Building digital trust: An opportunity for local governments amid uncertainty
COMMENTARY | Budget discussions should spark important conversations among local leaders, who can experiment with new trust-building tools and strategies.
Accessible identity verification and benefits enrollment is ‘more important than ever,’ expert says
Millions of Americans are at risk of losing coverage for public benefit programs, but a new report offers officials recommendations to make it easier for residents to enroll and access critical services.
State launches ‘gamechanger’ foster care communication tool, $5M price tag
The communication tool, mandated by lawmakers, is meant to improve communication in foster children’s cases.
Effort to upgrade Arkansas child welfare computer system fails after two years
Emails and reports obtained via the state Freedom of Information Act document RedMane Technology’s lack of progress on the project and state officials’ frustration.
How digital literacy can help combat food insecurity
A new study explores how digital literacy support could lead to residents making healthier food purchases online.
Inside New York City’s new academy to grow IT talent
The city launched its first Information Technology Management Academy last month. Officials say they hope to support employees’ long-term career growth in technology.
Alaska signs first-of-its-kind permit streamlining deal with feds
The state agreed to receive assistance from the federal Permitting Council to work together on certain projects in a bid to move them through the process more quickly.
Idaho’s parental consent law impedes 988 suicide crisis hotline access for some youth
Mental health advocates say state law requiring parental consent for medical treatment provided to children limits care they can legally provide.
How a national lab is using data and AI to try to speed up permitting
The work to get better environmental permitting data began under Biden and is continuing under Trump.
Louisiana vets new voting systems as Trump doubles down on false fraud claims
Secretary of State Nancy Landry’s office hosted a demonstration Tuesday of new voting systems technology as part of the state’s efforts to replace its decades-old machines.
Local officials have a powerful tool to warn residents of emergencies. They don’t always use it
ProPublica has identified at least 15 major disasters since 2016 in which officials in the most-harmed communities failed to use a federal system to send emergency alerts to residents — or waited until it was too late.
Police reflect on Hurricane Katrina’s public safety communications legacy
Amid commemorations of the hurricane’s 20th anniversary, those who responded remember how tough it was to communicate and said people must take those lessons into the future.
Bluesky blocks access in Mississippi, citing free speech and privacy concerns over age verification law
Bluesky said on Friday that it made the decision after the U.S. Supreme Court declined for now to block a Mississippi state law that requires users of websites and other digital services to verify their age.
Telemedicine patients with opioid use disorder struggle to fill prescriptions
Nearly a third of patients surveyed had a hard time getting buprenorphine.
Rescissions mean public media can’t fund warning system grants
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting can no longer administer the $136 million Next Generation Warning System grant program, which funds equipment upgrades and training to boost alerts and warnings.
Providence opens Rhode Island’s first ‘real time crime center’
The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island warns the system could normalize constant surveillance and threaten privacy rights.
Mapping helps Maine adapt to changing broadband rules
The Maine Connectivity Authority has mapped its broadband infrastructure and potential service areas, as well as assets related to digital equity. Doing so means everything can be quickly adjusted as guidance changes.
At least 4 bills to reform sweeping AI law expected during Colorado special session
State lawmakers failed to pass tweaks in regular session. They’ll try again this week.
The National Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth went dead. States are scrambling to help.
Advocates say mental health issues are rising in that population amid hostility from the Trump administration.
How Maryland is approaching statewide IT modernization
The state released an IT master plan that aims to innovate how state employees approach emerging technologies and how services are delivered to residents.
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