Category: CNN Regional

By Dennis Valera

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A team of scientists at the University of Maryland (UMD) is gathering first-of-its-kind data through a device you put on your underwear.

Smart Underwear is able to track whenever a person farts. While it may sound silly, this information could be a big benefit to our health, according to the leading scientist behind the effort.

While the research started at UMD, people around the country are now helping collect this data.

Dr. Brantley Hall’s lab looks more like a factory these days, with multiple 3D printers running at all times.

The machines are working constantly to produce devices about the size of a nickel and it goes on your underwear.

“We thought, maybe we can advance our science by making a new type of wearable device that we can have people wear all day,” said Hall, who teaches in UMD’s cell biology and molecular genetics department.

Hall’s lab studies gut microbial metabolism, the process that causes people to produce flatus, which most people know as farting.

Right now, there is no scientific baseline on what constitutes a healthy amount of passing gas. Hall wants to change that.

“More than one-in-five people report experiencing excess intestinal gas, but right now there’s no objective measure of whether they’re telling the truth or not,” Hall said. “We obviously have physiological baselines for most measures, like blood glucose or cholesterol, but without one for flatus, it’s very hard to say when someone has excess flatus or not.”

Initially, Hall and his team conducted a smaller study with mostly UMD undergrad students.

Now, they’re going bigger, launching the Human Flatus Atlas. This is a national study where anyone in the country can participate.

When you sign up, a Smart Underwear device is sent to your home. You’ll have to wear the device for three days in a row.

Hall said they are looking for people across the spectrum to participate, including:

Those with high fiber diets who don’t fart a lot, which he calls Zen Digesters Those who do fart a lot, which he calls Hydrogen Hyperproducers Anyone else in between

“Our current maximum number [of farts] is about 175 times per day, and our current minimum number is four times per day. That’s a huge variation between people,” Hall said.

All Hall is really aiming to do is figure out something about our gut and to create a new healthy standard.

“We’re trying to understand how different fibers affect gas production and how people can eat a healthy, high-fiber diet without experiencing excess intestinal gas,” he said. “We need to go beyond patient perception and measure objectively. We’re in the unknown here, and it’s always an extremely exciting place to be.”

Hall is hoping to have results by the summer.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Tricia Kean

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    LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — In a city known for quick weddings and big romance, wedding officiant Maria Romano has had a front-row seat to thousands of couples finding love.

Romano has helped more than 7,000 couples say “I do” at the Chapel of Flowers in Las Vegas, where she performs weddings.

“I get to meet people from all over the world, all walks of life,” Romano said.

“And many of them live here and I always ask my first question is how did you meet? So definitely here in Las Vegas you can find love,” Romano said.

Romano is also the founder of True Love Knots, which works with couples from around the world to plan their wedding in Las Vegas. She says the city has long carried a reputation for neon lights and quick weddings, but that perception is changing.

“We were known for many years as a transient town. People would come, but they wouldn’t stay. But because we’re growing as a community, we have close to 3 million people where we are creating families. We’re building families, relationships, and real connections. So there’s an opportunity to definitely find love,” Romano said.

As a widow herself, Romano says she understands the vulnerability that comes with putting yourself back out there. That’s why she often encourages people, whether they meet through dating apps or everyday encounters, to stay open to connection.

Among the thousands of couples she has married, one story stands out.

“There was a couple I married not too long ago. They were both gamers online. He lived here in Las Vegas. She lived in Germany. So yes, they finally met 2 years later. I married them, as a matter of fact, right here in this chapel, so you never know where you’re going to find love,” Romano said.

After thousands of ceremonies, Romano says she has learned one thing — when people take that chance, love often finds a way.

“There are so many ways to find love in many different ways, and you know what? We’re real people. We’re out there making real connections and building real relationships, so love can happen anywhere. And why not get lucky in Las Vegas? Listen, it’s a sure bet,” Romano said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KTNV verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Brenna Donnelly

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    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSL) — A Utah mother is raising awareness about the heightened suicide risk among military veterans after losing her own son, Private First Class Bowden Hunter of Saratoga Springs.

