Hey Locals,

We're out of town this week, but we have a few briefs and to-do list items for you, including updates on North River and Parkview Health's pricing.

We also have a fun reader blog submission, featuring new in-person dating events coming to town from Indianapolis.

Plus, summer festival season is in full swing with three free events this weekend. 

This month, our newsletter is brought to you by Turnstone, which, like us, believes Fort Wayne has a lot of potential. See what we mean at their annual Center Stage talent show fundraiser on June 3 at 7 p.m. where you can get the scoop on the city's up-and-coming artists and performers. Tickets are $25, and all subscribers to The Local get $5 off using code “thelocal” at checkout. Details here.

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Now, let's get started!

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

• Local leaders continue to debate allowing businessmen Chuck Surack and Daryle Doden to purchase North River for $12M. Last week, The JG's editorial board made the case that the offer "tests (the) boundaries of pride and privilege" if the city allows two prominent local businessmen to "override a public process." Insiders we've talked with believe taxpayers will pressure the city to sell the property – especially considering impending budget cuts placed on cities by Indiana's state legislature this spring. However, it appears that both the city and the businessmen might ultimately find middle-ground, as Surack and Doden will likely gather a team to assist with the project, perhaps including some who have applied for the work via the city's RFQ. A sports fieldhouse honoring the late-Mayor Tom Henry is also likely as a compromise, sources tell us.
• Parkview Health must reduce its aggregate average inpatient and outpatient healthcare prices for services by 40.8% by June 30, 2029, to avoid losing its nonprofit status. Gov. Mike Braun recently signed House Enrolled Act 1004 into law, resulting in penalties for nonprofit hospitals that exceed Indiana's “average hospital rate” for services. The bill was authored by Fort Wayne Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R) and includes a provision threatening to strip nonprofit hospitals of their tax-exempt status under Indiana code as well as enhanced reporting metrics. Carbaugh says the law makes "meaningful, incremental changes to provide relief to our constituents" after Parkview was featured in multiple reports by The Guardian last year for its exorbitant pricing despite Fort Wayne's nationally low cost of living. IU Health, which is also building a new hospital in Fort Wayne, must reduce its prices by 40.6%, too.

Plus: Indiana education updates, grand openings at Electric Works and more! We cover it all in our premium newsletter.

Tired of dating apps? There's an event for that.

A reader shares her experience at a new dating event series coming to Fort Wayne.

What's happening?

As singles grow tired of dating apps, a new event series is coming to Fort Wayne bars, restaurants and venues for in-person meetups. This week, we're featuring a blog submission by our subscriber, Rachel Horton, who shares about her experience at a recent speed dating event by the Indianapolis-based company FIND. Read it here!

What do you think of us featuring the occasional reader blog? Let us know by replying to this email.

• Explore: three local festivals this week:
  • Buskerfest is May 17, 3-9 p.m. at Wayne and Calhoun streets, featuring local, regional, and national street performers, including musicians, fire dancers, living statues, magicians, jugglers, and more.
  • EcoFest: is May 18, noon-5 p.m., at Headwaters Park Pavilion, celebrating local sustainable food, products and organizations.
  • Cherry Blossom Festival: is May 18, noon-6 p.m, at Purdue Fort Wayne’s Walb Student Union, honoring Japanese culture with martial arts, cosplay, Anime and more.
• Swap: native plants and seeds at the Indiana Native Plant Society’s plant swap at Lindenwood Nature preserve on May 17, 10 a.m.-noon. If you don't have any native plants yet, you can also attend to get some for free.
• Travel: the globe courtesy of Copper Spoon's new house cocktail menu inspired by cultures from around the world.

What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.

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Got a story tip or idea?

Let us know at thelocalfortwayne@gmail.com.

Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett