Featured Stories
Optica: Researchers unlock scalable control of quantum light signals
WASHINGTON, June 19 [Category: Medical] -- Optica, formerly the Optical Society, posted the following news release:
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Researchers unlock scalable control of quantum light signals
New approach could enable precise manipulation of information carried in different frequencies of light, supporting highly parallel processing on photonic chips
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Researchers have discovered a new, highly scalable way to control quantum information carried in different frequencies, or wavelengths, of light. The advance brings frequency-domain quantum information processing -a promising approach to photonic quantum
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WASHINGTON, June 19 [Category: Medical] -- Optica, formerly the Optical Society, posted the following news release:
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Researchers unlock scalable control of quantum light signals
New approach could enable precise manipulation of information carried in different frequencies of light, supporting highly parallel processing on photonic chips
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Researchers have discovered a new, highly scalable way to control quantum information carried in different frequencies, or wavelengths, of light. The advance brings frequency-domain quantum information processing -a promising approach to photonic quantumcomputing -closer to practical implementation.
"The appeal of frequency encoding for quantum computing is that, in theory, hundreds of channels of information can run through a single, on-chip waveguide, allowing certain operations to be performed completely in parallel," said Nils T. Otterstrom from Sandia National Laboratories. "However, scaling up reconfigurable optical processors for frequency encoding has been extremely challenging, particularly on chip."
In the Optica Publishing Group journal Optica Quantum, Otterstrom and Joseph M. Lukens from Purdue University describe and computationally validate their new approach, which uses acousto-optic frequency beamsplitters to split light into different frequencies within the same waveguide. The work represents an important step toward photonic chips that provide a highly scalable way to process quantum information, which could ultimately lead to computers that help tackle complex problems in chemistry, materials science and secure communications.
"By combining state-of-the-art integrated photonics with new quantum information processing concepts, this approach makes it possible for quantum information to be encoded in frequencies of light," said Lukens. "This allows hundreds of frequency channels to be carried in a single waveguide, greatly increasing the amount of information that can be processed in a compact chip-based system."
Scaling up quantum systems
Otterstrom, who specializes in integrated photonics, and Lukens, an expert in quantum frequency encoding, have a long-standing collaboration focused on developing frequency domain quantum information processing in an integrated photonics platform -a system that generates, manipulates and detects light on a single microchip.
In this new work, they tackled the challenge of manipulating an individual frequency-encoded channel among the hundreds running through a single, on-chip waveguide. Previous technologies have addressed this goal by breaking the channels into many separate waveguides during processing, but this makes it impractical to scale up frequency-based photonic quantum computers.
"We were able to build on Joe's ideas and transform them into programs here at Sandia National Laboratories, where we have the facilities to build photonic systems using standard microelectronics fabrication processes," said Otterstrom. "We have been exploring how technology developed here, particularly in acousto-optics, could be applied to frequency-domain quantum information processing."
Acousto-optic modulators convert electric fields into acoustic vibrations, which then change the frequency of light passing through them. Although these devices are available commercially, they are large, require precise alignment and lack customizability.
Solving the complexity barrier
"Early on, I recognized that acousto-optic modulators could be useful for frequency processing but thought they would be extremely complicated and had dismissed them as not practical," said Lukens. "Then I found out that because of the work that had been done at Sandia on integrating acousto-optic modulators onto a chip, all the problems and difficulties I was worried about had in many ways been solved."
Drawing on this work, the researchers designed integrated acousto-optic frequency beamsplitters that make it possible to perform scalable operations while splitting frequencies into only two waveguides, regardless of the number of channels. This allows quantum information to be encoded in frequency rather than the more traditional methods of using spatial paths or polarization states.
The researchers used modeling to test their new approach for controlling frequency-encoded states of light. The results showed that it is feasible to achieve high-fidelity quantum operations using existing integrated photonics technology, demonstrating the possibility of parallel operations that achieve 100% bandwidth utilization.
Over the past five to six years of developing intermodal acousto-optic devices, the researchers have demonstrated near-100% mode and frequency conversion with minimal propagation loss as well as the ability to achieve both broadband and narrowband operation. These results point toward the feasibility of implementing this full quantum information processing paradigm in integrated photonics.
