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For more than a century, WOWO Radio has remained one of America’s most recognized and respected radio stations. Founded in 1925, WOWO continues to combine heritage broadcasting with innovative programming, award-winning news coverage, and unmatched community service. In 2025, WOWO celebrated 100 years on the air while continuing to expand its statewide and national presence. The station broadcasted live from the U.S. Capitol to help kick off America’s 250th Birthday celebration. WOWO also recently opened a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility, hosting nationally syndicated broadcasters including Glenn Beck and Clay Travis & Buck Sexton. WOWO’s legacy has been shaped by legendary broadcasters including Hall of Famers Bob Sievers and Bob Chase, whose influence helped define generations of radio excellence. WOWO also continued its commitment to Northeast Indiana through 78 years of the Penny Pitch campaign. Over the past decade alone, Penny Pitch has raised more than $1 million supporting organizations including Shepherd’s House, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana, Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, and Breastie Boxes. WOWO has earned multiple NAB Marconi Radio Awards, including 2014 and 2022 Medium Market Station of the Year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kayla Blakeslee hosts Fort Wayne’s Morning News from 5AM-9AM on WOWO, one of America’s most historic radio stations, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025! Blakeslee expanded WOWO’s audience reach far beyond traditional radio through streaming, podcasts, social media, video and events. For example, FWMN reached nearly 33,000 weekly terrestrial listeners in FALL 2025 morning drive according to Nielsen, while FWMN’s stream generated more than 35,000 weekly listening sessions and over 26,000 hours of weekly streaming consumption. Her social media platforms consistently generated millions of views and thousands of engagements, helping connect local news and civic conversations with multiple audiences. Throughout 2025, Blakeslee covered major political and civic discussions, including debates and exclusive interviews with local, state, and national leaders. She also helped lead WOWO’s local centennial events featuring Glenn Beck, Clay Travis, and Buck Sexton, while supporting America’s 250th planning efforts for 2026. Blakeslee also spearheaded WOWO’s 78th annual Penny Pitch radiothon, raising more than $140,000 for a local nonprofit, while supporting Teddy Bear Patrol efforts, collecting hundreds of stuffed animals for children at emergency scenes. As she approaches her 15th year with WOWO, Blakeslee continues to demonstrate a long-term commitment to local journalism, community storytelling, and civic engagement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 2025. WOWO Radio celebrated 100 years of broadcasting excellence while continuing to serve Northeast Indiana with innovative programming, major community outreach, and first-class live events. The station’s WOWO 100 celebration generated both audience engagement and new revenue opportunities through specialty programming, commemorative promotions, and memorable jingles that listeners continue to praise. WOWO’s 78th Annual Penny Pitch campaign exceeded expectations by raising $140,692 for Breastie Boxes. The campaign successfully transitioned into WOWO’s new state-of-the-art facility while expanding audience participation through the sold-out Penny Pitch N’ Putt event and the highly successful Penny Pitch gas pump promotion, which raised $4,490 in just three hours. WOWO also demonstrated major-market execution by hosting nationally syndicated personalities Glenn Beck, Clay Travis, and Buck Sexton in back-to-back weeks. Events included live broadcasts, audience experiences with more than 250 attendees combined, and livestreams viewed worldwide. With a weekly CUME audience of 54,000 listeners, WOWO continued delivering market-leading programming, audience engagement, and community service throughout its historic centennial year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Glenn is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at a radio station celebrating its 100th anniversary. The station, WOWO, was among the first stations where Glenn first premiered. Glenn gives a history of WOWO and its impact on radio. Harvard University science professor Avi Loeb joins to discuss why we're discovering objects headed toward Earth regularly and the chances of these objects being alien technology. What is this Manhattan-sized object headed toward Earth, and why is it believed not to be a comet? Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump joins to discuss his new book, “Under Siege: My Family's Fight to Save Our Nation.” Glenn and Eric also discuss Zohran Mamdani's chances of becoming mayor of New York City and the horrible policies he plans to implement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Glenn is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at a radio station celebrating its 100th anniversary. The station, WOWO, was among the first stations where Glenn first premiered. Glenn gives a history of WOWO and its impact on radio. Glenn speaks with Mercury One executive director J.P. Decker to discuss the upcoming Mercury One gala, which honors all the charity work Mercury One has been engaged in. Is a tic-tac-shaped UFO set to collide with Earth? Harvard University science professor Avi Loeb joins to discuss why we're discovering objects headed toward Earth regularly and the chances of these objects being alien technology. What is this Manhattan-sized object headed toward Earth, and why is it believed not to be a comet? Stu goes on a rant over the New York City mayoral race between two horrible choices: Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. Trump Organization Executive Vice President Eric Trump joins to discuss his new book, “Under Siege: My Family's Fight to Save Our Nation.” Glenn and Eric also discuss Zohran Mamdani's chances of becoming mayor of New York City and the horrible policies he plans to implement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
En RDC, à la frontière avec la Zambie, environ 700 femmes de Kasumbalesa assurent le transport manuel des marchandises des petits commerçants. On les appelle les femmes « wowo ». Si leur travail est vital pour l'économie locale, il se fait dans la précarité et sous la menace permanente de violences. De notre correspondante de retour de Kasumbalesa, Dès le matin, les femmes « wowo », chargées de sacs de farine, de packs de biscuits, de lots de boissons sucrées pesant parfois de plus de 30 kilos, sont dans le couloir piétonnier de Kasumbalesa et dans la zone neutre. Un sac sur sa tête, Anto vient de braver les différentes barrières du couloir : « Il y a trois barrières. À la sortie de la Zambie, je paye 500 francs congolais. Au couloir, je donne 1 000 francs congolais et un peu plus loin, je débourse encore 1 000 francs congolais. Une fois en dehors du couloir, d'autres agents des services publics nous attendent. Des fois, je négocie avec eux et ils me laissent passer. » Des attouchements et des humiliations Au-delà de ces tracasseries, certaines femmes subissent des violences verbales de la part des agents publics. Jacquie, jeune femme veuve, rencontrée à la sortie du couloir piétonnier, témoigne : « On m'insulte souvent. Ces agents me disent. Pourquoi es-tu ici ? Où est ton mari ? Est-il incapable de te nourrir ? Bon, je n'en ai rien à faire, on supporte parce qu'ils ne connaissent pas ma situation. » D'autres subissent même des agressions sexuelles, déclare Régine Mbuyi, une autre femme « wowo » : « Lorsqu'un agent m'interpelle parfois, il me demande des faveurs sexuelles pour laisser passer la marchandise. Il arrive également que pendant la fouille, ces agents se permettent des attouchements jusque sur les parties intimes. C'est humiliant… » Les femmes « wowo » de Kasumbalesa n'ont aucune protection sociale ni de recours légal. L'Association des femmes actives dans le commerce transfrontalier (AFACT) dénonce une situation alarmante. Solange Masengo est la présidente : « Dans la zone de la Comesa, le Marché commun de l'Afrique orientale et australe, nous voyons les femmes assurer le transport transfrontalier sans problème. Mais ici, chez nous, ces femmes discriminées, elles sont chassées. Il y a des filles qui ont été humiliées et déshabillées, et nous avons des preuves. On a aussi des femmes qui ont été fouettées publiquement. Lorsque l'association veut intervenir, on nous demande de laisser la situation comme ça. Pourquoi la femme ne peut pas faire un travail de son choix ? » Pour l'heure, nous n'avons pas réussi à avoir la réaction du maire de Kasumbalesa et même du sous-directeur de la douane. Les femmes « wowo » quant à elles, continuent de porter le commerce frontalier sur leurs épaules malgré la fatigue et les humiliations. À lire aussiFemmes «wowo», ces forces invisibles du commerce transfrontalier entre la RDC et la Zambie [1/2]
