Latest news with #CASH
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Graduation 2025: 'A very impressive group'
Roll out the pomp and dust off the circumstance: Beginning today at 6 p.m., approximately 721 young adults will graduate at high schools across Crawford County as Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 fills stadiums, auditoriums and gymnasiums with the sounds of stately elegance. The festivities begin with the three PENNCREST School District high schools, all of which have their indoor ceremonies at 6. 'They are a very impressive group,' Principal Erica Howick said of the 73 graduates at Saegertown Junior-Senior High. 'They're just generally nice kids — they work hard, try hard and support each other. ... They made this year very easy.' Approximately 80 seniors will mark their symbolic entry into the 'real world' of adulthood as they cross the stage in the gymnasium at Maplewood Junior-Senior High, where Principal Dana Mason is wrapping up his first year at the school. Describing them as easy to work with and 'always happy to see you,' Mason will be sorry to see the seniors move on. 'I was overwhelmingly impressed with the reception they gave me and the way they treated me as a newcomer to their building their last year of school,' he said Wednesday. 'They could've been cold to me and could have wished that my predecessor was still here for their last year, but you would have never guessed that I was the new guy in the building. They were very welcoming.' At Cambridge Springs Junior-Senior High, 51 seniors will begin the day in their regalia as they walk to the school down Venango Avenue, with family, friends and community members lining the street. In the evening, the excitement moves to the auditorium for the graduation ceremony. The school is a busy place this week, according to Principal Kylene Koper, as staff members are working in the background to transfer nearly everything movable in the building into the gym by Friday in preparation for another summer of extensive renovations. Like the school itself, Koper said on Tuesday, the soon-to-be graduates are mostly ready. 'I always miss the kids once they leave. Certain kids,' she continued, 'it is definitely different without them in the building, but because we're so small, many find their way back to visit or help out in other areas. Like yesterday at the softball game — you'll see tons of graduated kids at those type of things.' A little later this evening, about 147 seniors will graduate at the Conneaut Area Senior High (CASH) football field. The 7:30 start time for the CASH ceremony has a lot to do with the outdoor setting. 'Basically, it's about the sun being in everyone's face if we do it outside,' Principal Ed Pietroski said. 'The 7:30 start time gets the sun over the tree line better.' The event is just as fantastic inside, he added, but if inclement weather seems a possibility, a final decision on location will be postponed as late as possible. Like the seniors who will receive their diplomas, 2025 marks the fourth year at CASH for both Pietroski and his fellow principal Matt Vannoy. 'They're a special group for Mr. Vannoy and myself — our first year at CASH was this graduating group's freshman year,' Pietroski said. 'They're the first group that's gone through with us a full four years. That's always a group you remember.' An emphasis during those four years has been to offer multiple pathways that allow students to prepare for life after high school, according to Pietroski. 'It's a group that is going to do a lot of really great things as they move on with their lives,' he said. On Friday, the ceremonies continue at 6 p.m. in the county's southeastern corner, where 133 Titusville High seniors will graduate at Carter Field. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will shift to the gymnasium. At the same time in Meadville, approximately 173 seniors will graduate at Bender Field. Concerns about the weather are Principal John Higgins' biggest source of stress in the countdown to the big event. 'You can't trust this northwest PA weather,' he said. A final call on the location for the event will be posted by 4 p.m. today, he added. If a move inside is necessary, the ceremony will take place in the gym. 'We're hoping to keep it outside — if you could say a prayer for us,' he added with an eye on a forecast that had dropped from a 75 percent chance of rain to a 60 percent chance. 'We've got our fingers crossed.' Whatever the location, Higgins was optimistic about a group of students he described as 'resilient' and ready for the challenges they will face. 'They're going to surprise us,' he said. 'They're going to change the way we do things.' Crawford County graduation season winds up with a 7 p.m. start in the gymnasium at Cochranton Junior-Senior High, where 64 seniors are expected to cross the stage to collect their diplomas. It's a moment years in the making that often can't seem to arrive quickly enough for those about to don their mortarboards. Some who have seen these moments play out numerous times, however, suspect that it won't be long before nostalgia sets in. 'It's always nice to be able to reconnect and see how adult life is treating them,' Koper, the Cambridge Springs principal, said of recent grads. 'They're always like, 'You were right, we should've not tried to grow up so fast. High school was better than adulthood.' And I go, 'Yeah, I told you that.'' The lesson learned is one that might be appropriate for a commencement address. 'You think it's so bad when you're in high school,' Koper continued. 'Your whole life you want to grow up, but then when you grow up, you wish you could go back to being a kid.'
