Children’s Hospital New Orleans is addressing the notable rise in eating disorders amongst children and teens by launching the first pediatric Eating Disorder Center in Louisiana. Whitney Thomas reports.

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Since a new law allowing adopted children access to their original birth certificate went into effect in August Vital Records has received more than 640 requests and 520 have been located. Brooke Thorington has more.

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State Representative Blake Miguez represented the USA in the 2022 ISPC World Shoot on their way to a silver medal. Kace Kieschnick has the story..

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Children’s Hospital New Orleans launched the first pediatric hospital-based Feeding and Eating Disorder Center in Louisiana and the Gulf South. The center will provide gold-standard assessments and treatments to adolescents suffering from eating disorders. Amy Henke, Psychologist at Children’s Hospital New Orleans says there has been a significant rise in eating disorders amongst children and adolescence.

Cut 4 (11)  “…more limited.”

Henke says the center was designed as an outpatient clinic to give families a chance to receive treatment in their home settings. She says this will allow kids to still be kids beyond their disorder.

 Cut 5 (14) “…these difficulties.”

Patients who don’t live in New Orleans will still be able to access care and treatment. Henke says with virtual care families can still get the same outcome.

Cut 6 (10)  “…the state.” 

For more information about providers, families can contact the Eating and Feeding Disorder Center, visit chnola.org/eatingdisorder or call 504-896-9827.

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National Treasure: Edge of History debuts tonight on Disney plus. The series, which was filmed earlier this year, is not only shot but it’s set in Baton Rouge. Film Baton Rouge Executive Director Katie Pryor says Disney spent over $50 million in the capital city, $17 million on payroll and that was only the beginning.

Cut 7 (07) “…everything here.”

The series follows Lisette Olivera’s character as she follows clues to a lost treasure and uncovers family secrets along the way.  Catherine Zeta-Jones plays her nemesis determined to find the lost relics before anyone else.  The series uses multiple locations in Baton Rouge, like the Old State Capitol, the Old Governor’s Mansion, and the USS Kidd. Pryor says when attractions like that are featured in a Disney production it’s a visual postcard of the city on a global scale.

Cut 8 (04)  “…unbelievable.”

Pryor says it’s the old if you build it, they will come mantra and when other productions see what Baton Rouge can offer, they will follow.

Cut 9 (10)  “…you gain.”

In addition to ideal visual locations, Pryor says trained film crews and established vendors in Baton Rouge only entice more productions to the area. The first two of ten episodes can be streamed tonight on Disney+.

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Since a new law allowing adopted children access to their original birth certificate went into effect on August 1^st, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry has received 640 requests and about 520 have been located. Leesville Representative Charles Owen, who is adopted himself and wrote the law, says the remaining requests are being processed.

Cut 10 (11) “…to happen.” 

Now children who were adopted in Louisiana, once they reach the age of 24, can request a copy of their original birth certificate.  Owen says several individuals who have since found their parents have reached out to him thanking him for the legislation. He says their stories are inspirational.

Cut 11 (07)  “… 102-year-old mother.”

Since 1977 original birth certificates and the identity of the adoptee’s birth parents were sealed. Owen says he’s grateful the legislature realized it’s ok to change a law you believe was intended to protect individuals but instead it hurts people.

Cut 12 (09) “…right a wrong.”

Owen says it averages 10 to 12 weeks to receive your original birth certificate once the request is received.

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Erath Representative Blake Miguez won the silver medal for team USA in the 2022 IPSC World Shoot. Miguez, who’s been shooting since he was 12, is a former world champion pistol shooter and balances his passion for competitive shooting with politics. He and Team USA traveled to Thailand where Miguez finished in fifth place in his division.

Cut 13 (13) “…brain forever.”

Miguez competed in multiple national-level competitions to earn the number two spot on the team. The 30-year competitive shooting veteran said this competition is especially challenging…

Cut 14 (13)  “…very challenging.”

