Moncus Park is getting a boost for its quieter Back 50, thanks to a 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud grant awarded to just 10 projects nationwide.

Through Sammy Broussard Equipment Center, the Lafayette park will receive $25,000 in cash and $25,000 toward a compact tractor to replace an aging machine.

The support will help crews maintain trails, restore habitat and care for natural gathering spaces as more visitors explore the less-developed half of the 100-acre park.

A one-mile trail loop opened there in 2023, along with more than 2,000 linear feet of accessible pathways.

Unlike the park’s busier attractions, the Back 50 offers room to walk and experience native habitats at an unhurried pace.

For residents who fought to save the former Horse Farm from development, caring for that open space remains part of the promise.

The thought of Toys R Us returning to Lafayette brings back memories of family trips through aisles of toys.

But no Lafayette location, address or opening date has been confirmed, even as the brand expands elsewhere.

Its return has largely taken the form of smaller spaces inside department stores and airports, not a widespread revival of its former big-box stores.

A standalone Acadiana store would depend on suitable space, customer demand and a commitment to the local market.

Busy shopping corridors such as Johnston Street and Ambassador Caffery Parkway may be easy to imagine as potential sites, but no site has been announced.

For parents and grandparents, a dedicated toy store could restore the fun of choosing gifts together in person.

Until Toys R Us confirms a Lafayette address and opening plans, though, families should treat talk of a local return as speculation.

In Lafayette, The Cajun Table serves the kind of Cajun comfort food that invites diners to settle in and stay awhile.

What began as a food truck in 2015 is now a relaxed dining room filled with family photographs, old crawfish traps and Cajun music.

Chicken and smoked sausage gumbo is a natural place to start, especially when cooler weather calls for something warm.

Have it with rice, or choose potato salad and join a familiar Louisiana debate.

The menu also includes shrimp and grits, po’boys, alligator bites and hearty plate lunches.

Boiled shrimp comes with potatoes and corn, while crawfish draws diners when it is in season.

Burgers, wraps and salads give everyone at the table another option.

More than any one dish, The Cajun Table’s appeal lies in familiar flavors and a welcome that feels genuine.

A cracked windshield can disrupt a busy day, but Lafayette drivers now have another way to arrange auto glass service.

Geaux Auto Glass has moved to 409A Mecca Street, near South College Road and Verot School Road, offering both in-shop appointments and mobile service.

The locally owned company provides free mobile installation for qualifying repair and replacement jobs, allowing eligible customers to have a technician come to their home or workplace.

Founded in December 2023, the business has grown to 10 employees and serves customers from its Lafayette and Kenner locations, with technicians stationed elsewhere across Louisiana.

Drivers can describe the damage when scheduling to find out whether repair or replacement is appropriate and whether their job qualifies for mobile service.

Customers interested in an in-shop discount or Halloween giveaway should confirm whether those promotions are still available.

Bangkok Thai could move from its longtime Johnston Street location to a planned strip center at 101 Gerald Drive, according to development renderings.

The restaurant has operated at 3904 Johnston St. since about 2010, but the relocation has not been confirmed.

The proposed 9,660-square-foot center would have multiple storefronts, and two Lafayette Consolidated Government permits cover work valued at just over $2.3 million.

The property owner, 4953 Johnston LLC, is linked to Bangkok Thai through a person listed as an officer of the restaurant.

A leasing listing advertises 6,600 square feet for retail, office, restaurant or service businesses.

For local diners, a move would mark another change along a familiar stretch of Johnston Street: Bangkok Thai’s current site previously housed Pimon Thai and, before that, Stop & Shop Bar-B-Q.

No opening date or lineup for the other storefronts has been announced.

Shyla arrived at the shelter alongside several other dogs and puppies, where staff believe she may have played the role of big sister to the group.

Since then, she has been gradually coming out of her shell, revealing a curious and eager personality with each passing day.

She is kennel trained, heartworm negative, and absolutely loves other dogs — making a home with a friendly canine companion an ideal match.

Still young, Shyla has so much life ahead of her.

What she needs most is a patient adopter who will give her the time and space to feel truly safe and settled.

She may take a little while to fully trust — but those who wait will find plenty of sweetness on the other side.

For families on Lafayette’s Northside, finding affordable summer care can be a challenge.

Joyce Gaymon created Camp Inspire to give local children an enriching place to spend their days when school is out.

A veteran and longtime public servant, Gaymon will be recognized as a Wavemaker at the sixth annual Undercurrent Awards in Lafayette on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.

Her work addresses a concern for parents balancing jobs, household costs and their children’s needs.

David Begnaud and Do Good Crew are hosting and co-producing the celebration, which honors people making a difference in their communities.

Tickets start at $25, with Premium and VIP options available.

For Gaymon, the recognition also shines a light on the Northside children and families Camp Inspire was created to serve.

Thousands of honeybees built an open-air hive in a camellia tree between Foster and Girard halls at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, giving passersby an unusual sight.

Beekeeper Rachael Clayton estimated the exposed colony held at least 65,000 bees and believed it had been growing since around June.

She said a long stretch without rain can allow bees to build comb in the open, a striking occurrence in South Louisiana.

University officials chose to relocate the hive rather than dispose of it, seeking to protect people on the busy campus while preserving valuable pollinators.

Clayton planned to move the colony to Judice, where she keeps bees.

Biology professor Mark Genung said a colony this large in such a busy setting is unusual, though its origin remains uncertain.

Clayton said local honeybees are not typically aggressive, even if the sight makes some onlookers wary.