At the State Capitol, the House Criminal Justice Committee approves a bill cracking down on drunk drivers, by mandating they have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle for two years, IF their blood alcohol content was .15 or higher when they were arrested. Bill sponsor and Covington Representative Mark Wright…:

CUT 12(08)      “…protect others from.”

The bill passed without objection and proceeds to the House floor.

A bill officially prohibiting physical punishment at schools wins easy passage in House Education. No one spoke in opposition, but Michael Faulk, with the state School Superintendents Association, says there are already 19 school systems he knows of that still allow hitting students…:

CUT 11(10)      “…discipline.”

The same bill failed a full House vote last year.

Calcasieu Parish deputies say a man was killed this morning in an accident at the Phillips 66 plant in Westlake. A contract worker was killed while unloading equipment from a trailer around 11:30 a.m., according to officials with Phillips 66 and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is withheld for now.

When a dog bites a man, that’s not news, but how about when a squirrel bites a man? Authorities say a 78-year-old Slidell man sustained significant injuries in a squirrel attack. Slidell Police spokesman Dan Seuzeneau says the man was walking outside his house, when the animal jumped on him. When first responders arrived the fight was still on. He says the victim was trying to choke the squirrel but couldn’t get a grip…:

CUT 07(12)      “…of that attack.”