Authors

Theo Douglas

Staff Writer


Theo Douglas is a staff writer for Government Technology. His reporting experience includes covering municipal, county and state governments, business and breaking news. He has a Bachelor's degree in Newspaper Journalism and a Master's in History, both from California State University, Long Beach.

March 24, 2020

Maria MacGunigal

CIO, Sacramento, Calif.
June 3, 2019

California, CfA Food Stamps Partnership Set to Go Statewide

After deploying initially in San Francisco and then to other counties some two years ago, GetCalFresh has reduced the time to get benefits by 75 percent and driven up application rates.
March 26, 2019

Team LA County HR

Roozan Zarifian, CIO; Murtaza Masood, assistant director; Lisa M. Garrett, director of personnel
February 4, 2019

Bill Package Looks to Strengthen Data Protections in California

Five lawmakers introduced the “Your Data, Your Way” omnibus that will likely include four bills and a resolution aimed at stiffening the state's data privacy rules.

January 10, 2019

CES 2019: Muni Leaders Talk Education, Working with Citizens and Data

During panel discussions on building smarter communities and fostering innovation, officials from three cities talked about partnering with education and business, leveraging data and working with citizens and staff.
January 9, 2019

CES 2019: Latest in Muni Smart Lighting, Earthquake Warning, 5G

Officials from Las Vegas and Los Angeles discussed recent partnerships with tech firms that will take advantage of new technologies to boost public safety, reduce energy costs and expand urban communications.
January 8, 2019

CES 2019: Equity, Teamwork Key to Enabling 'Flying Taxis' in Cities

As Uber gets ready to pilot commercial aerial vehicles in 2023 in Dallas and Los Angeles, municipal officials said significant challenges confront all cities around transportation equity and solving underlying issues.
November 26, 2018

Sacramento, Verizon Push Pause on Kiosk Deal

Though plans to deploy interactive kiosks throughout the city are uncertain, the telecommunications company is still engaged in 5G deployment efforts in the area.
November 20, 2018

L.A. County to Launch Digital Harassment Investigation System

After spearheading sexual harassment, discrimination and equity investigations partially on paper and across two separate computer systems, Los Angeles County will launch a unified solution next year.
November 16, 2018

Kentucky's Newest C-Level Exec Will Guide IT Centralization, Data Work

Krishna Mohan Mupparaju, the Commonwealth Office of Technology's new chief data officer and chief technology officer, is guiding IT centralization and taking a hard look at agency data stores.
November 15, 2018

Neighborly Enters Muni Broadband Market with Ambitious Accelerator Project

More than 100 communities applied to join Neighborly's inaugural Community Broadband Accelerator, prompting the company to expand the cohort to 35 participants in 18 states.
November 14, 2018

D.C. Names Longtime Contractor as New Cybersecurity Officer

Washington, D.C., has named longtime contractor Suneel Cherukuri as its new chief information security officer, resolving a staffing decision that has been a need throughout most of 2018.
November 8, 2018

Kansas Embraces the Hybrid Model in Multifaceted Cloud Pact

The state of Kansas is undertaking a partial IT consolidation, according to Chief information Technology Officer Lee Allen. A key part of the plan is a hybrid cloud solution from Unisys for agencies and partners.
November 7, 2018

Report: Tech Will Enable, Not Threaten Future Government Jobs

In a new report from Deloitte, "Government Jobs of the Future," the authors predicted six public-sector positions that could exist by 2025 and beyond, and examined how technology will help, not hinder, their effectiveness.
November 2, 2018

Colorado Hack Offers Larger Lessons for Cybersafety

The ransomware cyberattack against the Colorado Department of Transportation earlier this year was an impactful event but reinforced useful best practices.
November 2, 2018

Harvard Converts Millions of Legal Documents into Open Data

The Caselaw Access Project, from the Library Innovation Lab at Harvard Law School, went live Oct. 29 and aggregates millions of state and federal cases on a free website.
October 30, 2018

Ohio’s Methodical Journey Toward Single Sign-On

Years in the making, the state is moving closer to its goals for more cohesive identity management.
October 26, 2018

