9 Best Places to Spoil Yourself

To have a real celestial experience, get away from urban hotspots

(NEWSER) - There's no better season than summer for sleeping outdoors under the stars. Get your fill of the Big Dipper at USA Today's ideal star-gazing spots:

1. Assateague Island National Seashore, Md./Va.
2. Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah
3. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

(NEWSER) - The South is gaining population and power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday. If House seats were distributed based on the estimates, which are believed to be a strong predictor of the 2010 census results, Texas would be the big winner, gaining three seats, with Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington each adding one. More»

Less waiting perhaps, too, at these top-flight pushers of relaxation

(NEWSER) - From ancient minerals and monasteries to herb-infused wraps and waterfalls, sit back, relax, and enjoy Vanity Fair’s list of the world’s poshest spas:

• Amangani, Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Jet-setters can get a taste of the Old American West, where “wildlife runs wild.”
• The Spa at Gleneagles, Scotland: Inspired by Coco Chanel, this aesthetically pleasing getaway even offers a Golfer’s Tonic Massage.
• Miraval Tucson, Arizona: Only at a spa can an eco-friendly desert oasis include a cascading waterfall.

Many resist federal efforts, but judges order them to give up

(NEWSER) - Americans on the southern US border are fuming over a federal fence that threatens to cut their properties in two, the Washington Post reports. The feds have erected about 165 miles of fence in the West and southwest, but some families, protecting land they have held for generations, are turning back surveyors. "This is the land that gave me my life and my spirit," one landowner said. "I will fight this all the way." More»

New immigration laws cited for fewer youngsters

(NEWSER) - Student enrollment is down at schools across Arizona, California and Texas—especially at those with high Hispanic populations. Why? Some cite the sudden dearth of construction jobs as the housing boom has petered out. But anecdotal evidence points to immigration crackdowns, and school districts are feeling the effects: Mesa, AZ, for instance, is looking at $5.6 million less funding this year because of dwindling attendance. More»