Gavin

$url = 'https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?cht=map:fixed=20,-160,55,-35&chs=600x400&';
$chco = 'cccccc|'; // the colors
$chld = ''; // the states
foreach ($states as $state => $total) {
    $chld .= 'US-' . $state . '|'; // Add the state ID

    // The logic to color the states light, medium, or dark red:
    if($total < 2) {
        $chco .= 'ffcccc|';
    }
    else if ($total < 4) {
        $chco .= 'ff6666|';
    }
    else {
        $chco .= '990000|';
    }
}
$chco = rtrim($chco, '|'); // Removes the trailing bar
$url = $url . 'chco=' . $chco . '&chld=' . $chld; // Build the URL
echo '<img src="' . $url . '" />'; // Insert the image into the page