NoneWhich touchless trash cans are best? Touchless trash cans are one of the latest innovations in automated kitchen technology. They use infrared motion sensors to automatically lift the lid, allowing users to dispose of trash without touching the can. This hands-free operation makes them not only efficient and easy to use but also improves kitchen hygiene as it helps reduce contact with germs, bacteria and parasites that are often found in household waste. Choosing the ideal touchless trash can for your home will depend on several factors, from the number of people in your household to the shape, size and material that best suits your decor. What to look for in a quality touchless trash can Shape and size As with regular trash cans, there are many different shapes and styles available. The most common shapes are round, oval, square or rectangular. While shape can play a factor in determining which trash can to get, it is more important to find the right size trash can for your space. A 13-gallon trash can is standard for a kitchen. However, a smaller 5- to 10-gallon option would be better if you want to place it in a cabinet. For large families that generate a lot of waste, a larger 20 to 30-gallon trash can may be preferable. Material The most common materials are either metal or plastic. While plastic is certainly the cheaper option, metal trash cans are more durable. A stainless steel trash can is a good option, as it will match kitchen appliances and won’t rust or tarnish with time. However, metal trash cans are more pricey, retailing between $100 and $200, depending on their size and features. Power source There are only two choices when it comes to a power source: battery or mains. A mains-powered trash can requires a permanent power source, restricting its location options. Battery-powered trash cans can be placed wherever you like and are particularly suitable for bathrooms. Look for a model that gives a warning when the batteries need replacing to avoid any inconvenience. Features of a touchless trash can The features of a trash can significantly impact the price, so it is important to decide which features you would like. Some trash cans have carbon filters that absorb unpleasant odors; however, remember that the filters must be replaced periodically. Other trash cans may feature a locking mechanism, which is handy if you have pets or small children because the lid will remain closed even if it’s knocked over. The best touchless trash cans An elegant-looking option available in a range of metallic and colored finishes. It has a smooth and quiet motor. The surface is protected with an antimicrobial coating that inhibits the growth of bacteria. : At 36 inches tall, it’s too big to fit inside a cabinet. It is available in a range of shapes and sizes, and it has a fingerprint-proof stainless steel body. A choice of either battery or mains power provides versatility. It has a built-in natural carbon odor filter and a lockable lid. : It doesn’t come with batteries or a mains adapter. With a 4-gallon capacity, this trash can is ideal for use in a kitchen cabinet or a bathroom. It effectively filters odors and comes with a lemon-scented fragrance cartridge. : Although the body is made from metal, the lid is made from plastic, so it may not be as durable. This versatile option makes separating your recyclables from your waste easy because it has two removable inner buckets with handles. This trash can can be powered by batteries or an AC adapter. It can be easily moved around the kitchen with optional casters. : The battery compartment is below the trash level, so you need to be careful to avoid getting the batteries wet.

Spending squeeze ‘could cost more than 10,000 Civil Service jobs’Bowls miss out in 4 CFP teams in latest postseason twistOTTAWA — The RCMP will create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada’s border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government’s $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease concerns of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception. Canada will also propose to the United States to create a North American “joint strike force” to target organized crime groups that work across borders. The government also intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

AP News Summary at 4:11 p.m. EST

Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday the Republican Party "will use its best efforts" to end daylight saving time, which he called "inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation." "The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!" Trump said on social media. "Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation." Daylight saving time - putting the clocks forward one hour during the summer half of the year to make the most of the longer evenings - has been in place in nearly all of the United States since the 1960s, but has been a topic of debate in recent years. Some lawmakers want to stay on standard time year-round, more are on record calling for remaining on daylight saving time all year, while others want to keep the status quo. President Joe Biden never took a public position on the issue. In March 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to make daylight saving time permanent but the effort stalled in the House after lawmakers said they could not reach consensus. A bipartisan group of senators in March made a new push to make daylight saving time permanent. Supporters of remaining on daylight saving time argue it would lead to brighter afternoons and evenings and more economic activity during the winter months. Critics say it would force children to walk to school in darkness, since the measure would delay sunrise by an hour. Proponents of eliminating daylight saving time altogether say the twice-annual changing of clocks causes sleep disturbance and health issues. Congress has not held any new hearings on the issue for more than two years and the Senate would need to take up the issue again. Year-round daylight saving time was used during World War Two and adopted again in 1973 in a bid to reduce energy use because of an oil embargo, but was unpopular and was repealed a year later. Since 2015, about 30 states have introduced or passed legislation to end the twice-yearly changing of clocks, with some states proposing to do it only if neighboring states do the same. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Eric Beech, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

