Good morning, Lafayette.

Buc-ee's plans to open new stores in Lafayette and Ruston in coming years – the Lafayette location is set to open in 2028 and job postings, including a high-paying General Manager role at $175K+, are expected to debut a few months before the store opens.

An abandoned former Burger King building at the corner of Johnston Street and St. Mary Boulevard in Lafayette will become a Meltdown Snoballs shop near the UL campus.

Entrepreneur Zein Clayton—who opened five other locations—said the new shop will open in early November and plans to expand his icy treats to Texas and Florida in the coming years.

Today, nearly 60 children began preschool classes in a new early childhood program at the historic Holy Rosary Institute following a ribbon-cutting ceremony after 30 years of empty classrooms—this free program is offered in partnership with Prime Time Head Start.

The site was also chosen for a new Northeast Lafayette library, adding to its community role.

South Louisiana Community College received a GOLD award for Best College and its Early College Academy was honored with a GOLD award for Best High School in the 2025 Acadiana's Choice Awards - community members cast thousands of votes to support the region's top educational institutions while the Foundation for SoLAcc earned a BRONZE award for Best Non-Profit.

U.S. News and World Report released its Best Colleges for 2026 ranking that lists eight Louisiana universities, with Tulane University ranked as the state's top national college and LSU coming in second.

UL Lafayette is placed sixth + the rankings also include Loyola University, Louisiana Tech, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Southern University and University of New Orleans.

Lafayette Regional Airport will receive $6.6 million in federal funding to redesign Taxiway Bravo to meet FAA standards — construction will begin in November and is expected to last about a year to improve traveler safety.

A state task force outlined new plans for hurricane evacuations—such as using highway shoulders as extra lanes and shortening contraflow setup times—but the transportation department said the proposals are too costly and will not be adopted.

FDA issued new recommendations Monday (following a national announcement linking acetaminophen to autism) advising pregnant people to use it only when medically necessary.

Vanessa Lomas, president of the Autism Society of Acadiana (whose brother is affected by autism) said the public debate should focus on supporting families rather than assigning blame.

Louisiana veterans can access up to 12 free telehealth counseling sessions online from the Acadiana Veteran Alliance’s new HealCenter — a service that builds on its program to offer help with post-traumatic stress.

LCA's top guard Kaliyah Samuels announced her commitment to Nicholls State to continue her Division I career—she chose the school for its family-like feel and competitive play.

She led her team to a state championship last year and will spend the offseason preparing for another run.

Ju’Juan Johnson has found his spot as a running back at LSU after playing four different positions, building on his record-setting time at Lafayette Christian Academy.

His coach Brian Kelly and teammates praise his vision and skill—helping him earn important snaps to boost the offense this season.

Bayou Fest & Boat Parade 2025

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District — Registration fee applies — Celebrate the Bayou Vermilion with paddling, music, contests, and fun for all ages.

Downtown Rising 2025

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. — Parc International — Tickets available — Celebrate music and community with The Wailers and local artists in an epic reggae event.

ACLA Latin Music Festival

4 PM – 10 PM — Parc International — Check back for more details — A family-friendly multicultural celebration of Latin music since 2002.

Alyse Young Live at La Pizzeria

6-10 p.m. — La Pizzeria Lafayette — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of soulful music from Lafayette's own singer-songwriter Alyse Young.

PetSmart Adoption Event

10 AM – 1 PM — PetSmart — Free entry — Meet adorable adoptable cats and dogs ready to find their forever homes.

Sax in the City: Dee Lucas with The Dave Mouton EXPerience

7-10 p.m. — Brass Room — Tickets available — Experience a night of jazz featuring soulful saxophone and vibrant performances.

Treats at the Village

5-8 p.m. — LARC's Acadian Village — Free entry — Celebrate Halloween with a special trick-or-treat experience designed for individuals with special needs and their families.

Alyse Young Live Performance

6-10 p.m. — El Paso Mexican Grill — Free entry — Enjoy an evening of live music with singer-songwriter Alyse Young from Lafayette.

Rory Scovel Live Comedy Show

7-10 PM — Club 337 — Reserved Seating ($30) + General Admission ($25) — Enjoy a night of laughs with comedian Rory Scovel known for his appearances on Netflix, HBO, and Apple TV+.

Daryl Felsberg Stand-Up Comedy Show

7-8:30 p.m. — Cité des Arts — Tickets available — Enjoy a night of laughs with the larger-than-life comedian Daryl Felsberg.