Current Events in November 2025

• Midland, Michigan, takes the top spot in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Places to Retire rankings
• Expanded analysis covers more than 850 cities, up from 150 last year
• Quality of life and retiree migration trends shape a new top 10 list

Midland, Michigan, has been named the No. 1 place to retire in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Places to Retire rankings, released Tuesday. The small Midwestern city rose to the top for the first time thanks to strong scores in affordability and favorable retiree tax conditions.

Midland, population about 48,000, is the corporate home of Dow Chemical Co. It's also the home of the 110-acre Dow Gardens, which features America's longest treetop canopy walk, and The Tridge, a distinctive three-legged pedestrian bridge.  

The annual rankings — now expanded to evaluate more than 850 U.S. cities, up from 150 last year — are based on how well each location meets retirees’ expectations for quality of life, affordability, health care, retiree taxes, and the job market. For the first time, U.S. News also factored in population and migration data for residents ages 55 and older.

Quality of life drives retirement choices

“Retirees are prioritizing quality of life over affordability for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tim Smart, contributing editor and author of U.S. News’ retirement newsletter, YOLO: Your Smart Guide to Retirement. “Whether seeking a bustling city or a quiet town, retirees are now empowered with a more precise view of the best places to settle down.”

The 2026 rankings were weighted using results from a national survey of Americans aged 45 and older, asking what matters most when choosing where to retire. In response, U.S. News made quality of life the most heavily weighted factor, ahead of affordability.

A new mix of cities in the top 10

The expanded methodology and larger data set produced a completely reshuffled top 10 list that includes several first-time entrants. Weirton, West Virginia, ranked No. 2 for its strong scores in quality of life and affordability, while Homosassa Springs, Florida, came in third, buoyed by growth in its 55-plus population.

Top 10 places to retire in 2026

1. Midland, Michigan

2. Weirton, West Virginia

3. Homosassa Springs, Florida

4. The Woodlands, Texas

5. Spring, Texas

6. Rancho Rio, New Mexico

7. Spring Hill, Florida

8. Altoona, Pennsylvania

9. Palm Coast, Florida

10. Lynchburg, Virginia

How the rankings were built

U.S. News compiled its rankings using data from federal, state and local sources, including the FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis and its own Best Hospitals rankings. The analysis is part of the publication’s real estate coverage, which also offers tools to help consumers navigate housing markets and evaluate local economies.

The full list of 250 cities and details about the methodology are available at realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-retire.

• A five-year study of more than 130,000 adults with chronic insomnia linked long-term melatonin use to a higher risk of heart failure, hospitalization, and death.

• The research found melatonin users were about 90% more likely to develop heart failure and nearly twice as likely to die from any cause as non-users.

• The findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed, but experts say they raise important safety questions about long-term melatonin use.

A new analysis of more than 130,000 adults with insomnia suggests that long-term use of melatonin supplements — often taken to help with sleep — may be associated with a higher risk of heart failure and death.

The research, to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans, reviewed five years of health records and found that people who took melatonin for at least a year were significantly more likely to develop or be hospitalized for heart failure, or die from any cause, compared to those who did not use the supplement.

Researchers found that adults with chronic insomnia who used melatonin long-term had about a 90% higher risk of developing heart failure over five years (4.6% vs. 2.7%). Those with at least two melatonin prescriptions 90 days apart had an 82% higher risk of heart failure than those who never took melatonin.

Hospitalization rates were also notably higher: melatonin users were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure and nearly twice as likely to die from any cause (7.8% vs. 4.3%) during the study period.

‘Not as harmless as commonly assumed’

“Melatonin supplements may not be as harmless as commonly assumed,” said Dr. Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, lead author of the study and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, New York. “If our study is confirmed, this could affect how doctors counsel patients about sleep aids.”

Melatonin, a hormone naturally produced by the body to regulate sleep cycles, has become one of the most popular over-the-counter sleep aids in the U.S. Because it’s sold as a dietary supplement, its strength and purity are not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Melatonin is not indicated for the treatment of chronic insomnia in the U.S., yet many people take it for extended periods without medical supervision,” said Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, chair of the American Heart Association’s scientific statement on sleep health. “These findings suggest caution may be warranted.”

