Good morning, Baton Rouge.

Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves donated $75,000 to cover an urgent funding shortfall for the Big Buddy Program in Baton Rouge, ensuring staff pay continues for mentoring, after-school and enrichment programs for local families.

Forty Louisiana restaurants were honored in the second annual MICHELIN Guide, with Capital Area eateries St. Francisville Inn and Restaurant and Elsie's Plate and Pie recognized at a Nashville ceremony Wednesday.

New Orleans spots earned awards, underscoring the region’s outstanding culinary scene.

Thursday was opening day for the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair at Airline Highway Park fairgrounds in St. George, offering a petting zoo, Human Cannonball, and Racing Pigs + $15 admission.

The long-running event will run through Nov. 1 and is set to move to Baker in 2027.

LSU President Wade Rousse announced new game day safety measures after fights broke out following Oct.

17’s homecoming game. The changes include extra patrols & closer monitoring of tailgating to help ensure a safe game day experience.

Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance will host its virtual Registered Apprenticeship Expo on Nov.

4 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Zoom, where high school and two-year postsecondary students can learn about apprenticeships and meet employers (training providers).

Louisiana nonprofit The Boot has been awarded a $6.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to help veterans transition to industrial construction careers over the next three-year period.

The program will boost local career opportunities for veterans.

Officials reopened the Bayou Braud Bridge on Martin Luther King Parkway in East Iberville after replacing the structure that led to its closure last month, allowing drivers to resume normal traffic.

DEA & Blue Cross are hosting Drug Take Back Day, a drive-through event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Baton Rouge Police Headquarters on Airline Highway, where families can safely dispose of unused prescription drugs.

FMOL Health launched a new 3D mobile mammography unit in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; the unit will travel from Baton Rouge to clinics in Baker, Central, Denham Springs, and Plaquemine (among others) to provide high-quality breast cancer screenings.

The FDA recalled 44,000 cans of Walmart Great Value fruit cocktail because they may contain lead.

The 15-ounce cans, with a best if used by date of SEP 01 2027, were pulled on Oct. 1 and could cause temporary health issues if consumed.