5 Firms to Test Travel Tech at Grand Rapids, Mich., Airport The technology companies will pilot new air travel solutions this winter at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Funding comes from the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship. READ MORE
AI and Cloud Strategies for
State and Local Agencies This guide
explores how AI-powered tools and cloud infrastructure can help government
agencies overcome the challenges of tight budgets and aging infrastructure. DOWNLOAD
AI Companions: Addressing The
New Frontier of Kids' Screen Addiction and Online Harms Registration
is now open for the the online symposium, which will be held on Tuesday,
February 18, 12-2:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Registration information, the agenda
and speakers' bios are available here.
AI for Public
Finances: Keeping Data Safe as You Modernize [Feb 5, 2025] Join a live webinar exploring essential strategies
for ensuring the integrity and security of AI-driven finance systems. REGISTER
AI, Cybersecurity Top NASCIO
Federal Advocacy Priorities The National Association of State Chief
Information Officers’ annual list aggregates pressing tech and security
challenges states face. Input from CIOs and CISOs helps shape its
content. READ MORE
An Experienced Lawmaker Takes Over as
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has been serving as
Kristi Noem's lieutenant governor. He'll inherit a tougher budget environment
than she had. READ MORE
An Idea That Never Quite Disappears:
Taxing Wealth It could bring states a lot of revenue. But
voters don’t like it, even though few of them would have to pay. READ MORE
ANNOUNCING CDG-NACo’s Digital
Counties Survey 2025! The Center for Digital
Government and National Association of Counties invite all U.S. counties to
participate in the Digital Counties Survey. DIGITAL
COUNTIES SURVEY ONLINE
Arizona Invests in Cyber, Workforce for Economic
Growth As Arizona's recent economic growth has created new job
market opportunities, the state has been supporting cybersecurity initiatives
and collaborations to bolster evolving workforce needs. READ MORE
Brake Early for S.F. Speed Cameras
Ahead, Campaign Warns Billboards from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation
Agency and speed camera warning signs on freeway off-ramps and in bus shelters
are intended to caution drivers as more than 50 of the devices arrive in
March. READ MORE
Brash Legislator Seeks to Remake
California GOP in Trump’s Image Longtime conservative
activist Carl DeMaio won an Assembly seat last year, arguing the GOP must be
more aggressive against Democratic policies. Some Republicans call him a
self-promoter who can’t be trusted. READ MORE
Building Safe and Secure
Government Workplaces Watch this on-demand
webinar to explore how government teams can equip themselves to support the
work environments that ensure everyone has the resources they need to
participate effectively, safely and securely. WATCH NOW
California Bill Would Provide a Year
of Mortgage Relief to Fire Victims The
legislation would block foreclosures and allow homeowners who’ve suffered
financially due to the L.A. fires to freeze payments without penalty. Several
major lenders have already reached agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom to provide
voluntary relief. READ MORE
Chester County, Pa., Looks to Raise Awareness About
Online Scams Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Pielli,
along with the Housing Authority of Chester County, recently held a free
program educating people on how to spot and avoid frauds and scams that use
technology. READ MORE
Colorado Sales and Use Tax System Updates Support
Business The Colorado Department of Revenue has completed a
project refreshing the state’s Sales and Use Tax System for an improved user
experience. The work follows a mandate from state legislators in 2023. READ MORE
Concerns About AI Election Impacts
Are Overblown (So Far) AI caused less damage through
misinformation or election administration than predicted in 2024. New laws
meant to combat political deepfakes, meanwhile, went largely unenforced. READ MORE
Connected Data for Public
Projects [Feb 4, 2025] Join this live
webinar where we'll explore how capturing, standardizing, and connecting data
can empower public agencies to achieve greater cost control, project accuracy,
and team alignment. REGISTER
Could AI Help Bust Medicaid
Scammers? Minnesota May Find Out Minnesota’s governor wants to crack
down on Medicaid fraud with the help of artificial intelligence. The idea comes
at a time when much of the country is struggling to convict and recover money
from Medicaid scammers. READ MORE
Cyber Incident Temporarily
Halts Pa. Child Support Payments The matter, which has since been
resolved, prevented an estimated 121,000 families from getting around $27
million in collective payments. The incident was contained and systems have
been restored. READ MORE
Dashcam Technology Is Cutting Down on City’s Legal
Fees Garbage trucks in Scottsdale, Ariz., were recently equipped
with dashcams that offer a comprehensive view of operations inside and out. The
results are helping exonerate the municipality from frivolous damage claims. READ MORE
E-Bikes’
Fate Could Go to Voters in Colorado Springs, Colo. The City
Council is considering a proposed policy on electric bicycles that would
classify them as a “non-motorized use” permissible on trails open to other
bikes. Civic leaders, however, say residents should get to vote. READ MORE
Empowering Local
Governments to Accelerate Economic Mobility A national partnership aims to help local governments deliver
better results for their residents. Learn
More
Federal Grant for Tiny, Lightweight
EVs Could Be on Hold A project to explore use of the small, electric vehicles