Minnesota Real ID Launch Reflects Well on IT's Ability, CIO Says

The launch of Real ID in Minnesota is a positive for state IT, the chief information officer said, and points to progress made since the troubled 2017 debut of a new vehicle license and registration system.
October 24, 2018

Cook County Bets Big on New ERP

Replacing a mission-critical IT system that is decades old is never easy. But Cook County has pulled off the endeavor with far-reaching success.
October 19, 2018

On Health Care, Cloud, Identity and Cyber, North Carolina Collaborates

In their response to Hurricane Florence as well as in ongoing projects in cloud services, identity management and cybersecurity, North Carolina technologists have emphasized working together.
October 17, 2018

Missouri Appoints Permanent CIO, Longtime Acting CIO Kliethermes Steps into New Position

Missouri has hired private-sector executive Mike Cheles as its new CIO, and longtime acting CIO Rich Kliethermes will transition to acting deputy director of its IT Services Division.
October 16, 2018

Report: As Tech Changes Law Enforcement, Its Workforce Must Adapt

Technology will continue to change the work of law enforcement, and staying ahead will mean not just adopting the latest tools but radical shifts in the status quo.
October 12, 2018

Former Delaware Tech Team Manager Is the State's New Security Officer

Solomon Adote, a former private-sector information security leader and team manager at the Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI), has stepped in as the state's chief security officer.
October 10, 2018

Fremont, Calif., Leverages STiR, Waze Collaborations to Manage Congestion

Officials in Fremont, which recently joined the Startup in Residence program, hope to utilize it and a recent Waze partnership to address significant traffic congestion caused by out-of-town commuters.
October 8, 2018

Tennessee Elevates Dedmon to CIO as Bengel Heads for Retirement

Stephanie Dedmon will step into the role of Tennessee CIO as Mark Bengel prepares to retire.
October 4, 2018

Women Tech Leaders Sound Off About Their Role in Government

IT has changed for the better, adding more women and becoming more diverse and inclusive, officials said during a panel discussion at the Colorado Digital Government Summit.
October 2, 2018

New Tech, Innovation Are Helping Denver Outpace Historic Population Growth

Innovations in technology and process have helped the city and county of Denver provide vital services more efficiently, its CIO says.
October 1, 2018

What Can We Learn from Atlanta?

The city reports it has moved on from its March ransomware attack, but it may be a harbinger of more sophisticated attacks to come.
September 28, 2018

California Governor Approves Bills Tightening Security, Privacy of IoT Devices

Senate Bill 327 and Assembly Bill 1906, signed Sept. 28 by Gov. Jerry Brown, would require makers of Internet-connected devices to improve their security.
September 25, 2018

Midterms Could Impact Work of North Carolina IT Oversight Committee

Members of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on IT said the midterm election could slow their work if it brings changes to the group.
September 24, 2018

NGA Initiative Could Enable Data-Sharing on Policy Between Agencies

Minnesota's participation in an eight-state National Governors Association collaboration could enable better cross-agency health-care data-sharing as well as sharing in the area of policy-making.
September 21, 2018

Massachusetts Auditor Faults State IoT Adoption Practices

A recent audit found a lack of guidance and planning for IoT has become a missed opportunity to use the technology and modernize state operations.
September 18, 2018

Popular Government Payment Solution Exposes 14M Records

Though millions of records from the last six years were accessible through a now-fixed vulnerability, company officials say there is no evidence the data is being misused.
September 17, 2018

A Champion of Open Data, Transparency, Minneapolis CIO Heads to Semi-Retirement

Otto Doll, the city's longtime CIO, will step down at the end of November.
September 14, 2018

Atlanta's New Tech Leader Is County School District CIO

The city of Atlanta announced that its new chief information officer is Gary Brantley, who has held the same job for nearly seven years at DeKalb County Schools.
September 12, 2018

After More Than a Decade in Government, Charlotte's First CIO Returns to Private Sector

Jeff Stovall, the city of Charlotte, N.C.'s inaugural chief information officer, will leave government after more than a decade at the city.
September 12, 2018

