Daily
Baton Rouge
Friday, May 8th, 2026
Good morning, Baton Rouge. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 8th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The restored USS Kidd, after work in Houma, will not return to Baton Rouge in time for Memorial Day because low river levels prevent it from being placed safely in its cradle. The Mississippi River is now at 22 feet and is expected to crest at 24 feet on Monday, May 11. WBRZ
- ➤ Councilwoman Twahna P. Harris opened a new Community Clothes Closet and Food Pantry at the Martin Luther King Junior Community Center yesterday to support families facing financial hardship; services run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. WBRZ
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Cook Out, a popular North Carolina burger chain, bought a building on West Lee Drive for $2.75 million on Wednesday to open its first Louisiana location. The building was built for a Starbucks shop that never launched and lies in a busy quick service area. The Advocate
- ➤ Business Report’s Women’s Leadership Symposium will take place on May 19—bringing together business, tech and community leaders to discuss career transformation and AI adoption—followed by an Influential Women in Business luncheon at 11:15 a.m. in Baton Rouge. 225 Magazine
- ➤ Cook Out (a North Carolina chain known for chargrilled burgers) will open its first Louisiana location on West Lee Drive near Panda Express. The 755 West Lee property was bought for $2.75 million, with the filing recorded by the East Baton Rouge Parish clerk’s office on Wednesday. WBRZ
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The Louisiana Art and Science Museum celebrated Planetarium Month with events at the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium on Thursday (yesterday) and debuted Navigating the Cosmos at noon to mark International Planetarium Day and 100 years since the first planetarium opened. WBRZ
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ According to AAA, on Thursday, May 7, Louisiana’s regular gasoline averaged $4.023 per gallon—up from $3.803 last week and nearly $1.30 higher than last year’s rate. Despite rising costs, the state remains the third-cheapest for gas. WBRZ
- ➤ The Baton Rouge Area Foundation released its Plan Baton Rouge III on Wednesday, May 6, which calls for over $1.5 billion in early investments, 10,000 new jobs, and a tripling of the downtown residential population — the plan was developed through a year of community meetings and surveys to guide future improvements. WBRZ
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Baton Rouge General hosted 130 kindergarteners and first graders from Park Medical Academy for a Teddy Bear Clinic at its Mid City hospital on Thursday morning. The event gave students a hands-on healthcare experience themed after the movie 'Inside Out' to learn about managing big feelings and emergency mode. WBRZ
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Residents can celebrate Mother's Day by taking Mom out for a festive brunch or lunch at Baton Rouge eateries featuring unique menus and live music on Sunday, May 10. It is recommended to reserve tables early as several spots like Perkins Rowe and City Club are expected to fill quickly. 225 Magazine
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ River Center has worked hard to keep the Baton Rouge Zydeco downtown amid rumors they might leave after three seasons; officials say an update on the team is expected soon. WBRZ
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156/Silence Concert
7-11 p.m. — Chelsea's Live — Tickets available — Experience an electrifying night with 156/Silence and Fox Lake in Baton Rouge.
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Dance With The Dead & Magic Sword
7-11 p.m. — Chelsea's Live — $ — Enjoy an unforgettable night of synthwave sounds as both bands deliver epic performances.
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Vincent Herring's Something Else Jazz Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Starting at $56 — Experience the high-energy soul jazz sounds from acclaimed alto saxophonist Vincent Herring and his supergroup, Something Else!
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Gonzales Jambalaya Festival
May 21-24 — Lamar Dixon Expo Center — Cost varies — Experience four days of wood-fired Louisiana heritage featuring delicious jambalaya and lively festivities.
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Post Malone & Jelly Roll Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Tiger Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Experience genre-bending performances from Post Malone and Jelly Roll in an electrifying show.
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OAL Annual Convention - Baton Rouge
All day — Crowne Plaza Executive Center — Registration required — Engage in valuable discussions and networking during this annual convention for the Optometry Association of Louisiana.
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Capital City Blues Extravaganza featuring Tucka
7:30-9 p.m. — Raising Cane's River Center — Ticket information TBA — An unforgettable night of blues and soul awaits in Baton Rouge.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Baton Rouge
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