Artist Tasha Tudor Dead at 92

Blazes raging in Canadian forest send clouds hundreds of miles

(NEWSER) - Massive clouds of smoke from forest fires raging in Quebec have moved south and east across New England, screening the holiday-weekend sun throughout the region. "I just walked to the beach in Sandwich where you can usually see white cliffs in Plymouth, the Sagamore Bridge and sometimes the Provincetown Monument," a Cape Cod resident told WBZ , the CBS affiliate in Boston. "Can't see any of them today." More»

Nin charmed visitors, staff for 12 years

(NEWSER) - Mount Washington’s mascot of 12 years died last week at 19 or possibly 20, the Boston Globe reports. Nin the cat “brought a little piece of home” to the New Hampshire mountain’s observatory, says its executive director. He wasn’t much bothered by the site’s vicious weather, occupying himself by following researchers and meeting tourists. Nin retired in 2007, moving to a lower altitude. More»

Bible belt has most religious states, New England some of least

(NEWSER) - If you’re looking for religion, head to Mississippi; if you want to avoid it, choose Vermont, a new Gallup survey suggests. Mississippi is ranked as America’s most religious state, with 85% saying religion is “an important part of daily life.” At the other end of the scale is Vermont at 42%, USA Today reports. Other Bible-belt states fill out the top spots, while New England dominates among the nonbelievers. More»

Southern states plagued by high obesity, smoking rates

(NEWSER) - Move over, Mississippi: Louisiana is now America’s unhealthiest state, Reuters reports. An annual state-by-state report that measures factors like smoking, obesity, and health insurance coverage also put Vermont at the top for the second year in a row. The five healthiest states are:

1. Vermont
2. Hawaii
3. New Hampshire
4. Minnesota
5. Utah

They take 7 of 11 governor contests

(NEWSER) - Democrats captured a Republican governor's seat last in Missouri, where state Attorney General Jay Nixon defeated Rep. Kenny Hulshof, AP reports. And in the night's closest races, Democrats Bev Purdue won in North Carolina and Christine Gregoire beat her opponent in Washington. With all 11 races in, Democrats now control 29 statehouses, up one from the start of the night. The Dem tally came close to being higher: Incumbent Republican Mitch Daniels held off a tough challenge from Jill Long Thompson in Indiana. More»