Here’s what’s up in SETX,
The Lamar Cardinals just made NCAA Tournament history and they did it on a national stage in College Station. Meanwhile, Beaumont's brand-new Oil Barons are officially your team of the summer at Vincent-Beck Stadium, Port Arthur kicks off three weeks of Juneteenth celebrations starting Thursday, and students across Beaumont can now ride Zip buses for free all season long. Plus a new chicken spot just opened in Vidor, and we've got some paddling trails for when this heat gets genuinely unbearable.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
⚾ Lamar Cardinals Make Program History at the 2026 NCAA Tournament
The Lamar Cardinals earned one of the most significant achievements in program history this May — a berth in the 2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Seeded into the College Station Regional at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, the Cardinals faced No. 12-seeded Texas A&M in the opening round and sprinted out to a 5-0 lead before the Aggies rallied for a 7-5 win in the eighth inning. Lamar was then eliminated by USC. But that's not the story. The story is getting there.
Coach Will Davis, in his tenth year leading the program, has been building something real — back-to-back 40-win seasons, and now an NCAA Tournament appearance that cements Lamar baseball as a program the rest of the country has to take seriously. This is the milestone the Cardinals have been chasing. Southeast Texas should take a moment to recognize what just happened.
💡 The bottom line: Lamar baseball is on the national map, and this team earned every bit of the recognition coming their way.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🎆 Beaumont's 4th of July Is Free — and It's Going to Be Big — This year's celebration marks America's 250th anniversary, and Beaumont is showing up for it. Gates open at 5 PM at the Lake at the Downtown Event Centre; LA ROXX headlines the main stage; and Southeast Texas's largest fireworks display goes up at 9 PM. Bonus: the Symphony of Southeast Texas plays a free patriotic concert at Julie Rogers Theatre at 8 PM. That's a full night of free family programming you can actually plan around. Read more →
⚾ The Oil Barons Are Here — Home Games All Summer Long — Beaumont's newest team, the Oil Barons, is playing its inaugural season in the Mid-America League out of Lamar University's Vincent-Beck Stadium. The team is one of four 2026 expansion franchises, promising affordable family baseball with local players all summer. If you've been looking for a reason to use that stadium, this is it. Read more →
🚌 Beaumont Students Ride Zip Free Through August 12 — The City of Beaumont announced free summer transit for all students on Zip routes, running May 28 through August 12. High schoolers need to show a valid school ID; younger riders should travel with a parent or guardian. Whether it's a summer job, a camp, or just getting around — this removes a barrier that matters for a lot of families. Read more →
💵 Rep. Weber Brings $2M+ Home to Southeast Texas — Congressman Randy Weber's work in the FY2027 appropriations process just landed more than $2 million for SETX: $500K for Beaumont public safety technology, $1.05M for disaster resilience research through Texas A&M Galveston, and $500K for UTMB biomedical research. That's infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and healthcare funding — all directed at this region in one piece of legislation. Read more →
🏚️ Hotel Beaumont Ballroom Red-Tagged After Structural Failure — On May 22, the City of Beaumont red-tagged the ballroom addition attached to the historic Hotel Beaumont after structural engineers found complete failure — rotted wood trusses, collapsed supports. The main hotel tower is not affected, but the ballroom wing off Orleans Street is now off-limits. Developer Mack Patel has been working toward a Hampton Inn conversion since 2019, and this is another setback in a long project. The city's move protects public safety downtown. Read more →
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Mark Your Calendar: July 4 in Beaumont — Free celebration at the Lake at the Downtown Event Centre. Gates open at 5 PM, fireworks at 9 PM. America turns 250 this year — don't miss it. See the full lineup at beaumonteventstx.com.
✅ Get Oil Barons Tickets for a Summer Night — Home games run all season at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Grab the schedule and snag tickets at oilbaronsbaseball.com.
✅ Juneteenth Flag Raising — Port Arthur, This Thursday — The Port Arthur Cultural Coalition kicks off three weeks of Juneteenth events with a free flag raising ceremony Thursday, June 4 at 10:30 AM at 525 Lakeshore Dr. Open to everyone.
✅ Beaumont Students: Your Bus Ride Is Free — Hop on any Zip route through August 12 — just bring a valid school ID. Runs on all regular Zip routes. No cost, no hassle.
✅ Running a small business or thinking about starting one? — Tailored Financial Solutions offers bookkeeping, CFO-level guidance, and financial clarity for local entrepreneurs. tailoredfinsolutions.com 💰
📅 COMMUNITY EVENTS
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
THIS WEEK
Jun 2: Greater Beaumont Chamber Luncheon — Focus on Business | Beaumont. Monthly Chamber luncheon with business networking and guest speakers. Details and tickets at bmtcoc.org.
