15:30 Newscast, May 12th, 2017

Families and friends are hooking mom up this year in a huge way for Mother’s Day as the National Retail Federation says families are spending more than ever to celebrate the occasion. Anna Serafin Smith says consumers plan to spend an average of $186 on mom this year. She says this year’s record high spending is being driven primarily by two areas:
Cut 14 (08) “to this year”
Cards, flowers, lunch or dinner, gift cards, clothing and jewelry all rank high on a list of gift choices for mom.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at LSU graduation today…:
Cut 11 (08) “this point”
An all time high 4,163 students graduated from LSU today, and the 2017 class also set records for diversity.

A motorcyclist and the driver of a car died in a crash early today in Tangipahoa Parish, according to State Police. The victims are Michael Dywane Jackson Dyson, a former NFL player, and Destiny Alexus Gordon of Kentwood. Trooper Dustin Dwight says Gordon backed out of parking space in to the path of Dyson, who was on a motorcycle…:
Cut 16 (08) “Ms. Gordon”
Both died at the scene.

A Shreveport woman is behind bars, accused in the death of an elderly Oklahoma man. Cops say 35-year-old Shemeka Jackson is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly playing a part in the death of 70-year-old Kenneth Foshee. They say the victim was found shot to death in his pickup truck on May 5th, and the investigation lead them to Jackson who was somehow linked to the death. Surveillance video showed Foshee with an unidentified woman a few hours before his death. Jackson’s bond ha s been set at $500,000.