News Staff

Michael Bloomberg Announces 3-Year, $200 Million American Cities Initiative

The philanthropist announced the initiative at the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Annual Meeting, saying cities now play a vital role in an era of "Washington impotence."

Los Angeles County Begins Outfitting Buses with Free Wi-Fi

The L.A. County Metropolitan Transit Agency is launching a pilot program, equipping 150 buses with Wi-Fi devices in an effort to improve ridership and passenger experience.

Government's Millennial Workforce Problem

Even as it looks to younger people to help it evolve, the public sector is lagging behind the private sector in hiring them.

How is one organization helping stop email scammers?

Answer: by teaching them to code

June 23, 2017

What burgeoning technology is helping NASA explore the depths of space and giving dance lessons here on Earth?

Answer: Robots

June 22, 2017

What two technologies can be used to provide every person an ID?

Answer: blockchain and biometrics

June 20, 2017

How many homes can the world’s largest wind turbines power?

Answer: 8,300

North Carolina Swears in New Chief Information Officer

The process is finally complete for Eric Boyette, who will serve as the state's next CIO.

Could a Monorail Alleviate L.A. Congestion?

In a recent radio interview, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti brought up the idea of building a monorail system to divert traffic away from the Southern California nightmare — aka the 405 freeway.

Which States Spend the Most on Tech?

A look at the numbers.

How many trips can Uber and Lyft make in San Francisco in one day?

Answer: more than 200,000

June 16, 2017

Former Wisconsin CIO Joins Socrata as Senior Vice President of Sales

Matt Miszewski is heading to the open data company as it begins to explore non-open data.

June 16, 2017

What could make your next dentist appointment less painful?

Answer: virtual reality

Aurora, Ill., Mayor Creates City Innovation Team

Mayor Richard Irvin has tapped into the private sector to lead this new innovation team.

New York City Mayor Unveils Bold Jobs, Innovation Plan

With improved and strategic investment throughout the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio hopes to bring as many as 100,000 new jobs in the next 10 years.

OpenGov Integrates Software with Superion, Gaining Customer Pipeline in the Process

Superion's customers will now have access to OpenGov's tools, and OpenGov will have access to Superion's clientele.

What’s the latest game AI has pwnd humans at?

Answer: Ms. Pac-Man

Jeffery Weak Appointed as Idaho's First Director of Information Security

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter appointed the 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran Jeffery Weak to head the state's cybersecurity efforts.

Bellevue, Wash., Names New CIO

Before her official appointment, Schneider had served as the interim CIO following Toni Cramer’s retirement in 2016.

Michigan CIO Claims Executive IT Spot at Major Furniture Manufacturer La-Z-Boy

La-Z-Boy furniture company has hired Michigan CIO David Behen to serve as the organization’s vice president and CIO.

ProudCity Launches Drag-and-Drop Payment Tool

The company is getting into the government payments game.

Private Equity Firm Invests in Pondera, Signaling Growth

Pondera Solutions is going down a route that has produced some quick business changes in the past.

How could you get out of weeding your garden?

Answer: Tertill, the weeding robot

June 13, 2017

ShotSpotter Earns $4.6M More than Anticipated in IPO

The company has finished its initial public offering.

June 13, 2017

What was once the most innovative branch of government?

Answer: the Post Office

June 12, 2017

Rhode Island Ready to Enter Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem

With the release of a request for information, the smallest state in the country is hoping to have an outsized role in the future of transportation.

June 12, 2017

NYC Establishes 18F-esque Group Within Department of City Planning

The NYC Planning Labs is aimed at taking small projects from concept to use within a four- to six-week window.

June 12, 2017

How Big Is the Average Gov Tech Funding Round?

A stroll through the GovTech 100's funding history.

June 9, 2017

Cities Look to New Predictive Tool to Meet Vision Zero Goals

According to a new study, cities may be able to predict where collisions are most likely to occur by collecting data on dangerous driving behaviors.

June 9, 2017

How soon will artificial intelligence beat humans at our own game?

Answer: in about 45 years

June 8, 2017

Facebook to Share Data with Emergency Response Organizations

Mapping and sharing data will help first responders save lives in the wake of disasters.

June 8, 2017

Sacramento, Calif., Partners with Verizon on Free Park Wi-Fi

Verizon has pledged to provide free Wi-Fi via digital kiosks in 27 Sacramento parks.

June 8, 2017

Which country has the fastest average Internet speed?

Answer: South Korea

Court Innovations Raises $1.8M Series A Round, Plots National Expansion

The startup offers a means for people to interact with courts without physically appearing.

ShotSpotter Hits the Stock Market at $11 Per Share

The gunshot detection company has become the seventh on the Gov Tech 100 list to offer public stock.

Company Combines Cellphone, GPS Data in Attempt to More Quickly, Easily Count Traffic

StreetLight Data is trying to make counting cars happen a lot faster.

How can a person who communicates only with sign language talk to someone who doesn’t?

Answer: KinTrans

June 6, 2017

Nevada Governor Signs Bill to Create Office of Cyber Defense Coordination

With the stroke of a pen, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval codified a new state agency focused on meeting cybersecurity threats.

June 6, 2017

White House Releases Principles to Privatize Air-Traffic Control

The executive branch argued that a private nonprofit is better equipped to handle the country's 300 airports, but consensus remains elusive.

June 6, 2017

What is Toyota hoping its flying car will be able to do?

Answer: light the Olympic torch in 2020

June 5, 2017

Pennsylvania Launches Transparency Portal Detailing $100 Billion in Expenditures

The Treasury’s Transparency Portal was developed to help residents understand where resources are devoted and hold officials accountable.

June 5, 2017

Who is helping Google get teen girls into coding?

Answer: Wonder Woman

Tableau Angles for Public Sector with PDF Data Tool, Other Updates

The data visualization tool will now let users pull data directly from PDF tables, among other things.

Boston Enters Partnership to Ensure New Developments are Broadband-Ready

The city signed a memorandum of understanding with WiredScore in order to certify which new developments are equipped with high-speed Internet access for businesses and residents.

Massachusetts Mulls IT Centralization, Cabinet-Level Secretary of Technology Post

A proposal from Gov. Charlie Baker would, with statehouse support, create a Secretary of Technology position, empowered to secure, modernize and centralize state IT.

Michigan CIO David Behen to Step Down, Assume Role in Private Sector

Gov. Rick Snyder announced June 2 that Behen's last day as CIO is June 16.

Montgomery County, Md.'s First Chief Innovation Officer to Depart

During his five years with the county, Dan Hoffman has helped to define innovation for the agency.

Where are drones delivering doughnuts?

Answer: Denver

June 1, 2017

JetBlue, Delta Air Lines Test High-Tech Alternatives to Boarding Passes

New applications of technology could swiftly make paper and mobile boarding passes a thing of the past.

June 1, 2017

CRM Use Is Gaining Traction in Local Government — Here Are the Numbers to Prove It

Data from the Digital Cities and Counties Surveys reveals that governments are either investing in or planning to deploy CRM systems.

June 1, 2017

What’s the likelihood that a robot will take your job?

Answer: depends on the occupation

Accela Adds Three New Executive Roles

The moves follow the company's hiring of a new CEO in March.

Interactive Flood Mapping Tool Helps Local Governments Plan for Resilience

Using data sets from multiple sources, the NYU Furman Center created an interactive map for resilience planners on where flooding is most prone and which populations are most heavily affected.

Urban.Us Adds Funding, Experience to URBAN-X Startup Accelerator

The venture capital firm will work with the accelerator's third cohort this year.

How could you reply to an email, drink coffee and scratch your head all at the same time?

Answer: robotic arms

May 30, 2017

Apple Sees Massive Increase in National Security Requests for User Data

The spike in requests during the latter half of 2016 has some eyebrows raised.

May 30, 2017

How could schools know if students are paying attention in class?

Answer: facial recognition software

May 26, 2017

Top States Where Federal Civilian Workers Reside

Most of the federal civilian workforce lives outside Washington, D.C.

May 26, 2017

How can the visually impaired instantly translate any text into Braille?

Answer: Tactile

May 25, 2017

Where is the world’s first operational Robocop patrolling the streets?

Answer: Dubai

May 24, 2017

ClearGov Launches Budget Portals, Comparison Tools for Every Municipality in the U.S.

The startup has gone nationwide.

May 23, 2017

ShotSpotter Sets IPO Targets: $10-$12 Per Share, $26.6M Raised

The company would use half the money to pay off debt early.

May 23, 2017

What tech could let you play a famous Stradivarius violin?

Answer: 3-D printing

May 22, 2017

How ShotSpotter's Financials Compare with Previous Gov Tech Companies Pre-IPO

A look at data from other gov tech companies that have gone down SST's path.

May 22, 2017

How good is a neural network at creating and naming paint colors?

Answer: not great

May 19, 2017

Federal Court Swats Down Drone Registration Requirement

A federal court has ruled against the congressional decision to force the registration of non-commercial drones.

May 19, 2017

How is Amazon using data to rank its most popular books?

Answer: by tracking what’s actually being read

May 18, 2017

How could machine learning help solve crime?

Answer: VALCRI

May 17, 2017

Who demonstrated the ease of hacking connected devices at a cybersecurity conference?

Answer: an 11-year-old

Waymo, Lyft Partner to Bring Autonomous Vehicle Tech Into the Mainstream

The ride-hailing giant and tech behemoth are combining their powers with the ultimate goal of making their footprint the largest in the self-driving vehicle game.

Self-Service Facial Recognition Baggage Stations to Debut at Minneapolis Airport

To cut passenger wait times and devote employees to more complex tasks, Delta Air Lines will this summer debut baggage drop-off kiosks that match passengers with their passport photos.

Municipal Debt Crowdfunding Startup Neighborly Quadruples Capital with $25M Series A Round

The company's latest investment comes from Emerson Collective, 8VC, Govtech Fund and others.

What hobby could become popular with the help of new tech?

Answer: bat watching

May 15, 2017

Top 20 U.S. Counties by Budget — and Their CIOs

One state has a lot of the biggest county budgets. Guess which one?

May 12, 2017

Virginia to Open Autonomous Technology Center

The center will serve as a testing facility for autonomous technology across sectors, but based on recent actions by the government, the center could put a priority on autonomous vehicle development.

May 12, 2017

Who could be the next voice used on the Waze app?

Answer: you

May 11, 2017

What recently broke Twitter's retweet record?

Answer: a hankerin' for chicken nuggets

May 10, 2017

What’s the most popular dog name in New York City?

Answer: Bella

May 9, 2017

How could you turn any object into a touchscreen?

Answer: make it Electrick

May 8, 2017

Top 20 U.S. Cities by Budget — and Their CIOs

The biggest cities don't always have the budgets to match.

May 8, 2017

Digital Inclusion Week Begins Amid Ongoing National Efforts to Bridge Digital Divide

Related events are set to take place from California to Vermont.

May 8, 2017

In what way is actress Hedy Lamarr's title of "Mother of Wi-Fi" being celebrated?

Answer: in a new documentary called Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

May 5, 2017

6 Insights About Autonomous Vehicles Cities Should Know

Cities should be thinking about how they are going to address the inevitable onset of autonomous vehicles, beginning yesterday.

May 5, 2017

How could you one day buy a high-rise apartment (if you were so inclined)?

Answer: from a vending machine

May 4, 2017

New Caucus Will Bridge VR Knowledge Gap Among Lawmakers

The Congressional Caucus on Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies aims to ensure that lawmakers have the most current information.

May 4, 2017

How can you see more public statues of famous women?

Answer: by getting The Whole Story

May 3, 2017

ShotSpotter Company Files to Go Public, Reveals Financial Details

After more than 20 years of operation, SST is looking to enter the stock market.

May 3, 2017

What can you learn to do with a virtual reality app?

Answer: perform surgery

May 2, 2017

Nevada Buses Not Immune to the Onset of Automation

University of Reno students may soon take driverless buses to classes.

May 2, 2017

What could someday be a better alternative to your wearable fitness tracker?

Answer: WiGait

May 1, 2017

Trump's American Technology Council to Coordinate Fed's IT Vision, Strategy, Direction

On May 1, the president signed an executive order to establish the council, with which all agencies are encouraged to cooperate.

May 1, 2017

FirstNet CEO: All AT&T LTE Bands Available for First Responders by End of Year

FirstNet also is on track to achieve a number of key milestones, such as the delivery of draft state plans in June — three months ahead of the original target.

May 1, 2017

Who is competing in an art contest for $100,000 in prizes?

Answer: robots

April 28, 2017

How is one rhinoceros trying to find a mate?

Answer: Tinder

April 27, 2017

Survey: Government Still Has a Ways to Go in Adopting Agile

Initial findings from an Accenture survey show how far along government IT is in adopting agile approaches.

April 27, 2017

How can Amazon help you look your best?

Answer: Echo Look

April 26, 2017

Vermont Governor Creates Agency of Digital Services, Appoints CIO

The focus of the new agency will be to take a more coordinated and accountable approach to managing the state’s IT infrastructure.

Alaska Moves to Consolidate IT, Hires New CIO to Lead the Charge

The creation of a standalone IT office is bringing a host of changes, including the appointment of Bill Vajda as the state's new CIO.

Skyhigh Becomes First Cloud Access Security Broker in Cooperative Purchasing Program

CIS CyberMarket is now offering cloud access security brokering to its state and local government members.

New York Names IBM Veteran Robert Samson as CIO

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the appointment April 25, nearly a month after Maggie Miller resigned from the role.

What could help fix a broken heart?

Answer: 3-D printing

April 24, 2017

What Are the Most Common Types of Special District?

Turns out special districts serve a lot of different functions.

April 24, 2017

How can you visualize what the world might look like after a total global ice melt?

Answer: the After Ice app

April 21, 2017

Educating Alexa: Feds Look to Make Public Service Info Available Through AI Personal Assistants

Agencies including the departments of Energy, Homeland Security, and Housing and Urban Development have expressed an interest in the effort, which is now in its early stages.

April 21, 2017

How could physically disabled toddlers someday explore the world more easily?

Answer: Tot Bot

April 20, 2017

Illinois Partnership to Bolster Talent Pipeline, Grow Smart State Initiatives

Illinois IT officials talk a lot about their plans for cutting-edge technologies like the ever-expanding Internet of Things, and now they're taking action to make sure the talent pool is there for implementation.

April 20, 2017

How are scientists creating the Google Maps of human health?

Answer: Project Baseline

April 19, 2017

Rhode Island Names First State Cybersecurity Officer

Mike Steinmetz brings a wealth of public- and private-sector experience to the Ocean State, where he will serve as the first cybersecurity officer.

April 19, 2017

What material could one day be used to make 3-D printed tools?

Answer: Martian dust

April 18, 2017

Former Microsoft CEO Dives into Government Spending Data

USAFacts may just be the first government spending data tool of its kind.

April 18, 2017

How did one shipping warehouse in China cut its labor costs in half?

Answer: adorable sorting robots

April 17, 2017

Where's My Refund? Taking a Look at State, Federal Government Tax Data, Tools

While filing taxes can be a daunting task, the good news is that there are handy online resources already in place and able to swiftly provide answers.

April 17, 2017

Special Districts Outnumber Cities 2-to-1

The most common type of local government is not the city. Not by a long shot.

April 17, 2017

What could help in dealing with people who don’t clean up after their dogs?

Answer: pooper-scooper drones

April 14, 2017

California DMV Gives Apple Permission to Test Driverless Cars

The technology giant is now the 30th company to receive approval for testing on state roadways.

April 14, 2017

Trump Administration Will Not Release White House Visitor Logs

Transparent government advocates voice immediate criticisms of the decision.

April 14, 2017

What robot could feel like part of the family?

Answer: Ohmni

April 13, 2017

White House Seeks Accelerated Infrastructure Permitting Process

Relying on the trope that cutting regulations leads to limitless economic potential, the White House's economic council is hoping to identify measures that could speed up the permitting process.

April 13, 2017

CityBase Adds Big Names to Board of Directors

The newcomers have ties to IBM, Argonne National Laboratory and the Federal Reserve Bank.

April 13, 2017

How is Google helping people be better artists?

Answer: AutoDraw

April 12, 2017

What new wearable could help relieve stress?

Answer: a smart sports bra

April 11, 2017

Prince William County, Va., Names Robert Mancini as CIO

Virginia's third largest county lured Mancini, an industry veteran with 30 years in IT and 12 years in local government, out of the private sector to head up its IT operations.

April 11, 2017

Senators Pen Letter to Support Federal Funding of Autonomous Vehicle Proving Grounds

Nine senators warned that if the country falls behind on connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, the rest of the world will surpass the United States.

April 11, 2017

What app is McDonald’s using to recruit new hires?

Answer: Snapchat

April 10, 2017

Boston Open Data Challenge Will Highlight City's New Data Portal

After the competition concludes, participants are encouraged to share their code, results and any other outputs in a place where the public can access them.

April 10, 2017

Investment Banks: The Most 'Successful' Type of Gov Tech Investor

A look at the exit rates among gov tech investors.

April 10, 2017

On what data is a new stock-trading bot basing all of its decisions?

Answer: President Trump’s tweets

April 7, 2017

North Carolina Governor Names New State CIO

After serving as chief information officer for the state department of transportation, Eric Boyette will serve all state agencies as state-level CIO.

April 7, 2017

Deep Machine Learning Startup Pluto AI Raises $2.1M

The company is working on solutions to help water utilities anticipate infrastructure failures.

April 7, 2017

What’s one way Amazon is testing its delivery drones?

Answer: a simulated dog

April 6, 2017

How is Waze working to save lives?

Answer: by partnering with emergency services

April 5, 2017

Taser Offers Free Body Cameras for One Year, Changes Name to Axon

The company, already huge in the market, is positioning itself for increased growth.

April 5, 2017

Who was the inspiration for material that may solve the problem of cracked phone screens?

Answer: Wolverine

April 4, 2017

What are some cities using to detect gas leaks?

Answer: Google Street View cars

Seattle Releases 2 Open Data Reports Detailing the Program’s Past, Future

Mayor Ed Murray also signed an executive order to expand the use of data and analytics in daily city work.

Tracking Gov Tech Investors by Type

The gov tech investment market lists in one certain direction: early-stage.

Who's Winning in Bringing Autonomous Vehicles to Market?

Navigant Research compiled a list of 18 companies, determining which leads the pack in terms of building and distributing self-driving vehicles at scale.

Californians Overwhelmingly Support Body Cameras for Law Enforcement, Study Says

According to a new survey, 81 percent of residents said that both citizens and law enforcement officials would benefit from the use of body-worn cameras.

How is USPS bringing your physical mail to your digital mailbox?

Answer: Informed Delivery

March 31, 2017

United States Digital Service Co-Founder Joins Code for America

Erie Meyer also will become a member on the National Advisory Council, which helps create and facilitate a dialog between the various brigades, governments and tech leaders across the country.

March 31, 2017

April is 'Information Technology Month' in Illinois, Governor Proclaims

The proclamation outlines the need to support and nurture growing public and private IT industry within the state.

March 31, 2017

What’s the goal of transportation startup SeaBubbles?