M abuhay from Canada! The vibrant streets of Manila tell a story of economic dynamism that showcases the immense opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region, a key priority in Canada’s international trade engagement. As I conclude a highly successful Team Canada Trade Mission to the Philippines, one thing is crystal clear: there has never been a better time for our two nations to deepen our economic partnership. The numbers speak volumes about our existing relationship. The Philippines is our second-largest export market in Southeast Asia, with our two-way trade valued at 3.4 billion Canadian dollars, reflecting a robust commercial relationship that spans decades. At the heart of our partnership lies an extraordinary human connection that creates natural bridges between our nations. Our nearly one million strong Filipino-Canadian community serves as powerful ambassadors, facilitating business relationships and deepening cultural understanding between our countries. Meanwhile, more than 25,000 Canadians have made the Philippines their home. These bonds will soon be enhanced by Air Canada’s announcement of direct flights to the Philippines, facilitating business ties and people-to-people exchanges. The timing of our enhanced engagement couldn’t be more opportune. President Marcos’ recent signing of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) legislation signals the Philippines’ commitment to creating a more welcoming environment for international investment and partnership. Canada stands ready to respond with expertise in crucial sectors including clean technology, agriculture, infrastructure, digital innovation, and more! This trade mission has already delivered tangible results. Export Development Canada’s decision to establish an office here demonstrates our long-term commitment. Canadian technology leader OpenText is expanding its innovation center and building on its existing 1,500-person workforce, while Ostrom Climate has chosen Manila as its Asean regional hub. The partnership between Canadian AI firm Lydia AI and Philippine venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures showcases how our technology sectors can collaborate, while the agreement between Canada’s FreeBalance and the Philippine Department of Budget and Management enhances financial management systems. A particularly significant development was the signing of an administrative agreement to fulfill obligations under our 1983 Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. As a tier-one nuclear nation with expertise across the full supply chain, Canada is uniquely positioned to support the Philippines’ energy goals. The momentum in our bilateral relationship has led to an exciting new phase: we are beginning exploratory discussions toward a Canada-Philippines Free Trade Agreement. This potential agreement would create unprecedented opportunities for businesses on both sides of the Pacific, reducing barriers and fostering deeper trade and investment partnerships. Canada’s commitment to the region is backed by substantial investment, with our Indo-Pacific Strategy supported by 2.3 billion Canadian dollars over five years. Our decision to establish the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in Manila underscores our view of the Philippines as a crucial hub for regional engagement. The foundation of our partnership extends beyond economics to shared values—commitment to the rule of law and inclusive economic growth. As we look to the future, from sustainable energy solutions to digital transformation, complementary strengths create natural synergies. The path forward is clear: through continued engagement and strategic investment, we can build a more prosperous future for both our nations. Canada stands ready as the partner of choice for the Philippines in its journey of economic transformation. —————- Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Beirut, Dec 13 (AP) After insurgents toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad this month, many senior officials and members of his dreaded intelligence and security services appear to have melted away. Activists say some of them have managed to flee the country while others went to hide in their hometowns. For more than five decades, the Assad family has ruled Syria with an iron grip, locking up those who dared question their power in the country's notorious prisons, where rights groups say inmates were regularly tortured or killed. Also Read | Indian Students Killed in Canada: India Describes Recent Murder of Students As 'Terrible Tragedies', Demands Thorough Investigation. The leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham insurgent group — which led anti-government fighters who forced Assad from power — has vowed to bring those who carried out such abuses to justice. “We will go after them in our country,” said HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani. He added that the group will also ask foreign countries to hand over any suspects. Also Read | MFN Clause Suspension by Switzerland: India Needs Strategic Approach for International Taxation Treaties, Says GTRI. But finding those responsible for abuses could prove difficult. Some 8,000 Syrian citizens have entered Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing in recent days, according to two Lebanese security officials and a judicial official, and about 5,000 have left the neighbouring country through Beirut's international airport. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to release the information. Most of those are presumed to be regular people, and Lebanon's Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said earlier this week that no Syrian official entered Lebanon through a legal border crossing. In an apparent effort to prevent members of Assad's government from escaping, the security officials said a Lebanese officer who was in charge of Masnaa was ordered to go on vacation because of his links to Assad's brother. But Rami Abdurrhaman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says several senior officers have nonetheless made it to neighboring Lebanon using travel documents with fake names. Here's a look at Assad and some of the officials in his inner circle. Bashar Assad: The Western-educated ophthalmologist initially raised hopes that he would be unlike his strongman father, Hafez, when he took power in 2000, including freeing political prisoners and allowing for a more open discourse. But when protests of his rule erupted in March 2011, Assad turned to brutal tactics to crush dissent. As the uprising became an outright civil war, he unleashed his military to blast opposition-held cities, with support from allies Iran and Russia. He has fled to Moscow, according to Russian state media. Maher Assad: The younger brother of the ousted president was the commander of the 4th Armoured Division, which Syrian opposition activists have accused of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking, in addition to running its own detention centres. He is under US and European sanctions. He disappeared over the weekend, and Abdurrhaman said he made it to Russia. Last year, French authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Maher Assad, along with his brother and two army generals, for alleged complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity, including in a 2013 chemical attack on rebel-held Damascus suburbs. Maj Gen Ali Mamlouk: Mamlouk was a security adviser to Assad and former head of the intelligence services. He is wanted in Lebanon for two explosions in the northern city of Tripoli in 2012 that killed and wounded dozens. Mamlouk is also wanted in France after a court convicted him and others in absentia of complicity in war crimes and sentenced them to life in prison. The trial focused on the officials' role in the 2013 arrest in Damascus of a Franco-Syrian man and his son and their subsequent torture and killing. Abdurrahman said Mamlouk fled to Lebanon, and it is not clear if he is still in the country under the protection of Hezbollah. Brig Gen Suheil al-Hassan: Al-Hassan was the commander of the 25th Special Missions Forces Division and later became the head of the Syrian Special Forces, which were key to many of the government's battlefield victories in the long-running civil war, including in Aleppo and the eastern suburbs of Damascus that long held off Assad's troops. Al-Hassan is known to have close ties to Russia and was praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin during one of his visits to Syria. Al-Hassan's whereabouts are not known. Maj Gen Hussam Luka: Luka, head of the General Security Directorate intelligence service, is not well known among the wider public but has played a major role in the crackdown against the opposition, mainly in the central city of Homs that was dubbed the “capital of the Syrian revolt”. Luka has been sanctioned by the US and Britain for his role in the crackdown. It's not clear where he is. Maj Gen Qahtan Khalil: Khalil, whose whereabouts are also unknown, was head of the Air Force Intelligence service and is widely known as the “Butcher of Daraya” for allegedly leading a 2012 attack on a Damascus suburb of the same name that killed hundreds of people. Other officials: -- Retired Maj Gen Jamil Hassan, former head of the Air Force Intelligence service, is also suspected of bearing responsibility for the attack in Daraya. Hassan was among those convicted in France this year along with Mamlouk. -- Defence Minister Lt Gen Ali Abbas and Maj Gen. Bassam Merhej al-Hassan, head of Bashar Assad's office and the man in charge of his security, are accused of human rights violations. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

