Good morning, Baton Rouge.

After a fire damaged Entourage Salon on Greenwell Springs Road on Monday, local businesses and contractors stepped in to help the team keep working; Capalli Salon offered a temporary workspace, and Highland Home Contractors is repairing the roof (a sign of strong community support).

The American Red Cross and the Gardere Initiative held an official partnership ceremony on Monday in Baton Rouge.

They will team up to donate technology and resources, provide CPR training for 50 residents (a joint effort), and coordinate food, health, mental health and housing support for the Gardere neighborhood.

A Celebration of Life for former LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug.

25 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center with doors opening at 6 p.m. before the program starts at 7 p.m.

Southern University welcomed students for fall classes on Monday as its Student Government Association launched Welcome Back Week with events including a Monday breakfast (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.) and Tuesday’s organization fair at FG Clark Activity Center.

The Southern University System Foundation will host its annual SU Give Day on Aug.

27 with a goal of raising $25 million for Southern campuses, kicking off at 9 a.m. from the Baton Rouge campus with a chancellor’s session—part of the final push for its Are You In? campaign.

River Parishes Community College (RPCC) begins its new semester today as students return to classes with Welcome Week and leaders including new dean of students Jourdan Hilaire and Dean Gretchen Schmidt outlining plans for a fresh academic year.

River Parishes Community College will host Welcome Week, which Campus Director Dr. Ariel Triggs said offers campus tours, social events, and academic info for new students.

The event will kick off the school year & help students settle on campus.

City-parish officials plan to bring Butch Spyridon to transform the aging River Center downtown.

Pending a Metro Council vote next week, his two-year work will add a headquarter hotel and expand the venue to boost local tourism and economic growth.

Officials plan to repurpose a 145-acre gravel mine in St. Helena as a temporary floodwater detention site to slow the Amite River and reduce flooding risks for Baton Rouge, and the commission is studying a cleanup and pond expansion option (costing $700,000) to boost both flood protection and environmental benefits.

The Louisiana Department of Health reported 11 heat-related deaths in June and July (three in the Northshore area) and state officials said further investigations might drive numbers higher as extreme heat persists.

On Aug. 17, LDH warned that vaping poses serious health risks to students and urged adults to explain these dangers, emphasizing a critical public health issue.

LSU is ranked No. 11 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll as of (Monday, Aug.

17), joining eight SEC teams and set to face five Top 25 opponents this season.

Former LSU Tiger Trendon Watford signed a one-year $2.9 million deal with the Pelicans for the 2026-27 season on Monday, Aug.

17. He will begin his sixth NBA season after the 76ers declined his $2.8 million proposal in June.