Sons and daughters are predicted to spend an all-time high of 16-billion on Father’s Day gifts this year.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (25) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

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Saints QB Drew Brees returned for the team’s final two minicamp practices after testifying against a San Diego based jeweler who allegedly defrauded him of 6.7 million dollars…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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A southwest Louisiana DA is seeking an execution date of later this summer for a man convicted fifteen years ago of the brutal kidnapping, rape, and murder of a four-year-old…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Dads should expect to hit the mother lode this weekend. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend more than ever on Father’s Day gifts this year. N-R-F spokesperson Katherine Cullen says they predict spending to reach a high of $16-billion. Cullen says greeting cards are the most popular gift along with

Cut 4 (09) “…this weekend”

Sons and daughters are predicted to spend an average of $139 on gifts this year, an increase of 70-percent since 2009.

Cut 5 (13) “…gift cards.”

Some might choose a more unique idea for dad.

Cut 6 (:08) “the love.”

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Governor Edwards awards 25 million for a road project in Monroe after a controversy erupted over the legislature not including northeast Louisiana in a signed 700-million-dollar road project plan. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says when the plan to use BP oil money to fund projects was announced in the legislature, politicians from every corner of the state wanted a piece of the action.

Cut 7 (10) “…state.”

The money will fund the Kansas Lane – Garret Road I-20 Interchange.

The legislation initially addressed the LA 415 connector near I-10 and a stretch of highway on LA 1, but quickly expanded to include nearly every portion of the state. Every portion except northeast Louisiana that is…

Cut 8 (06) “…Louisiana”

The plan includes ferries in Lake Charles, cranes at the Port of New Orleans, tens of millions for roads in Shreveport, and more.

A firestorm erupted when the Monroe News-Star ran a headline reading “Monroe snubbed in 700 million dollar infrastructure bill”, but Morris says the Governor found some funds to redirect up north after his office got bombarded with calls…

Cut 9 (10) “…can get.”

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Saints quarterback Drew Brees made it to minicamp after missing last week’s team activities testifying against a jeweler he has accused of defrauding him of millions of dollars.

The QB says it hurt to miss the first day of minicamp this week while dealing with the legal matter that he alleges resulted in him being defrauded of 6.7 million dollars.

Cut 10 (11) “…it comes.”

Brees testified that Vahid Moradi was a friend who lied to him about the value of diamonds he purchased. Moradi’s lawyer says they were not close, and Brees had an “obsession” for jewelry and was “drawn in like an addict.”

The Black and Gold legend says he’s glad to be back, and he’s moved past the pain of the highly controversial end to last season’s NFC Championship game, but it wasn’t easy at first.

Cut 11 (10) “ a plan.”

The 40-year-old  is on the last year of what may be his last contract, but says he’s still working on a few new tricks, like possibly running some routes when Taysom Hill goes under center…

Cut 12 (07) “…handsome.”

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Calcasieu District Attorney John DeRosier is seeking an August 19th execution date for Jason Manuel Reeves, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2004 for the abduction of a little girl, who he ended up raping and stabbing 16 times, and then slitting her throat. DeRosier says Reeves deserves to die for what he’s done…

Cut 13 (08) “..than that.”

Four-year-old Mary Jean Thigpen was taken from her family in Moss Bluff on November 1^st, 2001.

DeRosier is a practicing Catholic, but says he disagrees with the church’s position on the death penalty. He feels the Governor’s criminal justice reforms has created an environment where dangerous people are not guaranteed to be locked up forever…

Cut 14 (10) “…church.”

Last month the US Supreme Court denied an appeal by Reeves, which prompted a death warrant from the local prosecutor.

It’s been nine years since the state executed a prisoner, and Louisiana has been unable to find a pharma company willing to supply the chemicals needed for lethal injections to be carried out. DeRosier says between that and legal delays…

Cut 15 (12) “to happen.”

