States across the nation face critical junctures on multiple fronts—from new allegations upending Maine politics to pushback on federal immigration enforcement in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, activists raise alarms about plastic pollution, opioid abuse remains a pressing concern, and Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp stands at a delicate crossroads.

For two decades, Louisiana has worked to protect its most densely populated and economically vital region—the coastal zone. Now, there are growing fears that this lifeline is being overlooked, leaving the state’s future at risk.