Jun 3: Orange Public Library Summer Reading Program — First Session | Orange Public Library, Orange. Free summer reading program kicks off its first Tuesday event — open to all ages. Runs every Tuesday through summer.
Jun 4: Juneteenth Flag Raising Celebration | 525 Lakeshore Dr, Port Arthur. Port Arthur Cultural Coalition opens three weeks of Juneteenth events honoring 161 years of freedom — 10:30 AM, free and open to the public.
Jun 4: Cajun & Creole Jam | Port Arthur. Bring your instruments or just come to listen — a free live music gathering celebrating Port Arthur's deep Cajun and Creole heritage.
Jun 4: Ribbon Cutting — Prado Place | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber ribbon cutting for a new local business. Details at bmtcoc.org.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
June 12 - To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar @ 7 p.m.
June 18 - Selma @ 7 p.m.
THIS WEEKEND
Jun 6: Juneteenth Showdown in Port Town — Boxing | Max Bowl Event Center, Port Arthur. Lion Hearted presents an Olympic amateur boxing showcase featuring national-level competitors. First bout 1:00 PM. $15 general admission.
Jun 6: Garden Festival at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple | Port Arthur. Family-friendly floral and garden celebration at the colorful Buu Mon Temple grounds — free to attend.
Jun 6–7: Perfect Game Baseball — Last Chance Qualifier | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Youth baseball qualifier tournament hosted at Ford Park's multi-field complex.
COMING UP
Jun 8: GBCOC Annual Golf Tournament 2026 | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce annual golf tournament. Register at bmtcoc.org.
Jun 9–14: Perfect Game Baseball — End of Season Championships | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Week-long youth baseball championship tournament.
Jun 12: Jefferson Theatre Classic Movie Night — "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" | Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. Drag icon Wanda Lust makes a special guest appearance in the lobby before the film. Doors 6 PM, film 7 PM. Tickets at Beaumont Civic Center box office or online.
Jun 13: Beaumont Farmers Market + Storytime | 6525 College St (Beaumont Athletic Complex), Beaumont. Weekly Saturday market 8–11 AM with local produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors — plus a special Storytime session for kids this week.
Jun 13: Miss Juneteenth Beauty Pageant | Port Arthur. Free community pageant for ages 3–18 in four categories, presented by Port Arthur Cultural Coalition. Part of the month-long Juneteenth series.
Jun 14: Big Bang Boom Dance Showcase | Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Local dance teams perform standout pieces from the season, with a meet-and-greet after the show. Doors 2 PM, show 3 PM. Tickets online or at the box office.
Jun 15 & 17: The Music Man | Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange. Classic Broadway musical production — both performances at 6:00 PM.
Jun 16: Mix and Mingle — Dugood Credit Union | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce networking mixer hosted by Dugood Credit Union. Details at bmtcoc.org.
Jun 19: Juneteenth Brunch | Opulence Lounge, Port Arthur. Part of Port Arthur Cultural Coalition's Juneteenth series. Date unconfirmed — verify at visitportarthurtx.com before attending.
Jun 20: City of Beaumont Juneteenth Celebration | Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Annual Juneteenth celebration with live entertainment, cultural performances, and community programming. 4–9 PM. Free.
Jun 20: 8th Annual Juneteenth Parade & Festival | Downtown Port Arthur. Port Arthur Cultural Coalition's signature event, with Grand Marshal Elandon Roberts — Port Arthur native and NFL Super Bowl champion. Free and open to the public.
Jun 20: Beaumont Renegades vs. Oceanside Bombers | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Home game at Ford Park.
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. 🎉
🍽️ FOOD CORNER
🐤 Golden Chick
Courtesy of Golden Chick Locations
If you haven't made the pilgrimage to a Golden Chick yet, Southeast Texas just got a new reason to go. The Texas-born chain — beloved across the state for its Golden Tenders, crispy jalapeño honey butter biscuits, and fresh-made sides — opened its newest location in Vidor on May 29. It's the first Golden Chick in the Orange County area, which means no more driving to Beaumont proper for it. These aren't your standard drive-through tenders. Golden Chick has been building a cult following in Texas for decades, and the Vidor location is already drawing crowds.
📍 1165 N Main St, Vidor, TX 77662, United States
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SETX's Marketing Networking Group
In 2025, Emily Rhine started an informal, free networking group for marketing professionals across Southeast Texas because there wasn't one.
