In 2008, Sarah Rich graduated from California State University, Chico, where she majored in news-editorial journalism and minored in sociology. She wrote for for Government Technology magazine from 2010 through 2013.
Story Bellows, co-director of the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, discusses the city's FastFWD purchasing program.
By providing servers in an open source environment, GitMachines enables the creation of apps compliant with public-sector IT policies.
Elimination of paper billing process cuts clerical staff time by 18 hours a week.
The backup data center in Little Rock eliminates the need to outsource failover and recovery testing.
Idaho uses specialized software and printing technology to make Braille menus for restaurants across the state.
North Carolina and Philadelphia explore new methods to procure technology and award government contracts.
The new analytics tool developed by IBM allows the Police Department to pull public data from across city departments and outside sources to help stop crime before it happens.
The new mobile app JaxFerry tracks arrival and departure times for Jacksonville’s river ferry.
Tolva plans to depart from Chicago city government on Nov. 1 to pursue opportunities with the private sector.
The city plans to grow its workforce and improve gigabit connectivity for institutions like public schools and universities.
The nonprofit’s fellowships may only last a year, but the goal is to build a sustainable community of civic innovators.
The open data platform supports cross-jurisdictional data free to government agencies and will benefit Code for America’s Brigade program.
The nonprofit’s fourth annual summit brought leaders in civic engagement together to discuss innovation and how it can be executed in public sector.
The LAPD is piloting sophisticated mapping technology for better situational awareness during large-scale events.
Tweets about the Bryan PD shed light on law enforcement protocols and a day in the life of an officer.
Government Technology takes a look at airport Wi-Fi networks in the U.S. that pass and fail on providing free and fast Wi-Fi connectivity.
Mobile tickets purchased on the GoPass app change colors to indicate the status of the ticket.
The technology allows police officers to decide if they want to be tracked via their department-issued cellphones.
The city expects significant savings from a new workforce management system that allows city employees to log hours at their offices and remotely on city-issued mobile devices.
Mount Dora’s new on-site appliance for disaster recovery has the potential to connect to a hybrid cloud from an off-site vendor.
A new survey released by Cisco showed that most IT decision-makers want to invest in cybersecurity within the next year despite shrinking budgets.
The Twitterverse, and much of the country, weighed in on the bumpy launch of health insurance exchanges on Tuesday, as many sites saw downtime from spikes in site traffic.
The new SMS emergency alert notification system was integrated into a similar system built in-house by the university.
Confused about whether you qualify for health-care and government tax credit subsidies? Two new online tools help users calculate their eligibility.
The expanded video infrastructure will assist with claims investigations connected to alleged staff misconduct.
The White House launched three new tools to help accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment on federally owned property.
Through Ideation Nation, a five-week nationwide contest, the public can submit ideas on how to improve citizen and government interaction.
Aneesh Chopra, the first-ever federal CTO, says the evolution of application programming interfaces (APIs) will continue to open up government data in accessible, machine-readable formats.
According to North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, e-notaries simplify the notarization process while upholding current state laws and standards.
The Snohomish County, Wash., 911 center adopted an online training tool that can integrate multiple forms of media into a course.
A new study reports that the majority of data center outages in the public and private sectors are caused by battery failure, but respondents said most outages could have been prevented.
NYC 311+ allows users to write reviews on the conditions of government services and rate them based on a five-star scale.
San Carlos, Calif., officials hope the wireless sensor technology used in their smart parking pilot project could be expanded to other municipal infrastructure.
An email notification that the city's domain registration was expiring never made it to the Inbox of city IT staff.
The U.S. Navy selected Modus Operandi to begin developing crowdsourcing situational awareness software that leverages data from social media.
The Texas Juvenile Justice Department follows numerous security compliance regulations when transporting data on the 1,200 youths it oversees.
The California Board of Equalization launched a redesigned website that emphasizes simpler processes for filing taxes and paying fees.
Experts claim assistive technology for the blind has entered into the mainstream with the help of mobile devices like iPhones and portable Braille readers.
The Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) and the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) integrated their facial recognition systems, providing a more comprehensive resource for criminal investigations.
The Utah myCase portal, a self-service account management system for public assistance benefits, is now in use by nearly 90 percent of eligible citizens.
The state's Department of Agriculture adopted a Web-based system to conduct inspections of anhydrous ammonia facilities and nurse tanks.
The Madison, Wis., Police Department takes a CSI approach to extracting evidence from mobile devices.
The deployment of Danville’s microwave emergency responder network satisfied the FCC’s narrowbanding mandate.
The county also plans to expand free Wi-Fi access to the 11 parks with technology centers and three additional parks adjacent to public libraries.
When city-owned computers are no longer usable, Portland, Ore., nonprofit Free Geek refurbishes the units for local schools and other community organizations.
Idaho CTO discusses the state's core IT and expanding the Idaho Education Network.
Former Manor, Texas, CIO Dustin Haisler says governments can better connect business processes for more efficient civic engagement.
Government agencies are starting to embrace the power of big data, but Deloitte executive Bill Briggs says understanding and utilizing predictive analytics is key.
