U.S. News and World Report sucked me into clicking on a link to their Best States Rankings.  I have no idea when it was released this year.  Man, what a waste of my time.

Anyway, North Carolina was #18 on the list.

The state scores highest (#4) in the “fiscal stability” category, which tracks states’ government credit ratings, liquidity, pension fund liability, and budget balancing.

N.C. was lowest (#36) in both the “opportunity” category which captures measures poverty, housing affordability, equality for women, minorities and people with disabilities and “natural environment” category, which deals with the quality of air and water and exposure to pollution and toxins.