A UNO survey finds most Louisiana residents blame former Governor Bobby Jindal for the state’s current budget problems. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says a large explosion at the Phillips 66 pipeline in Paradis left three workers injured, and one still missing. They say the fire could possibly burn for a couple of days, and it’s still an active scene. The Sheriff said the blaze is like a loud blow torch that’s 30-40 feet wide and at least that high into the air. Sixty homes in the area were evacuated.

U.S. Representative Clay Higgins urges new Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to use social media as a way to vet immigrants. The Republican from St. Landry Parish says the Obama administration failed to use this publicly available data…:
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Higgins, who became famous himself on social media with his no-nonsense crime videos while captain, made the comments during a Homeland Security Committee meeting.

The National Retail Federation finds this Valentine’s Day consumers are expected to spend 18.2 billion dollars. That’s down from 19.7 billion dollars last year. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says we might be seeing a shift in how people celebrate this romantic holiday as couples are doing more things for each other year round…:
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The report also finds the number of people who celebrate the holiday has dropped by nearly 10-percent from 2007.

A UNO statewide poll finds six-out-of-10 Louisiana residents blame former Governor Bobby Jindal for the state’s budget problems. The Louisiana legislature is set to begin a third special session to correct a budget deficit since Jindal left office. UNO political scientist Ed Chervenak says the state’s fiscal troubles started early in Jindal’s term…:
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The telephone survey interviewed about nine-hundred Louisiana residents earlier this week.

A survey by insuranceQuotes finds 39-percent of drivers in the U.S. have never shopped around to find cheaper auto insurance. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says looking for the best policies and rates is a great idea given that auto insurance prices are on the rise…:
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He suggests increasing your deductible or lower your coverage limits.

Valentine’s Day sales are expected to be about 18.2 billion dollars this year, compared to 19.7 billion dollars last year. Emelie Gunn has more:
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State Senator Dan Claitor said he plans to introduce a resolution Monday to expel Senator Troy Brown from his post at the Capitol. The Baton Rouge lawmaker said he has heard from constituents who are “appalled” by the allegations against Brown, who recently pleaded no contest to two charges of domestic abuse.

Flu season in Louisiana is in full swing. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon advises tornado victims not to wait to file a claim. He says while it’s important for consumers to know what their coverage is, there won’t be any flood versus wind controversy with this event…:
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Donelon says residents should not begin permanent repairs until an inspector has come to assess the damage.

A contractor in Ascension Parish has been arrested amid allegations he defrauded more than dozen homeowners who flooded in August. That’s according to Sheriff Jeff Wiley who says the suspect, 39-year-old Matthew Morris, is the owner of Complete Construction Contractors. He says they would complicate agreements to rack up thousands in claims:
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Morris faces a number of charges. Wiley expects there are more victims out there.

Filming is underway in Louisiana for a new TV series from Marvel. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says it’s based on a comic book called Cloak & Dagger. He hopes this encourages more production crews to choose Hollywood South…:
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Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger will air on Freeform after production is completed.

The flu season in Louisiana is ramping up as we’ve surpassed other states with the number of cases. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says five out of 100 visits to the doctor are for flu like symptoms, and a nasty strain is going around this year…:
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He says this bad flu season will likely last from six to eight weeks.

The names of the three victims killed in Wednesday’s explosion at a packaging plant near DeRidder have been released. 32-year-old William Rolls, 40-year-old Sedrick Stallworth and 40-year-old Jody Goch were working at the plant when two tanks burst open. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says they do have a preliminary cause…:
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Seven other workers were injured, but only one is still in the hospital.

Marvel has selected Louisiana as their filming location for a new TV series to air on the Freeform network. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The National Weather Service confirmed five tornado touchdowns during Tuesday’s severe weather. An EF-2 touched down in Killian where two people were injured and a damage path of about one mile. A tornado track in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish was found and moved east 6 miles into St. James Parish. In eastern New Orleans, there were reports of an E-F 3 tornado that left 25 injured.

