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.

House passes qualified immunity bill

STD legislation that criminalizes exposure runs afoul of latest research, critics say

By: - April 1, 2021

A state legislator has introduced a bill that would make it a crime for someone to intentionally expose another with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). But some in the health care industry and LGBTQ community fear the bill will do the opposite of what is intended. House Bill 238, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Moore, D-Monroe, […]

capacity restrictions

Governor eases COVID-19 capacity restrictions at bars and other venues

By: - March 30, 2021

Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday lifted some coronavirus-related capacity restrictions on restaurants, bars, gyms, retail outlets and other venues, citing a steady decline in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the state. However, the governor emphasized that he is leaving in place guidelines that require people to wear face masks and keep a healthy […]

Louisiana Survey shows economy and pandemic top residents’ concerns

By: - March 30, 2021

The results of the 2021 Louisiana Survey, released Tuesday, indicate residents are most concerned with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy, even though more than two-thirds of those surveyed say that financially they’re doing as well or better than they were a year ago. Researchers in the Public Policy Research Lab (PPRL) at LSU’s Reilly […]

Cypress tree legislation would ban harvesting on public property

By: - March 30, 2021

The cypress tree, one of Louisiana’s most cherished icons, is disappearing at an alarming rate, but a bill introduced in the Louisiana House of Representatives hopes to protect it. House Bill 239, authored by Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, would make it illegal to cut down, hurt or damage any cypress tree on all public property. […]

Misclassification of Employees

Misclassification of Employees Task Force disbands without finishing

By: - March 26, 2021

Louisiana’s Misclassification of Employees Task Force, which was assembled to tackle employer payroll fraud in the state, held its last meeting on Wednesday and disbanded without adopting most of the proposed legislation its members had hoped to give to state lawmakers for the regular session beginning April 12. After drafting a full report containing seven […]

Hodges bill targeting immigrants

Denham Springs lawmaker writes bill targeting immigrants to ‘deter theft of our LA tax dollars’

By: - March 25, 2021

State Rep. Valarie Hodges has introduced a bill targeting immigrants that could make it more difficult for Louisianans to claim dependents on their annual tax returns, particularly those of lower-income with children studying abroad. Present law allows taxpayers to claim a state individual income tax credit of 5 percent of the amount of the taxpayer’s federal […]

St. James Parish resident to testify at United Nations session on “Cancer Alley”

By: - March 24, 2021

A St. James Parish resident who has been pushing for cleaner air surrounding her home in “Cancer Alley” will address the United Nations Working Group on Peoples of African Descent on Thursday. The session is public and available online through the OHCHR’s website. Sharon Lavigne, founder of the grassroots, faith-based activist organization RISE St. James, […]

Louisiana AG Jeff Landry files lawsuit against what he calls President Biden’s ‘attack on American energy independence’

By: - March 24, 2021

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden’s executive order that temporarily suspends new oil and gas leases on public lands or offshore waters. On Wednesday Landry announced in a press release that he is leading 13 state attorneys general in a federal lawsuit against what Landry calls the Biden administration’s […]

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy delivers remarks at a press conference for the White House Coronavirus Task Force during their visit to LSU's Tiger Stadium on July 14, 2020.

Senator Cassidy: LSU should have considered firing admins but fault rises ‘to the top’

By: - March 23, 2021

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, responded to questions about LSU’s sexual misconduct scandal during his weekly press conference call Tuesday, saying the university needs to “root out any culture that would tolerate sexual harassment” and should have considered firing those who had the responsibility and authority to act but failed to do so. Asked […]

Gulf Coast birds get $35 million in help from BP oil spill settlement

By: - March 22, 2021

The Deepwater Horizon Trustees on Monday announced nearly $100 million in new Gulf Coast restoration projects for ecosystems destroyed or injured by the BP oil spill. Specifically, the projects aim to rebuild and protect habitats for sea turtles, marine mammals, oysters, and birds across the five states and parts of Mexico impacted by the BP […]

Trump-era ‘wealth test’ for immigrants dies in 4th Circuit

By: - March 18, 2021

A legal dispute over the so-called “wealth test” for immigrants died in the United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday after the court denied a motion by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and other Republican state AGs that would have kept alive an appeal of a lower court ruling that blocked the policy. […]

Louisiana Capitol Building

Misclassification of Employees Task Force may need more time

By: - March 18, 2021

The members of Louisiana’s Misclassification of Employees Task Force, who are researching employer payroll fraud, feel they will not be able to submit some proposed legislation in time for state lawmakers’ regular session beginning April 12. At Wednesday’s meeting, the members agreed with task force Chairman Luke Morris when he suggested tabling one of their […]