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The economy depends on long-haul trucking but those 18-wheelers produce a large amount of the transit sector’s greenhouse gases. “You can’t just be flapping your gums about ‘zero emissions’ and not have a plan to get there.”
A bill reintroduced to improve access to higher education technology for students with disabilities could create “some exciting opportunities to really open the doors of higher education” and life beyond college.
Washington state’s Public Disclosure Commission is keeping public record of campaign expenses and donations to keep candidates honest. It’s far from perfect, “but that doesn’t mean we won’t whack the moles when we see them.”
A new multidisciplinary group is hoping to start a conversation that can answer questions about new concerns specific to using drones in the nation's most densely populated metropolitan areas.
The FBI said in its warning to consumers that smart TVs can be potential hacking targets. As televisions become more and more computer-like and cybercrime is on the rise, consumers will have to take more safety precautions for their smart-purchases, like televisions, speakers or other devices. (The Hill — December 5, 2019)
The number of allegations of serious sexual assault in the U.S. against Uber during 2017 and 2018. Additionally, 107 people died in Uber crashes and 19 were killed in physical assaults, either during or shortly after the Uber ride.
Several agencies are warning holiday shoppers to be extra careful of phishing scams and shopping moves online. Some advice: Create a separate email, don’t use public Wi-Fi, and treat passwords like underwear.
General Motors is a strong lobbyer for extending the electric vehicle federal tax credit, but the company opposes California’s proposed fuel-emission standards, only complicating the debate.
A new report by the Federal Communications Commission found that mobile phone providers will overestimate their coverage about 40 percent of the time. Verizon and T-Mobile also misrepresented their service speed.
Raleigh finished just behind Austin, Texas, as the best area in the country for IT jobs by evaluating cost of living, number of opportunities, and projected job growth. The tech hub San Francisco ranked fifth
Google’s Project Nightingale moved the company into the health-care field, and many are concerned about privacy. Google is known to mine and sell user data; who’s to say they won’t do that with intimate medical records?
Transportation infrastructure, water and sewer systems, clean energy and data policy are among the recommended focus areas on the just-released 2020 policy agenda of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
NASA 's Kenny Todd hinting at some of the contents of the 3-ton payload aboard SpaceX’s 19th supply run to the International Space Station, which launched on Thursday. The shipment also includes a robot sensitive to astronauts' emotions, a miniature version of a brewery's malt house and "mighty mice" for a muscle study. In fact, 40 mice are aboard, all adolescent females with black fur. Eight are "mighty mice," with twice the muscle mass of ordinary mice. (Chicago Tribune – December 05, 2019)
The number of cellphone bills that were exposed online accidentally by a Sprint contractor who stored invoices on an unprotected Internet server. The documents, which contained names, addresses, phone numbers, and some call histories, have since been collected, although “it’s not known how long the bucket was exposed.”
Ford and McDonald’s are partnering to repurpose coffee bean waste as environmentally friendly car parts. The companies “are committed to minimizing waste and we’re always looking for innovative ways to further our goal.”
Research estimates 76,000 head, neck injuries across 20 years, aligning with the introduction of the smartphone. The injuries ranged from cellphone distraction to the phone being the direct cause, “such as by hitting the person’s face.”
An AI restaurant ordering service company has found that people on the autism spectrum “are naturally drawn to it and naturally do incredibly well with it.” The company hopes it helps provide opportunity and purpose.
Big tech players like Facebook, Google and Twitter have claimed that they’re doing their best to detect and prevent violence, but Texas says it’s yet to be seen. Tech companies see thousands of requests, police see imminent danger.
Officials with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission are finalizing a proposal for Virgin’s Hyperloop One to build high-speed transit to other metro areas, a plan that could help create a “mega-region.”
In 2009, the Rust Belt city was hit hard by the recession as car factories closed, leaving the city with a $6 million budget deficit and nearly $100 million in debt. But as 2020 approaches, the picture is very different.
Economists estimate the state loses the money to companies claiming deductions for irregular profits. That’s more than the state is spending this year to preserve environmentally sensitive land.
Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill that bans flavored tobacco products beginning June 1, 2020, but the policy is expected to reduce revenue by $93 million, according to the Beacon Hill Institute for Public Policy Research.
Windsor Town Manager Ken MacNab said of the town’s pending ordinance requiring electrical appliances and prohibiting installation of gas appliances for future low-rise residential developments. Windsor is just one of many towns and cities looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing natural gas dependencies, but many are wary of the switch to electric-only in the wake of the wildfires that were sparked by California electric utilities. (San Francisco Chronicle — December 3, 2019)
The estimated cost to have Pegasystems Inc. build the U.S. Census Bureau an electronic version of the 2020 Census. This amount is about $40 million more than the projected cost when the company was first hired in 2016. Additionally, it was found during 2018 testing that the website was hacked by Russian IP addresses. “He got into the network. He got into where the public is not supposed to go.”
In efforts to keep up with the technological times, Gov. Laura Kelly’s advisory council supported millions in new taxes in the digital economy. But others are concerned that Kansas should first focus on restoring fiscal health.
Google workers claim they were fired for speaking out. Google says they were fired over data misuse. More and more, workers are holding their companies accountable “not just in the business side of what they do.”
Two Washington state universities have partnered to take on misinformation and digital counterfeiting hoping to help the public “sort fact from fakery.”
Brightline will test infrared sensors and drones in efforts to prevent suicide by train. Since the beginning of operation, there have been more than one death per month, and “about one for every 29,000 miles the trains have traveled.”
Four regional groups have supported the construction of a $10 billion high-speed magnetic levitation train to Washington, D.C. Officials hope it will offer “opportunity to change the county and Northeast Corridor in a fundamental way.”
Four pilot projects in the Los Angeles region have been awarded $500,000 to grow zero-emission transportation efforts. Part of their focus will be connecting underserved communities to new travel opportunities.
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