Good morning, Baton Rouge.

The Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge will hold its 77th annual Pancake Festival on Saturday, Oct.

31 at the LSU Carl Maddox Field House (6:30 a.m.–noon), with all-you-can-eat pancakes, a juried student art show, a student talent showcase, and Halloween activities; tickets are $9 in advance, $10 at the door.

FoodeesFest will bring food trucks, restaurants, dessert and beverage makers, plus artisans and crafters to Tanger Outlets Gonzales Nov.

13-15, with hours 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 14-15; admission is free (register for free tickets).

The Old Governor's Mansion announced the winners of the annual Arts in the Mansion competition Wednesday after receiving a record 70+ submissions from Capitol-area middle and high school students.

The winning pieces will be on display Nov. 1 to 15 at the mansion; museum admission is free (open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Friday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday).

South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha spoke at LSU's student union on Tuesday, Oct.

27 about growing South Korean investment & advanced manufacturing ties with the U.S., noting projects such as the $5.8 billion Hyundai Steel development in Ascension Parish and LSU's role in workforce and research.

Baton Rouge Community College reports a record Fall 2026 enrollment of more than 12,000 students, a 10% increase from last year that tops the previous record of just over 11,000 set in 2024.

The college also posted a record number of first-time students, up nearly 31%.

River Parishes Community College opened Spring 2027 registration on Wednesday, Oct.

28, with priority registration starting Monday, Oct. 26 for Early College students, veterans, and Spring 2027 graduates. RPCC offers Process Technology, Welding, Health Sciences, and transfer pathways, and students should apply early and contact their Success Coach to plan schedules.

Walmart is recalling 15-ounce Great Value Fruit Cocktail cans (lot 6FCB 04 C2263, best if used by Sept.

1, 2027) distributed to stores in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming after the FDA found elevated lead; throw the cans away or return them to Walmart.

Hood Dental Care hygienists in Watson urge parents to have kids skip sticky, hard, or sour candy, eat sweets with a meal or right after to wash teeth, choose chocolate or sugar-free options, brush and floss after candy, and avoid hard treats for kids with braces.

Veronica Jones of Convent found a breast mass after returning to routine mammograms prompted by a friend's diagnosis, underwent chemo, radiation, and breast-sparing surgery, and is now two years cancer-free; she plans to start a nonprofit within a year to support others and promote regular screening.

Local restaurants are offering weekday happy-hour deals with discounted drinks and half-price food like pizza and appetizers at spots across town; deals run mostly afternoons into early evening (examples include Court to Table, Rocca Pizzeria, Soji, The Gregory, Umami).

Jacques Pourciau, the longtime PA announcer at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC), has spent more than 30 years voicing LSU athletics and is heading into his sixth season with the women's basketball team.

LSU women will host Southeastern on Monday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m., and the men open against LSU New Orleans on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, lawyers for RJ Luis Jr. asked an East Baton Rouge judge to block the SEC from punishing LSU if it adds Luis, saying SEC rules are keeping him off the floor after brief 2025 NBA contracts and that a state injunction limits NCAA action.