West
Cities hit hardest by crime, poverty rank among America’s least relaxed, study finds
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
With many Americans leaving high-cost, high-crime cities behind, a new study found that daily life in some U.S. communities is significantly more “relaxed.”
A new ranking by LawnStarter shows that many pockets of calm exist far from urban centers, which are ripe with stress and instability.
The study analyzed 500 cities on 42 metrics related to well-being, including sleep quality, mental health, commute times, access to nature, financial stability and recreation.
Wealthy suburbs and tech hubs with high incomes and reliable local amenities help shield residents from some of the stresses many other parts of the country deal with, the lawn care service’s report found.
NATION’S ‘MOST STRESSFUL’ AIRPORT CALLED OUT IN STUDY FOR POOR CHECK-IN TIMES, DEPARTURE DELAYS
San Jose took the top spot among large cities, mainly for its mental and physical well-being scores. San Francisco and Seattle, which have ample outdoor access and high salaries, followed closely behind. Suburban havens in midsize cities also topped the list, including Sunnyvale, California; Naperville, Illinois; and Carmel, Indiana.
San Jose, Calif., topped a new ranking of America’s most “relaxed” cities. (iStock)
Smaller cities such as Newton, Massachusetts; Mountain View, California; and Woodbury, Minnesota, also ranked highly with strong scores in mental health, finances and social support.
LawnStarter noted that 26 of the top 30 cities have median household incomes of $106,000 or more, well above the national median of about $84,000.
NEW NATIONAL PARK PASSES PUT ‘AMERICAN FAMILIES FIRST’ WHILE TRIPLING ENTRY FEES FOR SOME
At the bottom of the rankings were cities such as Flint, Michigan; Dayton, Ohio; and Detroit. They had high smoking rates, elevated blood pressure, inadequate sleep and long-term economic strain drag down quality of life, according to the findings. Other cities faring poorly, such as Memphis and Cleveland, battle high crime, traffic fatalities and persistent poverty.
Relaxed cities stood out for sleep quality, outdoor access and safer streets. (iStock)
While California cities dominated the top tier thanks to high incomes and positive wellness factors, parts of the Pacific Northwest, like Spokane, Washington, and Eugene, Oregon, landed on the opposite end with some of the nation’s highest depression rates, a trend often linked to long, dark winters and seasonal affective disorder.
Many large urban centers face intense pressure from record-high housing costs, deteriorating infrastructure and illegal immigration surges that strain public services, according to multiple reports. As a result, many Americans have already fled high-cost cities in search of safer neighborhoods, more space and a lower cost of living.
Many Americans are increasingly leaving high-cost metro areas in search of safer neighborhoods, more space and a lower cost of living, according to Business Insider.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
The New York Post reported that both New York City and Los Angeles have seen major worker losses as residents flee to cheaper, lower-stress cities in the South.
Some cities battle stress, crime and economic strain as others thrive, the study found. (iStock)
Residents are especially fleeing California, South Florida, Long Island and New Jersey “in droves” for the South, according to a July report from personal finance magazine Kiplinger. Those moves are primarily driven by surging housing costs, overcrowding and a sharply higher cost of living. Nearly two-thirds of movers went to lower-cost Southern and Sun Belt cities, the outlet reported, places that often overlap with the nation’s most relaxed and least stressed communities.
“Public policies that provide income security, safe housing, good nutrition, health insurance and family-friendly workplaces would go a very long way in reducing stress nationwide,” Boston University sociology professor Deborah Carr said in the LawnStarter report. “However, that is a big wish list that is difficult to achieve.”
Read the full article from Here
BIGFORK, Mont. — A man died Sunday morning in an accident at the Echo Lake Café parking lot in Bigfork.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol, the incident occurred just after 7:30 a.m. when the man noticed his 2007 Dodge truck and 32-foot trailer rolling across the lot.
Video evidence shows the vehicle came to a stop after hitting a utility pole and stop sign.
The man exited the café and attempted to back the vehicle away from the poles.
After leaving the truck unoccupied to walk around to the passenger side, the vehicle began to roll forward again.
As the man tried to re-enter on the driver’s side, he was pinned between the door and the vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries.
Money matters in politics, and Gov. Joe Lombardo has a lot of it.
Last week, Lombardo’s campaign announced that he raised about $4.5 million last year. That gives him more than $9 million in the bank. Combined with money in his PACs, his re-election campaign has more than $15 million.
