Super Bowl LIX is two weeks away, and the matchup is now set with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in what should be a great competitive game. The Chiefs will try making NFL history by winning three Super Bowls in a row.

The Eagles earned their ticket to the big game by winning the NFC Championship game 55-23 over Washington. The AFC game was a much closer match, with KC beating Buffalo 32 to 29.

If you want to go to the game on February 9, you can get ticket packages starting at $6950 per person, including pregame activities. Of course, travel expenses are additional.

Scholarships available for future teachers Applications for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship are now open for high school seniors and college students considering a career in teaching. This renewable scholarship provides $10,000 per year for up to four academic years to students who commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years after graduation. This program helps reduce the costs of college while making a meaningful impact in the lives of students across the state. Indiana has a growing need for talented educators, and this scholarship is a crucial investment in the future of our classrooms. Aspiring educators who commit to teaching in Indiana will play a vital role in shaping the next generation of leaders and learners. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must meet the following requirements: Graduate from an Indiana-accredited high school or a non-accredited nonpublic high school; and Rank in the top 20% of their high school graduating class, have a top 20% ACT or SAT score, or maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The 2024-2025 application is available online at ScholarTrack, with a deadline of Jan. 31, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by April 2025. In addition to an increase in the scholarship award amount to $10,000, a law passed in 2023 removed the cap on the number of recipients, meaning even more students will have access to this opportunity. Learn More If you’re passionate about teaching and want to help build a bright future for Indiana’s students, I strongly encourage you to apply. This scholarship is a great way to start your journey in education while making a long-lasting difference in the state. For more information or if you have any questions, please reach out to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education at NextTeacher@che.in.gov. To learn more about the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, click here.

Romans chapter 15 vs. 4 says; For whatever things were written before were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Here’s lesson number 1. Ecclesiastes chapter 1 vss. 9 and 10 says; “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See this is new?” It has already been in ancient times before us.”

Lesson number 2. Mankind has always been hardheaded and fell short when it comes to overcoming the challenges of sin, which is why God sent Jesus into the world, to save us from the consequences of self-inflicted sinful behavior. Another great example of the sinful behavior of mankind can be found in the book of Ezekiel. Think about what is being said because it mirrors our behavior in this country today. The people were doing things contrary to the will of God and God was not pleased. The people were filled with sin sick behavior of all kinds, just like people are behaving today.

The prophet Ezekiel as a spokesman for God addressed the issue of their unfaithfulness. Chapter 14 vs. 12 he says; The word of the LORD came again to me, saying; “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.”

We need to hear and understand that there is a penalty for sinful behavior. Listen to what
the LORD said to Jerusalem by way of the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 16 vs. 49 where reference was made to Sodom. The bible says; “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom. She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” The definition of haughty means thinking of being above God, pride arrogance and conceit. Vs. 50 says; And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.”

This country used to be referred to as a Christian nation. We need to turn back to God!
Proverbs 14 vs. 34 says; “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”

BY JUSTIN GROENERT

In recent years, Indiana’s leaders and businesses have worked tirelessly to create a brighter future for all Hoosiers by embracing new and exciting technologies. Leading the pack to these emerging technologies is artificial intelligence and the possibilities that AI can create. Fortunately, our leaders are once again not missing a beat and are positioning our state as an AI economic leader. We here at Evansville Regional Economic Partnership could not be more excited about this future and these developments in AI.

There are numerous reasons why Indiana has become a beacon for AI businesses and their leaders. First, we have an incredible regulatory environment that, instead of holding AI back due to misconceptions and rumor, encourages and fosters growth in newer technologies. In Indiana we also have a talented workforce for tech companies and entrepreneurs to pull from, developed by our state’s world-class universities. Thus, when an AI company or leader considers Indiana, everything they need is available.

Examples of the tech progress being made are evident across the state. Purdue University, for instance, has grown its semiconductor laboratory into one of the best in the world thanks to being host to one of the country’s 31 designated technology hubs and being officially designated a leading state in microtechnology. This did not go unnoticed as in April of this year, South Korean microchip company SK Hynix announced plans to invest $4 billion in a factory near Purdue that will manufacture the newest and most sophisticated microchips. These chips will be used for a range of technologies, but particularly in artificial intelligence.

Semiconductor and microchip research is not the only way Indiana is leading in developing a high-tech and modern economy. Indiana University, Notre Dame and Purdue, for example, began collaborating this summer on a research consortium to examine advanced technologies critical to national defense. These include hypersonic flight, cybersecurity, micromachine systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced automation, all supporting the U.S. Navy. Another recent initiative is the Indiana Center for Emerging Technologies hub, launched in Evansville just a few weeks ago. This center will support high-tech startups in fields like robotics and advanced manufacturing, building their businesses and the future of our economy and world right in Indiana.

These strategies and commitments to developing our high-tech infrastructure are already bearing fruit. Last year, we saw more than $216 billion of venture capital investment into Indiana’s tech sector. This included $11 billion from Amazon Web Services for a data center in our state, which is the largest in its history.

Indiana, in many ways, is already a leader in new technologies, the businesses discovering, utilizing and expanding them, and the workers and entrepreneurs that are leading the charge into the future. At the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership, we could not be more excited for this future and the work being done across Indiana. But we must continue to commit ourselves and our state to being a welcoming and leading partner for tech and AI companies and efforts. If we do this, the next Silicon Valley, the Silicon Valley of AI, could be in Indiana.

Justin Groenert is the Chief Strategy Officer at EREP Evansville Regional Economic Partnership