Utah ranks as the best state in the nation — again
The publication said Utah's ranking was due to a 'diverse and resilient economy, smart students, low crime and a fairly healthy population.'
This year's rankings evaluated each of the 50 states on how they serve their residents in a range of categories, including health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and corrections and natural environment, according to U.S. News & World Report.
'Utah's third straight No. 1 ranking is a reflection of the incredible people who make this state what it is,' said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, according to U.S. News & World Report. 'It's not just our economy or our beautiful outdoors — it's the hardworking, service-minded people who continue to make Utah the best place to live, work and raise a family. I'm grateful every day to stand with Utahns as we keep strengthening the state we love.'
Utah was followed by New Hampshire in second place and Idaho in third. The bottom two ranked states were Alaska and Louisiana.
How Utah ranked in each category
The Best States rankings began in 2017 and this year was its seventh edition. It ranks the states by analyzing 71 metrics in eight categories.
U.S. News & World Report also listed the rankings of each state in the individual categories such as education and economy.
While Utah was the top ranked state overall, it placed fourth in education, 14th in health care and third in both infrastructure and economy. Utah has never placed outside of the top five in the economy category.
The state did rank No. 1 in fiscal stability — a category 'that covers metrics like liquidity, credit rating and budget balancing, meaning a state's ratio of total revenues to total expenses,' per U.S. News & World Report.
Utah's two lowest rankings were opportunity, 19th, and natural environment, 48th. The environment category is primarily based on pollution-related problems in each state.
In the last category, crime and corrections, Utah ranked seventh.
Why Utah is ranked the best state in the nation
'Being No. 1 isn't about crossing a finish line — it's about continuing to improve,' said Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton. 'This recognition is a powerful reminder that Utah's greatest strength lies in our commitment to tomorrow.'
U.S. News & World Report shared a few reasons why Utah is the top state in the nation, citing politics, specifically the 'Utah Way,' which is summed up as, 'In a politically divisive era, people actually talk to each other and try to work through issues.'
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek, said that despite Utah being a primarily red state, Utah's state lawmakers across both parties 'tend to work really well together,' per U.S. News and World Report.
Another reason was the religious influence in the state, which is the worldwide headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
'There's just so much that the government can't do, and you need that fabric,' Cox told the publication. 'It's why Utah is different. It's why Utah continues to do well and it's special.'
Collaboration, both politically and overall, was one of the things consistently highlighted in U.S. News and World Report's analysis of the top state.
'Utah being named the best state in America is a reflection of the people who live here,' said House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper. 'Their work ethic, innovation and strong sense of community make this state exceptional. As Speaker, I see every day how Utahns step up — building strong families, successful businesses and resilient communities.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
7 hours ago
- The Hill
Texas state senators take first step toward redistricting
State senators in Texas launched a public hearing Sunday on a bill to redraw congressional voting districts in the state, a move that could win Republicans five more seats in the House if the GOP plan works perfectly. The public hearing is a required step before a bill can advance for a vote on the state Senate floor, Nexstar's KXAN reported. Democrats fled the state earlier this summer to prevent Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Republicans from having the legislative quorum necessary to pass legislation. But Democrats are expected to attend the new special session after garnering attention with their walkout, and triggering more redistricting efforts around the country. 'We did exactly what we said we needed to do, and that is bringing a spotlight on this issue,' State Rep. Josey Garcia (D-San Antonio) said in an interview with KXAN one day before Abbott called the second special session. Most notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is spearheading an effort to change district lines in his state to make up for any potential losses for Democrats in Texas. Democrats released their proposed map on Friday evening. Newsom (D) is vying to hold a special election this fall on a ballot measure that would suspend the state's independent redistricting commission until the end of the decade in an effort to keep up with Republican gerrymandering. Newsom has stressed that bypassing the commission, which Californians approved back in 2008 and 2010, would be temporary, and that redrawing the lines would only be triggered by redistricting in red states. 'They do five seats, we do five seats,' Newsom has said. KXAN reported that Texas House leaders expect that the House will have enough members present Monday to conduct legislative business. GOP State Sen. Phil King told KXAN that the new mapy would be legal and will perform better for Republicans in the state. 'We heard a lot of testimony that the current map had a number of districts that were not compact, were not close together, were not tight, in in their in their design, and in this map, listening to that testimony, we applied it, and this map also is much more compact than the current congressional redistricting map.' The proposed changes target five districts in areas around Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, creating Republican-leaning seats. The Texas push was directed by President Trump, who has also been pushing other states where Republicans are in control of government to look at redistricting to gain Republicans seats. The states considering such options include Missouri and Indiana. Trump was impeached twice in his first term after Democrats regained control of the House. Because the GOP has a very narrow majority in the House and the president's party typically loses seats in the midterm elections, the possibility of Democrats regaining the House majority is a real possibility in 2026.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
