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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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

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

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