🌱 Patch AM: Meet the Hammond professor pushing the boundaries of trustworthy AI

Hey hey Hammond! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Meet the Hammond professor pushing the boundaries of trustworthy AI
• How deep did a Hammond-based gambling ring reach into local power?

Also on today's calendar: The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Humid with rain, with a high of 74 and low of 59 degrees.
• Friday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 66, low: 48.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 66 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Shafkat Islam - CERIAS (purdue.edu) — Purdue University Northwest's Hammond campus is home to assistant professor Shafkat Islam, who leads the Trust-It lab focused on trustworthy and secure AI systems. His work in cybersecurity, AI robustness, and protecting critical infrastructure has earned recognition in major IEEE journals and professional awards, highlighting advanced tech research happening right in Hammond.
   

• Top Gambling News Stories for Wednesday September 30, 2026 (gambling911.com) — Federal court filings tied to a Northwest Indiana sports betting investigation describe an alleged mob-connected gambling ring largely based around the Hammond area, with claims of corrupt law enforcement help and violent threats. Hammond figures are mentioned as alleged enforcers and bookies, highlighting how a regional operation may have reached into local restaurants, churches, and political circles.
   

📸 Around Hammond

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Hammond

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 17
• The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet →
  1521 S. Linn White Dr., Northerly Island, Chicago, IL 60605,
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday October 2
• Roaring Loud Presents: Aux Cord Wars →
  PNW Hammond, Fitness and Recreation Center (FRC), 2320 173rd St., Hammond
  7:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Smart Start: School Readiness →
  Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond
  2:00 pm
• Midwest Boxing Showcase →
  Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Avenue, Hammond
  5:00 pm
Monday October 5
• Play Smart Storytime →
  Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond
  2:00 pm
• Gamers Guild: Ghoulish Game Cafe →
  Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond
  4:00 pm
• ASL for Beginners →
  Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond
  5:00 pm
Tuesday October 6
• Get Fit, HPL! Seated Yoga →
  Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond
  10:00 am
• Pumpkin Carving and Painting (Hammond) →
  SULB Plaza, 2200 169th St., Hammond
  12:00 pm
• Family Movie Night: Scooby Doo →
  Hammond Public Library, 564 State Street, Hammond
  6:00 pm
Wednesday October 7
• Good Life Awards 2026 →
  Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond
  11:00 am
Thursday October 8
• Intramural 6-on-6 Co-ed Volleyball →
  Hammond IN

📣 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!

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

• 📍Gary, Indiana We need to get these two stray dogs off the street!!
  If you know anyone who can foster let me know if we can find a foster we can have a rescue step up. Sweet temperament, not microchipped, appear to… (Nextdoor Hessville)
• Whoever has a small dark colored dog like a chihuahua and it has a doggy diaper on you need to get your dog before it gets hit by a car!
  It was last seen going down 7300 block of Tapper in Hammond. (Nextdoor Hammond)

• Hulcher Professional Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Regional Fleet & Equipment Manager in Hammond. Apply here.
• Red Lobster posted a job opening for Server Assistant in Munster. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hammond here.

🗞 Nearby News

East Chicago

• Lake County finance director details how property tax cuts will affect Gary (chicagotribune.com)
• Rokita signs agreements with ICE for deportations, immigration cases (indystar.com)
• Oak Lawn police charge six in DUI, theft, and burglary cases (southwestregionalpublishing.com)

Munster

• These 100 U.S. nursing homes face perilous flood risk. In Minnesota, residents narrowly escaped. (cbsnews.com)

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: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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