On the Bright Side
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SBC's Best King Cake Crown Goes To...

SBC's Best King Cake Crown Goes To...

January 26, 2026

TOGETHER WITH

☀️SBC! What a weekend! I simply can’t go any further without thanking all SWEPCO employees who are still working tirelessly to get everyone’s electricity back on. Thanks to you, in the nick of time, I was able to finally get this newsletter published despite the weekend internet outages! 🙌

My 11-year-old daughter asked me in our candlelit house Saturday night after dinner, “How are we supposed to wash dishes without a dishwasher?” 😳 After a state of disbelief and embarrassment, we tackled the dishes together the old-fashioned way.

(Low key one of many favorite moments with her.)

📩 Reply to this email with your favorite iced-in story or photo!
May have to give a gift card away for the best one… 👀

In this edition, we’ll shine light on:

How to help our furry neighbors
SBC’s Best King Cake Winner is…
Upcoming events and live music for everyone

Let’s get our shine on!

Sponsored by Casper’s Cats

We’re thrilled to spotlight Casper’s Cats TNR, a loving Shreveport nonprofit with a big heart and an even bigger soft spot for our community’s furry wanderers. Based right here in northwest Louisiana, their mission is simple but powerful: humanely trap, neuter, and return stray and feral cats so they can live healthier, calmer lives while preventing endless cycles of litters.

Each year, they help hundreds of cats get fixed, cared for, and placed on a better path. That work ripples out in meaningful ways, from fewer kittens struggling on the streets to more stable, healthier colonies and the occasional happy adoption story that warms your heart.

Casper’s Cats TNR runs entirely on love, volunteers, and donations from people like us. Every dollar goes straight to surgeries, vaccines, food, and care. Supporting them means fewer suffering animals and a kinder, more compassionate community. If you’ve ever had a soft spot for a stray, this is a cause worth rallying behind. 💗🐾

_{We LOVE featuring nonprofits! Send your favorite}_here.

So, who was crowned with SBC’s Best King Cake?
_{…according to OTBS subscribers}

The votes are in, and wow, this one was a nail biter. After a very close race in our SBC Best King Cake poll, ya’ll made it clear.

💛 Lowder Baking Company takes the crown for SBC’s top king cake 👑. They have clearly stolen hearts and taste buds across the community.

And NOW for the sweet bonus that is personally my favorite part.
Which lucky subscriber gets to take one home? Drumroll please!

💜Congratulations to Shawn Riddle, our winner of SBC’s Best King Cake!!

_{(We heard she likes the Praline Flavor!}😉₎

Thanks to everyone who voted and helped make this fun, festive showdown such a hit. King cake season never tasted so good. 💚 Laissez les bons temps rouler! 🎉

☀️ This Week’s Happy Highlights

Fat Tuesday’s Opening a New Lunch Spot

Downtown Shreveport lunch folks, this one’s for you. Fat Tuesday’s is opening a new lunch location: 400 Texas Street (former Chase building), Ste 102, and bringing their delicious po’ boys and sweet desserts right along with them. Perfect for an easy, satisfying lunch break, they’ll be open M-F from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. With a projected opening of March 10, downtown just scored another go-to spot that’s sure to be a hit. 😋

Local Restaurant Aces Health & Sanitation Score

Congrats to Don Juanz Baja Beach Tacos at 1409 E. 70th Street on earning a perfect Kitchen Health & Sanitation Score from the state! 🌮🎉

This top-tier inspection result ranks Don Juanz among the best restaurants in Louisiana for health and sanitation-huge kudos to the entire team for keeping standards sky-high!

✍🏼 Side Notes & City Talk

👍🏽 G-Unit received zoning approval to exceed the current 60-foot height limit for its proposed 140-foot G-Dome. The request was approved in a 4-0 vote at Wednesday’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in the Government Plaza Chamber.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏾 LSU Shreveport is creating a new Center for Northwest Louisiana Regional Impact to strengthen partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders. The goal is to better connect student and faculty expertise with real needs across the region.

❄️ LA DOTD broke out the heavy guns during the ice storm! Did ya’ll see the awesome snowplow trucks? Would’ve come in handy a few years ago!

📉 Unemployment claims in Louisiana dipped last week, with fewer people filing for benefits than the week before.

🌱 Mark your calendars! Love the Boot Week is back April 18-26! Last year nearly 27,000 volunteers removed 507 TONS of litter from around our state! Be a part of the next one!

📆 Featured Events of the Week

We’re looking for a featured event section sponsor! Send us your info to be seen by our subscribers!

Check out local events this week here!

_{Have an upcoming event you’d like to promote? Send it in}_here!

🎶 LIVE MUSIC LINEUP 🎶
(For weekday music, see our event list link above!)

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Have a Blessed Week, SBC!

Love what you got?

Hebrews 6:10-12