The kids are alright: The Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, has ranked Louisiana No. 8 in the nation for creating a coordinated and integrated early care and education system for small children. Information collected by BPC was used to rank states in terms of their relative success across a number of measures. Louisiana received high marks for managing five programs that serve young children under one agency and for having a quality rating and improvement system to better ensure quality care. Read the full report.
Added security: Cox says it’s adding new features and management functions its Cox Business Security Solutions platform to boost detection, automation, device integration and surveillance capabilities for businesses in the Baton Rouge area. With the platform updates, business owners get a comprehensive view of their operations from a single dashboard. The new features, announced this morning, are being rolled out here and in Macon, Georgia, and will be available in most other markets soon. Read the full announcement.
Stopped up: The Coast Guard says a crew has plugged a well that spewed 9,000 gallons of oil into Lake Washington in Plaquemines Parish. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says the leak began on Dec. 9, was stopped Wednesday and the plug ensures that it can’t restart. Something damaged the wellhead and investigators are looking into the cause. The spill came from a well owned by Hilcorp Energy Co. of Westwego. Read the full report.
