Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

SETX just made national education history. Lamar University is launching a doctoral degree in energy management that doesn't exist anywhere else in Texas or the country. Also in today's edition: the South Texas State Fair is in its final days with Lady Bull Riders taking the ring this weekend, the iconic campus library is getting its biggest makeover since 1976, and Beaumont's City Council is narrowing down who leads the city next.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.

Let's get into it. 👇

Lamar University Launches the Nation's First Doctoral Program in Energy Management 🎓

Lamar University announced a Doctor of Business Administration in Energy Management — the first program of its kind in Texas and the entire country, and the university's first new doctoral degree in 15 years. Built for working energy professionals and executives, the degree can be completed in as little as 2.5 years through online coursework and covers business strategy, energy economics, AI integration, and sustainability. The program is fully accredited by AACSB.

This matters beyond campus. SETX sits at the heart of America's energy industry — refineries, ports, and petrochemical plants that power the nation. A nationally unique doctorate anchored right here at Lamar sends a clear signal: the talent pipeline for energy's future runs through Beaumont. Interested? Visit lamar.edu/dba or email [email protected].

💡 The bottom line: When the energy capital of America creates the nation's only energy doctorate, that's not just a university win but also a calling card for the entire region.

📚 LU's 50-Year-Old Library Is Getting a $90M Glow-Up — The Mary and John Gray Library is mid-renovation, targeting a January 2027 reopening after closing in spring 2025. The brick exterior is going glass for natural light, study rooms are doubling on floors 5 and 6, and campus archives are being centralized. The one silver lining while construction runs? Starbucks is still open — now with a new patio. Read more →

🤠 Lady Bull Riders Are Taking the Ring in Beaumont This Weekend — Ten women from across the country are competing in the Elite Lady Bull Riders Association Novice Finals at Ford Arena — a championship launched in 2023 to give women a real shot at a sport historically dominated by men. Bull riding continues Friday and Saturday (April 3–4), free with fair gate admission. This is worth the drive. Read more →

🏗️ Nederland Residents Win One — A city council proposal to relocate Nederland's City Hall got tabled after residents pushed back hard, arguing the funds should go toward fixing the city's long-troubled sewer system instead. The council listened. A small but real win for community accountability. Read more →

🎉 Port Arthur Mardi Gras Could Return — Under New Leadership — The Port Arthur CVB board has approved the idea of bringing Mardi Gras back to the city, with the City Council set to vote on making the CVB the exclusive organizer for a 2027 celebration. It's early days, but momentum is building. Read more →

💧 Groves Is Going Smart on Water — Starting in May, the City of Groves will upgrade 6,700+ water meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure through December. Residents can opt in now to a customer-side shutoff valve program as part of the rollout — giving homeowners more control over their water use and leak detection. Read more →

📬 Which story caught your eye?

Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.

THIS WEEK

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

THIS WEEKEND

COMING UP

Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉

If you haven't been to Old Orange Cafe, you're missing one of the most lived-in rooms in Southeast Texas. Chef David Claybar has run this lunch spot since 2004 out of the historic Old Orange Dairy building in the heart of downtown Orange and the walls are covered in photographs that tell the city's story going back generations. Texas Monthly once called it "a piece of local history," and they weren't wrong.

Today's specials are the kind of thing you'd drive for: Cajun Benedict ($12.95), Chicken & Sausage Gumbo ($15.95), a fresh catch-of-the-day, and rotating soups and quiches that change daily. Catering runs from intimate groups of 10 up to 1,000 — and their on-site fish fry service is a SETX institution. TripAdvisor has them at 4.6 stars, ranked #2 of 53 restaurants in Orange.

📍 914 W. Division, Orange, TX 77630 | ☎️ (409) 883-2233 | oldorangecafe.com

🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.

Not every economic engine makes headlines. The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation has been quietly doing the work of building the region's industrial future for years and right now, they're making moves worth paying attention to.

The Port Arthur EDC operates as a 4A sales tax corporation, meaning every dollar it spends comes directly from the community and goes back into it. Their tools include Opportunity Zones, Neighborhood Empowerment Zones, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, and a 300-acre business park ready for manufacturing, light industrial, and commercial development. Their Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2030) puts job creation, workforce training, and industry diversification at the center.

This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].

March through May is peak bass season in Southeast Texas, and right now the fish are shallow and hungry. Largemouth bass are in their spring spawning run, which means they're sitting in the shallows. Easier to spot, easier to reach, and more aggressive than any other time of year.

Where to go: Sabine Lake and its surrounding bayous are a go-to for experienced anglers — the north cuts along the marsh drain well on outgoing tides and concentrate fish. Texas Bayou in Sabine Pass is easy to launch from and productive year-round. Village Creek State Park in Lumberton is a quieter option for families — good for kayak fishing and paddling, with bass, catfish, and crappie.

If you're new to it: Pick up a Texas fishing license online at tpwd.texas.gov before you go ($30 for residents). A light spinning rod with a plastic worm or shallow crankbait is all you need. The minimum size limit for largemouth bass in SETX is 12 inches — measure before you keep.

🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.

The What's Up SETX Team is on the hunt for amateur photographers based in the Golden Triangle to partner with us for our social media and newsletter so we can reach and help more people stay in the know.

If you're already out there capturing community moments, local businesses, or everyday life around here, we'd love to start a conversation about working together.

Or if someone came to mind while you were reading this, send it their way.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] with your portfolio or Instagram handle.

Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.

Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.

What's your go-to spring fishing spot in the Golden Triangle? Drop us a reply and we'll feature the best picks in a future outdoor adventure.

See you in a few days neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team