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Massachusetts is showing the way by going to the end users of the products and services governments buy. It’s good for suppliers as well, and produces better results for everyone.
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Unemployment claims and pandemic-related concerns pushed federal, state and local government agencies to a breaking point. So how can citizen experience leaders address top contact center priorities facing government agencies? Read more…
Sacramento has proposed changes to its police system, which could include social workers, mental health services in the city’s 911 response as well as having an inspector general provide impartial reviews of the department.
A state senator has proposed new legislation that would require police to release public records on officer shootings, use of force and sexual misconduct as well as expand fines for agencies that fail to comply.
The California Air Resources Control Board hopes to reduce air pollution by requiring that companies begin using zero-emissions big rigs. Eventually, the state hopes to have all new trucks be emissions-free by 2045.
Designed around the user and not the bureaucracy, an innovative Philadelphia program uses data-matching so applicants won't have to fill out multiple forms for different assistance programs.
Residents of senior care facilities are particularly vulnerable to the most damaging effects of COVID-19. Recent legislation aims to prevent lack of resources or bad practices from making things worse.
Democrats introduced a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill this week to help states, including Massachusetts, develop public transit and renewable energy. The bill would also devote $100 billion to broadband expansion.
This will be the first year that demand for lithium-ion batteries has declined as electric vehicle sales have slowed during the pandemic. But the EV industry is confident that numbers will increase again soon.
Officials reported that the issues experienced during the March primary were partially the result of the new $300 million voting system. “The Registrar-Recorder has a lot of work to do regaining the confidence of the public.”
Dramatic increases in suicide rates had attracted attention well before the unprecedented stresses of the pandemic. Legislators are proposing measures to keep a bad situation from getting worse.
The $1 trillion proposal would jumpstart the U.S. economy after months of shutdowns due to the coronavirus. Though the plan isn’t finalized, lawmakers are wondering where the money would come from.
Gov. DeSantis signed the Essential State Infrastructure bill that would establish more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along state highways, in hopes of reducing the impacts of climate change.
To date, dozens of bills and resolutions have been introduced by legislators to address shortcomings with police training, qualified immunity and racial profiling, including the use of facial recognition technology.
Pennsylvania’s transit authority is implementing pandemic precautions as regulations are lifted and riders slowly begin to return. There will be rider limits, face masks, blocked-off seats and lots of cleaning.
Maryland’s contact tracing efforts began last week, but tracers can’t do their job if residents don’t answer the phone. But besides missed calls, officials are worried that there simply aren’t enough contact tracers.
Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI are using photos and videos to arrest individuals who looted or incited acts of violence during this weekend’s protests. But the move has generated concerns.
In a socially distanced world, citizens who most need online support and resources are least likely to be able to access them. Recent bills on the digital divide, including broadband, are addressing the problem.
Sonoma County plans to reopen schools, to some extent, despite concerns about health and budgets. But for many families, the schools are sources of day care and meals as well as education for their kids.
Tech experts who work with county court systems have implemented a number of digital changes to help justice continue to function in the time of COVID-19, and some of those changes may become permanent.
Whether used for medical reasons or recreation, cannabis is a multibillion-dollar industry that could play a role in a post-pandemic recovery. Legislators have been addressing regulatory details.
As COVID-19 has discouraged ride- and car-sharing, companies have shifted their focus to driverless delivery of goods instead of people. Car manufacturers also are increasing their efforts for all-electric vehicles.
As Louisiana begins the first phase of its reopening plan, some businesses are considering the use of thermal cameras to detect fevers and assure health safety. The only issue? Not all COVID-19 carriers have a fever.
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.
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.
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.
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.
During the pandemic, most governors have signed executive orders waiving requirements regarding medical licensing and health facilities. Republicans want to shield businesses broadly from civil liability for the spread of COVID-19.
Public schools face a litany of problems relating to COVID-19 that include significant drops in funding, distribution issues for school lunch programs, lack of broadband access and bus driver protection.
Airports will begin implementing technology, like thermal cameras and sanitation booths, to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission within airports. Air travel has decreased as much as 95 percent during the pandemic.
COVID-19 has accelerated demand for telemedicine services. Recently, state legislatures have introduced bills that provide remedies for issues such as reimbursement and credentialing that have slowed implementation.
