Flood record: Never has the mighty Mississippi River been so high for so long in modern history, having reached a record for the number of consecutive days above flood stage at points throughout most of Louisiana. Read the full story.
Prize pool: At one time, winning American Idol once guaranteed fame and fortune, but times have changed. Laine Hardy is going to get a handsome paycheck, but it comes with risk and is a small percentage of what previous winners received. Read the full story.
Drowning in garbage: Each day, the growing complex of petrochemical plants lining the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast churns out thousands of tons of miniature plastic pellets, destined for manufacturing plants around the world, but with the plastic industry’s meteoric rise comes a waste stream that has far exceeded society’s ability to manage it. Read the full story.
