Good day West Lafayette! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around West Lafayette? Post it to West Lafayette photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Purdue unveils AI strategy, adds graduation requirement for students (wishtv.com) — Purdue’s West Lafayette campus is rolling out a sweeping AI@Purdue strategy that will make AI competency a graduation requirement for all undergraduates starting with the fall 2026 class. Local students can expect new AI-focused coursework, updated classroom policies on generative AI, expanded research opportunities, and more AI tools in campus services, all aimed at preparing graduates for an increasingly AI-driven job market.
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2. 2025 Hovde Award recipient announced (purdue.edu) — Purdue in West Lafayette has honored agricultural economist Maria Marshall with the 2025 Hovde Award for her work supporting rural family businesses and disaster recovery. Her leadership of Purdue’s Institute for Family Business and regional rural development center brings national recognition and practical resources back to Indiana communities.
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3. Crop Machinery Investment (inkfreenews.com) — From West Lafayette, agricultural economist Michael Langemeier breaks down how much crop machinery investment per acre differs between small and large farms, showing clear economies of scale. If you farm in or around Tippecanoe County, the benchmarks for machinery spending, net annual investment, and their ties to net cash income can help you compare your operation’s costs to similarly sized farms.
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4. 3 Illini compete in CSCAA Open Water Championship (dailyillini.com) — Illinois’ women’s swim team will visit Purdue in West Lafayette on Jan. 10 for its second Big Ten meet, giving locals a look at a strong Illini squad. The article also recaps Illinois swimmers’ recent open-water results and academic honors.
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5. The Senate Republicans up for reelection who voted against redistricting (axios.com) — West Lafayette’s own Sen. Spencer Deery is among 10 Indiana Republican senators facing 2026 reelection after voting against mid-cycle redistricting, drawing threats of primary challenges backed by President Trump. The piece outlines each senator’s district, tenure, and public reasoning, highlighting how their resistance could reshape state politics and what it may mean for voters in communities like West Lafayette.
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Ok West Lafayette! 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 know, but April May!
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