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
BTQ Technologies Unveils Breakthrough Performance of CASH Architecture, Paving the Way for the Future of Quantum-Secure Devices
BTQ's CASH architecture delivers industry-leading cryptographic performance, processing up to 1 million digital signatures per second and executing encryption tasks up to 5x faster than competing solutions. CASH is compact, energy-efficient, and post-quantum ready, supporting both today's standard encryption and next-generation quantum-safe algorithms in a single, integrated system. With applications across payments, IoT, identity, and telecom, CASH positions BTQ Technologies at the forefront of securing global infrastructure against emerging quantum threats. VANCOUVER, BC, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - BTQ Technologies Corp. (the "Company") (CBOE CA: BTQ) (FSE: NG3) (OTCQX: BTQQF), a global quantum technology company focused on securing mission-critical networks, is pleased to announce new performance benchmarks for its proprietary CASH (Cryptographically Agile Secure Hardware) architecture—demonstrating world-class speed, energy efficiency, and readiness for mass-market adoption in the era of quantum-secure technology. CASH is a revolutionary cryptographic architecture that brings together the core elements of secure hardware—memory, encryption, and digital signatures—into a unified, compact, and energy-efficient system. It's designed to protect digital devices and systems from both today's cyber threats and the rapidly approaching risks posed by quantum computing. Performance That Sets a New Standard Recent performance tests of the CASH architecture reveal significant advantages over traditional solutions: Up to 5x faster encryption processing (AES) compared to leading secure hardware. 1 million digital signatures per second, making it ideal for real-time verification and authentication. Ultra-low power consumption —less than a microjoule per cryptographic operation. Compact design, enabling integration into constrained environments like smart cards, IoT devices, and hardware wallets. "CASH is built for the future—faster, leaner, and capable of securing the world's data in a post-quantum world," said Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ Technologies. "We've proven that top-tier cryptographic performance can be delivered in an architecture compact and efficient enough for widespread deployment." The rise of quantum computing poses a real and growing threat to traditional encryption. Enterprises and governments are already seeking quantum-resilient solutions—and BTQ's CASH architecture is engineered to meet this demand. CASH supports both today's widely used cryptographic standards (like AES and RSA) and next-generation post-quantum algorithms (such as those shortlisted by NIST). This dual capability makes it an ideal foundation for modern secure systems that need to operate safely both now and in the quantum future. Unlocking Market Opportunities CASH's performance opens new doors for BTQ Technologies across industries where security, speed, and efficiency are critical, including: Financial services and payments Telecom and 5G infrastructure Healthcare and identity authentication IoT and embedded devices As global interest in quantum-safe infrastructure accelerates, BTQ's innovations position it as a leader in one of the most critical technology transitions of our time. About BTQ BTQ was founded by a group of post-quantum cryptographers with an interest in addressing the urgent security threat posed by large-scale universal quantum computers. With the support of leading research institutes and universities, BTQ is combining software and hardware to safeguard critical networks using unique post-quantum services and solutions. Connect with BTQ: Website | LinkedIn ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Olivier Roussy Newton CEO, Chairman Neither Cboe Canada nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information Certain statements herein contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to the business plans of the Company, including with respect to its research partnerships, and anticipated markets in which the Company may be listing its common shares. Forward-looking statements or information often can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan" or "may" and the variations of these words are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the development of post-quantum algorithms and quantum vulnerabilities, and the quantum computing industry generally. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks which may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include risks relating to: the availability of financing for the Company; business and economic conditions in the post-quantum and encryption computing industries generally; the speculative nature of the Company's research and development programs; the supply and demand for labour and technological post-quantum and encryption technology; unanticipated events related to regulatory and licensing matters and environmental matters; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting blockchains); risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to research and development activities; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Direct File is free, easy and trusthworthy — so why does Trump's administration want to end it?
