Good morning, Lake Charles.

Crews broke ground on the new 2026 St. Jude Dream Home project yesterday at a Lake Charles site, aiming to build a modern facility for local families+patients.

Officials said construction will continue in phases with planned completion next year.

A fire started in the trash compactor at Walmart on North Cities Service Highway in Sulphur on Wednesday, Feb.

11 and led to an evacuation while the store remained closed for the night with no injuries reported.

Mardi Gras weekend starts Friday, Feb.

13 and lasts five days with parades, concerts, and special events across Lake Charles. The Zydeco Boss party at Cowboy's nightclub on Feb. 16 (Lundi Gras) will feature a 2 1/2-hour performance, and tickets are available in advance at Townsquare Media Studios.

On Mardi Gras Day from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Ryan Street offers a family-friendly viewing zone with free snacks and games along with lively spots like O.B.'s, Casa Mañana, and Gail's Shot Bar + additional party venues.

Locals can choose the best spot that fits their style during the parade.

Mardi Gras in the Zone returns downtown with a new zone set Tuesday, Feb.

17 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. near the Old Historic Courthouse — the alcohol- and tobacco-free event offers parades, games, a live DJ, kid activities, and free snacks.

Calcasieu School Board officials met with a judge on Feb.

11 to discuss a desegregation order for local schools & possible policy adjustments that could affect district practices.

Students took part in the Region 5 Social Studies Fair at the Burton Complex in south Lake Charles this week, with 243 participants presenting projects on topics like history + pop culture.

Winners will advance to the State Social Studies Fair in May.

South Louisiana’s delta hosts one of North America’s bird migrations as snow geese and ducks gather for winter near Mississippi River and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge southeast of Lake Charles.

State officials will start a $176 million dredging project (by CPRA) to restore sediment flow and protect the wetlands.

Lake Charles Police Department will hold an open recruiting event on Saturday, Feb.

28 at SOWELA Community College starting at 8 a.m. Candidates should dress for physical challenges (spots are limited) and may receive a $6,000 hiring incentive if selected.

State agencies have formed the Business Workforce Solutions pilot program to give local employers one key contact for workforce recruitment, retention, and training support; the initiative will help small and mid-sized companies find skilled workers as demand grows.

McNeese softball will face Ole Miss in a doubleheader today at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park at 3 p.m. as part of the Ragin Cajun Classic, with Coach Landreneau expecting freshman Maddie Taylor to lead the offense.

Desert Highway Valentine's Dinner

8-11 p.m. — L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles — Cost not specified — Celebrate love with a romantic dinner and an unforgettable live performance by Desert Highway, the ultimate Eagles tribute.

McNeese State Cowgirls Basketball vs. UTRGV

5:59-8:59 p.m. — Townsley Law Arena, Doland Fieldhouse — Check for ticket prices — Witness a critical Southland Conference matchup as the Cowgirls battle UTRGV for tournament seeding.

Senior Night: UTRGV vs. McNeese State Cowboys Mens Basketball

6:30-9:59 p.m. — Townsley Law Arena — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate graduating student-athletes in an emotional final home game of the regular season.

LSU Tigers vs McNeese State Cowgirls Softball

6-9 p.m. — Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond — Ticket info not provided — Catch the Cowgirls as they take on the LSU Tigers in a thrilling softball matchup.

Iowa Hawkeyes at McNeese State Cowgirls Softball

3-6 p.m. — Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond — Admission details not provided — Catch the exciting midweek softball showdown as the Cowgirls aim for victory against Iowa.

AWS Certified Machine Learning: Specialty Training

8 a.m. — Health and Safety Council (HASC) Louisiana — $2100 — Master machine learning with expert-led training in a hands-on environment.

Groove on the Green

5-7 p.m. — Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana — Free entry — Enjoy a lively evening of jazz under the lush oaks with friends.

Houston Christian Huskies vs. McNeese State Cowboys Baseball

2 p.m. — Joe Miller Ballpark — Ticket prices vary — Witness an exciting afternoon of baseball as the Huskies face off against the Cowboys in this thrilling series continuation.

Southland Conference Men's Basketball Championships - First Round

5 PM – 9 PM — Townsley Law Arena — Ticket prices vary — Witness thrilling single-elimination games as teams battle for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Southland Conference Women's Championship Game

4-7 p.m. — Townsley Law Arena — Tickets from $75 — Experience thrilling college basketball as teams compete for the Southland Conference title.