ASK DC allows victims of sexual assault and dating violence to report incidents and find available community resources.
Longmont's Department of Public Works and Natural Resources will integrate city road data into asset management technology to predict future road maintenance needs.
The Muscogee County, Ga., School District uses palm scanning technology in its high school lunchrooms to simplify meal purchases.
The city and county’s IT collaboration team agreed to jointly deploy Google Apps for Government.
Tulsa, Okla.’s new CIO talks about his future plans for the city.
During Gigtank Demo Day in Chattanooga, Tenn., Ethernet inventor Bob Metcalfe said increased Internet speeds will continue to create disruptions in sectors like energy, education and health care.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York City is offering a new solution for cash-only customers to pay bridge and tunnel tolls.
The automated information services system with voice recognition capability reduced incoming calls to the Stanislaus County Jail by 80 percent.
The 40-bus fleet will have traffic signal priority – technology that communicates with traffic signals to give the buses an extended green light.
The US&R Rescue Specialist Certificate program through Texas A&M provides responders with advanced training on urban search and rescue.
The partnership is expected to help Philadelphia carry out strategic goals relative to technology.
Nine states still lack comprehensive laws banning texting while behind the wheel.
The expansion of transportation data could help developers create new apps for traveling more efficiently in the state.
A new help desk attraction helps fairgoers learn about QR codes, Facebook, Twitter and other social media websites.
Full-text search software helps Oklahoma State Courts Network retrieve text from legal documents faster.
Fiber to the Home Council Americas asks the FCC for matching grant program to help communities develop gigabit networks.
Using interactive touchscreens, patients at a Miami VA medical center can not only receive care from staff, but also watch movies, television and educational videos.
A new map from the U.S. Energy Information Administration displays information that predicts the path of hurricanes along with GIS data on energy infrastructure, allowing those in the energy industry to keep an extra close watch on natural disasters as they unfold.
The EPA can wipe data from a hard drive if a laptop goes missing and reallocate software licenses to avoid compliance penalties.
Melrose, Mass., serves as host for shared IT infrastructure in a multi-tenant cloud environment.
Yelp reviews about government agencies, much like restaurants and shops, show a range of positive and negative opinions
After human bones and skulls of unidentified individuals undergo CT scans, forensic artists use imaging software to re-create what a person may have looked like.
Through GPS and a mobile app, the city can track workers in the field for increased visibility and safety.
The networking tool may not carry much weight, according to government and industry experts.
HP's new EliteBook accommodates older and newer infrastructure, but usability with the Windows 8 OS falls short.
A new partnership will help San Francisco utilize shared resources in the event of an emergency.
Los Angeles' smart parking system adjusts pricing for parking spaces using an algorithm based on supply and demand.
Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission receives the award, named for Bullock, a former Texas politician.
The new service reduces both incoming 311 calls questioning the public bus schedule and costs.
Training gives first responders an edge when dealing hazardous materials.
The city is currently developing an office of innovation, and plans to hire a chief innovation officer and an analyst.
A local police department in Minnesota is deploying technology that puts any unauthorized mobile device onboard the vehicle into a blocked mode when the vehicle is moving at 1 mph or higher.
For increased security and control, Fresno, Calif., chose on-premise file storage over a cloud-based environment, and plans to roll the system out across the enterprise.
The test program equips SWAT officers with computers and cameras so when out in the field, trauma surgeons can help them respond to critical injuries.
Wake County, N.C., EMS classes allow students to answer questions electronically so responses display in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
Facebook, Twitter and a preparedness website helps the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management reach citizens during an earthquake preparedness exercise.
The new Innovation Center will help improve and modernize the state’s IT systems.
On the whole, analysts favor the new guidelines outlined in the president’s new open data policy -- and how the policy was announced.
Using an easy-to-learn workflow system, the town eliminates paper and increases productivity.
Tipp City, Ohio, deploys an add-on feature to its existing email archiving platform in order to capture social media posts.
Palo Alto, Calif., CIO Jonathan Reichental says making data available to the community is possible even when professionals and resources are limited.
The city of Pittsburgh overlays Tableau Software with its 311 operations to generate more accurate performance reports.
Palo Alto, Calif., CIO Jonathan Reichental says that despite the recent open data trend, governments have always been responsible for liberating data.
The Des Moines, Iowa, Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority connects employees on a platform that combines social media with asset management tracking.
Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., are poised to make the most of their status as Google's first Gigabit city.
The bike counter will soon be installed on one of the city’s busiest streets for bike traffic.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) held a public workshop in Sacramento to find out what factors should be considered when developing autonomous vehicle regulations.
The new advanced smart metering program sends meter data across a secure Wi-Fi channel while also providing free Wi-Fi access to the public.
A new e-book by Michigan Chief Security Officer Dan Lohrmann addresses issues and solutions surrounding bring your own device (BYOD) in any enterprise environment.
The revamped Centennial Library provides digital signage touchscreens as interactive card catalogs, 60 virtualized computers, Wi-Fi and other new tech features.
After rumors surfaced of gigabit speed to come to Austin, Texas, Google announces that the fiber project is official.
