UMass Lowell senior defenseman Ben Meehan (Walpole) has announced his intent to return for a fifth year with the River Hawk hockey program. “I am thrilled to be returning to Lowell,” said Meehan. “After the conclusion of this past season, I felt there was unfinished business here. I look forward to helping our team return to the winning culture we had my first three seasons at Lowell and be able to leave here next year on a positive note.” Despite suffering an injury that sidelined him for 10 games, Meehan concluded the season ranked second on the team in assists with 11, adding a goal against ..read more

By EDITH M. LEDERER (Associated Press) UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations called Tuesday for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in war-torn Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops. Credible investigators must have access to the sites, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, and added that more journalists need to be able to work safely in Gaza to report on the facts. Earlier Tuesday, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said he was “horrified” by the destruction of the Shifa medical center in Gaza City and Nasser Hosp ..read more

Looking for vacation inspiration? Men’s Journal recently ranked the best vacation destinations in the country, including everything from beach towns to gastronomic treasures and adventure-packed gems. It’s a coast-to-coast, border-to-border array of 50 tempting spots, complete with tips on when to go, where to stay and what to do — and eat — while you’re there. The top spot goes to Ouray, a Colorado mountain town the magazine editors say feels “like you’ve stepped foot in a live-action REI commercial.” But California gets several sensational shout-outs, starting with the coastal town of SLO ..read more

Beth Dooley | (TNS) Star Tribune Tofu is a wonderfully versatile ingredient. It’s great pan-fried, grilled, scrambled and whizzed into spreads and sauces. But I like it best pan roasted until it becomes meltingly golden and crisp. For this, you need a really good tofu, and the fresher the better. Minnesota-made tofu is tastier than the tofu from California. MinnTofu, found in local co-ops, uses non-GMO soybeans grown on a family farm in St. Peter, is processed in Spring Lake Park, and delivered right away. Our local soybeans are lighter in color, have a milder flavor and are plumper than commo ..read more

Josephine Stratman | New York Daily News NEW YORK — New York Courts will be posting the transcripts of Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial. Each day’s transcripts will be posted online and publicly available before the end of the following business day, “to ensure broad and continuous public access to this extraordinarily high-profile case,” according to a release. Trial proceedings are not broadcast and space inside the courtroom for members of the public is extremely limited, making the transcripts the best, most direct way for the public to follow along the first crimina ..read more

A panel of lawmakers tasked with delivering a compromise on a spending bill that includes hundreds of millions for the state-funded shelter system publicly appears no closer to a deal as the Healey administration finds itself with only tens of millions left to pay for services. Two top Beacon Hill budget writers are privately hashing out the differences between legislation that taps surplus revenues leftover from the pandemic to at least pay for shelter costs through the end of this fiscal year. A deal did not surface Monday when the House and Senate held brief informal sessions. Gov. Maura He ..read more

Kevin Hardy | Stateline.org (TNS) South Dakota state Sen. John Wiik likes to think of himself as a lookout of sorts — keeping an eye on new laws, programs and ideas brewing across the states. “I don’t bring a ton of legislation,” said Wiik, a Republican. “The main thing I like to do is try and stay ahead of trends and try and prevent bad things from coming into our state.” This session, that meant sponsoring successful legislation banning cities or counties from creating basic income programs, which provide direct, regular cash payments to low-income residents to help alleviate pover ..read more

John T. Bennett | (TNS) CQ-Roll Call WASHINGTON— The unprecedented 2024 election cycle came into focus last week, with President Joe Biden ordering milkshakes and sandwiches on the campaign trail while Donald Trump was admonished by a criminal court judge during jury selection. Biden worked rope lines in Pennsylvania while Trump observed a lineup of potential jurors being questioned by his legal team and New York state prosecutors. The incumbent visited a steelworkers’ union and two popular Pennsylvania convenience stores. His expected general election foe spent most of the week in a ..read more

Vanessa G. Sánchez | KFF Health News (TNS) For pregnant Latinas, food choices could reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous type of high blood pressure, and a diet based on cultural food preferences, rather than on U.S. government benchmarks, is more likely to help ward off the illness, a new study shows. Researchers at the USC Keck School of Medicine found that a combination of solid fats, refined grains, and cheese was linked to higher rates of preeclampsia among a group of low-income Latinas in Los Angeles. By contrast, women who ate vegetables, fruits, and meals made with he ..read more

Kate Ruder | (TNS) KFF Health News DENVER — Pediatrician Patricia Braun and her team saw roughly 100 children at a community health clinic on a recent Monday. They gave flu shots and treatments for illnesses like ear infections. But Braun also did something most primary care doctors don’t. She peered inside mouths searching for cavities or she brushed fluoride varnish on their teeth. “We’re seeing more oral disease than the general population. There is a bigger need,” Braun said of the patients she treats at Bernard F. Gipson Eastside Family Health Center, which is part of Denver Health, the l ..read more