Good morning, Lafayette.

This Christmas Day, Friends of Downtown Lafayette will serve nearly 3,000 free pick up meals at Jefferson High School from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while showing their longstanding commitment & community support for local families in need.

Fourth-grade teachers in Lafayette are using Purdue basketball statistics in lessons at local elementary schools (Vinton, Glen Acres, and Cole) to boost math skills and vocabulary.

They began incorporating game stats during NCAA Tournament games to help students learn real-life math in a fun, engaging way.

The West Lafayette Community School Corp announced Thursday, Dec.

18 that SK hynix donated $80K to support STEM education at local K-12 schools - $50K will boost current programs and $30K will fund robotics and academic competitions.

STEAM Academy opened its new early childhood facility with a ribbon cutting in Attica on Wednesday.

Greater Lafayette Commerce said the school helps fight rising childcare costs through funding from the state's READI program via the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.

James Cole Elementary School celebrated the holiday season with festive craft activities where students built gingerbread houses, made gumdrop Christmas trees + enjoyed a reindeer visit as part of themed parties leading into winter break.

Indiana deer hunting rules show different end dates for each weapon; firearm season ended on Nov.

30, muzzleloader season is set to end Dec. 21, and reduction and archery seasons continue into next year (updated bag limits and safety rules apply). The Indiana DNR provides maps and resources for hunters.

In 2000 at Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue football rallied from a 28-10 halftime deficit to defeat Michigan when kicker Travis Dorsch redeemed an earlier miss with a game-winning field goal.

The comeback boosted the home record and added a quirky helmet mix-up to Purdue lore.

McCutcheon and Lafayette Jeff girls basketball united on Dec.

16 for Mental Health Awareness Day, with players wearing white and green shirts and giving speeches about overcoming stress and finding support. The teams gathered in Lafayette to show how sports + mental health work together to lift young athletes.

Seeger football named former Lafayette Jeff defensive coordinator Scott Cronk head coach for the upcoming season.

Cronk (56), who spent 14 seasons at Seeger and 11 seasons at Lafayette Jeff, will bring new offensive and defensive systems to build on the team's 9-3 record.

Chicago Bears owner Kevin Warren said the team is exploring options for a new stadium in northwest Indiana + Arlington Heights with no state funds requested.

Local residents said the project could boost the local economy and ease travel from Chicago.

Help Hounds Live Performance with Jon St. Bourbon

6-9 p.m. — People's Brewing Company & Taproom — Free entry — Help Hounds returns with Jon St. Bourbon for an evening of Americana tunes in a cozy brewery setting.

Christmas Eve Pancake Walk/Run 5K

1-5 p.m. — 500 Sagamore Pkwy W, West Lafayette, IN — Registration fee required — Enjoy a festive 5K run/walk followed by delicious pancakes on Christmas Eve.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Purdue Boilermakers Women's Basketball

12:00 – 1:30 PM — Mackey Complex — Cheer on our lady Boilers to victory against Ohio State.

Vision Board Party

1-3 p.m. — West Lafayette Indiana Nutrition — $10 for board and supplies, $20 for board, supplies & drink — Create a vision board to outline your goals for the year ahead.

The Hobbit

2:30-5:30 p.m. — Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magical journey of The Hobbit in a charming local theater setting.