Paper : J. M. Lukens, J. H. Dallyn, H.-H. Lu, N. I. Wasserbeck, A. J. Graf, M. Gehl, P. S. Davids, N. T. Otterstrom, "A paradigm for universal quantum information processing with integrated acousto-optic frequency beam splitters," 4, 295-304 (2026).
DOI: 10.1364/OPTICAQ.592034.
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About Optica Publishing Group
Optica Publishing Group is a division of the society, Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide. It publishes the largest collection of peer-reviewed and most-cited content in optics and photonics, including 19 prestigious journals, the society's flagship member magazine, and papers and videos from over 1200 conferences. With over 520,000 journal articles, conference papers and videos to search, discover and access, its publications portfolio represents the full range of research in the field from around the globe.
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Original text here: https://www.optica.org/about/newsroom/news_releases/2026/researchers_unlock_scalable_control_of_quantum_light_signals/
New lidar system maps location, speed and material properties in a single measurement
WASHINGTON, June 19 [Category: Medical] -- Optica, formerly the Optical Society, posted the following news release:
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New lidar system maps location, speed and material properties in a single measurement
Technology expands lidar sensing beyond distance and motion, opening new possibilities for robotics, autonomous driving and remote sensing
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Researchers have developed a new kind of lidar system that simultaneously measures the location, speed and material properties of objects in a scene. This type of information could be useful for applications such as robotics, autonomous driving and
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WASHINGTON, June 19 [Category: Medical] -- Optica, formerly the Optical Society, posted the following news release:
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New lidar system maps location, speed and material properties in a single measurement
Technology expands lidar sensing beyond distance and motion, opening new possibilities for robotics, autonomous driving and remote sensing
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Researchers have developed a new kind of lidar system that simultaneously measures the location, speed and material properties of objects in a scene. This type of information could be useful for applications such as robotics, autonomous driving andremote sensing.
Lidar uses laser pulses to measure distances and create highly detailed 3D maps of objects and terrain. However, most commercial lidar systems, such as the ones used in autonomous cars, primarily measure distance.
Caption : The new lidar system can simultaneously measure the location, speed and material properties (polarization) of objects in a scene, which could be useful for autonomous driving.
"Although some emerging lidar technologies can also measure velocity, real-world perception often requires understanding an object's surface as well," said Dongyu Du from the University of Toronto in Canada. "Our new system uses a single measurement at each scanned point to capture millimeter-accurate distance, velocity and surface material while using eye-safe laser power."
In Optica, Optica Publishing Group 's journal for high-impact research, the researchers from the University of Toronto and network technology company Ciena Corporation describe their new lidar system, which combines new analysis methods with a standard telecommunications device that enables sensing of distance, velocity and surface material by capturing polarization information.
"Although this work is still at the research-prototype stage, it points toward future sensing systems that could help machines understand the physical world more reliably,"
said Du. "This could lead to safer autonomous vehicles, more capable robots, better industrial inspection and sensing systems that work in poor visibility caused by glare, fog, or heavy rain."
Adapting telecom technology for lidar
The new work grew out of a collaboration between research groups at the University of Toronto and Ciena Corporation, which have been exploring how a device called a coherent optical modem could be adapted for lidar. These mass-produced modems can simultaneously measure many different properties of light, including its frequency, polarization, phase and amplitude.
"Coherent optical modems are used to send internet traffic through cities and even across continents by encoding information into light," said Du. "As a result, they can control and measure light with very high speed and precision, come in compact form factors and naturally solve many of the same sensing challenges encountered with lidar."
The researchers developed a lidar system that uses a coherent optical modem as the transmitter and receiver. This made it possible to send and detect multiple properties of light with extremely high speed and precision and, thus, extract far more information from each measurement than is possible with a conventional lidar system.
The system works by illuminating a target with a laser beam that is randomly modulated at extremely fast speeds -tens of billions of times per second -in two orthogonal polarization channels. While conventional lidar systems measure the time delay between when light is emitted and when it returns to calculate distance, the new system also measures how the polarization properties of light change after interacting with the target surface, making it possible to recover distance, velocity and material properties.
