The ‘Greenest’ City in America, According to New Study

Environmentalism is a key issue for many voters, both on a national and local level. As a result, green initiatives have become a focal point for governments around the country.

Not all cities are created equal when it comes to being “green.” A new study from WalletHub has attempted to categorize the “greenest” cities in America, analyzing more than 100 municipalities across 28 “green” criteria, including energy policies, local green initiatives, greenhouse gas emissions and more.

“There are plenty of things that individuals can do to adopt a green lifestyle, from recycling to sharing rides to installing solar panels on their homes,” said WalletHub’s Chip Lupo. “However, living in one of the greenest cities can make it even easier to care for the environment, due to sustainable laws and policies, access to locally-grown produce and infrastructure that allows residents to use vehicles less often. The greenest cities also are better for your health due to superior air and water quality.”

When it comes to “green” living, the west coast is best, with eight of the top 10 “greenest” cities coming from the left side of the country.

The 10 ‘Greenest’ Cities in the United States

  1. San Jose, California
  2. Washington, D.C.
  3. Oakland, California
  4. Irvine, California
  5. San Francisco, California
  6. Honolulu, Hawaii
  7. San Diego, California
  8. Minneapolis, Minnesota
  9. Portland, Oregon
  10. Seattle, Washington

San Jose reigns supreme

San Jose, with a population of just under one million, earns WalletHub’s top marks, thanks in large part to 47% of the city’s electricity coming from renewable resources, the fifth-highest percentage in the country.

“One big positive impact of San Jose’s green practices is that it has the fourth-lowest Urban Heat Island Effect Index in the country,” WalletHub continued. “What that means is there’s only a relatively small amount of difference between the average temperature in the city and its less-developed immediate surroundings. In other words, the use of green energy in San Jose helps keep it from being an excessively hot city environment.”

San Jose also bans plastic bags and has a city bike-sharing program, among other regulations designed to protect the environment.

You can read the full findings from WalletHub right here.

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Author: Matt Hladik

Hundreds of celebrities relaunch a McCarthy-era committee to defend free speech

Clockwise from top left: Jane Fonda, John Legend, Ben Stiller, Whoopi Goldberg, Billie Eilish, and Spike Lee. Led by Fonda, hundreds of celebrities have signed on to a letter in defense of free speech and free expression, re-launching a McCarthy-era committee.

The Committee for the First Amendment first launched in the 1940s, when the House Un-American Activities Committee accused Hollywood actors, directors and writers of being communists or sympathizers.

(Image credit: Neilson Barnard; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy; David Livingston; Dia Dipasupil; Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld; Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)

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Author: Anastasia Tsioulcas

Keith Urban Reportedly Unsupportive of Nicole Kidman’s Career as ‘Lioness’ Gets Season 3 Renewal

The spotlight has been shining brightly on Nicole Kidman as her career has taken a major peak in recent years. Headlines are now focused on the recent news of Kidman and Keith Urban’s split after nearly 20 years of marriage. While things are heating up into what caused the reported divorce, an inside source claims Urban wasn’t as supportive of her career as Kidman’s Lioness gets renewed for a third season.

‘Lioness’ Gets New Season Renewal

Paramount+ announced Taylor Sheridan’s espionage thriller, Lioness, returns with a Season 3 renewal. The long-awaited renewal comes after Season 2’s grand finale 10 months ago, with reports on its delay stemming from contracts between Zoe Saldaña and Kidman.

Saldaña was already contracted for three seasons of the series, while Kidman had to create a new contract going into the new season, according to Deadline. For now, details on the plot for the new season are being kept under wraps.

Back in August, it was revealed that a new production campus in Fort Worth, Texas, was under development with Sheridan’s project, like Lioness, slated to start filming in October.

Lioness Season 2 saw both Kidman and Saldaña’s characters fighting against an encroaching threat and enlisting the help of a new lioness. With pressure mounting on all sides, Joe (Saldaña) is forced to look back at the sacrifices she’s made and her role as the leader of the Lioness program.

Inside Source Claims Keith Urban Wasn’t Supportive of Kidman’s Career

As details behind the split between Urban and Kidman are being revealed, an inside source told PEOPLE that one of their issues was their careers. While Urban has his own accolades in the music industry, Kidman has risen to become one of Hollywood’s leading actors with hits like Big Little Lies, Babygirl, Aquaman, and returning with Sandra Bullock in Practical Magic 2.

According to the inside source, when the couple wed in 2006 and their kids were still young, their relationship was all about them. When Kidman returned to acting, she “truly thrived working again. She’s been feeling amazing and very happy about having a career again.”

