WBRZ Baton Rouge

Tuesday will be hot and humid, with an Extreme Heat Warning in effect near the lakes; isolated thunderstorms are expected late afternoon, mainly near the lakes area and southwest Mississippi. Storm coverage is forecasted to gradually increase through the week due to a shifting upper-level pattern, with the best chance for storms anticipated by Friday from a stronger trough. The tropics currently remain quiet, with no tropical development expected in the Atlantic Basin.

A lawsuit linked to the 2016 flood and concrete barriers along I-12 was settled for millions of dollars, with $6.4 million designated for DOTD to modify existing median barriers. These improvements will involve creating gaps in the barriers to allow water flow across the interstate and median. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and extend about 13 miles into Livingston Parish.

This article functions as a traffic guide for the capital area, detailing expected road conditions daily. It provides service hours for two Plaquemine ferries: one running from 4:30 am to 7:45 pm, and another operating during segments of 5:15-9 am and 3:15-7 pm. Separately, an accident has blocked the right lane in Baton Rouge on I 10 EB after Highland Rd/LA-42/Exit 166.

The Capital Region expects rising heat this week as rain chances diminish due to a building ridge. While isolated thunderstorms are possible Monday, high pressure is anticipated by Thursday and Friday, leading to very low measurable rain chances. The primary concern becomes dangerous heat, with heat index values expected to climb to 105 to 110 degrees.

Illegal dumping involving furniture, tires, and bumpers has accumulated under I-10 near McKinley Middle School. Residents reported that repeated calls to city and state agencies have not led to a lasting fix, with service responses falling short. Additional concerns noted by residents include malfunctioning lights and broken drainage covers further down I-10.

The Jetson Center for Youth, which closed in 2014, is tied to over 50 lawsuits alleging poor conditions and sexual abuse by correctional officers. Advocates argue that due to these allegations and a history of youth escaping, the facility should remain permanently shut. Despite this, state Juvenile Justice officials recently announced plans to reopen the center.