Tim Phillips Show,9/1/26
6:10
We all want to be happy and where you live can have a big impact on that. Some people thrive with 300 days of sunshine a year and would be miserable in the rainy Northwest, while others want to be somewhere with plenty of cultural events and nightlife, so quiet country living isn’t for them. While the things that make us happy aren’t the same for everyone, a new study ranks the happiest states in the country.
The research from Manhattan Mental Health Counseling looks at factors including work-life balance, economic stability, health, environment, and safety as predictors of overall happiness and well-being.
States were rated on 20 metrics, including their physical activity rate, violent crime rates, depression rates and income-to-cost-of-living ratio.
After comparing all of that, Utah tops the list as the happiest state in the U.S.
It stands out for affordability and community connection, with high scores for its income-to-cost ratio and high volunteer rate.
Nebraska lands at number two, thanks in part to a low unemployment rate and high scores for mental health.
At the bottom of the list is Louisiana, making it the least happy state overall. It ranks near the bottom for leisure time, poverty, sleep, physical activity and violent crime, and residents there work the longest average hours in the country.
West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky complete the bottom five.
The Top 10 Happiest States in the U.S.
Utah
Nebraska
Vermont
Minnesota
Idaho
North Dakota
South Dakota
Iowa
Wyoming
Colorado⠀
Source: NY Post - Montana is #13
6:30
Two For Tuesday - REPEAT IT - ED SHEERAN & MARTIN GARRIX, INSTRUMENTAL
7:15
Top 10 Most-Searched Slang Terms ... According to a new survey by Word Unscrambler
- “6-7” — A mostly meaningless sequence tied to Gen Alpha humor that generated more than 1.6 million Google searches from January through August 2026.
- “Chud” — A loser, with roots in the 1984 movie “C.H.U.D.”
- “Rizz” — Short for charisma, meaning charm, smoothness, style or attractiveness.
- “Gooning” — In its PG usage, becoming completely absorbed in an activity.
- “Cap” — A lie or major exaggeration, while “no cap” signals honesty.
- “Mog” — To outshine or outperform someone.
- “Bop” — A catchy song
- “Larping” — Fantasy role-playing or pretending to be someone else.
- “Aura” — Coolness, style and swagger, with imaginary “aura points” measuring coolness.
- “Sigma” — A self-assured, independent and driven person portrayed as a lone wolf.
7:30
Tim's News You Can't Use
The New York Post says sleeping an extra hour and 27 minutes on weekends lowers the risk of high blood pressure. Korea University scientists analyzed 41,000 adults. Those who slept longer on weekends were 9% less likely to have high blood pressure. Study author Dr. Nawon Lee says, “Getting some extra sleep on the weekend may give the body a chance to recover and reduce some of that stress.” More than four additional hours of weekend sleep was linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, which researchers say may be connected to sleep irregularity and disruption of the body’s internal clock.
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Labor Day travelers are being told to get ready for high costs and heavy traffic. AAA says round-trip airfare will cost about $750 on average, up two percent from last year. Hotel bookings have also gone up, nine percent in the U.S. and 12-percent elsewhere. Labor Day is a week from today, and AAA says the best time to head to your destination will be Thursday morning. The worst days for travel will be Friday, Saturday, and Monday, especially after 2 pm. One tip from AAA: get your car checked out before hitting the road. Over 400-thousand drivers needed roadside assistance last year. Also, keep a spare key handy.
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Get ready for some keg stands, because the new Party School Rankings are out. According to Niche.com's 2027 rankings, Florida State University has claimed the top spot. Tulane comes in second, followed by University of Wisconsin-Madison in third.
Here are the Top 10 Party Schools in the country:
Florida State University
Tulane University
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Dayton
University of Southern California
Penn State
The Ohio State University
University of Georgia
West Virginia University
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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Sporked says Mylanta has released a Pumpkin Spice and a Spiced Apple Cider antiacid. The products are available in stores and online.
NBC says a sardine shortage is occurring. They are sometimes hard to find because of skyrocketing demand and warmer ocean temperatures putting pressure on supplies.
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Lavazza is taking on Keurig-style coffee makers with a new single-serve system that skips plastic pods entirely. Its Tabli machine uses solid tabs made only from compressed coffee, with no capsule, wrapper or coating, and brews them with the push of a button. The $200 machine is designed to create an espresso-style crema, while the coffee tabs cost about 70 cents to $1.15 each. Lavazza says the system is the result of five years of development and is now launching in North America after debuting in Italy.
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Fairphone is bringing its repairable, modular Android phone to U.S. buyers with the new Gen 6+, priced at $650. The phone includes 12 user-replaceable components, including the battery, display, cameras and USB-C port, and can be opened with an included Torx screwdriver. It also comes with a five-year warranty, software support through 2033 and up to two days of battery life. Although Fairphone is a relatively small player, its new U.S. launch gives American shoppers another alternative to pricier flagship phones and a unique user-serviceable option.
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Notebookcheck says a proposed change to traffic laws would make automakers and importers responsible when their fully autonomous vehicles break traffic rules. The new law would apply when a true self-driving system is operating. It would not cover driver-assist systems that still require human supervision, with the person in the car remaining responsible in those cases. The proposal comes as Tesla prepares to launch its Cybercab and expand its Robotaxi platform.
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The New York Times says people have been seen as of late entering and leaving New York's sewer system. Officials do not know why. Three people wearing chest waders climbed from a manhole across from Pennsylvania Station. At least one had a headlamp, and the last person replaced the heavy manhole cover. In a separate incident, two alleged sewer divers were arrested in Brooklyn and charged with criminal trespassing. Possible explanations include urban exploration and searches for old copper wire or other valuables. Veteran urban explorer Steve Duncan says the groups appeared experienced because they carried headlamps, knew how to remove the covers and traveled at night, when wastewater is usually lower. Duncan said the most valuable thing he found during more than 100 sewer trips was an expired credit card.
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WSMV says a Nashville man was recently arrested after he was kicked out of a Walmart and then stole a Krispy Kreme truck parked outside. Officers spotted the truck entering a wooded area and arrested 35-year-old Umar Abdul-Malik. He described himself as a “professor” and said he was “on a quest” and “had to win the contest because everything was free.” When officers asked why the quest involved a Krispy Kreme truck, he said he had to accomplish the objective. Abdul-Malik started singing before he was charged with theft.
