Latest news with #LindaClark
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Judge reserves decision on injunction on Jevon McSkimming investigation
Former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Photo: Getty Images A High Court judge has reserved her decision on whether the media should be allowed to report the nature of the allegedly objectionable material found on former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming's work computer. McSkimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop last month amid a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police. His resignation came after Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was recently informed of allegations of a "very serious nature", separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended. RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming's work computer is being investigated as alleged objectionable material. He declined to comment on the allegations through his lawyer. His lawyer Linda Clark was earlier granted a rare "superinjunction" by Justice Grau that prohibited reporting the nature of the allegedly objectionable material, as well as the existence of the injunction itself. A teleconference was then held by Justice Gwyn from the High Court at Wellington to discuss the injunction with Clark, the police, and legal counsel for RNZ, Stuff and NZME. Following the conference, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued, but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ could report the fact of McSkimming's application and the interim result. On Tuesday, a hearing was held in the High Court at Wellington before Justice Karen Grau in relation to the injunction. RNZ, NZME and Stuff were jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC. McSkimming's lawyer, Linda Clark, began proceedings by telling the court she was seeking orders extending the current interim orders prohibiting media from disclosing the nature of the allegedly objectionable material reportedly found on his work device or devices. The order was sought until further orders of the court. Clark alleged information deemed "essential" to the investigation had been leaked to the media who were intending to publish the information. She said the orders sought were necessary to protect the rights of someone who is subject of an ongoing police investigation and who may yet be charged with a criminal offence. The information gathered during the police investigation was "confidential", she said. In relation to public interest, she said there was already information in the media about McSkimming. She said the public interest would be served in the event he was charged and stood trial. McSkimming was on notice that the police investigation was into material purportedly found on his devices. He had been told he would be invited to a formal interview, however, no request has been received to date. A police document, classified as "confidential", would be "the centrepiece of any criminal prosecution," Clark said. "It's on the basis of that information that the police can decide whether to continue the investigation, whether to look further and whether to charge, and what to charge." She said there was also an issue in terms of privacy, and said a person under criminal investigation, prior to being charged, has a reasonable expectation of privacy in respect of information relating to the investigation. Clark said she was trying to "preserve Mr McSkimming's rights to engage the Criminal Procedure act if and when he's charged". She said that every time police had provided some substantive piece of information to McSkimming it had appeared within the media "in a day or two days without exception". Clark said there was public interest in McSkimming's situation. She said public interest had been served to date. "If he is charged... there will be further opportunity for media to publish more information on charges themselves and during and after any trial," she said. "But publication now of any more information about the nature of the objectionable material found on his computer will cause serious and irreversible harm." It would harm his reputation, curtail his ordinary rights under the Criminal Procedure Act, and in the event he was charged and elected trial by trial, it could impact his chance of trial by jury. "At this time he's still an innocent man who is entitled to all of the protections of a fair trial and the right to seek suppression orders." Stewart KC said a memorandum from police said they were still investigating, and no charging decision had been made. He said there was two sorts of harm that could be considered, one of which was harm to the police investigation. He said the police had no concern that further disclosure of the material would impact their investigation, or impact their decision whether or not to charge. In relation to right to a fair jury trial, Stewart KC said juries can be trusted to obey judicial directions about only dealing with the charges based solely on the evidence and to ignore pre-trial publicity. In relation to privacy, Stewart KC said McSkimming was "quite clearly" a public figure. "There is a huge public interest in these investigations into Mr McSkimming's abrupt resignation from office, first working day after he had been provided with the material by the Public Service Commission." In an affidavit, McSkimming said he resigned because he didn't want the Prime Minister or anyone else having to see what was in the reports. "The only fair way of summarising it is he jumped before he was pushed," Stewart KC said. "The public have a right to understand a little bit more about the nature of the material that led to that." Stewart KC said his clients submitted that if the interim restraint should be continued, then "matters should be left to take their course, if there is to be any restraining at all, it should be as limited as possible for as short as possible." Crown prosecutor Stephanie Bishop, appearing for police, told the court that police did not oppose the application.