Utah currently ranks second in the nation for veteran suicide (adjusted for population), with 78 deaths reported last year, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Because the state has a smaller-than-average veteran population, the numbers are especially alarming to families like the Hunters.

The statistics have motivated Janaea Hunter to launch “Bowden’s Brigade,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe, community-centered spaces for veterans returning to civilian life.

Hunter said her message is especially important as more American military members are heading overseas. The United States is in the midst of its largest Middle East deployment since 2003, according to Center for Strategic and International Studies statistics. This week, military officials confirmed 5,000 more marines will deploy and join the 50,000 American soldiers already in the Middle East.

A memorial held Friday in Bluffdale honored Bowden with a “Battle Vest” ceremony — an event designed both to remember his life and to spotlight the ongoing crisis of veteran and emergency responder suicide. James Collins, president of “Heroes in the Sky,” explained the vest displays 19 names of service members who died by suicide, including seven from Utah.

It is one of several similar vests traveling the country thanks to “Heroes in the Sky.” The one dedicated in Bluffdale Friday will remain in Utah with “Bowden’s Brigade.”

“Veterans need to be around other veterans,” Hunter said. “There are so many organizations people don’t know about, and we want them to know there’s a place they can go when they get home — where they can still be with their veteran brothers and sisters. So they don’t have that sense of loss; it’s like moving to a different base.”

Bowden’s Brigade, together with Heroes in the Sky, hope to shift public understanding of post‑traumatic stress disorder, describing it not as a weakness but as a nervous system injury that results from trauma. Through awareness and increased access to resources, both groups aim to reduce veteran suicides in Utah.

“This just so happens to come right at a time where there’s international conflict that sits heavily on a lot of us combat veterans’ minds as we process what’s happening overseas right now,” Collins said. “Whether or not you deployed or not, the commitment of veterans or first responders service involves significant sacrifice.”

Hunter said she also hopes to see a behavior change in the community members the soldiers will return home to.

“My biggest concern, honestly, is the political stance that people have, and they hold it against the veterans,” she said. “They’re just doing what they’re told. They signed up because they love our country and they want to protect us. And whether you agree with the conflict or not, you shouldn’t hold it against them.”

The organization’s next major effort is a Salute to Service Gala on May 9 at Club Paddock in American Fork. The public is invited to attend and contribute to the group’s ongoing veteran meetups, which are designed to build connection and prevent isolation among Utah veterans

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Mike Anderson

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    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSL) — Technology, developed through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, could become Utah’s new standard in measuring snowpack, and managing water supply.

A three-year pilot program called Wings Over Weber is being focused on about 805 square miles within the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. Planes flying in meticulous zigzag patterns above, collect data, using millions of tiny lasers, with what’s known as light detection and ranging, or LiDAR.

Jon Parry, assistant general manager at the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, said he’s very interested to see what they can learn from the data gathered.

“When we know what the snowpack looks like — the depths across the entirety of the drainage — we have a better ability to forecast the runoff scenarios,” Parry explained. “We have just more accurate information to help us make better decisions.”

Utah’s Division of Water Resources is running the program, thanks to about a million dollars in grants from the Bureau of Reclamation. Scott McGettigan, section manager over water efficiency, said the process to gather and create the 3D modeling is tedious and expensive. Water managers in California have been using the technology for over a decade. McGettigan said part of the pilot program will take a close look at whether the cost is worth the benefit for Utah.

“Part of the process is to understand the value that it provides versus the cost associated with the different projects,” McGettigan explained. “It’s not cheap to put planes in the air, flying back and forth over a watershed.”

Currently, SNOTEL sites, spread across wide areas help give averages of snowpack levels. Even if Utah adopts the new 3D-based technology, the SNOTEL sites will still be needed to help measure snow density.

