Baton Rouge Daily Briefing: Inclusive Playgrounds, Tax Help, and Saturday Night Hockey

Inclusive playground opens at Southdowns Pre-K Center

A new playground at Southdowns Pre-K Center is giving Baton Rouge students of all abilities more ways to play together. The campus unveiled a fully inclusive play space designed for children with and without disabilities, featuring accessible equipment and surfaces so more students can safely join recess.

School leaders say the goal is to remove barriers that kept some children on the sidelines. The playground is believed to be the first of its kind at a local school, and staff hope it will serve as a model for other campuses across East Baton Rouge Parish as they upgrade older play areas.

Free tax help available for low- to moderate-income residents

As tax season ramps up, Capital Area United Way and its partners are offering free filing assistance to qualifying residents in Baton Rouge and surrounding communities. IRS-certified volunteers will help prepare returns for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes.

One of the main events is a Super Tax Day scheduled later this month at the Main Library at Goodwood, where walk-in help will be available during daytime hours. Organizers encourage residents to gather documents like photo IDs, Social Security cards, W-2 and 1099 forms, and any health insurance paperwork before arriving to speed up the process.

Those who cannot attend the large event can still schedule appointments at VITA sites around the region. The program aims to help households maximize refunds and avoid paid preparer fees that can eat into refunds.

State tax relief for winter storm impact

The Louisiana Department of Revenue, headquartered in Baton Rouge, is giving state taxpayers extra time to file and pay certain taxes after January’s winter storm. Automatic extensions apply to returns and payments originally due between late January and February 21, with a new deadline of March 31.

The relief covers a range of filings, including sales, excise, and withholding taxes, as well as wage-reporting forms. The extension is available to individuals and businesses in federally declared disaster areas linked to the storm, which includes every parish in Louisiana.

Baton Rouge Zydeco hit the ice downtown tonight

Downtown Baton Rouge will be buzzing this evening as the Baton Rouge Zydeco take on the Athens Rock Lobsters at the Raising Cane’s River Center Arena. The puck is set to drop just after 7 p.m., bringing minor-league hockey action to the riverfront.

Fans can expect a family-friendly environment, with concessions and in-game entertainment throughout the night. Event organizers recommend arriving early to navigate downtown parking and security screening before the game begins.

Sources

https://www.wbrz.com/tags/lsu/
https://www.wafb.com/2026/02/17/free-tax-help-being-offered-people-living-baton-rouge-surrounding-areas/
https://revenue.louisiana.gov/news-and-announcements/2026/state-tax-relief-available-to-louisiana-residents-affected-by-january-winter-storm/
https://www.unation.com/event/baton-rouge-zydeco-vs-athens-rock-lobsters-63862641/