Good morning, Baton Rouge.

LSU's Hilltop Arboretum hosts its annual Plant Fest with over 3,000 plants and 18 vendors available in a vendor village; the public sale begins at 9 a.m. Saturday after a members-only event started on Wednesday.

On Saturday, Oct. 17 the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Walk will take place at the Robert A.

Bogan Fire Museum along Laurel Street, honoring FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller who gave his life on 9/11; the event supports veterans, first responders & Gold Star families.

Tuesday night, the former Nicholson Elementary building (listed on the National Register) on North Street burned down and fire crews brought the blaze under control at 4:45 a.m.; a former student recalled its role as a community hub and hoped for its rebuilding.

An abandoned hotel on Mead Road caught fire early Wednesday morning, with 43 firefighters controlling the blaze by 6:43 a.m. before Mayor-President Sid Edwards was set to address the parish campaign against blighted properties at 10 a.m.

REV Fiber has broken ground on a major high-speed internet expansion in Central today that will bring fiber-optic service to over 2,800 homes and businesses across East Baton Rouge Parish (part of the federally funded BEAD program).

Tsaocaa has opened its first Baton Rouge location on Perkins Road inside Acadian Perkins Plaza.

The eatery serves Korean fried chicken, bubble tea and bubble waffles from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.+ Manager Sally Li guides a busy space popular with students and families.

High school students in Baton Rouge are enrolled in a two-year culinary program led by Chef Ashley Woods at the Career and Technical Education Center on Lobdell Blvd under the EBR Office of Workforce Development.

The course teaches kitchen and life skills while preparing students for ProStart competition in March.

Sixteen schools open their doors today for Magnet Showcase Week as families tour campuses and learn about magnet programs before applying; organizers advise checking each school’s requirements.

DOTD announced new overnight lane closures on I-110 southbound for the I-10 Widening Project, closing the stretch between S.

10th Street and the Terrace Avenue off-ramp and its on-ramp from Friday through Oct. 12. Drivers should allow extra travel time in the construction zone.

DCFS has called on local churches to help close the foster care gap by offering meals, referrals, or kinship caregiving support — the agency hosted the Hope Starts Here event to raise awareness among faith leaders and help over 4,300 children find a permanent home.

Former LSU star Odell Beckham Jr. has joined the Minnesota Vikings practice squad as he prepares for the Sunday game against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome — the Louisiana native returns home after a stint with the Giants and other NFL teams.

LSU men's basketball head coach Will Wade spoke at the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge at Druscilla Place Catering (around noon) yesterday ahead of his return to lead the Tigers.

He will coach in an exhibition game Thursday against McNeese in Lake Charles before the season opener against LSU New Orleans on Nov. 3.

Southern preseason honors were announced as SWAC predicts the men's team to finish second and the women's team to win the conference — the men open at SMU on Nov.2 at 7 p.m. while the women begin on the road at Oklahoma State.

Last Friday, West Feliciana won 40 to 8 over Parkview Baptist as Brooks Hebert threw for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

After a season opener loss, East Feliciana won 30 to 20 last Friday to secure four straight wins and will host Catholic of Pointe Coupee this Friday.