could be paused by a recent federal memo. Its funding source is a grant from
the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. READ MORE
GenAI in Courts: How Artificial
Intelligence Improves Efficiency and Accuracy in Court Systems State and local court systems are strained. Even routine legal processes
can overburden staff and delay crucial judicial processes. The right AI
assistant can transform the way courts are run, letting legal staff focus on
helping more people get justice quickly and reliably. DOWNLOAD
Georgia Approves New Rule to
Charge Data Centers for Power Atlanta is one of the hottest places in
the country for tech companies to build data centers, hulking warehouses filled
with servers that power web services, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. READ MORE
Helping Local
Governments Deliver Better Results for Their Residents A national partnership has the power to reach tens of
thousands of government leaders. Learn
More
How Alabama Made Tax
Services More Accessible The
Alabama Department of Revenue faced significant operational challenges with its
legacy systems, which were not meeting evolving needs for scalability, security
and efficiency. Learn how the agency decided to move to the cloud to address
these challenges, and more. DOWNLOAD
How One School District Retains Its
Young Teachers Finding ways to support teaching as a
career, including training, innovation and community engagement, helped a
Chicago-area district increase its retention rate by 23 percent in just three
years. READ MORE
How Security Services
Partnerships Protect K-12 Schools As cyberattacks on K-12 schools become more costly and disruptive,
ensuring robust cybersecurity measures is critical. This paper provides an
in-depth exploration of how security services partnerships can help schools
effectively mitigate cyber risks, prevent ransomware attacks, and ensure
continuity in education. DOWNLOAD
How to Enhance the Fire Service
using the Latest Technology Discover how
innovative technology can address the growing firefighter shortage by enhancing
safety, streamlining training, and improving resource deployment. DOWNLOAD
Indiana House May Freeze
Transportation Grants to Localities A bill
would set caps on infrastructure funds, allowing localities to make up the
difference by charging fees on deliveries. Local officials say the plan will
leave them short. READ MORE
Is Your Organization Ready for the
Big Event? Premium IMS Tools for Sporting Events/Mass
Gatherings CONTINUE READING
Kansas Sees Largest U.S. Outbreak of
Tuberculosis Since the 1950s Health officials are calling
the outbreak of the highly contagious disease “unprecedented,” but the numbers
remain small, with 67 active infections centered in the Kansas City suburbs. READ MORE
Manhattan Traffic Clears,
Speeds Up in Congestion Pricing Zone Early data from the new congestion
pricing project in Manhattan is showing increased vehicle speeds, a boon for
bus riders and transit users, and an indication fees to enter the zone below
60th Street are having an impact. READ MORE
Maryland
Bill Would Mandate Multifaceted Data Center Study A proposed
bill in the Maryland General Assembly seeks to create an analysis and report
about the economic, environmental and energy consequences of data center
development in the state. READ MORE
Maryland Should Not Retreat from Its
School Performance Plan Maryland took historic steps to
improve its education system. It shouldn't back away from them now. READ MORE
Master Revenue
Forecasting for Local Government Discover how Euna Budget Professional empowers local
governments with predictive analytics, scenario planning, and revenue
forecasting. LEARN
MORE
Maximizing the
Impact of On-Site Solar Energy for Local Governments Read about this comprehensive approach to on-site solar
energy can catalyze local government transformation. READ MORE
Miami is Nearing the Finish Line for
Its New 10-Mile Park Governing sat down with the former
transportation chief now leading the effort to finish the linear park. READ MORE
Michigan Eliminates Work Requirements
for Medicaid Recipients Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a
bill overturning the state’s work requirements, which had previously been
blocked in court. The bill passed in December while Democrats still controlled
the Legislature, with Republicans complaining it sent the wrong message to
recipients. READ MORE
New
ChatGPT Gov Enables Use of Non-Publicly Available Data ChatGPT Gov
is the latest artificial intelligence tool from OpenAI, geared toward expanded
use by government agencies, and offering another way to access advanced machine
learning models. READ MORE
New Jersey Mystery Drones Were
Authorized by Feds The White House said Tuesday the drones spotted
flying over New Jersey late last year were authorized by the
Federal Aviation Administration for “research and various other reasons.” READ MORE
Opexus Buys Casepoint and
Wins Big PE Investment Thoma Bravo takes an ownership stake in Opexus. The seller
of process management software plans to integrate Casepoint’s data management
technology as Opexus works to gain more state and local clients. READ MORE
Pennsylvania Rejects Plan for Charter
School Taught by AI The Department of Education denied
an application from a cyber charter school that would have been part of a
multistate network. Classes would have been led by AI tutors with humans
serving as “guides.” READ MORE
Philadelphia Transit Agrees to Pay
Additional $230 Million to Fix Fare System Since
implementing an electronic fare card in 2016, the system has been plagued by
glitches and doubled its projected cost to $285 million. READ MORE
Resilient HERoes
podcast: Women in Emergency Management Showcasing the incredible journeys, and contributions of women
in the field of emergency management. CONTINUE
READING
Ridership Lulls and Autonomous