Filling out tax forms, in this file photo from 2022. (Photo by Senior Airman Thomas Karol/U.S. Air Force) It takes most Americans an average of $270 and 13 hours to do their taxes. With Direct File, it takes less than 60 minutes to do it yourself and costs nothing. Direct File is the IRS's new electronic option for taxpayers to file their income tax returns directly with the IRS for free. This tax season, Direct File's pilot expanded to 25 states, including Maryland. Our nonprofit organization, the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign of Maryland (CASH), supported the development of the Maryland State Return add-on to IRS Direct File that directly linked taxpayers to a state return upon completion of their federal tax return. Through targeted outreach and partnerships with local organizations, we helped raise awareness about Direct File and connected thousands of Marylanders with free, accessible tax filing options. This work builds on our long-standing commitment to financial stability and economic empowerment for working families: We promote economic advancement for low- to moderate-income individuals and families and lead a coalition of over 50 free tax preparation sites known as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the state. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Like VITA, Direct File gives Marylanders a free, easy, and trustworthy option to meet their tax filing obligations. Unlike VITA, Direct File gives taxpayers an option that doesn't require securing limited appointments and allows them to get their taxes done from home (or even cellphone!). This flexibility is especially important for people with nontraditional work schedules, caregiving responsibilities or transportation barriers. By removing these obstacles, Direct File ensures that more people can meet their tax obligations on their own time, without sacrificing work hours or family commitments. Direct File echoes the goals of VITA while expanding its capacity, giving more low- and moderate-income Americans the opportunity to file their taxes for free rather than paying for and using a third-party tax preparer or software. While VITA is reliant on trained and certified volunteers and nonprofits for capacity, Direct File can be accessed by millions. The Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) told reporters in April that Direct File would not continue next year, citing 'hidden costs,' 'taxpayer confusion' and the expense of administering the program. There are no costs, hidden or otherwise, to use the program. Direct File is completely free to eligible taxpayers. Because the program allows taxpayers to file directly with the IRS and their states, users are never redirected to paid options. The same cannot be said about Free File compliant software offered by traditional tax software developers like TaxAct and TaxSlayer. Notably, TurboTax by Intuit and H&R Block, two of the largest and most well-known paid tax preparation companies, withdrew from the Free File Alliance in 2021. Filing your taxes can be confusing, but Direct File is simpler and more user-friendly than third-party tax software. Participants during the first year of the program said it themselves: 90% ranked their overall experience as Excellent or Above Average, 90% who used customer support rated that experience as Excellent or Above Average, and 86% of respondents said that their experience with Direct File increased their trust in the IRS. Plus, Direct File users have access to customer support from real people during the entire process. Continuing to build Direct File is an investment that will save time and money for Americans far into the future. If Direct File continues, the taxpayer dollars already invested will not go to waste. Progress has already been made to expand the program. Direct File can grow to serve more states and a wider range of tax situations. Future versions of the program can simplify the process by prefilling information the IRS already has (like the details of a W-2 form). If it is not preemptively shut down, Direct File will continue to be improved based on real feedback from its users. Paying taxes allows our country to thrive, and Americans should not be burdened with extra costs and time-consuming processes to meet their filing obligations. Protecting the Direct File program is an investment in everyday Americans – making their government work for them.
