Good morning, Baton Rouge.

With new cars costing almost $50,000, more Baton Rouge residents are turning to used cars and must check vehicle history, reliability ratings, and have a trusted mechanic inspect the car — advice from Consumer Reports to avoid high interest rates and hidden fees.

Build Baton Rouge received $140,000 from the DRA to create a plan to boost job and service opportunities in North Baton Rouge — residents will soon be asked to give their input.

ExxonMobil donated $220,000 to Baton Rouge Community College’s tuition-free North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative on Sep 22—BRCC administrators received the check at their fall Advisory Council Meeting.

The program, launched in 2012, gives graduates a national certification.

LSU students launched the Food Recovery Network to collect extra food from dining halls every Tuesday and Thursday to help those who face hunger and reduce waste—volunteers repackage and deliver meals to campus sites with plans to expand later.

The group received $7,000 in funding and started its work last week.

LSU professor and Mass Communication Residential College rector Roxanne Dill has supported freshmen adjusting to college life by welcoming students into her South Hall office—she has updated her media writing courses as the field changes and has served in the role for over a decade. She values individual student growth and consistently offers personal guidance.

VFW Post 3693 held its first Red, White & Youth School Kickoff on Saturday in Gonzales to welcome the new school year with free books, activities, and scholarship details for local students.

Organizers said they will sponsor more family and education events in the future — a move that strengthens back-to-school support in Ascension Parish.

Today, the annual Keep Louisiana Beautiful conference begins at Crowne Plaza Executive Center with over 30 expert leaders sharing plans for litter prevention, recycling and beautification from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.—and the event will continue Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Sen. Bill Cassidy stated that Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport will receive $20,240,804 to extend Taxiway L by 6,500 feet to meet current standards as federal funds from the FAA boost airport infrastructure—other Louisiana airports have also been awarded funding for similar upgrades.

The Downtown Development District is asking downtown, Spanish Town and Beauregard Town residents to vote yes on its tax renewal on October 11 to fund projects like lighting improvements, sidewalk repairs and ADA upgrades—efforts that will improve downtown walkability and support local business.

Baton Rouge Metro Airport received a $20 million federal grant to extend Taxiway L by 6,500 feet—part of a $46.7 million package for Louisiana airports.

Sen. Bill Cassidy said the project will make the airport more accessible to families, businesses, and visitors.

Dr. Treva Brown said the upcoming Dancing for a Cure event will raise awareness of breast cancer—details on timing and location will be announced soon.

The renovated Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center facility in Gonzales has been completed and includes a 6,000-square-foot expansion with a 2,500-square-foot infusion suite, state-of-the-art lab and new exam rooms to eventually serve 300 patients each month.

The facility hosted a ribbon-cutting event and open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

The Doyle volleyball team now holds a 7-0 record and will face Denham Springs on Wednesday after wins over Walker, Live Oak, and Division I rival Covington.

Coach Ashlie Byrnes said the seniors are aiming for a spot at the Cajundome for the state championship — a goal that highlights their strong start this season.

LSU’s new nine-game conference football schedule will have the Tigers play Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M every year starting in 2026.

The change means LSU and Alabama will not meet every year for the first time since 1964—LSU head coach Brian Kelly said he is fine with the new setup.

Farm Fête

6-9 p.m. — Red Stick Farmers Market — Fundraiser — An evening of local flavors with farmers and chefs supporting community outreach.

Brew at the Zoo

Evening event — BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo — Fundraising for the zoo — Enjoy a variety of beers in a unique atmosphere while supporting local wildlife.

The Buddy Ride

11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. — 15001 River Rd, Baton Rouge — Donations welcome — Participate in the 7th Annual Buddy Ride to support Keep Tiger Town Beautiful and help clean up Baton Rouge.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra Concert

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. — Chelsea's Live — Tickets available — Experience the unique sound of Unknown Mortal Orchestra live in Baton Rouge.

Ruthie Foster Performance

7:30-9 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Cost info not provided — Experience the soulful sounds of Ruthie Foster, influenced by her gospel roots and vibrant musical journey.

Bachtoberfest

Evening — EBRPL - Main Library — Family-friendly event — Enjoy a cozy outdoor concert featuring beer, brats, and Bach melodies.

Fall Fest 2025

9 AM - 2 PM — Baton Roots Community Farm — Free entry — Experience hands-on urban farming and seasonal arts while connecting with the community this fall.

Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra Performance

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Manship Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience the vibrant sounds of Red Hot Latin Jazz from the son of the legendary Tito Puente.

Dominick Michael with Southland Band

9 PM - 1 AM — Texas Club — Ticketed event — Enjoy live music from Dominick Michael and his band in a vibrant atmosphere.

27th Annual Scrabble Challenge

Join us at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 16th, for an evening of fun as L'Auberge Casino & Hotel hosts our annual Scrabble Challenge. The event includes 3 rounds of 'just for fun' team Scrabble play, a silent auction, wine cork pull, 50/50 cash split raffle, with buffet and beverages.