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Local researchers develop non-electric automatic toilet seats designed to make bathrooms more sanitary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

It’s something everyone does. Now, sitting on a toilet could become a much more comfortable experience thanks to a set of non-electric automatic lifting and lowering toilet seats. The team behind the operation includes researchers from Boston University and MIT. Over the course of four years, they have made two products that are completely non-electric. Of the products, one is designed with messy public bathrooms in mind.“It lifts itself out of the way,” said Cleana Co-Founder Kevin Tang. “When you need to use it, you can simply pull it down either using the handle or a piece of tissue — there’s a large antimicrobial handle on it.” “By doing this one simple change — keeping the seat up — as well as making it antimicrobial, you can actually keep public toilets about 88% cleaner in men’s restrooms and gender-neutral restrooms,” Tang said. Cleana aims to make bathrooms more sanitary. In addition to the public bathroom seat, the company’s other product is des...

Massachusetts weather threat: More severe storms, flash flooding, ‘low risk for an isolated tornado’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

Had enough of this stormy and muggy summer?Yet another round of strong to severe thunderstorms could be on their way to the region on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.The main hazards with these storms will be damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding on Friday morning and afternoon.The ground has been extremely wet from all of the recent rain, so any heavy rain can spark flooding.Friday will be a very warm and humid day, with dewpoints surging into the tropical 70s and temps in the 80s.Related ArticlesWeather | Storm-damaged eastern US communities clear downed trees and race to restore power Weather | Massachusetts could see more severe storms: ‘Brief tornado or waterspout’ possible Weather | Severe thunderstorms possible in Massachusetts: Hail, lightning, strong winds, torrential rain in forecast Weather | Tornado touched down along Easton/Foxboro town line, 105 mph peak winds: National We...

Mississippi judge declares mistrial in case of 2 white men charged in attack on Black FedEx driver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case of two white men charged in the attack on a Black FedEx employee who was making a delivery.Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Case, are charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into the vehicle driven by D’Monterrio Gibson in January 2022. Gibson, now 25, was not injured. But the chase and gunfire led to complaints on social media of racism in Brookhaven, about an hour’s drive south of the state capital, Jackson.Judge David Strong said he made the decision because of errors by a Brookhaven Police Department detective. The officer failed to provide evidence to prosecutors and defense attorneys. The judge said the officer also improperly testified about some guns that were found in the home of one of the men on trial and about gun shell casings found outside the home.Defense attorneys requested the mistrial, and Strong said he had no choice but to grant it. “In 17 years, ...

Officials to discuss video evidence of Fargo shooting ambush

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Law enforcement officials plan to discuss video footage on Thursday related to the shooting ambush last month in Fargo that left one police officer dead and two others and a bystander wounded, an attack authorities say could have been much bigger.North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski will hold a news conference to discuss surveillance and police body camera evidence related to the shooting, Wrigley’s office said Wednesday.Authorities say the gunman, 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat, shot and killed Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin and wounded officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes as they responded to a routine traffic crash on July 14. Barakat also wounded a bystander, Karlee Koswick, as she tried to flee. A fourth officer, Zach Robinson, shot and killed Barakat, preventing what authorities said could have been a much bigger attack with summer festivities occurring in the area at the time.After the shooting, investiga...

Biden to pay respects to former Pennsylvania first lady Ellen Casey in Scranton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is traveling to Pennsylvania on Thursday to privately pay his respects to the mother of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in Biden’s hometown of Scranton. The president is expected to arrive before visiting hours for Ellen Casey, also a former first lady of Pennsylvania, at St. Peter’s Cathedral.Casey, the widow of Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey and the mother of Casey, D-Pa., died last week at age 91. Biden issued a statement Monday commemorating her life. “On the many trips I’ve taken home to Scranton over the decades, one of the things I’ve looked forward to most was the chance to visit or talk with Ellen Casey – I truly loved her,” Biden said. The president, who grew up a few blocks from the Casey household, said Ellen Casey embodied the “Scranton values,” of family and public service. Biden is no stranger to grief or loss, having lost his wife and infant daughter in a 1972 car accident. He lost his eldest son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015. And ...

Bills’ Damar Hamlin has little more to prove in completing comeback, coach Sean McDermott says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Damar Hamlin has little more to prove to Bills coach Sean McDermott in the third-year safety’s bid to resume his football career after a near-death experience during a game at Cincinnati in January.“From my non-medical standpoint, I think he’s checked all the boxes as far as that goes,” McDermott said on Thursday. “There’s just been enough of a sample where you’re saying, he’s executed well and come out of that healthy.”McDermott based his assessment on how Hamlin has showed no signs of hesitation in passing each milestone of his recovery, and especially since the Bills began practicing with pads three weeks ago. Adding to that, the coach was further reassured by Hamlin’s performance in Buffalo’s preseason-opening win over Indianapolis last weekend.Hamlin was in on three tackles — including stopping Evan Hull for no gain on fourth-and-1 — in playing 22 defensive snaps in his first competitive setting since going into cardiac arrest and being resuscita...

Toronto man charged, accused of sexually assaulting child multiple times

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

A Toronto man is under arrest and facing charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a child on numerous occasions.Toronto police responded to reports of a sexual assault on Aug. 12 in the area of Sheppard Avenue East and Don Mills Road.It’s alleged the suspect sexually assaulted the victim on a number of occasions beginning in 2013.Louis Williams, 77, from Toronto is facing multiple charges including sexual interference, sexual exploitation and uttering threats. He appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Aug. 13.Investigators are concerned there may be more victims.

UK prime minister plans to meet with Saudi crown prince to discuss trade, defense cooperation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s prime minister said Thursday that he planned to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the “earliest opportunity,’’ after a U.K. newspaper reported that officials from both countries hoped to schedule a meeting between the two leaders before the end of the year in London.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office said he spoke with the Saudi leader on Thursday to discuss developing trade and investment links between the two countries and strengthening cooperation on defense and security.“The prime minister and crown prince said they would continue working closely together to progress U.K.-Saudi cooperation and looked forward to meeting in person at the earliest opportunity,” Sunak’s office said in a statement.A meeting in the United Kingdom would be the crown prince’s first visit to the country since dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in 2018 in Istanbul, which U.S. intelligence agencies say was ordered by Prince ...

Hurricane Hilary forms off Mexico’s Pacific coast as it heads north over the ocean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Hilary strengthened into a hurricane early Thursday off Mexico’s Pacific coast and it could become become a major hurricane as it keeps heading north over the ocean.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that Hilary had maximum winds of 75 mph (120 kph), and it was located 320 miles (515 kilometers) from the Mexican port city of Manzanillo, far from land.The hurricane was moving at 13 mph (20 mph) west-northwest, and it was expected to become a major hurricane by Thursday night or early Friday as it moves toward the Baja peninsula, near the U.S. border.Associated Press, The Associated Press

Man wanted for committing indecent act on TTC subway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:48 GMT

A man is wanted for allegedly committing an indecent act while aboard a TTC subway.Toronto police responded to an indecent act call on August 6 at Warden Station.It’s reported that a passenger and a man boarded the westbound subway at Kennedy Station. Police said while approaching Warden Station, the man committed an indecent act in front of the other passenger.The man exited the subway at Warden Station and fled in an unknown direction.The suspect is described as in his 60s, around five-foot-five, with a slim build.He was last seen wearing a teal-coloured baseball hat, blue windbreaker, green golf shirt, dark pants, carrying a black satchel.