Latest news with #Lowry
Axios
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Axios
NOAA will maintain vital satellite data used for hurricane forecasting
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will maintain long-term access to key Defense Department satellite data used for hurricane forecasting and more, the agency said in a statement Tuesday. Why it matters: The potential loss of the data threw a monkey wrench in forecasting operations just ahead of what's expected to be an above-average hurricane season. Driving the news: "The Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) has announced plans to continue distribution of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) data beyond July 31, 2025," NOAA said in a statement, referring to a U.S. Navy forecasting unit and a DoD-run weather satellite program. "As a result, there will be no interruption to DMSP data delivery and NOAA will continue to have access to data from DMSP for the duration of the program's life span." News of the extension was earlier reported by meteorologist Michael Lowry, who previously wrote a detailed explanation of the program and its many benefits to forecasters. Catch up quick: The Defense Department shocked the meteorology world in June when it unexpectedly announced that access to the satellite data would be suspended due to undefined cybersecurity issues. The Pentagon later granted a monthlong extension that was set to expire this Thursday, July 31. What they're saying: The about-face "means our hurricane forecast tools should stay intact," Lowry posted Tuesday morning. "Crisis averted." Between the lines: Weather data is vital to both military operations and civilian users. The DMSP has been collecting weather data for U.S. military operations for more than five decades, according to the U.S. Space Force.
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
U.S. hurricane forecasters losing critical access to government data
* U.S. hurricane forecasters losing critical access to government data U.S. to suspend data sharing from three meteorological satellites after July * Data loss hinders ability to monitor hurricanes accurately * Hurricane forecasters left using half of previous remote sensing data By Rachel Parsons LOS ANGELES, - Nine months after Hurricane Helene ripped through Shirley Scholl's home in Florida, inundating it with four feet of storm surge and sewage, her family can finally see some rebuilding progress. Crews working on the skinny island of Clearwater Beach just off the coast have started to elevate the remains of the structure more than 13 feet to meet new federal building regulations in response to the devastating hurricane. The disaster in September 2024 killed at least 250 people and caused nearly $79 billion in damages, making it the deadliest hurricane in the U.S. in 20 years, according to the National Weather Service. "We had to take everything in the whole house down to the studs," said Lisa Avram, Scholl's daughter, who is overseeing the reconstruction. But as families rebuild from last year's storms, this year's Atlantic hurricane season is underway, with even more risk than before. Not only do forecasters warn it will likely be busier than average, with three to five "major" hurricanes predicted, but the job of forecasting has become more challenging. The U.S. Department of Defense last month surprised hurricane forecasters by announcing it was suspending data sharing from three of its meteorological satellites, cutting the available data that meteorologists use by about half. The data sharing has helped forecasters accurately pinpoint the size, location and intensity of hurricanes for two decades. "It's all sorts of problematic," said Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist with television station WPLG in Miami, Florida, and formerly of the National Hurricane Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . NOAA issued an internal message announcing the service would end no later than June 30. After a last minute intervention by the space agency NASA, NOAA announced the service would extend until no later than July 31 and was being suspended to "mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk." "[The data sets] were really important for telling us how strong a hurricane currently is, but also how strong it might get," Lowry said. These are not run-of-the-mill satellites tracking things from high above the clouds as seen on radar images but operate in low polar orbits using microwaves to 'see into' a hurricane in ways other satellites cannot, according to Lowry. Without them, the ability for forecasters to issue early warnings is hobbled, he said. "With less time to prepare for a hurricane, people can't evacuate. You have a lot more people and lives that are at risk," Lowry said, adding that emergency management services cannot pre-position resources such as search-and-rescue teams that look for survivors. The loss of data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program means the amount of remote sensing information forecasters can access drops by half, Lowry said. With three fewer government satellites available to forecasters, the remaining satellites may only produce information on a strengthening hurricane every six to 12 hours instead of every few hours, giving storms a much bigger window to grow without being observed, he said. Traditional satellites offer limited detail during the day and produce even less at night. "The concern is what many in our community would call a 'sunrise surprise,' where you go to bed at eight o'clock at night and it's a tropical storm," Lowry said. "And we wake up in the morning and it's on the doorstep, and it's a Category Three or Four hurricane," he said. 'GIANT LOSS' Thousands of miles from the tropical hurricane zone, sea ice is closely tracked by the DMSP satellites as well. Climatologists who study polar sea ice and climate change have used these data sets for decades, said Zachary Labe, a climate scientist at the nonprofit research organization Climate Central. Losing access is "quite shocking," Labe said. "These satellites … have really told the story of Arctic climate change for the last almost five decades now," he said. "It's been a real key data for cryosphere science," allowing observation of long-term sea ice variability and trends, he added. Coastal communities such as those in Alaska rely on sea ice information to help prepare for storms and flooding and make decisions about transportation and hunting. Labe said other satellites controlled by countries such as Japan have the same capability. But Japan's systems have not been operating as long, and now there is a "scramble" to match timelines of different satellites so there is no gap in the record. Climate scientists need "more data, not less," and the satellites served a wide variety of climate research, he said. "It's a giant loss," Labe said. A U.S. Navy spokesperson confirmed in an email that DMSP data sharing would end on July 31. The DMSP is scheduled to be discontinued altogether in September 2026," given it "no longer meets our information technology modernization requirements," according to the spokesperson. In Florida, Lisa Avram and her family live day-to-day on tenterhooks. Losing satellite information seems like a "seriously dangerous proposition" for herself and other storm survivors who have their houses in various phases of the elevation. "We're in hurricane season, so when your house is up in the air, they're even more dangerous because they're not secured," she said. "I worry every time the wind blows here if my mom's house is going to be OK." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Politico
16 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Don Tracy considers governor bid
Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. Brace for it. Colbert cancellation could mean more Trump jokes, not fewer, reports WBEZ's Mike Davis Illinois Playbook at the Hideout on Aug. 7 featuring Congressman Mike Quigley. Details here TOP TALKER 2026 INTRIGUE: A familiar Republican name is eyeing the 2026 governor's race. Don Tracy, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, confirmed to Lee Enterprises' Brenden Moore that he is actively considering a bid for the state's top job. 'I'm taking a hard look at it,' Tracy told Moore, noting he's been 'making some calls' and that 'several people' have urged him to throw his hat into the ring. The potential candidacy comes at a time when the Illinois GOP is in a prolonged wilderness stretch, failing to win a statewide race in nearly a decade. Tracy may be the Republican to change that. He's a Springfield attorney and businessman with ties to the party's donor class. And though he stepped down as chair last year, Tracy's name still carries weight in Republican circles. It wouldn't be easy. Incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire with virtually unlimited resources and a finely tuned political operation, announced in June that he will seek a third term. The governor has already signaled an aggressive campaign that focuses on attacking extremism. THE BUZZ SILLY SEASON: It turns out Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry isn't endorsing fellow Commissioner Donna Miller's bid for Congress after all. Last week, Miller's campaign trumpeted endorsements featuring suburban mayors and 10 of her County Board colleagues, including Lowry. It seemed like a show of unity. Not so fast. After seeing our report on the endorsements, Lowry's political spokesperson said he's not endorsing Miller, or anyone, in the IL-02 congressional race for the seat now held by Rep. Robin Kelly, who's running for U.S. Senate. The back story: More than a year ago, Lowry agreed to endorse Miller if she were to run for Congress, and she in turn would endorse him if he ran for Cook County Board president, according to folks in both their camps. But since Board President Toni Preckwinkle is seeking reelection, Lowry's not running. Preckwinkle, meanwhile, is backing state Sen. Robert Peters in the race. He said, she said: Lowry's team said they notified Miller's team in May about the non-endorsement. But Miller's team says Lowry's team signaled earlier this month that he was supporting her. The takeaway: In Illinois politics, alliances can be fragile and timing is everything. If you are Bill Lowry, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB At Lessie Bates Senior Circle Cafe in East St. Louis at 11 a.m. to hold a roundtable discussion addressing SNAP cuts WHERE's BRANDON At City Hall at 9:30 a.m. for his regular media briefing — At the Rainbow Push Coalition at 6 p.m. for the Community Youth Lakeside Chat Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — In IL-09: Daniel Biss has been endorsed by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim in his bid for the open IL-09 congressional seat. 'Daniel Biss is a tough advocate and effective leader for the people he has served,' Pappas said in a statement. 'He has been responsible with public money and made smart investments for his communities.' — In IL-02: The IAM Union, formally known as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, has endorsed Robert Peters in the IL-02 congressional district race. Peters is a state senator who chairs the Illinois Senate Labor Committee. — State Sen. Sue Rezin, who serves as deputy Republican leader, is returning to the trail. 'After a lot of thought and discussions, I have decided to run for reelection to protect taxpayers' pocketbooks, strengthen public safety and keep and grow good-paying jobs right here at home in the 38th Senate District,' she said in a statement. Rezin has been serving in the General Assembly since 2010. Her launch video is here. THE STATEWIDES — Gov. JB Pritzker signs two more gun control measures: One requires Illinoisans to more quickly report lost firearms, and another mandates law enforcement agencies statewide participate in a federal gun tracing platform, by the Tribune's Olivia Olander and Jeremy Gorner. — Hospitals are scaling back trans care for youth. A rapid response team is stepping in: 'The team has a network of practitioners in Illinois who don't rely on payments from the federal government, which threatens to cut funding to gender-affirming care providers,' by WBEZ's Kristen Schorsch. — Rate increases, express lanes, new highways considered in tollway's latest strategic plan: 'Board directors on Monday approved a 20-year road map that intertwines road building and repairs with 'innovation, equity and sustainability,' by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke. — ComEd closes $10M customer relief fund after 70,000 applications, by the Tribune's Robert Channick CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools official tells families budget cuts will mean changes on their campuses: 'Students may see fewer hot school meals, delays in updating technology, fewer crossing guards and other changes,' by Chalkbeat's Mila Koumpilova. — Restaurants feeling impact of tariff uncertainty, policy shifts: 'New ordinances have required Chicago restaurants to give workers paid time off and higher hourly wages. Cook County property taxes have risen, and rents alongside them. Add in broad economic factors, and Chicago restaurants' labor and product costs have increased more than 35 percent since 2020, according to the Illinois Restaurant Association,' by Crain's Ally Marotti. COOK COUNTY — Rolling Meadows hopes for redevelopment near Bears' potential new home: 'The visibility of this location is really important as far as a gateway into and out of our community, and especially knowing what might be coming in the future down the road, that may make this site a highly desirable development site,' City Manager Rob Sabo said, by the Daily Herald's Christopher Placek. SPOTTED — Illinois Atty. Gen. Kwame Raoul hosted a fundraiser Monday at Joy District in Chicago for Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. In the room: Congresswoman Robin Kelly, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Rep. Kim duBuclet, Ald. Matt Martin, former state Sen. Jacqueline Collins and former state Sen. Majority Leader James Clayborne. TAKING NAMES — Lenny Innocenzi, a restaurateur and community leader, has received the Highland Park Community Foundation's Jack Blane Community Service Award, named for longtime public servant Jack Blane. The award recognizes residents 'who go above and beyond in their dedication to the Highland Park-Highwood community.' Innocenzi is the former owner of Buffo's in Highwood and helped establish Highwood Days. — George Lucas finally comes to Comic-Con to give a preview of his new museum, by The Associated Press' Andrew Dalton Reader Digest We asked what mascot besides an elephant and donkey you'd choose for the major political parties. Michael Churchill: 'Pangolin because it would help raise awareness about endangered species that need our protection.' Cynthia Ann Given: 'Tiger because it's independent and represents strength, courage and strategic thinking.' Kent Gray: 'Niffler, from Harry Potter, for the Democratic Party.' Lucas Hawley: 'The capybara for an anti-war or anti-interventionist party because it is peaceful and a friend to all.' Jim Lyons: 'A female kangaroo. The pouch ... to store envelopes.' Joseph Monack: 'A capybara because it brings peace and joy.' Dennis Rendleman: 'For Independents, the pangolin. They are passive — their defense is to roll into a ball — and endangered, making them the most trafficked animals in the world. Other than eating only insects, they sound like Independents.' Charlie Schlenker: 'A mugwump.' NEXT QUESTION: Is it better to work inside the system for change, or challenge it from the outside? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Durbin demands tapes of Ghislaine Maxwell interviews: 'The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee also pressed the Justice Department for a promise that Maxwell will not be pardoned for her cooperation in matters related to the Jeffrey Epstein files,' by The New York Times' Annie Karni. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Federal employees can pray and preach in the workplace under new Trump rules, by POLITICO's Gregory Svirnovskiy — Trump, breaking with Netanyahu, acknowledges 'real starvation' in Gaza, by POLITICO's Myah Ward IN MEMORIAM — Hall of Famer and Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies after battle with prostate cancer: 'Sandberg still holds the modern-era franchise record for runs scored (1,316). Among right-handed hitters, he leads the pack in career singles (1,624) as a Cubs and triples in a single season (19 in 1984),' by the Sun-Times' Maddie Lee. TRANSITIONS — Tom Carney has been named assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. He's the former commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation. — Devin Carpenter is now a partner in Honigman's Litigation Department. He joins from DLA Piper. EVENTS — Tonight: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is hosting a Community Town Hall featuring Democratic AGs Letitia James (New York), Keith Ellison (Minnesota), Peter Neronha (Rhode Island) and Nick Brown (Washington). Topic: The impact of federal actions on Illinois. RSVP here — Tonight: Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) will host a town hall at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium starting at 6:30 p.m. — Tonight: State Sen. Bill Cunningham and state Reps. Mary Gill and Rick Ryan will host a 'Healthcare is a Human Right Town Hall' at 5:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Park Public Library in Chicago. — Wednesday: It's National Cheesecake Day, and Eli's Cheesecake will be passing 45-cent slices at its Forest Preserve Drive location and free slices at three locations around Chicago. Here's where you can find them. TRIVIA MONDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Brandon Lee for correctly answering that the late California Sen. S.I. Hayakawa wrote for the Chicago Defender during the 1940s. TODAY's QUESTION: Which Arlington Heights native and DePaul basketball alum spent a season coaching the Chicago Rockers of the Continental Basketball Association? Email your answer to: skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ashley Jenkins-Jordan, the chief of staff for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon; Yusuf Nekzad, legislative director for Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski; broadcaster Sam Brief and former NBA star and Farragut Academy alum Tony Brown. And belated greetings to Kieran Lawless of Sen. Dick Durbin's office, who celebrated Monday. -30-
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How Quentin Blake broke his own rules for L.S. Lowry portrait
Curators have revealed how Sir Quentin Blake broke his own rules to complete a portrait of painter L. S. Lowry for the gallery that bears the famous Mancunian artist's name. An exhibition of the work of Sir Quentin, who has written or illustrated over 500 books and is most widely known for his drawings in Roald Dahl's books, has opened at The Lowry in Simpson, the gallery's director of visual art, said the exhibition featured work from across his career, including a new portrait of the centre's namesake, which Sir Quentin initially declined to do. "He was very sweet and he said, 'I'm sorry, I don't do drawings of real people unless it's myself,'" Mr Simpson said. "Then, a couple of days later, suddenly out of the blue, this drawing appears and it's Lowry leaning on his stick with his notepad in his hand, which is perfect for this exhibition because that's what all the kids are doing," Mr Simpson said. "And it's an absolutely charming illustration, which I'm delighted to say he's presented to The Lowry." Mr Simpson said the portrait demonstrated how involved the 92-year-old had been in the development of the exhibition. In a quote, featured underneath the portrait on the gallery wall, Sir Quentin says: "I can't express how delighted I was to be asked to draw L.S. Lowry."I have learned from experience that drawing likenesses is not something I am best at. However, for some reason I found I could draw Lowry and it was a real pleasure."Mr Simpson said the exhibition had an interactive focus aimed at inspiring children and adults to do their own drawing and writing. He said: "The great thing about Quentin Blake's work is that there are books published in the 60s and 70s that parents and grandparents remember, but of course there are also the newer books that he's done that children are reading in school."The exhibition is free to attend and runs until January 2026. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Civil servant knew a year before Cabinet that Arts Council IT project might need to restart
