Engling won the nomination on the state GOP convention’s second ballot, finishing ahead of Knox County Clerk David Shelton as incumbent Secretary of State Diego Morales came in a distant third.

Engling received 867 votes to secure the nomination with 53% support. Shelton followed with 627 votes and Morales 134. Conservative activist Jamie Reitenour was eliminated in the first round of voting.

His victory puts him on the November election ballot against Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lauri Shillings and a likely independent bid by former Republican Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

Engling said despite the convention contest he was ready  to extend Republican control of the office that oversees statewide voting practices.

“We’re not looking at what the other folks are doing, we’re moving forward as a Republican team,” Engling told reporters. “We’re expecting to move forward and win in the fall.”

Banks staffer to top Republican ticket

The 39-year-old Engling has been central Indiana regional director and adviser to U.S. Jim Banks since early last year.

Engling jumped into the race last month as Banks and Attorney General Todd Rokita withdrew their endorsements of Morales. The political split came with Rokita saying worried Morales could lose the fall election after “many self-inflicted wounds.”

Engling touted himself to delegates as the candidate best positioned to continue the GOP’s decade-long hold on all statewide offices.

“We can go into November united as a team, confident and with a candidate that has a vision for the office, a statewide network and support to raise the money … so we can win in November,” Engling said.

Bayh — a son of former governor and U.S. senator Evan Bayh — won the Democratic nomination earlier this month and has already raised more than $2.5 million for his campaign. Democrats hope he can break a streak that has seen Republicans go 23-0 in statewide elections since 2014.

In his speech to delegates Saturday, Engling knocked Bayh as “a prep school kid with a familiar name.”

Engling sought to tie Bayh and Indiana Democrats to contentious national issues.

“If they win, we will be handing over our voter rolls to the party that gave us open borders and illegal immigrant voters,” Engling said.

Bayh said in a statement after Engling’s convention win that “Hoosiers are ready for a change in the secretary of state’s office.”

“They are tired of the corruption, insider dealing, and waste of taxpayer money that Max Engling and the political insiders pulling his strings have enabled for years,” Bayh said. “I will continue to work to earn the votes of all Hoosiers and will be the secretary of state for all Hoosiers.”

Banks repeated his endorsement of Engling during a speech to delegates Friday evening. Gov. Mike Braun and U.S. Sen. Todd Young also spoke Friday but didn’t wade into the secretary of state contest.

The move by Banks to push forward one of his staffers as an alternative to Morales came just weeks after six Republican state senators who voted against the Trump-demanded congressional redistricting lost to primary challengers.

Political organizations controlled by Banks largely bankrolled the multimillion-dollar advertising blitz against those senators — helping carry out Trump’s goal of political revenge over the redistricting defeat.

Morales’ loss followed numerous controversies about office spending and travel since he won office in 2022. He sought to hold onto connections he built with GOP activists by relentless attendance at local party events and dinners over several years.

He scored an upset convention win in 2022 when he defeated incumbent Holli Sullivan for the nomination, but he received tepid applause from the delegates as he spoke before voting began.

He tried to rally support by telling them “the establishment never wants you to have a choice.”

“Now comes the biggest heist of all, top Republicans who publicly embraced me, who publicly endorsed me, suddenly stabbed me in the back and tried to take over this convention,” Morales said.

But Morales was third in the first round of voting by delegates, which saw Engling get 715 votes, Shelton 543, Morales 283 and Reitenour 135. Reitenour was eliminated and delegates moved on to a second round of balloting since Engling was short of the majority vote needed to secure the nomination.

The post Engling captures Republican bid for Indiana secretary of state appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales on Thursday lost the support of key Indiana Republican allies as U.S. Senator Jim Banks and Attorney General Todd Rokita declared they no longer believe he is the party's strongest nominee for November. 

But Morales, showing no signs of backing down, says state convention delegates and not party insiders should decide the Republican nominee.

Banks, who endorsed Morales for reelection in March and previously called him a tireless advocate for Hoosier values, on Thursday endorsed Max Engling, an advisor in his Senate office. 

Banks said the change of heart comes after Morales lied to him about hiring a noncitizen as his chief of staff who was illegally registered to vote, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Kosciusko County Republican Chair Mike Ragan quickly reposted the joint statement from Banks and Rokita on Facebook. 

“I was concerned about it, and I was hoping that something like this would happen, so I was very pleased when I read about it and heard about it,” Ragan said in an interview with News Now Warsaw Thirsday afternoon.