GovDelivery CEO Scott Burns says cross-promotion, leveraging multiple channels and going (more) mobile can improve alert notifications to constituents.
MyLA311 provides mashup of the city's social media updates, locates local attractions and maintains a traditional 311 reporting component.
This summer, the California Technology Agency will unveil the "myMap” tab, which lets citizens build personalized GIS maps through a mashup of data.
San Antonio, Texas-based municipal utility CPS Energy will operate on an open IPv6-based networking platform to improve smart grid solutions.
Ashley Z. Hand looks to engage citizens with the Challenge Cabinet and connecting schools to resources.
Law enforcement connects and shares thoughts about what wearing a police badge really means.
Myfreetaxes.com lets low- and moderate-income citizens file state and federal taxes for free, avoiding fees for professional tax preparation.
A streamlined online process allows new hires in Pennsylvania state agencies to complete orientation more quickly and efficiently.
The DHS plans to digitize all benefit eligibility form types and phase out paper file storage.
Government transparency nonprofit Sunshine Review awards the most transparent government websites.
The "JaxHapps" app lets users view information for sports, cultural and music events.
The five winning programs use IT in an innovative way to enhance government operations, provide a more open and transparent government, and deliver impactful citizen services.
Through the partnership, the Florida county plans to roll out predictive analytics, improve transportation and utilize intelligent policing.
Chief Technical Architect, Utah
A 24-hour Tweet-a-Thon next month invites police agencies to share tweets to help create awareness about their work.
Dell executives say migrating to tablet devices means more than considering the devices themselves.
With less than a month on the job, Ashley Z. Hand is gearing up for what lies ahead.
The fireside hangout sparked conversations about science, technology, engineering and math, as well as software patents.
With mobile users expected to increase by an additional 1 billion and mobile devices to hit 10 billion by 2017, governments will surely be impacted.
License 123 pulls San Francisco business licensing and permitting information onto a single website.
Location-based crime data that tracks crime patterns will be shared across Philadelphia law enforcement and fire departments using Esri software.
Florida Department of Children and Families’ abuse hotline tech overhaul improves response times from child protective service investigators handling reported cases.
Intel futurist Brian David Johnson says cloud computing and big data represent the future of technology in government.
The city saves almost $15,000 annually on utility costs from simply reducing PC energy consumption.
Thought leaders gathered in Mountain View, Calif., to discuss innovative methods for creating social change.
LinkedIn Co-Founder Reid Hoffman discusses the importance of networking for professionals in all sectors.
Zito’s professional experience and lessons learned on the field can be applied to the public sector.
At The Intersection event on Jan. 19, Gratitude Awards finalists showcased social action projects focusing on education and math.
Bankrobbers.fbi.gov displays the perpetrator's photos and descriptive information, and the crime location.
The new partnership also calls for the standardization of health score data nationwide.
Members of the council will give recommendations to Mayor Rahm Emanuel on how to integrate minorities into the city’s technology economy.
Boston releases a request for information to upgrade nearly 2,200 fire alarm boxes in the city with more modern technology.
Libraries, zoos and other public-sector agencies use Pinterest to engage with the public.
During the Jan. 10 #GTonHIX TweetChat, experts discuss the benefits of and potential efficiencies in creating state-run health insurance exchanges.
Chicago decides it’s time to get out of the “email business” to free up resources and focus on the city's data initiative.
By entering a ZIP code in the web tool, a Google map is generated to show the locations of services like HIV testing sites, health centers and substance abuse clinics.
Later this year, the New Mexico Department of Transportation will utilize 3-D modeling software for road and highway design projects across the state.
ChronoZoom chronicles nearly 14 billion years of history in an easily digestible format.
Website encourages online engagement for residents to submit feedback to the city.
Van Buren, Ark., uses GIS software and database technology that takes factors like population equality and compact shape into consideration for optimal boundary layouts.
The increase in cybersecurity attacks and threats sparks conversation among IT experts who are calling for a national cyberdoctrine.
Seattle, the University of Washington and broadband provider Gigabit Squared partner to bring “ultra-fast” broadband to city neighborhoods.
A look at the innovation trend that grew and took shape during 2012.
Virginia opossum road kill data has indicated what habitats the animals are associated with and if temperature plays a role in their activity.
To continue on the governor’s efforts to enhance the state, Cagigal wants to carry out eight action items to ensure that the state follows best IT practices.
In new Web video series, DMV Answer Man responds to California residents’ burning questions on driver information.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation launches Yellow Dot program and database to store emergency contact and medical information for state residents.
Combing sites like Craigslist helps the state identify illegal online advertising of unlicensed contractors.
Colorado may be the first state in the nation to launch a mobile-optimized format for its voter registration website, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Four cities take top rankings in the 12th annual Digital Cities Survey.
Though the Commercial Mobile Alert System fared well during superstorm Sandy, public awareness about the system must still be addressed.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Challenge tasked cities across the nation with creating inventive and innovative ideas that, once implemented, will benefit their community.
Michigan State University develops biometric tattoo recognition technology to match tattoo images with ones in an existing database.
Lightweight yet sturdy notebook PC resists dust, bumps and spills.