Answer: to be the Uber of water taxis

March 30, 2017

FirstNet Taps Telecom Giant AT&T for First Responder Network Buildout

After a lengthy and challenged selection process, the FirstNet national public safety broadband network has selected its contractor.

March 30, 2017

How is one man with quadriplegia regaining use of his arms?

Answer: mind control

Indiana 'Crowdgranting' Platform Helps Fund Housing, Community Development Projects

The program matches resident donations for parks and other community improvements with grant money.

ClearGov Raises $1.2M in Seed Funding Round

The company's main investors are from its home state, Massachusetts.

What app can help order your morning doughnuts ahead of time?

Answer: Waze

Ideas Welcome: Philosophies and Priorities of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers of 2017

Our Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers honors people inside and outside of government with a grand vision and the grit to execute on it.

March 28, 2017

Waymo Self-Driving Minivan Hits Mountains to Train Software, Collect Snow Data

To create a fully driverless vehicle, capable of handling all driving situations, Waymo is training its autonomous minivans to operate in the snow.

March 28, 2017

What is the latest way to reach your congressional representative?

Answer: text-to-bot-to-representative

New Facebook Tools Make It Easier to Contact Politicians

The Town Hall feature comes months after Facebook voter registration reminders yielded a significant impact in several states.

White House Innovation Office to Recommend Policies that Implement Private-Sector Strategies

Headed by the president's son-in-law, the team is meant to advise the president on spurring job growth and business development.

18F's Hillary Hartley Becomes First Chief Digital Officer of Ontario, Canada

Ontario officials say Hartley’s role will be “to streamline online government services and make them more efficient for people and business.”

Why would you want to wear high-tech, tentacled shoulder pads?

Answer: to flirt more effectively

March 24, 2017

Colorado Is Fifth State to Release RFP for a FirstNet Alternative

Which state will be the next to issue an RFP?

March 24, 2017

What could help make sure you’re getting all your reps in at the gym?

Answer: Delta Gloves

March 23, 2017

Trump Hires Tech Adviser to Focus on Innovation Policy

Matt Lira will serve as special assistant to the president for innovation policy and initiatives.

March 23, 2017

How could you find out if you should worry about that new mole on your arm?

Answer: SkinVision

March 22, 2017

Michigan is the Fourth State to Issue RFP to 'Opt-Out' of FirstNet Plan

The state has clarified that although it has issued the RFP, that does not mean it has already decided to “opt out” of FirstNet’s nationwide public-safety network.

March 22, 2017

How is China combating toilet paper thieves?

Answer: facial recognition software

March 21, 2017

Mobile Transit App Startup Participates in Y Combinator Demo Day

Token Transit is small, but it's growing.

March 21, 2017

Colorado Taps Intel Exec to Lead State Broadband Office

Gov. John Hickenlooper names former Intel VP Tony Neal-Graves to lead the state's broadband efforts.

March 21, 2017

What company is generating Google-style analytics for the real world?

Answer: Foursquare

If States Were Companies, Which Would Make the Fortune 100?

And which companies are they closest to?

Michael Leahy Named Maryland's New Acting IT Secretary

Maryland has named Michael Leahy, previously a senior adviser to Gov. Larry Hogan, as its new acting secretary of IT.

FirstNet Legal Battle Ends, Buildout Could Begin as Early as June

In the Friday judgment, Judge Elaine Kaplan ruled in favor of the First Responder Network Authority, granting it the ability to move forward with the procurement process.

Arkansas Governor Taps Yessica Jones to Lead the Department of Information Services

After a stint in the deputy and interim director roles, Jones was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to formally lead the state's IT department.

18F Frontwoman Hillary Hartley Pulls Plug on Term Early

Hillary Hartley is reportedly the third senior official to leave the GSA’s disruptive internal startup, 18F, in recent months. According to an internal email, she has accepted a position in Canada.

Santa Cruz County, Calif., Launches Tool to Reduce, Dismiss Convictions from Criminal Records

The Clear My Record tool is also available in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, San Francisco and Solano.

San Diego CISO Departs for Private Sector

After nearly four years with the city of San Diego, Chief Information Security Officer Gary Hayslip is reportedly leaving to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

How can you play with your pet even when you’re not home?

Answer: Pebby

March 16, 2017

CGI Wins First Three Phases of Colorado's Agile Child Welfare System Modernization

The company is set to deliver multiple components of a massive, 16-year-old system.

March 16, 2017

In Post-Election Activism Surge, 'Countable' Startup Raises $2 Million

The representative-contacting company has received its first venture capital injection.

March 16, 2017

What’s the name of NASA’s new robot?

Answer: PUFFER

March 15, 2017

NYC's Redesigned Service Accessibility Site Simplifies the Social Program Eligibility Process

ACCESS NYC has gone through a makeover in order to make it more accessible for knickerbockers to receive city services.

March 15, 2017

How could hackers take over your smartphone?

Answer: soundwaves

March 14, 2017

Sunshine Week 2017: Where Does Public Access to Government Data Stand?

When it comes to transparency in government, some entities excel while others fall short, which means there's still work to be done.

March 14, 2017

Who might be the maker of your next wearable device?

Answer: Levi’s

Intel Acquires Mobileye, Makes $15 Billion Bet on Self-Driving Vehicles

Intel announced that it would buy the driving assistance part maker, which specializes in computer vision and collision avoidance.

Google Machine Learning Competition Offers Millions for Startups

The cloud-based startup competition includes backing from some big Silicon Valley venture capitalists.

North Dakota Makes Way for New CIO

Gov. Doug Burgum has appointed Minnesotan Shawn Riley to head up the North Dakota Information Technology Department.

What was the inspiration for these resilient drones?

Answer: insects

Congress, FCC Take Aim at Consumers' Data Privacy

A ruling by the Federal Communications Commission and two joint resolutions introduced in Congress would make it harder for consumers to keep their personal information private.

USDS Co-Founder to Return to White House

According to reports, Haley Van Dyck will return to the federal government to help deliver digital services.

Pop.Up: Not Just Another Flying Car Concept

French transportation giant Airbus plans to test a flying vehicle prototype later this year. Time will tell if that jump-starts the ambitious drone-car protype unveiled March 7 at the Geneva car show.

What will some new Cadillacs be able to do?

Answer: “talk” to each other

March 9, 2017

Columbus, Ohio, Hires City's First Chief Innovation Officer

Mike Stevens, a former deputy director of the Columbus Department of Development, was appointed to the role.

March 9, 2017

Startup in Residence Is Now Accepting Applications for 2017 Cohort

The program connects four Northern California cities with startups to create technologies aimed at improving housing, transportation, public safety and other community challenges.

March 9, 2017

Which news outlet is going all-in when it comes to virtual reality?

Answer: CNN

March 8, 2017

The 6 Challenges of Autonomous Vehicles and How to Overcome Them

The University of Washington released a report for how Seattle should handle the onset of autonomous vehicles, but lessons can be applied to cities nationwide.

March 8, 2017

Chief Data Officers: Mapping Which State and Local Governments Have a CDO

The role of the chief data officer has increasingly found a place in government over the last couple of years. Here’s a look at who is filling the position in states, cities and counties.

March 8, 2017

Who might be cooking your food at one burger chain?

Answer: Flippy

Oakland, Calif., Names New CIO

Andrew "Pete" Peterson has been announced as the new CIO of Oakland, Calif.

NYC Woos Data Newbies With New Open Data Portal Home Page

On the fifth anniversary of New York City's Open Data Law, officials launched a new, user-friendly homepage for the NYC Open Data Web portal.

Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan Outlines Region's Next Generation of Transportation

After gathering community feedback for the past two years, the city released its plan that will begin to prioritize its projects and policies, most of which focus on the city’s innovative community outreach program.

What’s the price of a 3-D printed house?

Answer: $10,134

March 6, 2017

Amazon Web Services Opens 'City on a Cloud' Contest, Adds K-12 Districts

The competition awards winners with cloud credits to help build out their projects.

March 6, 2017

PermitZone Nabs Finalist Spot in $50K SXSW Pitch Competition

The company is one of 15 finalists for the contest.

March 6, 2017

Where can robots now deliver goods right to residents' doors?

Answer: Virginia

March 3, 2017

March 4 Declared 'Open Data Day' in Los Angeles, Cities Worldwide

International Open Data Day promotes transparency through the use of freely available, non-copyrighted data. This year’s event focuses on open data for research, human rights and the environment, and for tracking the flow of public money.

March 3, 2017

Uber Works with California DMV on Permitting, Takes Extreme Measures Evading Authorities in Certain Localities

The ride-sharing giant takes one step forward and one step back in its seemingly never-ending journey for government acceptance.

March 2, 2017

URBAN-X Accelerator's Second Cohort Features Gov Tech Companies

The New York City startup investor has taken on eight new companies.

March 2, 2017

How are researchers tracking wild elephant behavior?

Answer: wearable tech

March 1, 2017

Hawaii Will Join Other States in Using Federal Schedule for IT Procurement

After study, Hawaii will allow state and local agencies to use the General Services Administration's Schedule 70 in IT procurement.

March 1, 2017

Open Data Portal Beta Encourages Visitors to 'Analyze Boston'

A beta version is live for testing now, with plans underway for an official launch in the spring.

March 1, 2017

What’s the best way to avoid being distracted by annoying co-workers?

Answer: Just say “Nope”

February 28, 2017

Elaine Chao Hints at Tech’s Role in Trump’s Transportation Plans

In an address to the National Governors Association, the transportation secretary also discussed the role that industry plays in the future of the nation’s infrastructure.

February 27, 2017

Not Just Silicon Valley: See Where U.S. Govtech Companies Are Located

Businesses in the government technology market are based all over the U.S.

February 27, 2017

How can machine learning help avoid Internet trolls?

Answer: Perspective

'Cloudbleed' Bug: Coding Vulnerability Turned Data Hemorrhage Nightmare

A recently discovered data leak has a number of large companies on edge as the extent of the compromise is determined.

Two Startups Aim to Help Government Work with Drones

AirMap and Matternet both inched forward in their public sector work this week.

Mapping Tool Helps New York City Prepare for Upcoming L-Line Closure

A new mapping tool for New Yorkers has been released by Sidewalk Labs to understand how the impending closure of the L line, called "L-mageddon," will affect travel around the city.

Koch Finalizes $2.5B Investment in Infor

Infor works across multiple industries, including all levels of government.

February 23, 2017

Government-Enabling IT Ranks 4th in List of Public-Sector Contracting Hotspots for 2017

Market research firm Onvia examined bid and RFP data across federal, state and local entities to identify governments’ spending priorities.

February 23, 2017

What material is being used to make drones for delivering disaster relief supplies?

Answer: cardboard

February 22, 2017

White House Chief Digital Officer Unable to Pass Background Check, Leaves Post

Garrit Lansing, who was appointed on Jan. 19, has been relieved of his duties after failing to pass a background check necessary for White House staffers in positions that cover national security.

February 22, 2017

What is new artificial intelligence technology allowing us to do?

Answer: talk to the dead

February 21, 2017

Indiana to Form Internet of Things Lab

A new facility just outside of Indianapolis will be dedicated to the advancement of the Internet of Things.

February 21, 2017

OpenGov to Offer Third-Party Software to Help Governments Produce Reports

The company will offer Wdesk on top of its own software.

February 21, 2017

Bingham County, Idaho, Recovers from Ransomware Attack

Following the attack, ransom demands were made for over $25,000.

February 17, 2017

State and Local IT Spending to Outpace Federal in 2017 and 2018

Forrester Research takes a look into the future.

February 17, 2017

Highs, Lows and Caps: Stats on the Six Public GovTech 100 Companies

See how these six publicly traded gov tech companies from our 2017 list are doing.

Vievu Sues Taser for Interfering with Phoenix Body Camera Contract

The company is alleging Taser interfered with the contract process.

OpenDataSoft Launches Partner-Friendly Open Data Platform

The company's focus on APIs plays out in a new open data offering focused on collaboration.

Two Cities Commit to 100 Percent Clean Energy

The declarations align the cities with the goals of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign.

What could be the key ingredient to wide-scale energy storage?

Answer: urine

February 15, 2017

How did some people feel a little extra love on Valentine’s Day?

Answer: by getting a remote hug

February 14, 2017

Tackling Congestion with Data Visualization

The Washington, D.C., transportation department hopes open data visualization will reveal clues about how to lessen congestion and make a more accessible transportation system.

February 14, 2017

Feds Seek Local Input on Crafting Model Smart City Strategy

Calling all those who have something to say about smart city development: The National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development is asking for public comment on its smart city model policy.

Ford Buys a Billion Dollar Brain for Autonomous Vehicles

Ford has announced it will invest $1 billion into robotics and artificial intelligence startup Argo AI.

Obama-Appointed CISO Leaves White House

The circumstances under which CISO Cory Louie left his post are unclear.

SF Hires City's First Chief Digital Services Officer

Carrie Bishop will fill the newly created role that heads up the recently introduced digital services team.

What could help do some of the work of bumble bees in the wild?

Answer: drones

USDS 'Procuremenati' Help Agencies Make Better Digital Purchases

A team of eight acquisition experts is helping public purchasers navigate the evolving nature of the digital business space.

Silicon Valley Accelerator Takes on Gov Tech Companies

500 Startups' 20th batch of companies includes several government-facing firms.

Taser Creates AI Unit Filled With Startup Acquisitions

The company wants to apply artificial intelligence to body cameras.

How can you see the world in 2.5 minutes — for free?

Answer: a hyperlapse video created using Google Maps images

February 8, 2017

Florida Senate Committee Passes Bill to Create Chief Data Officer Position

The bill came about as a result of inconsistencies and security issues within the Agency for State Technology.

February 8, 2017

How can you control your home with the wave of a hand?

Answer: Hayo

February 7, 2017

Nextdoor Continues European Expansion by Acquiring Streetlife

San Francisco-based social network for neighbors buys UK company and announces plans to expand into France, Germany and other European countries.

February 7, 2017

Public Purchasing Cooperative Signs Agreement to Buy from Amazon Business

The deal will give members the ability to buy directly from the website as part of a competitive procurement contract.

February 7, 2017

What tech company is getting into the fashion industry?

Answer: Google

February 6, 2017

How could hackers ruin your morning?

Answer: by attacking your coffee

February 3, 2017

4 Recommendations for Integrating Traditional and Autonomous Vehicles on Public Roads

The Governors Highway Traffic Association published a report on what to anticipate for the inevitable interaction of autonomous vehicles and human drivers.

February 3, 2017

Who's making it easier to search all those photos you've uploaded?

Answer: Facebook

February 2, 2017

Pennsylvania Treasury Launches Financial Transparency Portal

The state treasurer says the site will focus on financial accountability and spending.

February 2, 2017

What tech is Detroit using to clean up graffiti?

Answer: GIS

February 1, 2017

Who’s predicting this year’s Super Bowl?

Answer: Siri

Trump Halts Executive Order on Data Security Accountability

The signing of the executive order was canceled Tuesday afternoon, but the document is still expected to be signed at a later date.

Illinois Opens RFP for Smarter Cities

The state seeks vendors to allow local and municipal government to leverage connected infrastructure.

End of the Honeymoon? Pittsburgh Sours on Relationship with Uber

Due to the events over the weekend, a rift has formed between Pittsburgh and Uber.

What is Volvo teaching its cars to watch for on the road?

Answer: moose

January 30, 2017

Elon Musk Goes Underground for Hyperloop Competition

The competition brought together teams to design, build and test Hyperloop pods for a chance to move on to the next competition in an actual Hyperloop tunnel.

January 30, 2017

Who's winning the cyberwar?

Answer: squirrels

January 27, 2017

What’s Google doing to help you find a parking spot?

Answer: predicting how bad the parking is at your destination

January 26, 2017

How is Apple making sure you don’t lose your wireless earbuds?

Answer: the “Find my AirPods” app

January 25, 2017

After Gag Order Following 'Mistaken' Retweets, National Park Service Resumes Twitter Use

The National Park Service gag order was apparently lifted following critical retweets of the Trump administration.

January 25, 2017

Chicago Enters Partnership for Smart Kiosk Deployment

The city's planned fleet of connected smart kiosks is expected to not only offer Internet and services to residents, but also serve as a means to connect and engage with city officials.

January 24, 2017

Survey: Majority of Americans Say Laws Must Change to Fit Tech

An evolving economy and cybersecurity concerns rank as chief priorities for many as President Trump takes office.

January 20, 2017

Federal Guidance Released for Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication

On the final day of the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a set of documents setting guidelines for how vehicles communicate with infrastructure.

January 20, 2017

U.S. Digital Service Gets an Acting Administrator

Formerly with Google, Matt Cutts has joined the federal government.

January 20, 2017

CIO Tom McQuillan Retiring from Prince William County, Va.

After a lengthy IT career spanning state and local government, McQuillan will leave public service in March.

January 18, 2017

Mikey Dickerson Reflects on IT Work in Federal Government as Appointment to USDS Ends

As Inauguration Day nears, IT leaders reflect on Obama’s tech legacy as they prepare for their next career moves.

Rhode Island Chief Digital Officer Resigns

Thom Guertin will temporarily remain at his post to ensure a seamless transition of power.

With Hiring Freeze Looming, OPM Launches Federal Cybersecurity Job Portal

The website pulls together listings from across the federal government.

Arizona Cybersecurity Incident the Latest in a Growing List of Attempts

In a positive turn in their investigation of the latest attempt to hack a state computer system, Arizona officials said Russian hackers weren't behind the incident.

New York City Launches Location Intelligence Data Dashboard

A new data visualization dashboard promises unparalleled insights into services and future needs for the iconic city.

January 12, 2017

Introducing the New Buzz: VW Unveils Electric Microbus

The old VW bus is a classic, but the newest addition to the Volkswagen family is eco-friendly and speedy.

January 10, 2017

Ohio Launches Highly Anticipated 18F-Style RFP

The effort to bring in new, more agile blood into the state's cloud/data analytics resource pool is now open, with an award date expected in March.

January 9, 2017

Uber to Release Traffic Data to Cities

The ride-sharing company is looking to partner with planning agencies and researchers to provide access to the data in order to begin providing insights that can aid in infrastructure planning.

January 4, 2017

Dems Use First Days in Congress to Take Aim at Tweeting Trump

Twitter has taken shape as a veritable bullhorn for incoming President Donald Trump, which has some in Congress concerned about what he says through the medium.

January 4, 2017

More than 300 Federal Gov Websites Fail to Meet Domain Encryption Deadline

The U.S. Chief Information Officer's push to encrypt all federal government domains will take a little longer.

January 4, 2017

Ohio Lays Out Plans for Data Analytics

On the cusp of an RFP release intended to shake up traditional procurement methods, the state of Ohio is outlining specific problems it intends to tackle across all of its agencies and departments.

January 3, 2017

Software Changes Blamed for Customs Disruptions at U.S. Airports

Port of Entry computer outage left travelers at the mercy of long lines and manual intake procedures Jan. 2.

December 23, 2016

3 Ways to Fight the AI Job Drain

Artificial intelligence promises to shake up the economy. The White House released a report to help public officials prepare for the next great disruption.

December 23, 2016

Civic Hall to Occupy 254,000 Square-Foot Innovation Hub in Manhattan by 2020

The tech collaborative's new building will expand the community center's presence in New York.