Ragan describes Engling as popular and sharp and "operates above board in everything he

He said he thinks Englin will be a strong candidate when GOP delegates meet on June 20 in Fort Wayne for the party's nominating convention.

Thursday marked the filing deadline for GOP candidates. Party officials confirmed that Morales and Max Engling — a senior adviser and regional director in Banks’ Senate office — as well as Knox County Clerk David Shelton and conservative activist Jamie Reitenour were eligible, Indiana Capital Chronicle reported.

Area resident Brian Smith, who chairs the Democratic Party's Second Congressional District, said the decision by GOP leaders comes "four years too late," considering the number of controversies Morales has faced. 

Morales has been dogged by several controversies, ranging from the use of expensive vehicles to allegations of employing family members, as well as his penchant for international travel.

"The level of corruption and just straight-up hypocrisy is mind-boggling,” Smith said.

He said Republicans came to realize Morales would struggle if he faced Democrat Beau Bayh in the general election.

Bayh is promising to clean up the office and investigate some of Morales' activities while in office.

“The very first thing he will do is … a true independent audit of the agency so we can just understand the level of corruption that Diego Morales conducted for the past four years,” Smith said.

The post Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales loses support, but will not end re-election bid appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

NORTH WEBSTER — If you thought March was especially stormy, you would be correct.

The National Weather Service’s Northern Indiana Office reports that March 2026 was the busiest March for severe weather on record.

In March 2026, the office issued 57 total severe thunderstorm warnings, covering nearly the entire forecast area.

The previous record was just 28, which was set just last year.

Three parts of the area saw a particularly high concentration of severe thunderstorm warnings. One included LaPorte, Starke, and Marshall Counties. Another concentration was seen on a line from Warsaw to Fort Wayne.

The office also issued 18 tornado warnings in March — nearly three times the record of seven set in 2023. The average number of tornado warnings issued in March for the Northern Indiana Office is just one.

The office's forecast area includes northern Indiana as well as southern portions of Michigan and northwest Ohio.

The post Weather Service says March saw a record number of warnings across the region appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

FORT WAYNE — Sweetwater, the nation’s largest online musical instrument and pro audio retailer, is giving musicians the chance to play, compare, and discover the band instruments that best support their goals at the National Band Expo on May 16.

Held at Sweetwater’s Fort Wayne campus, this in-person event will feature the largest selection of intermediate and advanced band instruments in the United States.

The National Band Expo is designed for students, band directors, and lesson instructors looking to purchase a band instrument. In addition to the largest selection of instruments available anywhere, Sweetwater will have manufacturer rebates, 0% financing on many models, and special day-of-event deals, along with the lowest pricing of the year on all the top band instrument brands.

“This is a one-of-a-kind event — something only Sweetwater could bring to life,” said Jennifer Witt, senior marketing manager for Sweetwater’s band and orchestra division.

“Sweetwater already offers an unmatched selection of band instruments, and at the National Band Expo on May 16, musicians will be able to explore an even wider variety of options. It’s a rare opportunity to play this wide range of instruments, compare, and discover the step-up that best supports their musical goals.”

Because of the large selection available, Sweetwater anticipates drawing customers from throughout the Midwest and beyond. From 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Sweetwater will have band instrument specialists available for 30-minute appointments and consultations to help determine the best fit.

To sign up for a one-on-one consultation, click here.

Based in Fort Wayne, the Sweetwater campus features the largest music store in the country.

The post Sweetwater to host massive band instrument expo May 16 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Public Library is now making available to its patrons free access to seven high-profile destinations across Indiana.

The new plan was unveiled Monday at the library's board meeting and is the result of a partnership with Museum Key, a service that allows patrons to reserve passes on the library's website for specific attractions by using their library card number and PIN.

 The passes provide free admission to the following:

• Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis
• Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, Elkhart
• Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis
• Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend
• Science Central, Fort Wayne
• The History Museum, South Bend
• Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Elkhart

Library Director Heather Barron said the service is another attempt to support patrons while outside of the physical library.

"We think it's really important to lower access barriers for families to be able to get together, to learn," Barron said. "This is one new way that a lot of libraries are trying to give their patrons access to different things."

Barron said Erica Bennington and Jacob Shriner, who are both part of the library's Adult Services Department, researched the issue before assembling the plan.

"They researched quite a few libraries to find out which passes worked for them, and who they partnered with, and then we looked at how far our patrons might be willing to travel and what they might be interested in," Barron said.

