 BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer As it nears the finish line on approving a budget for the upcoming school year, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday settled on plans for a pay boost for educators and support workers, although the increase would not be permanent — yet. Thursday’s budget meeting was the fifth in six weeks. The debate has been dominated by the district’s effort to figure out how to fund a long-promised pay raise. A final vote on a budget to fund school operations for the 2023-24 fiscal year is not set until July 31.
Garbage is a hot issue in the Baton Rouge area, as parishes cut back on collection services and raise rates. But the cost of collection and scarce competition limit their options, parish leaders say. Residents in Pointe Coupee outside of New Roads recently began receiving weekly trash collection, rather than twice-a-week service. The cost for service still increased about $3 per month. “A lot of people are on fixed income and lower income,” said Major Thibaut, Pointe Coupee Parish Council president. “It might not seem like much, but every dollar counts these days.” Here is more on the issue and what other communities are doing.
The Baton Rouge Zydeco, the area's new professional hockey team, will play its first game on Oct. 26. Officials unveiled the franchise's name and logo on Thursday. Zydeco was chosen from 8,854 submissions the team received for its two-week naming contest, according to team owner Barry Soskin. The logo for the Zydeco features the Interstate 10 Mississippi River Bridge over the team's name in navy blue lettering, underlined by a red hockey stick that pays homage to the city's nickname, officials said. | 