Raleigh, N.C., prepares for the future with broadband push and digital inclusion efforts.
Raleigh, N.C., expands fiber network and uses program to train residents for the IT workforce.
Two-way video-conferencing technology connects remote interpreters to hearings at Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.
New York City's first-ever Data Week included more than 100 panels and events related to data and big data, and their impact on the city.
New crowdfunding platform asks citizens to donate to local government projects.
The Center for Digital Government’s Cybersecurity Leadership and Innovation Awards recognize the efforts of government and education agencies to keep confidential data secure despite evolving threats.
Three U.S. cities are named as the Intelligent Community Forum’s top 21 intelligent communities for 2013.
New survey measures cost savings for Utah.gov online services.
To address rising homicide rates in Chicago, the city turns to Twitter for answers.
Centralized registry allows St. Louis residents with functional needs to be contacted by authorities during emergencies that may require evacuation.
Code for America fellows help develop BlightStatus, an app that improves transparency for the city’s blighted properties process.
Accelerator program incubates civic startups to develop products for local governments.
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office plans to implement technology that warns wrong-way drivers.
The state’s benefit exchange will meet the Affordable Care Act’s impending deadline for citizens to purchase health insurance.
At the 2012 Code for America Summit, Federal CTO Todd Park shared his ideas for bringing entrepreneurial energy into government.
Nine local governments will participate in next year’s Code for America program.
The Marin County, Calif., Fire Department pilots quick response codes that provide secure medical information about residents.
Proponents say cloud-based applications help at-risk and special needs students adhere to testing timelines prescribed by public schools.
Ray Lehr talks about the rollout of the statewide first responders radio system.
New interactive model may take financial transparency in a new direction.
The future of websites according to Best of the Web winners.
The Phoenix Street Transportation and IT departments' new site for the blind and visually impaired works with assistive technology so the text can be read out loud.
2012 Best of the Web winners share government website must-haves
Customers can pre-order the iPhone 5 on Friday.
Summer program generated innovative ideas for using gigabit Internet access.
The Maryland First Responders Interoperable Radio System Team (Maryland FiRST) is designed to solve interoperability problems.
Integration of cloud computing technology into five of Virginia’s 211 call centers helped residents get information they needed during a severe summer storm.
In time for the cold winter months, Dover, N.H., drivers will have the choice of carrying their own parking meters they can keep in the car.
Frederick County, Md., school buses will have cameras installed to catch drivers driving past when buses are at a stop.
The LouieStat program tracks government performance metrics to spot improvements.
Now that legislation for a nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety use is a reality, a board of directors has been chosen to oversee the project.
Google is offering up the application programming interface that powers its “Places” data as the basis for a new apps development challenge involving participants from around the world.
App developers left landlocked because the event’s boat was out of service.
Girls in Technology program takes young women off center stage and into behind-the-scenes theater production technology.
A partnership between Amazon and geographic software company Esri helped Douglas County, Neb., put GIS services in Amazon’s cloud.
Chesterfield County, Va., libraries challenges teens to go on the iHunt.
Program teaches California teens about the dangers of sexting and cyberbullying as well as how to report incidents.
San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services launches alternative emergency alerts for citizens who can’t understand traditional notifications.
New report shows how all 50 states fare in technology preparedness if electronic voting machines malfunction on Election Day — a factor that could impact voting results in swing states.
As technology evolves and standards for radio systems change, are siren alerts for tsunamis, tornadoes and other natural disasters a thing of the past?
To help protect law enforcement K9s in from overexposure to heat, police departments are using technology to help keep them cool.
The city will launch its open data platform Aug. 1.
A new Web application for requesting in-state criminal offender records information should pay for itself.
Pilot projects are being planned to test technical standards that would allow vehicles to immediately “tell” 911 call centers when there is a crash.
The FCC and industry executives discuss challenges associated with growing citizen demand.
Industry perspective on keeping computers and mobile devices protected during the summer.
Wi-Fi hot spots might make the old payphone relevant again.
Contract with digital signage vendor provides South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles offices with queue system and TVs.
Nearly 1.5 billion sheets of paper are used in local government legislative processes each year, according to an industry estimate.
Government Technology reviews four mobile apps that are all about the red, white and blue.
IBM researchers explain the need for big data in the public sector, calling it the “new natural resource.”
What new dating fad involves dirty T-shirts?
The New York City Housing Authority takes an ice cream truck approach to providing computer and broadband access to citizens with its Digital Van program.
Younger workers may not feel they have a big voice when it comes time to ask for permission to use iPhones at work or to make a suggestion about a hot new technology.
Government transparency organization develops phone service for users to call and learn about U.S. lawmakers, and develops Google Alerts-style features.
Notwithstanding last week’s news that millions of passwords were leaked, a recent GovTech survey indicates LinkedIn is the most widely used network in the government workplace.
Many government agencies already post video content to their official websites, but is specialized technology needed?
Colorado Information Marketplace links public data across the state’s agencies and gives users more options for accessing and viewing the data.
The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission modernized a tedious paper-based process.
