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UPPER DARBY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES NOTICE OF DATA EVENTS

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UPPER DARBY, Pa., Aug. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Upper Darby School District (“UDSD”) is providing notice of recent events that may have affected the privacy of personal information related to certain individuals. The information involved in these events may include data related to current and former employees, as well as some student data.

In February 2024, UDSD identified unusual activity on certain IT systems. UDSD promptly took steps to secure its systems and initiated an investigation into the nature and scope of the issue. Through the investigation, it was determined that certain files were potentially copied from the systems by an unauthorized person on or around February 4, 2024. Further, in June 2024, UDSD learned that certain files were potentially copied from its systems by an unauthorized person on or around June 2, 2024. In response to these issues, UDSD undertook comprehensive reviews of the relevant files to determine what information was present and to whom it relates. While these efforts are still underway, UDSD has been working on an ongoing to mail letters to those individuals whose personal information was found in the relevant files. The investigations to date have determined that the type of information that may have been impacted varies per person, but may include name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, other state identification number, medical and/or health insurance information.

UDSD takes these incidents, and the security of information in its care very seriously. UDSD has been working diligently to investigate and respond to these events, including moving quickly to initiate appropriate investigations, taking steps to assess the security of the network, and notifying potentially affected individuals on an ongoing basis as the investigations continue. UDSD is providing individuals with information and resources that they may use to better protect personal information.

UDSD encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing their account statements and monitoring free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Any suspicious activity should be promptly reported to the affiliated institutions. Individuals may also contact the three major credit reporting agencies for advice on how to obtain free credit reports and how to place fraud alerts and security freezes on credit files. The relevant contact information is below. More information on actions individuals may take to better protect their personal information may be found in the Steps Individuals May Take To Help Protect Personal Information section available on UDSD’s website at https://www.upperdarbysd.org/cms/lib/PA02209738/Centricity/Domain/4/UDSD%20-%20Website%20Notice.pdf.

UDSD has established a dedicated assistance line to answer questions regarding these incidents. If you have questions, please call 1-866-362-1773 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding major U.S. holidays. Additionally, you can write us at 8201 Lansdowne Avenue, Upper Darby, PA 19082.

Steps Individuals May Take To Help Protect Personal Information

Monitor Accounts
Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you may need to provide the following information, depending on whether you make the request online, by phone, or by mail:

Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);Social Security number;Date of birth;Addresses for the prior two to five years;Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.);Social Security Card, pay stub, or W2;If you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft.

Should you wish to place a credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax

Experian

TransUnion

https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit- report-services/

https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit- help

1-888-298-0045

1-888-397-3742

1-800-916-8800

Equifax Fraud Alert

P.O. Box 105069

Atlanta, GA 30348-5069

Experian Fraud Alert

P.O. Box 9554

Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion Fraud Alert

P.O. Box 2000

Chester, PA 19016

Equifax Credit Freeze,

P.O. Box 105788

Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

Experian Credit Freeze,

 P.O. Box 9554,

Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion Credit Freeze,

 P.O. Box 160,

Woodlyn, PA 19094

 

Additional Information
You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement, your state Attorney General, and the Federal Trade Commission.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/upper-darby-school-district-provides-notice-of-data-events-302213422.html

SOURCE Upper Darby School District

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Electra Defense Awarded $4.7 Million R&D Contract from U.S. Air Force for Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Testing

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Air Force Research Laboratory award for ground and flight testing of Electra’s Ultra-Short Takeoff and Landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft to evaluate hybrid-electric performance and operational benefits for military missions

MANASSAS, Va., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Electra Defense today announced it has received a $4.7 million innovative capabilities opening (ICO) contract award from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to advance hybrid-electric aircraft power and propulsion technologies through a comprehensive program of ground testing and flight testing.

The ICO will support testing and evaluation of Electra’s EL9 aircraft and its hybrid-electric propulsion systems, generating critical performance data to help the U.S. Air Force assess the potential of next-generation ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft for military operations. The effort will also examine how hybrid-electric aviation can expand operational access, strengthen distributed logistics, and support the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine.