DALLAS — Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson’s offseason surgeryI​ndia plans ₹4,000 cr push for maritime heritage complex in Lothal to revive ancient trade history

Further solidifies reputation in the sports and entertainment space MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atomic Data today announced a multi-year agreement to make it the Official IT Provider of Fishers Event Center , a 7,500-seat entertainment and sporting event venue opening today in Fishers, Indiana. Managed by ASM Global , the newly constructed Fishers Event Center is home to three professional sports teams - Indy Fuel Hockey Club (ECHL), Indy Ignite (Professional Volleyball Federation), and Fishers Freight (Indoor Football League) - and will host a wide variety of events, concerts, and entertainment. "We are thrilled to reach a multi-year deal partnership with Atomic Data," Larry McQueary , Indy Fuel president said. "Atomic Data has been an integral part of the building process at the Fishers Event Center. With their help, we are ensuring an elevated experience for fans, employees and the community as they experience events here.” Throughout construction, Atomic Data's Game Day Technologies ® arm took the lead in the design, installation, integration, and testing of the mid-size venue's HPE Aruba Networking-powered Local Area Network (LAN) and Wi-Fi network. Going forward as the Official IT Provider for Fishers Event Center, Atomic Data will provide 24x7 monitoring and management of key network and server infrastructure, as well as remote support during and between event days. "Venues like Fishers are essential to cities across the U.S., supporting a variety of events and teams. Their success relies on seamless behind-the-scenes technology. Atomic Data and Game Day Technologies have once again proven that tailored venue technology can be delivered efficiently, even with tight timelines and modest budgets," commented Yagya Mahadevan , Game Day Technologies Director at Atomic Data. About Atomic Data Atomic Data , trusted IT provider for hundreds of enterprises, sports teams, and large venues, is on a mission to deliver always-on, custom-tailored technology solutions and objective IT leadership. Game Day Technologies , powered by Atomic Data, enables owners and teams to right size and modernize their venues, districts, training facilities, and back offices with objective, holistic technology oversight and activation. CONTACT: Media Contact: Atomic Data, Scott Evangelist, [email protected]Huge cost of King Charles' lavish coronation revealed and it's enough to pay 2,057 nursesImphal: An armed militant was killed and six others were apprehended after a fierce exchange of fire between Manipur Police Commandos and a militant group in Thoubal District on Saturday, officials said. A significant cache of arms and ammunition, along with multiple electronic devices, were also recovered from the spot. A senior police official in Imphal said that armed militants attacked the Manipur Police Commandos at Salungpham Thongkhong during a routine patrol in Thoubal district. The Commando personnel also retaliated against the attack and nabbed six militants while another was injured in the gun battle. The injured cadre subsequently succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Another police official said that the armed militants, travelling in two cars, were initially pursued by the police on suspicion. The armed group opened fire on the police commando, prompting the security personnel to retaliate, which led to the fierce encounter, the official said. The body of the slain militant Laishram Prem alias Loktak Singh (18) was shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for an autopsy examination. The arrested militants have been identified as Thokchom Momocha alias Sunny (41), Sarangthem Anand Singh alias Malem (36), Ningthoujam Karna Singh alias Pishak (27), Ningthoujam Manoranjan Singh alias Khagemba (21), Thongam Phalguni alias Urikpa alias Khoithol (27) and Moirangthem Johnson alias Thouna (21). A large cache of arms and ammunition, along with multiple electronic devices, were also recovered from the spot. The recovered arms and ammunition include two INSAS Rifles (5.56 mm), one Amogh Rifle (5.56 mm), one .303 Rifle, one SLR (7.62 mm), one INSAS Folding Rifle (5.56 mm), and a huge quantity of various types of ammunition, and five mobile phones. Thoubal District Police, however, are verifying whether the slain individual and the arrested persons are militants of any outfit or armed village volunteers. Further details are awaited.

Mr Bayrou, 73, a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance, has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority at the National Assembly. Mr Macron’s office said in a statement that Mr Bayrou “has been charged with forming a new government”. During the handover ceremony, Mr Bayrou said that “no one knows the difficulty of the situation better” than he does. “I’ve taken reckless risks all along my political life to raise the issue of debt and deficits in the most important elections,” he said. France is under pressure from the European Union’s executive body and financial markets to reduce its colossal debt, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. “I know that the risks of difficulties are much greater than the chances of success,” Mr Bayrou said, adding that he hopes to lead the country towards a “needed reconciliation”. “I think this is the only possible path to success,” he said. The new prime minister is expected to hold talks with political leaders from various parties in the coming days in order to choose new ministers. Former prime minister Michel Barnier resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government. Mr Macron in an address to the nation vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027. Mr Macron’s centrist alliance does not have a majority in parliament and Mr Bayrou’s Cabinet will need to rely on moderate lawmakers from the left and the right to be able to stay in power. Some conservatives are expected to be part of the new government. Mr Macron’s strategy aims at preventing far-right leader Marine Le Pen from holding “make or break” power over the government. Ms Le Pen helped oust Mr Barnier by joining her National Rally party’s forces to the left to pass the no-confidence motion last week. Mr Bayrou’s appointment is also in line with Mr Macron’s efforts to build a non-aggression pact with the Socialists so that they commit not to vote against the government in any future confidence motion. Mr Bayrou leads the centrist Democratic Movement, known as MoDem, which he founded in 2007. In 2017, he supported Mr Macron’s first presidential bid and became a weighty partner in the French president’s centrist alliance. At the time, he was appointed justice minister, but he quickly resigned from the government amid an investigation into the MoDem’s alleged embezzlement of European Parliament funds. Mr Bayrou this year was cleared in the case by a Paris court, which found eight other party officials guilty and sentenced the party to pay a fine. Mr Bayrou became well known to the French public when he was education minister from 1993 to 1997 in a conservative government. He was three times a candidate for president: in 2002, 2007 and 2012.

