Latest news with #MichaelSchmidt
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Timmins and District Hospital welcomes 3 new physicians
An undated photo of the exterior of the Timmins and District Hospital. (File photo/CTV News Northern Ontario) Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) has added three new physicians to its team this month, marking significant progress in its ongoing recruitment efforts. Dr. Devon Aitken, Dr. Sebastian Diebel and Dr. Michael Schmidt have joined the hospital, bringing specialized skills to serve the region's patients. A boost for patient care and the community Kate Fyfe, President and CEO of TADH, emphasized the impact of the new hires. 'We are pleased to welcome these skilled physicians to our hospital team and our community,' she said in a news release Thursday. 'The expertise they bring will make a difference in the lives of our patients at TADH and across all the communities we serve.' The hospital's recruitment campaign, supported by the Timmins Physician and Recruitment Retention Committee, is on track to meet its goal of hiring 10 new physicians in 2025. So far, five physicians – including two specialists, a radiologist and an orthopedic surgeon – have been recruited in the first half of the year. Kate Fyfe An undated promotional photo of Kate Fyfe, president and CEO of Timmins and District Hospital. (File photo/Health Sciences North) New doctors bring diverse expertise Dr. Michael Schmidt, a radiologist with training from McMaster University and McGill University, has already been working at TADH through visiting locums. He praised the hospital's collaborative environment. Kate Fyfe, Dr. Doug Arnold, Dr. Michael Schmidt, Dr. Paul Schulte (From left to right) Timmins and District Hospital President and CEO Kate Fyfe, chief of staff Dr. Doug Arnold, Dr. Michael Schmidt and Dr. Paul Schulte. (Supplied/Timmins and District Hospital) 'I enjoy the broad scope of work and the people working at TADH are so kind, welcoming, and helpful,' he said. As an outdoor enthusiast, Dr. Schmidt said he looks forward to embracing Timmins' recreational opportunities. Dr. Devon Aitken, a Timmins native, returns after completing her medical degree and Family Medicine residency at the University of Toronto. She cited the hospital's supportive culture as a key factor in her decision. Dr. Devon Aitken and Dr. Arnold Timmins and District Hospital's chief of staff Dr. Doug Arnold (left) welcomes Dr. Devon Aitken to the hospital. (Supplied/Timmins and District Hospital) 'TADH has a very supportive culture from physicians to nurses and other allied health and administration – something I'm very appreciative of, especially being a new doctor,' she said. Dr. Sebastian Diebel, who previously trained in the region through the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, returns to TADH as a hospitalist and emergency department physician. His connection to the area deepened through his wife, a physician at the hospital and their shared appreciation for the community. Dr. Sebastian also did his family residency placement at the hospital. Dr. Sebastian Deibel with Dr. Kyle Harper Dr. Kyle Harper (left) welcomes Dr. Sebastian Deibel to Timmins and District Hospital. (Supplied/Timmins and District Hospital) 'We love Timmins,' said Dr. Diebel, highlighting the convenience of outdoor activities and a short commute. Continued recruitment efforts Corey Krupa, TADH's physician recruiter, expressed optimism about the hospital's progress. Corey Krupa An undated profile photo of Timmins and District Hospital's physician recruiter Corey Krupa. (File photo/LinkedIn) 'The progress made to enhance our physician complement recently is a testament to the work the community has done to support our efforts in recruitment,' Krupa said in the release. 'This year, we have already surpassed our annual average. We are proud of the progress made thus far and are looking forward to continuing to welcome new physicians to our beautiful northern community.' TADH serves a vast catchment area in northern Ontario and hospital officials emphasize that they remain focused on attracting skilled healthcare professionals to meet the region's and community's growing needs.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Law firms that made deal with Trump, see major clients abandon them for firms that stood up to him
Marc Elias, Voting Rights Attorney and Founder of the Democracy Docket and Michael Schmidt, New York Times Investigative Reporter join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to new reporting in the Wall Street Journal which details how many of the same major law firms that made deals with the Trump Administration for pro bono work are now seeing major clients abandon them for firms that stood up to Donald Trump.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Major utility company hit with lawsuit over decades of toxic dumping in state waterways: 'We are concerned'
A major utility in Iowa is facing legal trouble after allegedly discharging toxic groundwater into waterways without the proper permit. Environmental groups say the discharge contains heavy metals like arsenic, cobalt, lithium, and manganese — pollutants that can harm ecosystems and pose serious health risks. At the center of the issue is the Ottumwa Midland coal ash landfill, operated since the mid-1990s by Interstate Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy. According to Iowa Capital Dispatch, the Iowa Environmental Council, the Sierra Club, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center sent a formal notice of intent to sue, claiming IPL is violating the Clean Water Act, which requires a permit for discharges into U.S. waters. The discharge comes from underdrain piping beneath the landfill. The system is designed to keep groundwater separate from coal ash and other waste. However, monitoring data suggests the water is actually polluted. In 2023, Iowa's Department of Natural Resources told IPL that its existing stormwater permit didn't apply to this discharge, since it wasn't "uncontaminated groundwater." But IPL never applied for a new permit. "It's that ongoing delay that we are concerned about," said Michael Schmidt, an attorney for the Iowa Environmental Council. "We have these discharges of arsenic and other metals going into the water on a continuous basis without really any oversight." Coal ash — the byproduct of burning coal for energy — is one of the largest sources of industrial waste in the U.S. It contains harmful pollutants that can seep into drinking water, damage ecosystems, and cause health problems for people exposed to it. Alliant Energy said it's working with state officials on a solution and maintains that the system was designed to prevent contact with the landfill's contents. But advocates say the company has had more than enough time — and it's still discharging up to 84,000 gallons of contaminated water a day without proper authorization. IPL has 60 days to respond or come into compliance before the case moves to court. If it does, the utility could face over $12 million in fines. "It's another example of why the process that we have of burning coal to put pollutants into the air — and create the solid waste and have these water discharges — is a continuing problem," said Schmidt. "The more we do it, the more problems like this we create." As the U.S. transitions away from dirty energy sources like coal, advocates are calling for stricter enforcement and better protections for communities and waterways. Going green is a massive, but crucial, undertaking — but holding big polluters accountable is an important part of it. Individuals can help at home by exploring ways to switch to clean electricity, such as installing solar panels or signing up for community solar projects. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Bearded Pig to close Jacksonville Beach location in April
Popular barbecue restaurant The Bearded Pig announced it's closing its Jacksonville Beach location on Sunday, April 6. In a post on social media, The Bearded Pig says, 'We want to say a very heartfelt thank you to all of the guests that have dined with us over the years, enjoyed a cool drink on the patio, the kids who have adorned our chalk walls with amazing art and our staff that have poured their hearts into serving the community.' The restaurant's owners say they 'opened the location at a difficult time, post covid, with extremely high construction costs and staffing shortages. Both combined make it difficult for the business to ever have financial success. As with any business endeavor, you have to know when it's time to say goodbye and we have certainly learned a number of lessons in regards to our business and the ever-changing Jacksonville markets.' The owners add that many of the staff at the Jacksonville Beach location will be integrated into their San Marco location on Kings Ave. '[O]ur San Marco location[...] is thriving and we will direct all our focus and energy into its continued success— New menu features, expanded bar options, elevated fast casual dining, and continued growth of our Catering department,' says the owners of the Southern style BBQ restaurant. According to its website, The Bearded Pig was founded in 2016 by Chad Munsey and Michael Schmidt 'in the heart of the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville.' The Jacksonville Beach location is open Wednesday through Sunday 11 A.M. to 9 P.M and the San Marco location is open Tuesday through Sunday 11 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
