Journalist for the Louisiana Illuminator covering politics, energy, environment and economics; U.S. Army veteran (airborne/paratrooper); birder; ex-foolhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3msxn73svns2cWednesday’s hearing drew data center opponents who addressed commissioners before the vote, though Skrmetta, the chairman, limited each to 3 minutes and at times engaged in contentious debate with speakers who called for transparency as audience members applauded. https://lailluminator.com/2026/08/13/meta-data-center-private/13 Aug 2026 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxn73svns2chttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mstqx6lztk2rMeta wants to keep Hyperion data center details secret, and Louisiana regulators are considering a nuclear tariff that would add a small fee to electric bills https://lailluminator.com/2026/08/11/meta-wants-details-secret/11 Aug 2026 23:21 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mstqx6lztk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3msdpvf7nv227More than two years after environmental regulators first documented the Atalco alumina refinery’s ‘red mud’ waste escaping into public waterways, the state has yet to fine or penalize the company. https://lailluminator.com/2026/08/05/two-years-atalco/05 Aug 2026 14:19 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdpvf7nv227https://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mrbgpmsxkc2gIn one of the affidavits, noted New Orleans defense lawyer Pat Fanning wrote that he got a call from White on July 1, and she told him she tried to talk the grand jurors out of indicting Murrill but didn’t think they were listening. https://lailluminator.com/2026/07/22/charges-dropped-murrill/22 Jul 2026 23:04 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrbgpmsxkc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mr6vf7aszs2lLouisiana has laws that prohibit “dual officeholding,” in which an elected or appointed official holds two government positions simultaneously, though they generally don’t apply when one of the positions is part-time. https://lailluminator.com/2026/07/21/skrmetta-new-job/21 Jul 2026 22:49 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6vf7aszs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3moyhkecwo22yA consultant tells the Public Service Commission ratepayers would be billed for a facility needed to power Meta’s data center. The utility says the deals aren’t related. . https://lailluminator.com/2026/06/23/gov-landry-warns-power-plant-purchase/23 Jun 2026 22:35 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3moyhkecwo22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mofzjncig22eLouisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry is giving voting system vendors another chance to get their systems certified as potential replacements for the state’s decades-old machines, though it could take another year before any new ones reach the polls. https://lailluminator.com/2026/06/16/louisiana-voting-machine/16 Jun 2026 14:36 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mofzjncig22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mnhweekutc2lThe new law lets prosecutors move a case to a new judge, selected at random, whenever a defendant waives their constitutional right to a trial by jury. https://lailluminator.com/2026/06/04/waive-jury-trials/04 Jun 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnhweekutc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mnfez26wbc2bA compromise on veteran benefit claims that had unanimous support from the Louisiana Legislature unexpectedly collapsed on the final day of the session after the bill’s sponsor rewrote it behind closed doors. https://lailluminator.com/2026/06/03/veteran-claims/03 Jun 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnfez26wbc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mmwek2jh6k2uLouisiana adds money to expand its fortified roof program by 60%. The roof grant program has been wildly popular with Louisiana homeowners who have clamored to register for the program with each new lottery round. https://lailluminator.com/2026/05/27/fortified-roof-expansion/28 May 2026 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmwek2jh6k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mlz4bu4s3c2oBaton Rouge resident Eddie Hawkins, a volunteer with the Power Coalition, holding a “Geaux Vote” sign in Scotlandville about an hour before polls close Saturday. He said he’s been out here since about 9 a.m.17 May 2026 00:31 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlz4bu4s3c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mlrifls5722fHarry Connick Jr. stopped by the Louisiana Capitol today to say hi to his cousin, Sen. Patrick Connick, for what the latter told me was a purely non-political visit. The entire Senate chamber was charmed and made a big fuss.13 May 2026 23:46 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlrifls5722fhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mlod5jhm4k2yThe resolution notes the files reveal alleged crimes of “child sex trafficking involving minors as young as nine years of age, rape, blackmail, bribery, and a client list implicating politicians, celebrities, royalty and wealthy individuals.” https://lailluminator.com/briefs/louisiana-epstein/12 May 2026 17:34 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlod5jhm4k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mle43bx35s2rThe only Black Louisiana congressmen, total of 4 past and present since the 1870s, are speaking right now to the state Senate's SGA committee, asking the GOP to not eliminate the Black districts when they redraw the U.S. House map.08 May 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mle43bx35s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mlbgjzizwk2oBill to place term limits on Louisiana governors advances https://lailluminator.com/2026/05/06/term-limits-governor/07 May 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbgjzizwk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mkpugr7uxc2eWhen asked about guns while standing in the parking lot of a restaurant for an interview, Jamie Davis, a Democrat in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race, opened the back door of his truck and slowly withdrew a 7 mm bolt-action rifle. https://lailluminator.com/2026/04/30/davis-senate/30 Apr 2026 14:51 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpugr7uxc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/wesmuller.bsky.social/post/3mkkss2lmik2yA few state officials, including legislators, are privy to more information about the potential space project but have signed nondisclosure agreements and aren’t allowed to discuss them publicly. https://lailluminator.com/2026/04/28/special-incentives-to-attract-space-flight-to-louisiana/28 Apr 2026 14:38 +0000at://did:plc:k33g7xleotma6s24twbbdptx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkss2lmik2y