Latest news with #IGNITE
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
How the IGNITE rehabilitation program is changing lives at the Fayette County Jail
How the IGNITE rehabilitation program is changing lives at the Fayette County Jail How the IGNITE rehabilitation program is changing lives at the Fayette County Jail How the IGNITE rehabilitation program is changing lives at the Fayette County Jail The IGNITE program has grown into a national movement with a mission: changing lives and giving inmates second chances. The goal of the rehabilitation program is to bring education, workforce development and life skills into county jails across the country. It was started by a local sheriff in Michigan, and Fayette County was the first jail in Pennsylvania to give it a shot. Fayette County Sheriff James Custer had the vision of bringing the IGNITE program to the jail, and the program has been so successful, it's become an example to other jails across the country. How the IGNITE program works IGNITE is offered to all incarcerated individuals at the jail, providing hope, encouragement, accountability, education and life skills. The program changes the culture of stigma in those who are incarcerated, embracing progress over punishment. "They want to improve. They want to be better than they were last year, better than they were yesterday and that's essentially the goal," said Warden John Lenkey. Each inmate gets the choice whether to participate. Once they're in, the only requirements include staying free of any misconduct, maintaining behavior inside the jail and participating in at least 16 hours a week in educational classes, either in person or virtually. "That's a combination of hours that's done on the tablet, which is through Edovo and CypherWorx, educational classes," Lenkey said. Lenkey says there are hundreds of options for inmates to choose from, like psychology, reading, financial literacy, interview training and parenting. "We're teaching them how to prepare cover letters, maybe how to do a resume, just the basics in Excel, Word, email etiquette," said human resources director Kristy Spiker. "There are good people in these classes, people that want to do better," Spiker. Inmates say the program gives them hope Joshua Mulnix, an inmate from Connellsville, says the program has given him life skills that he can use. You can take that in the occupation that you're looking for. And I know people doing time in here, you can be rusty, and this kind of just brushes you up on things," he said. Within just a few weeks, some inmates say their outlook has changed. "It has changed for the better," said Sierra Arbogast. Others admit they first got into the program just to spend time out of their cells but realized the good that could come from it. "After actually being in the class, I, for the first time, feel like there's hope," said inmate Rebecca Rhodes. "I love it. I learned a lot from it. It kind of helps me with my goals that I want to do when I get out. I really like the classes," said Carthell Hardnatt, an inmate from Detroit, Michigan. Mulnix said he feels like it's making a difference, both for him and his family. Warden touts "undeniable proof" of the program Lenkey says since the program kicked off last year, there have been zero misconducts, fights or assaults by those participating in IGNITE. "We're developing a stack of undeniable proof of data that says it is working, and not just here, but throughout the nation," Lenkey said. According to a study done by Harvard, the U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Since IGNITE launched in 27 counties and 14 states, studies show the program has reduced recidivism by 23%. And being in IGNITE for one month reduces weekly jail misconduct by 49%. "These people really just want something to keep them on the straight path in life and I think everything we are doing is maybe helping them on that direction," Spiker said. "I am far more than the blue uniform or the maroons. You know, I'm far more than an inmate at Fayette County Jail," said Rhodes. Fifty-five inmates took part in the latest IGNITE semester. At their graduation, they're not only awarded with new certifications that can help with jobs when they get out, but it allows inmates to see their loved ones. Inmates graduate from IGNITE program
Business News Wales
2 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Green Steel Hub Set to Share £44m of Innovation Funding
A Welsh project working to green steel is one of four new manufacturing hubs which will share £44 million in government funding. The Indigenous Green-steel for Net-zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise (IGNITE) Hub aims to reshape steel design and use to deliver environmental and economic resilience for key areas of the economy including defence, transport, and energy. IGNITE is led by Professor Cameron Pleydell-Pearce at Swansea University and is funded by an £11 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of their flagship Sustainable Manufacturing Research Hubs programme. It is complemented by £11.9 million in partner funding. More than 30 partners, including steelmakers, scrap processors, Network Rail, Nissan and Rolls Royce, and government departments such as DESNZ, DEFRA and DBT, are involved in the hub. Its seven-year research programme is designed to transform steel-intensive manufacturing. Hub Director Professor Cameron Pleydell-Pearce said: 'Steel has never been more important to the UK; it's a key material in everyday life. If something's not made of steel, it's made using steel. 