Going to space is cool, but so is serving as the Dean of Columbia College!

Happening in the World: Three astronauts touched down in a remote area of Kazakhstan Wednesday ending a year-long spaceflight, including NASA astronaut Frank Rubio. With his 371-day stay at the International Space Station—which was originally planned to be 180 days—Rubio now holds the record for the longest US spaceflight, topping Mark Vande Hei’s previous best by over two weeks. Their return home was delayed by six months due to an incident where space junk struck their descent capsule, and a replacement had to be sent up. (AP)

Happening in the US: The Hollywood writers strike has come to an end after nearly five months of shutting down production in the industry. The Writers Guild of America released a statement that its union leaders had voted unanimously to “lift the restraining order and end the strike.” This development follows news earlier this week that the union had reached a tentative agreement with studios. However, the Screen Actors Guild, who joined the strike in July, have yet to reach their own deal. (BBC)

Happening in NYC: Residents in East Harlem are speaking out after Target announced it will be shutting down its store at 116th and FDR Drive due to issues of “retail theft.” However, the residents in the surrounding area maintain that the store is an important and affordable resource for the community, and this closure will impact many families in the neighborhood. Members of the NYPD also expressed their disappointment, saying that they felt like they were making “progress” in improving the safety and security of the location. The store, which opened in 2009, was the first Target in Manhattan. (WABC)

Happening in Our Community: Professor and former Dean of Columbia College James Valentini will be hosting a conversation on the “Beginner’s Mind” this evening at 6 pm in the Earl Hall auditorium. The “Beginner’s Mind” guided Deantini throughout his tenure, emphasizing the importance of being open to new ideas and new experiences while setting aside our instincts for judgment. RSVP here.

Outer Space via Wikimedia Commons