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
US automakers furious at Trump's trade deal with UK — and here's why
A group representing General Motors, Ford and Stellantis blasted President Trump's trade deal announced with the United Kingdom, saying it would harm the US auto sector. British carmakers will be given a quota of 100,000 cars a year that can be sent to the United States at a 10% tariff rate, almost the total Britain exported last year, compared to 25% for Mexico and Canada and nearly all other countries. 'Under this deal, it will now be cheaper to import a UK vehicle with very little US content than a USMCA compliant vehicle from Mexico or Canada that is half American parts,' said the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the Detroit Three automakers. 'This hurts American automakers, suppliers, and auto workers.' 3 'This hurts American automakers, suppliers, and auto workers,' the American Automotive Policy Council trade group said. Getty Images US automakers are concerned this could be a template for other agreements that could put vehicles they assemble in Canada or Mexico at a disadvantage. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The group added it hopes 'this preferential access for UK vehicles over North American ones does not set a precedent for future negotiations with Asian and European competitors.' Trump last month softened the blow of his auto tariffs by easing the impact of tariffs on parts and materials but left in place 25% tariffs on imported vehicles. He also extended a duty-free exemption for North American parts that comply with the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) rules of origin. Automakers have hoped that Trump would ease vehicle tariffs. 3 US automakers are concerned this could be a template for other agreements that could put vehicles they assemble in Canada or Mexico at a disadvantage. GM said tariffs were projected to cost it between $4 billion and $5 billion. REUTERS 3 President Trump last month softened the blow of his auto tariffs by easing the impact of tariffs on parts and materials but left in place 25% tariffs on imported vehicles. BONNIE CASH/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Ford this week confirmed it hiked prices of some Mexican-built vehicles because of tariffs and said Trump's trade war would add about $2.5 billion in costs for 2025, but expects to reduce that exposure by around $1 billion. Rival GM said tariffs were projected to cost it between $4 billion and $5 billion, but it expected to offset that by at least 30%, while Toyota projected tariff costs for April and May at around $1.2 billion.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Area districts advance cyber programs, call for even playing field
The vibe inside the Conneaut Cyber Academy cyber lounge on Friday was low key, but that was part of the appeal. A couple of easy chairs in one corner were empty, and the coffee maker in another was silent. Seated at tables in the middle of the room, juniors Amanda Shearer, Daylee Watson and Mitchell Lasko checked their computers before heading from Linesville to Meadville for the second half of their school day in various Crawford Tech programs. In another corner of the room, Jason Wertelet, one of the district's two full-time cyber teachers, was seated in front of two widescreen monitors, ready to answer questions on topics ranging from pre-algebra for seventh graders to AP calculus. The flexibility offered by taking some classes online through the Conneaut Cyber Academy, now in its 15th year, has been a game-changer for the 55 full-time students in the program this year as well as the 80 students, like Shearer, Watson and Lasko, whose schedules are a blend of in-person and cyber classes. 'It's really nice,' Shearer said of the cyber option. 'We can't take all of our classes like other students can because we only have half a day here.' Last year, for instance, Shearer couldn't fit an agriculture class into her half-day schedule at Conneaut Area Senior High (CASH). Taking the class online through Conneaut Cyber Academy allowed her to remain in the school's FFA club, where enrollment in an ag class is a requirement. This year, she is taking physical education and health online while taking agriculture in person. For Watson, cyber versions of her Spanish and health classes enable her to balance classes at CASH, the sports medicine program at Crawford Tech, and the demands of a wrestling schedule that saw her earn a silver medal at the PIAA championships in Hershey last month. 'I'm able to do some work at home and not overwhelm myself at school with so many classes,' Watson said. 'With the cyber classes, we can get it done any time we have an opening.' Lasko, who spends half his school day working at Griffin Motors Co. through Crawford Tech's cooperative education program, wouldn't be able to take all of his required classes this semester if not for the cyber option. 'I like it because I've got a pretty busy schedule these days as a co-op student, and I don't have time to get all my school work done in school,' Lasko said. 'So it's nice to have all week to get the assignments done on your own time.' The program is not for everyone, according to Wertelet, who was been part of Conneaut's cyber offerings since they were launched. 'There has to be a self-motivation for the students,' he said. That attitude is sometimes lacking, he added, in students who come to Conneaut's cyber school from other cyber programs expecting an easy ride. 'I can tell when some students come from other cyber programs and they just will open up an assignment and submit an assignment because they've had teachers that have never even looked at anything before,' he said. 