December 23, 2016

Delaware Governor Announces CIO Nomination

James Collins will continue to serve as the state CIO under its new gubernatorial leadership.

December 22, 2016

SeeClickFix: Users Reported 42 Percent More Issues in 2016

Numbers from the company's year-end review.

December 22, 2016

Top 3 Priorities for Incoming Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao

In a questionnaire, Chao outlines the challenges that face transportation planning for the next administration.

December 21, 2016

North Dakota CIO Mike Ressler Departs

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum recently announced some changes to the C-suite in Bismarck.

December 19, 2016

L.A. County Hacked: Personal Data of 750,000 Residents Made Vulnerable

Charges have been brought against a suspect for launching a phishing attack that potentially made personal information of more than 750,000 individuals vulnerable.

December 19, 2016

Illinois Announces Action Steps for Smart State Workshop

On its mission to become the nation's first smart state, Illinois held its second workshop solidifying goals and project leads.

December 16, 2016

Open Government Advocate Sunlight Foundation Will Continue, Leaders Say

Open government advocate Sunlight Foundation will continue with its former interim executive director at the helm, a new deputy director and some staff departures.

December 16, 2016

Report: Expect Growth in Government IT Spending in 2017

The market research firm Onvia doesn't expect the next president to change much for the government technology business — at least not immediately.

December 14, 2016

Nashville Names First Chief Strategy Officer

Nashville, Tenn.'s new chief strategy officer will work to further the city's goals of citizen-centric government and transparency in the coming fiscal year.

December 13, 2016

If Cars Could Talk: Feds Propose Vehicle Communication Standards

In citing the enormous potential for saving human lives, the U.S. Department of Transportation is opening up the floor to public comment on a rule mandating new vehicles be outfitted with vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology.

December 9, 2016

Michigan Governor Signs AV Rules Eliminating Human Driver Requirement

Michigan hopes to regain its throne atop the automotive world with relaxing rules on the operation of autonomous vehicles on state roads.

December 9, 2016

White House Orders Investigation into Election Hacking

The investigation and subsequent report are not meant to undermine the integrity of the election results, but to gather information in order to bolster cybersecurity.

December 8, 2016

How is Amazon proposing to move millions of gigabytes to its cloud-based services?

Answer: by driving a semi-truck full of data storage devices from your data center to theirs

December 7, 2016

Google Goes Green(er)

In what some have dubbed a shocking announcement, the tech powerhouse discloses its plans to power itself using 100 percent renewable energy.

December 7, 2016

What do horseradish, champagne and tamales have in common?

Answer: they are all trending foods of December

December 6, 2016

How is Uber hoping to get the upper hand in artificial intelligence?

Answer: by acquiring an AI startup

December 5, 2016

Boston's Official Record Is Now Online

Boston.gov will now be home to the official record for the city's public meetings, hearings and notices.

December 5, 2016

Apple Unveils 'Worst Kept Secret' About Interest in Self-Driving Vehicles

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Apple admitted its interest in highly automated vehicles and noted a few concerns regarding the proposed regulations.

December 5, 2016

How is Apple trying to improve its mapping app?

Answer: by flying drones through streets

December 2, 2016

Kinetic Tiles Bring New Meaning to Power Walking

Washington, D.C., has recently become home to a new kind of sustainable energy.

December 1, 2016

TechHire Job Creation Initiative Expands to 20 Additional Communities

Officials also announced that private organizations will seize on the program's progress with new steps to meet the scale of the opportunity.

December 1, 2016

MetroLab Network Advisory Council to Direct Smart City-University Partnerships

Members of the advisory council — which will help guide the organization and the partnerships it creates between universities and cities — represent industry, academia and local government.

November 30, 2016

Why is the Internet Archive moving to Canada?

Answer: out of fear of censorship under the Trump administration

November 29, 2016

Tesla Releases Footage of a Self-Driving Car Ride

Take a look at the driverless car in action.

November 28, 2016

San Francisco Transit Agency Recovers From Ransomware Attack

SF Muni was infected with ransomware, prompting the agency to turn off ticket machines and faregates to minimize any potential risk or inconvenience to Muni customers.

November 28, 2016

California Voter Database VoteCal Widely Used Prior to General Election

More than 800,000 Californians used the new features enabled by the database, the Secretary of State said.

November 23, 2016

Feds Suggest Guidelines for Smartphone Makers to Combat Distracted Driving

The U.S. Department of Transportation released a set of voluntary guidelines to quell the rise of distracted driving.

November 23, 2016

What's one solution for dealing with inconsiderate dog owners?

Answer: a pet DNA database

November 21, 2016

Feds Propose Rules for High-Speed Rail

The proposed regulations could lead to the proliferation of high-speed trains in the United States.

November 21, 2016

Instagram Launches Live Video Feature

Live video streaming will soon be a feature available to all Instagram users.

November 17, 2016

NASCIO Releases Its Top 10 Priorities for 2017

State CIOs have indicated what they will focus on in the coming year.

November 16, 2016

Port of Los Angeles, GE Partner on Cargo Digitization Pilot

The partnership seeks to unlock the power of big data at one of the largest ports in the world, and demonstrate how digital can enhance and improve operations.

November 14, 2016

Mercedes-Benz Launches New Car-Sharing App

The new app is set to launch in Germany next month.

November 14, 2016

Municipal Innovation: Trends from the 2016 Digital Cities Survey (Infographic)

Our infographic highlights key findings about how cities are using IT as well as where efforts are headed next.

November 11, 2016

Virginia Launches Cybertraining Initiative for Veterans

During a Veteran’s Day ceremony, the governor announced Cyber Vets Virginia, a training-based initiative focused on filling the state’s some 17,000 vacant technology jobs.

November 11, 2016

Zero-Emission Trains to Hit the Tracks in 2017

The trains convert hydrogen into an electric power source for the locomotives.

November 9, 2016

How Will a Trump Presidency Affect the U.S. Tech Industry?

As with Brexit, there are many concerns surrounding what effect Trump will have on majorly progressive industries, such as the technology industry.

November 9, 2016

Using Drones to Hack Smart Light Bulbs, the Internet of Things

Many cybersecurity officials have warned about Internet of Things vulnerabilities, but researchers have demonstrated one particular weakness — and proved it with drones.

November 9, 2016

Whose campaign website was "hacked" last night?

Answer: The Donald

November 7, 2016

White House to Establish 48 Electric Vehicle Charging Networks

The charging networks will place stations 50 miles apart, potentially allowing electric vehicle owners to take long road trips.

November 7, 2016

North Carolina DOT Launches Integrated Transit App

NCDOT says it may be first state transit agency to ink a transit tech partnership.

November 2, 2016

Federal Agency Grants $32 Million for NEXTCAR Research

The U.S. Department of Energy is issuing grants to 10 projects as a part of its Next-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Autonomous On-Road Vehicles (NEXTCAR) program.

November 2, 2016

Who is creating the first official government app for Apple TV?

Answer: the Information Network of Arkansas (INA)

November 1, 2016

What Happens to President Obama’s Social Accounts When He Leaves Office?

The White House recently broke down how the reins for social media accounts will be passed on to the next president.

November 1, 2016

California Office of Technology Services Chief Announces Retirement

Robert Schmidt, chief of the state's Office of Technology Services, announced on Oct. 31 that he will retire in early 2017.

November 1, 2016

State, White House Launch California Water Data Challenge

The challenge announcement follows legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in late September of this year, which directed the California Department of Water Resources and partnering state agencies to create a statewide water data platform.

October 28, 2016

FBI Refocuses on Clinton Email Scandal

The FBI announced it would be reviewing the significance of newly discovered emails in the Hillary Clinton case.

October 27, 2016

Google Pulls Plans for Fiber Expansion

Google's Access has announced the discontinuation of efforts to bring its fiber network to new cities. The redirect comes with job losses and the resignation of the division's CEO.

October 27, 2016

U.S. CIO Releases Proposed Guidance to Modernize Federal IT

The proposed guidance asks agencies to develop and implement targeted modernization plans for specific high-risk, high-priority systems, and to do so in four phases.

October 27, 2016

Former Pixar Exec Heads to GSA's Technology Transformation Service

Rob Cook, former vice president of software development for Pixar, will help drive new and emerging technologies at the federal level.

October 26, 2016

San Antonio CTO Hugh Miller Bound for Private-Sector Startup

San Antonio CTO Hugh Miller will be leaving public service at the end of the week, according to an internal city memo.

October 24, 2016

Philadelphia Civic Tech Director Departs, Lands Gig with OpenGov Foundation

Aaron Ogle has agreed to work with the OpenGov Foundation and lead its product design team.

October 21, 2016

Massive Cyberattack Hits East Coast, Affects Sites Worldwide

According to reports, multiple sites have been hit by a cyberattack resulting in crashes and extremely slow load times.

October 21, 2016

Amazon Granted Patent for Police Shoulder Drones

According to a recently granted patent, police officers could be equipped with voice-activated drones small enough to perch on their shoulders.

October 18, 2016

16 Jurisdictions Join Smart Cities Collaborative

The cities and counties will work together to create policies, pilot emerging technology and share insights to improve transportation in local government.

October 18, 2016

Clark County, Nev., CIO Louis Carr Departs, Heads to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Carr will assume the role chief information technology officer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in mid-November.

October 13, 2016

New 18F Digital Acquisition 'Playbook' Opens Up Federal Knowledge to All Levels of Government

A living document could spread 18F's knowledge beyond just the federal government.

October 10, 2016

Facebook Hopes to Roll Out 'Free Basics' Service in the U.S.

After its controversial "free Internet" program was shut down in India, the social giant hopes to leverage its position in the tech community to offer rural U.S. residents some form of connection.

October 7, 2016

18F Executive Director Leaves Role for Another Position in GSA

Aaron Snow, who's been there since the beginning, is moving on.

October 6, 2016

Meet the Threat: States Join Forces to Develop Innovative Cybersecurity Strategies

The goal of the "Meet the Threat" initiative is to best position all states and territories to meet the cyberthreat.

October 6, 2016

Turning Car-Generated Data Into Meaningful Products, Services a Billion-Dollar Market

According to a recent report, data from connected cars could be a $750 billion market.

October 3, 2016

California DMV Embraces Fully Driverless Cars in Proposed Rules

The state is moving toward a future where cars can operate without humans.

September 27, 2016

White House Puts Additional $80M Toward Smart Cities, Expands MetroLab Network

The administration's high-tech initiatives keep growing.

September 26, 2016

U.S. Senator Calls on FCC to Update Wireless Emergency Alert System

Sen. Charles Schumer points to limited features of federal alert system as being out of date.

September 26, 2016

AT&T Sues Nashville to Slow Expansion of Google Fiber

AT&T claims a new ordinance essentially allows other companies to “seize, alter or relocate AT&T property without the company’s consent.”

September 22, 2016

States’ Path to Digital: Highlights from the 2016 Digital States Survey (Infographic)

Every two years, states are graded on how well they use technology. Our infographic outlines key findings from the 2016 survey.

September 22, 2016

Joseph Cevetello Named as CIO of Santa Monica, Calif.

Cevetello comes to the city with more than 20 years of experience in research, and creation and implementation of technology, outreach and learning.

September 21, 2016

House Bill Would Force Paper Ballots, Prevent Election Systems from Connecting to Internet

New legislation hopes to make elections more secure by making them less electronic.

September 20, 2016

Sunlight Foundation Stops Search for a Director, Contemplates Future

Decline in funding and the absence of a leader have the open government advocacy nonprofit searching for new partners and a new identity.

September 20, 2016

Kentucky’s Statewide Broadband Network Moves Forward with Build-out

KentuckyWired will consist of more than 3,000 miles of fiber-optic cable and more than 1,000 sites that will be connectivity points in communities.

September 16, 2016

Setbacks During Rhode Island's Public Benefits System Rollout Not Unexpected, Officials Say

The project marks the largest IT undertaking in the state, and was focused on replacing a network of decades-old systems with the assistance of information technology contractor Deloitte.

September 15, 2016

Wyoming Chief Information Officer Reportedly Heads to Google

Reports suggest that Flint Waters, Wyoming CIO, is joining tech behemoth Google.

September 15, 2016

What Cap-and-Trade Money Looks Like on the Ground

The first carbon trading scheme in the U.S. is now a decade old. Here are some of the things it's done.

September 14, 2016

After Users Watch Porn, New York City Removes Web Browsing from LinkNYC Kiosks

Talk about unintended consequences.

September 13, 2016

2020 Emerges as the Big Target for Driverless Cars

A new business coalition is shooting to prepare Tokyo — the world's largest metropolitan area — for self-driving cars by the time of the next Summer Olympic Games.

September 9, 2016

Boston Police Body Camera Pilot Program Gets Green Light

Following a recent legal battle between the Boston police union and the city, the department’s body camera program will launch as early as next week.

September 9, 2016

What Makes a Winning Government Website? (Infographic)

Public-sector portals may be following the design trend of less is more, but back-end processes are becoming increasingly complex.

September 8, 2016

White House Announces the First Federal Chief Information Security Officer

Gregory Touhill, a retired brigadier general and deputy assistant secretary of cybersecurity and communications for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has been named as the first federal CISO.

September 8, 2016

Oregon Joins CJIS-Compliant Amazon Web Services Cloud

Oregon is the fourth state to give its police access to AWS Cloud.

September 7, 2016

Wisconsin Governor Announces State Broadband Savings Agreement

Gov. Scott Walker has announced the revamped deal for the statewide BadgerNet Converged Network that should increase Internet speeds and lower costs.

September 6, 2016

SXSL: White House Announces Innovation Festival

The new festival, called South by South Lawn, is intended to serve as a platform for the nation's foremost innovators and creators.

September 6, 2016

U.S. Office of Personnel Management Names New CIO

On Sept. 6, David De Vries, deputy CIO for the Department of Defense, was named the department's new CIO.

September 2, 2016

Model Ordinance to Regulate Drones Locally Now Available

The National League of Cities recommends that cities guard against reckless and privacy-violating use of drones.

September 2, 2016

U.S. DOT Launches National Transit Map with 10,000 Routes' Worth of Data

The map pulls together information on transit routes, stops and schedules.

August 30, 2016

Waze Expands Carpooling Program as Lyft Puts Its Own on Hold

The Alphabet company will help users throughout the San Francisco Bay Area find rides to and from work.

August 30, 2016

Traffic-Straddling Bus Begins Testing in China

The transit-elevated bus takes public transit above the street.

August 30, 2016

Chicago Launches Array of Things

The project is in its early stages, but it's promising big things for the future.

August 25, 2016

Net Metering: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

The practice is controversial, widely used and very important to the future of solar power.

August 24, 2016

Delaware Health Information Network Pursues HITRUST Certification

The state's health information exchange is seeking the certification to ensure that clinical information is protected, but not all stakeholders feel it's worth the effort.

August 24, 2016

Two Innovation Leaders Leave Louisville, Ky.

Replacements for Chief Innovation Officer Ted Smith and Theresa Reno-Weber, the city’s chief of performance and technology, have already been named.

August 24, 2016

Google Fiber Officially Launches in Salt Lake City

During a kickoff ceremony at the Google Fiber Space, company officials announced that a large portion of the city would have access to both residential and small commercial services effective 9 a.m., Aug. 24.

August 22, 2016

FirstNet Reappoints Three Board Members

The First Responder Network Authority announced the reappointment of three board members to an additional three-year term.

August 19, 2016

Airbus to Test Self-Flying Passenger Drone in 2017

The company is looking to move ground-bound transportation into the sky.

August 19, 2016

Which Cities Get the Best Cell Reception?

Smartphones are everywhere, but reception isn't.

August 18, 2016

Uber to Put Self-Driving Cars on Pittsburgh Streets This Month

The company plans to offer free rides to customers in downtown Pittsburgh using vehicles retrofitted to drive themselves.

August 16, 2016

U.S. Senate Creates New Role Dedicated to Handling Cyberthreats

The new "Chief of Information Assurance” will be responsible for proactively identifying, protecting, detecting, reacting and recovering from advanced cyberthreats.

August 16, 2016

Ford: We Will Mass-Produce Fully Driverless Cars by 2021

The company wants to offer cars that can operate without a human for ride-hailing within five years.

August 16, 2016

Solar for Local Governments Means Broad Planning, Broad Benefits

Systems connected: Planning and development, energy utilities, public works.

August 12, 2016

Denver Suburb to Test Free Lyft Rides to Bolster Light Rail Ridership

The city of Centennial, Colo., hopes to connect more residents to the larger Denver area by helping them get to light rail more efficiently.

August 10, 2016

What is the Internet of Things?

A look at the basics of the concept.

August 9, 2016

Federal Research Aims to Knock Down Two of the Electric Cars’ Biggest Hurdles

Department of Energy-funded programs are looking to improve on both range and charging time for electric vehicles.

August 9, 2016

Michigan Self-Driving Car Center Brings Together Economic Development, Transportation, Higher Education

The state is putting a lot of money and resources toward a small-town facility that will play host to futuristic cars.

August 8, 2016

What is 18F?

Founded in March of 2014, 18F is a federal digital consultancy that helps other agencies buy, build and share modern software using agile development and human-centered design.

August 4, 2016

Barney Krucoff Named First Chief Data Officer of Washington, D.C.

According to an official blog post introducing the new official, Krucoff will lead a team of 26 employees who worked together previously in an unofficial capacity as they were spread across the enterprise.

August 2, 2016

New York City Loses a CTO, Gains a Chief Digital Officer

These two high-profile job changes come during a string of departures under Mayor Bill de Blasio.

August 2, 2016

White House Slates $35 million for Drone Research

The Obama administration has announced a series of government and industry initiatives to accelerate deployment of unmanned aircraft systems.

August 2, 2016

5 Traits of the Future of Civic Innovation

Sacramento, Calif.'s interim chief innovation officer reflects on what's next for government innovation.

August 1, 2016

GSA Kicks Off Data Center Optimization Effort

The General Services Administration announced a new initiative to streamline data centers throughout the federal government.

August 1, 2016

Department of Commerce Loses Deputy Data Chief

After just a little over a year with the department, Tyrone Grandison announced he's moving on to new things.

July 28, 2016

To Deal with Pesky Cigarette Trash, Oklahoma City Turns to Recycling

The city is setting up collection stations downtown to give cigarettes a second life.

July 26, 2016

Public, Private Venture Aims to Keep Drones Out of Wildfire Areas

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a partnership with drone makers to keep the unmanned systems out of hazardous wildfire areas.

July 26, 2016

Examining America’s Most Digital Counties of 2016 (Infographic)

Insights into this year’s Digital Counties Survey highlight how IT is used to support and provide public service.

July 25, 2016

Mercedes-Benz Jumps into the Race to Automate Buses

The automaker has begun testing a self-driving bus in the Netherlands.

July 25, 2016

Hawaii Sponsors Month-Long Hackathon

The inaugural Hawaii Annual Code Challenge will combine state resources with coders to help solve problems.

July 22, 2016

What is Energy Storage and Why Do People Suddenly Care More About It?

A brief explanation of what energy storage is and how it works.

