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.

Entergy sign with power plant in distant background

Entergy to shift another $1.5B in storm costs to customers

By: - January 19, 2023

Utility regulators approved a request Wednesday from Entergy Louisiana to bill customers $1.5 billion over 15 years to cover the costs of repairs the company made after Hurricane Ida. The measure involved a new strategy in which the regulators negotiated with Entergy to obtain a small reduction in the cost of the storm fee rather […]

The University of New Orleans sign sits in front of the University Center on Dec. 15, 2022.

University of New Orleans audit finds illegal contract, cash thefts

By: - January 17, 2023

A University of New Orleans administrator deliberately circumvented school policy to install a $215,000 boiler under an illegal contract, and a UNO employee allegedly stole $3,600 from the athletics department, according to a state audit that detailed the incidents in a report released last week covering the university’s 2021-2022 fiscal year. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office […]

Close-up of the "In God We Trust" motto on a U.S. silver coin

Louisiana lawmakers want ‘In God We Trust’ signs in every classroom

By: - January 13, 2023

One of the first bills filed ahead of Louisiana’s 2023 legislative Session would require all public schools and universities to put a new sign in every classroom: “In God We Trust.” House Bill 8, cosponsored by Republican Reps. Dodie Horton of Houghton and Jack McFarland of Jonesboro, was among the first handful of bills published […]

Sen. Sharon Hewitt sitting in committee room

State Sen. Sharon Hewitt announces bid for Louisiana governor

By: - January 13, 2023

Louisiana State Sen. Sharon Hewitt announced Friday that she will run for governor, joining Treasurer John Schroder and Attorney General Jeff Landry in the race. A successful campaign would make Hewitt the second female governor of Louisiana and the first female Republican governor. The late Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, served as governor from 2004 to […]

American flag steaked into mountain of cash

Homeowners and businesses could face drastic costs if lawmakers exempt inventory tax

By: - January 13, 2023

A Louisiana House panel mulling proposals for sweeping changes to the state’s tax structure was warned Wednesday that drastic tax hikes await homeowners and businesses if lawmakers exempt commercial inventory stockpiles from local property taxes. Inventory taxes, which local governments use to pay for things such as public schools, law enforcement, hospitals and other public […]

Louisiana State Capitol Building

Slave descendant wants Louisiana lawmakers to probe tax incentive deals

By: - January 12, 2023

A descendant of slaves from St. John the Baptist Parish wants Louisiana legislators to take a more active role in auditing lucrative tax incentive deals between local governments and corporations. Her push comes after officials in St. John signed away millions in tax revenue to have a massive grain elevator built next to a historic […]

The Louisiana State Capitol

More than a dozen Louisiana agencies missed accounting deadlines, auditor says

By: - January 9, 2023

More than a dozen state agencies failed to submit accounting data to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor over the past two years as required by law. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office issued a report that lists 14 state agencies that did not submit complete quarterly performance indicator information during fiscal year 2022. Eleven failed to submit […]

oil well and valve

Analysts expect Louisiana oil & gas sector to shrink or pivot to clean fuels this year

By: - January 6, 2023

Louisiana’s oil and gas industry is expected to shrink slightly this year due to a combination of economic and geopolitical factors, experts who follow the sector say, though they also forecast potential growth in the new energy and industrial sectors. Most analysts are predicting some kind of economic slowdown during the first half of 2023. […]

Man holding a piece of industrial pipe insulation inside a warehouse

A solution to the climate and energy crises could be right above your head

By: - December 28, 2022

Wind and solar technologies often dominate the conversation on curbing the high cost of fossil fuels and their detrimental greenhouse gas emissions. Another less prominent and far simpler application could have a significant impact on the energy and climate crises.  The potential solution, almost as old as time itself, is used instinctually by animals and […]

Snow covering I-12 highway signs and ground

Freeze warning: Temps will plunge to low teens across Louisiana

By: - December 21, 2022

Louisiana is bracing for an Arctic blast expected to freeze most of the state early Friday morning, plunging temperatures into the low teens through Christmas Eve. The National Weather Service and state officials are urging residents across the state to complete cold-weather preparations no later than Thursday. The threatening weather comes just one week after […]

A row of solar panels

Louisiana conservatives consider ban on liberal business agendas

By: - December 20, 2022

A panel led by two conservative Louisiana legislators is working to understand and eventually end the use of progressive corporate principles known as ESG that often support sustainable energy and socially responsible ways to do business. The acronym — which stands for environmental, social and corporate governance — is used primarily in the investment and […]

In this photo illustration, a cellphone can be seen displaying the logos for Chinese apps WeChat and TikTok in front of a monitor showing the flags of the United States and China.

Louisiana Secretary of State bans TikTok from department devices

By: - December 19, 2022

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Monday that he has banned TikTok on all department-issued devices, following similar action the U.S. Senate took over concerns about the social media company’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The ban affects only 11 cellphones, Secretary of State spokesman John Tobler said, but Ardoin has also blocked […]