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Greg Rogers, director of Government Affairs and Mobility Innovation at Securing America’s Future Energy, explaining the importance of autonomous vehicle policy in a time when social distancing has emphasized the need for human-free transportation and delivery. (The Hill — May 20, 2020)
The proportion of Americans who have little to no interest in getting a coronavirus vaccine, according to a Reuters poll. Of those that took the survey, 36 percent said that they would be less willing to receive a vaccine if President Trump said it was safe. Forty percent reported that they believed the vaccine would be riskier than the disease itself.
From July 1, 2018, to July 1, 2019, the city saw its population grow just 1.5 percent. Seattle is now sixth for growth among the 50 most-populous cities; previously it had been in the top two for the last six years.
Some believe that artificial intelligence can be a great assist to doctors in these times of crisis, but many are concerned that there hasn’t been enough study and testing to validate use of the technology.
Company president Brad Smith urges lawmakers to include broadband expansion funding as part of a coronavirus stimulus package. As millions are working and studying from home, Internet connectivity is no longer an option.
Bills that address contact tracing take aim at the costs related to testing and tracking COVID-19 infections as states reopen. Others tackle privacy concerns and ensuring tracer workers reflect community diversity.
With an expanded role, they could serve as an efficient conduit between local governments of all sizes and federal financial resources for revenue shortfalls and infrastructure.
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo discussing the new app “Crush COVID RI” that is designed to help state officials track and stop the spread of the coronavirus. (The Hill — May 19, 2020)
The number of states that are either entirely or partially open for the first time in nearly two months.
Spokane, Wash., received $23.4 million from the federal government to maintain the city’s bus system. But officials don’t think that will be enough to offset the challenges that the public transit system has been facing.
Officials in Macomb and Oakland counties, Mich., have announced that portions of their CARES Act money will be allotted for local governments and small business support. With approval, the money could be granted by June.
Twenty percent of California’s Bay Area residents don't have a home Internet connection, a problem made worse during shelter-in-place orders. A recent bill passed by the House would provide billions to fix the problem.
An unemployment benefits website run by the Arkansas state government suffered a large data breach that left the personal information of thousands of applicants exposed, state officials confirmed.
As schools rapidly transition to online learning during the COVID-19 crisis, there's growing evidence that poor planning coupled with insufficient tech resources have diminished K-12 education for some students.
Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey commenting on the decision to allow Square employees to work from home permanently, even after offices reopen after the coronavirus pandemic. Dorsey has already stated that Twitter employees will be able to work from home “forever” after the pandemic. (Business Insider — May 18, 2020)
The number of coronavirus deaths that occurred in California’s San Francisco Bay Area during May 17 and May 18. Before May 17, the last day that had no coronavirus-related deaths in the area was March 21.
Rebekah Jones was the architect and manager of the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, which had received praise from the White House for its accessibility. Many now worry that data transparency will be lost with her departure.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the funds to aid in coronavirus testing and contact tracing efforts. The state needs at least 670 professional tracers, but only has 100 so far.
The state’s computer crashed Monday when workers flooded the system with requests for relief. Immigrants could apply for a one-time payment of $500 per individual or $1,000 per household.
The economies of the U.S., Canada and Mexico are interconnected. Their subnational governments and their businesses need synchronized federal guidance about how and when to restart.
The pandemic is challenging colleges' enrollments and finances as never before. Some may not survive, and those that do will have to consider major changes in their structures and the way they teach.
It's not just angry protesters. Governors are finding their stay-at-home orders challenged in court and their authority increasingly under fire in legislatures and from local officials.
A rally at the steps of the state capitol in Bismarck presents an important moment to revisit the unique federalist form of our republic that Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers created more than 200 years ago.
Lessons Learned in How to Empower Businesses of Color
Senators Bob Menendez, Mazie Hirono and Elizabeth Warren wrote in a letter to Facebook, urging the social media giant to stop misinformation regarding the coronavirus pandemic that is not in English. (The Hill — May 15, 2020)
The number of unemployment claims that the Indiana Department of Workforce Development had to process last week, a significant decrease from previous weeks. During the final week of March, the department received 139,174 claims.
St. Louis, Mo., is beginning to lift its stay-at-home orders, but doesn’t have funding to hire many contact tracers. Some believe county officials should help to ensure the virus doesn’t spread throughout the region.
Without Internet access, Viriginians can’t work from home, participate in online learning or even order necessities from online retailers. “Government officials have to wake up and realize the Internet is not a luxury.”
In a 217-189 vote, the House of Representatives approved a package that allows Congress to work remotely amid the coronavirus. However, some members are still concerned that remote governing will erode the institution.
As governments struggle to adapt to the election challenges surrounding COVID-19, a number of states have launched Internet voting pilots. But many experts argue that these programs could easily be co-opted by malicious actors.
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