'I'm like, I'm sorry — I actually grade.' Calls for changes Like the students in the cyber classes, area school districts are hoping that in-house options can reshape the current cyber school landscape. In addition to building their own programs, the districts continue to mobilize in favor of major changes to how the state funds cyber charter schools, their primary competition in the world of online education. It's a war that has featured numerous skirmishes over the past decade, many of them coming in the form of springtime griping from district officials concerned about the impact of cyber charter tuition costs on annual budgets. More recently, however, local districts have grown increasingly vocal in their calls for reform following the February release of an audit of cyber charter school performance from 2020 to 2023 by the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General. Among several key findings, the report described how the fund balances of cyber charter schools ballooned from $254 million to $619 million in the three-year period of the audit, an increase of 144 percent. The report also noted that while students who transfer to cyber charter schools from different districts receive similar educations, the tuition charges to their home districts can vary widely — from $6,975 to $25,150 per student for regular education and from $18,329 to $60,166 per student for special education. Because each of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts is required to calculate its own rate for regular and special education cyber charter tuition, there are 1,000 distinct tuition rates paid across the state to each cyber charter school, according to the auditor general's report. Board members in Crawford Central School District last month unanimously endorsed a letter to Sen. Michele Brooks and Rep. Brad Roae, the legislators who represent Crawford Central residents, calling for changes. In addition to endorsing 'a comprehensive reassessment of the cyber charter school funding model,' the letter asked Brooks and Roae to consider requiring students to use a district's own cyber platform rather than private cyber charter schools. Last year, Conneaut board members endorsed a similar letter to legislators that called for cyber charter tuition costs for regular education to be capped at $10,000 per student with an added provision that would have required all school districts to pay the statewide tuition rate or their calculated charter school tuition rate, whichever was lower. Earlier this month, PENNCREST School District officials encouraged district residents to send similar letters to Roae and Brooks calling for cyber charter reform. PENNCREST board member Tim Brown said he was disappointed to find both Brooks and Roae 'standoffish' when he raised the subject of cyber charter reform at a recent Republican Party event. 'As many letters as we can get out, we should,' Brown said. 'That's the key,' board President Bob Johnston agreed. 'They've heard from us board members, and I think they're just getting tired of hearing from us.' Response from legislators It's not as though years of school district concerns regarding cyber charter funding have been ignored. In fact, the latest calls for change come after major changes in 2024, according to Brooks. 'Last year we enacted significant reforms that included a reduction in cyber charter school special education costs by approximately $190 million annually beginning January 1st of this year,' Brooks said in a statement to The Meadville Tribune. 'In addition, school districts received $100 million in cyber charter reimbursements. Ethics and transparency measures were also passed at that time. I have to believe we'll see additional movement and reforms on this topic during this year's budget.' Roae, on the other hand, appeared less sympathetic to the idea of increasing limitations on cyber charter school funding. In an emailed statement, he highlighted Conneaut's spending, saying the district spends about $25,000 per student, well above the national average. 'When a student leaves for a cyber charter school, Conneaut pays $14,875 tuition,' Roae said. 'Conneaut gets to keep the other $10,129 even though they no longer have to educate that student.' Capping cyber charter tuition costs at $8,000 per student, Roae said, would mean 'Conneaut would keep $17,004 for a student that they no longer have, but the school educating that child would only get $8,000.' 'All local districts have similar numbers,' he added. Fair competition It's an argument Roae has made before and that school district officials have responded to before. One point of contention is that school districts spend thousands per student on costs associated with brick-and-mortar buildings, transportation and other requirements that cyber charter schools don't incur. While individual students may depart for cyber charter schools, these costs remain — but at least part of the tax revenue that should pay form them follows the student to the cyber charter school that doesn't have to transport students or maintain the same infrastructure-intensive system of buildings. In responding to arguments like Roae's, Jarrin Sperry, Conneaut's outgoing superintendent, has pointed out the district's roughly $2 million in annual transportation costs and argued that the comparison Roae draws is no comparison at all. 'To simply take a district's budget and divide it by the number of students is misguided at best and dishonest at worst,' Sperry wrote in one response. 'If Conneaut's budget numbers were reduced to the same level as a cyber charter, the numbers would become more honest.' Looking at just the expenses for teachers, administrators and business offices, Sperry argued, Conneaut's annual per-pupil costs are less than $12,000 — significantly less than the amount it pays per pupil for cyber charter tuition. In making a similar point this month, PENNCREST Superintendent Shawn Ford said he was in favor of competition between public schools and cyber charter schools. 'I think it makes you better,' Ford told board members. 'I'm not even saying that we shouldn't help fund those schools, OK? But what I am saying — let's make it reasonable.' At $8,000 per student for regular education, PENNCREST would save nearly $1 million next year, according to district estimates, about 1.7 percent of its projected $58 million budget. 'We'll compete with anyone,' Ford said, 'but put us on the fair grounds to compete.'
