Tegan Wendland

New Orleans is suing oil and gas companies to help it pay for flood protection. It's a major move against an industry that's key to the city's economy.

The U.S. Coast Guard is trying to clean up an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that's been going on since 2004 when a hurricane toppled a rig owned by Taylor Energy, a New Orleans-based firm.

In New Orleans, activists who spoke in favor of a proposed gas plant turned out to be paid actors. Environmentalists are calling on the city council to reconsider its approval of a plant permit.

Louisiana admits it can't protect all its residents from increased flooding. But with no money to buy people out, many vulnerable residents are stuck, struggling to cope.

The state is losing land faster than just about anywhere else in the world, but says it can't protect everyone from flooding. It created a program to buy out 2,400 homes, but it's not funded.

A tweet this week prompted dozens of New Orleans residents to post their childhood photos with the same Santa Claus. He's been a part of Christmas there for decades.

When deadly flooding rains swamped southern Louisiana last month, it destroyed lives and property. And it also caused millions of dollars of damage to the state's agriculture industry.

Details are emerging from the historic floods that devastated communities in southern Louisiana. At least 11 people have been reported dead, at least 40,000 homes were affected, and some 30,000 people were rescued.

For the first time, companies can apply to set up fish farms in U.S. federal waters. The government says the move will help reduce American dependence on foreign seafood and improve security.