Latest news with #reentry
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
WATCH: Chinese rocket streaks across the sky as fireball as it re-enters atmosphere
A Chinese Jielong-3 rocket launched from the Yellow Sea on August 11 re-entered the atmosphere over southeastern Spain early on August 14. Footage captured near Malaga shows the rocket streaking across the sky, trailing yellow and other colors. Henryk Stojak, who filmed the event, initially thought it was a meteor shower. The rocket disintegrated and exploded overhead before disappearing.
CBS News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Norfolk County sheriff talks rehabilitation in Massachusetts prisons, weighs in on Karen Read case impact
Massachusetts' Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott is lobbying for federal funding that will help convicts reacclimate into society, saying ultra-harsh conditions in prison are a thing of the past. McDermott said the main role of the sheriff is not just overseeing punishment for crimes but "the care and custody of those individuals in the criminal justice system ... and most of those individuals are dealing with mental health issues as well as substance use disorder." That's why McDermott, in his role as head of the Massachusetts Sheriff's Association, traveled to Washington last March to meet with the President and top Trump administration law enforcement officials to lobby for continued federal funding for programs aimed at helping prepare convicts for their eventual reentry into society. In an interview on WBZ's Sunday edition of "Keller At Large," McDermott said he didn't know yet if budget cuts just passed by Congress will affect those local programs. "We're a little bit nervous because there's a significant amount of money that goes into our medically assisted treatment program that all of the Massachusetts sheriffs were on the cutting edge of years ago," he said. "It's an expensive program, however it is a successful program, and there's been research that shows that medically assisted treatment programs work." While McDermott says he came away from his meetings in March feeling that the importance of this approach was acknowledged, he did note a difference in philosophy with the feds exposed by recent talk of re-opening the long-shuttered Alcatraz federal prison in San Francisco, a cultural symbol of ultra-harsh incarceration policy. "I think that that idea has come and gone. I think that Hollywood, as well as sometimes reality is sensationalized, 'lock them up, throw away the key, don't feed them.' That hasn't worked," McDermott said. He said Massachusetts sheriffs are focused on rehabilitation and reentry. "Yes, we recognize that people are in the criminal justice system for having violated crimes, and there are victims, obviously in these crimes as well. We don't want to be forgetful of that," he said. "But ... these individuals that are coming into our care and custody are coming back to live in Quincy and in Newton and at Wellesley, they're coming back into these communities, so we need to give back a better product than we received, and that's why reentry begins on day one." McDermott also discussed embattled Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, and the impact of social media on the justice system in the wake of the Karen Read case. McDermott, a former aide to Morrissey at the State House, said he has full confidence in the district attorney. "Mike Morrissey is a man of high integrity," McDermott said. "And I think that when the dust settles on the Karen Read case as well as many other cases that Mike has had to prosecute over the course of his tenure, he will continue to do so, he's going to have to answer to that and answer the people and he's one person that I know can do that." Watch the entire interview in the video player above and join us every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. for more conversations with top local policymakers.
