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🌱 Patch AM: How big will Evansville’s 2026 Grand National tractor pull be?

Also, don't miss LGBTQ+ Movie Social Hour on the Evansville Patch calendar

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Friday December 19th Patch AM
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Good morning Evansville! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How big will Evansville’s 2026 Grand National tractor pull be?
  • How a federally charged gun purchase ties back to Evansville officer
  • See how controlled fire is reshaping Evansville’s Howell Wetlands prairie.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Evansvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Much colder, with a high of 38 and low of 29 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny; breezy, warmer, temps: high: 54, low: 28.
  • Sunday: Mostly cloudy and cooler, with a high of 44 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Horsepower Returns to Indiana with Full Pull's Grand National Debut (city-countyobserver.com) — A major national tractor pulling event is headed to the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center in Evansville May 28–30, 2026, bringing Grand National competition back to Indiana for the first time in nearly 50 years. Organizers just announced a public press conference with free admission, giveaways, and vehicle displays to reveal sponsors, schedules, ticket and camping details, and local teams involved.
   

Find out what's happening in Evansvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

2. Man accused of providing weapon that injured Evansville Officer charged federally (tristatehomepage.com) — Federal prosecutors have charged a man accused of supplying the gun used in the shooting that left Evansville Police Officer Sam Taylor paralyzed from the chest down. Investigators say the firearm he bought while under felony indictment was later given to teenager Jailani Chew and matched the weapon used in the attack. The defendant now faces multiple federal counts and potentially steep fines.
   

3. Prescribed burn of prairie at Howell Wetlands in Evansville (courierpress.com) — A prescribed burn at Howell Wetlands’ northern prairie in Evansville shows fire crews carefully managing flames, protecting nearby trees, and watching wildlife scatter to safety. The photo series documents how professionals use controlled fire to maintain this popular local nature area while minimizing risks to the surrounding community and habitat.
   

4. Old National claims rival Bell Bank staged ‘coup d'etat' at its Brainerd branch (startribune.com) — An Evansville-based banking giant, Old National Bancorp, is suing rival Bell Bank, claiming it orchestrated a mass defection of eight senior employees from its Brainerd-area branches. The alleged “coup d’etat” forced brief branch closures in Minnesota and comes months after Old National’s major expansion through acquiring Bremer Financial.
   

5. Fort Wayne becomes latest target of Rokita's expanding immigration-related inquiry (insideindianabusiness.com) — Indiana’s attorney general has lost a key court fight in Evansville over his use of civil subpoenas in immigration-related investigations, even as he expands those tactics to Fort Wayne. A Vanderburgh County judge ruled his demands on The Haitian Center of Evansville didn’t meet legal standards, and no criminal or civil cases have yet resulted from 16 such immigration probes statewide. The ongoing legal battles could shape how state officials interact with local immigrant‑serving groups.
   

📸 Around Evansville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Evansville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Saturday December 20
  • LGBTQ+ Movie Social Hour
    EVPL Central , Browning Event Room B , Evansville
    1:00 pm
  • Design Time
    EVPL Central , READ Center - River Room , Evansville
    2:00 pm
  • Canvas Paint Party
    EVPL North Park , Meeting Room , Evansville
    2:00 pm
    • Monday December 22
  • Seven Stories, Seven Principles
    EVPL East , Auditorium , Evansville
    3:00 pm

📣 Evansville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • For anyone interested in the evictions filed for those 44 people well the number is over 100 and the story is sad and crazy
    "Somebody needs to do something": Evansville renters shocked by sudden eviction notices https://share.google/Q2fcdck3CK7fIYyVi (Nextdoor Burdette Ave)
  • Abandoned dog,
    This dog was found in a vacant lot near Glenwood school around midnight on our trailer drop lot, in a cage with an empty water bowl and no food, I… (Nextdoor Goosetown)
  • Culver's Restaurant posted a job opening for Porter in Evansville. Apply here.
  • Deaconess Health System, Inc. posted a job opening for Medical Office Assistant in Evansville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Evansville here.

Ok Evansville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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