Morning
Monroe
Wednesday, October 8th, 2025
Good morning, Monroe. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 8th of October.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Marshall was disqualified from a national charity contest supporting the Starlight Children’s Foundation but said he will use his setback to organize basketball tournaments and host free community barbecues for local youth. He said his loss has made him more determined to create opportunities for kids and that he will try again in the future. KNOE
- ➤ The Biedenharn Museum and Garden hosted the 7th Annual Scarecrow Garden to support local nonprofits as three guest judges picked cash prize winners for creative scarecrow displays—public voting runs from today through Oct 10 and the People’s Choice Winner will be announced at the Closing Garden Cinema on Oct 11. KNOE
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Louisiana’s Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup will open applications on December 1 for the 2026 competition, expanding with new undergraduate and graduate categories and a prize pool raised from $96,000 to $157,000—finals and awards will be held March 25-26 at the ULM campus. KEDM
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The Monroe Symphony Orchestra will perform a full concert titled Time and Remembrance on October 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer in West Monroe—featuring Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 2, works by Haydn and Mendelssohn, and soloist Dr. James Boldin under Maestro John Hodges. KEDM
- ➤ On November 1, the Kiroli Foundation and City of West Monroe will host the second annual Hasley: Voices of the Past twilight tour at Hasley Cemetery where actors will bring local history to life. Guests will meet at City Hall—shuttled to the cemetery for tours at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.—with tickets costing $25 to support the city's oral history project. KEDM
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A Lightcast study for FY 2023-2024 shows that University of Louisiana Monroe contributes $617.6M each year to the regional economy, supporting 10,464 jobs and giving strong returns for taxpayers, students, and society—while also boosting community health and cultural programs. MyArkLaMiss
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The University of Louisiana Monroe reported enrollment gains for Fall 2025 as the College of Health Sciences saw undergraduate numbers rise 4.75% and graduate programs increase 9% with added cohorts—several other programs also experienced double-digit growth. Campus residence halls reached 93% capacity and President Dr. Carrie L. Castille said the results support efforts to prepare students for in-demand jobs. KEDM
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Louisiana State Police Troop F’s Ryan Davis advises local families to practice road safety during fall break by ensuring children wear helmets on bicycles and that side-by-side vehicles are used with seatbelts—he also reminds drivers that four-wheelers are illegal on public roads. MyArkLaMiss
- ➤ The I-20 ramp closure is the final phase of a $17.9 million improvement project that began on March 31 — drivers may face reroutes during the work zone, and officials advise caution. The project aims to upgrade freeway access and enhance safety. KNOE
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ University of Louisiana Monroe held its third annual Mental Health Day event at the HUB on Oct. 7—raising awareness and offering mental health resources for students and the community. The event featured programs like personal therapy, substance recovery, and stress relief workshops—helping many find support. KNOE
-
Fall Celebration
10 AM – 1 PM — Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center — Free entry — Celebrate Fall with fun activities like birdhouse building and canoeing for kids of all ages.
-
Claiborne Christian Baseball Pickleball Tournament
9 a.m. — Claiborne Christian School — Fundraiser for the baseball team — All levels welcome to enjoy a fun day of pickleball.
-
Halloween Pub Crawl in Monroe
4:30-9 p.m. — Vibez Lounge — Tickets required — Get festive with spooky costumes and partake in exciting social media contests during this haunted night of fun.
-
World Ballet Company - Cinderella
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Monroe Civic Center — Experience the enchanting ballet adaptation of Cinderella featuring international dancers and stunning costumes.
-
Ainsley's Angels 10th Annual Rolling On The River 5K
10:30 PM – 12:30 AM — 501 Mane St, West Monroe, LA — Registration starting from $2.99 — Celebrate inclusivity with a fun 5K featuring in-person and virtual options.
-
Ancestral Artistry Film Screening
5:30-8:30 p.m. — Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum — General Admission — Explore the influence of African and Creole architecture in Louisiana through a special film screening and Q&A session.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
People are rewarded in public for what they practice for years in private.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Morning Monroe
Welcome to the Morning Monroe, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Monroe, Louisiana community. If you like the Morning Monroe, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Monroe.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Monroe and across Louisiana. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Morning Monroe
A free Monroe community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://morningmonroe.com/sitemap