Miguez won the world competition in Greece 12 years ago and has previously been both national and world champion. He and team USA competed against nearly two thousand other shooters representing nearly 100 countries.  Considering everything he has on his plate right now, he says he’s proud of his and his team’s performance…

Cut 15 (11)  “…with the finish.”

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Many of those covering the NFL both with organizations and in the media believe former Saints Head Coach Sean Payton isn’t done coaching, and some have even gone on to say he could be back with a team as early as next year. Payton is currently with Fox Sports in Los Angeles and has spent time with both the Chargers and Rams organizations. Many have speculated he would like to coach Justin Herbert and the young, talented offense of the Chargers, but new rumors have arisen surrounding the Rams coaching job as Sean McVay considers an early retirement. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says Payton has an interest in those teams…

Cut  16 (17)  “..the west coast.” 

Another potential suitor named for Payton has been the Cardinals as they struggle under Coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Cardinals boast a potent offense led by Heisman-winning quarterback and first-overall pick Kyler Murray. Detillier says Sean also has a history with the owners…

Cut 17 (19) “…Bidwell family.” 

Recently many Saints fans have hoped to see a return to New Orleans after Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan cited the Black and Gold as a potential landing spot for Payton. The Saints have struggled without Payton this year and many are unsure of what will happen to the current Saints coaching staff next season. Detillier, however, is less confident in this possibility…

Cut 18 (19) “…that’s a long-shot.” 

It’s believed tonight’s meeting about the new proposed 1-10 Calcasieu River Bridge is the last one for the public to add their input. Brooke Thorington has more

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College football is mourning the loss of Mississippi State Coach Mike Leach who died last night after suffering a massive heart attack on Sunday. He was 61. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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State Police investigators have released more details about the death of an inmate yesterday at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse. Trooper Derek Senegal says the altercation occurred between the inmate and a corrections deputy in a deliberation room just outside a courtroom.

Cut 3 (09) “…gunshot wound” 

He says the inmate was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead by the medical staff. He says the corrections officer was not injured.

Cut 4 (10)  “…at the time” 

Senegal says the inmate was at the courthouse on official business. Investigators are trying to figure out what led up to the incident.

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He says the inmate’s identity will be released once his next of kin has been notified.

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The Department of Transportation and Development is hosting a meeting tonight in Lake Charles about the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver says concerned residents need to attend this meeting.

Cut 6 (11)  “…this project.”

Tarver says the new bridge is expected to be constructed just north of the current structure and the route to the bridge for the most part will not change, but there are concerns about the transition into Westlake.

Cut 7 (08)  “…is safer.”

Tarver says approximately 90-thousand cars use the Calcasieu River Bridge daily.

The cost of the bridge is estimated to be $1.5 billion and Tarver says the legislature has already allocated one billion for the project. As for the remaining amount needed he says there are differing opinions on how it should be funded.

Cut 8 (09)  “…toll that bridge.“

If plans continue to proceed, Tarver expects construction should begin in the next year, a year and a half.

The meeting will be from 5 until 7 at the Pryce/Miller Recreational Center.

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The executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents says Louisiana is one of only 13 states that require all high school juniors to take the ACT test. Michael Faulk says the requirement is outdated.

Cut 9 (07) “… other measures.” 

Faulk says students who are not planning on going to college shouldn’t have to take the ACT test because they are not taught classes that prepare them for it.

Cut 10 (08) “… workforce.” 

Faulk says students who aren’t preparing to go to college are also given a chance to take a test called WorkKeys. He says only students who are planning to go to college should be required to take the ACT test.

Cut 11 (12)  “…ACT exam.”

Faulk says when students who are not prepared to take the ACT tests have to take it, their low scores drag down the state’s overall average, which has been declining for five consecutive years.

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A large portion of the state is under a tornado watch until 10 PM. The watch area covers Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria and DeRidder Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says  the threat for tornadoes exists for south Louisiana during the overnight hours…

Cut 12 (11) “…pop up”  

Steele says this storm system moving in from Texas brings a variety of threats

Cut 13 (08) “…flash flooding”  

Steele says much of the southern half of the state is also under a flash flood watch tonight through tomorrow…..

