THE STATE OF THE STATES

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- JUNE 6, 2026

Sometimes it's fun to take a tour around the Untied States to see what's going on these days. Luckily, there are always many reports, surveys, and studies dealing with this topic. Some are serious, some are a bit lighthearted, but all are interesting. 

For instance, all of us are tuned into the weather. A prediction about the June weather comes from the Weather Channel. “The latest June outlook features some pretty significant changes. The new outlook features a much warmer-than-average start to summer from the Upper Midwest to the Intermountain West. The Northwest and Northeast are expected to be drier than normal, while rainier weather could keep things cooler across much of the South.” Plus, there's good news for Michigan. “The Great Lakes, which had been forecast to hang onto springtime temperatures, could be warmer to much warmer than average for June.” (https://weather.com/2026/05/29/forecast/national/summers-nearly-here-what-to-expect-in-june)

Another report asks a question. We know that English (77 percent) and Spanish (13.9 percent) are the most common languages spoken in U.S. homes. But what other languages are predominant in the country after English and Spanish? 

“The Chinese languages of Mandarin and Cantonese are the most popular languages in America in thirteen states.  German is the most common in seven states.  Vietnamese is claimed by five states and four states (including Michigan) have large Arabic-speaking populations. In an oddity, two states share Samoan/Hawaiian & Austronesian roots – Hawaii and Arkansas.” See the whole list at: https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/americas-most-spoken-languages-other-than-english-spanish-by-state. 

Everyone wants their state to have a robust economy, so WalletHub.com looked at this. “In order to determine which states are pulling the most weight in moving the U.S. economy forward, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength. Our data set ranges from GDP growth and the unemployment rate to startup activity and the share of jobs in high-tech industries.” The top three were Massachusetts, Washington, and Utah. The bottom three were Louisiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Michigan was at twenty-seven overall, but eleven in innovation potential. See the rankings at: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-economies/21697. 

Another WalletHub study sort of coincides with state economies. “In order to get a feel for how well-off Americans are across the country, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key metrics: the average annual income of the top 5 percent, the average for the bottom 20 percent, and the median for all of each state’s residents.” the top three high income states were Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. The lowest income states were Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia. Michigan was at twenty-four. See the metrics at: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-where-people-have-the-highest-income/136995. 

Given those economic reports, Michigan is seen as a favorable state in which to retire, according to the University of Michigan Healthcare Policy Institute. “More than a third of Michigan’s 10 million people are over 50, and a new poll shows that 82 percent of them see the state as a good to excellent place to live as they grow older.

Most also gave favorable ratings to the quality of health care available in their region for people their age (84%), as well as the aging services and programs available to older people in their area (77%). The only aspect of aging in Michigan that wasn’t viewed favorably by a majority of those polled? The weather. Just over half (52%) called it fair or poor.” See all the findings at: https://ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/news/michigans-great-place-grow-older-say-those-who-are-doing-it. 

Perhaps a lure for seniors (and others) is detailed in a new book by Amy Piper. “You don’t have to watch a Hallmark movie to find charm. 'Small Town Michigan' invites you to explore the authentic warmth, character, and heart of Michigan’s often-overlooked communities. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, a weeklong adventure, or a fresh way to explore your hometown, 'Small Town Michigan' offers an invitation to reconnect with the heart of the Great Lakes State.” Cadillac, Big Rapids. And Manistee are all on the list. (https://followthepiper.com/small-town-michigan/)

If you are a person who likes to find bargains, an event happening from August 6-9 could be a six-state adventure to undertake. “Yard sales are an American tradition — especially along U.S. Route 127. It’s there that you can find the famous 127 Yard Sale,  featuring thousands of vendors on front lawns and in church parking lots in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. All in all, the 'world’s longest yard sale' covers 690 miles, starting near Addison, Michigan, and ending in Gadsen, Alabama.” (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/theres-an-annual-yard-sale-so-large-it-runs-through-six-states/)

At an event like this there may be treasures beyond belief. “Even the Declaration of Independence has found its way to the bargain bin.  A first printing was purchased at a flea market in 1991 because the buyer wanted the picture frame. It later went on to sell at auction for $2,420,000.” 

Finally, FoodRepublic.com has identified five foods that simply taste better in the Midwest. “There is a lot more to this region's cuisine than most outsiders know about. I've experienced first hand what makes this region gastronomically unique and probably one of the most delicious parts of the country to live in and visit.” (https://www.foodrepublic.com/2183483/dishes-that-taste-better-midwest/)

The five stars are variations of cheese curds, juicy burgers, hot dogs/sausages, wild rice, and chili. “All Midwestern states tend to have more in common with each other than they do with other regions of the United States — especially when it comes to food.” 

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.