Extracting the lidar signal
The researchers also developed a new way to make sense of the measurements, which are difficult to recover and are degraded by noise and unavoidable distortions induced by the lidar system's internal optics.
Caption : (a) A moving model vehicle, a speed-limit sign, an artificial plant and a real plant, mimicking a simplified
roadside environment with both static and dynamic objects.
(b) The reconstructed depth map localizes the spatial layout of the vehicle, sign and surrounding vegetation.
(c) It doesn't resolve the sign lettering because the sign has nearly uniform albedo at the modem wavelength of 1550 nm.
The polarization map (d) reveals material-sensitive details not resolved by depth or intensity, including the sign text and the difference between artificial and real vegetation.
The reconstructed Doppler velocity map (f) identifies the moving vehicle and separates it from the static background.
"Previous systems lacked the computational tools to separate out the signal of interest from the internal distortions," said Du. "We developed a new polarization-aware model of how light propagates through our system and interacts with the scene, along with algorithms that can disentangle all of these effects to produce clean estimates of distance, velocity and material properties."
To test the system, the researchers first compared its depth and velocity measurements to those obtained with other lidar processing methods using controlled scenes with static and moving objects. The new method outperformed existing techniques on both fronts, particularly in challenging low-signal regions where other approaches struggled with noise. They also showed that the system works reliably under strong ambient light, which can cause other polarimetric lidar systems to fail.
The researchers then showed that the lidar system could recover surface material properties of everyday materials, including metals, plastics and objects with varying surface roughness. They also measured polarization speckle -an interference pattern created by laser light -and demonstrated that these patterns carry information about surface roughness, thereby providing a means to characterize materials at fine scales.
Finally, the researchers demonstrated that the polarization information obtained with the system can be helpful for imaging through scattering media with optical thickness up to 4.76. This capability could be useful for imaging in conditions where visibility is limited by fog, rain or dust.
The researchers are now working to improve the system's hardware readout bandwidth, streaming acquisition and data transfer to enable more direct and faster capture of continuously evolving dynamic scenes.
Paper: D. Du, A. Xie, P. Mirdehghan, B. Buscaino, S.-H. Baek, K. N. Kutulakos, D. B. Lindell, "Polarimetric Full-Wavefield Coherent Lidar" 13, 1174-1183 (2026).
DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.592823.
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About Optica Publishing Group
Optica Publishing Group is a division of the society, Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide. It publishes the largest collection of peer-reviewed and most-cited content in optics and photonics, including 19 prestigious journals, the society's flagship member magazine, and papers and videos from over 1200 conferences. With over 520,000 journal articles, conference papers and videos to search, discover and access, its publications portfolio represents the full range of research in the field from around the globe.
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About Optica
Optica is an open-access journal dedicated to the rapid dissemination of high-impact peer-reviewed research across the entire spectrum of optics and photonics. Published monthly by Optica Publishing Group, the Journal provides a forum for pioneering research to be swiftly accessed by the international community, whether that research is theoretical or experimental, fundamental or applied. Optica maintains a distinguished editorial board of more than 60 associate editors from around the world and is overseen by Editor-in-Chief Thomas Krauss, University of York, UK. For more information, visit Optica.
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Original text here: https://www.optica.org/about/newsroom/news_releases/2026/new_lidar_system_maps_location_speed_and_material_properties_in_a_single_measurement/
MHA Shares Preliminary Wage Index, Occupational Mix Data For Review
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, June 19 [Category: Health Care] -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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MHA Shares Preliminary Wage Index, Occupational Mix Data For Review
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The Missouri Hospital Association released an analysis of the hospital wage index and occupational mix data that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will use to develop the federal fiscal year 2028 Medicare hospital wage index. Hospitals can review their hospital-specific data, and submit correction requests and supporting documentation to the Medicare Administrative Contractor through Tuesday,
... Show Full Article
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, June 19 [Category: Health Care] -- The Missouri Hospital Association posted the following news:
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MHA Shares Preliminary Wage Index, Occupational Mix Data For Review
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The Missouri Hospital Association released an analysis of the hospital wage index and occupational mix data that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will use to develop the federal fiscal year 2028 Medicare hospital wage index. Hospitals can review their hospital-specific data, and submit correction requests and supporting documentation to the Medicare Administrative Contractor through Tuesday,Sept. 1.
