Benton Road off-ramp to close for months as Bossier City I-20 rehab enters final stages
Plus — Two new deaths reported: Flesh-eating bacteria after eating Louisiana oysters.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
🌤️ Bossier City Weather Forecast
☀️ Today
Morning: Mostly sunny Afternoon: 🌥️ Increasing clouds with ⛈️ scattered showers & storms
🌡️ High: Lower 90s
🌬️ Wind: South @ 5 mph
🌧️ Rain Chance: 50%
📌 Keep an umbrella nearby for those pop-up afternoon storms!
🌙 Tonight
Mostly cloudy with a continued chance of 🌧️ showers & ⛈️ thunderstorms
🌡️ Low: Lower 70s
🌬️ Wind: Southeast @ 5 mph
🌧️ Rain Chance: 50%
🛌 A muggy night with a few rumbles possible — sleep soundly but stay weather-aware.
🌦️ Friday
Rainy & cooler — showers with likely ⛈️ thunderstorms
🌡️ High: Lower 80s
🌬️ Wind: South @ 5 mph
🌧️ Rain Chance: 90%
⚠️ Expect soggy conditions — great day for indoor plans or a cozy café visit.
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Benton Road off-ramp to close for months as Bossier City I-20 rehab enters final stages
The $127 million I-20 major rehabilitation project in Bossier City is over 90% complete, with work progressing on both the travel lanes and several interchange ramps.
As part of this progress, the I-20 eastbound off-ramp to US 71 (Barksdale Blvd) will reopen to traffic tonight, Thursday, August 28, 2025, following its full reconstruction.
Immediately following the re-opening of this ramp, the I-20 eastbound off-ramp to (LA 3) Benton Road will close for reconstruction of the roadway approaches to the flyover bridge. This will be the final ramp to close as part of the project, and is estimated to be closed until late December 2025.
Eastbound motorists wishing to access Benton Rd. may do so via the Old Minden Road interchange. Appropriate detour signage will be in place.
Currently, concrete paving operations continue in order to rebuild the LA 3105 (Airline Drive) on and off-ramps, as well as the I-20 westbound on-ramps from both Barksdale Blvd. and Benton Rd.
The Airline Drive ramps are estimated to re-open in late October/early November. The Benton Rd. and Barskdale Blvd. westbound on-ramps are expected to reopen in late November, weather permitting.
Other paving operations are progressing on the I-20 travel lanes in both directions, along with drainage improvements and other related construction activities.
The entire project remains on track to wrap up in late 2025/early 2026, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.
Two new deaths reported: Flesh-eating bacteria after eating Louisiana oysters
A Louisiana health official reported two more deaths from the flesh-eating vibrio bacteria, part of 14 more infections. It brings the state’s fatality count attributed to the pathogen this year to six.
The two most recent deaths involved people who ate oysters harvested in Louisiana at two separate restaurants — one in Louisiana and another in Florida – according to Jennifer Armentor, molluscan shellfish program administrator from the Louisiana Department of Health.
Armentor shared information about the vibrio-related deaths Tuesday during a regular meeting of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force, held at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.
“It’s just prolific right now,” Armentor told task force members.
She did not provide any additional information about the individuals who died or where they ate. Armentor reiterated in a call Wednesday morning that the fatalities involved people who ate oysters, but did not confirm whether they were the source of the vibrio infection.
State officials have yet to specify whether the four prior vibrio deaths involved exposure to the bacteria through open wounds or from eating raw seafood. The Louisiana Department of Health did not respond immediately to questions Tuesday afternoon.
Cases are rare but spiking
As of July 31, the state reported four deaths and 17 hospitalizations attributed to vibrio infections. There have been 14 more illnesses since then, but it’s not yet known how many resulted in hospitalization.
Vibrio infections and deaths are generally rare, but cases linked to Louisiana are spiking this year above the average annual rate of seven infections and one death since 2015. Scientists say it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why this is happening.
