community CONNECT
AMTRAK LAUNCHES NEW BATON ROUGE BUS CONNECTION
Amtrak now offers bus service from Baton Rouge to its New Orleans station, providing connections to the rail service’s Gulf Coast route to Mobile, Alabama. Greyhound and Flix buses will depart twice daily from the Florida Boulevard bus station, with times available when purchasing train tickets. The service also opens connections to destinations like Memphis and Chicago. While Amtrak continues planning a direct Baton Rouge–New Orleans rail line, tickets and details for the Mardi Gras route are available online. ■ amtrak.com
LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OPENS $90 MILLION PATIENT TOWER
CRISIS TEXT LINE EXPANDS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS As the school year progresses, stress and anxiety continue to weigh heavily on students. In 2024, nearly one in four Crisis Text Line conversations referenced school-related challenges, underscoring the need for ongoing support. To help, Crisis Text Line is offering School Hacks: Mental Health Edition, a free resource campaign with student playbooks, stress management guides, and peer-support tips. These tools are designed to help parents, educators, and students navigate the demands of the academic year. Anyone in need of immediate, confidential support can text SCHOOL to 741741 to connect with a trained volunteer Crisis Counselor, available 24/7. ■ crisistextline.org
Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary has unveiled a $90 million, four-story patient tower, the hospital’s largest expansion in more than 40 years. The 86,000-square-foot facility adds 48 patient rooms, a six-bed ICU, four new operating rooms, and an updated entrance and registration area. Designed to accommodate advanced technology such as robotic surgery systems, the expansion increases the hospital’s total capacity to 187 beds. Funded through a USDA low-interest loan, the project enables Lane to broaden access to care for patients across Zachary, Baker, Central, West Feliciana, and beyond. The tower is expected to open by late September. ■ lanermc.org
LOUISIANA ARTS SUMMIT TO BRING CREATIVE VOICES TOGETHER The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, in partnership with the Louisiana Division of the Arts, will host the 2025 Louisiana Arts Summit October 8–10 in Downtown Baton Rouge. This statewide conference unites artists, educators, business leaders, and community members for three days of workshops, panels, and networking. Sessions will explore the arts’ impact on cultural heritage, education, health, and economic growth. ■ artsbr.org/louisiana-arts-summit
10 OCTOBER 2025 | BRPARENTS.COM
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