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It’s Friday, CenLA! Let’s finish this week strong.
In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Two schools reconfigured to pre-K to 6th, blues legends enter the Hall of Fame, and Bloomin’ on the Bricks + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.
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📰 In the news
Focus on student success: Two Pineville schools will be reconfigured to serve Pre-K to 6th grade starting in the 2026 to 2027 school year, following Rapides Parish School Board approval last fall and rezoning — get all the details.
Career readiness takes spotlight: LSUA reached its highest spring enrollment, signing up 7,728 students, including 4,801 online. Leaders credit affordability and strong support, noting more than 40 percent of students graduate with no debt — get campus preview details.
Celebrating enduring musical legacies: Kenny Neal and Marcia Ball, Louisiana blues standouts, will join The Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame in 2026, with ceremonies in Memphis. Ball retired in 2025 after an ALS diagnosis — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you (or someone you care about) to clean up all that up – learn more here.
Highlights this week:
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🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?
Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz
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I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.
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🫶 We got your back
Fresh, plant-friendly comfort: In Natchitoches, Legacy Cafe delivers a garden-to-table vibe with scratch-made plates, community warmth, and a house-made black bean burger that hits even on non-Meatless Mondays. If you’ve been meaning to eat a little greener this week, consider this your nudge.
Old-world finds, new inspo: Maison Pompeii Antiques & Interiors brings together character-rich antiques and artful decor, from patinated mirrors to one-of-a-kind accents. Owner Larry offers styling guidance to tie a room together, so your space gains soul, history, and a standout piece… minus the stuffiness.
Wake up looking done: If morning makeup steals your coffee, Advanced Cosmetic Techniques perfects brows, eyeliner, and lip color so you can roll from bed to real life with fewer smudges. Their pros map, tint, and refresh for polished, lasting results… and a routine that takes care of itself.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
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📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🏓 Rec Pickleball Tournament @ Louisiana Athletic Club | Friday (3/6) at 3:00 PM – If your backhand is feisty and your knees are cooperative, grab a partner for the REC doubles pickleball tournament at the LAC on March 6 at 3pm. Friendly competition, bragging rights, and plenty of kitchen jokes included. Losers buy post-game iced tea.
🐾 Zooper Rummage Sale @ Alexandria Zoo | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – Zooper Rummage Sale is serving up home décor, household finds, toys, games, and books, no zoo admission required, and it supports Friends of the Alexandria Zoo. It is a treasure hunt without the awkward driveway chit-chat, and they are taking like-new donations, just not clothes.
🌸 Bloomin’ on the Bricks @ Natchitoches Riverbank | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Bloomin’ on the Bricks turns downtown into a full-on garden market with plants, flowers, shrubs, and decor you’ll swear you needed yesterday. Bring the kids for activities, linger with neighbors, and test your willpower. Admission is free, your trunk space is not.
📚 Bedazzle Your Own Book @ My Secret Shelves | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Think craft night is just for kids? On March 7 at My Secret Shelves, bring a beloved tome or pick a new find to bedazzle, swap book banter with kindred spirits, and head home with a take-home kit, a prettier shelf, and zero glitter regrets.
🍽 Taste of Central Louisiana @ Randolph Riverfront Center | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Consider this your perfect excuse to graze Central Louisiana’s best bites, sip something decent, and call it philanthropy. At Randolph Riverfront Center, Nola Dukes keep the groove, you keep the conversation, and proceeds back LRA programs, Children’s Miracle Network, and local nonprofits.
🎶 Big Island Red @ East Side Daiquiris in Pineville | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 PM – Bring your dancing boots to Eastside Pineville for Big Island Red, serving up country rock without the gimmicks. Tight riffs, sing-alongs, and familiar faces, the kind of night where you can two-step a little, hydrate a lot, and still call it a win.
🥕 Local Farmer’s Market Day @ Pineville Farm Stand | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Take a break from big-box errands and wander the indoor farmers market, where the produce is fresher than your neighbor’s gossip. Stock up on local greens, bread, honey, and cheeses, chat up the growers, and pretend this counts as your cardio.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 CenLA report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 86°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 23%
Patchy fog before 7am, then a slight chance of rain showers between noon and 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tomorrow – High: 84°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 85%
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
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