NATIONAL BRIEFING / AND FINALLY . . .

A Louisiana woman is suing a Wal-Mart store in Abbeville, saying that employees let a rat-tailed rodent known as a nutria run loose and scare her.

Rebecca White said that not only did employees know it was in their store but they also gave it a name, Norman, and failed to warn shoppers.

White said she was pushing a full shopping cart in October when the nutria ran out from behind a rack.

She said she pulled the cart back in a panicked attempt to protect herself and injured her back and foot.

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the company had not seen the nutria lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Abbeville, but was investigating.