Digital Government
South Carolina takes its benefits call centers to the cloud
After “dismal” timeliness ratings, the state’s Department of Social Services modernized so its centers would be more reliable and use AI to help more quickly administer cases.
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Eliminate Manual Processes Route and Approve Invoices from Anywhere
Today’s finance teams carry a heavy burden, supporting everything from growth strategies to long-term planning – all while continuously delivering monthly and quarterly numbers and keeping cash flowing. But even as demands on finance departments grow, many still spend excessive time using paper, spreadsheets, and e-mails to process vendor invoices, approvals, and payments.
Could a lawsuit finally spur new York into action on food stamp theft?
The state has left defrauded food stamp recipients to fend for themselves. Internal agency emails point to a long-simmering effort riddled with delays.
Mapping fast EV charging ports across rural America
Analysts tracking the buildout of EV infrastructure say there is an "emerging charging divide" between rural and urban areas.
Lawmakers highlight success, bipartisan agreement on school cellphone bans
A recent House hearing showcased success at the state and district level as the bans gather steam nationwide. But Democrats warned that reduced federal funding for education will not help improve educational outcomes.
Michigan lawmakers: Extortionists using AI to create deepfake pornography must be stopped
A research company found that between 90% and 95% of deepfake videos online since 2018 are nonconsensual pornography and about 90% of those nonconsensual videos are of nonconsensual porn are of women.
Civic tech leaders worry DOGE is ‘tarnishing’ its tools to improve government
USDS, the White House team DOGE took over in January, was a flagship civic tech organization. Six months later, civic tech is figuring out what’s next.
Vocational rehabilitation programs are in jeopardy — here's how digital wallets can help
COMMENTARY | Funding for individuals with disabilities seeking meaningful employment is under threat. Digital wallets can help track participant spending and reduce administrative burden.
Inside Illinois’ journey to build a centralized platform for child welfare services
A digital transformation among six child welfare agencies in Illinois is helping to break down silos and connect families with the mental and behavioral health services they need.
New BEAD guidance leaves states searching for answers
Federal guidance issued last week has thrown much of the program into doubt, as states and other organizations try to find a way forward under a compressed timeline.
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Direct File is 'beloved by its users,' internal IRS report says
The IRS is reportedly ending the Direct File, but a report obtained via the Freedom of Information Act says that 94% of users rated their experience as “excellent” or “above average.”
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Feds unveil ‘critical reforms’ to BEAD program
The $42.5 billion program to expand broadband will now be technology-neutral, rather than prefer fiber. Various workforce, climate and environment rules have also been relaxed.
Texas lawmakers pull funding for child identification kits again after newsrooms report they don’t work
For the second legislative session, lawmakers have withdrawn funding for a company selling kits that promise to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reported there’s no evidence to support that claim.
Hunt for clarity on BEAD’s future goes on
With little word on the status of the Commerce Department’s review of the $42 billion broadband program, Senate Democrats and some industry groups have looked to up the pressure.
Governments should prioritize agility in IT projects, expert says
Monolithic IT modernizations, according to U.S. Digital Response’s Waldo Jaquith, can increase a government’s risk of an IT project failure that requires even more time and resources to amend.
‘Trust is the currency’ in local government, and tech can help build it
Leaders must think about programs and their goals first and then use technology to help them get there, but when done right, it becomes vital help, speakers at a recent conference said.
Alabama officials demand stricter reporting on $400M broadband expansion progress
State officials demanded more detailed progress reports from internet providers building the state's broadband network using public funds.
Pennsylvania’s website redesign looks to open ‘no wrong door’
Gov. Josh Shapiro mandated better online services in 2023, and since then a massive effort has been underway to revamp the commonwealth’s website around life events, not agency functions.
Uber’s new shuttles look suspiciously familiar to anyone who’s taken a bus
Beyond the jokes about Uber inventing bus lines are serious questions about what its shuttle service will mean for struggling transit systems, air quality, and congestion.
Government transformation can succeed, if we stop setting projects up to fail
COMMENTARY | What three state projects can tell us about why major checkpoints in government transformation rarely work as intended.
Hiding exploitation behind an app
COMMENTARY | Companies like Uber insist to local governments that they are "tech platforms," not employers, but their labor model could violate international standards.