GOP relishes forcing Dem votes on extending Trump DC police power
Republicans are licking their chops at the prospect that Senate Democrats will vote to block an extension of President Trump's federalization of the Washington, D.C., police force, relishing a chance to tag their opponents as soft on crime. Democrats have been angry over Trump's move, which aligns with what they see as authoritarian impulses from the president. Democrats also widely back the Home Rule Act, which allows D.C.'s local government a form of self-rule. But voting against an extension will definitely lead to attacks by Trump and other Republicans that Democrats are looking away from the problem of crime in cities — which are generally led by Democratic mayors. 'I am slack-jawed at how Democrats are sprinting into another trap set by Trump. This is so clear and yet they can't help themselves,' said Matt Gorman, a GOP strategist. 'Democrats love to quote studies and charts and academics to tell people they're not feeling what they're feeling and Republicans are contrasting that with action, and action is going to win every time.' Democrats don't appear to be all that worried about walking into a trap by voting against extending Trump's power over the D.C. police. 'No f‑‑‑ing way,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in an interview Wednesday when asked about an extension. 'We'll fight him tooth and nail. … He needs to get Congress to approve it, and not only are we not going to approve it, but there are some Republicans who don't like it either,' Schumer said. Republicans would need at least seven Democrats in the Senate to go along with the vote for the power to be extended. Whether the measure to extend passes or fails, plenty of Republicans are eager for the vote, believing it will backfire on Democrats. But Democrats say there are a number of reasons the vote won't be that hard for their side. 'I don't think it's that hard of an issue — as long as you start by saying, 'Crime is bad and we need to do more to stop crime,'' said Andrew Mamo, a Democratic operative. 'The smart Democrats out there are establishing credibility by starting there and then getting into [how] this is the wrong way to do it,' Mamo said. 'We shouldn't have the National Guard randomly stopping people in the streets. We should be funding our police departments and doing all the investments we know we need to do to keep communities safe.' 'The trap is when you don't start by saying crime is bad, and you try to say, 'Actually, there's no problems here. Actually, people aren't worried,' and you do the same kind of explain-y stuff we failed out on the economy last cycle,' Mamo continued. 'Then you can tie yourself into knots. But it shouldn't be that hard for any Democrat to just say, 'Crime is bad and we need to do more to stop crime.'' Others say most voters just aren't that focused on votes pertaining to local issues in Washington, D.C. 'Most Americans across the country do not feel any connection to the nation's capital — most will never visit, and many don't remember that beyond being the seat of government, more than a half-million citizens call the District home,' said John LaBombard, a Democratic operative at Rokk Solutions and an ex-aide to former Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). 'That dynamic prevents many everyday Americans from getting worked up about a federal takeover of policing in D.C. — but will probably also help shield lawmakers from criticism who vote against extended federal control.' Polling suggests a large swath of D.C. residents — an overwhelmingly Democratic area — believe crime is an extremely or very serious problem. According to a Washington Post-Schar School poll taken in May, 50 percent of respondents viewed crime as an extremely or very serious problem, down from 65 percent who did so two years ago when homicides and violent crimes were at their recent apex. 'Anyone who thinks crime isn't a problem in D.C. is burying their head in the sand and suffers from serious Trump derangement syndrome,' said Jesse Hunt, a GOP operative who previously served as communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 'The major problem that Democrats have is that … the crime, the carjackings, the muggings, the threats of violence, the assaults — while maybe not murder — is still spilling into professional areas. Lets be real, no one wants to pay an arm and a leg to go to Nats Park to watch a game when they're concerned or not themselves and their children are going to be the victims of stray bullets at some metro stop nearby.' Schumer has argued that Trump's push to take over policing in Washington, D.C., is intended to distract from calls to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges. 'This is, again, just a distraction. He's afraid of Epstein,' Schumer continued. 'He's afraid of all that, and we are not going to give up on Epstein.' The issue of crime in D.C. has been a problem for Democrats in the past. Former President Biden two years ago blocked a crime bill the D.C. City Council was attempting to codify, citing concerns that it would scrap some mandatory minimum sentences, among other things. It led to criticisms that Biden was stepping on D.C. home rule. Trump on Wednesday said that he is seeking a 'long-term extension' of the federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also argued that he can extend that time span via a national emergency declaration. 'But we expect to be before Congress very quickly. And again, we think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime, but we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously,' Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center. 'So we're going to need a crime bill. That we're going to be putting in, and it's going to pertain initially to D.C. We're going to use it as a very positive example' 'You can't have 30 days,' he said. 'We're going to do this very quickly, but we're going to want extensions. I don't want to call a national emergency, but if I have to, I will.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