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Media fight injunction on details about Jevon McSkimming investigation
Jevon McSkimming. Photo: Getty Images The High Court is set to hear arguments about whether the media should be allowed to report the nature of the allegedly objectionable material found on former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming's work computer. McSkimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop last month amid a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police. His resignation came after Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was recently informed of allegations of a "very serious nature", separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended. RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming's work computer is being investigated as alleged objectionable material . He declined to comment on the allegations through his lawyer. His lawyer Linda Clark was earlier granted a rare "superinjunction" by Justice Grau that prohibited reporting that disclosed the nature of the allegedly objectionable material, as well as the existence of the injunction itself. A teleconference was then held by Justice Gwyn from the High Court at Wellington to discuss the injunction with Clark, the police, and legal counsel for RNZ, Stuff and NZME. Following that conference, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued - but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ could report the fact of McSkimming's application and the interim result. On Tuesday, a hearing will be held in the High Court at Wellington in relation to the injunction. RNZ, NZME and Stuff will be jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC. The IPCA earlier announced it was investigating allegations of misconduct by McSkimming following a complaint from a member of the public . It is also conducting an investigation into if there was misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officers or employee in responding to the allegations. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said in an earlier statement that he appreciated that the resignation of McSkimming raised questions, but said the criminal investigation couldn't be "compromised by commenting on the circumstances of it at this point". "However, I can say that I have always made it very clear that trust and confidence in police is a top priority for me as commissioner," Chambers said. "I take very seriously anything that puts trust and confidence and the reputation of police at risk and will act to address it." McSkimming's resignation came after Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was recently informed of allegations of a "very serious nature", separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended. Mitchell said McSkimming resigned before he could be dismissed. He did not say what the allegations were. Mitchell said the Policing Act was "very clear". "A deputy commissioner of police must be a 'fit and proper' person. They are rightly held to the highest standards of conduct and this new information called into serious question Mr McSkimming's fitness for office. "When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming's resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Collaborative Healthy Eating Initiative Sees Substantial Improvement in Food Security and HbA1C Levels for Type 2 Diabetes Participants
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unite Us, the nation's trusted technology partner for integrating health and community-based care, reports significant health improvements from a year-long collaboration with Jordan Health and Foodlink through the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System's (FLPPS) System Transformation & Community Investment program. Together, they launched the Healthy Eating Pilot Program, a local initiative in the Finger Lakes region focused on addressing food insecurity among patients with Type 2 Diabetes. This program demonstrates the transformative impact of integrating food assistance with nutrition-focused care to significantly improve health outcomes, setting a new national benchmark for managing chronic diseases through holistic, community-driven solutions. The program, in effect from August 2023 to August 2024, connected food-insecure patients with Type 2 Diabetes to medically appropriate food assistance through a comprehensive network powered by Unite Us, which includes more than 650 providers in the Finger Lakes region. 'This program has demonstrated how critical it is to have strong partnerships between community-based organizations and the healthcare system. Partnerships like this benefit the participants, improve health outcomes, and keep dollars circulating within local communities,' said Dr. Mitch Gruber, chief impact officer at Foodlink. Key findings from the program highlight its success in improving participants' health and overall well-being: 72% of participants increased their fruit and vegetable consumption 67% of participants reported improved food security 53% of participants reduced their stress levels 50% of participants improved their HbA1C 42% of participants increased the number of mental and physical healthy days per month Participants experienced a statistically significant HbA1C reduction of, with the potential to reduce total annual healthcare costs by as much as 13% PMPY. 'Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to high-quality care regardless of their ability to pay. We know that our diet impacts our overall health. So, we were thrilled to serve as a partner for this pilot which we know resulted in such a significant improvement for many of our patients,' said Dr. Linda Clark, president and ceo of Jordan Health. 