Must Reads

• The Recording Academy plans to “retune” next month’s Grammys to focus on the Los Angeles fires — here’s how​
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• Take a look back at the life and legacy of surrealist director David Lynch, who has died at age 78

Culture

Why Massachusetts Remains the Best US State to Raise a Family

Massachusetts remains No. 1, at least by one metric. For the fifth year running, WalletHub named Massachusetts the best state to raise a family in, citing the Bay State’s “blend of economic opportunities and safe conditions for children.”
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Indeed, Boston, the state’s largest city by population, saw record-low homicide rates in 2024, and the Massachusetts prison population dropped to its lowest level in decades. WalletHub also noted strong job security, low poverty rates, and top-ranked public schools as reasons for the state’s supremacy.
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“When it comes to health and overall wellbeing, Massachusetts has the best water quality in the country, the highest rate of children with health insurance, and the lowest infant mortality rate,” financial writer Adam McCann explained. “It also has the second-highest overall life expectancy and third-lowest property crime rate.”
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Minnesota took second fiddle, followed by North Dakota, Nebraska, and New Hampshire. See which other states made the top of the list.​

Together With hear.com​

Hear Clearly in 2025

What if, this year, you resolved to never say “what?” again? What if every conversation felt effortless, and every word was crystal clear? That means no more straining to hear your friends across the table and no more missing out — and it’s possible with hear.com’s new IX hearing aids.
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These are the world’s first hearing aids with multi-stream processing, so you can follow the conversation wherever it goes, even when there’s ambient noise or multiple people are talking at once. Head to the link below to unlock the clarity you’ve been missing and try them at no-risk today.

Health

Fiber May Help Protect Your Gut From Overgrowth of Harmful Bugs — New Study

This article was written by Alexandre Almeida, a principal investigator at the University of Cambridge, for The Conversation — a nonprofit news organization dedicated to sharing the knowledge of researchers and scientists, under a Creative Commons license.
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​Our body isn’t just human — it’s home to trillions of microorganisms found in or on us. In fact, there are more microbes in our gut than there are stars in the Milky Way. These microbes are essential for human health, but scientists are still figuring out exactly what they do and how they help.
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In a new study, published in Nature Microbiology, my colleagues and I explored how certain gut bacteria can protect us from harmful ones — a group known as Enterobacteriaceae. These bacteria include species such as Escherichia coli (E coli). This is normally harmless in small amounts but can cause infections and other health problems if it grows too much.
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We found that our gut environment — shaped by things like diet — plays a big role in keeping potentially harmful bacteria in check. Read more.​

Environment

“Like a Big Water Tower”: Scientists Find Huge Reservoir in Oregon’s Cascades

A team of scientists with the University of Oregon discovered that an aquifer within the volcanic rocks of the state’s Cascade Mountains is much larger than previously thought. In fact, it’s nearly three times larger than Lake Mead, the human-made Colorado River reservoir that serves 25 million people in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico.
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“It is a continental-size lake stored in the rocks at the top of the mountains, like a big water tower,” researcher Leif Karlstrom, who led a study on the findings, said in a news release. He added that the body of water, combined with others in the area, “likely make the Cascade Range the largest aquifer of its kind in the world.”
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This deeper understanding of the water supply in the Cascades is significant, given that the Western United States has faced frequent, widespread droughts in recent years. But the experts warn that tackling the threats of climate change remains paramount, as the Cascades aquifer relies on snowpack.
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“This region has been handed a geological gift, but we really are only beginning to understand it,” said study co-author Gordon Grant. “If we don’t have any snow, or if we have a run of bad winters where we don’t get any rain, what’s that going to mean? Those are the key questions we’re now having to focus on.”

Global Good

🇲🇽 Firefighters from Mexico stepped up this week to help battle the wildfires in Los Angeles (read more)
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🇱🇺 A trove of gold coins from the Roman Empire was uncovered from ancient ruins in Luxembourg (read more)
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🇮🇪 Wind farms provided a third of Ireland’s power in 2024, a new milestone for the country (read more)
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🇬🇧 Birdwatchers in the U.K. are traveling far and wide to catch a glimpse at a rare booted eagle (read more)
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🇰🇿 Kazakhstan has increased water levels in the North Aral Sea by nearly 50% since 2008 (read more)

Something We Love

Aura Photo Frames​
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​I just ordered an Aura photo frame for my mom’s birthday, on a friend’s recommendation. The Wi-Fi connected device looks as sleek as an expensive frame, and you can easily add a slideshow of different photos and videos using the free app. Pro tip: If you give one as a gift, you can pre-load it with some sentimental pics.
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​— Sean Devlin, Founder and General Manager

Inspiring Story

Compassion and coding come together

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Seeing what was going on downstate, Northern California high schooler Ruben Varghese created an comprehensive website called save-la.org, with links to resources, shelters, supplies, and other essential information for both victims of the wildfires and those looking to help. “I wanted to make it so if you wanted to help or if you needed help, it could all be in one website, a one-stop shop,” the 16-year-old said.

Photo of the Day

In case you missed it, the British Academy Film Award nominees were announced Wednesday in an event hosted by English actors Will Sharpe and Mia McKenna-Bruce. Papal thriller Conclave led the nominations with 12 nods, followed by the musical Emilia Pérez, with 11. See the full list.​

CarGurus Can Get You the Best Deal on Your Dream Car

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Odds & Ends

🐶 It’s Matilda day! Learn about the fundraiser for senior pets
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🚡 Got a hankering to ride an aerial cable car?
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🆓 Freebie alert: Companies that’ll give you food and other products for free*
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🧷 A sustainability move that’s not as gross as it sounds

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*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“Downtime is where we become ourselves, looking into the middle distance, kicking at the curb, lying on the grass or sitting on the stoop and staring at the tedious blue of the summer sky.”

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– ANNA QUINDLEN