The South Bend Zoo appears to be one of the more popular choices, and officials hope to eventually include the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo as well.

The Library remains open to other destinations, Barron said.

Many of the destinations have specific rules and limitations that patrons will need to review ahead of time.

Online, the Experience Passes can be found under the "Books, Movies, & More" tab near the top of the home page.

The post New program at Warsaw library offers passes to seven Indiana attractions appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Tom Davies
Indiana Capital Chronicle

The post More counties could join competition for new Indiana casino appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

The bill before Indiana House members Thursday might have been about creating a new casino license for Fort Wayne, but the discussion was far more complicated.

Rep. Ethan Manning – chair of the House Public Policy Committee – said he knows of four or five competing casino bills this session with different ideas. He encouraged the hearing as a starting point of the overall discussion.

Indeed, some of the testimony focused instead on transferring an existing casino license from southern Indiana to northern Indiana.

And other locales, including Indianapolis and Steuben County, don’t think they should be left out of the conversation on the best location.

A study released by the Indiana Gaming Commission in October found that Indianapolis was the top location for a casino relocation, followed by northeast Indiana.

While the Indianapolis region would bring the state more tax revenue, it would also hurt the two casinos nearby in Shelbyville and Anderson that help support the horse racing industry. Northeast Indiana was seen as more of an open market, impacting casinos in Ohio and Michigan.

Rep. Craig Snow’s legislation, House Bill 1038, would add a 14^th casino license in the state and create a competitive bidding process for that license. A minimum $50 million license fee would be paid to the state by the casino operator.

The committee will return in January to amend and vote on the bill.

“This opportunity is too big of an opportunity for the city of Fort Wayne to pass up,” said Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker. “We recognize and see that the economic investment, the economic development that could happen because of a license being located in the city of Fort Wayne is tremendous.”

Tucker and the three Allen County Commissioners submitted a letter on Dec. 1 to legislative leaders with an agreement on how money from any local development agreement would be split. These agreements are generally between casino operators and local government to put money into growing a community.

Sixty percent of the revenue would be distributed to communities in Allen County based on population. The remaining 40% — estimated at about $11 million a year — would be put into a designated humanitarian fund for non-profits to help improve mental health and combat homelessness, addiction and other challenges. A board would be appointed by elected officials to oversee the distribution of these funds.

“Whether it’s in the city of Fort Wayne, or whether it is in the county … everyone in our community would have an opportunity to benefit,” Tucker said.

Tom Kelley, a prominent Fort Wayne businessman, said the proposed economic impact of a casino is more than $200 million annually.

“I believe very strongly that’s the vitality that our kids and our grandchildren need to keep moving forward. The city, the county, the state, have put Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana in a very enviable state to attract businesses,” he said. “And the more money we have for economic development, the more jobs we’re able to create, the more income for the state of Indiana.”

The bill does not include a referendum for voters to approve having a casino – something that all other gambling communities have passed.

Tucker said she is “never in opposition of allowing the public to speak,” but she is concerned about slowing the process with a referendum. She and others acknowledged a tribal casino in the area is also a possibility, but a state-regulated facility would be better.

Several Hoosiers testified against a casino coming to the area, including Allen County resident Kristen Bissontz. She said it doesn’t match the family-friendly character of the area and will hurt local residents who become addicted to gambling.

“No one is talking about the social impact of what’s about to happen here when you bring a casino into virgin territory,” Bissontz said. “I have one study that says 83% of the revenue for casinos is from residents, my neighbors. You’re coming to pillage my village.”

Matt Bell, president of the Casino Association of Indiana, opposed the bill. He said adding a new license would bring instability to the industry.

“If y’all make the decision to create new licenses in Indiana, then you are injecting tremendous uncertainty into that investment market. You’re making it much harder to bring capital to the state of Indiana,” he said.

But the association doesn’t have a position on moving an existing license.

That is the route some believe makes more sense as the Rising Star Casino in southeastern Indiana’s Ohio County — owned and operated by Full House Resorts — has seen revenues plummet since casinos opened in Ohio and gambling has expanded in Kentucky.

Full House supported a bill last year to move its license to New Haven Indiana but the legislation died.

“We definitely agree that northeast Indiana should host a destination casino … we just disagree with the approach,” said Alex Stolyar, senior vice president for Full House. “We would rather see allowing us to relocate our license, rather than expanding.”