July 21, 2016

Tesla CEO Sets Sights on Self-Driving Public Transit

Elon Musk has revealed that he wants Tesla Motors to develop electric, connected, self-driving transit vehicles in the future.

July 20, 2016

New York City Chief Digital Officer Bids Farewell … for Now

The city’s inaugural CDO, Jessica Singleton, helped transform NYC into one of the hottest tech scenes in the world.

July 20, 2016

New York City Subway Upgrades to Add Wi-Fi, Charging Ports and More

The city's five-year plan involves a lot of tech.

July 18, 2016

Phoenix CIO Debbie Cotton Retires

The city's office of Information Technology Services confirmed on July 15 that Cotton has officially retired as of July 2016.

July 15, 2016

Cybersecurity Legislation Seeks to Ban E-Waste to China

The bipartisan Secure E-waste Export and Recycling Act introduced in the House of Representatives aims to keep used electronics “out of the hands of counterfeiters and data thieves.”

July 14, 2016

SF Styrofoam Ban has Ties to Health, Recycling and Marine Protection

San Francisco has banned the product in the hopes that it will help solve problems in several areas.

July 13, 2016

Facebook’s Livestream Feature Captures More Violence

Facebook live streaming feature captures the moments before, during and after a shooting in Norfolk, Va., July 12.

July 12, 2016

NACTO Acknowledges Complex Ties Between Automated Vehicles and the World

Systems connected: Mobility, infrastructure, city planning, data, taxation

July 11, 2016

NACTO Supports the Google Self-Driving Car Philosophy

The National Association of City Transportation Officials' recent statement on automated driving reflects one tech giant's sentiments that driving is better left to machines.

July 8, 2016

Virginia Launches Open Data, Open Jobs Initiative

A new data set joins public-private partnerships aimed at mobilizing the commonwealth's workforce.

July 8, 2016

Robot Delivery Pilot to Storm the Streets of Europe

Autonomous deliveries of food and parcels will be one step closer as Starship Technologies has agreed to partnerships in the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

July 6, 2016

Vermont Utilities Promise 75 Percent Renewable Energy Use by 2032

The state energy provider will also be required to invest in “energy transformation” projects to directly reduce fossil fuel consumption.

July 5, 2016

Open Data Leader Waldo Jaquith Heads to 18F

The federal government innovation group 18F has hired the Sunlight Foundation's senior technology adviser to further its open data work.

June 30, 2016

Infrastructure’s Role in Closing the Opportunity Gap

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx spoke to a crowd at the National Transportation Systems Center about the department's Beyond Traffic program, urging attendees to start taking on their responsibility in planning for the future.

June 30, 2016

Phaedra Chrousos Leaves Position as Commissioner of GSA's Technology Transformation Service

Chrousos will depart on maternity leave on July 15, and then return to the private sector.

June 30, 2016

Fatal Accident Prompts NHTSA to Investigate Tesla's Autopilot Feature

Tesla Motors said a May accident represents the first known fatality while one of its cars was driving in Autopilot mode.

June 29, 2016

CONNECTION: The Smart City Challenge Is One Enormous Silo-Buster

Systems connected: Transportation, energy, economic development, health care, inter-city collaboration

June 29, 2016

How quickly can Twitter detect crime?

Answer: about an hour faster than police

June 28, 2016

CONNECTION: Can Self-Driving Shuttles Solve the First/Last Mile Problem?

Systems connected: Public transit, autonomous vehicles

June 27, 2016

Michigan Tests Connected-Vehicle Tech on Roads

The automotive center of America is working out the kinks to ready the country’s infrastructure before self-driving cars roll out nationwide.

June 27, 2016

Bringing Together Disparate Data Sets Can Make Them More Useful

Systems connected: Transportation, disability services, public works

June 24, 2016

When it Comes to Drone Laws, States Reign Supreme

The Federal Aviation Administration released federal operational rules for commercial drones, but has opted to let state and local regulations have the final say.

June 23, 2016

Other Finalists in Smart City Challenge Will Also Get Funding, Resources

Columbus, Ohio, has won the Smart City Challenge, but the other cities who made it to the final round will get some help implementing their plans too.

June 21, 2016

Columbus Wins U.S. DOT's Smart City Challenge

The city will get more than $100 million in government and private-sector money to implement high-tech, futuristic transportation ideas.

June 21, 2016

Government, Crowdsourced Data Might Help People with Disabilities Get Around

A project out of Seattle is looking to make the daily grind easier for the people who have a tougher time moving about ever-changing cities.

June 21, 2016

San Jose, Calif., Names New CIO

The self-proclaimed capital of Silicon Valley has hired Rob Lloyd, former CIO of Avondale, Ariz., to lead its IT department.

June 20, 2016

New Jersey Appoints First CTO

Gov. Chris Christie has called on security specialist Dave Weinstein to spearhead improvements to cybersecurity and innovation in the state.

June 20, 2016

White House Adds Boston Data Analytics Leader to Its Roster

Boston Analytics Manager Kelly Jin is returning to federal service in a yet-to-be-named data science position, continuing a stream of IT hires by the White House.

June 17, 2016

Ink Dries on Colorado Criminal Justice Cloud Agreement

Colorado is the most recent state to pen an agreement with Amazon Web Services for access to criminal justice cloud technology.

June 17, 2016

White House Announces Myriad Energy Storage, Smart Grid Projects

President Obama is looking for ways to cut energy use and help integrate renewable energy onto the power grid.

June 15, 2016

Smart Gigabit Community Network Announced

US Ignite has created a network of 15 communities that will partner to provide gigabit-scale solutions to municipal problems.

June 15, 2016

2016 Market Forecast: Where Government Is Spending Money on Technology

State and local governments are projected to spend nearly $100 billion on IT this year. Here’s a look at where that money is being invested.

June 13, 2016

What Works Cities Program Adds 12 New Cities

Bloomberg Philanthropies data initiative What Works Cities announces its next 12 cities along with an urban innovation toolkit.

June 9, 2016

AT&T Offers Connectivity, IoT Services to Smart City Challenge Winner

The telecommunications giant is one of many tech firms to offer its services to the winner of the competition.

June 9, 2016

Office of Personnel Management Hires First CISO

Following one of the largest data breaches on record, the Office of Personnel Management hires a chief information security officer.

June 8, 2016

Arizona Governor Vetoes Cloud-First Bill, Cites 'Extra Layers of Bureaucracy'

The vetoed legislation could have landed non-compliant technology executives in jail.

June 6, 2016

DOT Releases Library of Connected Vehicle Testing Program Technical Materials

The department is in the midst of testing various connected vehicle pilots in Florida, New York and Wyoming. Now, the department has published a library of technical assistance available through the program.

June 3, 2016

Federal Agencies Call for Aid at National Day of Civic Hacking

More than 100 civic hacking events are set to go off around the country in an effort to solve community problems with open data.

May 31, 2016

Michigan Bill Would Be First to Allow Cars to Drive Without Humans

A state legislation package is aiming to clear hurdles obstructing the development of autonomous vehicles.

May 31, 2016

Former AG Calls Snowden's Reveal of NSA Surveillance Operations a 'Public Service'

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder qualified his statement that Snowden had done a public service by saying the way Snowden went about the revelation was inappropriate and damaging to national security.

May 30, 2016

'Straddling Bus' to Debut in China This Year

A new mass transit vehicle that cars on the road can drive through is scheduled to hit Chinese transit later this year.

May 27, 2016

13 Illinois Agencies Sign Joint Data-Sharing Agreement

Under the terms of an enterprise memorandum of understanding, the agencies will have better delivery of customer-centric services, be better able to make strategic decisions and policies, and will improve organizational efficiencies.

May 25, 2016

Google to Open Self-Driving Car Development Center Outside Detroit

Google plans to use the facility in the auto industry's backyard to work on self-driving minivans.

May 24, 2016

Columbus, Ohio, Ups the Stakes with $90 Million Addition to Smart City Challenge

Businesses in central Ohio would pitch in another $90 million if the city won the Smart City Challenge.

May 20, 2016

California Governor Asks Legislature for Earthquake Warning System Funding

Other countries, like Japan and Mexico, rely on earthquake early warning systems, but the United States — namely California — has been slower to fully fund and adopt the potentially life-saving technology.

May 20, 2016

New York City Expands Tech Training Opportunities, Partnerships

The partnership with roughly 150 private-sector employers is also helping to give job seekers a leg up in their career search.

May 19, 2016

Uber Debuts Self-Driving Test Car in Pittsburgh

The company joins Lyft, Google and others in the race to develop the technology that will allow humans to let go of the wheel.

May 18, 2016

2012 LinkedIn Password Breach Resurfaces

Users who haven't changed their passwords since the 2012 breach could soon find their accounts compromised.

May 17, 2016

Waze Explores Carpooling as a Way to Beat Traffic

The Alphabet-owned company is piloting a carpool-enabling app for Silicon Valley commuters.

May 13, 2016

Nonprofit Launches $100k Smart City Tech Competition

NextEnergy is calling for solutions to urban problems, just as urban governments are looking for them.

May 5, 2016

GM and Lyft: We'll Have Self-Driving Taxis on the Road in 2017

The companies plan to test self-driving taxis as part of a race to get automated vehicles on the road.

May 3, 2016

8 Tools, Practices Affecting Government Over the Next Two Years

A new report from Deloitte identifies key trends likely to re-imagine the public sector market in the near future.

May 3, 2016

Solar Power, Smart Grid Tech Collide in New DOE Funding Program

There's a lot of work to be done before solar power can go mainstream, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

April 29, 2016

Amazon Web Services Launches 2016 City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge

In a bid to highlight its cloud services to governments, Amazon is offering $250,000 in service credits to the cities and companies with innovative cloud projects.

April 28, 2016

D.C.'s Matt Bailey Makes Jump to White House OMB Spot

Washington, D.C.’s first director of technology innovation is leaving local government and making his way to the Office of Management and Budget.

April 26, 2016

Google, Uber, Ford and Others Launch Self-Driving Car Lobbying Group

The consortium will advocate for autonomous vehicles as federal and state regulators develop rules.

April 22, 2016

Uber Settles Driver Class-Action Lawsuits in California, Massachusetts

As of Thursday, Uber has closed two long-running class action lawsuits and is set to pay out $100 million in settlements.

April 19, 2016

Rumors Mount About Alphabet Building a "City" to Test Emerging Tech

The company's subsidiary Sidewalk Labs may or may not be meeting with Alphabet leadership soon to discuss such a project.

April 18, 2016

Federal Rule Could Create New National Traffic Data Website

The Federal Highway Administration is calling on state and local transportation agencies to work together on a new data-reporting initiative.

April 15, 2016

White House Urges FCC to Break Up Monopoly on Outdated Cable Boxes

The Obama administration asks the Federal Communications Commission to open up cable box production to the tech industry.

April 7, 2016

China Envisions $50 Trillion Worldwide Energy Network

Earth's resources are dwindling, but the world could build an alternative energy network within 30 years, according to China's biggest power company.

April 6, 2016

Odysseus Marcopolus Appointed Acting CIO of New Jersey

Odysseus Marcopolus will fill the shoes of the state's chief information officer until a permanent replacement is located.

April 4, 2016

MIT Open Data Portal: A One-Stop Shop for Federal Government Data?

MIT Media Lab and tech companies Deloitte and Datawheel have released Data USA, an open source platform promoted as the “the most comprehensive website and visualization engine” ever created for U.S. government data.

April 1, 2016

Pittsburgh Kicks Off 'Inclusive Innovation Week'

City officials host more than 60 events to harness support from community groups and citizens for citywide civic innovation strategy.

April 1, 2016

Tesla's Model 3: Making Automated Driving More Mainstream

The company's new electric car has the same safety-oriented automated driving features as previous Tesla models, but is far cheaper.

March 30, 2016

Amid Climate Change Push, DOT Offers $55M for Green Buses

The money will go toward low- or no-emission buses for public agencies.

March 30, 2016

Technology Test Could Give Drivers More Info About Their Cars

Systems connected: Data collection, alternative fuel vehicles, budgeting

March 29, 2016

Nissan Imagines a World of Free Energy

The automaker threw some ideas against the wall in expectation of the automobile's central role in future society.

March 29, 2016

Expanding Array of Things Aims to Help Put Data to Work for Cities

Systems connected: Higher education, data collection, stormwater management, air quality

March 28, 2016

Computerization of Cars Gives Rise to Concerns About Hacking, Privacy

Systems connected: Transportation, cybersecurity, privacy

March 24, 2016

Local Government Can Boost Solar, Electric Car Sales at the Same Time, Denver Area Finds

By offering a program that provides volume pricing on both solar panels and electric cars, local government can help customers buy more of each, according to a new study out of Colorado.

March 23, 2016

Where's My Tax Refund? IRS Mobile App Simplifies Federal Tax Refund Tracking

IRS2Go proves useful to taxpayers looking for refund answers and assistance in tax filing.

March 23, 2016

Which States Have the Fastest Internet?

Akamai's State of the Internet Report breaks down the state of broadband connectivity, connectivity speeds and mobile access.

March 22, 2016

Commercial Buildings Keep Getting Greener and Greener, EIA Report Shows

The most recent data from the Energy Information Administration shows ever-increasing energy efficiency in commercial buildings. And there are indications that the trend will continue.

March 18, 2016

Todd Kimbriel Named Texas CIO

Texas Department of Information Resources appoints former interim CIO Todd Kimbriel as CIO after more than a year of searching.

March 16, 2016

Google Awarded 'Bus Detection for an Autonomous Vehicle' Patent

The technology enables a self-driving vehicle to enter a more cautious state when it detects a school bus.

March 16, 2016

Massachusetts Governor Appoints New IT Director

Mark Nunnelly will begin as the Massachusetts Office of Information Technology's executive director on April 4 and will report directly to the governor.

March 15, 2016

California Bill Aims to Force DMV to Consider Fully Driverless Cars

Legislation in the Assembly would require the state's regulators to listen to the federal government when it comes to autonomous vehicle policy.

March 14, 2016

Goodyear Designs Levitating Concept Tire for Self-Driving Cars

The Eagle-360 tire could grip the road better, allow for precision movements and maximize tire lifespan, according to Goodyear.

March 14, 2016

DOT Smart City Challenge Finalists Propose Self-Driving Vehicles, Smartphone Apps and More

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced seven finalists for its Smart City Challenge, which comes with a $50 million prize.

March 11, 2016

DOT Aims to Give Self-Driving Car Makers a Road Map Via Hearings, Rule Clarity

The department is working to bring some stability to the rapidly evolving field of autonomous vehicle technology.

March 10, 2016

Vendors Testing Alternative Road Tax for California Might Offer Data to Drivers

While participating in a program designed to replace California's gasoline tax, drivers might get access to vehicle data usually offered to fleet managers.

March 10, 2016

7 Smart City Projects Emerging from MetroLab Network

The network has released details of several technology- and data-focused projects bubbling up through partnerships between cities and universities across the country. Here's a look at seven of them.

March 9, 2016

Could Bamboo Replace Steel in Concrete Structures?

The fast-growing and prolific bamboo plant has some in the construction industry wondering if its high-tensile strength and resilient nature make it a perfect fit for more sustainable building.

March 9, 2016

Bay Area Transit Offers Incentives to Ease Travels During Peak Ridership

A California transit authority is incentivizing passengers enrolled in a pilot project this spring.

March 8, 2016

Civic Hackers Code to Solve Mobility Problems in Affordable Housing

A hackathon in Washington, D.C., led to the creation of several apps that aim to make transportation easier for low-income families.

March 7, 2016

Cybersecurity: What Elected and Appointed Officials Need to Know

A new survey notes that while data breach incidents continue to soar, 80 percent of government officials and their staff don't know if their state has a cyber emergency incident plan in place.

March 7, 2016

Michigan Interstate to be Summer Testing Ground for U.S. Army Autonomous Fleet

The U.S. Army is moving forward with plans to test an autonomous convoy on Michigan’s Interstate 69 this summer.

March 7, 2016

Oregon Moves Ahead with Renewable Energy Law

Lawmakers passed a bill that would eliminate coal-fired power production in the state by 2030 and require 50 percent renewable energy production by 2040.

March 4, 2016

3 Innovative Water Tech Companies Advance Principles of Sustainability, Efficiency

New processes and products drive innovation forward in the energy and water industries.

March 3, 2016

U.S. Senate Bill Would Lend Federal Support to the Internet of Things

A bill from a bipartisan group of senators would charge the Federal Communications Commission with the task of encouraging growth in the Internet of Things field.

March 1, 2016

Connected Cars Are Coming (Infographic)

Consumers and government are fueling demand for vehicles that can self-park, assist with safe driving and integrate more closely with smartphones.

February 29, 2016

For the First Time, Google Admits Partial Blame for Self-Driving Car Crash

The company said it will improve its self-driving software in response to a crash one of its autonomous vehicles got into on Feb. 14.

February 29, 2016

Nevada Solar Plant Becomes First to Directly Connect to Full Storage Capacity

A 110-megawatt project in Nevada will provide solar-powered electricity throughout the night with a fully integrated storage system.

February 26, 2016

Texas Hires New IT Executive Director, Possible CIO

The Texas Department of Information Resources board has voted to appoint Stacey Napier its executive director.

February 26, 2016

NASCIO Calls for Changes to State IT Procurement

State IT procurement is broken, says the organization. Here are five ways to fix it.

February 26, 2016

18F Micro-Purchase Platform Offers Freelance Coding to Agencies

The federal digital service 18F is testing a new platform for small purchase coding projects by startups and technologists.

February 23, 2016

How is the Internet’s Data Explosion Molding Public Policy?

An estimated 1 trillion gigabytes of global IP traffic in 2016 will fuel new threats and opportunities for the public sector.

February 23, 2016

Professor: Silo-Busting Will Bring Clean, Efficient and Smart Power More Quickly

By connecting the power supply system to wastewater, transportation and heating and air systems, one professor is arguing that a clean infrastructure portfolio is more achievable.

February 19, 2016

49 Million Californians’ Records Compromised in Past 4 Years, AG Says

Since 2012, businesses and government agencies have been required to report data breaches affecting more than 500 Californians to the Attorney General's Office. More than 650 breach incidents have been sent in during the past four years.

February 18, 2016

Twitter’s Anti-Terror Efforts Making an Impact, Study Shows

Twitter’s consistent suspension of English-speaking, Islamic State-sympathetic accounts between August and September of 2015 resulted in substantial disruption.

February 17, 2016

Super-Precise GPS Could Mean Advances for Self-Driving Cars, Wearable Tech

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have announced a method for accurately tracking an object's location within a centimeter using GPS.

February 12, 2016

Google Patents Self-Driving Delivery Truck Idea

The company has won protection for the concept of using its autonomous vehicle technology, currently under development, to deliver packages to customers in the future.

February 12, 2016

Massachusetts IT Nabs Boston's Data Scientist for State-Level Position

Boston's principal data scientist announced a move to MassIT and hinted at a transformation of his past work into something grander.

February 11, 2016

Early Ideas for Smart City Challenge Include Self-Driving Shuttles, Adaptive Traffic Lights

Though the U.S. Department of Transportation isn't releasing details of any of the 77 applications it's received for its Smart City Challenge until March 12, city officials have divulged pieces of their plans to local media outlets across the country.