F-35 fleet hits 1 million flight hours; DOD reevaluating heavy reliance on private contractors
Lockheed Martin announced Monday that the global F-35 fleet, the Department of Defense's most advanced fighter, has surpassed 1 million flight hours since beginning operation in 2011. "Reaching 1 million flight hours is a monumental achievement for the F-35 program," Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office executive officer, said in a prepared statement. "It highlights the unwavering dedication of our pilots, maintainers, industry partners and our international partners and foreign military sales customers." For comparison, a Congressional Budget Office study reports that in 2023, manned aircraft across the entire Army flew for 770,000 hours. The F-35 program has historically struggled with availability rates, as nearly half of the DOD's aircraft sit in maintenance bays, but program leaders are slowly reevaluating their heavy reliance on contractors to control supply chains and lower costs. The DOD has three variants of the aircraft: the F-35A, operated by the Air Force; the F-35B, operated by the Marine Corps; and the F-35C, operated primarily by the Navy. Lockheed Martin is the prime F-35 contractor, with principal partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The F-35 program has been connected to Hill Air Force Base early in the program. The 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings were the Air Force's first combat-capable F-35A units. The Ogden Air Logistics Complex, which provides logistics, support, maintenance and distribution for the F-35A, employs more than 8,100 military, civilian and contract personnel at Hill. The 388th Wing at Hill was selected to fly the new F-35 Lightning II fighter in December 2013. The first arrived on base in September 2015. The base has received 78 F-35s, the last arriving in December 2019, before the wing declared "Full Warfighting Capability" with the aircraft in January 2020. All three of the Wing's squadrons have deployed into combat. The "bread and butter" mission for these F-35s, according to 421st fighter squadron commander Lt. Col. Bryan Mussler, is offensive and defensive counter-air, escorting other assets and hunting down the enemy surface-to-air threats. The 34th Fighter Squadron and Fighter Generation Squadron are currently deployed to Kadena Air Base in Japan. Northern Utah residents will likely hear the planes during night operations throughout March, finishing by 10:30 p.m. most days. The number of F-35s grew from around 450 in 2022 (300 of those were F-35A's), to about 630 in April 2024, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), with a total of 2,500 planned by the mid-2040s. The DOD plans to use the F-35, its "most ambitious and costly weapon system," through 2088, with projections of over $1.7 trillion on acquisition and sustainment, according to an April 2024 GAO report. $1.3 trillion of that is associated with the operation and sustainment. Estimates show the Air Force expects to pay $6.6 million each year to operate and sustain each aircraft, well above the $4.1 million original target, though the target was adjusted in 2023 to $6.8 million. The cost to fly one of the planes is between $13,000 and $18,000 an hour, which comes out to between $13 and $18 billion over one million flight hours, more likely on the higher side based on the ratio of more expensive F-35A's in the fleet. As fleets have grown, total flying hours have also grown, but the Congressional Budget Office reported in 2022 that the total flying hours for the F-35As were only about 2% greater in 2021 than they were in 2020, despite the number of aircraft increasing 21%. All three fleets have flown fewer hours than the DOD's original benchmarks, and the program has struggled in the past with low availability of planes (about 55% in March 2023, the GAO reported in a series of audits. In comparison, the F-35 fleets had higher availability rates than most of DOD's other fighters and attack aircraft, according to the GAO. However, the fleets are much newer than those other aircraft, so the rates can't easily be set side by side. The GAO found the U.S. Government is heavily reliant on contractors like Lockheed Martin and had "limited decision-making ability and influence over depot maintenance" while facing a lack of technical data, spare parts, funding, support equipment and training. The DOD is slowly working on completing recommended steps from those audits, but 30 out of 43 recommendations made since 2014 are yet to be implemented, the GAO reports. DOD officials are working on a major shift to transfer management of F-35 sustainment from the F-35 Joint Program Office to military services by October 2027, so the branches can better manage the mix of government and contractor roles.
