Good morning, Lafayette.

Today, five local non-profits host Give Acadiana Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cajundome (drop-off sites are set at Goodwill in Breaux Bridge, Crowley, New Iberia, Opelousas, and Youngsville) to support community donations.

A 300-ton crane lifted the steeple into place Friday (Aug.

7) on the new Our Lady of Wisdom Church at UL, marking a milestone in a project that will include a Catholic Student Center with meeting rooms and a relocated coffee house. A walkthrough is planned for fall or early winter.

The Powerball jackpot has reached $856 million, the largest jackpot of 2026, and ticket buyers at South End Country Mart in Lafayette & across Acadiana shared their ideas on spending nearly $1 billion if they won.

Lafayette Parish Schools now offer the My Ride K-12 app to track when students board and exit the school bus.

Families can register their student’s school ID on the app and call the LPSS transportation hotline (337-521-RIDE) for any corrections.

United Way of Acadiana and Hancock Whitney Bank joined the annual Stuff the Bus campaign by collecting donations over the summer.

The campaign, which included a $10,000 sponsorship check, will support students & teachers in Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes as they return to classrooms.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette awarded 262 degrees at the Cajundome in summer 2026.

Graduates from 34 parishes, 12 states and 12 countries marked a new chapter—university President Romesh Kolluru said.

Farmers in Acadiana sprayed nearly 250,000 acres to combat the pasture mealybug that threatens sugarcane, but residents like Kurt Pierre in Broussard ask for more details about the pesticide used + they hope for clearer answers soon.

As children return to school, Dr. Shalini Choudhary urged parents to help kids get enough sleep by setting age-appropriate routines and limiting screen time before bedtime — a step that supports memory, immune function, and school readiness.

Louisiana football coach Michael Desormeaux said wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr is sidelined with a hyperextended knee (he missed the first preseason practice) and his return remains uncertain as fall camp continues.

Acadiana Roller Derby hosted a two-game event at Blackham Coliseum, where people watched flat-track roller derby and helped Safe Havynn Education Center (skaters wore new white jerseys).

Rachel Cobb and Nicky Domingue discussed the event on MidDay with Darla.

Acadiana Duplicate Bridge Club will host its 13th annual Gold Rush tournament from Sept.

30 to Oct. 2 at its clubhouse (4950 W. Congress St.) where players with fewer than 750 MasterPoints can compete for gold points and local prizes.