He also promised a high-quality casino resort that will be used to grow the region.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

The post Fort Wayne casino pitch arrives at the Statehouse appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

NORTH WEBSTER — The northern half of Kosciusko County will continue under a winter storm warning on Sunday after Saturday’s snowstorm blanketed much of the Midwest and Great Lakes.

Saturday’s storm dumped eight inches of snow north of North Webster at the National Weather Service office, and similar amounts were reported across Kosciusko County, leaving treacherous road conditions for holiday travelers.

Fort Wayne received 5.7 inches of snow while South Bend saw nine inches of snowfall.

Windy conditions will continue Sunday, and another one to five inches are predicted across the area, with much of that expected to affect areas north of Warsaw, the weather service said.

Regionally, lake-effect snow will develop this morning and continue throughout the day, causing travel impacts to persist, the weather service said.

Wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph are expected for the remainder of the day.

The storm warning remains in effect for southwest Lower Michigan and northern Indiana through 7 p.m. 

Temperatures will fall into the upper 20s this morning and could lead to some re-freezing of melted snow on roadways. Patchy drifting snow is also possible. Some roads are also likely snow covered from the heavy snowfall yesterday.

Motorists should be alert for slick road conditions, the weather service said.

Police reported a large number of accidents and slide-offs, but no fatal crashes were reported as of early Sunday morning.

Some businesses closed early Saturday, and some Sunday church services were announced overnight.

The post Winter storm warning continues Sunday north of Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

FORT WAYNE — For most high school athletes, the final games, meets, and matches of their senior year come with a bittersweet realization that the opportunities to compete at that level may also be drawing to a close.

To help these future college students and those already enrolled fulfill their passion to play, Purdue University Fort Wayne announced today that it will offer as many as 13 club sports starting next year.

Those will include men’s and women’s soccer, tackle football, women’s flag football, and men’s and women’s rugby.

Already the home to northeast Indiana’s only NCAA Division I athletic programs, Purdue Fort Wayne will now give more non-scholarship athletes another chance to represent their school on the field of play, beginning with the fall 2026 semester.

Additional newly added club sports on PFW’s expanded list are coed running, men’s and women’s volleyball, and disc golf. These join an already established and competitive roster of club men’s basketball, esports, and dance.

“Club sports are growing and they are an excellent way for young people who have dedicated many years to competitive sports in school and club environments to continue to compete, develop meaningful connections, and not lose that identity when they go to college,” said Krissy Surface, vice chancellor for enrollment management and the student experience, Purdue University Fort Wayne. “It also allows them to represent PFW and travel throughout the state and region.”

Club sports at PFW are managed by Campus Recreation, which will be supported by a club sports council comprised of club sports student leaders. The council’s first official meeting is scheduled for Monday.

“Each sport has its own conference and many are linked to a national organization that could lead to opportunities to play for a national club title,” said Nick Brand, director of Campus Recreation, Purdue University Fort Wayne. “Our teams will travel within a four-hour radius of Fort Wayne for competition, showcasing the university in areas where we already recruit new students.”

According to Surface, nearly all of the teams will have one coach; tackle football will have three. Most positions will be part-time, temporary, and seasonal. Each sport will also have a captain who will work with their coach or coaches to guide the teams in and out of season.

With approximately 3,500 students at Fort Wayne Community Schools and comparable numbers regionwide competing in high school sports every year, PFW plans to accelerate its outreach to area districts and other sports organizations throughout November.

“We are already receiving high interest from local sports clubs whose leaders share in our vision to provide athletes who don’t have the opportunity to play at the college varsity level for a variety of reasons that chance to continue competing at high levels while also earning a prestigious Purdue degree,” Surface said. “The local sports environment is rich and we believe this is a perfect time for us to help build on that enthusiasm.”

The post Purdue Fort Wayne plans major expansion of club sports for 2026 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

NORTH WEBSTER — If you thought it was much more humid than usual this past July, you are correct.

The National Weather Service in North Webster reports in a post on its Facebook page that this past July ranks as the second most humid July on record for Fort Wayne and South Bend.

The average dew point in Fort Wayne was 67.53°, making it the most humid July since the record was set in 1993. For those younger than 32 living in the Fort Wayne area, this means this summer was the most humid July in Fort Wayne in your lifetime!! 

In South Bend, the average dew point was 66.41°, which is the most humid July since 2020.

The post NWS: July one of the most humid on record across Northern Indiana appeared first on News Now Warsaw.