Ideally, water managers hope the more accurate data will help them better prepare for flooding events, and improve collaboration in restoring Great Salt Lake. While the verdict is still out on whether the tech is worthwhile in Utah, McGettigan said it’s important to take a close look at resources that could help improve how we use and conserve water.

“I think we’re at a stage where we should really take advantage of learning and maybe not slow down at this point in time,” he said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Erin Wencl

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    RICHLAND, Washington (KAPP) — The Richland Police Department’s Bomb Squad responded to a home Saturday after a person called and said they had found what they believed to be a grenade.

The call for help came in around 1:30 p.m. The woman said her and her mother were cleaning out a relative’s home on the 1000 block of Smith Avenue when they found the device inside a drawer. The device was moved to the front yard.

When officers got to the scene, they established a safety perimeter around the home. Members of the bomb squad checked out the device and safely removed it from the area.

According to the Richland Police Department, calls like this are not uncommon. RPD asked if anyone ever comes across devices they feel are suspicious to call police right away. Do not attempt to take the device anywhere on your own.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Craig Smith

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — A cartoon character may have helped Tucson Police track down a suspect in an alleged road rage shooting that wounded two teens. Police say a well known cartoon cat helped identify the suspect’s car.

There were five people on board when someone fired a shot into a truck, according to police. They say the bullet went through the leg of one teenaged girl, kept going and wounded another girl.

The trouble happened near Golf Links and Kolb.

The victims said when they tried to move into the right lane, another car rushed into the spot, and the driver fired a shot into the car.

Police say the victims got a good look at the car’s personalized plate and the Hello Kitty sticker on the back glass. KGUN9 is not showing the sticker from the car. Our story shows how the cartoon cat appears on the site of Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty.

Police put the car description into their databases. That led officers to a house less than a mile from where the shooting happened.

There, they arrested 29 year old David Anthony Cedeno. He’s facing ten charges in all, including 5 charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Court documents say he claimed he heard a shot coming from the victims’ car.

Police say they also found a woman named Heather Allen leaving the house as officers arrived. They say she admitted removing the car’s plate and the Hello Kitty sticker.

She said she was in the car with Cedeno at the time of the shooting and did not see or hear anything that suggested a gun in the other car.

As of Friday night Cedeno was still in the Pima County Jail. His bond is set at $75,000 either cash or secured through a bail bond.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Mike Castellucci

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    DENVER (KMGH) — On the second floor of what used to be a Catholic high school in Denver, Stacy Flax has learned to reach for the stars.

“I think I’m a perfect example of you can make big changes and now I can’t believe this is what I get to do with my life,” Flax said.

What she gets to do with her life is to create the world’s first graphic T-shirt you can wear under a dress shirt without it being visible.

“What I discovered is if I turned the words vertical and I put it down the center, then it falls under that thick part of the fabric by the buttons which is four times as thick as the rest of the shirt,” Flax said.

Her company Bored Rebel is the medicine Flax needed after burnout in a corporate job.

“Bored Rebel has healed me,” Flax said. “I get pretty emotional when I look back and think about where I was because it was a pretty dark place and I would not have imagined I’d be brave enough to be able to put myself out there like this.”

Look around her Bored Rebel headquarters inside the old high school and on the surface, you’ll see blackboards lining the walls. But you’ll quickly learn everything behind that is Flax’s art, heart and soul.

From the blackboards to the red carpet, this is the fourth year the Academy Awards have come calling for Bored Rebel to be a part of the Oscars gift bags.

“The first year I was blown away I cried, the fourth year feels particularly special,” Flax said.

Twenty-five Oscar nominees found Stacy’s shirts in their gift bags Sunday.

“‘Champagne will fix it’ — one of our most popular ones, and we gave that to Kate Hudson and Emma Stone,” Stacy said, “We just try to research as much as possible and figure out what their personality is and what they’ll love. So ‘Exhale’ we gave to Elle Fanning because she’s a big yoga fan… My dogs think I’m awesome—that’s what we gave to Leonardo DiCaprio. Anytime we can find out one of the nominees loves dogs, that’s the one we give.”