Hospitals are required to complete the new calendar year 2025 occupational mix survey for the FFY 2028 wage index. Hospitals have until Tuesday, June 30, 2026, to submit to their MACs. The survey can be found here.
This is the only opportunity to request revisions to your data. Subsequent requests for revisions are limited to mishandling of the data. The files are available for review to authorized users of HIDI Advantage (r).
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Original text here: https://www.mohospitals.org/newsroom/mha-shares-preliminary-wage-index-occupational-mix-data-for-review
Emmy Winners Liza Colon-Zayas and Jeff Hiller to Announce 78th Emmy Awards Nominations July 8
WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Television Academy issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Emmy Winners Liza Colon-Zayas and Jeff Hiller to Announce 78th Emmy Awards Nominations July 8
Ceremony to Stream Live from the Wolf Theatre in the Academy's Saban Media Center
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The Television Academy announced today that nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards will be presented by Emmy winners Liza Colon-Zayas (The Bear) and Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere) at a ceremony slated for Wednesday, July 8, at 8:30 a.m. PDT/11:30 a.m. EDT. The ceremony will stream live from the Academy's Wolf Theatre
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WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Television Academy issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Emmy Winners Liza Colon-Zayas and Jeff Hiller to Announce 78th Emmy Awards Nominations July 8
Ceremony to Stream Live from the Wolf Theatre in the Academy's Saban Media Center
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The Television Academy announced today that nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards will be presented by Emmy winners Liza Colon-Zayas (The Bear) and Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere) at a ceremony slated for Wednesday, July 8, at 8:30 a.m. PDT/11:30 a.m. EDT. The ceremony will stream live from the Academy's Wolf Theatreon Emmys.com/nominations.
Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego will host the nominations ceremony. "This year's submissions reflect the undiminished creative range and vitality of our medium, celebrating both emerging talent and beloved creative voices who are shaping the future of the industry," said Abrego. "We are thrilled to acknowledge these artists and storytellers whose work matters so deeply to audiences around the world. I'm delighted to welcome Liza and Jeff to usher in another exceptional Emmy celebration."
Liza Colon-Zayas received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2024 for her role in the critically acclaimed series The Bear, making history as the first Latina to be awarded an Emmy in this category. She has also received a SAG Award and two Imagen Awards for the role and was nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice award.
This summer, Colon-Zayas will star in the fifth and final season of The Bear as well as in the blockbuster film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, opposite Tom Holland. She recently wrapped production on the indie drama Fleur with Halle Berry.
Colon-Zayas is a proud member of the acclaimed LAByrinth Theater Company and is a Drama Desk, OBIE, Lucille Lortel, AUDELCO, Outer Critics Circle, HOLA and Kingsley Award winner for her stage work.
Jeff Hiller is an actor and comedian who received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2025 for his role in Somebody Somewhere.
He appeared in two seasons of American Horror Stories and can be seen this season in Widow's Bay and Stumble, in addition to guest starring roles on Pluribus and Elsbeth. His other television credits include: 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Broad City and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
In addition to publishing his memoir, "Actress of a Certain Age," in 2025, Jeff recently wrapped the run of his one-man show Jeff Hiller is Basic. Hiller has performed improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NYC in Asssscat and Raaaatscraps.
He has appeared on Broadway (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; Urinetown), off-Broadway (Bright Colors and Bold Patterns; Silence!; Heartbreak House) and in Shakespeare in the Park (A Midsummer Night's Dream; Love's Labour's Lost). His film credits include Greta, Set It Up, Morning Glory and Ghost Town.
