Selected links to items concerning government operations posted on the Internet during the week ending June 21, 2024

311’s Culture Shift in City Communications Now Aided by AI Artificial intelligence isn’t everywhere yet, but several local governments around the country have either discovered how it can further enable modern 311 or are considering how it could. READ MORE

9 Munis Named What Works Cities for Data-Driven Governance Results for America has recognized nine municipalities for using data to inform policy and improve government service delivery to residents. To date, 83 cities have received the What Works Cities Certification. READ MORE

A Role Model for the Public Pension Community Chris Ailman, the chief investment officer for the giant California teachers’ pension fund, is retiring. He showed the way in navigating a landscape of complexity, hazards and challenges to achieve steady investment success. READ MORE

Alternative 911 Responses Can Build Trust and Improve Outcomes The vast majority of calls are about distress, not violent crime. Dispatching social workers and other professionals rather than law enforcement can improve outcomes in many cases. READ MORE

America's Cable Industry Is on a Mission to Connect Every Community High-speed internet access has the power to open up a world of opportunity, and we're committed to connecting every community. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY NCTA] LEARN MORE

Backlash Against DEI Spreads to More States Nearly two dozen states controlled by Republicans have prohibited or modified diversity, equity and inclusion programs, primarily in public university systems. One new law led the University of Texas system to eliminate 300 positions. READ MORE 

Backroom Deals Led to N.J. Gutting Its Transparency Law Critics say recent changes will make corruption more likely. Transparency requirements were traded away in a deal that included a gas tax increase and updates to affordable housing rules. READ MORE

Build a Secure AI Future for Your Agency Discover how utilizing AI and security can deliver new value to your organization. Chart a clear path toward improving constituent outcomes with this step-by-step guide. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY GOOGLE PUBLIC SECTOR] DOWNLOAD THE WHITEPAPER

Build Responsible AI into App Development Learn how to apply Responsible AI best practices to build intelligent applications that improve constituent services with security and compliance at the foundation. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY MICROSOFT] READ THE GUIDELINES

Built to support mission response. The advanced network and technology for first responders. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY VERIZON] LEARN MORE

CA to Bar Community Colleges from Replacing Profs With AI A bill approved by the state Senate this week would specify that community college courses must be taught by qualified human instructors, although it says nothing about using AI for grading or tutoring. READ MORE

California Sees Nation’s First Charges for Telehealth Prescription Scams Two executives at Done, a California-based telehealth company, were indicted for allegedly scheming to provide easy access to Adderall and other stimulants to patients who didn’t need them. READ MORE

City of Pittsburgh Transitions Online Permitting Platform to Eproval The change was made to better support citizens and city officials in the permit application process. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY EPROVAL] READ MORE

Closed Monday, Cleveland City Hall Confirms Ransomware Attack A spokeswoman for Mayor Justin Bibb said the breach has been “contained” but couldn’t say whether the city has agreed to, or will consider, paying the ransom. The city is working with the Ohio National Guard and the FBI to investigate. READ MORE

Congress Probes Microsoft on Exchange Breach, Cyber ‘Failures’ The company CEO acknowledged mistakes and said it was now making cybersecurity part of all employees’ responsibilities. Some legislators were skeptical and questioned how to create a more secure landscape. READ MORE

Cybersecurity, Deepfakes and the Human Risk of AI Fraud AI-generated cyber attacks and deepfakes mean new risks and new ways to fight them. "Human risk management" is a term to describe how organizations train their staff to detect these evolving threats. READ MORE

Data Helps Shine a Light on Broadband Equity in Cities Some 75 percent of low-income residents in Philadelphia, for example, say that they cannot afford to pay more than $21 a month for a broadband subscription. READ MORE  

Developing Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI At Microsoft, we are committed to empowering Responsible AI. Read the inaugural Reponsible AI Transparency Report to learn how we build generative AI applications, support our customers in their AI journeys, and evolve our practices. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY MICROSOFT ] READ THE REPORT

Federal Money at Hand, Colorado Poised to Hear from ISPs Federal approval of the state’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program smooths the way for the grant application process to open to Internet service providers, expected in late summer. READ MORE

General Services Administration Launches AI-Focused Cohort The federal oversight agency has launched its first cohort focused on artificial intelligence for its Presidential Innovation Fellows program, aiming to create a talent pipeline for AI in government. READ MORE

