State of the States UTAH


BEEHIVE STATE STILL TOPS Utah was named best state in the U.S. for the third straight year by U.S. News because of its diverse and resilient economy, smart students, low crime, and healthy population. Twenty-five years ago,


“Utah was probably known for three things: Footloose, green Jell-O, and a very youthful workforce,” says Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Provo-based Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. “In the last 20 years, we


have moved to being an entrepreneurial, startup state” with tech, tourism, healthcare, and energy as the major employers. New Hampshire captured


the No. 2 spot for a second consecutive year, and Idaho rose to No. 3 from No. 5 in 2025, switching places with Nebraska. Minnesota maintained its spot at No. 4.


The 10 Lowest-Ranked States Were:


50 Louisiana 49 Alaska 48 Mississippi 47 New Mexico 46 West Virginia 45 Alabama 44 Arkansas 43 Michigan 42 Oklahoma 41 Pennsylvania


NEW YORK


MAMDANI’S $70 MILLION GIVEAWAY New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he will forge ahead with a $70 million campaign pledge to open five subsidized grocery stores, one in each borough, to


26 NEWSMAX | MAY 2026


combat high food prices and food insecurity. The city would pay


subsidies to private operators of the stores, who would be exempt from property taxes and rent, and would sell food at wholesale prices or below. But critics warn that by


lowering prices below the market rate, stores won’t be able to meet surging demand and shortages will become inevitable. That happened last year at Kansas City’s Sun Fresh Market, which closed after burning through $18 million of taxpayer money. New York City already faces


a $5.4 billion budget shortfall, and Mamdani, a democratic socialist, wants a 9.5% hike in property taxes to close the gap.


ALASKA


BEAR BAITING RULES EASED The Trump administration is opening national preserves in Alaska to bear baiting by sport hunters. Baiting is the practice of setting up stations with food to attract bears so they can be targeted for hunting. The Department of the


Interior announced that it will overturn restrictions imposed by the Biden administration and, prior to that, wider restrictions imposed by the Obama administration. Interior Secretary Doug


Burgum said the rule will restore the state’s authority to manage sport hunting


and trapping in Alaska’s national preserves.


INDIANA


NO PAY HIKES THIS YEAR For the second year in a row, state employees will receive no pay raises. The contingency fund that usually covers salary adjustments was reduced by 90% in the current state budget. For 2025, former Gov. Eric


Holcomb gave a one-time bonus to all state employees, but no pay raises. That cost them $20 million. Since Gov. Mike Braun


took over in January last year, he also ordered almost all employees back into state ofices, voiding thousands of hybrid remote work agreements.


WYOMING


GOLD STASH IN OLD NEWSPAPER BUILDING A low-slung building that used to house the Casper Star-Tribune newspaper is now home to $11.6 million in gold bars. Wyoming bought the gold


in December after passing a law requiring the state’s investment portfolio to add precious metals as a hedge against economic turmoil. Among the worries are


rising federal debt, inflation, a weak U.S. dollar, and the threat of a sovereign debt


crisis, according to Bob Ide, a Republican state senator and lead sponsor of the Wyoming Gold Act. The 2,312 troy ounces of gold, equal to about 72 smartphone- sized bars, is stored in a vault run by The Wyoming Reserve, a private company. The vault is structured like “an onion layer,” moored to bedrock and closely guarded, according to The Wyoming Reserve CEO Josh Phair.


IDE RHODE ISLAND


BINGO BAILOUT FOR STATE COFFERS Legislators are considering an expansion of bingo games to offset a predicted revenue loss when smoking is banned next year at the state’s two casinos. Currently, Rhode Island


limits bingo to senior centers and charitable organizations. Players must be 55 or older, and the total daily prizes are limited to $400.


A bill sponsored by state


Sen. John Burke would make it legal to operate bingo games at casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton. That would allow Rhode Island to compete with the high- stakes bingo games offered at Foxwoods in neighboring Connecticut, where jackpots range between $500 and $1,000. Lawmakers were told during


a debate last year that the smoking ban could lead to the potential loss of $30 million to $60 million a year for the state.


Bait stations use food to attract bears. This one has a combination of bread and dog food with sweet syrup poured over the top.


BAIT STATION/NPS.GOV / IDE/GAGE SKIDMORE


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