CBC
17-07-2025
- CBC
Thousands go from jail to being homeless in Ontario every year, report finds
When Dan was released from the Toronto South Detention Centre last December after serving about 60 days, he was given a TTC token and sent on his way. He walked to a bus stop, but he had nowhere to go. "There's no plan," Dan said. "I'm a criminal, right? Nobody wants me." Dan, who was convicted of theft and failure to comply, wandered all night before going to an encampment. CBC Toronto isn't disclosing Dan's last name because he fears it could affect his chances of getting employment. Since then, Dan has alternated between staying with friends and living outside. That means it is difficult to get his life organized, attend appointments and have a cell phone without it being stolen, he says. If he falls asleep while it is charging in a public place, it's gone when he wakes up. "As soon as I caught a charge and was guilty, every sort of good thing going for me dried up," he said. Dan, who was homeless before he went into jail, said supports such as provincial transitional housing similar to federal halfway houses, might have helped. He would have liked "just the stability of having somewhere to go" — a safe place to leave his belongings. Not having a plan means "you are right back in the hole you started in," he said. Our provincial criminal legal system is really contributing to the crisis. Dan is not alone. A new report released Thursday by the John Howard Society of Ontario says, in one year, thousands of people became homeless immediately upon release from Ontario jails. The society is a charity that works to build a safer Ontario. The report, entitled From Incarceration to Encampment, found that provincial jails had 7,455 releases in 2023-2024 of people with no fixed address, meaning they had no housing. The number doesn't necessarily represent individual people because some people are admitted and released several times in one year, the report says. The report calls on the Ontario government to set up a provincial transitional housing system for people released from its correctional facilities. 'Housing is crucial to reintegration,' policy director says Safiyah Husein, the society's director of policy, said the report reveals a "deep link" between incarceration and homelessness in Ontario. She said it shows that people who spend time in jail need a "pathway" to help them reintegrate into society. And it puts a number on an urgent issue that requires a systemic government response, she said. "A lot of people are flagged as having no fixed address or lacking stable housing upon admissions to correctional institutions. And then most of these people will be released straight onto the streets the day that they get out of jail. And with no supports, they might end up in shelters or encampments, but that's no place to rebuild a life," she said. The report says people may be homeless upon release if they didn't have housing when they were admitted to jails, if they lost their housing while incarcerated, or if they were unable to return to their previous housing, sometimes due to release conditions. "Housing is crucial to reintegration. And so with the lack of supports, a lack of housing, that increases the risk of reoffending and winding up right back in jail." Husein said some people in jail might lose their employment, while others might have their income assistance cut off. She added that it is important to remember that a large percentage of people in Ontario jails are awaiting trial and have not been convicted of a crime. "There are long-term impacts to losing housing when an individual is jailed, even for a short period of time," she said. According to the report, the lack of housing for those released from jail has an impact on the larger society too. "Thousands of people are discharged into homelessness from provincial correctional institutions every year, returning to communities across Ontario. Without housing, individuals end up in shelters, encampments or sleeping rough," the report says. "Individuals released into homelessness are more likely to reoffend, compromising public safety and entrenching individuals in a revolving door of jail and the streets." Husein said the report urges the province to take action. "This report really highlights a pretty troubling but hidden fact about our homelessness and housing crisis in that our provincial criminal legal system is really contributing to the crisis," she said. Ontario government pledges to review report The report recommends that the province: Create transitional housing for people released from Ontario jails, similar to federal community-based residential facilities known as halfway houses. Update its policy directives for Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program so that recipients in jail would not be cut off but instead receive benefits for up to three months. Launch a campaign to encourage landlords to stop discriminating against those who have been involved in the criminal justice system. Ontario's Ministry of the Solicitor General said in a statement Wednesday that it will review the report. It says the province is investing $75.5 million to provide access to safe, secure accommodations for people experiencing homeless, along with "wrap-around supports." That's on top of creating 1,239 more housing units, 815 supportive housing units and 971 additional shelter spaces, it said. "This is in addition to the $1.7 billion we are investing to improve access to supportive housing, including through the Homelessness Prevention Program, which helps municipalities deliver programs tailored to local needs," the ministry said in the statement. "Our government's bold action to create 28 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs is also adding 560 highly supportive housing units, in addition to addiction recovery and treatment beds, helping thousands of people each year transition to more stable long-term housing." Keith Hambly, CEO of Fred Victor, a multi-service agency in Toronto, said he is not surprised by the lack of housing for formerly incarcerated people. "What is truly needed in this case, and in many cases of homelessness, is a level of housing and supportive housing that works with people where they're at, that works with their mental health issues that may be presenting, or substance use issues, or even issues of long term trauma. Or else the story repeats itself," Hambly said. Elizabeth McIsaac, president of Maytree, a foundation committed to finding solutions to poverty, said the number of people in a given year being released from jail into homelessness is "terrible." Maytree sponsored the report.
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Good for the Soul
By Kim Borges 'Who would've ever thought I'd walk out of prison and the Bureau of Justice would give me funding?' There's nothing conventional about Shawntelle Fisher – including her ideas. When Regions gave me that $25,000, they didn't know that 25 million dollars later, I would still be doing Fisher, founder and CEO of the SoulFisher Ministries In 2019, Fisher pitched the unique concept of employer workshops for justice-involved people to an independent judging panel to earn a $25,000 grant from Regions Bank. And at this year's Regions Bank Community Convening in St. Louis, Fisher addressed the audience of 100-plus nonprofit leaders about the exponential growth her nonprofit The SoulFisher Ministries has realized since. 'When Regions gave me that $25,000, they didn't know that 25 million dollars later, I would still be doing this,' she said. 'We were really just getting on our feet; we were still struggling getting people to believe that people with criminal records were worth investing in.' Not anymore. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance has been a believer since 2018, investing millions to support SoulFisher's AGAPE Reentry program and Successful Second Chances program focusing on workforce development, job search assistance and job placement for people transitioning back into the community following incarceration. Continued funding from BJA has put us on the trajectory to be the national organization we've envisioned from the beginning. 'Continued funding from BJA has put us on the trajectory to be the national organization we've envisioned from the beginning,' said Fisher. 'Just seeing that application was a motivator for something possible – to just do it and don't look back.' What else has Fisher been doing? 'Where do I start?' she said. 'There are so many exciting things going on. The program Regions funded is still active and thriving. It's becoming a pillar in the community around workforce development.' The six-year journey represents more than organizational growth; it's also involved significant personal reflection. 'Even when I was in prison, I was still a leader, just not the positive influence in my own community like I am today,' said Fisher. 'I had everything in me to do what I'm doing today; all I needed was the support and guidance.' Someone who's delivered valuable support to Fisher and SoulFisher? Eric Madkins, Regions Community Development manager in Missouri. These aren't just services, these are lifelines restoring dignity, reducing recidivism and creating pathways to lasting success. 'Eric is our longest-serving board member,' said Fisher. 'He's been our treasurer; he's our current vice-chair. Eric is ever present. When you see us, you see Eric. It's an honor to have Regions supporting him through his service.' Through his involvement, Madkins has seen the impact Fisher and team are making. 'These aren't just services, these are lifelines restoring dignity, reducing recidivism and creating pathways to lasting success,' said Madkins. 'People deserve the chance to rebuild their lives, and The SoulFisher Ministries makes that possible. I'm beyond proud to support an organization opening so many doors for our community.' Despite all her success, Fisher will tell you opening those doors doesn't always come easily. 'I still face challenges because I've been incarcerated,' Fisher said. 'I'm doing things the world didn't think I could do; that I didn't know I could do. I just have to stay focused and remember God called me to do this. If it were easy, anyone could do it. It's difficult but rewarding work.' Seeing others thrive motivates Fisher to keep doing more – and to keep thinking unconventionally. 'We're doing amazing work in St. Louis and lives are being changed because of it,' she said. 'We believe restoration is possible and success is real.' 'Whenever I'm having conversations in the community and find out someone is doing something interesting, I say, 'Do you want to come do that with our kids?'' Through that one strategic move, Shawntelle Fisher introduced something new to SoulFisher's six afterschool sites five years ago. The Black Squares Chess Club, led by nonprofit Dream Builders 4 Equity, is focused on increasing access to chess to youth ages 6 to 18. For youth served by SoulFisher, it's become more than a hobby; it's a passion. 'They've become chess wizards at all six sites,' said Fisher. 'They absolutely love it, and it's helps inspire their confidence. When the world tells them they can't play chess, they know differently.' Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Regions Bank
WIRED
25-06-2025
- Science
- WIRED
A European Startup's Spacecraft Made It to Orbit. Now It's Lost at Sea