'The IGNITE Hub will give us the opportunity to work with industry, supporting the resilience of the UK's manufacturing sector on the road to net-zero. This groundbreaking project will benefit everyone who relies on and uses steel products.' Backed by £44 million through the EPSRC, the four new Manufacturing Research Hubs for a Sustainable Future will bring together world-class researchers with more than 180 industry and civic partners to drive practical, sustainable innovation across the UK. The four hubs have attracted a total of £38.8 million in direct and indirect contributions from partners. Each hub will focus on a different critical area of manufacturing, from creating net-zero supply chains and resilient production systems to transforming waste and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Their work aims to support businesses of all sizes, deliver impact in regional economies, and provide workers with new skills in areas like AI, sustainability, and engineering biology. The IGNITE Hub builds on the success of the SUSTAIN Future Manufacturing Research Hub. SUSTAIN is a £35 million, seven-year initiative supported by £10 million from EPSRC and co-funded by universities, trade bodies, research and technology organisations, and businesses. The Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'It is great news that significant UK Government funding is coming to Wales to support this green steel manufacturing hub. Investing in research and innovation in sectors where there is huge potential for growth is vital for the Welsh economy and for the creation of new well-paid jobs.' UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) said this project was the latest in a series of research and innovation investments which are helping to drive regional growth in Wales. Investments are creating jobs and training opportunities, supporting business and helping to ensure a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous place to live, it said.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Over 60? Walking for just five minutes a day does this cool thing to your brain, according to new research
Five minutes of exercise doesn't sound like a lot, but according to new research, if you choose the right kind of exercise, you can boost your brain health, especially in adults over 60. The study, published in Age and Aging found that, rather than long exercise sessions, short bursts that raise your heart rate can help enhance cognitive performance. One exercise in particular was found to be most effective: brisk walking. Researchers analyzed data from 585 adults between the ages of 65 and 80, all of whom participated in the longitudinal IGNITE trial. The scientists examined the participants' sleep habits, physical activity levels, and sedentary behavior over 24 hours and compared this with their cognitive performance. The results showed that people who did more physical activity had better brain health, and that a less active lifestyle could be linked to a decline in cognitive functions. Yet when they looked into the data further, they found that doing just five minutes of exercise that raised participants' heart rates, such as a brisk walk, swimming, or jogging, was linked to better cognition. When participants completed more moderate-to-vigorous exercise, they had better processing speed (how fast your brain thinks), executive function (how well you focus and multitask,) and working memory (your ability to store information for short periods). According to the results of the study, 'moving from one minute of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day to [around] six minutes per day had the largest predicted differences in the domains of executive function/attentional control, processing speed, and working memory.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Any time you raise your heart rate, you increase the rate of blood flow to the brain in the body. Exercise and movement are proven to be good for brain health. When we talk about brisk walking, we mean walking at a speed that raises your heart rate. You should be breathing heavier, but you should be able to maintain the pace for the entire five minutes. You could always mix this brisk walk in with a warm-up and cool-down at a more leisurely pace to make a longer walking workout. There are several health benefits to walking — it can boost your cardiovascular fitness, help you build or maintain muscle, lose weight, and as this study found, help your cognitive function. When it comes to walking with good form, think about keeping your torso upright by engaging your core, sucking your belly button into your spine. If you're just getting started, you'll need a comfortable pair of sneakers. It can also be helpful to strap one of the best fitness trackers to your wrist to help keep track of your progress. Remember, any movement is better than none, so why not add just five minutes of walking to your day to reap the rewards.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Michigan leaders speak during Unite to Face Addiction rally at Capitol