About the study

The study analyzed data from the TriNetX Global Research Network, a large international database of de-identified electronic health records. Researchers examined adults diagnosed with insomnia who had taken melatonin for at least a year and compared them to a matched group of insomnia patients who had never taken the supplement.

Both groups were similar in age, gender, body mass index, and other health conditions. People with prior heart failure or those using other sleep medications were excluded.

While the findings show an association between long-term melatonin use and cardiovascular outcomes, the researchers emphasized that the study cannot prove cause and effect. Other factors, such as depression, anxiety, or the severity of insomnia, could also influence heart health and melatonin use.

• See real deals fast: Open the Walmart app in-store, hit In-Store Savings, and filter by clearance/rollback to spot actual discounts (not just endcap hype).
• Shop in a straight line: Build your list at home and sort by aisle when you arrive so you’re in and out without criss-crossing the store.
• Let AI do the budgeting: Ask Sparky for a party or grocery list “under $___” and tell it to show Rollbacks first—it will swap in cheaper, in-stock items for you.

Walmart rolled out a slate of new app features aimed at making in-store shopping feel as guided as buying online. Some of the more interesting updates include live In-Store Savings, enhanced search with aisle navigation, wish lists that sort by aisle, and helpful AI tools like Sparky.

For shoppers, it means fewer laps around the store looking for what you need and faster access to the “real deals” (including Black Friday).

What’s new inside the store

• In-Store Savings (one-tap local deals): Open the app in your local Walmart and tap the savings view to see Black Friday promos, Rollbacks, and clearance items listed all in one place. You can then filter by category (e.g., TVs) and compare prices on a single screen. This solves the question of wondering what’s actually on sale, not just what Walmart wants you to think is a deal.
• Enhanced search + aisle location: You can now use the app to search like you would online and see real-time stock levels plus the exact aisle so you can walk straight to it. No more hunting for an associate to ask what endcap they’re hiding their clearance items on.
• Wish lists that sort by aisle: You can now build a gift list at home, then when you walk in, the app reorders your list by aisle so your trip follows a clean route around the store. Very handy feature for “one-and-done” holiday runs that will get you in and out quickly.

New AI helpers

• Sparky, the AI assistant (now with party planning): Within the app, tell Sparky something like “Holiday open house for 10 under $100,” and it will generate a curated list of snacks, drinks, and paper goods based on your store’s inventory and deals. It will also summarize product reviews so you spot customer complaints right away.
• AI audio summaries: Walmart has started with the beauty category first to test out this feature. For 1,000+ premium beauty items, the app can read a short audio summary that distills product descriptions and reviews. Look for this to expand to other categories soon.
• AI-powered 3D décor shopping: Walmart’s “Deck the Halls in 3D” turns product photos into 3D scenes you can browse and shop. You can actually “Shop the Background” and add items like artwork and décor items directly to your cart. You can even shop a “Dynamic Showroom” and swap out furniture and different styles to find the exact look you want.

How to actually use the app in real life (2-minute setup)

Update the Walmart app and allow location so it detects your store when you walk in. Then when you enter the store, the app will automatically load your In-Store Savings.

Build a wish list at home before you shop then when you get to the store, just open your list and tap Sort by aisle to turn your trip into a “smart route” so you’re not criss-crossing the store unnecessarily.

Sparky can definitely help you save money. Get used to the feature by asking Sparky for a budget plan like, “Game-day snacks for 8 under $40, please show Rollbacks and clearance items first,” or “Holiday party for 12 under $100.”

I’ve found that by filtering your app searches by “clearance/rollback” first, then by unit price, it’s the best way to cut through the holiday noise and spot the real deals before you get tempted by the full-price stuff.

Use the app to plan a holiday party on a budget. Try giving Sparky a hard cap number like “under $60” and permission to swap out-of-stocks. By doing so, I’ve found that it will backfill with similar items that are often cheaper.