The LSUS skyline will be dotted with hot air balloons on Thursday for the second annual Balloon Glow. This family-friendly evening event offers tethered balloon rides, food trucks, and a Kids Zone that includes bounce houses. The event runs from 5-8 p.m. at the back of the LSUS campus along East Kings. General admission tickets are offered at $5 with LSUS students and kids 10 and under getting free admission. Tethered balloon rides are sold separately at $25 per person. The event serves as a fundraiser for the LSUS Foundation, which supports the University through private dollars to offer scholarships and professorships as well sustain other activities on campus.

The Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society invites the public to its second Fall Star Party on Saturday, October 10, from 7–10 p.m. at the Shreveport Observatory. This free event offers visitors the opportunity to look through telescopes and observe Venus, Mercury, Saturn and its moon Titan, along with galaxies, star clusters and other wonders of the night sky. The observatory is located eight miles south of LSU-Shreveport, off Highway 175 on Astronomical Way. The event will be canceled if skies are cloudy or rainy. For more information, visit ShreveportAstronomy.com or contact Dr. Cran Lucas at 318-573-6929.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church invites the community to enjoy a performance by the Southern Plainsmen Quartet on Sunday, October 11, at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 5404 Highway 783 in Coushatta. A love offering will be taken during the service. Pastor Larry Carr and the congregation welcome everyone to attend this special morning of gospel music.

LSU’s defense is making its presence felt in the backfield this season. Edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen leads the nation with eight solo sacks through games played October 3, while freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds is tied for sixth nationally with five. The Tigers have been just as impressive as a unit, recording 22 sacks to rank second in the country behind Tennessee’s 23. LSU’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks has quickly become one of the strengths of the Tiger defense.

Louisiana has posted the largest increase of any state since 2019 in the share of Advanced Placement (AP®) Exams earning a qualifying score, according to new statewide data released by the College Board. Louisiana’s AP score rate has improved at more than twice the national rate of growth in that timespan and now sits just two points off the national average.

Northwestern State University has been awarded a five-year grant expected to provide $3.25 million through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to support eligible Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students and help strengthen Louisiana’s nursing workforce.

CHRISTUS Health celebrated the opening of the CHRISTUS Cancer Center in Longview today with a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony, marking a major milestone in the advancement and accessibility of cancer care across East Texas. The nearly $40 million facility opened to patients on Monday, Oct. 5.