The 78th Emmy Awards will broadcast live coast-to-coast on Monday, Sept. 14, (8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT/5:00-8:00 p.m. PDT) on NBC and stream live on Peacock. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/awards-news/260618-emmy-nominations-announcement
[Category: Entertainment Industry]
Air Line Pilots Association International: Frontier Pilots Elect MEC Chair
MCLEAN, Virginia, June 19 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Frontier Pilots Elect MEC Chair
DENVER, Colo. -- Yesterday, the Frontier pilot leadership, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), elected Capt. Bob Masse as the MEC chair to complete the term vacated in April and ending on March 31, 2027.
"As we continue our fight for a fair and equitable contract, it is more important than ever for all Frontier pilots to stand unified," said Capt. Masse. "I am committed to working with our local representatives,
... Show Full Article
MCLEAN, Virginia, June 19 -- The Air Line Pilots Association International issued the following news release on June 18, 2026:
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Frontier Pilots Elect MEC Chair
DENVER, Colo. -- Yesterday, the Frontier pilot leadership, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), elected Capt. Bob Masse as the MEC chair to complete the term vacated in April and ending on March 31, 2027.
"As we continue our fight for a fair and equitable contract, it is more important than ever for all Frontier pilots to stand unified," said Capt. Masse. "I am committed to working with our local representatives,committee chairs, and every Frontier pilot as we chart a path forward and achieve the contract that Frontier pilots have earned."
Capt. Masse has been with Frontier Airlines since 2016 and is based in Cleveland, Ohio. He currently serves as the Merger Committee chair. Prior to joining Frontier, he was a pilot with Midway Airlines, an ALPA carrier, and flew business jets worldwide. He also served two terms as a trustee on his local school board, including being the liaison for union contract negotiations.
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Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines, including the more than 2,200 Frontier pilots. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.
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Original text here: https://www.alpa.org/press-room/2026/06/frontier-pilots-elect-mec-chair
[Category: Transportation]
AICPA Requests Adjustments, Provides Recommendations on IRS Issuance of CP53E Notices to Taxpayers
NEW YORK, June 19 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:
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AICPA Requests Adjustments, Provides Recommendations on IRS Issuance of CP53E Notices to Taxpayers
Washington, D.C. - During the recent tax filing season, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent over 3 million CP53E notices to taxpayers - a notice that is issued by the IRS when a taxpayer is owed a refund but must provide or correct direct deposit information before the IRS will release it. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) submitted a letter to the IRS providing recommendations to improve the IRS's
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, June 19 -- The American Institute of CPAs issued the following news release:
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AICPA Requests Adjustments, Provides Recommendations on IRS Issuance of CP53E Notices to Taxpayers
Washington, D.C. - During the recent tax filing season, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent over 3 million CP53E notices to taxpayers - a notice that is issued by the IRS when a taxpayer is owed a refund but must provide or correct direct deposit information before the IRS will release it. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) submitted a letter to the IRS providing recommendations to improve the IRS'suse of CP53E notices to implement Executive Order 14247 (EO 14247), Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Accounts.
The issuance of these notices has caused significant confusion to taxpayers and their practitioners regarding the purpose of the notices, the status of refunds, and the steps needed to resolve the notices. Failure to provide direct deposit information was the most straightforward reason for receiving a CP53E notice, but taxpayers also received notices when they:
* Requested overpayments be applied to the following tax year.
* Filed a return indicating either no balance due or balance due to the IRS.
* Provided valid direct deposit information.
Taxpayers not expecting a refund were particularly confused, since such notices did not provide any explanation. Some unexpected notices were properly issued due to tax return adjustments resulting in refunds, but others may have been issued erroneously. In many instances, the reason for issuing a CP53E notice to taxpayers requesting that overpayments be credited to the following tax year remains unclear.
Additionally, EO 14247 provided that the electronic payment and refund requirement would include exceptions for certain categories of taxpayers, including individuals without access to banking services or electronic payments and other circumstances as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Regulations have not been issued providing a list of these exceptions or properly defining the categories of taxpayers eligible for such exceptions.
The AICPA has recommended that the IRS:
1. Issue further guidance clarifying the reasons that a CP53E notice would be issued, indicating whether taxpayer action is needed in each circumstance and explaining the IRS's limitations when using direct deposit information.