“Numbers are typically so low, any change looks disproportionate,” said Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno, an associate faculty member at St. Jude Children’s Hospital with expertise in vibrio infections. “Nonetheless, the trend over the past few decades is quite clear: The number of cases has been steadily and consistently increasing, and from these recent outbreaks, they do not seem to be on decline.”
Flesh-eating bacteria in coastal waters are more common during the summer months when warmer waters provide better living conditions for vibrio. Direct wound exposure to brackish waters or eating oysters harvested from such areas increases the likelihood of coming into contact with these naturally occurring bacteria.
“You can almost watch it spread,” Paul Gulig, professor emeritus and microbiologist at the University of Florida, said in an interview.
A fast-moving infection requiring drastic life-saving measures
The infection is known as “flesh-eating” for good reason, he said. Nausea, vomiting and chills are all symptoms from consuming the bacteria, while wound exposure can cause severe redness and swelling, with infected patients sometimes needing limb amputation to save their lives.
“If you put a mark with a pen around the edge of the redness, and you came back an hour or two later, it would have moved significantly,” Gulig said.
Different health factors can worsen vibrio infections, including stomach and liver conditions, a weakened immune system and pregnancy, according to the state health department.
Open wounds have created the biggest risk in this year’s vibrio infections, according to state health data. Three-quarters of the illnesses reported in Louisiana last month involved people with direct wound exposure to brackish waters where vibrio lives.
Gulig confirmed this trend, saying research shows wound infections have overtaken eating raw oysters as the top way of getting infected over the past 20 years.
Know the risks involved
Mitch Jurisich, chairman of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force and a Plaquemines Parish oyster farmer, said it’s critical for consumers to know all the risks involved.
“We want the public to know about safety with oysters, but there’s other ways of getting [vibrio infections],” Jurisich said, adding that people with certain health conditions should avoid raw seafood.
Different factors – such as warmer Gulf temperatures, saltwater intrusion or even more people swimming and eating oysters – could be behind the spike in cases, Jurisich added
It could also just be chance, according to Gulig.
“Just like rolling dice, sometimes you get snake eyes three times in a row and there’s nothing that really explains that, other than just kind of random chance,” the microbiologist said. “This could be kind of a random thing.”
– By Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator
Bossier City Police incidents and arrests report: August 23-25, 2025
Hour by hour. Day and night. This is BossierNow’s reporting of Bossier City Police Department incidents and arrests. This report covers the actions that occurred from August 23-25.
All persons named or shown are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
08/23/2025 01:23:00 Incident 1000 block Gould Dr, Bossier City, La Theft Of A Motor Vehicle (Active)
08/23/2025 02:51:00 Incident 2800 block Airline Dr/Viking Dr, Bossier City, La Violations Of Registration Provisions (Cleared By Arrest/Adult)
08/23/2025 02:57:00 Citation 3299 Bistineau Dr/Northgate Rd, Bossier City 1) No License Plate Light/Improper Display Of License Plate, and 2) No Driver's License Male, Age 30
08/23/2025 02:58:00 Incident 3200 block Bistineau Dr/Northgate Rd, Bossier City, La Possession Schedule II (Cleared By Arrest/Adult)
08/23/2025 03:57:00 Arrest 3200 block Bistineau Dr/Northgate Rd, Bossier City, La 1) Possession Schedule II (Felony), 2) No Driver's License (Misdemeanor), and 3) No License Plate Light/Improper Display Of License Plate (Misdemeanor) Elmer Leonel Mejia, Male, Age 30
08/23/2025 08:00:00 Arrest 600 block Benton Rd, Bossier City, La 1) Failure To Appear-Disregard Of Red Light (Misdemeanor), and 2) Failure To Appear-DUS (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Male, Age 51
08/23/2025 08:20:00 Arrest 700 block Hope St, Shreveport, La Failure To Appear-Speeding (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Female, Age 23
08/23/2025 09:15:00 Incident 1500 block Carver St, Bossier City, La Simple Criminal Damage To Property (Active)
