Latest news with #Hardiman
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'I have nothing to hide': New role for former chief of scandal-hit CHI cost State €123k in legal fees
The State incurred a legal cost of €123,000 in creating a new role for the former CEO of Children's Health Ireland at her same salary after the minister for health declined to renew her contract. Eilish Hardiman, who had been on medical leave in October 2023 when it became clear she would not be given a third term at the helm of CHI, subsequently took legal action in order to ensure her continued employment. Addressing the issue at the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday morning, Ms Hardiman acknowledged that the terms of the settlement which saw her appointed as strategic programme director at CHI last year on an equivalent salary to the CEO of €184,000 are subject to a non-disclosure agreement. However, she insisted: 'I have nothing to hide." She said she could not waive the terms of that NDA in order to address the matter further at the PAC as two other people were also involved in the agreement and would also have to waive their right to confidentiality. Then minister for health, Stephen Donnelly, ruled that Ms Hardiman's contract should not be renewed in late 2023 amid the fallout from several scandals at CHI, including the insertion of non-medical grade springs into the spines of children during surgery and the alleged carrying out of unnecessary hip dysplasia surgeries on other children. Ms Hardiman said that she had retained legal counsel when it became clear her contract would not be renewed due to 'an employment law matter', that being that she was entitled to a contract of indefinite duration as she had worked two separate five-year contracts as the head of CHI. The committee heard that the legal cost of the mediation talks between Ms Hardiman and CHI which led to her re-appointment in the alternate role amounted to €123,000 after tax, and that bill had been footed by the Chief State Solicitor's Office. 2021 report CHI's new chief executive Lucy Nugent said that 'in hindsight' the organisation should have informed both the Comptroller and Auditor General and the NTPF about a 2021 report into issues surrounding waiting list management, including the fact that a consultant had allegedly referred public patients to his own private weekend clinics. She said, however, that the first she had heard about the report was when she received a media query regarding same in May of this year from the Sunday Times. Asked why she had not informed her successor about the report during the handover of the CEO function, Ms Hardiman said that 'a lot of the issues in the report had been addressed'. She said the report was confidential and 'never intended to be shared'. 'The issues were known to management and had been raised with the HSE. What's most important is that it was raised through the proper channels,' Ms Hardiman said. She conceded that she had never raised the matter with the Medical Council, something Ms Nugent has done recently on two occasions. When asked why the matter had not been raised with the gardaí, as it had been by the HSE, Ms Nugent said she did not believe that the threshold for escalating matters in that fashion had been reached, adding that she did not believe the funds of the NTPF had been misused with regard to what had transpired.
Sustainability Times
24-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Farmers Freak Out': This Wild New AI Warns of Crop Diseases Before You Even See a Single Rotting Leaf
IN A NUTSHELL 🌾 AI integration in agriculture is revolutionizing farming practices by providing real-time crop health monitoring solutions. in agriculture is revolutionizing farming practices by providing real-time crop health monitoring solutions. 🏙️ Researchers are utilizing AI to decode urban ecosystems , offering insights that improve urban living conditions. , offering insights that improve urban living conditions. 🐄 The development of AI-powered medical robots for livestock enhances veterinary care with continuous, detailed monitoring. for livestock enhances veterinary care with continuous, detailed monitoring. 🌱 Purdue University is pioneering AI-driven tools to improve crop yields and build climate-resilient agriculture systems. In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into agriculture has transformed traditional farming practices. Researchers from Purdue University have been at the forefront, leveraging advanced AI technologies to monitor and enhance crop health. This groundbreaking work is not only reshaping the agricultural landscape but also providing real-time solutions to global challenges such as food security and climate change. By deploying these technologies, scientists aim to make farming more efficient, adaptive, and sustainable, ultimately benefiting both farmers and the environment. Decoding Urban Ecosystems with AI The application of AI in urban ecology has opened new avenues for understanding complex urban environments. Brady Hardiman, an associate professor at Purdue University, has been instrumental in this field. Using AI and machine learning, he analyzes remote sensing data with LiDAR imagery to uncover patterns and processes invisible to the naked eye. This technology allows researchers to study urban ecosystems comprehensively, identifying key factors that influence city life. As Hardiman points out, with 80% of the U.S. population residing in urban areas, understanding these ecosystems is crucial for improving urban living conditions and addressing environmental challenges. Hardiman's work at Purdue's Institute for Digital Forestry exemplifies the potential of AI to drive significant change in urban planning and management. By decoding the intricacies of urban ecosystems, AI enables city planners and policymakers to make informed decisions that enhance the quality of life for urban residents. This approach not only benefits cities but also contributes to global efforts in sustainability and environmental stewardship. 