Author

Wesley Muller

Wesley Muller

Wes Muller traces his journalism roots back to 1997 when, at age 13, he built and launched a hyper-local news website for his New Orleans neighborhood. In the years since then, he has freelanced for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans and worked on staff at the Sun Herald in Biloxi, WAFB-9News CBS in Baton Rouge, and the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi.

President Biden tours Hurricane Ida aftermath

President Biden gets up-close view of Ida’s aftermath in Southeast Louisiana

By: - September 3, 2021

President Joe Biden arrived in Louisiana Friday afternoon to assess Hurricane Ida’s aftermath and speak to residents in some of the region’s hardest-hit areas. Upon Air Force One’s landing at the Louis Armstrong International Airport, the president was welcomed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Steve Scalise, […]

LaPlace woman startled by deer in her flood-ravaged home

Deer finds shelter from Hurricane Ida in flood-ravaged LaPlace home

By: - September 2, 2021

Panic quickly rushed through Ashley Navarre’s veins when she stepped foot inside her LaPlace home Wednesday and was startled by something she never expected to see lying on her bedroom floor. That overwhelming panic soon gave way to relief when the creature stood up and retreated into her bathroom where it lay down and kept […]

COVID-19 outbreaks at Louisiana nursing homes infect nearly 1,200 staff members

Health officials confirm two more pediatric COVID-19 deaths in Louisiana

By: - September 1, 2021

Louisiana health officials on Wednesday confirmed two additional pediatric deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the state’s total COVID-19 death toll to 12,582. One death was of a child between 0 and 4 years old, and the other was of a child between 12 and 17, according to a Louisiana Department of Health press release. […]

Shell's Norco refinery releases 'elevated emissions' due to Hurricane Ida

Fuel shortage among priorities in Louisiana’s hurricane recovery

By: - September 1, 2021

More than two-thirds of Louisiana’s petrochemical refining capacity remained offline Wednesday due to damages from Hurricane Ida , Gov. John Bel Edwards said. The effects were visible across Southeast Louisiana with not only long lines of cars waiting to fill up at gas stations but also with the unusually heavy plumes of black emissions spewing […]

hospital hallway

Louisiana babies airlifted out of Louisiana hospitals, sent to Texas

By: and - September 1, 2021

Six newborns from Terrebonne General Medical Center were evacuated to Ochsner Lafayette General, the hospital announced Tuesday.  All six are in stable condition and staff members at the hospital have been working extra shifts and staying late for feedings to take care of all patients, Critical Care Nurse Manager Meagan Daigle said. Other sick babies […]

Gov. Edwards going to Europe to tour new flood control solutions

Hurricane Ida was ‘catastrophic’ in St. John the Baptist Parish, Gov. Edwards says

By: - August 31, 2021

Gov. John Bel Edwards spent Tuesday morning visiting the parishes of Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. John the Baptist and conducted flyovers of Grand Isle and Lafitte to assess Hurricane Ida’s destructive wake in the hardest-hit areas of Louisiana. “This storm was every bit as advertised,” Edwards said. “And the damage that we have seen here […]

Medical Marijuana Commission holds first meeting

Steve Gleason says medical marijuana saved him from a ‘downward spiral’

By: - August 27, 2021

Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason said Friday that medical marijuana saved him from a “downward spiral” he after his ALS diagnosis. Friday marked the first time Gleason has ever spoken publicly about his use of  the drug. He was testifying before the Medical Marijuana Commission set up by Louisiana Legislature.  A former special […]

A Department of Health and Human Services employee holds a COVID-19 vaccine record card

Students who won’t take vaccine lodge new allegations at Louisiana medical school

By: - August 24, 2021

The three students who are suing a north Louisiana medical school over its COVID-19 vaccination policy filed a new motion Monday alleging a college administrator belittled them in an email last week in an attempt to “turn the student body against them.”  The students, Rachel Lynn Magliulo, Matthew Shea Willis and Kirsten Willis Hall, filed […]

Louisiana turns to redrawing political maps

With Census figures in, Louisiana turns to redrawing political maps

By: - August 23, 2021

With the legislature’s first redistricting meeting approaching, some lawmakers and interested citizens are hoping to make critical changes to the maps that define Louisiana’s political boundaries. Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its long-awaited, updated population numbers from around the country, showing Louisiana experienced sluggish growth of just 2.5% over the last decade […]

A healthcare professional organizes a tray of COVID-19 vaccine vials. The professional is carrying out research on COVID-19 vaccine in laboratory. (Getty Images)

Judge blocks Louisiana medical school vaccine requirement

By: - August 18, 2021

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a north Louisiana medical college from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for students or placing significant restrictions on those who refuse to get vaccinated. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty of the Monroe division of the Western District of Louisiana ruled in favor of Rachel Lynn Magliulo, Matthew Shea Willis […]

Rows of solar modules generate electricity at UL-Lafayette's Photovoltaic Applied Research and Testing (PART) Lab

Solar power offers $6 billion opportunity for Louisiana, researchers say

By: - August 17, 2021

Louisiana researchers say the focus on carbon capture technologies by Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Climate Initiatives Task Force could lead to missed opportunities for a faster, cheaper and easier impact on Louisiana’s carbon emissions problem. There are more than $6 billion in investments waiting to come to Louisiana right now that could supply a significant […]

Republicans ask Gov. Edwards to rescind mask mandate in schools

63 Louisiana House members ask state school board to sidestep K-12 schools mask mandate

By: - August 16, 2021

Sixty-three House members signed a letter asking the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to direct local K-12 school districts to adopt their own mask protocols — in defiance of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ statewide mask mandate. All 63 House members who signed the letter are Republicans. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-French Settlement, and […]