February 9, 2016

Washington Medicaid Authority Exposes 91,000 Health Records

The Washington State Health Care Authority reported that two employees exchanged files containing Social Security numbers and personal health information in violation of federal regulations.

February 9, 2016

White House Announces National Cybersecurity Action Plan, Chief Information Security Officer Position

The Obama administration outlined the need for an increased emphasis on cybersecurity given rising threat levels and a need to adapt to the rapidly changing environment.

February 8, 2016

Hackers Obtain Nearly 30,000 FBI, DHS Employees' Personal Information

In two days, contact information of about 20,000 FBI employees and 9,000 DHS employees was published.

February 8, 2016

New York's Media Arts Map Serves as Central Index for Flourishing Media, Tech Arts World

Version 3 of the New York State Council on the Arts' interactive map brings cohesion to what is otherwise an overwhelming number of projects and exhibits.

February 8, 2016

U.S. DOT Announces 77 Applicants for Smart City Challenge

Cities large and small from across the country have submitted applications for the $50 million contest.

February 6, 2016

Uber Hires NASA Engineer for Flying Car Project

The company is looking to gain an edge in developing the first commercial flying car, so it hired an engineer who first theorized the potential of vertical takeoff and landing of vehicles.

February 5, 2016

Twitter Continues Fight Against Extremist Accounts

The social media giant announced that since it began targeting users threatening or promoting terrorist activities in mid-2015, it has suspended more than 125,000 accounts .

February 3, 2016

Florida Senate Confirms CIO Jason Allison

Allison will continue to lead the state’s effort to mature its recently reinstated tech agency and overcome what he called the state’s “sins of the past.”

February 3, 2016

Google-Backed Startup Aims to Show When Congestion Happens, Not Just Where

Urban Engines recently announced partnerships with several organizations, including the agency that runs trains in the San Francisco Bay Area.

January 28, 2016

California Governor Appoints New Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Chief

Goals for the office are that by 2020, the vehicles are used as main public transport, and for the costs of such vehicles to be competitive with and available to the mainstream public.

January 27, 2016

Ohio Announces $45 Million Investment into Autonomous Vehicle Testing Grounds

Ohio Gov. John Kasich wants the state to be on the cutting edge of transportation and is dedicating a sizable portion of the budget to do so.

January 27, 2016

Lyft Settles Lawsuit for $12.25 Million

The new wording of the Lyft driver agreement will make it harder for the company to fire its drivers anywhere in the country, but does not classify the drivers as employees.

January 27, 2016

Energy Storage Will Boom in 2016, Analysts Say

A global research firm predicts that energy storage, which supports renewable electricity as a resource, will double worldwide in 2016.

January 26, 2016

'Cool & Connected' Program Gives Struggling Communities a Shot at Broadband

This new program offered through the Environmental Protection Agency will lend broadband expertise to small and rural communities.

January 25, 2016

Microsoft Donates $1 Billion in Cloud Services to Nonprofits, Universities

Microsoft Philanthropies announces a three-year program to put analytics and cloud computing into the hands of 70,000 academic, nonprofit and eventually government partners.

January 22, 2016

Los Angeles Power Department Asks Customers to Help It Ditch Coal

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power wants to eliminate coal as a means of producing electricity within the next 10 to 15 years.

January 19, 2016

Engineering Society Highlights Infrastructure Flaws in Washington, D.C.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has released a report detailing infrastructure shortcomings in the nation's capital, noting particular problems with levees, public transit and roads.

January 15, 2016

Inventor Proposes Futuristic Elevated Trains to Solve Traffic Problems

Emil Jacobs' "cTrain" idea involves trains that travel both above and below a single track and increase car supply based on demand.

January 14, 2016

FirstNet Issues Final RFP

The First Responder Network Authority is looking for a vendor for its nationwide public safety network.

January 14, 2016

Lyft Looks to Open Services to Seniors Without Smartphones

The company has launched a third-party application in New York City that allows people to hail rides for others.

January 14, 2016

U.S. DOT to Release Model Policy for Regulating Self-Driving Cars, Fund $4B in Research

The U.S. Department of Transportation's announcement signals a support for fully autonomous vehicles that was lacking in a regulatory announcement last month from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

January 13, 2016

Ford's Group-Leasing Pilot Edges into Future-Facing Shared Ownership Concept

The automaker plans to test a program at three dealerships in Austin, Texas, where groups can jointly lease a vehicle — an idea that strikes at the heart of a few futuristic transportation trends.

January 13, 2016

Kentucky Governor Seeks to Dismantle Award-Winning HIX Portal

The controversial decision is estimated to cost the state a minimum of $23 million.

January 13, 2016

Rhode Island Names First Chief Innovation Officer

Rhode Island's first chief innovation officer, Richard Culatta, brings decades of experience innovating in the education sector.

January 12, 2016

Uber Looks to Fill in First- and Last-Mile of Multi-Modal Transportation Equation

The ride-sharing company has partnered with TransLoc to offer a smartphone application that integrates its services with public transit.

January 11, 2016

Seattle Creates Civic Tech Advocate Position to Encourage Civic Participation

The position will be held by Candace Faber, who's led such hackathons as the city's Hack the Commute event last March.

January 11, 2016

U.S. Transportation Secretary: No Federal Regs on Self-Driving Cars — For Now

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told reporters last week that he plans on giving guidance on how his department will approach autonomous vehicles, but isn't working on plans to regulate them.

January 11, 2016

New Committee to Advise U.S. DOT on Autonomous Vehicle Policy

The committee is composed of representatives from local governments, researchers from academia and industry experts.

January 7, 2016

Collision Avoidance Company Sweetens Deal for U.S. DOT Smart City Challenge

Mobileye has become the second private company to add perks to the ultimate prize the U.S. Department of Transportation plans to award to the winner of its "Smart City Challenge."

January 7, 2016

Sunlight Foundation Director Chris Gates Steps Down

After 16 months with the organization, Executive Director Chris Gates said it's time for a new challenge.

January 7, 2016

New York Public Library Bolsters Already Expansive Digital Collection, Adding Nearly 200,000 Items

Digital collections are growing in substance as public institutions, like the New York Public Library, digitize more and more of their inventory.

January 6, 2016

Washington State Announces Federal Cybersecurity Partnership, Office of Privacy and Data Protection

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee recently named two new ways the state will protect its systems and the data of its citizens.

January 6, 2016

Audi, Ford Expand Self-Driving Car Programs as Car-Focused CES Approaches

Audi will begin testing self-driving cars at a California racetrack, while Ford is tripling its autonomous vehicle fleet.

January 5, 2016

AT&T Launches Smart City Partnership, Multi-Front IoT Campaign

The telecommunications provider announced several new Internet of Things initiatives aimed at government, transportation, developers and other commercial customers on Tuesday.

January 5, 2016

LA Launches El Niño Map to Aid Citizens as Storms Hit

The map shows citizens weather information, sandbag availability, power outage statuses and more.

Kentucky's Gubernatorial Change Prompts CIO Jim Fowler to Resign

Kentucky's CIO resigned last month following Matt Bevin's ascension to governor two weeks prior, and Jim Barnhart has been promoted from deputy to acting commissioner of the Commonwealth Office of Technology.

White House Publishes 5.02 Million Visitor Access Records

The latest iteration of White House visitation records puts the cumulative total at more than 5 million visitor names published over the last 6 years.

Lyft, GM Team Up for Self-Driving Car Development

General Motors will lend its expertise in developing autonomous vehicle technology to Lyft, which hopes to put a fleet of on-demand, self-driving cars on the road within the next decade.

Philadelphia Chief Innovation Officer Adel Ebeid Resigns

After four-and-a-half years with the city, Ebeid has left for a position in the private sector.

December 22, 2015

Washington Moves to Fix Glitch that Released Inmates Early

A computational error is believed to be responsible for the early release of inmates from the Washington state Department of Corrections.

December 18, 2015

U.S. DOE Sets Largest-Ever Appliance Efficiency Standard in Wake of Paris Agreement

The U.S. Department of Energy wants rooftop air conditioning units to run more efficiently, saving millions of tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere in the process.

December 18, 2015

Uber and Lyft Need More Government Regulation, Report Says

A new report concludes that app-driven transportation companies like Uber and Lyft are having an increasing impact on society and therefore need greater consideration and oversight by their governments.

December 18, 2015

Integrating Plants and Animals Make Cities Healthier, More Beautiful

Choosing the best tool for the job requires leaving all options on the table for many city planners.

December 15, 2015

Ann Arbor, Mich., Gets Another Boost for Smart Car Research

Siemens has worked in Ann Arbor for a decade testing out connected vehicle technology, and will now set up its Center of Excellence for Intelligent Traffic Technology in the city.

December 14, 2015

FAA Unveils New Drone Registration Rules

The new rules will take effect Dec. 21 and will apply to all drones weighing between a half-pound and 55 pounds — generally considered to be hobby drones.

December 11, 2015

Uber's Class-Action Lawsuit Threatens the Future of the Sharing Economy

A 2013 lawsuit just opened up to 160,000 Uber drivers. Here's why that matters.

December 10, 2015

California Vendor Performance Ranking Pilot Will Launch in 2016

The California Department of Technology on Thursday morning officially launched a pilot program to rate IT vendors to increase performance and accountability in state technology projects.

December 10, 2015

California Launches 'Cal eProcure' Online Procurement System

The new website is “designed to improve the experience of businesses selling products and services to the state of California” and replaces the previous system known as BidSync.

December 9, 2015

Social Media Bill Takes Fire From Industry

Following recent terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States and a new focus on how the Internet is being used to coordinate among radical groups, lawmakers have introduced a bill to require the reporting of terrorist activities by social media networks.

December 9, 2015

Senate Passes Every Student Succeeds Act

After bipartisan support from the Senate, legislation that replaces President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act is expected to be signed into law by President Obama later this month.

December 8, 2015

Colorado Launches Broadband Portal as One-Stop Shop for Expansion Efforts

The website offers a map showing Internet speeds by area.

December 8, 2015

Report Shows Best and Worst State-Level Policies that Affect Teacher Quality

A new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality shares a detailed analysis of policies enacted at the state level that impact teacher effectiveness.

December 7, 2015

DOT Smart City Challenge Aims to Kick Transportation Tech into High Gear

The U.S. Department of Transportation is offering $40 million in funding for data-driven transportation projects.

December 4, 2015

District of Columbia Signs 20-Year Solar Agreement Amid Climate Talks

The U.S. capital's latest renewable energy arrangement comes after a wind power purchase in July.

December 3, 2015

Massachusetts Eyes $2.1 Billion Nation-Leading Energy Efficiency Plan

A group of investor-owned utilities wants to enact a plan to save nearly 3 percent of retail-sold electricity per year.

December 3, 2015

Autonomous Cars Could Increase Young Drivership 11 Percent, Researchers Estimate

Researchers at the University of Michigan have estimated that the availability of fully autonomous cars would increase the number of drivers on the road.

December 1, 2015

California Fights Road Expansions in the Face of a Growing Populace

The state Department of Transportation has decided to focus on existing roads instead of expansions, citing research that shows increasing the number of lanes only adds more traffic.

December 1, 2015

Google's Self-Driving Cars Could Use Text, Robotic Hands to Communicate with Pedestrians

Google has secured a patent to help its autonomous vehicles bridge the communications gap with pedestrians.

December 1, 2015

San Francisco Struggles with Online Permit Tracking System

Though the city and vendors disagree on reasons for problems, a company executive says her team is focused on working with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection so its portion of the project is a success.

November 25, 2015

Opinion: California Should Adopt 'Smart' Highways Over High-Speed Rail

Expensive, inaccessible and bad for competition make California's high-speed rail plan a dud, according to a U.C. Santa Barbara economics professor.

November 24, 2015

California to Manage Groundwater Basins Using Reporting Website, Online Maps

The California Department of Water Resources is launching a series of new boundaries that are easily accessible through a new Web portal.

November 24, 2015

Flood-Prone East Coast City Plans Microgrid to Keep Power on for the Vulnerable

Hoboken, N.J., is planning a microgrid, powered by natural gas and renewable energy, to help keep the power on for emergency responders and some citizens.

November 24, 2015

Auto, Tech Leaders Explore a Future Without Drivers

Speakers at the Los Angeles Auto Show said they believe that as vehicles learn to drive themselves, fewer people will own cars.

November 23, 2015

North Carolina CIO Chris Estes Leaves Government for Private Sector

It's back to consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers for Chris Estes, the North Carolina CIO of nearly three years.

November 18, 2015

Toyota Asks Innovators to Help Put Tiny Car to Work

The Toyota i-Road is a three-wheel, low-speed vehicle that the company wants to find uses for in the San Francisco Bay Area.

November 18, 2015

Autonomous Tech Could Upend Car Design

A partner at the design consultancy IDEO has predicted that self-driving cars will lead to revolutions in car design, which could lead to new players in the auto industry.

November 18, 2015

DOE Sees Bright Future for Clean Energy and Transportation

The U.S. Department of Energy has highlighted several green technologies ahead of the country's participation in climate talks in Paris this December.

November 12, 2015

Amazon 'City on a Cloud' Innovation Challenge Winners Announced

A handful of local governments were recognized for their innovative uses of cloud-based solutions and tools.

November 11, 2015

Oregon Wind Farm Receives Landmark Award for Minimizing Environmental Impact

Designers of the Tucannon River Wind Farm bought local materials, minimized concrete use and chose turbine locations carefully in order to reduce the project's impact.

November 10, 2015

Wearable Tech to Offer Better Nuclear and Radiological Detection

A recently awarded Department of Homeland Security contract for wearable, passive detection technology could soon result in better protection against nuclear and radiological threats at sea and land ports across the country.

November 10, 2015

Kirk Lonbom Leads Illinois Cyber Efforts After Three-Year Dark Period

After a few years of searching for the right CISO, Illinois' technology office is confident in its choice.

November 9, 2015

Raleigh, N.C., Hires New CIO

The new chief information officer, who replaces former CIO Gail Roper, is set to begin in early 2016.

November 6, 2015

Texas Transportation Gets Funding Boost to Cope with Growing Population

Voters in the Lone Star State approved Proposition 7, setting aside more money for infrastructure projects in the future.

November 5, 2015

Public-Sector Blockchain Pilot Pushes the Tech Forward

Government officials aiming to promote transparency and accountability have at their disposal a tool that becomes increasingly legitimate with each new project.

November 5, 2015

As Cybersecurity Breaches Mount, IT Turns to Intelligence Exchanges

Peer-to-peer cybersecurity threat intelligence exchanges are becoming more popular among IT professionals, a recent survey found.

November 5, 2015

Houston CIO Takes on New Role at Port Authority

Charles T. Thompson held the CIO position in Houston since 2012.

November 4, 2015

Purification Plant Would End L.A. Agency's Need for Northern California Water

The proposed project would treat sewage water and bring it up to drinking quality standards.

November 2, 2015

Latest Facet to White House Cybersecurity Efforts Shows Long-Term Strategy

The Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (CSIP) is the latest addition to the Obama administration's larger efforts to combat cyber threats.

November 2, 2015

FAA Turns to Amazon, Google to Help Register Drones as Christmas Approaches

The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to begin registering hobby drones as retailers ramp up for mounting sales of the aircraft during the holiday season.

October 29, 2015

California Governor Vows to Protect Obama's Clean Power Plan

Some Republicans aren't happy about the new emissions regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, but California Gov. Jerry Brown won't budge.

October 27, 2015

With Safe Harbor Gone, U.S. and E.U. Pursue New Data Sharing Agreement

With no legal framework regulating the exchange of personal information across shores, the U.S. and the European Union hash out the details of a new plan.

October 27, 2015

Private-Sector Exec Takes Reins as Arizona CIO

Morgan Reed, former Expedia executive, takes Arizona's top technology spot.

October 26, 2015

Hyperloop Test Track Construction to Begin Next Month in California

The track will test out technology that proponents hope will provide an alternative to air travel.

October 26, 2015

Will Southern California Be Home to Nation's First Self-Driving Vehicle Network?

If one Southern California developer's big promises come to be, Lilac Hills Ranch will be the first community in the nation to offer its citizens a private vehicle network where self-driving cars would be summoned via an app.

October 26, 2015

Appraisals Still Don't Capture Full Value of Green Building Investments

Green investments can save money, but appraisers often don't take into account their full value when assessing buildings, a pair of reports from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab asserts.

San Francisco Aims to Build Biggest Internet of Things in the U.S.

The city plans to mount sensors on public infrastructure as a tool for attracting business and gathering data for city employees.

Driver Assistance, Autonomous Vehicles Could Kill 60 Percent of Personal Auto Insurance Market

Safer roads mean fewer accidents, fewer accidents means lower premiums.

As Tourist Attraction Melts, Alaska's Capital Pushes for Electric Vehicles

Juneau, Alaska, city officials and commerce partners want electric buses shuttling tourists to its local glacier and electric boats taking them whale watching.

110 California State Parks, Destinations Now Accessible on Google Street View

Google has been allowing people to see a 'street view' of California State Parks in a partnership with the state to spur tourism, and released another batch of tours.

October 22, 2015

Hawaii Waters Down Solar Incentives, Possibly Pushing Customers to Build Smarter Systems

The state will pay less for customers' unused solar power, but a green energy advocacy institute says that presents an opportunity for people to use as much of their own power as possible instead of sending it back to the grid.

October 22, 2015

Missouri CIO Tim Robyn to Resign

After a decade overseeing technology in Missouri, Tim Robyn will move on.

October 22, 2015

Federal Judge Lifts Indiana's Ballot-Selfie Ban

Free speech trumps the protection of voting integrity in a recent judicial ruling.

October 21, 2015

Report: Connected Vehicles Are Coming and Bringing Challenges with Them

Connected vehicles and infrastructure promise to transform the urban landscape, but not before cities address the costs, management challenges and public concerns with the technology.

October 20, 2015

Facebook to Notify Targets of Suspected State-Sponsored Cyberattacks

The new policy will provide alerts to platform users believed to be targeted by hackers after personal information.

October 19, 2015

Mike Hussey Is Utah's New CIO

Mark VanOrden is on his way out and Mike Hussey, one time winner of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Outstanding Public Service, will replace him.

October 19, 2015

GM Plans to Make Semi-Autonomous Cars, Introduce Vehicle-to-Vehicle Connectivity Next Year

The automaker will introduce updates to its Cadillac line and begin testing fully autonomous Chevrolet Volts at a company facility in Michigan in 2016.

October 19, 2015

Nation's Largest Utility Ramps Up Investment in Electric Vehicles

Pacific Gas & Electric, which serves much of California, hopes to cut carbon emissions and its own fuel bill by purchasing more electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.

October 15, 2015

To Cope with Rising Seas, Alaska Gov. Suggests Drilling More Oil

Gov. Bill Walker says the state needs money to help coastal villages. But most of Alaska's budget comes from oil.

October 15, 2015

Tesla Introduces Elements of Autonomous Driving to Model S

The car can't do everything by itself, but it has the ability to take on some aspects of driving via a software update available as of Thursday morning.

