New Mexico’s CIO on FirstNet: ‘The Pressure Is On Now’
WATCH: The state’s IT secretary, Darryl Ackley, discusses the huge decisionpoint for states on building a nationwide public safety broadband network, and his focus on “trying to future-proof” his agency.
2017’s Destructive Wildfire Season Sets New Record
STATE AND LOCAL WEEKEND ROUNDUP | Unrest and arrests continue in St. Louis; Texas prisoners added to federal lawsuit; and another wake-up call for vulnerable South Carolina communities.
Harvey Aid Bill Also Aims to Ease Financial Pressure for Agencies Fighting Wildfires
Firefighting costs are expected to exceed budgeted amounts by about $300 million this year.
This Wildfire Season Underscores the Importance of Federal Forest Payments
A Montana county board chairman says it's time for Congress to institute “mandatory, long-term funding” for counties with federal lands within their borders.
Coast to Coast, State and Local Teams Swarm to Texas Storm Zone
State-based FEMA task forces and local volunteers bring experience, expertise, equipment to help victims of historic Harvey catastrophe.
FirstNet ‘Early Builders’ Face Big Test During Texas Flood Disaster
Harris County and the Texas state government are testing out the nationwide public safety communications network.
Deadline Looms for Nation’s Broadband Network for First Responders
Although each state has unique issues they wish to see addressed, there are some common challenges affecting all states that require clarification and should be resolved before the release of the final state plans.
Wildfires Cloak Pacific Northwest in Smoky Haze as Fire Threats Increase
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | L.A.’s structural deficit; N.C.’s attorney general forced to slash 10% of staff; and a “notable lack of hellfire” from satanist at city council meeting.
The Very Real Dangers of Building in the Wildland-Urban Interface
In central Oregon, the city of Bend and Deschutes County are no strangers to big wildfires. But building more fire-resilient communities isn’t always easy.
A Bird’s-Eye View of a Bad Wildfire Season in the West
So far this year, fires have burned 5.2 million acres of land. And it’s only going to get worse.
5 States Sign Up for National Public Safety Network
State governments have until mid-December to make final decisions on whether to opt-in to FirstNet.
Honolulu High-Rise Blaze Raises Questions About Fire Code Regulations
Officials said if the building had sprinklers, it’s likely no one would have died.
Drone Hobbyists Continue to Disrupt Firefighting
As of July 7, the number of U.S. firefighting operations that were disturbed by drones so far this year totaled 17, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, part of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Utah State Rep. Blames Wildfire on ‘Bird and Bunny Lovers, Tree-Huggers and Rock-Lickers’
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Federal judge rules Alabama must improve its prison mental health care; decision on Flint water contract extension; and a Bay Area migration to Sacramento.
Why California’s Wet Winter May Make the Wildfire Danger Worse
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Georgia cuts 7,251 people from food stamps; Iowa’s new governor; and N.D. Republicans decry Trump’s rural cuts.
‘I Am Saddened to Hear This. I Can’t Defend Their Actions.’
Oakland’s acting fire chief pledges inquiry into new revelations about the role firefighters may have played in failing to report safety hazards at the site where 36 people died in December.
State of Emergency in Florida as Fears of ‘Catastrophic’ Wildfires Grow
And the worst may be still ahead.
Redefining the First Responder: Reducing Readmission with Proactive Paramedicine
In a guest article, the fire and emergency services chief in Fishers, Ind., discusses how his department is “at the crossroads of public safety, public health and public service.”
AT&T Scores $6.5 Billion Contract to Build Nation's 1st Public Safety Broadband Network
FirstNet aims to create a separate network to be used by about 5.4 million public safety, fire, police and emergency medical officers at the state, local and federal levels.
Major Fire in Atlanta Causes Interstate Highway Bridge to Collapse
Drivers in and around Georgia’s largest city are going to face difficult commutes “for the foreseeable future.”
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