Raleigh CIO: Strategy Helps Drive Digital Transformation

The city's efforts, which are happening faster than expected, are enabled by a clear blueprint that focuses on five key areas.
September 10, 2018

Ohio Promotes from Within to Replace Outgoing CIO Stu Davis

Ohio's Deputy CIO Spencer Wood will serve in an interim capacity, following the Sept. 7 retirement of longtime IT leader Stu Davis.
September 7, 2018

Snohomish County Names Interim Tech Leader Following Termination of CIO

Snohomish County, the third largest in Washington, has promoted Deputy Chief Information Officer Lisa Hillman to interim CIO after the termination of its CIO on Sept. 6.
September 6, 2018

Having Forged Partnerships, Modernized Process, Maine's CIO Will Retire

CIO Jim Smith, who helped modernize legacy processes and partner with other states, education and the private sector, will retire Sept. 30.
September 5, 2018

State and Local Officials Describe the Long Journey to Data Sharing

Two sessions at the North Carolina Digital Government Summit in Raleigh highlighted the long-term benefits of data sharing, but speakers emphasized getting results required significant work.
September 4, 2018

Atlanta Meets Self-Imposed Transparency Portal Deadline

Open Checkbook, a financial portal that tracks expenditures in the last two years so far, launched Sept. 4.
September 1, 2018

FirstNet Goes Local

First responder networks like FirstNet will be a communications boon, but will local agencies embrace the new technology?
August 31, 2018

California Blockchain Bills Would Enable New Understanding, Private-Sector Trial

Two bills from the California Legislature, one of which is headed to the governor's desk, would convene a working group on the technology and conduct a private-sector use case if approved.
August 30, 2018

State Lawmakers Praise Collaboration, Highlight Future Technologies in North Carolina

Legislators on a joint IT committee joined the state’s chief information officer for a discussion that highlighted collaboration and promising technologies for the state, at the North Carolina Digital Government Summit
August 29, 2018

Governor Calls for Improved Cybersecurity, Broadband Access in North Carolina

At the 18th edition of the North Carolina Digital Government Summit, Gov. Roy Cooper revealed a new partnership with the National Governors Association and discussed the importance of broadband access.
August 27, 2018

Innovation Lead Will Help New Jersey Modernize Process, Support the Tech Economy

Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey's recently hired inaugural chief innovation officer, said she'll work to help the state modernize its processes and deliver better services to citizens.
August 22, 2018

Updated Indiana Transparency Portal Emphasizes Usability, Public Good

The state took a measured approach to updating its transparency portal, following up on suggestions from a range of stakeholders.
August 21, 2018

'Show-Me Checkbook' Aims to Improve Missouri's Financial Transparency

The latest financial tool for citizens is intended to offer a direct, intuitive look at how and where the state earns and spends revenue.
August 15, 2018

In Latest Exit, Michigan's CTO Heads to a Municipal Utility

Rod Davenport, Michigan's longtime chief technology officer, will be leaving the state for the Lansing Board of Water and Light, a municipal utility, where he'll be its chief information officer.
August 15, 2018

The CIO of Georgia's Most Populous County Has Stepped Down

Sallie Wright, chief information officer of Fulton County, has stepped down "to pursue other opportunities," in one of two recent C-suite changes.
August 14, 2018

New Mexico CIO Will Step Down, Return to Academia at Month's End

The state's Department of Information Technology Secretary Darryl Ackley will step down and rejoin New Mexico Tech as chief technology officer at one of its research centers.
August 13, 2018

New Jersey Hires GovLab Founder as Its First Chief Innovation Officer

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Aug. 13 the state has hired Beth Simone Noveck, founder and director of The Governance Lab in Brooklyn as the state's first-ever chief innovation officer.
August 10, 2018

Chatbot, Image Analysis Solutions Are Winners at Minnesota Gov-Only Hackathon

State, county and local public agencies from North Dakota and Minnesota claimed the top three places in a recent hackathon, creating solutions with applications for government and residents.
August 8, 2018