San Francisco 311 App Does Double Duty to Help Homeless Population

Mayor Ed Lee urged residents to use the city's 311 application to report those who appear to be in need of “well-being checks.”

Uber Pushes into Delivery Business with Shopify Partnership

UberRUSH has been rolled out to a few merchants in three cities with plans to expand to more stores in more locations.

Toyota Wants to Cut Almost All GHG Emissions from Vehicles by Mid-Century

The automaker is looking toward hydrogen fuel cells and hybrids, not electric, as the future of low-carbon driving.

What it Means to Be LEED Certified (Infographic)

The national market for environmentally friendly infrastructure is rapidly growing, and LEED hones in on building practices that support areas of human and environmental health.

October 13, 2015

UPS Logs Half a Billion Miles Driven in Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Alongside a trend of delivery services switching to low-carbon fuel sources, UPS has built up a fleet of electric, natural gas and other alternative-fuel vehicles.

October 13, 2015

Twitter Announces Company-Wide Layoffs

The social media titan announced staff eliminations for “smaller and nimbler team.”

October 12, 2015

Dell to Acquire EMC in $67 Billion Deal

With EMC a majority shareholder in VMWare and the new combined company being privately held, the deal would position Dell to make longer-term investments and shift its product-line toward software and storage-based solutions.

October 12, 2015

Public-Private Coalition Looks to Boost Mobility-as-a-Service in Europe

Twenty organizations have come together to push development of services that will make multimodal and individualized transportation easier for travelers to use.

October 9, 2015

California Now Requires Warrant for Digital Search

The signing of a new privacy bill was celebrated by privacy advocates and major technology companies alike.

October 9, 2015

Volvo Assumes Responsibility for Self-Driving Car Accidents

If something goes wrong in self-driving mode, Volvo is the first company promising to assume liability.

October 8, 2015

Poop-Power Converter to Save D.C. Utility $24 Million Annually

A new power conversion system that feeds on water treatment byproduct is expected to save tens of millions annually from savings on chemicals, trucking and power produced.

October 6, 2015

Self-Driving Shuttles to Transport Office Workers in California Pilot Project

Two EZ10 "Shared Driverless Vehicles" should be cruising about the Bishop Ranch business park in San Ramon by next summer.

October 6, 2015

San Diego County Launches Fire Hazard Severity Map

The map shows the likelihood an area will burn sometime during the next few decades.

October 4, 2015

Indiana CIO Paul Baltzell Moves to Private Sector, New CIO Announced

During Baltzell's time leading IT for the state, he helped to improve Indiana's infant mortality and child fatality rates using data analytics, and worked to launch open data-based innovation initiatives.

October 2, 2015

Say Hello to the World's Greenest Office Building

Deloitte's Amsterdam office is so efficient it produces more power than it uses — and an app connects employees with the space they work in.

September 30, 2015

Former Tech Leader Bryan Sivak Lands at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Sivak will serve as an entrepreneur-in-residence for the foundation, where he help to fulfill its mission of building a Culture of Health.

September 25, 2015

China, U.S. Unveil Specifics of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plans

The presidents of both countries announced Friday that they will create a cap-and-trade program, tighten green energy standards and target the trucking industry in order to cut emissions during the next 10 years.

September 25, 2015

Cuyahoga County, Ohio, CIO Bids Farewell, Returns to Private Sector

Jeff Mowry resigns to reboot his career in Detroit’s automotive industry.

September 24, 2015

Job Creation Data for Green Projects Don’t Tell the Whole Story, Researchers Find

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is calling on researchers to consider the ways utility savings lead to job growth even after a project is done.

September 21, 2015

Trump's Speedy Website May Foreshadow Victory

Republican presidential candidate hopeful Donald Trump may not have earned the best reviews for his recent performance on CNN's Republican debate, but his website is the fastest of his contemporaries.

September 21, 2015

Cycling Accident Claims the Life of White House Senior Tech Advisor Jake Brewer

Brewer, who worked to better connect technology and innovation to government, was killed Saturday during a charity cycling event in Maryland.

September 18, 2015

Reuters Ranks Top 100 Innovative Universities

By focusing on patent filings and academic research, the news organization compiled a list of the world's most influential and innovative learning institutions.

September 14, 2015

Offering a Mappable Look at the Greater 'Health of Cities'

On-the-go sensor technology is the latest way to examine airborne pollutants and what they mean for cities and residents.

September 14, 2015

Japan Helps California Test Energy Storage, Expand Vehicle Charging Stations

The office of Gov. Jerry Brown is building a partnership with the Japanese government’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.

September 11, 2015

D.C. Mayor Proposes Privatizing Body Cam Assault Videos

To respect the privacy of victims of violence, the mayor of D.C. proposed denying public access to a broad section of police body camera video.

September 10, 2015

California Gov. Jerry Brown Vetoes Drone Regulation Bill

For now, drone hobbyists in California can continue flying low over private property without permission.

September 4, 2015

Report: 10 States Leading Solar Charge

Territories promote private and public solar energy through policy and practice.

September 3, 2015

U.S. Navy Invests Big in Solar Energy Installation

Energy facility marks the biggest federal investment in renewable energy infrastructure to date.

September 3, 2015

New York State Data Center Benefits from Nanoscale Research

The state has consolidated 20 agency data centers — out of an eventual 50 — into a co-located facility at the State University of New York’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

September 3, 2015

4 Digital Trends to Transform Human Services (Infographic)

Human services agencies that go digital can become more proactive and citizen-centered.

September 1, 2015

Final Standards Announced for DATA Act

Nearly 60 rules outlined for standardizing publication of federal spending data.

August 27, 2015

Baltimore Hires Broadband Coordinator for Citywide Network

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has tasked Jason Hardebeck with implementing the city's new broadband plan.

August 25, 2015

Georgia Hands Off IT to Private Service Integrator

The partnership is meant to drive enhanced IT integration and management throughout the state.

August 24, 2015

Jacksonville, Fla., CIO Usha Mohan Resigns

After three and a half years, Jacksonville, Fla., CIO Usha Mohan steps down after mayoral change.

August 24, 2015

Can America Overcome its Air Conditioning Addiction?

Americans love excess and the personal comfort created by a blasting air conditioning unit is no exception. The Rocky Mountain Institute hopes to change the culture without reducing comfort with its new Innovation Center.

August 21, 2015

Boston Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics Gets New Co-Chair

The office upgraded one of its new urban mechanics to co-chair, a replacement to Chris Osgood, the city's soon-to-be chief of streets.

August 19, 2015

15,000-Plus Government Users Among Exposed Ashley Madison Members

Using a dating website isn't a crime, even one like Ashley Madison, but more than 15,000 military and government employees will have at least some explaining to do.

August 18, 2015

Privatization of Domain Name System Postponed

The U.S. Department of Commerce has delayed hand-off of the Internet domain name system for at least one year.

August 17, 2015

FirstNet Appoints Former Police Captain as CEO

Upper management of the beleaguered FirstNet gets a revamp: two new positions and one new hire.

August 17, 2015

White House Makes Presidential Innovation Fellowship Permanent

President Obama has signed an executive order to make the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program long term with the hope of bolstering federal tech initiatives.

August 17, 2015

U.S. Navy Facility to Cut Energy Bill $6 Million Annually

Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., is expected to cut energy consumption by 40 percent upon the 2017 completion of a 15-year retrofitting project.

August 10, 2015

Delaware Governor Signs Internet Privacy, Safety Package into Law

Students, employees and victims offered new safeguards for personal data and rights.

States, National Parks Get Millions to Fund Innovation and Traffic Safety Projects

More than $7.1 million in federal grants will be given to “cutting edge safety improvement projects” in eight states and National Park territory.

Drexel University Class to Craft Peacemaking Strategies-Based Social Media Data Analysis

Computer science and engineering teams will try to keep the peace in violent hot spots around the world.

Report: What Is Solar Power Worth?

A report ordered by the Maine Legislature may have raised more questions than it answered about how the state should proceed with solar.

More Cloud for Minnesota

State CIO Tom Baden says most systems will live in some form of cloud.

August 6, 2015

How Will Hawaii Reach Its Goal of 100 Percent Renewable Energy?

The state is on its way to weaning off an 80 percent reliance on nonrenewable energy sources.

August 6, 2015

Why Minneapolis Is Taking Back Its Help Desk

The city is transitioning from one provider to another, and part of that move includes pulling help desk and desk-side support functions back in-house.

August 5, 2015

Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces First 'What Works Cities' Participants

The three-year data initiative designed to help 100 cities with their community improvement projects has its first eight participants.

August 3, 2015

America's Clean Power Plan to Cut Carbon Emissions 32 Percent by 2030

The White House unveiled a new standard that gives states two years to update their energy and pollution policies.

July 31, 2015

California Launches Reporting Website to Target Water Wasters

The Department of Technology and California’s Save Our Water public education program partnered to develop and launch the mobile-optimized website SaveWater.ca.gov.

July 30, 2015

Ted Ross Named Los Angeles' Permanent IT General Manager

Serving in an interim capacity since Steve Reneker's departure earlier this year, Ted Ross will, pending city council approval, become his permanent replacement.

July 28, 2015

Will Self-Driving Vehicles Erase the Auto Insurance Industry?

Though the industry won’t be impacted “significantly” for at least a decade, the landscape will begin to shift dramatically after that.

July 28, 2015

Big Data Can Save Billions in Transportation Delays

There's a lot of room for improvement in the world's transportation infrastructure, and using big data is one way to close the gap.

July 28, 2015

Google, Tesla Officials Call for Ban on Weaponized Artificial Intelligence

From sci-fi movies to modern-day reality, technologists warn against a possibility of an arms war in artificial intelligence.

July 24, 2015

Kansas Names Phil Wittmer CITO

Gov. Sam Brownback looks to the private sector to fill the state's top technology position.

July 24, 2015

How Minnesota is Building a Solutions Centric IT Workforce

State CIO Tom Baden talks about workforce retirement, recruitment and realignment.

July 23, 2015

Salt Lake City Promotes Energy Efficiency with Challenge Awards

Five institutions in Salt Lake City were recognized by the city as part of this year's Project Skyline Mayor’s Challenge Awards.

July 20, 2015

Tech Industry, Data Centers Are Sucking California Dry

Arid California is home to some 800 data centers, many of which consume millions of gallons of water each year.

July 17, 2015

Silicon Valley's 'Hack My Ride' Challenge Seeks Next-Gen Transit Tools

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority hosts the three-month challenge to hunt for new transit tech beyond the all-too popular trip planners.

July 16, 2015

Report: Power Plant Carbon Emissions on Decline

The U.S. is one of the world leaders in carbon emissions, but a new report shows a trend toward a sustainable future.

July 15, 2015

Riverside, Calif., Announces New Transparency Measures

New transparency measures, including the creation of a public records advocate position, demonstrate the city's commitment to honesty and accountability.

July 14, 2015

UK Considers Ban on Social Messaging Apps

In the name of fighting terrorism in the UK, messaging apps that use end-to-end encryption and do not allow the government to view the data being sent may soon be banned.

July 14, 2015

America's Most Digital Counties of 2015 (Infographic)

This year's Digital Counties survey offers some telling insights into the state of technology in America's counties.

July 13, 2015

Autonomous, Self-Driving Tech to Be Tested at California's Concord Naval Weapons Station

A 2,100-acre stadium will be used to test technologies like self-driving vehicles, interconnected vehicles and smart city infrastructure.

July 13, 2015

Colorado Names New Chief Data Officer

Michelle Gore took over in June as CDO for the state.

July 10, 2015

OPM Director Resigns Following Massive Data Breach

After a massive leak of sensitive data, President Obama said the Office of Personnel Management needs new leadership.

July 1, 2015

Fighting UI Fraud in Texas

The Texas Workforce Commission is beefing up its data analytics tools by pulling data from other state agencies.

June 30, 2015

Massachusetts CIO Bill Oates Resigns

After 18 months as state CIO, Bill Oates is moving on.

June 30, 2015

Austin’s Open Data Evolution

Although it’s still an important transparency tool, the portal now supports a thriving civic hacking community

June 29, 2015

Open Data for Citizen Engagement and Government Effectiveness

Open data can have a direct impact on internal government operations — Texas' Janet Gilmore explains how.

June 29, 2015

Where Open Data Meets Big Data

Are we parsing data — big, open, raw, refined — at the risk of losing sight of the forest for the trees?

Data Analytics Will Help Texas Agencies Work Smarter

A combination of open data and big data ultimately will help state agencies.

Analytics Makes Travis County, Texas, More Proactive

County CIO Tanya Acevedo discusses making greater use of predictive analytics to help the county anticipate service demands so it can respond more quickly and effectively.

California Rx Tracking System May Be Inaccessible by Doctors

Some doctors might not be able to use the new prescription drug tracking system to be released July 1.

Texas Sen. Kirk Watson Receives Bob Bullock Award

Watson was recognized for his contributions to public data and technology programs that advance transparency and citizen engagement.

June 25, 2015

Amazon Launches $250,000 Cloud Competition for Local Government

Amazon Web Services wants to see governments innovating in the cloud, and this summer they're recognizing the best.

June 24, 2015

Supreme Court Protects Privacy for Hotel, Airbnb Guests

The Los Angeles Police Department has lost its bid to demand lodging information after practice is declared unconstitutional.

June 24, 2015

Hawaii Rounds Out Its Tech Leadership Team

Three new tech officials — Michael Otsuji, Jim Miwa and Mark Choi — have been appointed to Hawaii's IT leadership team.

June 23, 2015

Will Autonomous Vehicles Be Retail-Ready Tomorrow or in 500 Years?

For all the technological challenges, experts can't agree as to whether self-driving vehicles are just around the bend, or light years away.

June 23, 2015

Smart, Connected Home Device Market Stagnating

New market analysis shows that tech companies pushing smart home devices like connected thermostats and light bulbs have some work to do before interest expands beyond early adopters.

June 19, 2015

Baltimore Takes Step Toward Becoming Smarter, More Tech-Savvy City

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake released a draft of her Smarter City Task Force Report, which says the city must continue to innovate by taking greater advantage of technology to fuel new growth.

June 19, 2015

New York Launches Startup Accelerator GENIUS NY

Tech upstarts have a new shot at greatness in New York state.

June 19, 2015

Google Doubles Down on Self-Driving Vehicles

The number of self-driving vehicles on Californian roadways is growing fast, with issues of safety and morality in tow.

June 18, 2015

Cities Need to Rethink 'Smart City' Strategies, Report Says

Some smart city ideas have taken a wrong turn, too often emphasizing expensive hardware rather than cheaper solutions using the Internet.

June 17, 2015

Hawaii Web Portal Named Best in Class

The Interactive Media Awards (IMA) only recognized one government website, and that one belongs to Hawaii.

June 16, 2015

Oakland, Calif., Launches Transparent, Interactive Social Media Archive

The city's effort will make sure all social media is publicly available and easily accessible for citizens.

June 10, 2015

Boston, St. Louis Receive Grants to Harness Data and Technology

The $200,000 grant will help the cities use a combination of civic tech and data to improve the lives of low-income residents.

June 9, 2015

Portland Officials Name New CTO

Jeff Baer has been chosen to lead the city's Bureau of Technology Services.

June 5, 2015

Google's New Pedestrian Recognition Tech Could Quicken Self-Driving Cars to Market

New research shared by Google last month shows how barriers to market, like expensive LIDAR components, could soon be eliminated.

June 4, 2015

Missouri Announces Nation's First Smart Roadway

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission announced that it's seeking public input as the state plans to build a 200-mile section of Interstate 70 into a cutting-edge example of transportation technology.

June 3, 2015

Fast-Charge EV Stations Debut in Sacramento, Calif.

Public officials are finding that to encourage EV use, government needs to step in.

June 3, 2015

Self-Driving Vehicles Hit Northern Virginia

Joining California, Nevada, Michigan, Florida and Washington, D.C., Virginia will become the newest addition to the self-driving vehicle club.

May 29, 2015

Susannah Fox Named HHS CTO

After 14 years at the Pew Research Center, Susannah Fox will lead technology efforts for the nation's federal health department.

May 29, 2015

Department of Energy Recognizes Green Leasers

Green leases have the potential to save American business billions, so the federal government is highlighting those who lead the way.

May 29, 2015

Nebraska Appoints Ed Toner as CIO

The state has a new technology chief incoming.

May 27, 2015

Bryan Sastokas Named New Director of Technology and Innovation for Long Beach, Calif.

Sastokas has gained recognition in other cities for his contributions to public technology and will now try his hand in Long Beach.

May 26, 2015

Virginia Governor Names Nelson Moe Next CIO

Sam Nixon's replacement is Nelson Moe, a military veteran, network engineer and former House of Representatives CIO.

May 22, 2015

Experimental Uber Car Spotted in Pittsburgh

Uber is researching new vehicle tech at its Advanced Technologies Center, and one development was recently seen cruising around the city.

May 21, 2015

Raleigh, N.C., CIO Gail Roper to Step Down

After nine years as Raleigh’s tech czar, Roper is leaving the city to direct technology strategy for a private company in Florida.

May 21, 2015

New Jersey Creates New Office Dedicated to Cybersecurity

Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order establishing the new office, designating it as a central hub for analyzing threats and sharing information.

May 21, 2015

Boston Ranked Most Energy-Efficient City in U.S.

A new report has found that mayors and local lawmakers in America’s largest cities continue to take innovative steps to lower energy costs for consumers and businesses, but some are doing more than others.

May 18, 2015

President Obama Gets His Own Twitter Handle

America's president carved out his own space in social media.

May 18, 2015

President Launches Police Data Initiative

On the tail end of riots, protests and public disquiet surrounding police conduct, the president announced a new program that pits data against one of America's hottest issues.

May 15, 2015

Arkansas Launches First Apple Watch App for Government

NIC subsidiary Arkansas Information Consortium reworked its Gov2Go app for the wrist.

May 15, 2015

Samsung Places Bets on the Internet of Things with ARTIK Platform

The electronics giant released a new open playground for device makers this month.

May 13, 2015

Hawaii Proposes 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2045

Though the state depends on fossil fuels for 80 percent of its energy today, it may soon legislate a shift to 100 percent renewable energy.

May 13, 2015

Hawaii Ditches $205 Million Health-Care Portal

Hawaii says aloha to its struggling health-care portal.

May 13, 2015

Energy Calculator Helps Determine Building Efficiency

A new tool from the Alliance to Save Energy and the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition helps planners understand just how efficient their structures can be.

May 12, 2015

Podcast: Strategic Tactics, Tools, Technologies for Going Social in the Public Sector

Government Technology magazine and special guests gathered for the first in a special series of webcasts focused exclusively on the use of social media in state and local government.

May 12, 2015

Georgia Unanimously Passes Student Data Privacy, Accessibility and Transparency Act

Pundits are calling the state's new student data privacy law the most comprehensive in the nation.

May 11, 2015

Matt Bailey to Serve as D.C.'s First Director of Technology Innovation

The District of Columbia's newest hire will work with the chief technology officer to spot new opportunities that improve government transparency and transform the economy.

Colorado Expands its Hybrid Cloud

Colorado is working to develop a suite of flexible and cost-predictive private cloud services.

