Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump blames a bad ear piece as why he couldn’t hear a question during a CNN interview when asked about the support he’s received from former KKK leader David Duke . The billionaire businessman said he knows nothing about Duke or white supremacists. Duke says he is no longer a white supremacist, so Trump doesn’t have to answer the question…
cut 13 (10) “….or something”
Duke says political oberservers said his support of Trump would hurt the real estate mogul, but tha’s not the case at all.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says he’s willing to move 44 of his employees to a state-owned building if there’s enough space for them. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the move would save the state nearly 294-thousand dollars annually. Kennedy doubts it would save the state that much, but even if it saves one dollar, he says he’ll do it.

Captain Clay Higgins, the man made famous for his “no nonsense” viral Crime Stoppers videos, announces he’s resigning from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office. Michelle Southern reports…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

Flu bug expert, Doctor Frank Welch, with the state office of public health, predicts an increase in flu cases. Welch says surrounding states are reporting an uptick in influenza and it’s only a matter of time before it reaches Louisiana. He says take steps to prevent getting the flu…
cut 5 (04) “…to get it”
He also advises people to wash their hands, stay home if ill and avoid sick people.

After coming under fire for the viral Crime Stoppers video on the Gremlins Gang, Captain Clay Higgins announces his resignation from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said he was going to more closely monitor the language used in such videos, and Higgins says his sheriff is a good man who he admires and respects…:
cut 10 (08) “I just can’t”
Activists called the videos a slap in the face to the criminal justice system because of Higgins’ intimidating delivery.

Former state lawmaker and ex KKK member David Duke is part of the story line in the Republican presidential race. Duke supports Donald Trump and Trump’s opponents are bashing him for declining to disavow Duke’s endorsement during a CNN interview. Duke says the media is making a big deal out of this, because of his connection with the KKK, a group that he says he left in the 1970s…:
cut 12 (07) “with the Klan”

Lawmakers are hearing from agencies who say the cuts the House is proposing in a spending bill now in the hands of the Senate would devastate their departments. Louisiana National Guard Major General Glenn Curtis says the House bill has them taking a cut of 564-thousand thousand dollars. Curtis says he would have to close nine armories, which will impact how they respond to emergencies like flooding…:
CUT 8 (06) “first guys out”
Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee says they would have to lay-off restaurant inspectors, which is a serious public health risk.

Funeral arrangements for Baton Rouge State Representative Ronnie Edwards have been announced. Services for the two-term Baton Rouge Metro Council member will be held at the Living Faith Christian Center on Friday with a viewing from 8-10, then burial immediately following the service at the Heavenly Gates Mausoluem. Edwards passed away Wednesday at the age of 63 after a two-year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Captain Clay Higgins, the man made internationally famous for his “no nonsense” viral Crime Stoppers videos, announces he’s resigning from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. Higgins had come under fire by groups stating he shouldn’t be calling black suspects, animals. Higgins said in a news conference that he refuses to respond to such critics…:
CUT 9 (09) “make a profit”
Higgins says he has many other law enforcement job offers.

State Senators are hearing about the potential impacts if they approve a House bill that cuts an additional 106-million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget. Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee says they would have to lay-off restaurant inspectors, which is a serious public health risk…:
CUT 7 (08) “get an inspection”
Education Superintendent John White says the cuts would shutter most of the agency.

After Louisiana’s mild start to this flu season, experts say it may start to pick up soon. Halen Doughty reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Thankfully there haven’t been many flu cases reported in Louisiana so far this season, but we’re not out of the woods just yet according to doctors. With the State Office of Public Health, Dr. Frank Welch says this year the flu shot is a very good match to the virus strain, which means it’s more effective. But he says a flu strain that created a lot of problems a few years ago, is back..:
CUT 4 (11) “its ugly head”
Welch says most insurance covers flu shots and people without insurance should call a public health unit.

A man suspected in a double murder and arson fire in St. Martinville was apprehended after a high speed chase in West Feliciana Parish, according to the state fire marshal’s office. They say 31-year-old Dereke Siner allegedly killed an elderly woman and her daughter before setting their house on fire. His charges include two counts of first degree murder, one count of aggravated arson.

The proposed penny increase to the state’s four-cent sales tax easily clears a Senate committee heads to the Senate floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A new museum commemorating Louisiana soldiers for the 25th anniversary of Desert Storm opens today at the Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. Louisiana National Guard Historian Rhett Breerwood says honors at the exhibit include the 159th MASH Unit which played a significant role during the conflict:
Cut 1 (06) “medical unit”
He says 16 Louisiana Army National Guard units were mobilized in Desert Storm.

The state House convenes this afternoon and one of the bills they are expected to take up is a measure that would raise the state’s tax on alcohol for the first time since 1948. The bill’s author, Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, says some legislators might be okay with increasing the alcohol tax because it hasn’t been raised since the 40s…
cut 9 (11) “….like this”
The full House is also anticipated to take up a bill to increase the cigarette tax by 22-cents.

The flu bug has been very quiet this year, but that may change soon. Influenza expert, Doctor Frank Welch, with the state office of public health, says the number of flu cases are starting to rise across the country…
cut 3 (05) “….we’re next”
Welch says it’s still not too late to get that flu shot.

State Senators are hearing about the potential impacts if they approve a House bill that cuts an additional 106-million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget. Superintendent of Education John White says they would close early childhood programs, send voucher students back to public schools and wipe out standardized testing. That led to this question by Senator Wesley Bishop…
cut 6 (08) “…yes sir”
Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee says they would have to lay-off restaurant inspectors, which would lead to more cases of foodborne illnesses.