The group meets regularly at local spots around the Golden Triangle and the conversations are open: AI in marketing, what's actually working, business development, shared challenges. Every industry is welcome from financial services to construction to entertainment. No dues, no strict agenda. Miss a meetup? No worries, you're always welcome at the next one.
Members have built real connections and launched ideas that grew out of these conversations. It's a genuinely good group of people doing interesting work across SETX. If you work in marketing and want a community to grow with, this one's worth checking out.
👉 Reach out to Emily Rhine on LinkedIn if you work in marketing and want in.
Tailored Financial Solutions
Make Us Your #1 Financial Partner
Your business deserves more than a bookkeeper. It deserves a partner who thinks ahead. At Tailored Financial Solutions (TFS), we bring together bookkeeping, planning, strategy, dashboards, insights, and growth support under one roof so you never have to piece it together alone.
We built TFS on two things that matter most in finance: intelligence and trust. Accurate numbers, clear reporting, and a team that is invested in your growth, not just your paperwork.
When you are ready for a financial partner who works as hard as you do, TFS is ready for you.
👉 Visit us at www.tailoredfinsolutions.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
🛶 Paddle Big Thicket Before Summer Peaks
School's out. The heat is rising. And some of the most remarkable paddling water in the country is 15–30 minutes from your front door.
The Cook's Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail is a 4.8-mile loop through the heart of Big Thicket National Preserve — ancient bald cypress and tupelo trees draped in Spanish moss, rising out of still black water. If you want more miles, Village Creek State Park in Lumberton offers a 21-mile paddling trail along a river that stays surprisingly cool through July. Both are genuinely otherworldly and radically underused by the people who live closest to them.
A few things to know before you go: rent from a local outfitter and call ahead, since availability varies by season. Stick to designated launch points — gators are present and that's just part of Big Thicket, but they're not interested in you if you're not interested in them. Go early morning before the heat peaks, and bring more water than you think you need.
📍 Big Thicket National Preserve: Kountze/Silsbee area, approx. 25 miles north of Beaumont | Village Creek State Park: 8294 FM 418, Lumberton, TX 77657
🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.
💼 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas is actively hiring across more than 200 open roles — nursing, medical assisting, imaging, billing, and security — and earned a spot on Forbes America's Best Employers list for 2026. Meanwhile, Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas continues to be the region's go-to job board for healthcare, energy, logistics, and manufacturing openings across all three counties.
🏥 Multiple Open Positions — Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas | Beaumont
200+ open roles in nursing, medical assisting, medical imaging, billing, and security. Forbes America's Best Employers 2026.
How to apply: bhset.net/careers
💼 Tax Professional Lead — Tailored Financial Solutions | Remote
Detail-oriented tax pro needed for a growing local firm. Fully remote. Ideal for a CPA, enrolled agent, or experienced tax preparer looking for flexible work with real local roots.
How to apply: Apply: tailoredfinsolutions.com | [email protected]
👷 Blue-Collar Skilled Trades — Port Arthur / Sabine Pass
Patriot Security EOC is hiring 60+ positions across Port Arthur and Sabine Pass. Strong market region-wide for welders, operators, and industrial support roles. Ask about openings at your nearest WorkForce Solutions SETX location or check local job boards.
🏥 Healthcare Careers — CHRISTUS Southeast Texas | Beaumont
CHRISTUS is actively recruiting clinical and support staff heading into summer — registered nurses, technicians, and patient care roles are in demand.
How to apply: Apply at christushealth.org/careers
👩🏫 Teachers & Support Staff — Vidor ISD / Lumberton ISD / Hardin-Jefferson ISD
Three area school districts are running job fairs this week with on-the-spot offers — Vidor ISD has 20–30 openings (teachers, sped, bus drivers, custodial, food service), Lumberton and H-J ISD are seeking teachers, aides, transportation, and nutrition staff. Show up ready. Details →
🤝 Community Relations Coordinator for What’s Up SETX
We're looking for a local SETX connector — part community ambassador, part relationship builder. If you're already in the room at networking events and love sharing good news about this region, this role is for you.
Interested? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]
💼 General SETX Openings
Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas posts current openings across industries — manufacturing, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
How to apply: Browse the full board at setworks.org or stop by a local office in Beaumont or Port Arthur.
🌿 Tailored Lawn Care
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.
📣 Your Turn
Free Zip bus rides for students through August 12 — is this something you or someone you know will actually use? What else would make public transit more useful in the Golden Triangle?
See you in a few days neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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