They further claim that their now teenage daughters are incredibly supportive of their mother’s career, but it has “been the opposite” with Urban.

“Keith was used to her being supportive of his career. He’s not been as supportive as she hoped,” they said.

Kidman announced their divorce on Tuesday, September 30, and claimed it was due to irreconcilable differences. Urban is currently on his High and Alive World Tour, and was recently reported to have changed the lyrics to his song “The Fighter” during a recent performance.

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Author: Gabriela Silva

Are National Parks Closed During the Government Shutdown?

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Much of the Federal Government has officially shut down for the first time in seven years after a budget impasse in Washington allowed funding to lapse. Amongst the feds’ many responsibilities are maintaining and operating our nation’s many National Parks. With 63 National Parks and 433 total units in the National Parks system, it’s an issue that impacts millions of people across the United States.

With a timeline for a budget deal still unclear, here’s what to know about National Parks access and operations during the shutdown.

Most National Parks Are Not Shutting Down

Under a contingency plan from Department of the Interior (DOI), open-air sites will remain open and accessible to the public. That includes things like roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, lookouts, and open-air memorials, according to the DOI’s plan.

Buildings that require staffing to operate, however, are set to close during the shutdown. That includes visitors centers or historic buildings such as the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

Staff Will Be Furloughed and Services Will Be Limited

Around 64% of National Parks staff are set to be furloughed, meaning services at the sites are likely to be far more limited than usual. Staff will continue to maintain health and safety features like restroom access and garbage collection, as well as activities like “law enforcement or emergency response, border and coastal protection and surveillance, and fire suppression and monitoring.”

Services like social media, trail updates, and guided tours will be suspended.

Some Sites Could Close if Safety Issues Arise

The DOI’s plan specifies that public access will be suspended if it begins to pose health, safety, or resource protection issues. During a previous government shutdown during President Trump’s first term, NBC News notes, Joshua Tree National Park was forced to close after unsupervised visitors caused damage to the park and its facilities.

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Author: Chris Mench

This Popular Folding Camp Table Is on Sale for $60 at Walmart, and It Even Has Built-in Storage

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Why We Love This Deal

Sometimes, the most challenging aspect of camping is not pitching a tent—it’s making food. Without a solid camp table or level surface, cooking can become a lot harder. And that’s where this popular portable camping table comes into play: It’s a bestseller at Walmart, and it just went on sale.

The Vecukty Portable Folding Camping Table is on sale for only $60 at Walmart right now, a rolled-back 42% discount off its regular price of $104. This must-have foldable camp table even includes storage, so when your campsite is nowhere near a table, or when RVing takes you off the beaten path, it offers instant convenience.

Vecukty Portable Folding Camping Table, $60 (was $104) at Walmart

GET IT

What Shoppers Should Know

  • Max Weight: 66 pounds
  • Table Weight: 17 pounds
  • Materials: Aluminum alloy, MDF engineered wood, Oxford cloth
  • Dimensions: 48-by-19-by-28 inches (4 inches thick)
  • Height Adjustments: 22 to 28 inches
  • Foldable: Yes

While this table’s versatility is great for camping, tailgating, or backyard barbecues, its real value lies in its under-the-hood storage system. This unit features two enclosed fabric compartments that allow you to store camping gear, cookware, utensils, food, and more. Its side-mounting trash bag holder is also convenient for keeping garbage off the ground and away from pests. 

It’s super easy to use: Simply unfold the table, adjust the legs to your desired height, lock it in place, and attach the storage compartment underneath. With a max height of 28 inches, it makes cooking a better experience, and one that doesn’t involve awkwardly hunching.

Although it weighs only 17 pounds, with its sturdy aluminum alloy frame and weatherproof MDF top, it’s solid and can hold up to 66 pounds of weight. When you’re ready to pack up and head out, it quickly collapses down for easy vehicle storage.

Related: This Popular Coleman Tent That Blocks 90% of Sunlight Is on Sale for Under $90 Right Now

What Campers Are Saying

Simply put, this table makes camping easy, as numerous reviewers have stated. One user loved how easy it is to set up and take down, noting that this “sturdy” table is perfect for camping. 

With its surprisingly spacious underneath storage, the fabric compartments can even handle more weight than expected. One user said that the Oxford cloth storage compartment “holds a lot of weight, including my cast iron Dutch oven.” They added that it has “more than enough room” to hold coolers while still having space to cook on.

A heavy-duty camping table this affordable is a definite steal. When it’s been on sale in the past, we’ve seen it sell out very quickly, so don’t wait if you need to add one to your kit.

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Author: Jeff Turbett