'Scientists Turn Trash Into Treasure': US Researchers Revolutionize Biofuels by Transforming Corn Waste into Affordable Sugar for Future Energy Needs Revolutionizing Veterinary Care with Medical Robots In another groundbreaking initiative, Purdue researcher Upinder Kaur has developed an AI-powered medical robot designed to operate within a cow's stomach. This innovative technology offers continuous monitoring of vital biomarkers such as methane, temperature, and pH levels, providing detailed insights into the animal's digestive health. Unlike traditional tools that offer limited data collection, this robot delivers comprehensive, real-time analysis, revolutionizing veterinary care. Kaur's invention represents a significant advancement in animal health management, offering farmers a powerful tool to optimize livestock care. By providing a deeper understanding of the rumen's functioning, this technology enables proactive interventions, improving animal welfare and productivity. Such advancements underscore the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, extending its benefits beyond crop management to encompass holistic farm management solutions. Not China, Not Egypt: This Colossal European Megastructure Is the Largest Man-Made Wonder Visible From Space Enhancing Crop Yields and Climate Resilience Purdue University's research efforts extend to enhancing crop yields and building climate resilience in agriculture. Diane Wang's lab, for instance, employs advanced machine learning models to simulate rice yields under future climate scenarios. Ph.D. student Sajad Jamshidi has pioneered an ensemble of ten machine learning models, significantly improving the accuracy of yield predictions. This approach equips farmers with the knowledge needed to adapt to changing climate conditions, ensuring food security. Similarly, professor Ankita Raturi has developed decision-support tools that empower farmers and policymakers to make data-driven decisions. Her 'Netflix for crops' tool recommends optimal crops based on soil, water, and specific agricultural goals, facilitating precision farming. By simulating food systems through agent-based models, Raturi's work also aids in effective policymaking, promoting sustainable agricultural practices that align with environmental and economic objectives. 'We Built This for Pennies': Insanely Cheap Duct Tape Robot Gripper Shocks Scientists by Screwing In Lightbulbs with Ease Resource-Efficient, Real-Time Agricultural Solutions Innovations in resource-efficient technologies have further advanced AI's role in agriculture. Somali Chaterji, a Purdue associate professor, has developed semi-supervised models for detecting rare crop diseases, employing limited labeled images to expand training datasets through confident predictions. This approach allows farmers to identify outbreaks swiftly, reducing chemical usage and enhancing crop yields. Chaterji's ICAN lab also introduced Agile3D, a LiDAR-based perception tool that operates on low-power devices like drones and autonomous tractors. This technology facilitates real-time crop monitoring without requiring constant connectivity, making it an ideal solution for remote farming areas. Collectively, these innovations highlight AI's potential to complement human expertise, fostering sustainable agricultural practices in an ever-evolving world. As AI continues to revolutionize agriculture, its applications promise to address critical global challenges. By enhancing crop management, optimizing resource use, and building climate resilience, these technologies are paving the way for a sustainable future. How might further advancements in AI reshape the agricultural sector and contribute to global food security in the coming decades? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (28)
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
2 young men charged for bringing fully loaded weapons to Pontiac high school graduation
Police charged two young men accused of bringing an AR-style pistol and a Glock semi-automatic handgun — both unregistered and fully loaded with 40-round magazines — to a high school graduation in Pontiac, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald's office announced on June 9. Jamarion Hardiman, 20, and Deahveon Whaley, 19, are each charged with carrying a firearm with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and carrying a concealed weapon, McDonald's office said in a news release. More: Authorities find loaded weapons at Pontiac high school's graduation Neither suspect was a graduating student but had ongoing disputes with others in the community, authorities have said. The pair went to the graduation together on June 3 at the United Wholesale Mortgage campus, where they allegedly got into a brawl with others but did not fire any rounds. