Community Corner

🌱 How Purdue’s new AI rule will change West Lafayette students’ degrees

And on the West Lafayette Patch calendar - Walk-In STI Clinic

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Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
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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:

  • How Purdue’s new AI rule will change West Lafayette students’ degrees
  • How a Purdue professor is reshaping the future of Indiana farm families
  • Are West Lafayette-area farms overspending on tractors and combines per acre?

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around West Lafayette? Post it to West Lafayette photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

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

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 35 and low of 31 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Areas of morning fog, temps: high: 37, low: 32.
  • Thursday: Breezy with periods of rain, with a high of 49 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

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.
   

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.
   

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.
   

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.
   

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.
   

📸 Around West Lafayette

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 West Lafayette

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Wednesday December 17
  • Walk-In STI Clinic
    Tippecanoe County Government , 1950 South 18th Street , Lafayette
    8:00 am

📣 West Lafayette Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi All!
    Is this someone's kitty? It looks a little like one that has been reported missing. I've put two cat houses out for it and have been feeding it,… (Nextdoor Klondike Elementary)
  • An electric service outage affecting over 3,000 members in the County Farm area was caused by a vehicle striking a pole, with service restored to most members and full restoration expected within half an hour.
    4:21PM on Dec 14: An electric service outage is affecting over 3,000 members in the County Farm area, with crews en route to ***ess the situation and… (Nextdoor )
  • Taco Bell posted a job opening for Late Night Team Member in West Lafayette. Apply here.
  • Target posted a job opening for On-Demand: Guest Advocate (Cashier), General Merchandise, Fulfillment (T3309) in West Lafayette. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Lafayette here.

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!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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