The Government's chief information officer was aware, well over a year before the issue was raised at Cabinet, that the Arts Council 's botched information technology (IT) project may need to restart. The senior civil servant, who is based in the Department of Public Expenditure , ordered an external review of the IT grants system in early 2024 after learning it could take three more years to finish. That review found that the IT system was not viable, that the project could overrun and that the final system may not even be used by the council. Despite this, the review formed the basis of a 'rescue' plan, in which the council asked the Department of Culture for 'significant investment' to save the project. [ Three firms that shared €4.8m from Arts Council for abandoned IT project named Opens in new window ] In response, the council's parent department sanctioned the council to hire two more senior IT roles in an attempt to save the doomed project. By this point, the project was geared towards overhauling the grants management system for the arts sector and had already cost almost €6 million. READ MORE Government chief information officer Barry Lowry was involved in advising the council throughout the project in his capacity as the main adviser on public service information and communication technology. [ Government to appoint chief information officer Opens in new window ] Mr Lowry was approached by the council in December 2023, as the State agency became increasingly concerned about the then almost four-year-long project that had not produced a functioning IT system. Correspondence between Mr Lowry and the council in December 2023, released under Freedom of Information legislation, shows he was aware the project may need to begin again. 'What you certainly need at this stage is an accurate cost/time to fix or an honest assessment that you would be better starting again,' noted Mr Lowry. He added that 'if, and I hope this is not the case, you are in the start again space', his office had 'grant management solutions' used for the Department of Public Expenditure that should be shown to the council. Mr Lowry was also aware that the state of the project could result in the council taking legal action against at least one contractor. In a meeting with the council in January 2024, Mr Lowry asked to discuss the suggestion that the IT project 'could be delayed by a further three years'. By February, he had ordered Storm, a technology consultancy firm, to conduct a two-week review of the architecture of the council IT project. The Office of the Chief Government Information Officer paid for the review, which was scheduled to cost no more than €50,000. A document prepared by the council said any architectural review should consider if the project was compliant with 'design principles' and value for money. Following the Storm review, the council wrote to the Department of Culture explaining the report showed 'we are at an extremely critical juncture with the project, one which requires making significant investment in ... the short term ... in order to rescue the overall project'. These emails, which were released by the council to the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee , show the arts agency succeeded in getting sanction to hire two new directors of IT. A spokesman for the Department of Public Expenditure said it 'has been very clear on numerous occasions that the focus of the OGCIO [Office of the Chief Government Information Officer] was solely on the technical issues with the project and not on the budgetary implications, which was a matter for the Arts Council and its parent department'. The spokesman said the Storm review ordered by Mr Lowry 'did not examine the project costs or business case, which remained the responsibility of the parent department'. A Department of Public Expenditure spokesman said that the review ordered by Mr Lowry found that the system 'was not irretrievable but would have an associated cost in relation to necessary actions to ensure its capability. At no stage did this review examine the cost of the project, as it focused on technical fitness for purpose.' 'Ultimately, the Arts Council and its board decided to take an alternate approach and in line with DGOU [Digital Government Oversight Unit] processes, it remained proper and correct that the Arts Council took the matter forward through its parent department.'