A new water testing laboratory opens in Shreveport today. State department of health and hospitals spokesperson Bob Johannessen says this will help them cut down on shipping costs and improve the time it takes to test samples taken from water samples in north Louisiana…
cut 12 (09) “…as possible”
Johannessen says this new lab is expected to save the state 50-thousand dollars a year.

The House is expected to take up a bill today that would raise the alcohol tax for the first time since 1948. The author of the measure, Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, says every dollar we can raise is important and this tax would generate 27 million dollars a year…:
CUT 7 (08) “a shot”
The full house is also anticipated to take up a bill to increase the cigarette tax by 22 cents.

The one cent sales tax increase cleared a Senate committee and now heads to the full Senate with a new sunset time of five years instead of 18 months. Governor John Bel Edwards urged the senate to raise the sunset, because it wouldn’t address the state’s budget needs. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson spoke for the governor…:
Cut 15 (08) “revenue source”
The extra penny on the state sales tax would go into effect on April 1st and raise 210-million dollars.

The Louisiana National Guard at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans opens their Boots in the Sand Desert Storm exhibit today. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A new water testing system opens today in Shreveport which state officials say will let the Department of Health and Hospitals take and treat water samples in north Louisiana instead of driving them down to Baton Rouge. DHH spokesperson Bob Johnannessen says the cost savings will be significant…:
cut 11 (07) “a year”
He says this will be especially helpful when communities are under a boil water advisory.

The proposed penny increase to the state’s four-cent sales tax easily clears a Senate committee heads to the Senate floor. The panel extended the sunset time on the additional penny from 18 months to 5 years. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says they need this additional revenue in place long enough so they can perform long-term budget reform…:
Cut 14 (08) “do it”
Morrell says the governor has always said the clean penny is a bridge to restructuring our tax system and getting to a more stable revenue source.

Today the Louisiana National Guard at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans opens a Desert Storm exhibit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the conflict. Louisiana National Guard Historian Rhett Breerwood says many enemy weapons captured by Guardsman will be on display…:
Cut 6 (08) “as well”
He says honored at the exhibit will be the 16 guard unites that were mobilized in Desert Storm.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals will open a water testing lab in Shreveport, which will help speed up the testing process from samples taken in north Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more on the story…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A man who led police on a high speed chase which ended in West Feliciana Parish Saturday admits that he killed two women in St. Martinville, then sent their home on fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says 31-year-old Dereke Siner knew the victims, 68 year old Adeline Etienne and 30-year-old Jamie James. Siner is charged with two counts of first degree murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of obstruction of justice in St. Martinville.

With the clock ticking on the special session, a state Senate worked over the weekend to push to the floor a one cent sales tax to go towards filling the $940 million dollar mid year budget deficit. The panel changed the sunset date of the additional penny from 18-months to five years. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says an 18-month sunset won’t help their current budget problems, because it couldn’t be used for ongoing expenses like higher education…:
Cut 13 (08) “revenues”
The full House is set to take up so called sin tax measures today. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, says increases on cigarettes and alcohol would stave off cuts to higher ed…:
CUT 8 (07) “that much”
The proposed increase on the cigarette tax is 22 cents. The alcohol tax hasn’t been raised since 1948.

The Louisiana National Guard at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans opens a Desert Storm exhibit today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the conflict. Louisiana National Guard Historian Rhett Breerwood says 16 of the guard’s units were mobilized and nine were sent to the war zone. He says the Boots in the Sand exhibit honors multiple units, one being the 527th Engineer Battalion out of Bossier City…:
cut 4 (10) “afterwards”
Breerwood says as visitors tour the exhibit, they can expect to see original equipment, uniforms and pictures taken by soldiers overseas from 1990 to 1991.

Ahead of Super Tuesday primaries, GOP presidential candidates are using the endorsement of former KKK leader and Louisiana gubernatorial candidate David Duke for front-runner Donald Trump to hammer the billionaire businessman. Trump asserts he doesn’t know anything about Duke, which prompted Marco Rubio to tell supporters that the Republican party can’t be one that refuses to condemn white supremacists and the KKK.

Solid pitching and plenty of offense led to an 11-1 victory for the 5th ranked LSU baseball team against Sacramento State on Sunday. Starting pitcher John Valek allowed one run in seven innings and struck out six. The Akron transfer says he felt more comfortable in his second start in an LSU uniform…:
Cut 16 (17) “and comfortable“

After a homerun by All American Stefan Trosclair, UL-Lafeyette was hoisted to a 4-2 win over Rice Sunday, ending a three-game skid. Southern edged Auburn 6-5. ULM beat Western Carolina 16-10. Southeastern beat Troy 7-2. Louisiana lost, as did McNeese, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Tulane and Grambling.

In his final regular season game at the Thomas Assembly Center, senior guard Alex Hamilton messed around and recorded a triple-double to help Louisiana Tech beat Rice 88-69 on Saturday night in front of 55-hundred fans. Hamilton had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 asssits to register the progam’s first triple-double since 1991. Hamilton says to do it on senior night made the accomplishment even sweeter…:
Cut 19 (14) “better ending”

The ULM men’s basketball team got their seventh win in a row after a 66-51 victory over Troy on Saturday. This is the longest winning streak for the Warhawks since the 1998-99 season.

McNeese State is looking to qualify for the Southalnd Conference tournamnet heading into tonight’s contest against Lamar.

Nicholls State hosts UNO. NOrhtwestern State is at Southeastern, and Grambling hosts MVSU.

The New Orleans Pelicans had a tough loss to Minnesota on Saturday losing 112-110.