Fort Wayne Daily Headlines: Casino Bill, North River Funding, Rate Proposal, and Weekend Traffic

1) Fort Wayne-area casino bill advances at the Statehouse

A proposal that could bring a casino to northeast Indiana cleared a big hurdle this week, with the Indiana Senate approving House Bill 1038 on a 26-22 vote. The plan would authorize a new casino license and let Allen, DeKalb, and Steuben counties compete for a project that would require at least $500 million in investment.

Supporters are pitching it as a regional economic driver; opponents have raised concerns about moving forward without a local public referendum. The measure still needs additional action in the House before anything is finalized.

2) North River District planning funding approved

Downtown’s North River District took a step ahead Thursday after the Allen County–Fort Wayne Capital Improvement Board approved up to $1.5 million in support tied to early planning work. City officials say the near-30-acre riverfront site is being positioned for a mix of commercial space, recreation/green space, and public facilities, including the planned North River Fieldhouse.

3) I&M proposes a base-rate decrease for electric customers

Indiana Michigan Power says it plans to file for state approval to lower base electric rates, pointing to added revenue from large customers, including data centers. The proposal also outlines a ‘Benefits Bank’ concept meant to help smooth future swings in costs, plus investments aimed at reliability and outage reduction.

4) Transit updates and a busy Coliseum corridor

Citilink says service updates begin Monday, March 2, including route retirements and consolidations that will reshape service in parts of southeast Fort Wayne. The agency says staff and volunteers will ride along during the first few days to help riders adjust.

Drivers should also plan for extra congestion around the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from February 26–28 as multiple large events stack up. The Komets are also set for home games Friday and Saturday after climbing back into first place in the Central Division earlier this week.

Sources

https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/24/push-for-fort-wayne-area-casino-narrowly-clears-state-senate/
https://www.21alivenews.com/2026/02/26/1m-approved-support-north-river-district-development/
https://www.21alivenews.com/2026/02/25/im-lower-electric-rates-citing-revenue-data-centers/
https://www.21alivenews.com/2026/02/24/citilink-service-changes-coming-next-week/
https://www.21alivenews.com/2026/02/25/memorial-coliseum-sends-out-traffic-advisory-packed-event-schedule/
https://komets.com/news/2026/02/komets-back-on-top-central-division-standings