Daily
Baton Rouge
Friday, February 13th, 2026
Good morning, Baton Rouge. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 13th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Humane Society of Louisiana seeks homes for 15 horses from its Mardi Gras adoption program, with placements needed soon after the festival. Only qualified persons, rescuers, and sanctuaries should apply. WJBO
- ➤ David Whatley, who broke historic racial barriers at Ferriday High in 1966, received his long-awaited answers when investigators named James Sonny Taylor as linked to a bomb thrown near his home. LSU Cold Case Project students continue to research similar civil rights-era crimes to help bring closure to affected families. WAFB 9
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Nexus Louisiana began construction on a portion of 440 on Third to create a downtown headquarters that will house 28,000 sqft across three floors, including networking, workspace and a dedicated area for Southern University’s VR Jags program as the project aims for completion by July 1. The Advocate
- ➤ Local florists are expecting record-high spending for Valentine’s Day this Saturday + many customers will see new bouquets and arrangements ready for a busy shopping day. WAFB 9
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Zachary's first Mardi Gras parade weekend kicks off today with a reception emceed by WBRZ's April Davis, continues Saturday with a mass at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a community service event at Walmart, and builds to Sunday’s parade celebrating everyday heroes starting at 2 p.m. in town. WBRZ
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A Super Bowl ad featuring Gov. Jeff Landry invites skilled workers, including electricians, HVAC specialists and welders, to explore new job opportunities in Louisiana as a META data center in North Louisiana plans to hire over 5,000 workers—state listings show over 85,000 job openings. WBRZ
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The Central Community School Board lowered the overall school tax rate by 0.65 mills at its Feb. 12 meeting. Officials said the change shows a focus on fiscal responsibility + sensitivity to current conditions for the 2026 tax year. WBRZ
- ➤ Knock Knock Children's Museum and Volunteers of America launched the Little Explorers program to offer free tickets for early learning center field trips. The program was celebrated Thursday, Feb. 12 at the museum on Dalrymple Drive and will distribute tickets to eligible centers and families in 23 parishes. WBRZ
- ➤ At McKinley Elementary School on Thursday (Feb. 12) second graders each took home a new book donated by the WeLoveU Foundation and Amazon, with volunteers reading to them during the program. WBRZ
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ If you filed your federal income tax return, expect your refund via direct deposit soon after your return is accepted (returns including tax credits may have delays until March) while paper checks will no longer be issued. WAFB 9
- ➤ Gov. Jeff Landry announced on Thursday that LSU Board of Supervisors Chair Scott Ballard will step down and be replaced by Vice Chair Lee Mallett, a businessman from Lake Charles, while Ballard continues serving on the board. Landry credited Ballard with positioning LSU for long-term success. The Advocate
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Federal health officials expanded a recall for McCain Foods tater tots that may contain hard plastic fragments and were sent to vendors in 28 states — Louisiana among them. Over 21,600 cases were pulled after updated batch codes were added to the voluntary recall. WVLA
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Ruby Slipper in Baton Rouge introduces a Carnival menu in celebration of Mardi Gras from Jan. 14 to Feb. 24 with King Cake Beignets (priced at $7.25), Ooh-Bae Stuffed French Toast (priced at $13) and Krewe-Berry Margarita (priced at $11.50). WVLA
-
Annual Spanish Town Block Party
10 AM - 4 PM — City Club of Baton Rouge — Adults $120, Ages 6-20 $45, Free for Ages 5 and Under — Celebrate with a family-friendly atmosphere, delicious food, and an open bar at one of the most colorful Mardi Gras parades.
-
Paul Thorn Band Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Starting at $72.24 — Experience a night of music and humor with Paul Thorn and special guest Gina Forsyth.
-
Candlelight Concert: The Best of Hans Zimmer
7-8 p.m. — LSU Student Union Theater — Tickets required — Experience the mesmerizing music of Hans Zimmer performed by a string quartet in a unique candlelit setting.
-
Seeds of Hope Speaker Event
6-7 p.m. — Pete Maravich Assembly Center — Free entry — Experience uplifting talks from Ryan Clark and Clyde Edwards-Helaire at this inspirational event.
-
SPE North America Student Symposium 2026
Symposium — Feb 26-28 — Louisiana State University — Registration required — Empowering the next generation in oil and gas through networking and learning.
-
Dartmouth Big Green vs. LSU Tigers Baseball
6:30–9:30 p.m. — Alex Box Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Experience the excitement of LSU baseball at one of the nation's top college venues.
-
Morgan James Live Concert
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Tickets from $40 — Experience the powerful voice of Morgan James as she reinterprets classic hits with a feminist twist.
-
Empowering Women's Health Annual Wellness Day
7 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Pennington Biomedical Research Center Conference Center — Free entry — Engage in a morning of complimentary health screenings and educational workshops tailored for women 18 and older.
-
Creighton Bluejays vs LSU Tigers Baseball
6:30-9:30 p.m. — Alex Box Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Experience the passion and tradition of LSU baseball at one of the nation's premier venues.
-
Anders Osborne Concert
7-10 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Tickets starting at $46 — Experience an intimate evening with the poet laureate of Louisiana's roots music scene.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Reading is faster than listening. Doing is faster than watching.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Baton Rouge
Welcome to the Daily Baton Rouge, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Baton Rouge, Louisiana community. If you like the Daily Baton Rouge, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Baton Rouge.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Baton Rouge
A free Baton Rouge community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailybatonrouge.com/sitemap