According to a new study, Hawaii is the happiest state in the U.S. in 2020.

In a year dominated by COVID-19 and other challenges such as major wildfires, it is probably difficult for anyone to be happy or have happy thoughts. Nevertheless, WalletHub has conducted a study that reveals Hawaii as the happiest state in America in 2020. WalletHub has been doing this study since 2014.
"Happiness is a feeling of joy, contentment, and overall positive emotions," Dr. Chieh-Chen Bowen of Cleveland State University’s psychology department said in a WalletHub statement. "Happiness is a universal goal. We all want to be happy and want such feelings to last."
As Rachel Chang reports in the source article, to try to best measure happiness, WalletHub used three dimensions on a 100-point scale, weighting "emotional and physical well-being" with 50 points and "work environment" and "community and environment" with 25 points each.
The study also revealed top rankings in subcategories, with Minnesota coming out on top for the highest adequate sleep, New Jersey with the lowest share of adult depression, North Dakota with the lowest long-term unemployment rate, Utah with the highest volunteer rate, and Maine as the safest. The bottom of the list starts with Missouri in 40th place, followed by Oregon, Alaska, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and West Virginia, which landed in the last spot.
FULL STORY: Hawaii Is the Happiest State of 2020, According to New Study

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie