Beginning today, it’s illegal to hold your phone while driving. Don Redman with Triple A says under the new law, in most cases police won’t pull you over just for handling your cell phone while driving.
Cut 8 (08) “…traffic infraction first.”
And that would lead to up to 100 dollars tacked onto your fine. In school zones and areas of road work, police WILL pull you over just for handling your cell phone while driving and those fines can be up to 250 dollars.
If you were registered as an Independent, your party affiliation automatically changes to “No Party” in the state’s voter registration system. That’s the result of a new law that went into effect today. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling says lawmakers eliminated the Independent Party, so they could vote in the upcoming party primaries.
The Louisiana Department of Health is warning you of the growing presence of Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially serious illness causing bacterium that naturally lives in warm coastal waters. A potentially deadly rapidly progressing illness can occur through contact with an open wound or through consumption of raw seafood, especially oysters. State epidemiologist Teresa Sokol says you’ll want to take extra precautions.
Cut 6 (10) “…a waterproof bandage.”
The LSU Veterinary School’s Wildlife Hospital is treating an increasing number of Mississippi kites that have been shot with air rifles. Dr. Kimberly Boykin says it’s illegal to shoot these small birds of prey that are important in controlling the insect population. She says air rifles don’t typically kill the bird but if they are shot and not brought to the LSU vet school, their chances of surviving are slim.
The Mississippi kite migrates from the Gulf Coast and Brazil.