How this Southern California city’s efforts to close the digital divide and attract employers landed it among the world’s technology elite.
As government agencies tackle the management of “Big Data,” industry executives suggest developing teams of specialists.
Solar-powered parking pay stations in the city of Lake Geneva, Wis., let drivers pay for parking by credit card and extend parking time via text message.
iElect helps users decide which presidential candidate is most compatible with their political beliefs.
Four Texas counties plan to use digital billboards to notify residents during emergency situations.
Streamlined website has potential to act as a single sign-on for the state government, officials say.
Cloud analyst and blogger Geva Perry addresses misconceptions about enterprise cloud adoption during the Citrix Synergy conference.
Citrix CEO Mark Templeton addresses the newest trends in mobility and cloud computing during the company’s annual conference.
Now that Nevada has officially licensed the first self-driving vehicle for testing on state highways, the state knows what regulations it takes to get the vehicles on the road.
Government Technology examines three cloud-based file storage offerings for their usability in government agencies.
As mobile devices become more popular, education leaders differ on when and if devices like iPads should be integrated into K-12 curricula.
New Web application allows users to search and bookmark court cases from the Charleston County, S.C., Circuit Court.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget is mulling several IT project proposals that are seeking seed money from the state’s new innovation fund.
New York Digital Health Accelerator seeks to attract startups to develop new digital health software applications for hospitals and health-care providers.
Gina Tomlinson speaks about the benefits of cloud deployment.
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is helping the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health with food truck inspections and more efficient prescription labeling for its pharmacies.
NASA’s two-day International Space Apps Challenge tries to solve some of the agency’s — and the world’s — biggest challenges.
Universities and organizations plan a nationwide car wash and bake sale to create public awareness about budget cuts to NASA’s planetary exploration program.
Service request app used by Plano, Texas, shows users the service requests already in progress.
What are a group of universities doing to raise money for NASA's budget for planetary exploration?
To prevent employers from asking employees and job applicants to surrender their social media user names and passwords, Maryland passes a bill to make the practice illegal.
FEMA’s new Commercial Mobile Alert System broadcasts emergency alert notifications to citizens’ cellphones based on location.
The Butte County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office announced that local judges now can sign off on search warrants with e-signatures.
San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Palo Alto are trying out the popular online platform, allowing citizens to rent workspace in city-owned facilities.
The Indiana State Police is testing a new Web app to assist with school bus inspections that are mandated by the state and federal government.
Teams from around the world gather at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., to enter robots in performance competitions.
In this Q&A, Chicago Chief Data Officer Brett Goldstein and his staff go in-depth about intercity collaboration, advanced data mining, standardized definitions and data cataloging.
After a year of piloting pavement spray technology, the Ohio Department of Transportation this month implemented the technology throughout a seven-county district.
Tucked 100 meters underground between the border of France and Switzerland is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), an instrument considered to be the largest particle accelerator in the world.
Although rare among public-sector employers, the practice has been known to happen.
The county passes a temporary ban on Internet cafes hosting casino-like games, a practice which may or may not be circumventing Florida gaming laws.
State Sen. Alex Padilla introduces legislation that would regulate testing of autonomous vehicles on California’s roadways.
CIO, Montana
CIO Academy panelists share tips for the new chief information officer.
Companies will be able to apply to test autonomous vehicles starting March 1.
The Obama administration wants to work with Congress to pass new privacy legislation.
Oregon’s government data website is the first of its kind, state officials say.
Multistate ID network will get advanced capabilities in upgraded system.
TechAmerica announces new recommendations for state and local government cloud computing deployments strategies at a Mountain View, Calif., press conference. State and local government IT officials share their successes and challenges of moving into the cloud.
The city’s tax dollar spending can now be viewed online through a new government transparency application.
The university deploys technology that enables students, faculty and staff to develop personal profiles containing that police can access during emergency response.
The weird and sometimes controversial items dispensed on public premises.
Digital literacy program teaches teens and young adults the skills necessary to use technology and teach others in their community about it.
Software for learning to speak a foreign language helps patrons and staff at the Wayne County, N.C., Public Library.
NYC is seeking outside help through an RFP for NYC.gov’s redesign.
Montana upgraded livestock brand re-recording process online after decades of gathering the records in paper form.
The Rochester, Minn., Police Department plans to implement IBM analytics software to help fight crime.
A bad score from a government watchdog prompted a Maryland department to launch an online finance tracking tool that makes data easier to find and read.
Louisville, Ky., now offers integrated crime alerts to the public in a retooled online crime map.
Local governments may look to state governments for shared cloud-computing services, creating regional community "cloud hubs.”
City government got a record amount of Web traffic when real-time map debuted.
YouTube modifies its terms of service agreement to better protect state government agencies.
Some are testing the market for government-specific social media consulting.
With flu season well under way, people no longer have to get their skin pricked.
For the first time nationwide, a “super Wi-Fi” network will operate in the white space spectrum.
Officials plan to install a weather tracking system to provide real-time updates to the county’s Emergency Operations Center and the public. Neighboring community North Zulch is already a step ahead.
