New Jersey
WalletHub names America’s happiest cities. See where New Jersey ranks
Are you happy?
Financial website WalletHub decided to dig into the topic of happiness, finding the happiest cities across the United States.
“For decades, researchers have explored the science of happiness and identified several core factors, including mental well-being, physical health, strong social ties, job satisfaction, and financial stability,” the website says.
How did WalletHub determine happiness?
The website says it analyzed more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities, evaluating them across “29 key indicators of happiness,” which included depression rates, income growth and average daily leisure time. Its three key dimensions were Emotional & Physical Well-Being, Income & Employment and Community & Environment.
It found the happiest city in America is Fremont, California. That was followed by Bismarck, North Dakota; Scottsdale, Arizona; South Burlington, Vermont and Fargo, North Dakota rounding out the top 5.
Happiest city in New Jersey
According to the WalletHub study, the happiest city in New Jersey is Jersey City. The city came in No. 31 in the nation.
According to WalletHub, New Jersey had the lowest depression rate among the cities studied.
The other New Jersey city ranked in the study was Newark, which came in at No. 147.
Happiest city in America
Just what makes Fremont, California, so happy?
According to WalletHub, it has the highest share of households with an income above $75,000, at nearly 80 percent, the highest rate of life satisfaction, the seventh-lowest depression rate and the fifth-highest average life expectancy in the country, as well as the lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, 9.3 percent, the lowest share of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days per month and ranks fifth among the most caring cities in America, WalletHub says.
New Jersey
Newark man arrested in fatal New Jersey Chick-Fil-A shooting
A Newark man has been arrested and charged with murder after police said he opened fire in a New Jersey Chick-fil-A, killing a man and leaving six other people hurt.
Jaheed Fields was busted nearly three weeks after the shooting in the Union Township fast food shop, county prosecutor William Daniel announced Friday.
Fields, 20, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder, as well as unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
“The brazen nature of this incident, occurring in a crowded restaurant where people should feel safe, was an affront to our citizens and the security they deserve,” Daniel said.
“This arrest is a testament to the meticulous work and seamless coordination between all of the law enforcement agencies involved, and a reminder that Union County will never tolerate acts of lawlessness that threaten our residents.”
Officials did not reveal a motive for the shooting.
Fields allegedly fired several rounds inside the Chick-fil-A around 9 p.m. on April 11, with witnesses describing the scene as a “warzone.”
Malek Shepherd, 23, of New York City, was killed at the scene, police said.
Six other victims were taken to area hospitals and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses at the time said a group of masked men charged into the shop and fired multiple shots after forcing their way behind the counter.
It’s unclear if additional arrests were expected.
New Jersey
20-year-old charged with deadly shooting at Union, New Jersey Chick-fil-A
UNION, New Jersey (WABC) — A 20-year-old man is charged with the deadly mass shooting that caused chaos at a Chick-fil-A in New Jersey.
Jaheed Fields of Newark is facing several charges including murder and attempted murder.
On April 11, Fields opened fire inside the Chick-fil-A on Route 22 in Union. A 23-year-old man was killed and six others were hurt. Customers inside the restaurant went scrambling for the exits.
So far, no motive for the shooting has been revealed.
Witnesses say they heard at least seven shots piercing into the crowd.
Longtime customers said they were shaken by the violence.
“That’s what’s terrifying, being a father or a parent, you have to always be vigilant and keep your head on a swivel and make sure that you’re paying attention to your surroundings and try to avoid getting yourself into a situation and unfortunately coming to a Chick-fil-A at dinner time is apparently a situation you may have to avoid now a days,” customer Christopher Devido said.
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New Jersey
May Day protests in Newark, Jersey City bring out support for causes
NJ workers’ rights activists march and rally in Newark on May Day
Workers’ rights activists march and rally in Newark for May Day on May 1, 2026.
Protests marched through two of the largest cities in New Jersey on May Day.
On a cool, sunny Friday morning, activists gathered at the Abraham Lincoln statue on Springfield Avenue in Newark for a rally, followed by a march to Broad Street.
Later that afternoon, protesters met in front of City Hall in Jersey City and continued their protest by walking down to the Hudson River waterfront before making their way back to City Hall.
The protests are among many on May 1 taking place across New Jersey and nationwide as part of an effort known as May Day Strong to call attention to such issues as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, taxing the wealthy, affordability, and corporate power, while also calling on the public to do “no work, no school, no shopping” if not protesting.
Montclair resident Karen Szczepanski was one of the participants and part of a small group of protesters taking part in a 50-mile, several-day march starting from the Lincoln Statue in Newark and ending in Trenton on May 7. That march is to call on state legislators to pass a bill to make fossil fuel companies pay billions for pollution.
“Part of the May Day celebrations today is to highlight the destruction that the Trump Administration is doing to the environment,” Szczepanski said. “This affects all of our communities. Not just Newark, not Jersey City, it affects all of our communities.”
Longtime Newark activist Larry Hamm led attendees in a chant of “Happy May Day” as he addressed them about how the federal minimum wage in the country have been stagnant for years before embarking on a march in Downtown Newark.
”CEO pay has increased, bosses pay has increased, management pay has increased. It’s time for the workers pay to increase,” Hamm said.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration, and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter/X: @ricardokaul
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