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By Ethan Carlson

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    AURORA, Colorado (KMGH) — In June 2025, Myles Gilbert of Colorado became the first pediatric patient in the United States to receive the fifth-generation Inspire device, a permanently implanted nerve stimulator being used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome.

The device, referred to by Dr. Norman Friedman at Children’s Hospital Colorado as a “pacemaker for the tongue,” senses breathing and delivers a small electrical stimulus that moves the tongue forward to keep the airway open during sleep. Friedman, surgical sleep program director at the hospital, said the implant eliminates the need for external chest leads and can be adjusted in clinic to find optimal settings for each patient.

“For children with Down syndrome, [sleep apnea] is highly prevalent,” Friedman said, noting that lower muscle tone and large tonsils or tongues often contribute to lifelong breathing difficulties. “This is a very good alternative, especially for children that have larger tongues.”

Myles’ family said the implant has markedly improved his sleep and daytime function after years of unsuccessful trials with CPAP masks.

“He’s definitely sleeping better,” said Tim Gilbert, Myles’ father. “He’s more awake during the days. He’s not falling asleep in the car on short drives. All those pieces just add to Myles’ quality of life.”

The device is adjusted in follow-up visits and can be controlled with a remote control, and monitored with an app the family carries on their phones. Doctors can also remotely monitor usage and breathing data.

Beyond improved sleep, Myles said the change has helped him participate more in school and community activities. He’s active in unified sports, and loves being the equipment manager for the Arapahoe High School football team.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Andrea Olson

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    IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — Building LEGO engines, creating lava lamps and learning how to code: these are just a few of the many activities kids learned during an interactive, hands-on experience at an elementary school this past week.

A parent-teacher organization held its first-ever STEM Family Night at Discovery Elementary School in Idaho Falls on Friday night. It had a successful turnout, with hundreds of students in attendance.

“A lot of families were super supportive and came and brought all the kids,” said Anyelen Bailey, coordinator for STEM Family Night and PTO member at Discovery Elementary School. “I had someone say that making the lava lamp was their favorite. It was amazing for them to see the chemical reaction.”

Students had the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through engaging activities. There were more than 20 stations, three of which were live demonstrations.

Bailey works remotely as a compliance engineer for Cummins, an engine company based in Indiana. She was in charge of the Cummins booth that built LEGO engines.

“I think it’s fun for kids to see science in different ways, like in math, or building engines, or building cars. I think it gives them a different vision of how the world works,” Bailey said.

Hannah, 10, and her sister Penny, 8, attended STEM Family Night and said they loved exploring at the various booths. Hannah said her favorite was learning how to code.

“The person who sits next to me in class is always coding, and I’m like, ‘That’s cool!’” she said.

Their father, Chad Ryan, said it’s good to get kids exposed to STEM in a creative way.

“STEM is pretty difficult to do generally, so it kind of scares people away, especially when you get into math and science, so this is fun. I think this is a good outreach,” he said.

Kayla Secrist brought five kids to STEM Family Night and said they all really liked it. She told EastIdahoNews.com it was enjoyable to watch them learn new things, such as using a microscope to look at a fly leg and onion skin. The hands-on booths are what made the night exciting.

“Them being able to see it and pick it apart, it definitely makes more sense in their brain — and that’s what kids want to do. They are curious, so being able to do that is an awesome activity for them,” Secrist said.

Her son Carter, 12, liked making cars with rubber bands. He got to collaborate with people who helped him create it.

“It’s been really cool getting to go into the rooms and getting to make different things, and learning about how UV lights work, and how coding works, and how robots follow different directions,” Carter said.

There were many participating partners that made the night come to life, like Idaho National Laboratory, Rockwell Homes, Brigham Young University-Idaho and more. See the list below.

Bailey hopes the STEM Family Night returns next year and is even bigger.

“I hope all the kids had fun and they enjoyed it with their families, and they can have something to talk about when their friends and family ask, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ And they say, ‘Oh, I went to the school STEM event,’” she said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.