How book-banning campaigns have changed the lives and education of librarians
COMMENTARY | Librarians are defending the rights of readers and writers in the battle raging across the U.S. over censorship, book challenges and book bans. That conflict has even changed how librarians are trained.
US power grid faces escalating cyber threats, infrastructure experts warn
The power grid is experiencing heightened threats from foreign adversaries and domestic extremist groups that can pose devastating consequences for the nation’s supply of electricity.
States target ‘junk fees’ that burden rental households
The White House gets behind innovative state and local programs committed to increasing transparency in housing fees.
Lawmakers guilty of ‘do something disease’ with social media bans
While experts agree that something must be done to prevent the worst effects of the platforms on minors, they caution that the current efforts are technologically unsound and undermine civil liberties.
State retirement plans close savings gap and pad bottom lines
Six years ago and millions of dollars since, Oregon launched the first state-sponsored retirement program for private sector workers. Today, 19 states have launched or plan to launch their own savings programs.
Budding U.S. offshore wind industry facing rough seas
States must overcome supply chain issues by exploring workforce development opportunities and other initiatives to meet state and federal targets for wind turbine installation.
Deepfakes: Events that never happened could influence the 2024 presidential election
COMMENTARY | AI can manipulate a real event or invent one from thin air to create a ‘situation deepfake.’ These deepfakes threaten to influence upcoming elections, cybersecurity experts warn.
Post-pandemic, SNAP benefits aren’t high enough to buy food
A new study finds that people in three-quarters of the nation’s counties don’t receive enough food assistance to pay for their groceries.
Win the audit: How agencies can prepare for financial audits
COMMENTARY | Audits are not just an exercise in compliance, but an opportunity for agencies to become more efficient and effective by making better decisions based on data.
How one region consolidated homelessness data to improve care
San Diego County, California, turned to the cloud to collate information on its homeless population from disparate sources in an effort to get more people into housing.
Why Dayton quit ShotSpotter, a surveillance tool many cities still embrace
Police across the country face increased pressure to drop the controversial technology as researchers and activists question its effectiveness.
New bill aims to simplify federal grant applications, boost funding for underserved communities
Complicated grant applications could deter underserved communities from applying for and receiving federal funds. The Streamlining Federal Grants Act looks to improve applicants' customer experience by modernizing grant systems.
Why am I stuck in traffic? A Tennessee project could provide answers
Vanderbilt University researchers hope that a first-of-its-kind project in the Nashville area will help them better understand, among other things, why phantom traffic jams occur and how to prevent them.
How one city streamlined emergency evacuations
Officials in Berkeley, California, can send mass messages as well as targeted, zone-based evacuation alerts, cutting the city’s alert time from hours to minutes.
As employers expand artificial intelligence in hiring, few states have rules
Legislators are ‘late to the party’ on laws concerning artificial intelligence.
Harm of anti-LGBTQ laws includes economic pain for communities, families
So far in 2023, at least 70 anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted across the states as LGBTQ individuals consider relocating to more inclusive areas for their safety and well-being.
Cities explore making budgeting, long-term planning transparent
Several localities are marrying up their strategic planning and budget process to be more nimble and better measure performance.
‘Thready or not,’ the public sector is jumping onto the latest social media platform
One expert shares tips for navigating the still-evolving world of Threads. Plus, a roundup of our favorite state and local government introductory posts.
AI scam calls imitating familiar voices are a growing problem—here’s how they work
COMMENTARY | Artificial intelligence can generate synthetic voices, and scammers are using the technology to trick unsuspecting victims.
Empty office spaces can be converted to residential buildings—but it won’t be affordable
COMMENTARY | With many employers switching to remote work, two engineering experts explain the feasibility of converting office buildings to residential spaces.
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