Immigration Detainments Jump More Than 50 Percent in Georgia The state is jailing 54 percent more individuals for immigration violations than last year, moving it to fifth most active among states. Last month, Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill that mandates greater cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. READ MORE

Last Resort Property Insurance Is a Disaster for Homeowners Insurance companies have a safety valve that can spare them some of the costs of disaster relief — but it comes at the expense of their customers. READ MORE 

Los Angeles Schools Consider Cellphone Ban The school board is expected to vote Tuesday to ban student use of phones throughout the school day, citing distraction. The policy would take effect next year. READ MORE

Maryland Gov. Pardons 175K for Marijuana Possession Monday’s action was one of the largest mass pardons in U.S. history. Maryland voters legalized marijuana two years ago. READ MORE

Maryland Launches Push to Widen Accessibility to State Tech The state has brought together agency leaders to figure out ways to make its website and digital services more accessible to people with disabilities. The work reflects wider trends in gov tech, including public safety. READ MORE

Midyear Check-In: Top Cybersecurity Predictions for 2024 The Top 24 Security Predictions for 2024: which are  are on track and which seem off base — so far? And what’s new as we hit the halfway point in the year? READ MORE 

Midyear Gov Tech Market Update — ICYMI Govtech Ventures’ Rachel Stern and Shea and Company’s Jeff Cook discuss the state of the gov tech market during the first half of 2024. READ MORE

Minnesota’s Inadequate Oversight Led to $250M Meal Program Fraud The state’s Department of Education failed to act on warning signs of fraud at the nonprofit Feeding Our Future and failed, on numerous occasions, to monitor federal dollars. READ MORE

Modernizing Spaces for a Hybrid Workforce Wake County, the largest county in North Carolina at over 1 million residents, is home to North Carolina State University as well as Raleigh, the state capital. The county is known for its innovative spirit and has been modernizing to meet the increasing demand for remote work. The county recognized the need for a more seamless approach to collaboration between its in-office and remote teams. DOWNLOAD

Montana Creates Emergency ‘Drive-Through’ Blood Pickups for Rural Ambulances Given driving distances in the vast state, trauma cases are sometimes transported for more than an hour. One physician compares the first-in-the-nation service to fast-food drive-throughs. READ MORE

N.Y. Congestion Pricing Reversal Hits Transit in the Wallet As ridership continues to lag amid a stubbornly slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, cities experiment with free rides and micromobility to prove public transit’s worth in worsening financial conditions. READ MORE

New Vehicle-Tracking AI Aims to Address Privacy Concerns The company Veritone is set to release a new tool to help law enforcement track vehicles, part of a broader offering designed to safeguard against facial recognition bans. A company executive explains the thinking. READ MORE

Nonprofit Offers Free Cybersecurity Consulting to Public Sector The Center for Internet Security’s Cybersecurity Advisory Services Program is aimed at helping strengthen organizations that are involved in elections, health care, education and water utilities. READ MORE

Northern Arizona University Offers Guidance on AI for K-12 The university's Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy reviewed federal guidance, met with leaders across the U.S., surveyed Arizona educators, and drafted a guide to AI for teachers, parents and administrators. READ MORE

Oregon Wants to Invest in Transit. But With What Money? The current transportation budget falls short of the state’s litany of needs. As lawmakers prepare to craft a major transit package next session, they will need to figure out how to increase revenue streams despite logistical and political challenges. READ MORE

Orlando Names Deputy Chief Information Officer as New CIO Roberto Lopez has been with the city more than 20 years, much of that as a computer operations manager. He replaces Rosa Akhtarkhavari, who stepped down earlier this month after more than a decade as CIO. READ MORE

Phishing Attack May Impact L.A. County Public Health Data The February cyber attack may have compromised personal information belonging to roughly 200,000 clients, employees and others, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said last week. READ MORE

Revolutionizing Digital Identity Verification Discover the latest trends in digital identity and fraud prevention. Get the comprehensive study now. ACCESS THE FULL REPORT

San Jose Approves Encampments to Move 500 Homeless People The City Council has approved a plan to move individuals now living along waterways to sites throughout the city over the coming year. The idea is encountering pushback from community members. READ MORE 

Secure AI Leadership for the Public Sector Securely harness the power of AI to enhance public services and streamline operations. Chart a clear path toward improving constituent outcomes with this step-by-step guide. DOWNLOAD THE WHITEPAPER

