Ella Abbott

On Monday, Parkview Health and Lutheran Health systems have both announced new updates to their visitor restriction policies due to the rising number of COVID cases in the area.

CORRECTION: This story originally incorrectly stated there were nine FWCS high schools. It has been updated to say there are five high schools and the career academy.

Beginning Monday, Fort Wayne Community Schools’ five high schools and career academy will be moving entirely to remote learning for two weeks. WBOI’s Ella Abbott reports this is due mostly to a lack of staff.

 The Fort Wayne Philharmonic rejected another offer from musicians to accept pay cuts in order to return to performing for the 2020-2021 season.

Voter turnout in Northeast Indiana increased in nearly every county that provided voter turnout data from the 2016 general election.

In Wabash and Noble counties, turnout increased by about 10 percent this election. Wells County increased from 70% in 2016, to 75% this year.

Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, says the whole state saw an increase in early voting.

Purdue University in West Lafayette has announced its homecoming will be taking place virtually this year to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Vice President for University Advancement and alumni engagement, Matt Folk, says the opportunity to bring homecoming directly into people’s homes means including people who might otherwise not be able to attend.

Purdue will offer virtual programming to alumni around the globe. Special programming includes a virtual 5K, a reunion event for the class of 1970 and daily livestreams of university events.

The Allen County Executive Board of Health met yesterday for their regular meeting and discussed the changes in the county’s response to COVID-19.

Dr. Matthew Sutter, the Allen County Health Commissioner, said the county has been working to add more contact tracers, and that the team they have is working overtime.

Hoosiers planning to vote early are facing lines and wait times at polling stations.

Here in Allen County, the only polling station currently open has wait times from anywhere between a half an hour to an hour and a half.

In response to the increase, the Allen County Board of Elections will be opening satellite polling stations earlier this year, beginning on Oct. 26, and they’ll be staying open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., until the day before the election.

Snider High School has developed the area’s first high school esports team and will begin its first season on Monday.

Over 50 students will compete for scholarships against students from around the country in games like Rocket League and League of Legends.

Esports programs have been expanding in popularity at colleges across the country, with more than 100 schools offering scholarships for esports.