The city of Los Angeles is planning to relaunch its official website and may perform a complete overhaul, the first since 1998, but first it’s testing a beta version of the site’s redesign.
Two webcams document construction work that’s critical for San Diego’s water supply.
The two vendors provide government-to-citizen communication solutions.
Tennessee is beginning to deploy a statewide next-generation 911 network after years of planning and saving.
Seattle releases RFI for building a tri-county wireless public safety network through a public-private partnership.
Stearns County encourages interaction and feedback from residents.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game relaunches website to include bear identification program with training and exams.
After requests for electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are submitted online, the city can use markup software to make changes.
The University of Georgia’s iPhone app lets users photograph and report sightings of invasive plants and animals seen in the Everglades.
In response to new transparency legislation passed in Massachusetts, the state launched what it’s calling a user-friendly transparency site with information on government spending.
Developers at San Francisco hackathon produce what may be a first-of-its-kind prototype of a legislative alert app that sends notifications via text message.
The North Carolina Digital Library consortium released e-books for online checkout available through Kindles.
Virginia launches a statewide Advance Health Care Directory Registry to allow residents to upload medical documents into a secure online repository.
Government social networking group hosts free lunch event in Washington, D.C., to thank public-sector employees.
North Dakota State University Extension Service launches Winter Survival Kit app to help drivers stranded in their vehicle during storms.
With one of the highest infection rates of tuberculosis in the country, King County, Wash., is enlisting technology to ensure that patients take their medication.
Rowan County, N.C., ambulances wirelessly transmit patient information to hospitals while en route.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn launches Foursquare account ahead of the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Majority of federal employees surveyed say telework progress is too slow in coming.
The Turlock, Calif., Irrigation District and law enforcement have located stolen vehicles from the district’s fleet with the assistance of fleet management technology.
What do Snoop Dogg, Drake and the West Virginia chief information security officer have in common?
Florida developed a permitting system to help protect gopher tortoises — and ended up stopping siloed applications.
Oregon officials learn lessons after citizens with disabilities use Apple’s tablet to vote in two special elections.
The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles and other states are finding that teens want an app rather than a paper booklet to help them pass their driver’s test.
Federal Voting Assistance Program awards $7 million to recipients that will implement technology enabling military and overseas residents to vote on time.
Course sharing and reduced costs are touted among the projected benefits for the four participating universities.
The Denali National Park and Preserve served as a test area for a propane-powered truck.
Gov. Brown orders transparency website shut down due to a lack of up-to-date information.
The city of Mukilteo, Wash., launches new website to help city staff and citizens view
The city of Seattle is working on a mobile app that drivers can use when paying for metered parking.
Tight budgets push transparency to the back burner as demand for financial and legislative data grows.
The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer is implementing software to protect the state’s $70.5 billion portfolio.
New Jersey Transit partnered with Google to provide a ticket payment option through a mobile app to avoid paying with cash or cards.
Business analytics firm Foresee Results releases third quarter citizen satisfaction report on federal government websites.
Monitoring system detected that 10 percent of Glendale’s street lights weren’t working properly or weren’t operating to industry standards.
The New York State Forum Inc. releases a starter kit for developing "communities of practice" in the public sector.
The company’s new service, SmartCloud Social Collaboration for Government, introduces social networking tools for public sector in a private cloud.
E-ticketing system pilot will reduce paper costs and process traffic tickets faster, officials say.
Law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma use event to troubleshoot and improve robots used by bomb squads.
The "Biggest Little City" to host 24-hour hackathon.
All open records requests made to the Iowa Governor’s Office are now posted on the office’s official website.
Last week’s bust of a worldwide credit card fraud ring reminds government that it too must be vigilant to protect payment information.
A federal grant will help overhaul application processing for county recipients of the CalFresh Program.
For many in government, the innovation Jobs inspired has changed how work gets done.
IN.gov draws more than 1 million registered users to receive digital updates on critical information from 82 of the state’s agencies.
Nevada County, Calif., leverages air quality grant funding for three pollution-reducing IT projects.
The California Department of Fish and Game takes a mobile website listing marine protected areas to the high seas.
To help inmates communicate with loved ones, the Pinellas County, Fla., Sheriffs Offices high-tech bus allows the public to video conference with the incarcerated without visiting the county jail.
Nissan is working to develop what brainy technology in a vehicle?
An IBM survey of 20 cities worldwide found that international cities far outpace New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago on “parking pain.”
Oklahomans have quickly discovered the state’s new SoonerCare enrollment system.
The Martinez, Calif., Police Department investigates suspects tied to child pornography with the assistance of a Wi-Fi testing tool.
To prepare for the Baltimore Grand Prix, the city integrated multiple agencies’ camera feeds onto a single platform.
State CTO Dan Lohrmann will lead new organization as Michigan’s Chief Security Officer.
Federal Highway Administration employee proposed a nationwide, centralized database for inventorying unused assets in government agencies so that they would be shared.
Counties that are able to use an online auction can save money and also generate more revenue, industry executive says.
Anderson, Ind., reduces fuel costs and improves efficiency with a new fleet management system that assists with the utility division’s 50-vehicle fleet.
