‘Reckoning’ coming in state and local cyber
This year brought all manner of uncertainty about the relationship with the federal government to defend against threats. Next year looks to be more of the same, albeit with more intense threats.
States embrace cloud centers of excellence amid modernization push
Speakers at the forefront of the move to the centers said at last week’s GovExec Cloud Summit they help build governance, best practices and employee skills.
Whole-of-state strategy needs more ‘carrots’ than sticks, cyber leaders say
Partnership between a state government and its localities is crucial in making information-sharing work, rather than just being enforcement and auditing when things go wrong.
Cyber success is about building ‘muscle memory,’ experts say
Working with jurisdictions that have varying degrees of cybersecurity preparedness can be a challenge, cyber leaders said last week, so coordination and partnerships are key.
Trump AI preemption order likely to face legal challenges
State leaders said preempting tech regulation is a “dereliction of duty” and does not properly protect residents from the harms they may face.
Still early days for state chief AI officers
The role is still being defined by its earliest incumbents, as states remain uncertain about the future of the technology and how to deal with its impacts.
Feds float tying kids’ screen time to school subsidies
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said in a speech last week the agency will study whether schools are now too reliant on educational technology, and if spending has resulted in bad outcomes for students.
States urge more federal coordination amid growth of new aviation options
Advanced air mobility promises air taxis, delivery planes and others in the nation’s skies. Leaders said while the FAA must lead on airspace management, it must listen to those on the ground.
State social media laws run into familiar challenges
As states barrel ahead with their own regulations in the absence of Congressional action, barriers like age verification, the First Amendment and worries about data privacy remain.
Some officials, lawmakers look to speed up permitting for broadband projects
States have billions in the pipeline to build out internet infrastructure, but getting those projects approved is challenging. Lawmakers are working on the issue, while others warn of preempting local authority.
New Senate bill would reauthorize cyber grant program
It comes weeks after the House voted to reup the $1 billion state and local grants, which also received a temporary lifeline during the recent government funding deal.
Southeastern Virginia turns to AI to sort waste, recycling
The area’s sortation facilities will use the technology to extract recyclables and organic waste, an effort it said will extend the life of its landfills and double its recycling rate.
Threat of AI law preemption has states on edge again
The moratorium on state-level AI regulations, which failed to be included in the federal reconciliation bill this summer, has been floated to make a return as an executive order or in must-pass defense legislation.
St. Paul officials still dealing with summer cyberattack’s fallout
The Minnesota capital’s networks were disrupted in July and government operations are still recovering. Preparedness and partnerships were key in the city’s response.
Government workers young and old need ‘shared purpose,’ say local leaders
Agencies must wrestle with retirements, a multi-generational workforce and attracting employees despite the lure of the private sector. Experts said it’s doable, especially when you appeal to someone’s sense of civic duty.
Amid distrust and volatility, leaders urge governments to ‘walk the talk’
It’s been a tricky year for states and localities, but speakers at the recent GOVIT Leadership Summit and Symposium said communication and keeping promises can help those governments navigate choppy waters.
Government leaders embrace ‘any door’ service approach
Speakers at Route Fifty’s recent Innovation Spotlight said the public sector should learn to be more human focused in how it delivers services, an effort that shows long-term value for money.
Feds approve first batch of finalized BEAD plans
Eighteen states and territories received approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, with the agency saying the revised plans save $6 billion.
House votes to reup cyber grant program
Lawmakers approved a measure to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program for 10 years. It now moves to the Senate.
Utilities struggling to deal with data center power demand, report says
Black & Veatch found that more than half of utility leaders said having available power is the biggest challenge to getting data centers online, and that more proactivity is needed in the planning process.
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