New Hampshire

What are the top states in the U.S.? Here’s where Vermont ranks

Published

7 months ago

May 26, 2025

What are the top states in the U.S.? Here’s where Vermont ranks

Andrea Amico named among USA TODAY’s Women of the Year for New Hampshire

Andrea Amico, who sounded the alarm about toxic PFAS chemicals in contaminated drinking water, is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year.

Vermont is one of the ten best state in the U.S., according to a new ranking from U.S. News and World Report.

The Best States rankings look at eight categories: health care, education, natural environment, opportunity, economy, crime and corrections, infrastructure, and fiscal stability.

With top rankings in the crime and corrections and natural environment categories, U.S. News gave Vermont the seventh spot. That makes it the second best New England state, coming in behind New Hampshire which was ranked No. 2.

Why was Vermont ranked No. 7

Vermont ranked very high in several key metrics.

It was rated as the best state for opportunity, which looks at economic opportunity, affordability and equality It’s one of the safest states, coming in at No. 4 for crime and safety. And it doesn’t slack when it comes to the natural environment, coming in at No. 9. It also ranked No. 9 for infrastructure.

The main ranking pulling it down was fiscal stability, coming in at No. 41. It’s second lowest score was education, coming in at No. 23.

Why is New Hampshire ranked so high?

New Hampshire’s first place ranking in the crime and corrections category and fourth place ranking for natural environment helped propel the state to its second-place finish.

“The state’s natural beauty stands out more for its valleys, rivers, lakes and mountains than its mere 13 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline,” said the report. “Its highest peak, Mount Washington, stands at 6,288 feet in the White Mountains, and Lake Winnipesaukee is its best-known inland resort.”

New Hampshire was also ranked 6^th in opportunity, which included a first-place ranking in economic opportunity and third-place in equality.

It’s worst category was fiscal stability, with a ranking of 37^th.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte said the ranking comes as “no surprise.”

“Today’s ranking is a testament to our dedicated law enforcement officers, hardworking business leaders, and energetic, independent people,” she said in a post on X, also emphasizing the state’s high public safety ranking. “Thank you to all those who protect and serve our communities each day. Together, we will ensure our state remains the safest in the nation.”

What is the best state in the country?

According to U.S. News and World Report, Utah is the best state in the country for the third year in a row.

It earned top 10 marks in five categories: fiscal stability, economy, infrastructure, education and crime and corrections.

The report said that Utah’s economy has become one of the most diverse in the U.S., giving it great strength in the fiscal-related categories.

“In the last two and a half decades, Utah’s economy has outperformed the nation, had greater strength, and when we’ve had downturns, we have been able to rebound much more quickly in our state,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah.

What are the 10 best states in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report?

Utah
New Hampshire
Idaho
Minnesota
Nebraska
Florida
Vermont
South Dakota
Massachusetts
Washington

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire 6-year-old tests positive for cocaine, cannabis; mother faces multiple charges

Published

10 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

New Hampshire 6-year-old tests positive for cocaine, cannabis; mother faces multiple charges

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A New Hampshire woman was charged with child endangerment and witness tampering after her daughter ingested a THC gummy and later tested positive for cannabinoids and cocaine, according to officials.

The incident prompted a police investigation after the state Division for Children, Youth and Families notified the Nashua Police Department Nov. 3.

According to a release shared by Nashua Police Department, detectives learned the 6-year-old had been hospitalized following the ingestion and that her mother, Paige Goulet, allegedly told a witness not to cooperate with investigators.

DRUG-LACED CANDY DISGUISED AS KIDS’ TREATS FUELS NEW HALLOWEEN SAFETY WARNING FOR PARENTS: POLICE

The Nashua Police Department took custody of Goulet and formally charged her. (Nashua Police Department)

“While at the hospital, the juvenile victim tested positive for the illegal drugs, cannabinoids, and cocaine,” the release said.

“Detectives learned that Goulet had told a witness not to cooperate with the police investigation, and detectives determined that Goulet had neglected her duty to care for her juvenile daughter.”

Goulet, 30, was arrested Monday by Meredith police on a felony warrant for tampering with witnesses involved in the Nashua police investigation.

GUATEMALAN NATIONAL FREED WITHOUT BAIL IN THC GUMMIES CASE THAT SENT 12 MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS TO THE HOSPITAL

Nashua police determined Goulet had neglected her duty to care for her daughter. (Wang Zhao/AFP/GettyImages)

She was taken into custody by Nashua police and formally charged.

She is facing charges of tampering with witnesses and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the release.

FLORIDA PARENTS ARRESTED AFTER 4-YEAR-OLD TWINS ALLEGEDLY SHOT THEMSELVES

Paige Goulet was taken to the Nashua Police Department and charged with witness tampering and child endangerment after her daughter’s THC gummy ingestion. (Google Maps)

Goulet was released on $300 cash bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Nashua District Court Jan. 7.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Meredith and Nashua police departments for comment.

Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.

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New Hampshire

It’s been 50 years since turkeys were reintroduced to N.H. A survey will check on the population. – The Boston Globe

Published

22 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

It’s been 50 years since turkeys were reintroduced to N.H. A survey will check on the population. – The Boston Globe

In recent years, the survey has helped identify about 910 flocks on average, with about 16,488 birds reported per year.

Those numbers can fluctuate based on winter conditions. The birds are more likely to congregate at backyard feeders during winters with heavy snow and limited food, driving up reported numbers. On the other hand, when birds can easily get the food they need in the wild, reports tend to decrease, according to Daniel Ellingwood, a wildlife biologist and turkey project leader at New Hampshire Fish and Game.

He said the state has been conducting the survey for about 20 years. This year, the survey started in December and will run through March.

Right now, the turkey population in New Hampshire includes about 48,000 birds, Fish and Game estimated.

But just over 50 years ago, there weren’t any turkeys in the state at all. In fact, Ellingwood said, turkeys had been absent from New Hampshire’s landscape for about 125 years — starting in the 1850s and lasting until a successful reintroduction effort began in 1975.

Populations were diminished to the point of disappearing because of human activities like hunting and deforestation.

Then, in 1975, the state launched a successful effort to bring the turkeys back.

“A single flock from southwest New York was captured and translocated to Walpole, New Hampshire in ’75,” Ellingwood said. “That population took hold and began to expand.”

That first flock included about 25 birds. In the following years, other flocks were relocated to New Hampshire, and the turkey population began spreading to other parts of the state.

At this point, the birds have made a remarkable recovery.

“The population is largely stable and healthy,” Ellingwood said.

This story appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, a free newsletter focused on New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles elsewhere. To receive it via email Monday through Friday, sign up here.

Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.

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