NYSAFC 9/11 memorial stair climb at Upstate Medical Arena
The event on June 6 will pay tribute to FDNY firefighters at the Upstate Medical Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial. Each participant will climb 2,200 steps to represent the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
Registration for the climb opens at 7 a.m. at 800 South State Street, at the Upstate Medical Arena. There is a $35 fee to participate, and each person will receive an honorary badge of one of the fallen firefighters.
Opening ceremonies begin at 7:45 a.m., and the climb will start at 8 a.m.
Stair Climbs help fund the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's programs to support the families of fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
Investigation finds $13 million US military Reaper drone crashed into the sea after an unexplained failure saw its propeller fall off
The US military lost one of its Reaper drones after a part failed, causing the propeller to fall off on a mission last year and forcing the $13 million combat aircraft to make a crash landing in the Mediterranean Sea, a recently released investigation revealed. A US Air Force investigation report released last month determined that the costly mishap, which occurred in December 2024, was caused by a failure in a mechanical part connecting the MQ-9A Reaper drone's engine with its propeller. The specific reason for that failure, however, was unclear as the drone wasn't retrieved. The Reaper drone, a combat and reconnaissance platform, belonged to the 432nd Wing of Nevada's Creech Air Force Base and was scheduled to carry out an operational mission on December 16 over or around the Mediterranean Sea. The remotely piloted aircraft took off at 1 pm Zulu time from an undisclosed location within the European Command area of responsibility. About four hours later, while the drone was flying at cruising air speed and altitude, its engine torque display dropped from normal levels to a complete loss of torque within a second. The MQ-9 "experienced a loss of air speed and began an uncommanded descent," the report said. As the drone descended, operators — members of the 20th Attack Squadron from Missouri's Whiteman Air Force Base — spent 16 minutes trying to maintain control and restore thrust to the MQ-9 falling out of the sky. The recently released Air Force investigation, first reported by Air & Space Forces Magazine, said that the operator eventually realized that the drone's engine had internal damage, and they shut it down. The crew then decided to make a forced landing in the Mediterranean — the last data received suggested came in just as the MQ-9 was about to impact the water. There were no injuries or damage to civilian property, the report said, sharing that the drone — valued at exactly $13,154,585 — was not recovered. Air Force investigators said that "the cause of the mishap was a failure within the Splined Coupling Assembly." This "led to a sudden and permanent mechanical decoupling of the propeller from the engine resulting in an unrecoverable loss of thrust." General Atomics, the US defense company that makes the MQ-9 Reaper, said that the Spiral Retaining Ring was the most likely cause of the failure, although it was impossible to determine with certainty because the wreckage — and, with it, evidence — could not be collected. The Reaper, the US military's drone of choice for combat and reconnaissance missions, has suffered a string of mishaps in recent years, including several "Class A" incidents, meaning that the incident resulted in damage greater than or equal to $2.5 million or a destroyed aircraft. Air Force safety data shows 5 in 2021 and just as many the year prior. More recent safety data wasn't immediately available. American Reaper drones have also been targeted by US foes. In 2023, for instance, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet clipped the propeller of an MQ-9 operating above the Black Sea, forcing the uncrewed aircraft to crash land in the water. That year, Russian aircraft also repeatedly harassed US Reaper drones operating over Syria, engaging in behaviors like flying in close proximity to the MQ-9s. In one incident, a Su-35 fighter jet released flares on a drone and damaged its propeller. The Iran-backed Houthis have also shot down several Reaper drones that the US had been using to support its military operations against the Yemeni rebels.
