Good morning, Baton Rouge.

Zachary residents face a busy week with the Rotary Bunny Hop 1-mile run at 8 a.m. March 21 and youth baseball registration open until March 15, a Celtic concert (10 a.m. March 17 at the library) and pesticide training on March 12, plus additional community programs planned.

Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired will host its Anything Chicken Cookoff on March 21 at Bayouside Golf Course in Napoleonville to raise funds for an alumni scholarship and its bi-annual reunion (June 12 to 14); the event will offer chicken dishes, hamburgers, a live auction and musical acts.

Krewe Just Having Fun will join thousands at the Wearin' of the Green Parade on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Baton Rouge to honor St. Patrick’s Day traditions; float lieutenant Danny Cavalier said the group chose its name in 2009 to capture a spirit of fun and community.

The 9th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival is held May 23 and 24 at the Main Library (7711 Goodwood Blvd) featuring music, vendors and a cooking contest with a new eating round; a pre-party is on May 21 at Henry Turner Jr.'s Listening Room from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Gas prices in Baton Rouge rose over 50 cents to more than $3 per gallon Monday, March 9, as global oil prices climbed amid conflict in Iran & many drivers saved fuel amid budget concerns.

AAA advised budgeting $3.50 per gallon through May & warned prices could shift further.

Baton Rouge Community College is hosting three summer camps for students ages 8-18 to strengthen academic and career skills.

The camps, offered in June and July at the Mid City campus (201 Community College Drive), cost between $125 and $150 per week.

Gardere Community Christian School will host the Leadership Cup soon.

Lauren Darden said the event is designed to boost student leadership and community engagement - more details on the schedule are forthcoming.

At the February Zachary Community Schools board meeting, 36 Zachary High students who scored 30 or higher on the ACT were honored at a school brunch held Feb.

5. Two students earned perfect 36s on their tests.

Heavy-rain has washed plastic bottles and food containers into Bayou Manchac near St. Gabriel, prompting cleanup crews to remove debris and keep the waterway cleaner.

Crews plan to monitor the bayou after future rain events.

Louisiana will spend an extra $42.3 million on SNAP starting July 1 as a new federal law under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act lowers federal support and tightens work requirements, potentially pushing more families to food banks.

Lawmakers will review the added costs in an upcoming budget session.

A committee approved House Bill 354 to rename Magnolia Bridge along La.

64 as the Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge after a 19-year-old died in a 2023 crash, with state Rep. Lauren Ventrella presenting the measure on Tuesday.

LSU microbiologist Dr. Chen Chen (assistant professor) discovered a staph protein that targets sugar markers on cancer cells and may reduce harm to healthy tissue.

She plans to refine the method in her campus lab to offer a new treatment option for late-stage cancer patients.

St. Joseph’s Academy’s girls basketball team completed its best season ever, setting a record at the school on Tuesday.

The historic achievement unites local fans + families in celebration.

Zachary girls won a state title with a 53-52 win over Slidell at University Center in Hammond on Saturday, powered by Ava Raymond’s game-winning shot (following a timeout).

Meanwhile, the boys earned a 61-58 win over Northshore on Friday and will play Denham Springs on Thursday for a championship spot.

Already Gone Concert

7:30-9 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticket info available — Experience live music with the energetic vibes of Already Gone.

Organic Gardening Lifestyle Event

5-7 p.m. — Louisiana Nursery — Free to All! — Learn to grow and eat organic for a healthier lifestyle.

6th Annual 101 Women in Business Conference

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge — Cost TBD — Celebrate National Women’s History Month with inspiring talks and networking opportunities.

Oklahoma Sooners at LSU Tigers Baseball

7-10 p.m. — Alex Box Stadium — Tickets from $46 — Witness an exciting showdown between the LSU Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners in Baton Rouge.

Smooth Operators: A Yacht Rock Jukebox

8-11 p.m. — L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge — $ — Set sail for smooth grooves and the soft rock sounds of the late 70s and early 80s.

B.J. Barham Live Performance

8:00–9:30 p.m. — Mid City Ballroom — $40 General/$50 VIP — Enjoy a solo performance by B.J. Barham with special guest James Fogle.

Louisiana Sportsman Show

9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Visit Baton Rouge — Registration required — Explore the best in sports and outdoor recreation at this exciting show.

The Refining Fire Women’s Conference

11 AM – 3 PM — City Club of Baton Rouge — $20 discount available — Empower yourself with inspiration and insightful discussions during this celebration of women.

Black Jacket Symphony: Led Zeppelin IV Live

7:30-9 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticket pricing varies — Experience Led Zeppelin IV performed live in its entirety along with other classic hits.

Billy Idol: A Documentary Journey

2:00 – 3:58 PM — Manship Theatre — $9.50 — Explore the life of punk rocker Billy Idol, from his rise as an icon to overcoming struggles in the music industry.