Eric Berger, Ars Technica Jun 25, 2025 4:25 PM The Exploration Company lost contact with its 'Mission Possible' vehicle a few minutes before touchdown in the ocean. Photographer: The Exploration Company A European company that seeks to develop orbital spacecraft for cargo, and eventually humans, took a step forward this week with a test flight that saw its "Mission Possible" vehicle power up and fly successfully in orbit before making a controlled reentry into Earth's atmosphere. However, after encountering an "issue," the Exploration Company lost contact with its spacecraft a few minutes before touchdown in the ocean. In an update on LinkedIn Tuesday morning, the company characterized the test flight as a partial success—and a partial failure. "The capsule was launched successfully, powered the payloads nominally in-orbit, stabilized itself after separation with the launcher, re-entered and re-established communication after black out," the company said in a statement. "We are still investigating the root causes and will share more information soon. We apologize to all our clients who entrusted us with their payloads." Maybe It Was the Parachutes Reestablishing communications with the spacecraft after the blackout period suggests that the vehicle got through the most thermally challenging part of reentry into Earth's atmosphere and perhaps validated the spacecraft's handling and ability to withstand maximum heating. Following this, according to the company's timeline for Mission Possible, the capsule's parachutes were due to deploy at a velocity between Mach 0.8 and Mach 0.6. The parachutes were selected for their "proven flight heritage," the company said, and were procured from US-based Airborne Systems, which provides parachutes used by SpaceX's Dragon, Boeing's Starliner, and other spacecraft. Given when the spacecraft was lost, it seems most likely that there was a problem with the deployment of the drogue or main parachutes. Mission Possible was a 2.5-meter diameter demonstration vehicle that was among the larger payloads launched Monday afternoon on SpaceX's Transporter 14 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission sought to test four primary areas of spaceflight: structural performance in orbital flight, surviving reentry, autonomous navigation, and recovery in real-world conditions. It only clearly failed in this final task, recovering the vehicle within three days to return on-board payloads to customers. Meeting an Aggressive Timeline It is refreshing to have such clear and concise communication from a space company, especially the acknowledgment that a flight was a partial failure, within hours of launch. And it is not a surprise that there were technical challenges on a vehicle that was put together fairly rapidly and at a low cost. In an interview with Ars last November, the founder of The Exploration Company, Hélène Huby, said Mission Possible was developed at a cost of about $20 million in 2.5 years, in addition to $10 million for the rideshare launch on the Falcon 9 rocket. At the time, she said Mission Possible was on track to launch this summer, and the company met this timeline. Given the potential issues with the parachute system or other problems near touchdown, it is possible that The Exploration Company may fly another subscale demonstration mission before moving into development of its full-size Nyx cargo spacecraft. "This partial success reflects both ambition and the inherent risks of innovation," the company said Tuesday morning. "Leveraging the technical milestones achieved yesterday and the lessons we will extract from our ongoing investigation, we will then prepare to re-fly as soon as possible." Working Toward Nyx To date, the company has raised more than $230 million and plans to use much of that for the development of Nyx, which could fly as early as 2028 and focus on cargo delivery missions to low-Earth orbit. By demonstrating this capability, Huby said her company would like to secure funding from the European Space Agency to develop a crew-rated version of the spacecraft and a vehicle to return cargo from the Moon. This is not an unreasonable plan. SpaceX required significant funding from NASA, nearly $3 billion, to develop its Crew Dragon vehicle after demonstrating an initial cargo version. Huby said The Exploration Company would require a similar amount of funding from European nations. It is not possible to raise that money from private capital markets right now by promising a great return a decade from now. By one metric, Monday's flight was a significant success. Compared to the United States and China, the commercial space industry in Europe has lagged behind, beset by a less favorable environment for startups and opposition by large, traditional space companies that have dominated Europe's orbital activities for decades. The Exploration Company reached space with a fairly large vehicle and flew it back through Earth's atmosphere less than four years after its founding. This is a credible start for the company. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
