Mississippi Most Religious State, Vermont the Least

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

...Mississippi. South tops the list, while New England is at the bottom

(NEWSER) - Don't tell Hester Prynne, but it's the Deep South that is the most religious region in the country, while New England is the most godless, according to a new Gallup Poll . The poll asked respondents whether religion was an important part of their daily life, and whether they regularly attended services. Those who answered in the affirmative to both were deemed "very religious." Some 59% of Mississippi residents fit that criteria, while only 23% of Vermont and New Hampshire residents do. But let's be serious, you clicked this to see the lists. So without further ado: The 5 most religious states

1. Mississippi—59%
2. Utah—57%
3. Alabama—56%
4. Louisiana—54%
5. Arkansas—54%

Only 12% said he was Christian in Public Policy Polling survey

(NEWSER) - Despite years of assertions to the contrary, a chunk of voters continue to believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Mediaite noticed this nugget in this morning's Public Policy Polling survey from Alabama and Mississippi: Asked what religion the president is, a whopping 45% of GOP voters in Alabama, and 52% in Mississippi said "Muslim." Only 14% in Alabama and 12% in Mississippi said "Christian," with the rest unsure. More»

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»

(NEWSER) - The Trust for America's Health has come out with its fourth annual report on obesity. And the losers are:

1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Alabama