The Latest: UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect contests his extradition back to New York

Vivo Mobile Company to establish manufacturing plant in PunjabBiden is rushing aid to Ukraine. Both sides are digging in. And everyone is bracing for Trump

A Missoula City Council committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a request from the Missoula Police Department to pay about $515,000 over the course of five years for 120 new Tasers and a bundle of add-on services, including an artificial intelligence software program that writes up to 80% of police reports. Missoula Police Chief Mike Colyer made the request to the city council's Public Safety, Health and Operations Committee. Colyer said the MPD has had a Taser program since 2001, when he was one of the initial instructors. Colyer gave two examples of how Tasers were used to avoid a potential use of firearms. A representative for Axon Enterprise Inc. demonstrates the company's TASER 7 on May 12, 2022, in Washington. In the first example, he recounted how he and another officer were once chasing a suspect on a stolen bike. "By the time we caught up to him, he had wiped out and he was getting a knife out of his coat," Colyer recounted. "We hollered at him to drop the knife." The suspect refused the orders, Colyer said. "We hit him with the Taser," Colyer said, noting that the man was immobilized by the electric jolt and subsequently detained without harm to anyone. "Often times I've wondered how that might have ended if we didn't have the Taser," Colyer told the city council members. "Our only other option was lethal force." In another case, Colyer said a student at a local school had charged a teacher with a pair of scissors. A school resource officer responded, and when he got there, the young man was holding a chair over his head. Colyer said the officer simply pointed the red laser dot at the student, which in police jargon is called "painting." "The young man looked down, saw the light on his chest, and put the chair down and it was over," Colyer said. "These are not just theories. There are dozens of examples of the value of the program." Colyer said the department has been offered to renew a contract with Axon Technologies for the Taser program. The five-year contract would cost about $103,000 per year. As part of the contract, the department would get 120 new T10 Taser devices. Colyer said they have double the range of the older models. Also, they work with a single probe instead of two probes. "The old models have to have two probes make connection, so if you miss one or you have a clothing disconnect, it's kind of useless," Colyer explained. "In the new one, you have two probes you can fire individually and the distance is twice as far. Time and distance are always our friend, and this new model provides that." Colyer said Axon Technologies has a "moonshot goal" of reducing officer-involved shootings in the U.S. by 50%. "They view the new T10 as a big part of that because of its advanced technology," he said. The contract will also give the officers an unlimited supply of training and duty cartridges. Because about 118 officers will have to train twice a year and deploy at least two in each training session, Colyer said that's a savings of about $35,000. The department will also be able to sell its older models to a company that repurposes them and sells them to private security firms. The department will also get access to four more virtual reality, three-dimensional training headsets. "That will allow us to do more reps for people," he said. The headsets will also be used for the Department's Citizen Academy, where members of the public can see what it's like to engage in a "use of force scenario." The contract from Axon also comes with software called Draft One. It's an AI (artificial intelligence) software that provides 80% of the initial report for an officer to work from. Colyer said that the software gathers data from body cameras and car cameras to write up the first part of a police report from an incident, thus saving staff time. "It creates basically the first draft of a report," Colyer said. "They estimate about 80% of the content is created for the officer. And then throughout the report it cues the officer to provide detail where needed." Colyer said the department is "testing and evaluating" the software right now. "I'm pretty cautious about AI and how that might look, but we will consider it," Colyer said. An article from MSNBC from late November about Draft One quoted several experts as being extremely skeptical about the software. It also quoted Axon's CEO as saying the software has built-in "safeguards" to prevent mistakes. Another tool offered by Axon is Fusus Real-Time Crime Software, which would allow the department to engage with private camera owners, such as banks, schools or private homeowners or renters. "Frankly we don't have the infrastructure to run that right now, or personnel or equipment, so it's not something that I'm considering right now," Colyer said. Colyer said it's cheaper for the department to take the bundle with all the add-ons from Axon rather than just buy the 120 new Tasers. The department will not have to pay the final year of its existing contract with Axon, which will save $70,000. City council member Stacie Anderson was supportive of the contract. "I know training is a huge component of what the police force does, and the more training you have and advantages you have the safer we all are," she said. "Both officers and the public. So definitely want to be mindful of this opportunity to provide more training." David Erickson is the business reporter for the Missoulian. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Business Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.