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard previously said it's likely deputies "prevented a mass shooting." "Just those two weapons without changing magazines had 80 rounds of potential firepower shooting into a graduation," Bouchard said. "You can only imagine the outcome of that." Police were initially called in on reports of the brawl. Surveillance video shows Hardiman assaulting someone inside the sports complex, and then, sometime after, Hardiman, Whaley, and others involved in the fight leaving the building, according to McDonald's office. The brawl continued in the parking lot, where Hardiman was struck by a car, "apparently without injury," the news release details. Hardiman and Whaley then went to their car to get the guns — for Whaley, a firearm to carry in his waistband, and for Hardiman, a "distinctive backpack" that held the AR-style pistol, prosecutors allege in the news release. Authorities say the pair abandoned the weapons under parked vehicles. When they exited the car, the pair is seen in surveillance footage crouching behind and between cars in the parking lot, McDonald's office said. Deputies were informed at the time of a possible shooting threat made on Snapchat. McDonald's office said on June 9 that those threats have not been verified. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 charged after loaded weapons found at Pontiac high school graduation
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
2 face charges after guns found near Pontiac graduation ceremony
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Two Pontiac men face weapons charges after the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said they intended to 'shoot up' a high school graduation on the southeast side of the state last week. Jamarion Hardiman, 20, and Deahveon Whaley, 19, are each accused of carrying a firearm with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. 2 planned to 'shoot up' graduation in Pontiac, sheriff says The graduation for a Pontiac charter school was held June 3 at the UWM Sports Complex. The prosecutor's office says surveillance video shows Hardiman and Whaley — neither of whom attended the charter school, authorities previously said — go in to the building together. Hardiman then attacked an 'unidentified individual,' prosecutors said. Security broke up the fight and got them to go outside, but the fight resumed in the parking lot. Surveillance video shows Hardiman was then hit by a car, though he seemed uninjured. Prosecutors say he and Whaley went back to their car, where Whaley put a gun in his waistband and Hardiman grabbed a backpack. Surveillance video later showed them crouching near cars in the parking lot, where investigators say they ditched the gun and backpack — which authorities say contained a second gun. '(The guns were) fully loaded with high-capacity magazines. Each weapon had a 40-round magazine,' Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a news conference Friday. 'I believe (deputies and security) probably prevented a mass shooting.' Whaley was arrested Wednesday. Hardiman was arrested within hours of the news conference, at which Bouchard asked the public for help finding him. The sheriff's office said a witness reported having seen a Snapchat post threatening to 'shoot up' the graduation. But the prosecutor's office said deputies have so far not been able to track that post down or get the name of the witness who reported seeing it. If that changes, the prosecutor's office said, more charges may be filed. Bouchard said both suspects have histories of violence and Hardiman was already on probation for a weapons offense. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
06-06-2025
Possible mass shooting at graduation thwarted; guns recovered, 1 suspect at large: Sheriff
A possible mass shooting plot at a Michigan graduation ceremony was thwarted, authorities said, and police are searching for one of the suspects who remains at large. The apparent plot was revealed after authorities responded to a fight that broke out during the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac graduation, which was held Tuesday at a business in Pontiac, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "A person approached our deputies and gave them information that a family member had told them that they had seen on Snapchat a threat to shoot up this graduation ceremony," Bouchard said at a news conference Friday. Authorities kept investigating and recovered two loaded guns with high-capacity magazines from under cars in the parking lot, the sheriff said. Law enforcement "probably prevented a mass shooting," the sheriff said. One suspect, 19-year-old Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley, has been arrested, Bouchard said. Authorities are searching for a second suspect, 20-year-old Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman, the sheriff said. Hardiman and Whaley were not students at the K-12 charter school but were connected via "friends and relatives," the sheriff said, and they appeared to have "ongoing disputes with individuals in the community." Hardiman and Whaley "have a history of being involved with weapons and violence," he added. Bouchard said he's alarmed "how close it was, potentially, to being another mass shooting." Oakland County is home to Oxford High School, where teenager Ethan Crumbley carried out a mass shooting in 2021. The sheriff urged the public to share information about threats of violence. "If you see something, say something," he said. In this thwarted attack, "Someone saw that [Snapchat] post," Bouchard said, but deputies "didn't hear about it until after we had arrived on the scene" to respond to the fight. Anyone who sees Hardiman should call 911, the sheriff said.
