Kate was surprised to discover how she felt when she made the last mortgage payment on her home. “I thought the day I paid off the house would be the best day ever, but it is really the next month, when you don’t have to make that payment and you suddenly realize how much money you have to spend on something else.”  At first she devoted her extra money to fixing up her house, but once those tasks were done, her options expanded. “Now we have money to go on vacations and relax and look toward retirement with less stress. My husband says that this house is our guarantee that we won’t have to eat cat food,” she joked. Their home has nearly tripled in value since they purchased it in 1996. She recommended making a full commitment to the home and its location to make...

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2024 CANDIDATE FORUMS FOR DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS

2024 CANDIDATE FORUMS FOR DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Join us for an insightful series of Candidate Forums where you can hear directly from the contenders vying for your vote in the upcoming Indiana 2024 Primary Election. This is your chance to engage with the candidates, understand their perspectives, and make informed decisions on Election Day. Both forums will feature candidates from their respective parties, presenting their platforms, discussing key issues, and answering questions from the audience. It's an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about the individuals who could potentially represent you in important positions of leadership. Remember, your voice matters, and your vote counts! To reserve a spot for these events, register at: Democratic Party forum: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../3rd-district-congressional......

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Estate Planning Made Simple: Name a Beneficiary for Your House

Estate Planning Made Simple: Name a Beneficiary for Your House

Estate planning can be a slog, but some shortcuts cut down on stress and expenses for beneficiaries. One way to streamline the transfer of property is to establish a Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed for Hoosier homes. Similar to a Lady Bird Deed, which is available in Michigan, Vermont, Texas, West Virginia, and Florida, a TOD Deed allows an Indiana property owner to designate a beneficiary to inherit the property after the owner’s death. Having a TOD Deed in place means that the property skips the probate process, which can delay the transfer of ownership. Meanwhile, the owner holds the rights to the property exclusively until death.  Allen County Recorder Nicole Keesling talked about TOD Deeds in a recent interview, starting with the process of registering a TOD Deed with Allen...

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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...