Good morning, Monroe.

St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church in West Monroe opened a 24/7 food pantry plus community garden at 206 Natchitoches Road to offer food, hygiene supplies, and children's essentials without sign-ups, partnering with the LSU AgCenter and the Children's Coalition to meet local needs.

The Good Daze, a local vintage shop in downtown Monroe, is expanding with a new art studio on Art Alley to offer regional creators a space for pricing art, hosting workshops and selling their work.

Owner Hartley Arendsen said the space will help revitalize the local creator economy.

Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts will open its season with The Wizard of Oz Musical, featuring school shows Sept.

10 and 17 and public shows Sept. 12-13 and 19-20 at 1300 Lamy Lane in Monroe. The production features 40 performers + 20 crew members from ages 8 to 18.

A Monroe art studio is expanding to add workspaces and exhibit areas — a move that reflects the city’s growing creator economy.

The project will open soon and is expected to provide a new hub for local artists.

Louisiana Tech University secured a $954,000 federal grant to expand research in infrastructure and STEM fields, funding six doctoral fellowships designed to boost the northern Louisiana workforce.

Gov. Landry appointed Veneeth Iyengar (ConnectLA’s executive director) to the Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Program Advisory Council, which will guide strategic efforts to boost rural healthcare and manage over $208 million in federal funds.

Friday night high school football games in northeast LA produced both big wins and close finishes (Ruston won 42-16 over Neville and Richwood High won 58-0), setting an early playoff tone for the region.