Governors Association Works with Eight States to Improve Health Data Sharing

In a 16-month initiative, the National Governors Association is working with eight states on health policies that could enhance data sharing and improve identity management and cost effectiveness.
August 6, 2018

NIC Launches Prescription Drug Monitoring Platform Powered by New Tech Buy

Kansas-based NIC Inc., a provider of more than 13,000 digital government services nationally, launched RxGov, a prescription drug monitoring program platform powered by a recent tech acquisition.
August 1, 2018

State, Local Agencies Widen Anti-Virus Tech to Scrutinize Behavior

Officials at the state of Montana and in Charlotte, N.C., are diversifying their anti-virus solutions to include AI that will watch for anomalies in behavior to catch malware before it takes hold.
July 30, 2018

Washington, D.C., Officials Block 'Widespread' Attempt to Breach Cyberdefenses

Employees alerted IT staff to suspicious emails they received on July 24, and officials were successful in blocking the attack.
July 30, 2018

Longtime Austin Transit CIO to Retire

Joe Iannello, the longtime chief information officer and vice president at the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will retire Aug. 31.
July 26, 2018

Montana's CIO Forges Ahead to Improve State Government Through IT

Tim Bottenfield, a former state agency CIO who claimed the top tech job in July, is continuing his mission to drive efficiency and communication in government.
July 24, 2018

With New RFP, Delaware Aims to Eradicate Broadband 'Deserts'

Officials hope to leverage existing fiber infrastructure and a successful wireless broadband pilot to connect rural areas through public-private partnerships over the next two years.
July 23, 2018

Texas Continues to Seek Efficiency Through Shared Services Contracts

Texas is committed to increasing adoption of shared technology services, said Hershel Becker, chief procurement officer at the Texas Department of Information Resources.
July 20, 2018

With New Strategic Plan, Baltimore Begins Comprehensive IT Modernization

Baltimore has hired its inaugural chief of IT human capital and director of digital DevOps, and a chief data officer; and begun to execute on its digital transformation plan.
July 11, 2018

Cook County, Ill., Hires Its First Chief Data Officer, Considers a New CIO

Cook County, Ill., the nation's second-largest county, has identified a finalist within its ranks for its next chief information officer, and hired its inaugural chief data officer.
July 10, 2018

Georgia’s Cyber Center Officially Opens Its Doors

The first of two buildings at the Georgia Cyber Center, believed to be the largest single investment in a state-owned cybersecurity facility, officially opened July 10.
July 6, 2018

C-Level Tech Leaders Wanted at Agencies Nationwide

From Oregon to Washington, D.C., city and state agencies have appointed interim or acting technology leaders while job searches continue for their permanent replacements.
July 5, 2018

Data Deadline Met, Florida Charges Ahead to Make Its Efforts Count for Citizens

Having met the Legislature's deadline to catalog state data, officials in Florida are continuing work on how information is organized, safeguarded and leveraged by agencies.
July 3, 2018

Montana Finds New CIO, a Career IT Professional, at Department of Revenue

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced that Department of Revenue Chief Information Officer Tim Bottenfield will be the state's new CIO, replacing former CIO Ron Baldwin, who went to the private sector.
July 1, 2018

Mobile Drivers' Licenses to Debut in Iowa This Year

In what’s believed to be a first for any state, Iowa residents will have a chance to use their smartphones as ID.
June 29, 2018

After 22 Years at the State, Delaware's Top Security Official Is Retiring

Elayne Starkey, who helped stand up a new Security Operations Center and complete a revision of cloud security terms, retired on June 29.
June 29, 2018

Hawaii Broadband Law Clears Way for 5G Development

The legislation, signed into law on June 21 by Gov. David Ige, standardizes the process for small cell deployments, which are expected to have a significant impact on Hawaii's economic development.
June 27, 2018

The Death of the Mega Contract? The Journey to Multisourced IT

Having consolidated their IT, the states of Georgia and Virginia are updating how services are outsourced and are moving away from larger, longer contracts to smaller more agile pacts.
June 22, 2018

Minnesota Hopes Special Training Will Bolster Its Security Workforce

The MN Cyber Range has comprehensive, realistic courses that are billed as a “flight simulator for cyberattacks.”
June 19, 2018

