Let’s talk the fall election. So far there is only one declared candidate running for State Treasurer. Current Treasurer John Schroder is running for governor, and his seat will be wide open this autumn. Enter Baton Rouge state Representative Scott McKnight, and insurance professional, who says he’s ready to handle holding and allocating state funds. As for any excess, McKnight says it would be his job to invest it wisely…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…the economy.”

McKnight is a republican and the only announced candidate for Treasurer so far.

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents arrest a Patterson man for gaming the nutria bounty program, by catching the rodents, cutting off their tails and letting them go…sometimes mortally injured. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says 45-year-old Harris DeHart was cheating the system and taking the animals illegally…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…taken away.”

He could face up to 10 years if convicted.

The National Retail Federation says spending on Valentine’s Day gifts will exceed last year’s $23.9 billion. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

The state’s Legislative Auditor says the City of Westlake, in Calcasieu Parish, fell victim to an email hack that netted thieves over $64-thousand in illegitimately-billed overdue payments. The auditor found the city hadn’t properly vetted the bogus invoices before paying them.