08/23/2025 11:37:00 Incident 700 block Live Casino Blvd Bossier City, La D/P - Drunkenness (Cleared By Arrest/Adult)
08/23/2025 12:03:00 Arrest 700 block Live Casino Blvd, Bossier City, La 1) D/P - Drunkenness (Misdemeanor), and 2) Fugitive Arrest-Probation and Parole (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Female, Age 27
08/23/2025 14:25:00 Incident 2500 block Airline Dr, Bossier City, La Theft (Cleared By Arrest/Adult)
08/23/2025 15:07:00 Arrest 2500 block Airline Dr, Bossier City, La Theft - Shoplifting (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Male, Age 35
08/23/2025 15:07:00 Arrest 2500 block Airline Dr, Bossier City, La Theft - Shoplifting (Misdemeanor) Theft - Shoplifting, M (Misdemeanor) Luis Diaz, White Or Caucasian, Male, Age 25
08/24/2025 00:43:00 Arrest 700 block Hope St, Shreveport, La Failure To Appear-Theft (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Male, Age 43
08/24/2025 00:48:00 Incident 200 block McCormick St/Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City, La Possession Schedule I (Cleared By Arrest/Adult)
08/24/2025 01:02:00 Arrest 200 block McCormick St/Barksdale Blvd Bossier City, La Possession Schedule I (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Male, Age 43
08/24/2025 01:02:00 Citation 2001 Old Minden Rd, Bossier City Turning Movements and Required Signals Black Or African American, Male, Age 23
08/24/2025 01:17:00 Arrest 2000 block Old Minden Rd, Bossier City, La 1) Possession Schedule I (Misdemeanor), 2) Prohibited Acts - Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor), and 3) Turning Movements and Required Signals (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Male, Age 23
08/24/2025 07:09:00 Arrest 600 block Benton Rd, Bossier City, La Failure To Appear-No Taillights (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Female, Age 51
08/24/2025 08:21:00 Incident 2600 block Benton Rd, Bossier City, La Sexual Battery (Misdemeanor) (Exceptionally Cleared)
08/24/2025 08:56:00 Arrest 800 block St Charles St, Bossier City, La 1) Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault (Felony), 2) Simple Criminal Damage To Property (Felony), 3) Resisting An Officer (Misdemeanor), and 4) Fugitive Arrest-Probation Violation (Misdemeanor) Cassie Lynelle Hill, Black Or African American, Female, Age 24
08/24/2025 09:29:00 Incident 2600 block E Texas St, Bossier City, La Telephone Communications; Improper Language; Harassment (Active)
08/25/2025 00:02:00 Arrest 2400 block Brookside Dr, Bossier City, La 1) Domestic Abuse Battery - Simple (Misdemeanor), 2) D/P - Drunkenness (Misdemeanor), and 3) Resisting An Officer (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Male, Age 39
08/25/2025 03:11:00 Arrest 1100 block Forum Dr, Shreveport, La Failure To Appear-Speeding (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Female, Age 40
08/25/2025 05:58:00 Incident 6200 block E Texas St, Bossier City, La Aggravated Assault With A Firearm (Active)
08/25/2025 07:51:00 Incident 2500 block Montgomery Ln, Bossier City, La Simple Criminal Damage To Property (Active)
08/25/2025 10:24:00 Incident 400 block Fair Oaks St, Bossier City, La Theft (Active)
08/25/2025 11:00:00 Arrest 600 block Benton Rd Bossier City, La Court Ordered Sentencing-Disregard Red Light (Misdemeanor) Black Or African American, Male, Age 23
08/25/2025 11:18:00 Incident 3000 block E Texas St Bossier City, La Telephone Communications; Improper Language; Harassment (Active)
08/25/2025 11:19:00 Arrest 6200 block E Texas St, Bossier City, La Battery Of A Dating Partner (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Female, Age 18
08/25/2025 12:16:00 Arrest 600 block Benton Rd Bossier City, La 1) Court-Ordered Sentencing-Following Vehicles (Misdemeanor), and 2) Court-Ordered Sentencing-No Insurance (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Female, Age 19
08/25/2025 14:07:00 Incident 3200 block Gay Blvd Bossier City, La Theft (Active)
08/25/2025 14:32:00 Arrest 1200 block Waller Ave, Bossier City, La Simple Criminal Damage To Property (Misdemeanor) White Or Caucasian, Female, Age 33
08/25/2025 14:58:00 Incident 4600 block Sheryl St/Swan Lake Rd, Bossier City, La Access Device Fraud (Active)
East Texas ‘Burn Run’ sets dates for annual fundraiser for children burn survivors
The Brother’s Keepers Motorcycle Club & Phoenix Organization of Jefferson will host the Annual 2025 “Burn Run” October 10th through October 12th. The event supports child burn survivors by helping fund “Camp I’m Still Me.”
