Good morning, Monroe.

LifeShare Blood Center will host a blood drive during Thanksgiving week to help keep up the blood supply, and donors will receive t-shirts + $15 turkey/ham vouchers when they give blood, platelets, or plasma from Nov.

22-26. The event will take place at all LifeShare locations, including the Monroe center at 2909 Kilpatrick Boulevard.

A recent legislative audit report at Neville High School found that former athletic department bookkeeper Ms. Carlson made 255 cash deposits totaling over $280,000 into her personal account from June 2018 until her resignation in July, which led to a drop in football revenues & raised concerns over fund management. State Representative Michael Echols said the school board will introduce new controls to improve oversight & protect public money.

ULM computer science students won the DevDays ClimateTech Challenge when they developed Carbon Horizon—an AI-powered tool that tracks CO2 emissions and automates EPA reporting—earning a $5,000 prize at the Baton Rouge event on October 24.

Their win shows how local students use technology to tackle carbon capture challenges.

On November 12, the Ouachita Industrialization Center purchased the former MLK Junior High School off Nutland Road to offer post-secondary learning opportunities—programs in HVAC, carpentry, electrical work and culinary arts will be added as the board cleans and sets up the classrooms before a Spring transition.

The City of West Monroe will host a wreath-laying ceremony at Hasley Cemetery on December 12 at 10 a.m. to honor over 800 veterans by inviting the public to sponsor live wreaths at $17 each—wreaths must be purchased by November 28 to join the annual Wreaths Across America event.

FMOL Health | St. Francis earned ACGME accreditation for a new Family Medicine Residency Program in Monroe that will begin in July with eight residents.

The program will train physicians in key rotations such as pediatrics, obstetrics, and preventive care—aiming to expand primary care access in Northeast Louisiana.

The Franklin Parish Patriots secured their second straight district title by defeating Tioga 61-22 last week — earning the Little Caesar's Team of the Week award.

This win continues the team’s winning streak and highlights strong local performance.

On November 15, Twin City BMX will host the Louisiana State Games at 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway in Monroe — sign-ups run from 5 to 5:30 p.m. with races set to start soon after.

The event charges $15 for awards, is free for spectators, and is expected to boost the local economy by $86,918.

Barak Shriners' Circus

All day — Barak Shrine Temple — Pricing varies — Experience an enchanting circus with majestic elephants, daring trapeze acts, and whimsical clowns.

Football Match: South Alabama Jaguars vs. UL Monroe Warhawks

2:30-4:30 p.m. — Malone Stadium — Cost info not specified — Witness a thrilling matchup between South Alabama and UL Monroe in college football action.

TCB Nutcracker Tea & Matinee

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM — Monroe Civic Center — Children 2 and under are free — Enjoy breakfast with Clara and the Nutcracker cast followed by a delightful matinee performance.

Monroe Jingle Bell Run

7-11 a.m. — Forsythe Park — Registration fee applies — Celebrate the season with a festive 5K and Half-Marathon while promoting community fitness.