Attorney General and Democrat gubernatorial front-runner Aaron Ford raised less than $2.3 million last year. His expenses topped $1.1 million. It looks like he replaced lobbyist-funded travel with donor-funded travel. His campaign spent lavishly on steakhouses, airfare and hotel stays.
Ford has less than $1.6 million in the bank. Combined with PAC money, he has a bit more than $2 million.
Now, talking about money may seem crass. In an ideal world, politics would be a contest of ideas. Candidates would share their governing philosophies and debate policy proposals. Voters would carefully weigh every candidate’s ideas and character.
But that’s not the world in which we live. Yes, there are people who care deeply about those things — and many of you read this column. But the voters who decide elections aren’t obsessively studying the issues. They’re busy. That’s why candidates speak in soundbites and negative campaigning is so effective.
Looking at money is important for two reasons. One, money spent well translates into votes. This is why both the Democrat National Committee and Turning Point Action are dumping resources into Nevada. Money allows you to identify and turn out your voters.
Money pays for political ads, which can drive up your opponent’s disapproval ratings and boost your approval numbers. No one likes to admit that negative ads work, but they do.
Remember all of the commercials from Democrats over the past two cycles claiming Republicans would ban abortion? Republicans have the presidency and majorities in the House and Senate. The murder of preborn children in Nevada remains legal. But the onslaught of ads helped several Nevada Democrats win re-election.
Ford is a gold mine of opposition research, too. Ford’s vacation tab tops $140,000. Spending time out of Nevada on special interest-funded junkets won’t win over swing voters. Then there’s the fact that Ford hired his old law firm to lead Nevada’s opioid litigation. It’s likely his old firm raked in around $200 million from those efforts.
Two, not raising enough money can lead to a doom spiral. Wealthy donors don’t like throwing their money away, even if doing so helps Ford rack up Marriott points. Without money, a campaign can flounder, which dries up future money — and so on.
Ford’s biggest advantage is that Democrat voters will probably be fired up to vote to express their opposition to President Donald Trump. The economy is also a major variable. If it’s doing poorly, voters will likely assign some of the blame to Lombardo.
Gasoline prices remain a major wildcard. Trump’s energy policies have lowered prices, but California’s refinery closures look likely to send Nevada gas prices skyrocketing.
Bottom line: Lombardo is a favorite, but there’s a lot of time left.
Contact Victor Joecks at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow
@victorjoecks on X.
A cold front is moving into eastern New Mexico Tuesday night, bringing gusty north winds up to 30 mph in the northeast.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A cold front is moving into eastern New Mexico Tuesday night, bringing gusty north winds up to 30 mph in the northeast.
Overnight, temperatures will drop, especially in eastern areas, with colder air settling into valleys while higher terrain remains milder.
On Wednesday, eastern New Mexico will see a slight cool down, but temperatures will stay near normal for late January. High clouds will increase as moisture moves in from the southwest.
Wednesday night will be cold again, though slightly warmer due to thicker cloud cover. By Thursday, winds will shift to the west and southwest, causing temperatures to rise again.
Major weather changes are expected from Friday through the weekend. A stronger cold front will arrive Thursday night into Friday morning, bringing deep moisture to the region.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
MORE:
Indiana gives hope and joy, but which programs should actually feel bad about this?
Iowa bill looks to ‘sever’ state’s remaining ties to greyhound racing
Winter storm likely late this week for Kansas
Kentucky lawmakers to consider state Supreme Court justice’s impeachment
How much red snapper did Louisiana anglers catch in 2025? The numbers are in.
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Video: Air Force One Turns Around With Trump Aboard
Gov Whitmer says America ‘ready for a woman president,’ contrasting Michelle Obama
Israel’s Netanyahu to join ‘board of peace’
Wall Street-backed landlords a target for both Trump and Democrats
Ilhan Omar accuses Noem of ‘lies and propaganda’ on Minnesota arrests
-
Sports3 days agoMiami’s Carson Beck turns heads with stunning admission about attending classes as college athlete
-
Detroit, MI6 days agoSchool Closings: List of closures across metro Detroit
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Violence at a Minneapolis School Hours After ICE Shooting
-
Lifestyle6 days agoJulio Iglesias accused of sexual assault as Spanish prosecutors study the allegations
-
Oklahoma1 week agoMissing 12-year-old Oklahoma boy found safe
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Myths and Stories That Inspired Recent Books
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Lego Unveils New Smart Brick
-
Politics1 week agoSan Antonio ends its abortion travel fund after new state law, legal action