Good morning, Baton Rouge.

Taste of HOPE 2026 will feature a live chef competition, a curated buffet dinner by Bacon & Fig and cocktails as community leaders gather Tuesday, April 14 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at 11030 Industriplex Blvd to support HOPE Ministries’ efforts to prevent homelessness and build family stability.

New restaurants and businesses opened in March across Baton Rouge, including Fuego Tortilla Grill near LSU for Tex-Mex meals, Okki Tokki on Perkins Road East for customizable bowls, Amigo Al’s in St. Gabriel for tacos and margaritas, and Hype Haus on Corporate Blvd. for fitness classes.

On Saturday, the Death Valley Live concert featuring Zach Bryan drew about 70,000 fans to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, generating $25.1 million in visitor spending (including $17.5 million from tickets and $7.6 million from hotels and meals) and boosting local business and LSU Athletics revenue.

Gas prices jumped nationwide on Tuesday with the national average at $4.02 a gallon, while Louisiana saw an average of $3.63 at the pump.

Consumers in East Baton Rouge + other parishes felt the impact as fuel costs rose before summer travel.

LSU Honors College announced a new hybrid college athletics course for fall called HNRS 3100 (The Future of College Athletics) that brought together programs from 10 SEC universities to let students learn about budgeting, licensing, marketing, and legal issues through virtual sessions and facility tours near Lockett Hall.

East Feliciana 4-H members earned awards at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; Josie Sibille placed sixth with her Angus heifer while brothers Ethan and William Barnes and the Adams family also competed and won top honors.

The youth showed strong commitment to livestock care during the event.

Live Oak High School offers free aviation classes where students train using certified flight simulators and guest speakers.

The expanding program prepares teens for the FAA exam and may soon partner with the Air National Guard to provide hands-on training.

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation announced over $1.1 million in stipends will be available to help families access early childhood education in EBR Parish for the 2026-27 school year; funds raised with local partners + initiatives aim to boost teacher hiring and child readiness.

Zachary High School Mock Trial Team practiced legal skills in a real courtroom on Mar.

31 with Judge David Conachen guiding their trial simulations in preparation for the upcoming state competition. Eight students gained hands-on experience during the session.

The Baton Rouge Police Department has opened applications for its Citizens’ Academy, an eight-week course offering 20 hours of face-to-face classroom instruction from law enforcement experts to build community trust.

Interested residents can apply now.

LSU introduced Will Wade as its new men's basketball coach on Monday.

Wade said his goal is for the team to win a national championship — he is adding former LSU head coach Johnny Jones and longtime Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury as assistants.

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.

St. Paul & The Broken Bones Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — Chelsea's Live — Tickets from $334 — Experience a can't-miss live show featuring St. Paul and The Broken Bones in Baton Rouge.

Corey Kent Live in Concert

8-10:30 p.m. — Texas Club — Tickets starting at $57 — Experience the electrifying performance of Corey Kent in a premier Baton Rouge venue.

LSU Tigers vs. Arizona Wildcats Softball

5-6 p.m. — Tiger Park — Tickets from $48 — Catch exciting collegiate softball action in Baton Rouge as the Tigers face off against the Wildcats.

LSU Concert Orchestra & Percussion Ensemble Performance

7:30-9:00 p.m. — LSU Student Union Theater — Ticketed event — Experience a captivating evening with the LSU Concert Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble featuring diverse repertoire.

LFAA State 3D Championship

Event Duration — Waddill Wildlife Refuge — $40 for adults, $30 for juniors — Compete in a thrilling archery challenge featuring 20 to 25 targets at known distances.

TRENDS in Baton Rouge Real Estate Seminar

Where Baton Rouge gets the "dirt" on all things real estate! We'll break-down the market to examine what's happening in each of the industry segments of residential, multifamily, office, industrial, retail, finance, and feature keynote from Dr. Loren Scott

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire

12:30-2:30 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Tickets available — Experience the thrill of your favorite monster trucks come to life.

Bridgerton - The Final Farewell

2-5 p.m. — Shaw Center for the Arts — $85 — Immerse yourself in a Bridgerton-inspired afternoon filled with florals, cocktails, and the chance to be crowned the Season's Diamond.