Dedicated Public Safety Networks: Driving Device Evolution, Blurring Market Lines

The two new dedicated networks for first responders from FirstNet and Verizon may more closely connect government and commercial markets, and push innovation out to residents’ smartphones.
June 15, 2018

San Jose’s Telecom Pacts Expand Broadband Infrastructure, Digital Equity

The city of San Jose announced agreements with AT&T, Verizon and Mobilitie that will bring better cell and Internet service, hundreds of miles of fiber and millions of dollars in private-sector investment.
June 14, 2018

Total Costs Still Unknown, Atlanta Moves to Refortify Post-Hack

The city of Atlanta's ongoing recovery from a crippling ransomware cyberattack in March offers a chance to improve its network security and architecture, the interim CIO told the City Council recently.
June 13, 2018

IT Centralization, Relationship Building Among Focuses For New Jersey CTO

New Jersey's second-ever dedicated chief technology officer, Chris Rein, said he'll be taking a close look at the state's ongoing IT consolidation and making recommendations to the governor.
June 12, 2018

Riverside Innovation Leader Promoted Amid City Hall Reorganization

The city of Riverside, Calif., has reorganized its C-suite, creating two deputy city manager positions and promoting Chief Innovation Officer Lea Deesing to one of two assistant city manager posts.
June 6, 2018

Maryland IT Secretary Guides State Toward Efficiency, Interoperability

Maryland Secretary of Information Technology Michael Leahy, who was recently elevated from interim to permanent status, reflects on his state's progress in reducing legacy systems and improving the user experience.
June 5, 2018

Three Agencies Affected, No Data Compromised In Rhode Island Malware Incident

Three Rhode Island state departments were impacted by malware, discovered on May 31, but the state's chief information officer said no data was compromised.
June 4, 2018

New Hub Connects Mississippi Agencies Around Workforce, Data

A new hub created for state agencies by the Mississippi State University National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center aims to do a better job of connecting workforce programs.
June 1, 2018

Texas City Officials Share Tech Lessons Learned from Disaster, Bad Actors

Officials from the Austin Police Department and the Houston Airport System discussed technology lessons learned during recent incidents, at the Texas Digital Government Summit.
June 1, 2018

Collaboration on Unemployment Systems Creates Efficiencies, Cost Savings

Unemployment consortiums among like-minded and like-sized states join forces to modernize old-fashioned gov tech.
May 31, 2018

In the Face of Shifting, Unrelenting Cyberthreats, Texas Offers Centralized Help to Agencies

An AT&T pact offers assistance to Texas agencies in managed security services areas including security monitoring and incident response, and can help them meet a legislative assessment target.
May 30, 2018

Improving Process, Resident Experience Among Big Ideas in Texas

State officials discussed ways agencies can improve their process and resident experience alike at the annual Texas Digital Government Summit in Austin.
May 25, 2018

San Jose-AT&T Small Cell Pact Important to Closing City's Digital Divide

San Jose's recent agreement with AT&T on small cell deployments could bridge the city's digital divide and enhance the provider's FirstNet rollout, while serving as a signpost for other municipalities.
May 24, 2018

Cook County CIO Simona Rollinson Returns to Private Sector

With agency modernization well along, the CIO of four years will join Chicago-based Clayco, a building industry stalwart.
May 22, 2018

Illinois Creates Strategy Office to Guide Ongoing Tech Modernization

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) has hired former Nevada CIO Shanna Rahming to lead its newly created Office of Strategy and Planning.
May 22, 2018

Report: Minnesota Vehicle Licensing System Is Improving, but Work Remains

Minnesota's new online vehicle license and registration system has reduced its backlog, but improvements remain to be completed, state IT and public safety officials told lawmakers.
May 18, 2018

A Cloud Storage Issue May Have Exposed L.A. County Residents' Data

Data storage in the cloud by a 211 social services vendor may have resulted in the release of information on calls from Los Angeles County residents.
May 17, 2018