New website part of New Orleans’ Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu’s push to create more government transparency.
Google’s new social media network might present a few hurdles for government agencies — at least for now.
After six years of using video conferencing technology, the Georgia Department of Public Health wants to test desktop-to-mobile device video service.
DWR’s next step is to migrate other departments within the state’s Natural Resources Agency to a shared services platform.
In 1988, Dr. Stephen Trokel was the first doctor to perform what surgery with the assistance of this technology?
Identity Finder Web search found documents exposing 300,000 Californians’ names and Social Security numbers.
More public-private collaboration and competitive contracting are on the industry group’s wish list.
Santa Cruz, Calif., Police Department uses algorithm to determine crime hot spots to assist with predictive policing.
Amazon Web Services cloud now complies with more federal government storage and security requirements, company announces.
Cities are finding that developing crowdsourcing initiatives in-house or outsourcing them to a third party yield different benefits.
At the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif., this technology saw first used in the Olympic Games. What was the technology?
County government Web services extend to animal lovers with services like online pet licensing and lost pet registration.
NYC BigApps contest announces 10 best ideas.
IBM unveils new software designed to help decision-makers forecast the consequences of actions that affect citizens.
The websites of rural law enforcement agencies across the country were hacked on Aug. 6 and 10 GB of sensitive data was posted online.
Cities in California are testing a device that detects when bicycles pass through a light-controlled intersection and gives them a few more seconds.
Checking a book out on a smartphone rather than at a counter is becoming a more common occurrence.
The federal government’s remaining data centers will house more applications and will need to provide more computing power.
The $255 million data center and office complex has taken heat for being too spacious, but officials say they may be able to lease out the extra room.
More than 50 Utah law enforcement agencies announced they would begin utilizing a system that allows the public to submit anonymous crime tips via texting, through a smartphone app or online.
But CHP official concedes a statewide e-citation system will have to wait until the California Court Case Management System is ready to store the ticketing data.
Budget agreement will require all IT staff from Minnesota’s 70-plus agencies to move to the state’s Office of Enterprise Technology.
York County, Pa., plans to verify the locations of more than 200 cell phone towers to ensure that 911 calls placed from mobile devices are accurately tracked.
Kiosks at the El Paso-to-Mexico bridges may present complexities, such as what forms of payment the kiosks will take and how they will be integrated into security checkpoints operated by U.S. Border and Customs Protection.
Reorganization is anticipated to save $10 million over a five-year period.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is the latest, assigning three project areas to test “quiet pavement” technology in an effort to reduce tire traffic noise on highways.
Harford County CIO would like the network to provide low-cost wireless connectivity to residents and free Wi-Fi access for business use.
The Houston Emergency Center is piloting a new alarm notification system that eliminates calls between alarm monitoring companies and the center.
Arlington County, Va., CIO Jack Belcher discusses the challenges and benefits of the county’s ongoing migration to Microsoft Office 365.
The Lee County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office implemented a new kiosk system to allow members of the public to deposit money into prison inmate accounts.
Sandy Springs, Ga., Police Department uses open architecture to integrate solutions from various vendors to improve public safety.
Apps for Metro Chicago is utilizing data across government levels and is offering developers technical assistance on the correct use of data sets.
State agencies will use a ranked scale of severity in security reports that officials hope will improve risk assessment.
The Rocky River Police Department in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, has linked data from bracelets to the county’s emergency communication system.
Noblis, a nonprofit science, technology and strategy organization, plans to put a Cray supercomputer in Danville, Va., with help from state government.
From the U.S. Census to NASA, to small towns and big city governments, IBM’s work with the public sector has changed the world.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the largest federal agency to choose Google for hosted e-mail services.
Virtualization and cloud storage adopted at Indiana University with the implementation of a “personal cloud.”
Miguel Gamino says 50 video phones in City Hall are part of a much larger IT efficiency plan in El Paso.
Private-sector study suggests that not all Internet service providers are included on the federal government’s National Broadband Map.
Chicago and Comcast team up to start program that will offer subsidized Internet connectivity and computers to students from qualified families in an effort that will be extended nationwide.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority beefs up its rail fleet with energy-efficient locomotives.
Public agencies are still half a generation away from moving mission-critical apps into the cloud, officials said.
Sixty-five percent of public-sector respondents indicated that there is confusion in their organizations about what constitutes cloud computing and virtualization.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says Mark Raymond’s expertise will help the state update its systems and operate more efficiently.
Michigan has been having a rough go lately, suffering two major computer outages in separate, unrelated incidents.
Officials said the portal has two new features not found on any other portal: Text4help and an e-government services geolocation widget.
Marysville, Wash., brushes up city employees on policy before relaunching Facebook and Twitter pages.
The California Superior Court plans to deploy 60 pens to 30 courtrooms to help clerks quickly process a large volume of misdemeanor cases.
The contract, valued at $1.2 million annually, will migrate the city and county’s 23,000 municipal employees onto Exchange Online
Philadelphia has set aside $120 million for technology upgrades over the next six years that will align with the open government goals.
An overwhelming amount of data was cited by public-sector executives as the main driver for increased complexity.