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Eight baseball teams will compete in the College World Series this weekend, but LSU Coach Paul Mainieri and his staff are getting ready for 2020. Mainieri says he wants to have more roster balance next season. He says the 2019 roster had 20 pitchers on it, he’ll like to carry 17 or 18 pitchers next season

Cut 16  (25) “…enough”  

LSU will have to replace several position players, Antoine Duplantis, Josh Smith, Chris Reid, Zach Watson and Brandt Broussard. It’s hard to say who will start in the infield next season and Mainieri says the guys who served as back-ups this season are not guaranteed starting spots next year

cut 17 (24) “.two days” 

Mainieri says pitchers Landon Marceaux and, Devin Fontenot will not pitch this summer as they need to rest. The same goes for Cole Henry. The coach hopes Jaden Hill can begin throwing again this summer after missing most of this past season

Drug and suicide deaths have risen sharply among the Millenial generation over the last 20 years, according to a new report…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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An NCAA official tells CBS Sports that six schools will learn this summer that they face allegations of major recruiting violations. Could LSU be one of them? Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A highway marker that was just put up to honor Louisiana blues legend Buddy Guy is missing. Pointe Coupee Parish Tourist Commission executive director Jeanie Andre says the roadside marker was last seen on the ground after it was knocked down by a vehicle that drove off the road…

Cut 3 (10) “…it’s missing”

The sign was unveiled on December seventh and it was once standing along LA 418 in Lettsworth, the hometown of the eight-time Grammy award winner. Andre says the tourist attraction means a lot to them

Cut 4 (10) “…safely returned”

Andre says if someone returns the Buddy Guy highway marker no questions will be asked and the person will not face any charges. She says the sheriff’s office is investigating and they hope for a positive outcome…

Cut 5 (09) “…returned.”

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A Trust for America’s Health report shows a dramatic spike in deaths due to drug abuse and suicide over the last twenty years, particularly among young people.

CEO John Auerbach says in 2017 Louisiana had 2,000 deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide, a seven percent increase over 2016. He says those rates are some of the worst in the nation.

Cut 6 (10) “to care.”

Drug deaths among Millennials were more than twice as likely to be opioid related then all other drugs combined.

Millennials, those aged 23-38, are disproportionately likely to die by alcohol and drug abuse or suicide. Auerbach says that generation’s bleak economic situation, rising debt loads, and increasing levels of opioid abuse are major drivers, along with the fact that…

Cut 7 (11) “…alone.”

Millennial men were more than twice as like to overdose as millennial women, and more than four times more likely to commit suicide.

Auerbach says the numbers are startling and should prompt authorities to begin investing in programs that will directly target those drivers of death among the youth.

Cut 8 (12) “…decreasing.”

White Millennials were more than twice as likely to die of overdose than other racial groups, and somewhat more likely to commit suicide.

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An NCAA official has told CBS sports the association will soon issue notices of Level One recruiting violations to at least six schools who were mentioned in the FBI’s college basketball corruption probe. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says if LSU is one of these schools, coach Will Wade could lose his job

Cut 9 (12) “…him anything”

LSU was one of at least 20 schools mentioned during the course of the FBI investigation. The FBI reportedly has a wiretap conversation between Wade and a convicted middleman, where Wade discusses a strong offer made to a recruit’s family. Nunez says it’s unclear if LSU will receive a notice, but…..

Cut 10 (08) “…just massive”

If LSU receives a notice of violations, new AD Scott Woodward can fire Wade with cause and also receive an automatic two-year contract extension because the NCAA violations occurred before he took over. But Nunez says such a move would draw the ire of LSU fans who want Wade as their basketball coach

Cut 11 (10) “ at him”

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A U-S House Committee has unanimously approved a bipartisan proposal that would extend the National Flood Insurance Program for five years. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraged by the prospects of a long-term deal

Cut 12 (09)   “…rates.”

Graves says the bill coming out of the House Financial Services Committee contains increased funding for projects that could minimize flooding in future years

Cut 13 (09) “…lacking” 

Graves says he’s a concern the bill does not address the N-F-I-P’s long-term debt and because of how the legislation is structured, there’s a chance it can raise rates…

Cut 14 (12) “…will be charged.” 

There are about 500-thousand flood insurance policies in Louisiana.