À Kasumbalesa, à la frontière entre la Zambie et la RDC, se vit un trafic parallèle, loin des grands camions et des formalités douanières. Chaque jour, plusieurs centaines de femmes congolaises transportent sur leur tête, ou leur dos, des marchandises pour traverser la frontière Zambienne. On appelle ces femmes « wowo », en référence aux camions chinois de la même marque. Notre correspondante a suivi quelques-unes de ces femmes. De notre correspondante de retour de Kasumbalesa, À Kasumbalesa, deuxième poste frontalier plus important de la RDC, elles sont là, à quelques mètres des files interminables de camions : des femmes portant de lourdes charges sur la tête et le dos, qui franchissent le couloir piétonnier. Ce sont les femmes « wowo » raconte avec sourire Alphonsine, l'une d'elles : « Je suis en mesure de faire passer la charge de tout un camion. Nous sommes les mamans "wowo", c'est l'image des camions qui transportent des charges importantes. Nous travaillons en équipe. S'il faut décharger le camion, nous le faisons et puis nous transportons la cargaison jusqu'à la destination au Congo, selon les instructions du propriétaire. » Selon l'association des femmes actives dans le commerce transfrontalier, elles sont près de sept cents, tous âges confondus, qui exercent ce métier. Les petits commerçants, eux, ne s'affichent pas dès qu'ils confient la marchandise aux femmes « wowo ». Témoignage de Régine Mbuyi, une autre transporteuse : « Le petit commerçant vient acheter toute sorte d'articles, du jus, de la farine de froment, de l'huile végétale… Il me sollicite pour faire traverser ces produits. S'il est de bonne foi, il me donne aussi l'argent pour payer la douane et d'autres services publics. Mais s'il n'a rien, je dois me débrouiller. » À la sortie de la frontière côté congolais, quatre femmes arrivent chacune avec cinq packs de boisson sucrée d'environ 30 kg sur sa tête. Coût de transport, 1 500 francs congolais par course, soit moins d'un dollar. La recette journalière de chacune est de près de 5 dollars. Ces femmes doivent transporter environ une tonne. Pour y arriver, c'est la course contre-la-montre, explique Keren pendant qu'elle range les packs : « Chacune de nous a une quantité qu'elle doit transporter. Moi, j'ai 25 packs. Le commerçant a acheté 100, ce n'est pas beaucoup. Bon, on y va pour la dernière course. » Les services de douanes, quant à eux, ne voient pas d'un bon œil cette activité des femmes, car elle favoriserait un manque à gagner quotidien de près de 3 000 dollars. Pour Malaxe Luhanga, président des petits transporteurs transfrontaliers, il faut formaliser cette activité : « On peut appliquer le système de groupage selon la catégorie des marchandises et qu'elles soient taxées officiellement. On peut adopter ce système qui est admis par les pays membres du Comesa pour faciliter les transactions et la taxation par les services publics. » En attendant, des centaines des femmes « wowo » de Kasumbalesa poursuivent leur activité de manière informelle. À lire aussiLa frontière entre la Zambie et la RDC rouvre après plusieurs jours de fermetures
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House Democratic Leader, Phil GiaQuinta, joined Fort Wayne's Morning News with Kayla Blakeslee to talk about SB1 and to share a special proclamation for WOWO's 100th birthday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Indiana's Lt. Governor, Micah Beckwith, joined Fort Wayne's Morning News to take WOWO-land inside the Governors Office. This week, the Lt. Governor talked about Governor Braun's proposal to provide relief thousands of Hoosier homeowners. Beckwith recapped the Property Tax Rally attended and spoke at down inside the statehouse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Indiana's Lt. Governor, Micah Beckwith, joined Fort Wayne's Morning News to take WOWO-land inside the Governors Office. This week, the Lt. Governor talked about Governor Braun's proposal to provide relief thousands of Hoosier homeowners. Beckwith previewed the Property Tax Rally he will attend and speak at down inside the statehouse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Buck Sexton joined Kayla Blakeslee on Fort Wayne's Morning News to share the news that he and Clay Travis will be joining WOWO to host the 12pm-3pm show starting March 17th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode, Simi and Feyikemi dive deep with Nigerian artist Minz as he shares his journey from growing up to becoming a rising star. Minz opens up about "BDMN" blowing up, signing with Empawa, and the impact of "Wowo." With his debut album 'By Any Minz' finally here, Minz discusses the inspiration and process behind the new project and what this release means to him. Tune in for an in-depth conversation about music, growth, and making waves in the industry! They also put you on to their favourite shows & songs right now.Make sure you watch the episode on YouTube & listen to the playlist - F&S Rotations on Apple Music and Spotify, updated weekly.Send fan mail & enquiries to: contactfands@gmail.comFollow us on X & Instagram