Digital Government

School smartphone bans reflect growing concern over youth mental health and academic performance

COMMENTARY | Across the US, parents are leading the charge to limit cellphone use in schools.

Artificial Intelligence

AI ‘detective’ sheds light on how people make decisions

A new study deploys small neural networks to clarify how and why people make the decisions they make.

People

Fraud-fighting oversight committee gets a life extension in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee was set to sunset in September, but now has life through 2034.

Sponsor Content

Uncovering the true state of digital government

Government agencies are accelerating digital transformation to improve services, engagement, and operations—but challenges in capacity and access remain.

Digital Government

State DOGEs tackle local spending, property taxes

Florida’s has asked for line-by-line accounting of its local governments’ spending and any evidence of financial distress. Iowa appears to be targeting local taxation.

Artificial Intelligence

The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health?

COMMENTARY | Mental health chatbots promise therapy at your fingertips, but can AI ease anxiety and depression, or are we confusing conversation with care?

Artificial Intelligence

Idaho preps to roll out artificial intelligence in state government

Idaho’s Office of Information Technology is preparing to share guidance on using AI with state agencies.

Artificial Intelligence

Pennsylvania is a Top 3 state for government AI readiness

A new analysis from Code For America says the commonwealth’s proactive approach to AI “positions it as a leader in responsible AI adoption and innovation.”

Digital Government

Texas age verification decision could create a First Amendment ‘pornography exception,’ experts worry

The Supreme Court ruled the state could require users to verify their age before visiting porn sites. Some are concerned about the future of the internet and free speech.

Artificial Intelligence

National AI training hub for educators to open, funded by OpenAI and Microsoft

The $23 million partnership aims to close gaps in technology use. Tech companies also will gain a “wealth of information” about how to adapt their products to the classroom.

Cybersecurity

Cyber resilience for state and local governments: Where to start

COMMENTARY | Governments already have the tools, while zero trust and hardware security strategies turn existing resources into stronger defenses.

Sponsor Content

Generative AI in the Public Sector: 5 Ways Agencies Can Do More with Less

Generative AI is streamlining public sector legal work, boosting accuracy, speed, and efficiency across key workflows.

Cybersecurity

New York cyber law strengths local reporting requirements

Local governments that are hacked now have 72 hours to tell the state, and 24 hours to disclose if they paid a ransom. The new law also mandates cyber training and sets data protection standards.

Digital Government

How slashing university research grants impacts Colorado’s economy and national innovation

Federal funding cuts in the billions have impacted dozens of universities in the US. An administrator at the University of Colorado at Boulder explains the local effects.

Digital Government

After last Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan fell short, new proposal aims to be flexible, data-driven

Draft released last week still a work in progress; advocates worry it leaves too much open-ended, as cuts to federal programs loom.

Artificial Intelligence

911 looks to AI to filter out non-emergency calls

The technology is helping answer non-emergency calls and otherwise free up dispatchers to focus on true emergencies that they otherwise would have needed to forward along.

Artificial Intelligence

AI moratorium could return despite removal from ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Senators passed an amendment removing the provision that would have prevented states regulating the tech for 10 years. But some experts warn that a repeat effort is likely and could be successful.

Digital Government

Lawmakers call for probe of Oklahoma incubator program amid data collection concerns

Two Republican lawmakers want to probe the long-term effectiveness of a state program designed to nurture new small businesses.

Digital Government

Trump’s 'big, beautiful bill' directs Treasury to find a replacement for Direct File

The IRS debuted Direct File — which enabled taxpayers to file online with the agency for free — as a pilot in 2024 and it received largely positive reviews from those that used it.

Artificial Intelligence

AI as the power beast — can we tame it?

COMMENTARY | Companies are pledging to spend billions of dollars on data centers to deal with the increased compute power. But it will strain resources, and other questions remain.