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Louisiana ranks 50th in the America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report. Whitney Thomas reports a dramatic rise in overdose death rates is a main factor…

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It’s the busiest week of the year for the post office and the deadlines for mailing cards and packages are approaching. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The governor’s office announces a public-private partnership that will result in a one-point-eight billion dollar port expansion in the New Orleans area. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The United Health foundation has released its America’s Health Rankings for 2022 and Louisiana is ranked dead last at 50. A major reason for Louisiana’s poor ranking is that drug deaths rose by 50% between 2019 and 2020.

United Health Foundation Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ravi Johar says Louisiana has a high premature death rate.

Cut 4 (06)  “…drug deaths”

The report highlights improvements, challenges, and disparities in the health and well-being of Americans across all 50 states. Johar says the state also suffers with a high prevalence of physical inactivity with a 30% rate.

Cut 5 (11) “…that sort.”

Louisiana also ranks low for STD rate, high risk HIV behaviors, and 48th for teen birth. Dr. Johar says the report serves an important purpose.

Cut 6 (10)  “…to address .” 

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This week is expected to be the busiest week of the year for the United States Postal Service. The deadline for mailing greeting cards and first-class packages, if you want them to arrive before Santa, is December 17^th. USPS spokesperson David Walton says you’ll want to have things ready to ship by Saturday if not sooner.

Cut 7 (08) “…the holidays.”

The postal service typically hires extra workers for the holiday season, but Walton says they didn’t have to hire as many because they increased their number of full-time employees throughout the year. Walton says so far things are running as smoothly as possible.

Cut 8 (09)  “…of year.”

And because the post office is expecting 250 million people to visit post offices during the holiday season this year some post offices have extended hours for customers to drop off packages and delivery workers are working longer days also.

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The deadline for Priority Mail Express Military service is Friday, December 16^th. The deadline for Priority Mail is December 19^th and for Priority Mail Express the deadline is December 23^rd.

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St. Tammany Parish leaders have placed a time capsule inside the Slidell Museum featuring items from the COVID pandemic, like toilet paper, a mask, a Covid-19 test, letters from students, and news s coverage of the surge in cases and deaths. Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer says the time capsule should remain locked for 100 years

Cut 10 (06) “…we faired.” 

The collection also showcases things like horrific death tolls, the start of quarantine, and software such as zoom. But Cromer says parish leaders 100 years from now will also learn how show how resilient people were through the pandemic

Cut 11 (09)  “…but forever.”

Cromer says this pandemic changed his appreciation for first responders, educators, and hospital workers. The mayor says 100 years from now he wants people to know… 

Cut 12 (11) “…apart of.”

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Plans are in place to build a one-point-eight billion dollar state-of-the-art container facility on the Mississippi River in St. Bernard Parish that would create more than 17-thousand new jobs by 2050. Port NOLA President Brandy Christian says a large marine terminal operator called Ports America and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company are the private investors

Cut 13 (08) “…make it a reality.”

The governor’s office says the construction of the terminal will be supported by a substantial commitment from Port NOLA, as well as state and federal funding sources.

Christian says the facility will be capable of handling ultra-large container vessels which will help Louisiana attract new investment from companies competing globally

Cut 14 (10)  “…by container”

Governor John Bel Edwards says this port expansion will benefit manufacturing, agribusiness and energy workers. Christian says the new Louisiana International Terminal will be able to serve vessels of all sizes…

Cut 15 (11)  “…through container shipping”

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is conducting an environmental review process. Barring unforeseen delays, construction would begin in 2025 and the first berth would open in 2028.

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There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather for most of north Louisiana and all of central Louisiana this afternoon and tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says tornadoes will be possible…

Cut  16 (07)  “..southeast Louisiana” 

Keim says make sure your wireless emergency alerts are turned on ahead of the expected severe weather…

Cut 17 (10) “….the situation”