News
Sponsored
Whether your agency is already a well-oiled DevOps machine, or whether you’re just in the beginning stages of adopting a new software development methodology, one thing is certain: The security of your product is a top-of-mind concern.
Chris Godley, the director of emergency management in Sonoma County, Calif., regarding artificial intelligence technology that may soon be able to detect wildfire activity and alert authorities. Officials hope this technology will enable first responders to respond more quickly to potential fires, minimizing burn damage. (Los Angeles Times — March 19, 2021)
The amount that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission has awarded as grants to improve high-speed Internet access to underserved communities in 39 counties.
Seven pedestrians were hit by trains at rail crossings and eight were hit while walking along rail tracks in New Jersey in 2020; five died. Transit officials are working to understand what’s causing the incidents.
In Florida, billions of dollars have been stolen by fraudsters filing for unemployment claims under a stolen identity, sometimes using names of individuals who are still working. The solution is better cybersecurity protection.
State lawmakers unanimously passed an anti-ransomware bill, outlawing a type of cyber attack that cost computer users at least $1 billion in 2019. But investigating and prosecuting the hackers may prove difficult.
The Derek Chauvin trial is accessible to anyone with a reliable Internet connection, providing an unprecedented level of access to Minnesota courts. Some hope this becomes the norm as more trials are televised.
The $3 billion injection from Congress will return the state’s revenue almost back to where it was in Feb. 2020. But lawmakers across the nation are still concerned about their states’ financial health.
Voting is a sacred right. For African Americans, effort by state lawmakers to make it harder evoke memories of the violence, pain and dehumanization of the Jim Crow era.
Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, regarding the growing number of “hate incidents,” such as being verbally harassed or being victims of workplace discrimination, which don’t qualify as hate crimes but perpetuate the severity of discrimination and violence against Asian American people. (NPR — March 18, 2021)
The amount that the Biden administration has promised for COVID-19 testing expansion in schools, in hopes to get students back into the classroom quickly.
Many companies have offered stipends to workers to establish an ergonomic home office, which has created an unexpected profit for companies that produce at-home office equipment and furniture.
E-Verify ensures workers have proper documentation, but undocumented workers have been using stolen identities as a way to pass through the system. It’s unclear whether the worker or employer is exploiting the loophole.
The state has filed two lawsuits against San Diego County over two large housing projects that will put residents at extraordinary fire danger. There have been 68 fires within 5 miles of one of the planned sites.
In examining six older industrial cities, two urbanists raise a lot of good questions, though they don’t provide any definitive solutions.
An important new book, Apollo’s Arrow, precisely targets what America got right in its COVID-19 response, and where it must do better next time. And there will be a next time.
Sponsored
The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2022, over half of the workforce will require significant reskilling or upskilling to do their jobs—and this data was published prior to the pandemic.
The pandemic and vaccine rollout remain the top priority for counties. Federal stimulus dollars will help with that, along with other responsibilities, including public safety and schools.
The superintendent of the second-largest school district in Iowa has been on the frontlines, leading 16,000 students and staff through unprecedented times that included a pandemic, a historic storm and a personal health crisis.
Huge gaps exist in scientific knowledge, but California is about to set the world’s first health guidelines for microplastics in drinking water. Yet no one agrees how to test water for the tiny bits of plastic, or how dangerous they are.
Samir Jain, policy director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, commenting on Utah’s attempt to have cellphones and tablets sold and activated in the state automatically block access to pornography. Some believe that it unlawfully imposes the same standards on everyone in Utah. (Associated Press — March 16, 2021)
The number of tickets that were handed out last year in Florida for texting while driving, which was made a primary traffic offense in 2019. However, the low number suggests that the new law is rarely enforced. There are more than 15 million licensed drivers in the state.
California state workers took a two years’ pay cut last year to help lessen the state’s looming budget deficit. The state is set to receive $26B in federal aid, but it may not be enough to return salaries to normal.
Cullman County is expected to receive $21 million over the next two years in federal funds. Officials are already planning to spend some of the money on revenue shortfalls, employee support and other legacy projects.
The online portal would be less prone to crashing and could be repaired without shutting down the entire website. It has received bipartisan legislative support, but many say more improvement is needed.
This week Connecticut’s daily positivity rate was at the highest it’s been since late January, but officials say that shouldn’t impact the vaccine rollout which should outpace the demand by early May.
As expected, the Maryland law that created an online advertising tax is facing legal opposition from lobbying groups backed by Amazon, Google and Facebook. The groups argue the law violates the commerce clause.
It’s an opportunity, particularly for localities, to make long-term investments not only in infrastructure but also in the way they perform their work for the post-pandemic future.
A recall campaign against California's governor will succeed in triggering an election. But the governor enjoys deep Democratic loyalty in a state that's overwhelmingly on the party's side.
Sara Bronin, a law professor at the University of Connecticut and Yale University, on how the state’s zoning laws reinforce racial inequities. (Associated Press — March 16, 2021)
Most Read