8 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Texas Rep. James Talarico delivers South Side sermon as gerrymandering battle heightens profiles
Two Sundays ago, nearly three dozen Texas Democratic lawmakers touched down in Illinois with a sudden suburban news conference declaring they had fled their state and walked out of their legislature to stop Republicans from passing a new gerrymandered congressional map. Because the remap seeking to flip five seats Republican had been ordered up by President Donald Trump to help ensure the GOP keeps power in the U.S. House for the final two years of his second term, the move by the Texas Democrats made a quick impact nationally. But it's also having a longer-term effect on the issue of gerrymandering, the importance of the 2026 midterms and the political future of politicians who have become key characters in the summer saga. Among them is Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who received almost a familiar welcome as he delivered a rare politician-led sermon to the congregation at the historic Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side, once the home church for Barack Obama. Considered a rising political star even before he joined his fellow Democrats in the quorum-breaking walkout, Talarico spoke to hundreds of congregants in both religious and political terms, something the lawmaker and seminary student doesn't shy from doing. ''On Earth as it is in heaven' is a political statement. Not a partisan statement, but a political statement,' Talarico said Sunday. 'Can we imagine poverty in heaven? Can we imagine bigotry in heaven? Can we imagine war in heaven?' 'Then why do we tolerate these things on Earth?' he said to applause. Though the 36-year-old Talarico's next move in politics remains uncertain, he's been discussed as a possible candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican John Cornyn. Cornyn is facing a GOP primary battle of his own versus Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a race that has also drawn national attention amid the quorum walkout story. Each man has tried to appear tougher than the other in challenging the House Democrats, with Cornyn requesting the FBI get involved to find the lawmakers in Illinois and Paxton filing a petition in Illinois to compel law enforcement to have the lawmakers arrested. Neither effort has worked. Even California Gov. Gavin Newsom has sought to position himself as a foil to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican rival. And in Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker — who, along with Newsom, is considering a Democratic presidential run in 2028 — and other top Democratic leaders have played host and defenders to the Texas Democrats, who have faced threats of violence and detention. Speaking to the Tribune after the service, Talarico readily acknowledged the spotlight and said the quorum break had 'galvanized the country.' 'I think it's great, because so much of our politics and our media is nationalized now, but really, state lawmakers are the ones who have more of an impact on your day-to-day life than people in Washington,' the Austin lawmaker said. 'I love that people are starting to take an interest in what's happening at the state level.' It wasn't the only Texas-Illinois crossover of the weekend as the Texas Democrats on Saturday joined hundreds of people in downtown Chicago to march against Texas' redistricting efforts. But Talarico in particular has captured the attention of the national media, including his verbal jousts while appearing on Joe Rogan's podcast and generating 1.2 million followers each on Instagram and TikTok, both of which have featured clips of him using his knowledge of religion and politics to confront conservative religious standard-bearers. The quorum break has provided a lengthy news cycle for even greater name recognition, though it may be winding down soon. Texas Democrats last week said they intended to go home once the special session they walked out on ended — which it did on Friday — and California Democrats introduced their own map to counterbalance the Texas effort by trying to flip five U.S. House seats Democratic, The Associated Press reported. Pritzker, for his part, hasn't taken the possibility of redistricting Illinois' map off the table, though it's unclear what gains could be made by changing a map that already heavily favors Democrats. The Texas delegation told Pritzker they 'didn't want' the billionaire governor's financial support, as they were receiving sufficient grassroots funding, Talarico said. Pritzker previously told reporters he hadn't funded the lawmakers but that he was open to the possibility. Talarico on Sunday said he and his delegation may wait for the California state legislature to pass its proposed maps before leaving Illinois, which would put their departure around the end of this week. No matter when they leave, he said the delegation is looking to depart all at once. Once they do return, it's likely the GOP majority in the Texas House and Senate will push through a congressional remap, but the Texas Democrats in Illinois have already laid the rhetorical groundwork for declaring victory by pointing to the national attention they've generated about the issue and the proposed moves in California. On Sunday at Trinity, Talarico didn't address the church's history, which has at times intersected with politics. Before he was elected president, Obama worshiped at Trinity, but he eventually left over sermons by its former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright. Obama at the time said that he didn't want his 'church experience to be a political circus,' according to Politico. Having a politician deliver a sermon at Trinity is rare, church leaders said, and came about as Talarico pursues a master's degree in divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 'Every single person is holy. Every single person counts,' Talarico told the congregation. 'This American experiment started with that same self-evident truth that all people are created equal. This American democracy is more than just a constitution; it's a covenant. … Some of the most powerful people in this nation are breaking that promise as we speak, with every gerrymandered district, with every suppressed vote.' Asked after the service about the opportunity to be on the road and meet people in other states, Talarico answered: 'That's the best part.'