The $4.7 million award marks the latest development in Electra’s longstanding partnership with AFRL to advance hybrid-electric aviation technologies for military applications. In 2023, Electra received a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award valued at up to $85 million to support development of its full-scale preproduction aircraft. That collaboration has since included flight demonstrations and government-directed testing, most recently during AFRL’s Future Flag 25-3 exercise in 2025, where Electra demonstrated the potential of Ultra-STOL aircraft and hybrid-electric propulsion to support runway-independent distributed military operations and mobile power generation.

“This award represents an important step in demonstrating how hybrid-electric aircraft technology can address some of the Air Force’s most pressing operational challenges,” said Donn Yates, Vice President and General Manager of Electra Defense. “Power and propulsion are fundamental to unlocking new capabilities for military aviation. Through this effort, we’re moving to generate real-world aircraft performance data that will help the Air Force evaluate how these technologies can support more agile, distributed, and resilient operations.”

Under the contract, Electra will conduct a series of technical evaluations focused on aircraft performance, hybrid-electric propulsion system functionality, and operational effectiveness. The effort includes verification of key hybrid-electric power and propulsion technologies, extensive ground testing of the EL9 preproduction aircraft, and acoustic flight testing to characterize the ability to conduct battery-only low-signature ingress and egress for special operations missions. These activities will provide the Air Force with insights into aircraft performance and mission effectiveness while advancing technology maturity.

The program will also evaluate the potential operational advantages of hybrid-electric ultra-STOL aircraft through modeling and simulation, including their ability to operate from a wider range of locations, support the rapid dispersal of personnel and time-sensitive cargo, and reduce dependence on traditional aviation infrastructure and ground support equipment. The findings will help inform future Air Force technology development and acquisition decisions.

“Future military operations will demand aircraft that can operate with greater flexibility, access more locations, and reduce the logistical burden on deployed forces,” Yates added. “The combination of hybrid-electric power, distributed propulsion, and Ultra Short takeoff and landing capability offers a fundamentally discriminating approach to tactical mobility. This contract will help us quantify those advantages and demonstrate their potential value to the Air Force.”

About Electra

Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is an advanced aerospace company building hybrid-electric Ultra Short airplanes that achieve unprecedented performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise. With the EL9 Ultra Short, Electra is pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that brings air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Electra’s Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10x longer range with 70% lower operating costs than helicopters and eVTOLs, with significantly greater safety and far less certification risk.

Electra’s team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran are among Electra’s strategic investors, along with Prysm Capital, Statkraft Ventures (Norway’s sovereign fund), the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and other private investors. Electra’s contracted customers include NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy, along with over 2,200 letters of intent from 60+ commercial customers, including both airlines and helicopter operators.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX

AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory, partners with small businesses, startups and nontraditional vendors to address challenges facing Airmen and Guardians. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX strengthens the defense industrial base by expanding access to innovators, building partnerships and accelerating the transition of critical technologies to operational capability. In fiscal year 2025, AFWERX awarded more than 1,000 contracts totaling $1.37 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion. For more information, visit afwerx.com.

Media Contact
Dan Palumbo
Dan@vrge.us
301.875.2356

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SOURCE Electra.aero

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Southeastern Tile Connection Sponsors Asheville Museum of Science’s Under the Stars

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ASHEVILLE, N.C., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Southeastern Tile Connection sponsors AMOS’s 10th-anniversary gala, Under the Stars, on Nov. 6 to support hands-on STEM education across Western North Carolina.

Southeastern Tile Connection’s Mills River team is supporting science education in Western North Carolina as an Exploration Sponsor of Under the Stars: A Decade of Discovery, the signature annual fundraiser of the Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS). This year’s event celebrates the museum’s 10th anniversary and takes place Friday, November 6, at the Highland Brewing Company Event Center in Asheville, with a VIP reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the main event from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m.

For 10 years, AMOS has connected children, families, educators, and visitors with hands-on science. Under the Stars will recognize the people and partnerships that helped build the museum and offer a look at what’s ahead. Guests will hear from NASA astronaut John Casper, enjoy live music from Cloud Circuit and food from Daymakers Slider Bar, and take part in a premier auction.

Funds raised support hands-on exhibits, field trips, outreach education, accessible museum admission, STEM programming, and the educators who bring these experiences to life across Western North Carolina.