Ohio Speeds App Creation with the Cloud

Ohio CIO Stu Davis discusses becoming more agile and meeting the political expectations for doing government at the speed of business -- "Quick, quick, quick."

How to Spot a Cloud Imposter

One challenge in updating applications is educating users about solutions that appear to be cloud applications but really aren't.

Los Angeles to Appoint Next-Gen Transportation Adviser

A new advisory position in Los Angeles will dedicate the next 12 months to pushing the limits of transportation technology in one of the most congested cities in the world.

May 7, 2015

Alaska CIO Talks Cloud, Connectivity and Mainframe Alternatives

Alaska’s remoteness has slowed adoption of commercial cloud services, but it hasn’t stopped them altogether.

May 7, 2015

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Former Sen. Sam Blakeslee Launch ‘Digital Democracy’

New platform gives journalists, organizations and citizens a new way to watch and research government issues.

May 7, 2015

Shrinking Oil Revenue Drives Cloud Interest in Alaska

CIO Jim Bates expects to rely on the state's private cloud infrastructure for at least the next five years -- but plans for expansion are in the works.

May 3, 2015

How Cloud-Based CRM Will Improve Alabama Health and Human Services

CIO Brunson White talks about a new cloud-first policy and some current cloud projects.

April 30, 2015

Legislators Introduce Student Digital Privacy and Parental Rights Act

Following a call by President Obama, new bipartisan legislation would prohibit third parties from buying student data collected by schools and tech companies.

April 29, 2015

Pay-As-You-Go Cloud Services Help Georgia Hold the Line on Spending

Georgia Technology Authority COO Dean Johnson discusses his state’s approach to computing that allows it to pay for only what it uses.

April 29, 2015

Georgia Moves Toward a Plug-and-Play Cloud Platform

Dean Johnson, COO of the Georgia Technology Authority, addresses his state’s push to privatization and the addition of a multisource services integrator to orchestrate solutions.

April 28, 2015

How Ohio Is Migrating to a Co-Managed Private Cloud

CIO Stu Davis discusses his state's massive consolidation and move to a co-managed private cloud environment.

Cloud Email Helps North Carolina Work Like an Enterprise

North Carolina CIO Chris Estes says his state sees productivity gains from migrating state workers to a single cloud-based email system.

The Cloud Will Boost Data Center Capacity in North Carolina

CIO Chris Estes discusses the process behind his state’s cloud strategy.

How Kentucky Plans to Get Out of the Infrastructure Business

CIO Jim Fowler says his state will migrate to the cloud in the next five to seven years.

Massachusetts Hires Deputy Tech Development Czar

Governments like Massachusetts are increasingly viewing technology not only as a portal to innovation, but riches, too.

FirstNet Approves Framework, Will Release Draft RFP Documents

The First Responder Network Authority seeks comment on its upcoming RFP and enabling legislation.

April 24, 2015

How Much Does a Data Breach Cost?

Check out this infographic to better understand the scale of cybersecurity threats in 2015.

April 21, 2015

Los Angeles and Waze Sittin' in a Tree, S-H-A-R-I-N-G (Data)

Los Angeles and navigation app Waze are sharing data to improve the navigation service, reduce hit-and-run crimes, and help the city plan its traffic operations more intelligently.

April 17, 2015

St. Louis Police Launch Real-Time Crime Center

Aggregating all the data and video feeds police can access is a big task, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is looking to Motorola Solutions to simplify the issue.

April 15, 2015

Former GSA CIO Casey Coleman Joins Unisys

Coleman will assume a vice president position with the company.

April 15, 2015

Texas Appoints Edward Block as CISO

After a few months of serving in an interim capacity, Block is now the state's long-term security man.

April 14, 2015

Philadelphia Hires First Digital Government Service Architect

Mjumbe Poe is Philadelphia's latest recruit from the civic tech sector.

April 9, 2015

Hawaii Names New CIO

After a year of acting CIO Keone Kali at the helm, Hawaii found a permanent replacement for former state CIO Sonny Bhagowalia.

April 8, 2015

Former Illinois CIO Sean Vinck Moves to Oregon

Oregon is amid a major transformation project and still grappling with health insurance portal issues, but now has the help of former Illinois CIO Sean Vinck.

April 8, 2015

'Ten Types of Innovation' App Gives Innovators a Canvas

A new app by Deloitte's Doblin intends to improve the success rate among those who innovate.

April 7, 2015

Former Chicago CIO Becomes Illinois' State CIO

Hardik Bhatt took five years off to work on smart cities and Internet of Things technology with Cisco, and now he's back to serve the public sector.

April 7, 2015

Former Pennsylvania CIO Tony Encinias Lands at ViON

Tony Encinias' cloud experience will be on offer as he works as a public-sector strategy official in the private sector.

March 31, 2015

18F Launches RFP Ghostwriting and Review Service

A new service offered by digital services agency 18F could give federal procurement a facelift.

March 30, 2015

Nevada CIO David Gustafson Resigns

After a five year bid in Nevada, Gustafson moves on to the private sector.

March 30, 2015

Health and Human Services CTO Bryan Sivak to Leave Feds

As a thought leader in open data disruption and out-of-the-box procurement methods, Sivak championed numerous initiatives after taking the position in June 2012.

March 26, 2015

Innovation Lab to Develop Next-Gen Electric Grid in New York

The Advanced Grid Innovation Laboratory for Energy will simulate, develop, test and deploy a more integrated grid.

March 25, 2015

8 Countries Ranked on Open Data Progress

A new report ranks top G8 nations based on their signed agreement for open data success.

March 24, 2015

Doing+Dreaming+Driving (Infographic)

Members of the GT Top 25 are connected to innovation in many ways.

March 24, 2015

White House Hires Former Twitter VP as Chief Digital Officer

Jason Goldman will serve as the White House's first CDO.

March 24, 2015

Commerce Hires Chief Data Officer to Modernize Bureaus

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker has installed Ian Kalin as the department’s first chief data officer to advance the organization’s digital presence.

March 23, 2015

Obama Picks Facebook Engineer for New White House IT Director Job

David Recordon will lead effort to upgrade technology for the executive branch.

March 20, 2015

5 Tools Public CIOs Find Indispensable

A look at the tech and tools that IT leaders rely on to get the job done.

March 19, 2015

White House Launches Website Analytics Dashboard

A new analytics dashboard allows citizens a window into 300-plus federal agency websites.

March 19, 2015

Former GSA CIO Lands at Cloud Storage Provider Box

Sonny Hashmi will lead government relations for the company, encouraging the public sector to engage in public-private partnerships.

March 19, 2015

Former Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel Resigns From USAID

After a second short stint with USAID, VanRoekel announced he is stepping down to spend more time with his family.

March 13, 2015

D.C. Mayor Announces New Tech Initiatives, Hires

March is a big month for technology in the nation's capital city.

March 12, 2015

Microsoft Azure Cloud Meets CJIS Compliance in California

Microsoft's cloud platform meets FBI security requirements to open doors for deployment in counties, cities and agencies statewide.

March 12, 2015

Nextdoor Crowdsources Neighborhood Polling on Civic Issues

Governments may gain greater insights with new voting and polling tool for citizens.

March 11, 2015

CIO Sonny Hashmi Leaves GSA for Private Sector

A change in management at the General Services Administration will change the landscape of federal IT.

March 10, 2015

Obama TechHire Initiative Aims to Connect Average Citizens and the High-Tech Workplace

A new initiative launched by the president's administration builds partnerships and provides funding to bridge the gap between the middle class and high-paying tech jobs.

March 10, 2015

Pennsylvania Appoints Rosa Lara as Acting CIO

A replacement for recently exiting Tony Encinias indicates a potential for new directions in the commonwealth.

March 10, 2015

Photo of the Week: Driverless Mercedes Takes a Spin in San Francisco

Some questioned whether the car galavanting around the City by the Bay was truly running autonomously or was under human control.

March 6, 2015

Virginia Technology Department Names Interim CIO

Until a permanent replacement is found for outgoing CIO Sam Nixon, Executive Director Eric Link will serve in an interim capacity.

March 5, 2015

DHS Shutdown Averted

Had a shut down occurred, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, the department’s 24/7 cyber response center, likely would have needed to significantly cut staffing.

March 2, 2015

Funding Request for Troubled California Computer System Rejected

Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, rejected a plea from the California Department of Consumer Affairs for more money to help shore up a troubled IT project.

February 24, 2015

Photo of the Week: Los Angeles Launches Historic Places Website

Visitors to the new website can admire pre-1900 architecture, plan land development, or spot Bob Hope's house.

February 20, 2015

4 Ways DJ Patil Will Push the Frontiers of Data Science

As the nation's leader on data science, Patil explained in an article addressed to the American people what he will do and what they can expect from him.

February 19, 2015

Feds Launch Probe of FCC Activity

The U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee has concerns with the FCC’s use of delegated authority and its rule-making process.

February 17, 2015

Photo of the Week: LED Lights Dance and Move Across Louisville, Ky., Pedestrian Bridge

Every evening starting around sunset, a schedule of programming provides rainbow effects or combinations of colors that add motion and color to the bridge.

February 13, 2015

California's Licensing Project Expected to Cost $96 Million

A California licensing and enforcement portal is failing in most ways, according to a recent auditor's report.

February 13, 2015

Open Data Advocates Unlock Major Road Map to Federal Data

The White House Office of Management and Budget confirms it will release a data index of all federal agency data holdings in the first week of March.

February 12, 2015

South Carolina Bans Social Media for Employees

A new code to be instated later this year tells South Carolina employees to get back to work.

February 10, 2015

Photo of the Week: Brainless Jellyfish Detect, Swim Against Ocean Currents

Jellyfish can do what birds and turtles can't -- detect the direction of ocean currents and strongly swim against them.

February 5, 2015

White House Hires Chief Data Scientist, New CIO

Senior executives from Salesforce subsidiary and VMware join the Obama administration.

February 5, 2015

Forest Service to Open Up Campsite Bookings

An updated RFP from the USDA Forest Service considers opening campsite booking to third parties, so reserving a campsite would be like booking a hotel room.

February 5, 2015

Virginia CIO Sam Nixon Departs

The director of Virginia’s Information Technologies Agency will leave for a regulatory position.

February 3, 2015

DisasterTech Hackathon to Honor Hurricane Katrina

Next week, civic hackers and first responders will convene to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with dozens of new emergency apps.

February 2, 2015

San Francisco Officials To Discuss MBA in Civic Innovation

The California College of the Arts hosts a civic tech panel following the announcement of its new degree targeting future innovation leadership.

February 2, 2015

Judges May Force Uber, Lyft to Make Drivers Full Employees

New legal discussions on the ride-booking industry's business model could complicate things for companies like Uber and Lyft.

February 2, 2015

FCC to Pre-empt State Broadband Laws?

The FCC is expected to vacate state laws regarding the creation and expansion of municipal broadband networks.

January 30, 2015

FCC Mandates New 911 Location Reporting Rules for Wireless Carriers

People who call into 911 may get help faster, thanks to a new FCC mandate.

January 29, 2015

House Chairman Demands Answers in HealthCare.gov Private Data Leak

HealthCare.gov continues to face technical problems that cost the American public, this time, in privacy.

January 28, 2015

Google Warns Against Driverless Car Regulations

Company tells California Department of Motor Vehicles to not impose safety restrictions, argues for its own safeguards.

January 27, 2015

Photo of the Week: Hong Kong Waterfront Glows Fluorescent Blue

This fluorescent coloring is created by an algae bloom called Noctiluca scintillans, which is more commonly known as 'Sea Sparkle."

January 27, 2015

Google Fiber Expands to 18 Cities in American Southeast

The search giant's gigabit broadband service is making its biggest expansion yet.

January 27, 2015

California DMV Retracts Controversial Memo on Ridesharing License Plates

After complaints from Uber, Lyft and Sidecar, the Department of Motor Vehicles changed course, saying it jumped the gun on requiring rideshare drivers to register as commercial vehicles.

January 21, 2015

Arkansas Has a New CTO

After losing its director and chief technology officer in October, the Arkansas Department of Information Systems has a new lead: Mark Myers.

January 20, 2015

Photo of the Week: Australian Architects Build 'Inside-Out' Home Extension

"It is both inside and outside. It is both a new building and an old ruin. It is both garden and home.

January 16, 2015

California Confirms Chief of Technology Services Office

Davood Ghods helps spearhead state consolidation and cloud computing efforts.

January 15, 2015

Minnesota Names New State CIO

State IT veteran Tom Baden replaces departing CIO Carolyn Parnell.

January 14, 2015

Obama to Forge New Paths for Broadband Competition

In a preview of the president's upcoming State of the Union, Barack Obama told of how he will encourage municipal competition in the broadband marketplace.

January 14, 2015

State HIXes Struggle to Find Financial Model

Most states running their own health insurance exchanges will fail to meet a deadline this month, highlighting a lack of financial planning around the president's controversial health insurance program.

January 13, 2015

5 New Civic-Minded Startups Join Tumml for 2015

Tumml, the San Francisco-based accelerator, chose startups focused on politics, transportation and food services for its current four-month program.

January 13, 2015

Photo of the Week: Germ-Zapping Robot Uses Pulsed UV Technology to Disinfect

This germ-zapping robot from San Antonio-based Xenex uses pulsed ultraviolet technology to disinfect hospital rooms to help control infection.

January 9, 2015

NYC Sets Record for 311 Contacts

It's not the gritty New York City of the '70s, but rats, graffiti and potholes are mainstays in 2015.

January 7, 2015

NYC Lifts School Cellphone Ban

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's ban on cellphones in New York City schools has been lifted.

January 7, 2015

LAPD Buys Camera-Connected Tasers

One of the largest municipal police forces in the nation is building a connection between weapon and camera.

January 6, 2015

Photo of the Week: Pillars of Creation also Pillars of Destruction?

New high-definition Hubble image of the Pillars of Creation suggests the pillars are also Pillars of Destruction.

January 6, 2015

Texas CIO Karen Robinson Officially Retires

Deputy Executive Director Todd Kimbriel is now serving as the state's interim CIO.

January 6, 2015

Philly, Residents Co-Create City Website

The city of Philadelphia has released a prototype of its next website that's hoped to be a collaborative effort with citizens.

December 30, 2014

Will More Powerful Large Hadron Collider Go Beyond the God Particle?

After two years of being upgraded, the LHC will start back up in 2015 -- and scientists hope it can make more crucial discoveries.

December 23, 2014

Google Unveils ‘Goofy’ New Self-Driving Car

Before it can legally operate without a human driver, the dainty two-seater must obtain government approval.

December 22, 2014

2014: The Year in GovTech News

Because the open data movement is one of the most influential in technology and government today, the GovTech editorial team assembled some data of its own.

December 22, 2014

Is a New N.C. IT Agency a Wise Investment?

The state's new IT agency would have broad authority to avoid redundancy, reject waste and enforce consistent quality standards.

December 19, 2014

Travel Updates Go Mobile in Indiana

The state's travel advisory app includes weather updates and notifications on flooding, hazardous materials spills and other issues that could affect travel conditions.

December 18, 2014

Can a New Map Simplify Parking in Chicago?

This new tool, made possible by open data, could also be used to help people decide where to live.

December 16, 2014

Using Sensors to Monitor Foot Traffic During the Holidays

Sensor data can help city planners and businesses optimize their operations, and one Danish city is attempting to do just that this holiday season.

December 16, 2014

Tom Schenk is Chicago's New Chief Data Officer

In September, the city filled it's chief data officer position as opportunities for efficiency and improved service delivery are uncovered.

Congress Partially Funds California's Early Warning Earthquake System

One senator said the $5 million is a down payment on a long-term purchase for the state's earthquake early warning system.

Florida Makes Interim CIO Jason Allison Permanent

Florida's interim CIO Jason Allison impressed enough people to turn the job into something more permanent.

Photo of the Week - BPG Image Format Challenges Traditional JPEG

Will Better Graphics Format oust the tried-and-true JPEG?

Apple, IBM Partnership Equals Big Data Analytics on iPhone, iPad

The two companies have released the first wave of IBM MobileFirst for iOS Apps, to help businesses and government redefine how work gets done.

December 12, 2014

Automotive Industry Creates 7 Rules to Protect Driver Data

A privacy policy set by major car manufacturers aims to shield consumers and their driving data from exploitation by insurers and law enforcement.

December 11, 2014

Top 10 Smart City Tech Suppliers

New research identifies IBM and Cisco as top vendors in the $8.8 billion smart city market, expected to hit $27 billion by 2023.

December 10, 2014

FirstNet CTO Ali Afrashteh Resigns

FirstNet lost another key member of its leadership this month.

December 5, 2014

$6.4 Billion to be Spent on Civic Tech in 2015, Report Says

New analysis says the rise of the civic tech market has grown roots, and its growth with be 14 times faster than traditional government IT spending at the state and local levels.

December 4, 2014

Minnesota CIO Carolyn Parnell to Step Down

After nearly four years with the state, Parnell is moving on.

December 3, 2014

New York State Appoints New CIO

Maggie Miller, former CIO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, will make New York state her eighth CIO position.

December 2, 2014

Photo of the Week - Meet the Original Batmobile

The earliest known, officially licensed Batmobile from 1963 was custom-built from the ground up, and is now up for auction.

December 2, 2014

Feds Grab Google Talent to Fight Poverty

The U.S. Agency for International Development hires Ann Mei Chang, Google's former senior engineering director, to confront poverty with tech solutions.

December 1, 2014

2014: The Year in Data

Trends and priorities from the top digital states, cities, counties and public-sector websites at a glance.

November 25, 2014

Teri Takai Taking New Roles in Private Sector

After more than a decade of serving as a public IT professional, Teri Takai is back in the private sector.

November 25, 2014

Photo of the Week - Underwater Robot 3-D Maps Antarctic Sea Ice

The SeaBED robot's upward-looking sonar allows it to measure and map the underside of sea ice floes.

November 25, 2014

Regulators Worry Hackers Have Learned to Hijack Cars

Car makers and regulators see a rising threat in automobile hacking.

November 21, 2014

San Diego Hires its First Chief Data Officer

The Southern California city is making an investment in the future of open data.

November 21, 2014

America's Most Digital Cities: A Quick Look

Check out our infographic to get a quick glance at the 2014 Digital Cities Survey's top cities and biggest trends.

November 18, 2014

Photo of the Week - Luminescent Stones Light Up Netherlands' New Bicycle Path

On Nov. 12, Studio Roosegaarde in the Netherlands unveiled its new bicycle path, which makes cycling in the dark a little bit safer, while also introducing an artistic element.

November 18, 2014

Snyder, Banahan, Nutter Named 2014 Public Officials of the Year

Governing magazine honored nine individuals for their continued commitment to public service, their remarkable leadership and their innovation -- with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Kentucky Kynect's Carrie Banahan and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter among them.

November 18, 2014

NYC Unveils Free Gigabit Speed Wi-Fi Network

City officials ready to deliver free Wi-Fi services to millions of residents and visitors across New York's five boroughs.

November 13, 2014

Ebola Online Training Prepares Health-Care Workers

Universities help with an online training module project that demonstrates ways to protect health-care workers.