2. Review the criteria for issuing a CP53E notice to eliminate erroneous notices.
3. Establish a process to request an exception from the direct deposit requirement prior to filing the return, such as adding a checkbox to income tax returns to allow taxpayers to self-identify as an excepted taxpayer.
4. Publish and define all categories of excepted taxpayers in regulations or other guidance.
5. Implement policies to prevent the issuance of CP53E notices to taxpayers that qualify for a paper refund check exception in prior tax years.
"The recommendations provided by the AICPA, coupled with increasing public outreach, will help reduce confusion and protect taxpayers who are exempt from the electronic refund requirement," said Daniel Hauffe, AICPA Senior Manager, Tax Policy and Advocacy. "If implemented prior to the October 15 extended filing deadline, these changes could serve to reduce the administrative burden on the IRS and provide clarity to taxpayers and their advisors."
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About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world's largest member association representing the CPA profession, with a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting. A founding member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession, attestation standards, and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, partners across the profession to build future talent, and drives continuing education to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.
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Original text here: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-requests-adjustments-provides-recommendations-on-irs-issuance-of-cp53e-notices-to-taxpayers
[Category: Accounting]
ABA-led Coalition Supports Great American Outdoors Act
WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The American Bus Association issued the following news:
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ABA-led Coalition Supports Great American Outdoors Act
ABA and industry partners call on lawmakers to protect commercial tour access, reject harmful new passenger fees, and require stronger national reporting on park-based commercial activity.
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Last week, the American Bus Association led a coalition letter of industry partners, including the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA), National Tour Association (NTA), and U.S. Travel Association (USTA), to policymakers regarding the ongoing development
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The American Bus Association issued the following news:
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ABA-led Coalition Supports Great American Outdoors Act
ABA and industry partners call on lawmakers to protect commercial tour access, reject harmful new passenger fees, and require stronger national reporting on park-based commercial activity.
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Last week, the American Bus Association led a coalition letter of industry partners, including the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA), National Tour Association (NTA), and U.S. Travel Association (USTA), to policymakers regarding the ongoing developmentof the Great American Outdoors Act 250 (HR 9250) - legislation intended to improve access and infrastructure across the nation's public lands system.
The letter reaffirmed the industry's commitment to ensuring that national parks remain accessible, sustainable, and enjoyable for future generations, as well as our understanding of the need to generate revenue to fund key infrastructure investments, but raised concerns over the inclusion of non-resident visitor fees on commercial tour passengers and the need to include language that would ensure annual national reporting on commercial activity across the national park system.
America's public lands are among our nation's greatest assets, and investments that improve visitor experiences, preserve natural resources, and address deferred maintenance challenges are critical. While we understand the need to raise revenue to fund this important work, proposals to expand per-passenger non-resident or commercial entrance fees as a funding mechanism would negatively impact commercial tour operators, visitors, and gateway communities that depend on tourism.
Early engagement with committee staff, policymakers, and stakeholders has already resulted in the successful removal of draft language that would have drastically increased commercial tour fees, posing serious challenges to tour operators and their passengers. This was a significant victory for our members and helped prevent additional costs from being placed on commercial tour operators who facilitate access to our national parks for millions of visitors each year.
In addition to opposing new fee structures, ABA continues to encourage policymakers to incorporate language directing the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct annual, systemwide reporting on commercial tour activity across the NPS. Reliable and consistent nationwide data regarding commercial visitation, transportation patterns, economic impact, and visitor access is essential to inform policymaking. Such reporting would provide Congress, park managers, and stakeholders with valuable information to better understand visitation trends, evaluate policy outcomes, and support future decision-making regarding commercial access and park operations.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which has jurisdiction over the bill, is voting on the legislation this week, marking a key procedural milestone that will tee it up for a vote before the full Senate. ABA remains actively engaged with both committees and key congressional offices and will continue to monitor developments, advocate for policies that protect our members, and ensure the voice of the commercial tour and motorcoach industry remains part of the conversation as this legislation moves forward.
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Original text here: https://www.buses.org/news/aba-led-coalition-supports-great-american-outdoors-act/
[Category: Transportation]
