Daily
Baton Rouge
Wednesday, December 24th, 2025
Good morning, Baton Rouge. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 24th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Sheriff Rene’ Thibodeaux has launched his annual Gift of Giving Christmas program to bring holiday cheer to families in Pointe Coupee Parish. The initiative will offer gifts & support during the festive season. WAFB 9
- ➤ Thirty local children received new bicycles Tuesday at Metro Council District 3's Christmas giveaway (in the Gardere neighborhood) to kick off the holiday season. WBRZ
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The historic Lincoln Theater at 1305 Myrtle Walk nears reopening after a $4 million renovation that restored original details and added museum and performance spaces. It will open in the first half of next year with stage productions + films + educational programming for youth. 225 Magazine
- ➤ The inaugural Zachary Mardi Gras Parade takes place on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. with Regena Hartley Beard, a celebrated local teacher, and Doug Williams, the historic NFL quarterback, as grand marshals — both chosen for their service in a three-day celebration with floats, bands and community groups. The Advocate
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport expects a 7.5% jump in holiday travel with 19,600 passengers scheduled to fly out from Dec. 19 to Jan. 5. The airport rolled out an AI parking system and will raise daily rates starting Jan. 1 (garage from $12 to $16, lot from $9 to $13). The Advocate
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ More than 3,000 elementary students in Livingston Parish will receive a bundle of six books and a backpack from the My Home Library program as the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation partners with 1PointFive to boost home literacy — the distribution comes just in time for the holidays. The Advocate
- ➤ Baton Rouge Community College will launch a new plumbing apprenticeship program in Spring 2026 to train students in essential trade skills. WAFB 9
- ➤ Thirty-eight Livingston Parish schools were named Best Schools by U.S. News and World Report with top honors going to Live Oak High for high schools, Albany Middle for middle schools and Juban Parc Elementary for elementary schools; the rankings are based on state test scores in math and reading. The Advocate
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Drivers in parts of our parish will face lane closures and delays from a $3.1 million road project on Highland Road, Bluebonnet Boulevard & South Quad Drive as crews work to improve streets over the next year. Officials say work on Highland Road should finish in four to five months. WBRZ
- ➤ Governor Landry ordered statewide mourning to honor the 14 victims of the Bourbon Street terrorist attack by having flags fly at half-staff from Jan. 1 to 4 and bells rung 14 times at 3:15 a.m. on Jan. 4. WJBO
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Paula Pennington de la Bretonne is carrying on her grandparents’ legacy at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge as it nears its 40th anniversary in 2028 — founded in 1988, the center has hosted events like Music and the Mind to promote health research. WBRZ
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Redshirt freshman Coen Echols, LSU’s 11th player and second offensive lineman, announced on social media he will enter the transfer portal from Jan. 2 until Jan. 16. He played all 12 games this season and now plans to leave Baton Rouge to begin his next chapter. WBRZ
- ➤ LSU freshman forward Grace Knox was named SEC Freshman of the Week Tuesday, Dec. 23 after scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a game against UT-Arlington. The Tigers will return to the Maravich Center on Sunday (3 p.m.) for their final nonconference game against Alabama State. WBRZ
- ➤ LSU men’s basketball defeated Prairie View A&M 104-90 in Baton Rouge as Marquel Sutton and Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 21 points each — the Tigers improved to 11-1 and will host Southern Miss next Monday night. WJBO
- ➤ Live Oak boys soccer lost 2-1 against Zachary after a penalty kick in the 65th minute; coach Jacob Montoya said the young team is building chemistry despite challenges as seven players were sidelined by injury & illness. The Advocate
-
Skating On the River
11:59 p.m. – 1:29 a.m. — Raising Cane's River Center Arena — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate the holiday season with Baton Rouge's favorite winter tradition of skating on the river.
-
Parish County Line Concert
9:00 – 10:30 PM — Texas Club — Ticket prices vary — Experience the heartfelt country music of Parish County Line in an intimate setting.
-
Alabama State vs. LSU Women's Basketball
3:00 – 4:30 PM — Pete Maravich Assembly Center — Free trial available — Watch the undefeated LSU Tigers face off against the Alabama State Lady Hornets in an exciting college basketball matchup.
-
Surreal In The Stacks Craft Event
4:30-7:30 p.m. — East Baton Rouge Parish Library — Free entry — Get creative and craft your own surreal costume at this imaginative community event.
-
The Louisiana Marathon
8 AM – 1 PM — A. Z. Young Park — $25-$170 — Celebrate 15 years of Louisiana spirit with a vibrant marathon experience featuring various race categories.
-
Louisiana Marathon 2026
7 a.m. — Louisiana Marathon — Check for registration fees — Experience the thrill of running in the heart of Baton Rouge.
-
La Zenda Norteña Concert
9 p.m. — Avanti Night Club — Ticket prices available — Experience a high-energy live performance by La Zenda Norteña De Mario Madrigal in a vibrant setting.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Baton Rouge
Welcome to the Daily Baton Rouge, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Baton Rouge, Louisiana community. If you like the Daily Baton Rouge, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Baton Rouge.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Baton Rouge
A free Baton Rouge community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailybatonrouge.com/sitemap