Attendees lay flowers at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Addiction is a disease that impacts all Michiganders, from the Capitol to local communities, State Sen. Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe) told a large crowd outside the State Capitol Building Wednesday during the annual Unite to Face Addiction rally. Bellino has been vocal about his struggles with addiction prior to his time in the Legislature, telling attendees there is a lot of shame in addiction and making mistakes because addiction, but there is pride in recovery. 'This is my favorite day of the year, when addicts outnumber assholes in Lansing,' Bellino said. In Bellino's first year as a lawmaker, he told the crowd that he befriended another legislator, a Democrat, and the pair would go to recovery meetings together, staying sober together. But the other state representative ultimately lost their fight with addiction, killing themselves in 2017. About 17% of Americans aged 12 or older have experienced a substance abuse disorder, according to the 2023 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, or MDHHS, reported in 2024 that through efforts to provide harm reduction resources and recovery opportunities, Michigan's overdose death rate declined five times faster than the national average. Attendees listened to live music, laid flowers on the Capitol steps in honor of those who have experienced addiction and heard speakers advocate for hope in recovery. The fight against addiction is a statewide fight, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, a Democratic candidate for governor, told the crowd and there needs to be belief in recovery, that generations of addiction can be broken if communities work together. That's the soul of the IGNITE program in the Flint area, Swanson said. IGNITE, which stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education is a program in correctional facilities across the country that Swanson created to offer educational opportunities to those who've interacted with the justice system to have opportunities in the workforce. This week, Genesee County saw its 100th GED earned through the program since it launched in 2020. 'Keep fighting, fighting for the people, giving hope to people, believing in people, that's what's going to free people… not one person… on this stage, not one person on this lawn has not been touched by the disease of addiction and you are the one that needs to stand in the gap. So if you do your part, I do my part. We do our part, we will save lives every single day,' Swanson said. Sobriety is an everyday commitment for many who've experienced addiction and not enough attention is paid to the level of grit and hope that's required to take on the challenge of overcoming addiction, Chris Nixon, an addiction medicine specialist at Henry Ford Health told the crowd. Reflecting the journey of his wife, who has been clean from opioid addiction for eight years and the loss of his father and brother to addiction, Nixon said there is honor in fighting against addiction. Relapse is not defeat in addiction, Nixon said, perfection is not required, only a willingness to reset and start again. At a gathering of addicts and supporters like the Unite to Face Addiction rally, Nixon said there's likely attendees that have relapsed within the last 48 hours, but their decision to attend a rally where several recovery organizations are offering contact info and advocates are ready to support is a testament to their commitment to strive towards sobriety again. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Attendees lay flowers at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Chris Nixon, director of addiction medicine at Henry Ford Health Maplegrove Center speaks at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols Genesee County Chris Swanson (right) speaks at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amgen's Phase III trial of Imdelltra meets primary endpoint for SCLC
Amgen's global Phase III DeLLphi-304 trial of Imdelltra (tarlatamab-dlle) has met its primary endpoint at a planned interim analysis for treating small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients who advanced on or following a single line of platinum-based chemotherapy. The open-label, randomised, controlled study aims to assess the therapy's safety and efficacy for this patient population. In the trial, the therapy showed a meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS), which is the primary outcome measure of the trial, against local standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy. Subjects received SOC treatment or therapy, with topotecan being received in every nation excluding Japan; amrubicin in Japan; and lurbinectedin in Australia, Canada, Korea, Singapore, and the US. According to Amgen, Imdelltra's safety profile was found to be 'consistent' with the known profile. Engineered by the company's researchers, this immunotherapy targets delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), a protein prevalent in the majority of SCLC cells but rare in healthy cells. The therapy works by activating T cells to destroy cancer cells expressing DLL3, offering an approach for SCLC treatment. Amgen Research and Development executive vice-president Jay Bradner said: "SCLC is one of the most aggressive malignancies, with a high unmet need for more effective therapies. The topline results from DeLLphi-304 demonstrate overwhelming clinical benefits for people living with this devastating disease and affirm Imdelltra as a standard of care. "We look forward to sharing these results with the scientific community and health authorities as we continue our efforts to bring Imdelltra to patients worldwide." The company's DeLLphi trials encompass several studies investigating tarlatamab as a single agent and as combined regimens in prior SCLC lines. These include trials for first-line and maintenance treatments, as well as alternative dosing regimens. Last month, the company reported that the 24-week Phase III IGNITE trial of two dose strengths of rocatinlimab in individuals with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis met the co-primary endpoints. "Amgen's Phase III trial of Imdelltra meets primary endpoint for SCLC" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
