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The governor has vetoed an election overhaul bill due to a voter identification requirement. Republicans believed the bill would have restored voter confidence, while Democrats said it decreased ease of voting.
Christopher Riano, president of the nonprofit Center for Civic Education. Riano backs federal funding to support more civics and constitutional education as a way to prevent threats against democracy. (Governing — June 25, 2021)
The number of federal agencies that used facial recognition software to identify protesters during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd last year.
Slavery was a national issue, but its legacy increasingly is being addressed by local officials. The mayors of nearly a dozen cities have pledged reparations programs.
New Jersey’s $46.4 billion budget will allocate some funds towards public pensions, tax deductions for college aid and small property tax relief payments. Republican lawmakers worry the increased spending will result in future cutbacks.
The gunshot detection technology, ShotSpotter, identified gunfire more than 15,000 times last year in St. Louis and St. Louis County. However, for the large majority of those instances, there were no shootings to investigate.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended the state’s eviction moratorium until the end of September and has increased funding for a rent relief program, despite protests from landlords and realtors.
The city of Refuge has received funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to train 280 high school graduates in web development and cybersecurity for free over the next four years. The program will target marginalized communities.
The South Dakota Democratic Party, responding to Gov. Kristi Noem’s announcement that she will join several other Republican governors in sending the state’s National Guard to the southern border to enforce security. (Associated Press — June 29, 2021)
The proportion of state and local government employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Of the government workers who have not been vaccinated, 33 percent cited a lack of trust in government as the reason why they are undecided or will likely not get the shot.
Assuming the Supreme Court casts a hostile eye toward Roe v. Wade, abortion rights would disappear overnight in half the states.
State, local and county governments officials testified that they need continually renewed, flexible funding to fend off increasing cyber threats during a U.S. Senate hearing earlier this month.
The Big Easy isn’t the only city using chatbots to bridge equity gaps and provide more residents with the answers they seek on a 24/7 basis. Smarter chatbots are finding their places in public service.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced several upcoming changes to the Department of Workforce Solutions to improve technology capabilities in handling unemployment insurance claims and reducing fraud.
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As businesses begin to reopen, many are wondering if employers should require their staff to get vaccinated against the coronavirus to prevent future spread. But it’s difficult for businesses to navigate the legalities of requiring vaccines.
The California city received $35 million to assist with rental relief during the pandemic, but as of June 7, had only allocated 7 percent of the funds. Advocates are questioning why it’s taking so long to distribute the assistance.
One of the new laws removes the term “illegal alien” from state statutes and another allows those without documentation to apply for housing assistance. One in 10 of the state’s residents are immigrants.
With 90 percent of the state’s law enforcement agencies using body cameras, the state patrol troopers remain outliers. The department cites cost as an impediment, while advocates say the state should mandate the tech.
Erik Frederick, chief administrative officer of Missouri’s Mercy Hospital Springfield, regarding the surge of COVID-19 patients due to the low rates of vaccination across the state. Greene County, Mo., just barely reached 37 percent of residents with at least one vaccine dose. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch — June 28, 2021)
The temperature (degrees Fahrenheit) reached in Portland, Ore., over the weekend, a new record for the city. The previous record of 107 degrees Fahrenheit was last hit in 1981.
Eric Silagy, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, paints a stark picture of the cybersecurity challenges facing U.S. infrastructure. Many experts say these threats are part of the cost of doing business in a digital world.
Cyber criminals are finding workarounds to steal unemployment checks after the state increased security. The scam involves official-looking emails and phone calls to steal user login information.
Braddock, Pa., is where Andrew Carnegie first mass-produced steel. The city, now one-tenth its former size, is home to a new kind of industry: robotic farms that grow greens inside buildings.
Big tech companies could soon be facing down new antitrust rules if a suite of five bills from the U.S. House gain enough support. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced interest in reining in tech monopolies.
With the final CDC eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of June, three Texas families recount their experiences facing their own housing struggles over the past year.
Are the election law changes proposed in statehouses across the country really as bad as some say? An election law scholar cuts through the yelling to take a sober look at the new voting landscape.
The city has approved a two-year budget that will cut millions from the police department budget and reallocate the money to fund violence prevention programs and other social services.
The Board of Aldermen has introduced a bill that would require board approval of any new or expanded police and city surveillance programs. Police claim surveillance technology has helped combat crime.
Officials remain in the planning phase on how to spend the rest of the county’s American Rescue Plan funds. Residents have advocated investing in education, broadband, minority investment and infrastructure.
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