Early Bird registration ends September 14th. Register at easttexasburnrun.com or purchase your tickets at the event on Friday, October 10th, from 11 am to 7 pm or Saturday, October 11th, from 8 am to 3 pm, across the street from Auntie Skinners in Jefferson.
The event includes live music, vendors, a poker run, a live auction with Walt Cade Auctions, a bike show, a 50/50 drawing, and plenty of entertainment. There will be a motorcycle raffle to win a red 2025 Harley Road Glide. Tickets are $20.
The Brother’s Keepers Motorcycle Club and Phoenix Organization of Jefferson are both 501 (c) (3) organizations with the purpose of giving back to their communities and helping in any way they can.
Bossier City Lions Club set to host its 72nd Annual High School Football Jamboree
The Bossier City Lions Club is set to host its 72nd Annual High School Football Jamboree on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Airline High School football stadium.
Gates will open at 4:30 pm, with pregame festivities beginning at 5:15 pm and the first game kicking off at 5:45 pm. The matchups are:
5:45 pm – Parkway vs Benton
7:15 pm – Bossier vs Plain Dealing
8:45 pm – Airline vs Haughton
Proceeds from the event are used to support parish high schools, fund football programs, and provide college scholarships. The Lions Club also provides vision screening for children, eyeglasses to those in need, and aids both the Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation and the Louisiana Children’s Camp for children with special needs.
Things to do this Labor Day Weekend in Bossier City
Friday, August 29: Sir Charles Farewell Concert at Festival Plaza – A soulful send-off for the "King of Southern Soul."
Friday, August 29: Dirt Road Troubadours at Hurricane Alley
Friday, August 29: Krewe of Elders Coronation XXVIII at the Bossier City Civic Center, 6pm. Elders Members $40, Non-members $65
Friday, August 29: The Bossier City Lions Club's 72nd Annual High School Football Jamboree at Airline High School football stadium. Gates will open at 4:30 pm with pregame festivities beginning at 5:15 pm. 5:45 pm Parkway vs Benton. 7:15 pm Bossier vs Plain Dealing. 8:45 pm Airline vs Haughton.
Friday through Sunday: "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at the East Bank Theatre. Boisterous, disreputable knight Sir John Falstaff hatches a plan to restore his fortunes by seducing two wealthy housewives. But the hunter becomes the hunted when, wise to his schemes and determined to get the last laugh, they decide to play a few tricks of their own. General admission: $25. Tickets available here. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/merry-wives-of-windsor-at-the-east-bank-theatre
Saturday, August 30: Fun in the Sun Benefit Car Show at Wonder Oasis Waterpark – Classic cars, music, and family fun.
Saturday, August 30: Bossier City Farmers Market at 2950 E Texas St – Over 200 vendors, food trucks, and kids' activities.
Saturday, August 30: Shreveport Kickoff Classic at Independence Stadium – Grambling vs. Langston in a high-energy HBCU football showdown.
Sunday, August 31: 14th Annual Shreveport Blues & Southern Soul Fest at Festival Plaza, 101 Crockett St – A powerhouse lineup of regional blues and soul artists.
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