See How City of Pittsburgh Officials Are Using Eproval to Streamline Their Permitting Process “Eproval transforms our entire permitting process into one that is more intuitive and straightforward,” says Brian Katze, Manager of the Office of Film and Event Management. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY EPROVAL] 

SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING IT

Somebody Dies of an Overdose Every Five Minutes. States Could Do Much More to Lower That Toll. Instead of indulging in the sugar high of tough-on-crime legislation, lawmakers should provide the treatment solutions that dramatically reduce deaths, especially in correctional settings. READ MORE

State Exec Named California’s Next Chief Data Officer Gov. Gavin Newsom has named Jason Lally, deputy director of Data Services and Engineering at the state Office of Data and Innovation, to the role. Joy Bonaguro, the previous state CDO, stepped down in June 2023. READ MORE

States Should Think Beyond Mobile Drivers' Licenses for Digital Identity Other forms of digital ID will also be important for serving constituents online and preventing fraud. READ MORE

Strengthening Digital Identity and Preventing Fraud New research from the Center for Digital Government shows most people prefer to interact with state agencies online. But constituents also are concerned about identity fraud resulting from these transactions, and verifying their digital identity is harder than it should be. This paper offers practical strategies for government leaders and policymakers to simplify digital identity verification and crack down on identity fraud. DOWNLOAD

Supreme Court Revives Case Claiming Councilmember's Arrest Was Politically Motivated On Thursday, the court sided with Sylvia Gonzalez, a former councilmember in a San Antonio suburb, who was arrested after criticizing the city manager. READ MORE

Ten Features to Look for in Cost Allocation Plan (CAP) Software This paper covers the top ten features to look for in modern cost allocation software. DOWNLOAD

The Bus Lines That Can Solve a Bunch of Urban Problems Many cities view rail transit as an enticing boost to civic fortunes. But there’s a better, cheaper way to accomplish the same thing. READ MORE

The Multibillion-Dollar Implications of EVs for State Budgets It’s not just the decline in fuel tax revenues and its impact on highway construction and maintenance. Real estate will also be affected, and sales taxes are likely to take a hit. States need to begin developing strategies. READ MORE

The State of GovTech in Justice and Public Safety From tools that give law enforcement better situational awareness to software that prepares formerly incarcerated individuals for the workforce, justice and public safety agencies can take advantage of many new innovations this year. This paper presents profiles of 12 startup companies that are using technologies like artificial intelligence and the cloud to help create safer communities. DOWNLOAD

Two Major Cities Are Notching Big Victories Over Crime Boston and Dallas have achieved success in bringing down murders and other violent crimes by deploying an array of promising programs and approaches. READ MORE

Vermont Legislators Approve 14 Percent Property Tax Increase, Overriding Governor Gov. Phil Scott argued that residents need tax cuts, not an increase. Legislators felt they had to act to address increased school spending. READ MORE

What Agencies Should Know About the New Accessibility Rule The federal Department of Justice’s final rule in April updated the Americans with Disabilities Act, requiring accessibility for all government content. Here’s what that means for state and local entities. READ MORE

What Does the Future of Cybersecurity in Space Look Like? Defending technology in space requires a range of strategies, and an open-minded approach is key to preparing for inventive attackers and an evolving tech environment. A new report aims to help. READ MORE

What Will It Take to Reach Our Goal of Internet for All? America's cable industry knows connecting the entire nation to high-speed internet requires technology, people, experience, and commitment — and we're on it. [CONTENT PROVIDED BY NCTA] GET CONNECTED

What’s New in Digital Equity: Colorado and New Hampshire BEAD Proposals Accepted Plus, Indiana is getting more than $81 million in broadband funding, new research suggests AI is directly related to digital equity, and more. READ MORE

When $20 Billion Isn't Enough: Water Infrastructure  States are spending about $20 billion of the flexible funding from the American Rescue Plan Act on water infrastructure. Demand is expected to grow in coming years. READ MORE

Why More Marylanders Are Passing Digitized Driver’s Tests Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration overhauled its computer-based learner’s permit tests, and passing scores increased within months. Data obtained by Government Technology details the secret to their success. READ MORE

Why Offshore Wind Power Is Struggling The industry’s troubles are complicated but it’s far from dead. Some policy changes may help it find firmer footing. READ MORE

Zencity Raises $40M to Fund Community Engagement Growth The funding round is relatively unique, according to one expert, and underscores how community engagement tools are changing as consumer habits shift. Zencity also released an AI assistant tool for local governments. READ MORE