Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What McMakin’s plan means for City Park Golf Course’s future

And check out WGA Speaker Sharon LaCour on the Baton Rouge Patch calendar

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Friday August 21st Patch AM
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What's up Baton Rouge! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What McMakin's plan means for City Park Golf Course's future
  • How a Baton Rouge teacher became gospel's newest breakout artist
  • How a new debit card law could change your next restaurant bill

Also on today's calendar: WGA Speaker Sharon LaCour and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: A p.m. t-storm in spots, with a high of 96 and low of 76 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 100, low: 75.
  • Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 101 and low of 77 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Baton Rouge advocates back McMakin Plan to preserve Historic City Park Golf Course (wbrz.com) — Baton Rouge advocates are backing Rep. Dixon McMakin's plan to keep the Historic City Park Golf Course intact while clarifying who manages City-Brooks Park and the University Lakes. LSU says it won't join a single outside conservancy, a stance that could shape how these popular Baton Rouge green spaces are governed and maintained in the years ahead.
   

2. Baton Rouge teacher wins New Artist of the Year at 2026 Stellar Awards (wbrz.com) — A young Baton Rouge elementary school and choir director just brought home New Artist of the Year from the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, one of gospel's biggest stages. Mark Ellis credits his Broadmoor Elementary students and his United Christian Faith Ministries church family in Baton Rouge for supporting his rapid rise while he starts his first full year teaching.
   

3. Businesses adjust as customers no longer pay debit card surcharges (wafb.com subscription) — Baton Rouge-area restaurants are scrambling to adapt after a new Louisiana law banned passing debit card surcharges directly to customers, forcing owners to absorb processing fees or tweak pricing. From Carlton's in Central to Serop's Express downtown, businesses are weighing cash discounts, card-only policies, and other strategies that could subtly change how you pay for meals around town.
   

4. Contact the LSU College of Science (lsu.edu) — If you need to visit or contact LSU's College of Science in Baton Rouge, all key offices are now centralized in the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building on Tower Drive. The listing breaks down where to find SciHQ, the Student Success Center, and Shipping & Receiving, along with email contacts so students and residents can quickly reach the right office.
   

5. Why your lawn looks patchy right now — and what to do about it (wafb.com) — Lawns across Baton Rouge are turning patchy as weeks of extreme heat and shifting from heavy rain to drought compact local clay soils and stress grass roots. A local horticulture expert says now is the time to avoid fertilizer and weed killers, focus on deep, slow watering, raise mower heights, and wait for cooler weather before major fixes.
   

📸 Around Baton Rouge

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Baton Rouge

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation Announces 2027 The Answer Gala will be held March 20 —Ernie Ballard Read on Patch
  • Nextdoor does not have a go live button.
    So I did the next best thing and I made a video just now feeding one of my baby squirrels! I hope you enjoy it! I know I'm lucky to have this… (Nextdoor Hickory Ridge)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Ella, a dog who went missing in Baton Rouge, LA, has been safely reunited with their family after 3 hours, 26 minutes. More details here https://www… (Nextdoor Melrose East)
  • HB Travels posted a job opening for Remote Travel Concierge - Curate Dream Getaways in Baton Rouge. Apply here.
  • Elevationtravelpartners posted a job opening for Remote Travel Guest Services Specialist " Flexible Hours in Baton Rouge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Baton Rouge here.

Ok Baton Rouge! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A sponge (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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