Today
in Lafayette
Friday, February 20th, 2026
Good morning, Lafayette. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 20th of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Work is progressing on a $5 million streetscape project at 12th and Surrey (part of the Evangeline Corridor plan) with saw-cutting, new crosswalks, and sidewalk beds underway, and the upgrades will take about 18 months. The Advocate
- ➤ Ginger Cawley, a Lafayette native, reunited with the foster parents she remembered from childhood after posting in a Facebook group. The reunion took place earlier in February after a 20-year search, with local community help connecting her with Paula and Ronnie Boffner. The Advocate
- ➤ Local groups LARC Inc. and the Arc of Acadiana are collecting Mardi Gras beads to support job opportunities for individuals with disabilities and reduce parade waste. Residents may drop off beads at LARC’s Beads-n-More store at Acadian Village (200 Greenleaf Drive) or at bins near Moncus Park’s entrance. The Advocate
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Festival International de Louisiane announced its 40th anniversary lineup with international acts and local favorites for the five-day event scheduled from April 22-26 in Lafayette. Festival passes are on sale, with prices at $80 for the Lagniappe Pass and $250 for the Bon Temps Pass. News 15
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ WalletHub data shows Louisiana ranked 4th in grocery spending. Local households spent an average of 2.38% of their $5,063 monthly income — about $2,127 — on groceries as costs rose nearly 30% since 2019. The Daily Advertiser
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ UL has narrowed its search for a new president to three semifinalists. Ramesh Kolluru, Hitesh Rai Kathuria, and Richard Ludwick will have interviews next week on campus after a selection meeting in Baton Rouge. News 15
- ➤ LSU Eunice reported a record enrollment for Spring 2026 with 3,580 students and 33,606 credit hours (a 33% increase since Spring 2022), reflecting growing numbers among continuing, transfer, online, and part-time students. News 15
- ➤ Niche released its 2026 ranking of Louisiana’s best community colleges with five schools reporting 100% acceptance rates. South Louisiana Community College in Lafayette (ranked 5th) joined institutions in Alexandria, Lake Charles, Minden and Gonzales. The Daily Advertiser
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The 200 block of N. Buchanan Street will be closed to vehicles from Monday, Feb. 23 through Friday, Feb. 27 for concrete panel repairs by a Lafayette Utilities Systems contractor. Motorists should use detour routes along W. Simcoe, Monroe and Cameron Streets. City of Lafayette
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Lafayette Parish will host the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships at Moncus Park on December 12. Qualifying athletes ages 7–18 will compete for national titles as the event is expected to boost local business with more than 9,000 hotel room nights & increased sales. Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission
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Ragin' Cajuns All Girl Cheer Clinic
3:00–6:00 p.m. — EK Long Annex — Registration required — Elevate your cheer skills with hands-on training and recruitment opportunities led by experienced coaches.
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Candlelight Concert: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons
6:00-6:59 p.m. — Petroleum Club of Lafayette — Tickets required — Experience a magical evening of live music featuring the hits of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons.
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NoCap Live in Concert
9 p.m. — The District Event Center — No refunds — Experience an electrifying night with NoCap live in Lafayette.
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Shadows Arts & Crafts Festival
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Shadows-on-the-Teche — $5 admission for adults — Browse original hand-crafted items and enjoy local food and drinks in a beautiful garden setting.
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Toughest Monster Truck Tour
3–5 p.m. — CAJUNDOME & Convention Center — Tickets required — Experience the thrills of monster trucks and Freestyle Motocross in an action-packed event.
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Rocky Dale Davis Live
7:30-11:59 PM — Club 337 — $25 General Admission, $35 VIP — Enjoy a night of laughs with comedian Rocky Dale Davis at Lafayette's own Club 337.
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Jill Butler and her Joyride Band Performing Hits
7:30 p.m. — Heymann Performing Arts Center — Cost Info Not Provided — Enjoy an evening of soulful music inspired by Roberta Flack and Quincy Jones with Jill Butler and her Joyride Band.
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Louisiana Energy Education Workshop for Teachers
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette — Free entry — A workshop for 6th-12th grade science teachers focused on energy education with meals provided.
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