3 days ago
Former K-9 busy as a bee sniffing out threats to Michigan State University colonies
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Researchers at a Michigan State University facility dedicated to protecting honey bees are enlisting a four-legged ally to sniff out danger to the prized pollinators. The Pollinator Performance Center's wide range of projects includes developing a training program for dogs to use their sensitive noses to uncover a bacterial disease called American foulbrood that threatens honey bee larvae. Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years because of disease, insecticides, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. A considerable portion of the human diet comes from plants pollinated by bees. Maple, who once served as a human remains detection dog for the St. Joseph County sheriff's office, has created quite the buzz. The panting 9-year-old English springer spaniel stood patiently on a recent weekday as Sue Stejskal, her longtime owner, trainer and handler, slowly placed the retired K-9 in a yellow protective suit. The garment includes a veil for her head and four booties worn on her paws in case Maple steps on a bee. 'Much like with humans, we recognize that if a dog is going to be in an active bee yard, they need to wear the same personal protective equipment as people do,' said Stejskal, a Michigan State graduate who has been training dogs over a quarter-century for law enforcement and other uses. 'You can't buy them on Amazon for dogs. So, there's been some altering and testing.' Maple suffered an injury while on a case in Ontario, forcing her to retire as a detection K-9 in 2024. But fate intervened. Meghan Milbrath, an MSU professor whose lab studies risk factors that affect honey bees' health, was working to establish diagnostic and screening tools for honey bee diseases. A veterinarian who participated in a training about honey bees put Milbrath in touch with Stejskal. They met, and the dog detection plan was born. Stejskal then set about teaching an old dog a new trick. New to Maple, anyway. Maryland's agriculture department has also used canine detection methods in beehives. Michigan State's objective is to train many more dogs to join the ranks. Milbrath said she is documenting Maple's training and plans to write a book with Stejskal to educate other teams about their strategy. Maple, clad in her yellow suit, raced between hive boxes during a recent demonstration. When she found the scent clue left for her, Maple stopped at the box and coolly looked up at Stejskal. 'Good girl. Yes,' Stejskal enthusiastically said, before removing Maple's veil and tossing a green, Michigan State-branded toy her way. Stejskal recognizes the work they're doing is important. 'It's a cool project,' Stejskal said. 'But I was over-the-moon excited, because my dog would still have joy in her life and would still be able to work.'
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Former K-9 Maple is busy as a bee sniffing out threats to Michigan State University colonies
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Researchers at a Michigan State University facility dedicated to protecting honey bees are enlisting a four-legged ally to sniff out danger to the prized pollinators. The Pollinator Performance Center's wide range of projects includes developing a training program for dogs to use their sensitive noses to uncover a bacterial disease called American foulbrood that threatens honey bee larvae. Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years because of disease, insecticides, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. A considerable portion of the human diet comes from plants pollinated by bees. Maple, who once served as a human remains detection dog for the St. Joseph County sheriff's office, has created quite the buzz. The panting 9-year-old English springer spaniel stood patiently on a recent weekday as Sue Stejskal, her longtime owner, trainer and handler, slowly placed the retired K-9 in a yellow protective suit. The garment includes a veil for her head and four booties worn on her paws in case Maple steps on a bee. 'Much like with humans, we recognize that if a dog is going to be in an active bee yard, they need to wear the same personal protective equipment as people do,' said Stejskal, a Michigan State graduate who has been training dogs over a quarter-century for law enforcement and other uses. 'You can't buy them on Amazon for dogs. So, there's been some altering and testing.' Maple suffered an injury while on a case in Ontario, forcing her to retire as a detection K-9 in 2024. But fate intervened. Meghan Milbrath, an MSU professor whose lab studies risk factors that affect honey bees' health, was working to establish diagnostic and screening tools for honey bee diseases. A veterinarian who participated in a training about honey bees put Milbrath in touch with Stejskal. They met, and the dog detection plan was born. Stejskal then set about teaching an old dog a new trick. New to Maple, anyway. Maryland's agriculture department has also used canine detection methods in beehives. Michigan State's objective is to train many more dogs to join the ranks. Milbrath said she is documenting Maple's training and plans to write a book with Stejskal to educate other teams about their strategy. Maple, clad in her yellow suit, raced between hive boxes during a recent demonstration. When she found the scent clue left for her, Maple stopped at the box and coolly looked up at Stejskal. 'It's a cool project,' Stejskal said. 'But I was over-the-moon excited, because my dog would still have joy in her life and would still be able to work.'