'Our hope is for pilots like this to develop into long-lasting and sustainable programs which help everyone with the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle as a direct result of the provided information and resources.' Beyond improved health outcomes, participants also appreciated the program's holistic approach, which included regular deliveries of fresh produce, essential cookware, and helpful recipe cards. For one participant, the program's thoughtful design and practical resources made a meaningful impact on their life. They said, 'Whoever thought of the program did a very good job. It was very convenient to know I was getting fresh fruits and vegetables every two weeks. The cookware—I really needed a lot of those things, so it helped out 100%. It was very good for my family. The recipe cards were extremely helpful. I enjoyed it.' The Unite Us platform was instrumental in the program's success, simplifying access to vital community resources and fostering seamless collaboration across the network of community-based organizations (CBOs). Additionally, the use of Unite Us' social care revenue cycle management solution enabled timely reimbursements for CBOs, providing sustainable support for the program's goals. 'This program shows that we can tackle major public health challenges through partnership, technology, and innovation,' said Dr. Amanda Terry, senior director of research and evaluation at Unite Us. 'By addressing non-clinical needs, we not only improve individual outcomes but also create a replicable model that communities across the country can adopt.' The program provided significant benefits across multiple stakeholder groups. For CBOs, it validated their impact on public health, strengthened their capacity to serve, and opened new funding streams. Government leaders saw how community-driven interventions improved health outcomes and received data to support evidence-based policy decisions. Healthcare providers were empowered to address social determinants of health, improving patient engagement and health outcomes. Payers gained valuable insights into the cost-saving potential of preventative care models, emphasizing the role of nutrition in reducing healthcare expenditures tied to chronic diseases. All non-profit community-based organizations can use Unite Us' platform free of charge. Contact us to learn more: About Unite Us: Unite Us is the nation's premier technology provider for integrating health and community-based care. Our advanced product suite is used to proactively coordinate services using data-driven insights, streamline referral and case management, and facilitate eligibility assessments and reimbursements across government, healthcare, health plans, and community organizations. The first of its kind, our closed-loop referral system prioritizes privacy and dignity and has integrated data and analytics tools used to measure impact, optimize programs, and shape policy. With over 1.7M services, we host the nation's largest network of community-based health and economic services dedicated to improving whole-person health. Learn more at and LinkedIn. About Jordan Health: The Anthony L. Jordan Health Center began more than 100 years ago and was one of the first Federally Qualified Health Centers established in the nation. Located in neighborhoods where the most pressing need exists, our roots are steeped in service to underserved and uninsured residents, and building a safe, quality place for healthcare is our cornerstone. Learn more at Foodlink is a Rochester-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. We serve as the hub of the emergency food system across a 10-county service area. As a leading public health organization, Foodlink administers many programs and initiatives that aim to build the health and wealth of communities. Learn more at
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Collaborative Healthy Eating Initiative Sees Substantial Improvement in Food Security and HbA1C Levels for Type 2 Diabetes Participants
A one-year Finger Lakes initiative demonstrates the power and scalability of an integrated health and community care model; results show medically tailored food assistance improved food security for 67% and HbA1C levels for 50% of participants, leading to estimated healthcare savings up to 13% annually per member. NEW YORK, May 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unite Us, the nation's trusted technology partner for integrating health and community-based care, reports significant health improvements from a year-long collaboration with Jordan Health and Foodlink through the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System's (FLPPS) System Transformation & Community Investment program. Together, they launched the Healthy Eating Pilot Program, a local initiative in the Finger Lakes region focused on addressing food insecurity among patients with Type 2 Diabetes. This program demonstrates the transformative impact of integrating food assistance with nutrition-focused care to significantly improve health outcomes, setting a new national benchmark for managing chronic diseases through holistic, community-driven