Digital Government
Police department turns to new data tool to boost performance
The Rochester, New York, Police Department started using a tool known as Commons in April. It provides frequently updated criminal justice data and can help set policy goals.
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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.
BEAD uncertainty swirls, joined by Trump’s threats to the Digital Equity Act
State leaders want more guidance from the federal government amid a 90-day delay in their final plans. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he will kill a related digital equity program.
AGs in both Carolinas target Chinese app linked to international fentanyl trade
The Chinese messaging app WeChat has more than a billion users globally. Six state attorneys general want to know how it is fighting its use for money laundering.
Albany’s blueprint for schools: cell-free halls, looser Yeshiva rules, new aid math
It’s up to school districts in New York to figure out how to implement cellphone bans, but the budget does include $13.5 million to assist districts in purchasing supplies that can help.
Tech helps New Jersey house unsheltered veterans
More than 30,000 U.S. veterans were unsheltered last year. New Jersey is turning to a cloud-enabled platform to streamline and expedite efforts to get veterans in the state housed.
Senate votes to repeal rule allowing Wi-Fi hotspot loans
Senators passed a resolution overturning an FCC rule that allows schools and libraries to use E-Rate funds to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots. Opponents said the effort would only widen the digital divide.
Doing less with less: Coping with federal cutbacks and fiscal uncertainty
COMMENTARY | Shrinking revenues and rising costs put state and local governments in a bind, especially as the federal government retreats. Strategic austerity might be the path forward.
How states can prepare to leverage AI for benefits eligibility
As benefits application backlogs continue to mount, artificial intelligence could help ease the squeeze on already strained caseworkers, experts say.
Alabama governor to weigh cellphone ban bill
Gov. Kay Ivey in her 2025 State of the State endorsed legislation to ban cellphones in schools, saying that social media is negatively impacting students.
Problem solved: How data makes cities more efficient, effective and attuned to AI
COMMENTARY | If the public sector wants to operate at peak performance, it must harness its data and deploy it across all its functions. Cities across the world are showing what is possible.
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Data centers defend environmental record amid AI push
Several states are worried about the power and water impacts of the centers needed to power the technology. But the industry moved to assure those concerned that they have it under control.
New York’s cellphone ban: Exemptions, enforcement, and costs explained
Under the policy, school districts across the state will have until this summer to craft their implementation plans and must begin enforcing them at the start of next school year.
Bill requiring app stores to verify age for minors in Alabama stalls in House committee
A bill to require age verification when creating app store accounts in Alabama stalled in a House committee.
‘Buckle up’: Data privacy bills back before Maine Legislature
Amid the lack of a national data privacy bill, all of the bill sponsors highlighted the importance of enacting a law that is interoperable among other states.
Tech is driving the New York City economy, new report finds
The Center for an Urban Future found that 30 years after establishing a foothold, the industry could soon rival Silicon Valley in size.
First-of-its-kind assessment maps states’ public health data-sharing policies
Timely, accurate, and complete information is vital to detecting, preventing disease.
REAL ID enforcement deadline looms for states
In just two days, domestic travelers must use the new ID after years of implementation delays. To prepare, some states have opened DMV offices longer, while others have asked for loosened rules or another extension.
Minneapolis automates food permitting, removes ‘two-feet high’ paper stack
Having previously relied on handwritten permit applications and taking payment by phone, the city now uses cloud-based software to automate much of the process and make it more efficient.
Nevada turns to AI to speed up unemployment appeals
The state partnered with Google Public Sector on a system that analyzes appeals hearings against state and federal law to help adjudicators reach a decision. They say it’s made the process four times quicker.
Iowa governor signs statewide ban on cellphones in class
The law requires school boards adopt a policy that, at minimum, bans the use of cellphones in class beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
