• Citing Cost, Some States Dropping GED Test
• Source: AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution   |   Nation   |   April 15, 2013
• Several dozen states are looking for an alternative to the GED high school equivalency test because of concerns that a new version coming out next year is more costly and will no longer be offered in a pencil and paper format.

• California Governor Courts Chinese Investment in High-Speed Rail Project
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   April 12, 2013
• China spent 77.6 billion on overseas investments last year. Governor Jerry Brown would like to see them contribute funds to California's troubled high-speed rail project, which faces a shortfall of 55 billion.

• California Could Profit from China's Pollution Problem
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   April 11, 2013
• With China's political leadership talking about cleaning up the country's air quality, the California Governor will have the chance on his visit to translate his state's experience with the issue into valuable business deals.
• 1 Comments

• States' Free Online Tax Filing Services Going Underused
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   April 11, 2013
• More than 20 states allow you to file your taxes online for free, if you follow some very precise instructions.

• Tennessee Forcing Its IT Workers to Re-Apply for Their Jobs
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 11, 2013
• Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration is forcing 1,600 information technology workers across state government to re-apply for their jobs in an effort to screen out those who can’t master the skills of a rapidly changing field.

• Tapping into Big Data in Government
• BY: Government Technology   |   Nation   |   April 8, 2013
• Cheaper storage and more powerful analytic tools are making big data an increasingly viable concept for the public sector.

• States in a Race to Secure Drone Testing
• Source: Los Angeles Times   |   Nation   |   April 8, 2013
• Groups in 37 states are vying to become one of six federally designated sites for testing the remotely piloted crafts for use in the nation's airspace. They see a chance to generate jobs.

• Job Skills Gap a Growing Concern in Cities
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   Nation   |   April 5, 2013
• Cities coming out of the recession are facing new challenges with matching their workforce to available jobs, a problem that could be an early indicator of a growing national problem.
• 2 Comments

• 1 U.S. City Makes "Most Intelligent" List
• BY: Government Technology   |   Columbus, Ohio   |   April 5, 2013
• Of the more than 400 cities that competed for the designation, Columbus, Ohio, is the only U.S. city to be named in this year's top seven.
• 1 Comments

• Sequestration Cuts into Scientific Research
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   April 3, 2013
• Federal agencies pour billions each year into university research. With less federal money to spend, some Ph.D. programs are delaying admissions decisions, while others have already cut positions amid the uncertainty.

• The Benefits of Drones, Police on Pinterest, and a Successful IT Consolidation
• BY: Governing   |   April 2, 2013
• News you should know about government and technology.
• 4 Comments

• Police Discover New Uses for Old Technology
• BY: Government Technology   |   Nation   |   April 2, 2013
• Radio transmitters help police track stolen items, such as bicycles, laptops, boats and firearms -- even drugs.

• The Games of Government
• BY: John M. Kamensky   |   April 1, 2013
• By using video games to engage citizens in improving their communities, governments can tap into a powerful force: fun.
• 1 Comments

• Oregon Explores Treadmill Desks for State Workers
• BY: Stateline   |   Oregon   |   April 1, 2013
• The legislature is exploring the use of the desks to decrease the health risks associated with sitting at a desk too long.
• 1 Comments

• Online Voter Registration a Rare Spot of Bipartisan Peace
• Source: Politico   |   Nation   |   April 1, 2013
• A wave of states -- both red and blue -- in recent years have moved to allow residents to register online and the pace is quickening today as many more are debating the issue.
• 1 Comments