“We are excited to be part of this incredible event in support of the Asheville Museum of Science and its vision for the future! We’re proud to support an organization that inspires curiosity, fosters learning, and creates meaningful opportunities for our community. We look forward to seeing its continued growth and impact for generations to come,” said Leland Decker, Business Development Manager at Southeastern Tile Connection.

Southeastern Tile Connection serves homeowners, builders, and designers across the Asheville area from its Mills River showroom. Its support of AMOS helps bring hands-on science learning to children and families throughout the region.

Southeastern Tile Connection thanks the Asheville Museum of Science for its work in the community and congratulates the AMOS team on ten years of inspiring curious minds.

Tickets and event details are available at ashevillescience.org/under-the-stars. Learn more about Southeastern Tile Connection at setileconnection.com.

Press Contact:

Mike Nichols
(910) 799-5565
www.setileconnection.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southeastern-tile-connection-sponsors-asheville-museum-of-sciences-under-the-stars-302933584.html

SOURCE Southeastern Tile Connection

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Mesh Security Appoints Five Security Leaders to Strategic Advisory Board

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Advisors from Zscaler, Ivanti, Sapiens, AMINA Bank and Forrester’s Zero Trust research will guide product priorities as AI agents and non-human identities expand the attack surface

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Security teams rarely lack tools. What they often lack is connected context: a clear view of how identities, assets, exposures and controls combine into viable attack paths.

Mesh Security, the unified intelligence layer for enterprise security teams, today announced that five cybersecurity leaders have joined its strategic advisory board: Yiannis Vassiliades, CISO in Residence at Zscaler; Jack Nelson, CISO and Deputy General Counsel at Ivanti; Guy Avnor, CISO at Sapiens; Jeff Schiemann, former CISO at AMINA Bank; and Dr. Chase Cunningham, creator of Forrester’s Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) framework.

Collectively, the advisors bring experience spanning cloud security, enterprise software, insurance technology, regulated banking and Zero Trust strategy. They will provide practitioner perspectives on Mesh’s product priorities, enterprise adoption, and board-level reporting and decision-making as AI agents and non-human identities expand the enterprise attack surface.

“Security tools are effective at the jobs they were designed to do, but attackers move across the boundaries between them,” said Netanel (Neo) Azoulay, CEO and co-founder of Mesh Security. “Yiannis, Jack, Guy, Jeff and Chase bring the operating and strategic perspective to help us show teams which paths are genuinely exploitable — and give security leaders clear evidence for action.”

About the advisors

Yiannis Vassiliades, CISO in Residence at Zscaler, brings nearly three decades of cybersecurity experience. He previously served as Chief Product Officer at Ostrich Cyber-Risk and helped establish and scale Sophos’s MDR business.

Jack Nelson, CISO and Deputy General Counsel at Ivanti, works across cybersecurity, enterprise risk and legal strategy.

Guy Avnor, CISO at Sapiens, leads information security for the global insurance software provider.

Jeff Schiemann, former CISO of FINMA-regulated AMINA Bank, was a 2025 Swiss CISO of the Year finalist.

Dr. Chase Cunningham, widely known as “Dr. Zero Trust,” formerly served as Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, where he developed the ZTX framework. He is also a retired U.S. Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician.

Advisors serve in their personal capacities. Company affiliations are provided for identification only.

About Mesh Security

Mesh Security is the unified intelligence layer for enterprise security teams. As organizations scale across cloud, SaaS, on-premises and AI environments, security data fragments across disconnected tools. Mesh connects to the tools a team already runs, without agents, correlates signals across domains and reveals the viable attack paths to an organization’s most critical assets. It also inventories, detects and responds to AI agents, non-human identities and MCP connections.

Built as the world’s first Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture (CSMA) platform, Mesh gives security teams context no single tool can provide. Teams prioritize the exposures that matter, fix them through guided remediation workflows and reduce risk without replacing their existing security stack. Learn more at https://mesh.security.

Media contact

Rae Medina
rae@mesh.security

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mesh-security-appoints-five-security-leaders-to-strategic-advisory-board-302933628.html

SOURCE Mesh Security

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