Here's your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 8th of March.
Good morning, Lafayette.
Louisiana’s largest salsa maker is gearing up to fill one million jars annually under new ownership.
Patrick Deshotels began hand delivering three original flavors from his Plaucheville home, inspired by his daughters (Sarah and Emily), and sees rapidly growing sales with support from Butcher Air Conditioning.
The owners of downtown Lafayette’s Tsunami Sushi filed for bankruptcy as the company faces between $2M and $4M in debt across its four locations.
New management has pledged to keep the restaurants open while restructuring its finances (the change followed a 2021 ownership shift).
The Scott Boudin Festival will unveil a 13th anniversary poster by artist Candice Alexander on Friday at the Scott Event Center, and the festival is set to run from April 10 to April 12 in Lafayette Parish.
Judice Middle School held a topping-out ceremony as the final steel beam was placed in its $34 million expansion, and teachers, staff & LPSS Superintendent Francis Touchet signed the beam.
The new wing, essential for a growing campus, will be completed this fall.
Students from eight Acadiana parishes competed at the 2026 Kiwanis Regional Spelling Bee on Friday in Lafayette (after winning school contests), with the champion for grades 6 through 8 earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the national competition.
The Lafayette Fire Department graduated 14 new recruits after a 16-week academy covering firefighting, EMS, and rescue response fundamentals.
Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet encouraged the new firefighters during the ceremony aimed at addressing staffing gaps and improving response times.
Oklahoma’s offense crushed UL to a 10-0 victory in five innings at the Okana Invitational in Norman, with five home runs boosting the Sooners to a 22-2 record while the Ragin’ Cajuns dropped to 15-9.
UL will play Abilene Christian today at 10 a.m. before facing Oklahoma again at 12:30 p.m.
LSU women's basketball played South Carolina in the SEC Tournament semifinals on March 7 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena after both teams secured strong quarterfinal wins with key plays by Flau'jae Johnson and teammates that excited local fans.
The UL Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 12-3 after defeating Dallas Baptist 11-6 at Horner Ballpark on Saturday, with a pitching display that offered excess walks & hit batsmen.
Coach Deggs looks to sweep the series with a 1 p.m. game today.
Friday's Division I select quarterfinal game ended when Catholic-Baton Rouge edged St. Thomas More 54-51; the Bears built a steady lead with Charlie Mosley's 22 points while STM's efforts from Kyle Guillot and LG Carbo fell short.
Northwest High beat No. 7-seeded Plaquemine on Friday night to reach the state tournament for the first time in 22 years — coach Mark Cassimere praised the effort — and the Raiders will face No. 3 seed Brusly in the semifinals Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. in Lake Charles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2026 Louisiana Environmental Conference and Trade Fair
8 AM – 12 PM — CAJUNDOME & Convention Center — Registration required — Explore vital environmental regulations and network with industry professionals.
Candlelight: Tribute to Adele
8:30-9:45 p.m. — Petroleum Club of Lafayette — Get your tickets now to relive the music of Adele in a magical candlelight setting.
Easter Fest
4-7 p.m. — Moncus Park — Free entry — Celebrate Easter with family-friendly activities and community fun at Moncus Park.
Bark in the Park 2026
11 AM – 3 PM — Girard Park — Donations welcome — Celebrate pets and community with food, vendors, and adoptions for a great cause.
Swan Lake
7-10 p.m. — Heymann Performing Arts Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience love and magic in this timeless ballet performance.
Troy Trojans vs Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Softball
4-10 p.m. — Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park — Check local listings for ticket prices — Cheer on the Ragin Cajuns in a thrilling softball matchup against the Troy Trojans.
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