🌱 Patch AM: Could the Chicago Bears actually move their home field to Hammond?

Good morning Hammond! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could the Chicago Bears actually move their home field to Hammond?
• How you can join PNW’s 2026 MLK Day celebrations in Hammond
• How a Hammond federal case helped crack a multi-state bank fraud ring

Also on today's calendar: Legacy2.0 ALIZA SCROOGE A CHRISTMAS PLAY and 5 more events.

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

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 27 and low of 24 degrees.
• Saturday: Breezy and not as cold, temps: high: 43, low: 18. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 32 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Northwest Indiana leaders hope to lure Chicago Bears as team expands stadium search (abc7chicago.com) — Hammond’s mayor and regional leaders are actively courting the Chicago Bears as the team widens its stadium search beyond Arlington Heights, potentially bringing a massive economic boost just over the state line. Indiana’s governor is backing the effort, while Illinois officials and Arlington Heights leaders push for legislation to keep the franchise in Illinois, setting up a high-stakes regional tug-of-war.
   

• Purdue University Northwest invites community members to join 2026 MLK Day events (pnw.edu) — Purdue University Northwest is inviting Hammond-area residents to free Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, including a Jan. 15, 2026 program at Alumni Hall on the Hammond campus. Attendees can hear keynote speaker Shontrai Irving in Hammond and join a second breakfast event Jan. 19 in Westville, both focused on service, civic engagement, and Dr. King’s legacy.
   

• Three Honduran Nationals Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in a Bank Fraud Conspiracy (regionnewssource.org) — Federal judges in Hammond have sentenced three Honduran nationals for a multi-state bank fraud scheme that hit small businesses and community banks, including targets in northern Indiana. The men received prison terms, restitution orders, and will face removal from the U.S., with investigators stressing that complex financial crimes crossing into Indiana will be aggressively pursued.
   

📸 Around Hammond

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Hammond

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• White Christmas
  Towle Performing Arts Company, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 20

• Adult Craft
  Whiting Public Library , 1735 Oliver Street , Whiting
  2:00 pm
• Legacy2.0 ALIZA SCROOGE A CHRISTMAS PLAY
  Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana - Hammond Club , 5840 Calumet Ave , Hammond
  6:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• White Christmas
  Towle Performing Arts Company , 5205 Hohman Ave , Hammond
  2:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Cookies and Canvas
  Jean Shepherd Community Center , 3031 J.F. Mahoney Dr , Hammond
  10:00 am
• Cookies & Canvas
  Jean Shepherd Community Center , 3031 J.F. Mahoney Dr , Hammond
  10:00 am

Wednesday December 24

• Library Closed
  Whiting Public Library , 1735 Oliver Street , Whiting

Saturday December 27

• Public Enemy
  The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond , 777 Casino Center Dr , Hammond
  8:00 pm

📣 Hammond 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

Friday December 19

• A Frank Sinatra Christmas Show
  Theatre at the Center , 1040 Ridge Rd , Munster
  2:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Ethnic Cookie Sale
  Studio 659 , 1413 119th St , Whiting
  9:00 am
• Mixed Media Tree Cards — South Shore Arts, Northwest Indiana
  South Shore Arts , 1040 Ridge Rd , Munster
  10:00 am
• Full BBQ Menu — VALLEE BBQ
  313 Taproom , 313 Ridge Rd , Munster
  12:00 pm

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

• Hi good morning everyone just want to inform you out here in east Chicago there are little kids/ teenagers out here breaking into people cars and they are busting people windows I had my window busted this morning nothing was taken out of my car I
  believe my alarm scare them off please be careful out here women and children and men please don't leave anything in your car overnight these stick… (Nextdoor Hammond High)

• Strack and Van Til posted a job opening for Seafood Clerk - Van Til's in Hammond. Apply here.
• McDonald's posted a job opening for Custodian - 24955 in Hammond. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hammond here.

🗞 Nearby News

East Chicago

• Bears' Indiana threat doesn't move ball forward with Illinois Democrats for new stadium (suntimes.com)

Munster

• A new Bears stadium site? No one cares when Packers are coming to town (nytimes.com)

Highland

Ok Hammond! 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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