Vehicles: How San Francisco Transit Fared The Last Five Years Jeffrey
Tumlin oversaw the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency during a
period of tumult for public transit and city streets. READ MORE
Secession Schemes Within the States Residents
of red counties in blue states wish they had a new political home. Also, in
Florida, the Legislature is starting to stand up to Ron DeSantis. READ MORE
See the Unseen: How Video
Analytics Enhances Public Safety See how video analytics empowers public safety teams with real-time
insights, helping to reduce crime, manage crowds, and ensure community safety. DOWNLOAD
Should a New City Make Hiring a
Lobbyist One of Its Early Priorities? Crystal
River, Minn., is a freshly incorporated city that lacks money for services and
infrastructure. A lobbyist would help secure state funds, but some local
officials call the idea a “racket.” READ MORE
Some Simple Ways to
Make Government Work Appeal to IT Professionals Some programmers and engineers are willing to forego
private-sector pay to find meaningful work. But governments need to be more
nimble about hiring and provide better career paths. READ MORE
State of Oklahoma OMES Takes a
Whole-of-State Approach Spearheading a
“whole-of-state” approach to essential services, Oklahoma OMES strives to
increase efficiency, reduce financial and administrative overheads, and
eliminate the duplication of effort, making it easier for the state’s agencies
and affiliates to focus on their core missions. READ MORE
States Work to Fight
Disinformation During Emergencies Some officials are wondering what, if anything, state governments can do
to stop the spread of harmful lies and rumors that proliferate on social media
during emergency situations. READ MORE
Streamline Revenue
Forecasting for Local Government Manage fiscal uncertainties, strengthen your agency’s
strategy, and serve your community better with revenue forecasting. LEARN
MORE
Surge in Immigrants Contributed to
Rising Homeless Counts Homelessness rose last year by 18
percent, but much of the increase took place in a handful of states that had
received lots of immigrants. Some experts say their increase during a HUD
census inflated the actual numbers. READ MORE
Taking a Broad Approach to
Digital Identity This thought
leadership paper explains why states need to go beyond adopting mobile driver’s
licenses (mDLs) to fully address digital identity and fraud. DOWNLOAD
Tennessee Legislature Poised to Pass
School Voucher Bill The education committees in both the
House and Senate approved a $450 million bill, a top priority for Gov. Bill
Lee. Legislators are expected to pass it quickly during a special session this
week. READ MORE
Texas Gov. Seeks $11 Billion
Reimbursement for Border Security As the Trump
administration steps up immigration enforcement, GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has sent
a request to congressional leaders to be paid back for his Biden-era efforts. READ MORE
Texas Lawmakers File More Than 20
Bills to Roll Back Vaccine Mandates Enjoying
momentum thanks to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as federal health
secretary, vaccine skeptics are pushing state-level bills to block mandates and
give parents and workers greater latitude to opt out. READ MORE
Texas State Office Fires 7 Employees After Data
Breach The personal identifying information of more than 61,000
Texans may have been compromised in a data breach, and some of the state's most
vulnerable residents are at highest risk. READ MORE
The Marshall Plan We Need to Tackle
Our Housing Crisis Cities across the country are committed
to making it easier to build housing and are taking a variety of promising
approaches, note the leaders of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. But they must be
bolstered by federal investment and flexibility. READ MORE
The State of Digital Identity
in Government Download this report
for vital insights on the evolution of digital identity, fraud prevention and
online service delivery in government. DOWNLOAD
Trump Executive Order Aims to Position U.S. as AI
Leader A newly signed executive order from President Donald Trump
aims to establish and secure the nation’s position as a leader in artificial
intelligence. An AI Action Plan is slated to follow. READ MORE
Trump Signs Order Demanding
California Move More Water The president noted the need to
fight Los Angeles fires, but the water would go elsewhere in the state
primarily to aid farmers. Environmentalists complained the move was unlawful. READ MORE
U.S. Marines Test New
Anti-Drone System in Hawaii Marines used their new hunter-killer
system to blast dozens of target drones out of the sky Saturday over a training
ground on the Big Island of Hawaii. READ MORE
Ulster,
N.Y., Grapples With Aftermath of Ransomware Attack A hack in
September [2024] continues to present issues around data loss and retrieval, and
installation of a different bookkeeping system has been delayed. Officials were
unable to determine who was behind the incident. READ MORE
What a Century-Old Planned Community
Can Teach Us About Growth
John Nolen’s blueprint for Venice, Fla., is legendary among urban
planners. But what's interesting about Venice as a place, as opposed to a plan,
is how it’s evolved in real life. READ MORE
Workflow Automation Firm SimpliGov Wins Big
Investment The company’s platform is used by state
and local governments for such tasks as licensing, case management and
procurement. JMI Equity, a growth equity firm, will get two seats on the
company’s board. READ MORE
World Economic Forum 2025:
Navigating Cybersecurity in an Era of Complexity What was the cyber outlook at the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland, this past week? From President Trump’s address to new white
papers, here’s your roundup. READ MORE