Good morning, Monroe.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.