With so many devices featuring hard drives, security vulnerabilities abound.
More than 1 million Californians have created online identities to use DMV services.
With the CycleTracks app, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments wants bicyclists’ routes that the counties intend to use for planning purposes.
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s Web-based enrollment system for newborn health insurance is saving the state money.
The OpenCourt pilot incorporates digital video streams and live broadcasts into coverage of Quincy District Court in Massachusetts.
Scotts Valley, Calif., Police Department debuts its new electric motorcycle.
Boulder Valley School District completed a one-year rollout plan to implement power management software in 10,000 PCs to improve sustainable efforts and cut costs.
Minnesota town will capture geothermal energy to power curling facility.
The dashboard consolidates county information into an easy-to-use platform to keep citizens involved and proactive in their communities
Flushing, Mich., Police Department uses IP surveillance cameras to monitor areas that have been frequent crime targets.
U.S. Cyber Challenge works to develop cyber-security skills to meet the country’s work force needs.
In 2010, New York state’s Department of Taxation and Finance implemented an IBM analytics tool to help recover $83 million in delinquent taxes.
Kentucky Office of Homeland Security releases an iPhone app that mirrors the ‘Eyes and Ears on Kentucky’ website for reporting ‘suspicious activity.’
A nationwide coalition anticipates the standards will cover wait times for public computers, broadband access speeds and other related issues.
PDbot will assist police operations by delivering “throw phones” during hostage situations and providing live video feeds of incidents.
Carole Post is recognized at the New York State CIO Academy for leadership on data center consolidation and other initiatives.
North Carolina orthoimagery project will improve emergency services in 100 counties.
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance releases a comprehensive map that plots U.S. cities with publicly owned citywide wired networks.
Local California governments save money and time with IT outsourcing.
Mayberry-Stewart contributed to increased participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in technology procurements.
Inside the Blaine House is a 30-minute TV show prominently featuring Maine’s new outspoken governor.
One goal is to understand technology's role in state's economic development and recovery plan.
The Dallas Department of Intergovernmental Services, responsible for tracking millions of dollars in assets for various city departments, upgraded to bar-code technology to manage assets funded by homeland security grants.
Mecklenburg County, N.C., Health Department offers notifications of lunchroom, restaurant inspections.
An innovative example of crowdsourcing alerts iPhone app users when an emergency requires CPR within walking distance.
Now that the SMART platform for medical apps is public, developers are encouraged to design apps that benefit the field.
ProtectYourTexasBorder.com has put Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples — and the drug war — in the spotlight.
Communications-on-Wheels trailers to help first responders in the Sacramento, Calif., area unify radio communications.
User-contributed profiles assist emergency responders, particularly when citizens call from cell phones.
Maryland county plans include increased transparency and improved information sharing.
National Association of State Chief Administrators to provide white papers, webinars.
Pinellas County, Fla., to replace legacy court case management system with new software that includes single sign-on.
CIO, Charles County, Md.
Open records requests are forcing small cities to modernize their e-mail archiving software.
Many were recognized during an awards ceremony that capped the annual CIO Academy.
Rauzi’s appointment was to have ended in July.
High-speed rail authorities in New York, California and the Midwest laud White House proposal to invest $53 billion during a six-year period.
Utah doesn’t enforce a tobacco policy in apartments, but a five-county health department is providing an online map of smoke-free residences.
Baltimore’s new open data website adds social media and interactivity to the mix.
Web app competitions will broaden and more services will leverage open data are among the predictions from IDC Government Insights.
Local governments finding novel uses for QR-code technology.
Nebraskans may soon be able to conduct court-related activities in retail stores using a new Court Information Services Kiosk.
As the official start of winter nears, cities prepare for heavy snowfall by testing new technologies that assist with snow removal.
Just 14 months into his tenure, a mayoral transition is forcing CTO Bryan Sivak to look for work.
‘Cybercities’ report details negative job growth for private-sector IT industry.
The public can anonymously send text messages to report saltwater fishing violations on Alabama’s coast.
PolicyMap aims to make its Web-based platform a comprehensive system for loading and sharing data.
Fort Wayne, Ind., estimates it will save $2 million by giving recycling bins only to households that register for them online.
By automating the posting and monitoring of social media content, Catawba County has time to participate in new sites like Foursquare.
Virtual assistant to follow launch of 311 mobile application, according to Charlotte officials.
California tests a cheap video streaming and videoconferencing solution for internal communication, although no procurement is pending.
Several state agencies worked together on the Veterans Portal Advisory Committee to redesign portal that will help Texas veterans get information about benefits, education and employment.
Enterprise system tracks and reports problems in city parks.
Mid-term elections reveal need for more well defined backup procedures.
Online ticket service application helps municipalities get ticket revenue from concerts and sporting events more quickly.
Phased rollout of IBM analytics technology helps Clark County, Nev., Family Services improve regulatory compliance and generate new revenue, officials say.
Cloud computing and health-care IT are higher priorities as identified by state CIOs in 2011.
New York City kicks off second annual NYC BigApps 2.0 competition, doubles number of data sets available to citizen programmers.
