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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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Government organizations around the world are experiencing the consequences of plagiarism firsthand. A simple mistake can lead to loss of reputation, loss of trust and even lawsuits. It’s important to avoid plagiarism at all costs, and government organizations are held to a particularly high standard. Fortunately, technological solutions such as iThenticate allow government organizations to avoid instances of text plagiarism in an efficient manner.
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.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has decided to end the federal unemployment benefits program more than five weeks early to encourage hiring. The state’s jobless pay is $275 per week, or $6.87 per hour, one of the lowest rates in the country.
California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, regarding the fact the state code only uses “he,” “him” and “his” pronouns when referencing the attorney general and other elected officials. Bauer-Kahan has introduced a bill that would update state laws and documents to replace male-only pronouns with gender neutral terms. (Associated Press — June 24, 2021)
The proportion of Americans who believe that abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances within a pregnancy’s first trimester. However, 65 percent and 80 percent believe that it should usually be illegal in the second and third trimesters, respectively.
While wealthy cities have managed to grow transit ridership, overall numbers have dropped by nearly 50 percent since 1970. The decrease in riders makes it harder for officials to support future transit investments.
Civil debate about American democracy is possible if it’s grounded in civic literacy. The new president of the Center for Civic Education says civics and constitutional education offers a chance for special unity.
While California has one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation, the rates for firefighters and police are often much lower. Are unvaccinated safety workers a public health risk?
Based on the city’s low cost of living, an increase in minimum wage would benefit residents more than in other major cities. Currently, the baseline living wage in the city is 16.6 percent below the proposed $15-an-hour wage.
The city has officially come out against the $10 billion proposed high-speed Maglev train to Washington, citing negative equity and environmental impacts. The trip between the two cities would cost riders $60 and take 15 minutes.
The Industrial Development and Export Authority approved as much as $1.5 million for seismic oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but the agency’s leases have been suspended by the Biden administration.
Dr. Kanika Turner, a physician in St. Louis, regarding the increased number of drug overdose deaths, specifically in Black communities, during the pandemic. In Missouri, Black men are now four times more likely to die of an overdose than a white person. (Associated Press — June 24, 2021)
The amount of America’s gross domestic product that is applied to infrastructure. In comparison, the European Union applies 5 percent towards infrastructure, and its 9 percent in China.
Without federal help, cities in the Northeast and Midwest face heavy cost burdens to upgrade aging roads, bridges and water systems. Younger municipalities in the South and West are beginning to have similar problems.
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