solutions. The program, in effect from August 2023 to August 2024, connected food-insecure patients with Type 2 Diabetes to medically appropriate food assistance through a comprehensive network powered by Unite Us, which includes more than 650 providers in the Finger Lakes region. "This program has demonstrated how critical it is to have strong partnerships between community-based organizations and the healthcare system. Partnerships like this benefit the participants, improve health outcomes, and keep dollars circulating within local communities," said Dr. Mitch Gruber, chief impact officer at Foodlink. Key findings from the program highlight its success in improving participants' health and overall well-being: 72% of participants increased their fruit and vegetable consumption 67% of participants reported improved food security 53% of participants reduced their stress levels 50% of participants improved their HbA1C 42% of participants increased the number of mental and physical healthy days per month Participants experienced a statistically significant HbA1C reduction of, with the potential to reduce total annual healthcare costs by as much as 13% PMPY. "Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to high-quality care regardless of their ability to pay. We know that our diet impacts our overall health. So, we were thrilled to serve as a partner for this pilot which we know resulted in such a significant improvement for many of our patients," said Dr. Linda Clark, president and ceo of Jordan Health. "Our hope is for pilots like this to develop into long-lasting and sustainable programs which help everyone with the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle as a direct result of the provided information and resources." Beyond improved health outcomes, participants also appreciated the program's holistic approach, which included regular deliveries of fresh produce, essential cookware, and helpful recipe cards. For one participant, the program's thoughtful design and practical resources made a meaningful impact on their life. They said, "Whoever thought of the program did a very good job. It was very convenient to know I was getting fresh fruits and vegetables every two weeks. The cookware—I really needed a lot of those things, so it helped out 100%. It was very good for my family. The recipe cards were extremely helpful. I enjoyed it." The Unite Us platform was instrumental in the program's success, simplifying access to vital community resources and fostering seamless collaboration across the network of community-based organizations (CBOs). Additionally, the use of Unite Us' social care revenue cycle management solution enabled timely reimbursements for CBOs, providing sustainable support for the program's goals. "This program shows that we can tackle major public health challenges through partnership, technology, and innovation," said Dr. Amanda Terry, senior director of research and evaluation at Unite Us. "By addressing non-clinical needs, we not only improve individual outcomes but also create a replicable model that communities across the country can adopt." The program provided significant benefits across multiple stakeholder groups. For CBOs, it validated their impact on public health, strengthened their capacity to serve, and opened new funding streams. Government leaders saw how community-driven interventions improved health outcomes and received data to support evidence-based policy decisions. Healthcare providers were empowered to address social determinants of health, improving patient engagement and health outcomes. Payers gained valuable insights into the cost-saving potential of preventative care models, emphasizing the role of nutrition in reducing healthcare expenditures tied to chronic diseases. All non-profit community-based organizations can use Unite Us' platform free of charge. Contact us to learn more: About Unite Us: Unite Us is the nation's premier technology provider for integrating health and community-based care. Our advanced product suite is used to proactively coordinate services using data-driven insights, streamline referral and case management, and facilitate eligibility assessments and reimbursements across government, healthcare, health plans, and community organizations. The first of its kind, our closed-loop referral system prioritizes privacy and dignity and has integrated data and analytics tools used to measure impact, optimize programs, and shape policy. With over 1.7M services, we host the nation's largest network of community-based health and economic services dedicated to improving whole-person health. Learn more at and LinkedIn. About Jordan Health: The Anthony L. Jordan Health Center began more than 100 years ago and was one of the first Federally Qualified Health Centers established in the nation. Located in neighborhoods where the most pressing need exists, our roots are steeped in service to underserved and uninsured residents, and building a safe, quality place for healthcare is our cornerstone. Learn more at About Foodlink: Foodlink is a Rochester-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. We serve as the hub of the emergency food system across a 10-county service area. As a leading public health organization, Foodlink administers many programs and initiatives that aim to build the health and wealth of communities. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Media:communications@ Sign in to access your portfolio