November 11, 2014

Photo of the Week - Sensor 'Fish' Measures Journey Through Hydroelectric Dams

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Sensor Fish provides data to design fish-friendly hydropower facilities.

November 7, 2014

FBI Pushes Lawmakers for Greater Surveillance

Despite citizen mistrust, FBI director calls for legislation to widen authority on agency surveillance efforts.

November 6, 2014

Want to Petition the President? There's an App for That

OK, not quite. But an API released in October now allows developers to create apps and websites that can send petition signatures to the White House for official response.

November 5, 2014

Can Technology Improve Policing?

New survey results show that citizens want more technology in the hands of law enforcement.

November 4, 2014

Los Angeles Unified CIO Resigns

Following a troubled software launch and the resignation of the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent, the district also has lost its head of technology.

November 4, 2014

Photos of the Week - Virgin Galactic Crash: Is Space Travel Still Worth the Risk?

Though founder Richard Branson says yes, some investors are unsure and have requested refunds for their flights.

October 30, 2014

What Will CIO Priorities Look Like in 2015?

State CIOs voted on their top priorities for the coming year, reflecting little change from the past few years.

October 29, 2014

Unclassified White House Networks Hacked

The process hackers follow to infiltrate an organization has been called a Kill Chain, and security teams must find a way to detect and break this sequence of events.

October 24, 2014

NYPD Equips Officers With Biometric Smartphones

A new $160 million program will track police officers via GPS and give every officer a mobile fingerprint scanner.

October 23, 2014

Microsoft Opens its Incubator 'Garage' to Public

New free apps are available to Windows Phone and Android users.

October 21, 2014

Massachusetts Signs $50 Million MMIS Contract

The renewed contract will allow Hewlett-Packard to assist in the transformation of health care in the commonwealth.

October 20, 2014

Former Hawaii CIO Sanjeev "Sonny" Bhagowalia Returns to Feds

On Oct. 20, Bhagowalia began his position as deputy assistant secretary and CIO of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

October 15, 2014

Arkansas CTO Claire Bailey Resigns

Bailey has worked for the state since 1991 and was appointed in 2006 to oversee the cabinet-level IT agency serving $89 million in services to more than 440 public-sector customers.

October 14, 2014

Photo of the Week - Locking Down Cyberspace

The Michigan Cyber Range offers educational courses and exercises to strengthen public- and private-sector cyberdefenses.

October 13, 2014

Mayors to Convene in Louisville to Meet on Entrepreneurship

More than three dozen mayors will be in Kentucky to discuss entrepreneurship in general and the “Maker Movement” in particular.

October 8, 2014

Feds Launch Investigation into West Virginia Fiber Project

The U.S. Commerce Department’s inspector general is investigating whether Frontier Communications padded invoices with unnecessary costs while building a network paid for with federal stimulus funds.

October 8, 2014

California, Google Partner to Map Trails and Parks

A partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation means Google's latest addition to Maps and Street View includes more than 20 trails in 14 state parks.

October 8, 2014

Crowdsourcing History: Oregon Locals Launch Database of Historic Properties

ViewHistorical.com launched in early October, starting with about 800 photos of about 150 locations in the founders’ hometown.

October 2, 2014

Police Use Drone in Search for Missing University of Virginia Student

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly asking the FAA for special permission to use aerial drones in their searches for missing people.

October 1, 2014

Report: Rising Cybersecurity Budgets Still Not Enough

The 2014 Deloitte-NASCIO Cybersecurity study shows what many state chief information security officers already know -- the landscape is fraught with evolving challenges.

California Enacts Student Data Protection Law

In reaction to Google's controversial use of student data in its Apps for Education suite, California passes one of the most aggressive student privacy laws in the nation.

Research: How to Eliminate 90 Percent of Vehicle Traffic

A new computer simulation foreshadows the future of urban road travel.

Photo of the Week - Mantis Shrimp Inspire Cancer-Detecting Sensors

Australian researchers have created sensors inspired by the eyes of mantis shrimp -- which can see cancers inside the body.

Do You Think Like a State CIO?

Results of the NASCIO 2014 State CIO Survey show a fast-moving IT landscape, a lot of big IT projects, and leaders who are doing their best to keep up.

September 29, 2014

North Carolina Names its First Chief Digital Officer

Erik Ross will hold the chief digital officer position while also leading the state's Innovation Center.

September 26, 2014

Two California Cities Plan for Year of Coding

West Sacramento and Vallejo will focus on health, and engagement between citizens and law enforcement, respectively

September 23, 2014

Code for America Summit 2014 Goes Off the Record?

Neither tweets nor coverage was prohibited, but but the live stream of the summit went off the air.

September 23, 2014

TechAmerica Axes Top Government Representative

The technology lobbying group has fired Mike Hettinger after only nine months on the job.

September 22, 2014

San Diego Judge Tentatively Rules Against Access to License Plate Records

A citizen's request for police data gleaned from scanning his license plates may be denied on the grounds they are exempt from the California Public Records Act.

September 22, 2014

Tacoma, Wash., Struggles with Text Message Retention

Saving mobile communications from personal devices is a challenge for the Pacific Northwest city.

September 19, 2014

U.S. CIO Steven VanRoekel Steps Down to Work on Ebola Response

VanRoekel will use his technology background to help coordinate efforts to control the West Africa outbreak.

September 18, 2014

Oracle CEO Shifts Gears at 70

Oracle Co-Founder and CEO Larry Ellison is taking a more peripheral role as he rolls out his successors.

September 18, 2014

FirstNet Releases RFI, Budget

Announcements by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) show progress at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

September 17, 2014

Bloomberg Awards $11.6 Million to European Cities

The second installment of Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayor's Challenge moves to Europe to accelerate civic solutions for five cities.

September 15, 2014

White House Announces Latest Presidential Innovation Fellows

These 27 civic-minded innovators will help the federal government advance on issues such as big data and crowdsourcing.

September 12, 2014

DataSF Relaunches After Open Data Strategy Update

San Francisco is doubling down on open data with a simplified data portal aimed at fulfilling strategic plans.

September 9, 2014

Photo of the Week: Bacteria Creates Vivid Colors in Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring

In summer, the rim of the spring tends to be orange and red in color, and dark green in winter.

September 3, 2014

Public-Sector CIOs Make Top 20 List to Follow on Twitter

Picked by I-CIO, a digital platform for global IT thought leadership from Fujitsu, the list includes public- and private-sector executives from the U.S. and abroad.

September 3, 2014

Old Smartphones Detect Poachers in Cameroon

For conservationists protecting African rainforests, old smartphones serve as their ears.

Photo of the week - Living in a Sea of Smartphones

For the Queen of England, being greeted with a sea of smartphones everywhere she goes feels strange. Whether President Barack Obama feels the same is unknown.

How Digital Are States in 2014?

The top trends, priorities and widely-adopted initiatives in state government IT according to the 2014 Digital States Survey.

White House to Name Google's Megan Smith as New CTO

The leader of Google's innovation research arm will soon lead technology projects alongside the president.

Federal CTO Todd Park Shifts Roles

Once back in Silicon Valley, federal CTO Todd Park will begin his role as a technology adviser to the White House.

August 28, 2014

California Legislature Approves Drone Regulation

A measure that regulates law enforcement use of drones was passed by California lawmakers and now awaits the decision of Gov. Jerry Brown.

August 26, 2014

Colorado Names New Chief Technology Officer

With a decade of experience leading technical teams in health care, Colorado's new CTO -- David McCurdy -- will try his hand at public service.

August 26, 2014

Photos of the Week - NASA's 'Swarmies' Could Explore Alien Worlds

Equipped with just a few instruments, each swarmie would play a role in a group of robots controlled centrally by engineers.

August 26, 2014

Washington State Eyes Second Round of IT Consolidation

After a major merger of IT functions in 2011, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing further consolidation.

August 25, 2014

Utah Legislature Receives Online Democracy Award

For the second time in nine years, Utah is recognized for legislative transparency.

August 22, 2014

Report: Federal CTO Todd Park to Step Down

Appointed in 2012, Park came to the role with a reputation for health-care innovation.

August 21, 2014

Bloomberg Invests $45 Million In Civic Innovation

More than 80 cities will have a chance to tap into the talent and coffers of Michael Bloomberg's philanthrophic organization.

August 21, 2014

Former Adviser to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson Joins e.Republic

Energy and sustainability expert Julia Burrows will lead the Washington, D.C.-based Governing Institute.

August 20, 2014

Los Angeles Names First Chief Data Officer

Selecting a former Code For America co-director could indicate a desire from Los Angeles to become more innovative.

How Has Obamacare Affected Californians?

An interactive data visualization tries to answer that question, and highlights health-care trends and statistics resulting from the Affordable Care Act.

Photo of the Week - Octopus Skin inspires Color-Changing Camouflage Tech

This new technology allows a material to automatically read its environment and adapt to mimic its surroundings.

Study Predicts Five-Year Spike in Adoption of Network-Connected Devices

The Internet of Things should continue to expand at a high rate through 2019, research from Accenture Interactive has revealed.

Indiana App Upgraded to Aid Job Seekers

The Indiana Office of Technology has released an upgraded version of the state’s mobile application to make it easier for job seekers to browse open positions.

August 15, 2014

NYC Selects 20 Civic Apps for BigApp Challenge

City officials and tech leaders select finalists for more than $100,000 in prize winnings.

August 14, 2014

Los Angeles Launches Wi-Fi in Six Parks

New hotspots are branded as "Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi."

August 12, 2014

Photo of the Week - August Supermoon as Seen Around the Globe

Photographers around the world came out to capture the event.

August 12, 2014

Is Uber Playing Dirty with Competitors?

A competing company cites evidence that Uber is engaged in dirty practices to usurp the ride-sharing market.

August 12, 2014

Is the Pennsylvania Education Department Deleting Public Data?

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has been cleansing its computer system of emails, in what could be a violation of its own policy.

August 8, 2014

California Close to Mandating Smartphone Kill Switches

The California Assembly approved legislation requiring new smartphones to have a kill switch.

August 7, 2014

San Jose, Calif., Grabs $1 Million for Tech Projects

Funding from the Knight Foundation will support a new series of volunteer tech projects for California's city of San Jose and Santa Clara County.

August 7, 2014

California Bill Takes Aim at Wealthy Electric Car Buyers

Senate Bill 1275 puts an income eligibility restriction on the Golden State’s clean-vehicle rebates.

August 5, 2014

The Big Apple Launches its .NYC Domains

Joining the dot-coms and dot-orgs of the world, New York City launches dot-nyc on Aug. 8, and businesses and residents could begin reserving their chosen domains on Aug. 4.

August 4, 2014

California to Vote on Smartphone Kill-Switch (Again)

A California bill that would require smartphone makers to include functionality to remotely disable their devices in the event of theft is alive again in the capitol.

August 4, 2014

Time Warner Cable Launching Faster Internet in Six Markets

The company's new service, called TWC Maxx, follows network upgrades by competitors Google Fiber and AT&T.

August 1, 2014

Cybersecurity Bill Clears U.S. House of Representatives

A federal measure charges the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with developing a comprehensive preparation and response plan to address cyber-threats.

August 1, 2014

Sacramento County, Calif., Admits Use of Surveillance Tech

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department has been using surveillance devices to collect cellphone location data.

July 31, 2014

Smart Cities on the Rise, Report Says

According to a new report, the number of smart cities is expected to increase four fold over the next 11 years.

July 29, 2014

Photo of the Week - HI-SEAS Crew Completes 'Mission to Mars'

Beginning in late March, six people remained locked in a remote habitat for four months. The goal? To understand what it's like to live on the Red Planet.

July 29, 2014

Will Pennsylvania Regulate Drones Used for Hunting?

State lawmakers are considering a ban on aerial drones that aid hunters in their pursuit of game.

July 24, 2014

Weird Al has Lampooned the Jargon in Your Strategic IT Plan

See how Weird Al set your strategic IT plan to music in this new whiteboard video.

July 23, 2014

Atlanta Announces New IT Commissioner

Mayor Kasim Reed today announced Samir Saini as the permanent replacement for interim Commissioner Michael Dogan.

July 22, 2014

Photo of the Week - Great Barrier Reef Faces Extreme Danger

Coastal development, farm run-off and poor water quality threaten the largest coral reef system in the world.

July 21, 2014

Washington D.C. Launches Open Data Policy, FOIA Portal

The district also reveals plans to hire its first chief data officer to direct transparency efforts.

July 18, 2014

NYC to Release 135 Data Sets by 2014

The data sets are intended for use by citizens, businesses, non-profit groups and entrepreneurs, and complement the city’s current archive of more than 1,300 data sets.

July 17, 2014

FBI Says Autonomous Vehicles Could Be Lethal Weapons

Self-driving cars are expected to hit the roads soon, and the FBI is trying to predict what new dangers they may present.

July 17, 2014

Seattle Considering Municipal Broadband

After a botched partnership with startup Gigabit Squared, the city of Seattle is keeping its options open for future broadband efforts.

July 16, 2014

San Diego Paves Way for Increased Transparency

In early July, a San Diego city council committee unanimously approved an open data policy and the hire of a chief data officer.

July 15, 2014

Pennsylvania Launching Giant Cloud

After years of unifying its data centers, Pennsylvania has awarded Unisys a contract that will bring them together into a hybrid cloud.

July 11, 2014

FCC Votes to Modernize E-Rate

The Federal Communications Commission will redirect more than $2 billion to support Wi-Fi in schools.

July 11, 2014

MonkeyParking App Calls it Quits in SF ... For Now

Makers of an app that allow drivers to auction their parking spaces now face an uncertain future in San Francisco.

July 9, 2014

W. Va. Proceeds With Massive Computer Overhaul, Employees Struggle With the Switchover

The largest portion of West Virginia's new computer system is online, but despite training, bottlenecks and errors in processing are expected to occur.

July 8, 2014

Photo of the Week -- Predicting Floods From Space

Researchers use data from NASA's twin GRACE satellites to measure how much water was soaking the ground before the 2011 Missouri River floods, and could strongly predicted the flood five months in advance.

July 7, 2014

Data Shows How Morning Habits Affect Happiness

A new interactive study in New York and cities around the world shows analytic insights on morning habits and overall well being.

July 3, 2014

Philadelphia Hires New Chief Data Officer

Tim Wisniewski led projects like the Philly311 mobile app and myPhillyRising.com.

July 3, 2014

Microsoft Launches Transparency Center to Fight Mark Left By NSA

Foreign concern about NSA spying is affecting the cloud market, and Microsoft is fighting back.

July 2, 2014

5 Innovative Technologies in Use at the World Cup

New technologies are changing how the games are played and watched.

July 1, 2014

Photo of the Week -- German Researchers Create Elastic 'Invisibility Cloak'

Previously developed invisibility cloaks could hide objects from light, heat or sound -- but not touch. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have now changed that.

June 30, 2014

California Legalizes Bitcoin

Alternative forms of currency are now legal to use in California.

June 27, 2014

Using Predictive Analytics to Visualize 2014 World Cup Results

Predications of the winner are based on research that analyzed 40,000 matches, 45,000 ranking positions and geographic data for the team’s success in different locations.

June 26, 2014

Amazon Unveils City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge Winners

Four jurisdictions received and four developers won a total of $300,000 in company credit in AWS's inaugural challenge.

June 26, 2014

Addressing Cyberthreats and the Risks of a Changing Climate are Among DHS Goals

Quadrennial review highlights the five missions of the department and how they’ve evolved.

June 26, 2014

Supreme Court: No More Warrantless Cellphone Searches

A ruling by the Supreme Court brings some closure to a privacy battle that's far from over.

June 25, 2014

Local Entrepreneur to Take Reins as Boston CIO

After providing technology services to dozens of politicians, including the current president, Jascha Franklin-Hodge will use his talents to serve the city of Boston directly.

June 25, 2014

Google's Nest Takes Step Toward Becoming Central to Everyday Life

The smart-thermostat device maker is opening its platform so developers can turn the home-monitoring device into something greater.

June 23, 2014

New York and Chicago Libraries Loan Hot Spots like Books

New York Public Library President Tony Marx said the project is a way to “leak” the Internet in a more meaningful and pervasive way.

June 23, 2014

Google Plus is Here to Stay, Company Exec Says

Engineering chief David Besbris denies rumors that Google will shut down the social platform.

June 20, 2014

Awareness, Tech Projects are Top Crowdsourced Goals in Government, Study Says

Federal initiatives that link prizes to crowdsourced solutions show trends in government objectives and finances supporting them.

June 19, 2014

Lawmakers Introduce Bill That Would Protect Neutral Net

If passed, the Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 2014 could counteract the FCC's attempt at allowing Internet fast lanes.

June 18, 2014

Unanimous Vote Brings Tesla Closer to Sales in New Jersey

Tesla's fight to sell direct to consumers in New Jersey appears close to ending.

June 17, 2014

Photo of the Week -- Ice Sculptures that Rival Skyscrapers Found Beneath Greenland Ice Sheet

These skyscraper-sized blocks are formed as water beneath the ice refreezes and warps the surrounding ice upward.

June 17, 2014

Upgraded 'Ready Georgia' Emergency App Adds New Features

Georgia's emergency app re-release adds new functionality, including geo-targeted severe weather and emergency alerts.

June 16, 2014

Code for America Exec Joins GovDelivery, Founder Jennifer Pahlka Returns

Abhi Nemani leaves CfA to become the GovDelivery civic innovator in residence just as Founder Jennifer Pahlka returns from her year as the U.S. deputy chief technology officer.

June 16, 2014

State Court Overturns Local Ban on Cell Phones While Driving

North Carolina Supreme Court says Chapel Hill cell phone ordinance overreached.

June 16, 2014

8 Civic Tech Startups Join Tumml Accelerator

Civic minded startups enlist themselves in a four-month program to launch their companies that benefit city goers.

June 13, 2014

Massachusetts, Minnesota Among Top Tech States Ranked in New Economic Report

A report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation has ranked states based on economic and technological trends.

June 13, 2014

Boulder Eyes Challenge to Colorado Law Blocking City Broadband

City council will vote on November ballot measure affirming the right to create a citywide broadband network.

June 13, 2014

Feds Prepare to Make More Health Data Public

U.S. Senators are seeking tips from a variety of medical and insurance groups about how to make health data easier to use.

June 12, 2014

Pennsylvania School Buses Record Student Speech

A state law allows school districts to record audio inside buses for both disciplinary and security purposes.

June 11, 2014

Fi$Cal Nears Wave 1 Transition, Will Recruit for CIO Position

On July 1, the Financial Information System for California will begin its Wave 1 transition and cutover activities to combine 2,500 operations into a single financial management system.

Photo of the Week -- Two Solar Flares Erupt Within Two Hours

On June 10, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured two solar flares within 75 minutes of each other.

Seattle Hires IT Consultant as its New CTO

Seattle has found a replacement for recently departed CTO Erin Devoto.

Smartphone Parking on the Agenda in Bay Area Cities

Several Bay Area cities have for some time been piloting an electronic parking system that begins with sensors embedded in each parking space, and ends with a smartphone app.

Open SaaS for Open Government

NuData Enterprise is a new look at open data that allows government to use an Open SaaS approach to open-data initiatives.