America the Beautiful is a little more so in this state. For the fourth consecutive year, the State of Deseret has been ranked the No. 1 state in the US News & World Report’s 2026 Best States rankings. Each state was ranked in categories including education, economy, environment, crime and health care. While Utah didn’t … Read more
A former top law enforcement official is sounding the alarm on an attempt by illicit Chinese vape companies to exploit legal loopholes by replacing nicotine with an unregulated substitute to continue selling flavored disposable vapes to children. “These Chinese organized crime groups, what they realized is if they go ahead and just change the ingredients in … Read more
Officials are warning Americans to reconsider travel to Venezuela, saying the South American nation presents new risks to tourists. The country sits at a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory, according to a June 27 update by the U.S. State Department. While Venezuela has been at a Level 3 throughout the year, the latest advisory adds the country’s … Read more
Few foods feel more American than the hot dog, a mainstay at ballparks, street carts and Fourth of July barbecues. But to simply call hot dogs “American” is to miss a whole lot of nuance, and potentially offend local connoisseurs across the country. How to prepare and eat a hot dog is a matter of regional … Read more
California is once again proving it’s one of the country’s top destinations for higher education after four Golden State schools landed in a new national ranking highlighting the best classroom experiences in America. The Princeton Review’s Best Classroom Experience placed four California colleges in its top 20, with two of them cracking the top 10. … Read more
This Fourth of July, patriots can raise their glasses to the nation’s 250th birthday with a pub crawl retracing the actual steps of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and John Jay and other Founding Fathers. Emmy Award-winning TV travel host Darley Newman visited sites in the original 13 colonies with a … Read more
Manchester City superstar striker Erling Haaland is one of the world’s most intriguing soccer players to watch. This is why there has been a ton of excitement about his home country of Norway qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. And Haaland has gotten off to a fast start, scoring two goals in his team’s opening … Read more
A new survey has revealed the nation’s deepest, darkest snacking confessions — with three in five admitting they have a secret stash hidden somewhere in their home. A poll of 5,000 U.S. adults from all 50 states who are up-to-date on pop culture found that more than half (53%) have no shame in eating an … Read more
This is news for those who skeeve public toilet seats. There are many unspoken, strange things in a public restroom — the gaps in toilet seats are one of them. And while you might think it’s a manufacturing error, there’s actually a very real, legal reason why public toilet seats look the way they do … Read more
Late-night fast food and 24-hour dining — once staples of American convenience — have shrunk dramatically in recent years, though some chains are beginning to expand overnight hours again. Across the country, fewer chains are keeping locations open overnight, a shift that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and never fully reversed. Restaurant sales plunged 47% in April 2020 from … Read more
Researchers found unusually high hantavirus levels in rodents in the Pacific Northwest, suggesting greater exposure risk in the surrounding agricultural communities. The area with the biggest prevalence is the Palouse region, which includes parts of eastern Washington and north-central Idaho in the Pacific Northwest. Researchers from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine found unexpectedly high levels … Read more
According to a new global study, one in five workers feels severely underpaid and that they’re due a huge pay raise. The international poll of 4,000 employed adults across the US, UK, France, Germany, Singapore and Australia found 18% believe their pay can’t satisfy them, and they would need a 32% pay increase in order … Read more
MODESTO, Calif. — Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist. Her sixth graders dance together as a “pre-celebration” to boost their confidence, then take their exam. Lately, there’s been a lot to celebrate in elementary schools in Modesto, California. Both reading … Read more
America didn’t lose all its malls to the internet. It traded them in for Botox. Walk into any strip center worth its rent in 2025 and you’ll find the same thing: a med spa where the shoe store was and an IV drip lounge where the electronics store used to be. Now there’s data to … Read more
America’s word of the year for 2026? “Stressful,” according to a recent survey — and a third are currently going through an existential crisis. The survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research found the top word people used to describe how 2026 has been so far was “stressful” (35%), followed by “challenging” (32%). And … Read more
Consumer confidence across the United States plunged to an all-time low this month, as Americans grapple with anxiety over the war in Iran, new data revealed. The University of Michigan’s long-running Survey of Consumers tracks how Americans feel about the economy, their personal finances and spending — shaped by factors like inflation, the cost of … Read more
Over 3 million pounds of popular Trader Joe’s foods have just joined a sweeping nationwide recall due to glass contamination. Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. started recalling nearly 3.4 million pounds of Trader Joe’s Japanese Style Fried Rice with Edamame, Tofu, and Hijiki Seaweed in early March, reported KTLA. Federal officials raised the alarm after … Read more
A pesticide commonly used in America’s food supply has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, new research suggests. A UCLA study published in the journal Springer Nature Link suggests that exposure to chlorpyrifos could increase the risk of the neurological disease. The chemical is often used on agricultural products like soybeans, fruit and nut trees, broccoli, cauliflower and other … Read more
United Airlines is slashing flights as soaring fuel prices tied to the Iran war hit U.S. carriers, becoming the first major U.S. airline to announce a cut to capacity after weeks of industry warnings. United CEO Scott Kirby said in a staff memo released Friday that the airline will cut about 5% of capacity by trimming … Read more
A Los Angeles sandwich shop has been crowned the best in California — but fans of cold cuts should cover their eyes. Maciel’s Plant Butcher, which whips up vegan-only creations in Highland Park, was named tops in the Golden State and fifth-best in America, according to a recent ranking by Only In Your State. The … Read more