Good morning, Monroe.

The West Monroe Convention Center at 901 Ridge Avenue hosts the I-20 Career & Opportunity Expo on Sept.

17 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. The free event connects job seekers with local employers + workforce partners across multiple industries.

The City of West Monroe and the West Monroe and West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce will host a free community breakfast on Tuesday, Sept.

22 at the West Monroe Convention Center — the event will feature Elliott Cook explaining how retail recruitment supports local economic development.

Monroe-West Monroe Restaurant Week runs Sept.

14–20, offering fixed-price lunch, dinner, and lagniappe specials at local eateries to boost the food scene. Local restaurant operators expect the event to attract residents and visitors and bring new energy to the dining community.

The U.S. Census Bureau released 2025 data showing Louisiana had the nation’s highest poverty rate at 19.7% (nearly double the 10.2% national rate) with about 910,000 residents living below the poverty line.

The Monroe City School Board approved a more than $121 million budget for the 2026-27 school year and approved bids for seven new school buses, including two special education buses with diesel fuel + air conditioning.

The move aims to address an aging transportation fleet amid concerns about increasing expenses.

Lincoln Prep's two-sport standout Jabari Levingston earned this week's High School Play of the Week honor after a standout touchdown run against Block High School, further building his reputation on the gridiron (he is also a state champion on the basketball court).