Today the governor is expected to announce his tax reform proposals that legislators will consider during the regular session in April. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Attorney General Jeff Landry announces the arrest of two women who allegedly received flood disaster relief money from FEMA that they did not qualify for. He says 37-year old Kimberly Cage got almost $30,000 from FEMA for home repairs on a property she didn’t own. 32-year-old Munoz Licona is accused of receiving disaster aid for a home where she didn’t live.

Filming is underway in Louisiana for a new TV series from Marvel. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says they’re very excited to have the Marvel brand in Louisiana. He says the new show is a spin off from a Marvel classic, The Spectacular Spider-Man…:
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He says they’ll be filming in New Orleans and likely in other areas of the state as well.

As many residents are picking up the pieces after tornadoes ravaged south Louisiana, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon advises victims not to hesitate to file a claim. He says some policyholders worry that their premiums would go up or they would be non-renewed by their insurer..:
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He encourages residents to document their loss with pictures of the damage.

Today in Washington D.C., Governor John Bel Edwards will speak to the Committee of 100 to outline tax reform proposals for the upcoming regular session. President of the Council for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin, says Louisiana has the highest combined state and local sales tax in the country. But sales tax revenues fluctuate with the economy…:
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent Tyler Wheeler, who was shot in early January near Monroe, due to finish his rehab in Mississippi and return to Monroe this weekend. LDWF Col. Joey Broussard says Wheeler is already able to walk up a short flight of steps…:
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Broussard says upon his return, Wheeler will continue outpatient rehab at Shreveport’s University Health Center.

Mardi Gras season is kicking off in Washington D.C. The Mystick Krewe of Louisiana celebrates the carnival season today through Saturday in the nation’s capital. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this is a great time for Louisiana lawmakers to have fun, because when they get back they head straight into a special legislative session..:
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The festivities take place at the Washington Hilton. Pinsonat says it’s the hottest ticket in town.

Tuesday’s tornado that slammed New Orleans east was unfortunately one for the record books. The National Weather Service says the twister that officials say destroyed 300 buildings and seriously damaged another 640 was an EF 3, the first of its kind in Orleans Parish. That means winds were around 140 miles an hour.

Governor John Bel Edwards says one of the things Louisiana badly needs to avoid future budget issues is major tax reform, and he’s expected to release that plan today. President of the Council for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin, expects the governor will propose lowering the sales tax and raising the income tax…:
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The plan will be up for review in the regular session.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent Tyler Wheeler, who was shot five times during a traffic stop last month, will return home to Monroe this weekend. LDWF Col. Joey Broussard says it’s a miracle Wheeler is doing so well…:
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Wheeler has been in rehab in Mississippi where he is now walking half a mile each day on a treadmill.

A state judge in Baton Rouge has been banned from a popular local restaurant chain after he allegedly used racial slurs towards a black woman. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The Pineville-based utility company Cleco announces CEO Darren Olagues has resigned his position. The board has selected its chair, Peggy Scott, to assume the role of Interim CEO during what’s expected to be a year long search for a permanent replacement. Olagues was arrested for domestic abuse strangulation by the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office in December of last year.

Today the governor is expected to announce his tax reform proposals that legislators will consider during the regular session in April. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Mardi Gras season is kicking off in Washington D.C. The Mystick Krewe of Louisiana celebrates the carnival season today through Saturday in the nation’s capital. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Saturday’s ball is considered the hottest ticket in town…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards announces FEMA has extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program to March 11th for August flood victims. Those eligible are staying in hotel rooms paid for by FEMA.

Six of the seven people who were injured in a fatal plant explosion Wednesday have been released from the hospital according to reports. The Packaging Corporation of America in DeRidder says the incident involved annual repair work on piping when a tank exploded and killed three contractors. The cause remains under investigation.

A Baton Rouge Judge is no longer welcome at Sammy’s, a popular local eatery, after allegations he called another customer the “n-word.” Judge Mike Erin was apparently upset about where Kaneitra Johnson was sitting, as it was considered “his” seat. Legal analyst Tim Meche says he wouldn’t be surprised if future defendants now file to have Erin recused due to racial bias..:
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Erwin has not commented on the incident.