Good morning, Lafayette.

Captain Seth R. Koval, a Purdue alum from Mooresville, died along with five airmen when a KC-135 crashed in Iraq on March 12.

Four Rossville FFA students earned a trip to the Commodity Classic after top presentations at Career Plot Day.

They visited San Antonio Feb. 25-27, attending an AgXplore session and learning about modern farming practices.

Researchers at Purdue University (Aggarwal, Tamboli, and Punyamoorty) have developed a (patent-pending) privacy system that lets users mask parts of photos before sending them to AI editing software in West Lafayette.

The system prioritizes privacy, high-quality edits and photorealism.

Tippecanoe School Corp appointed Tiffani Earley as coordinator for its new Early Learning Center, set to open in August at 111 Walter Scholer Drive to serve 225 preschool students with disabilities.

Earley, a kindergarten teacher at Cole Elementary School with 14 years of experience, will lead the inclusive program.

Members from the West Lafayette Fire Department Tactical Rescue Team joined Lafayette and Purdue Fire Departments for a training drill last week at the Purdue WADE Utility Plant.

The three-shift exercise simulated industrial rescue scenarios involving two trapped patients.

Purdue professor Steve Lindemann explained that eating plenty of dietary fiber can help lower colorectal cancer risk during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month — he recommended adding legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to your diet and stressed the need for regular screenings.

Local sports fans are invited to vote for the Ivy Tech Journal & Courier Athlete of the Week as nine nominees are recognized for basketball and track performances from March 9 to 14.

Voting will end Friday at noon.

Today, Purdue Boilermakers won their third Big Ten tournament by defeating top seeded Michigan and earned a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

They will face No.15 Queens at 7:35 p.m. Friday in Saint Louis as fans praised the team's effort.

Journal & Courier announced its All-Area Big Schools girls basketball team for 2025-26 today featuring top athletes from McCutcheon, Lafayette Jeff, Harrison, West Lafayette, and Twin Lakes (including standouts Lillie Graves and Maya Layton) after impressive season achievements.

Tri-County, Triton and Monroe Central will compete in the IHSAA class 1A semi-state finals this Saturday at Lafayette Jeff; Monroe Central starts at 10 a.m., Triton meets Tri-County at noon, and winners advance at 8 p.m. (Gainbridge Fieldhouse hosts the state finals).

2026 Purdue Spring SASES Regional Meeting

Mar 25-27 — Purdue University Department of Agronomy — Registration required — Engage with industry speakers and network with young professionals in agriculture.

Sensory-Friendly Easter Egg Hunt

4:30-6:30 p.m. — Junction House — Free entry — Experience a calm and inclusive Easter egg hunt tailored for sensory needs in a welcoming environment.

Doggy EGG-stravaganza

10 AM – 4 PM — McCaw Park — Free entry — Enjoy an egg hunt designed especially for furry friends in a festive atmosphere.

Soul Asylum Acoustic Performance with Corey Glover

8 PM — Loeb Playhouse — Special student pricing available — Experience a rare acoustic set from Grammy-winning band Soul Asylum with special guest Corey Glover.

2026 Spring Celebration

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. — McAllister Recreation Center — Free entry — Celebrate the arrival of spring with family-friendly activities and community fun.