Minnesota CIO Drills Down on Vehicle Licensing, Cybersecurity

On the job since February, Minnesota Information Technology Services Commissioner Johanna Clyborne has begun key changes to the agency’s organizational culture and the management of its tech projects.
May 16, 2018

Miami Innovation Chief Adds Tech to Title

In Miami, which launched a new website and an open data portal in beta this year, Chief Innovation Officer Michael Sarasti was named its Director of Innovation and Technology on May 15.
May 14, 2018

With Planned Resource Center, Apps Competition, NYC Leans into Blockchain

During its Blockchain Week event, the New York City Economic Development Corp. announced plans for a new blockchain center and an apps competition later this year.
May 11, 2018

'A Fix' May Be in the Works for Pennsylvania Counties' Google Mapping Dilemma

Officials in four eastern-central Pennsylvania counties have long been concerned that outdated Google mapping data could impact first responders — but now, an update may be on the way.
May 10, 2018

Look Carefully, Unconventionally for Tomorrow's IT Workforce

The talented men and women who will constitute the IT workforce of the future are out there, public officials said, but they may come to government from unusual occupations.
May 9, 2018

Partnerships, Collaboration a Consistent Theme in Illinois

At the first-ever Chicago Digital Government Summit, chief information officers from Chicago, Cook County and elsewhere discussed why collaboration works and how to make it happen.
May 3, 2018

Departing Oregon CIO Lands in Secretary of State's Office

Alex Pettit, who announced his resignation in April as Oregon's chief information officer, is moving to a newly created role as business continuity program manager within the Secretary of State's office.
May 2, 2018

Awareness, Communication Integral to Minnesota Cybersecurity Strategic Plan

Among five-year goals in the state of Minnesota's new 2018 Information Security Strategic Plan are improving situational awareness, communication and education about existing risks.
April 30, 2018

Google, South Dakota County Resolve Email "Blacklisting" Issue

Brown County, S.D., worked with the company to resolve an issue in April that had delayed or impeded emails sent from Google accounts for more than a year.
April 26, 2018

IoT Civic Hackathon Convenes Developers, First Responders Around Public Safety, FirstNet Solutions

The third Internet of Things Civic Hackathon, at the new Indiana IoT Lab in Fishers, brought together around 600 developers and first responders to create technology solutions for public safety.
April 26, 2018

Waycare, Waze Partner to Share Data, Assist Agencies and Drivers

The Israeli companies Waycare and Waze, offer tools for traffic management through artificial intelligence and crowdsourced navigation respectively, will share data to help governments and drivers.
April 23, 2018

Kansas City, Missouri's CIO Retiring at Month's End, Replaced by Deputy

Kansas City, Missouri's Chief Information Office Mary J. Miller is retiring April 30 after nearly 30 years of service, but she'll be replaced immediately by her Deputy CIO David Evans, another longtime staffer.
April 20, 2018

Michigan Audit Identifies Gaps in State Network, Cybersecurity

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget has made changes and is producing a remediation plan for aspects of network cybersecurity following an audit by the state auditor general.
April 18, 2018

NYC to Set Up Real-Time Monitoring for Service Availability of Public Wi-Fi and Phone Call Kiosks

New York City's more than 1,500 LinkNYC kiosks, which offer free public telephone calls and Wi-Fi, will get live, by-the-hour monitoring via the Internet of Things later this spring.
April 17, 2018

South Dakota County Still Struggles with Google Email

Officials in Brown County, S.D., continue to address a year-long communications issue that causes delivery of emails from Gmail accounts to be delayed or not arrive at all.

April 11, 2018

Phishing, Malware, Ransomware Among Top Public-Sector Threats, Reports Find

Recurring online threats of phishing, malware and ransomware continue to threaten governments, though Internet of Things attacks, cryptomining and mobile attacks loom.
April 10, 2018

Atlanta Doubles Down on Transparency Portal in Midst of City Hall Shakeup

The city has announced the creation of a new spending transparency portal, while the mayor is re-evaluating all cabinet-level staff.

April 9, 2018

Oregon CIO Alex Pettit to Step Down in June

Oregon Chief Information Officer Alex Pettit and Gov. Kate Brown "mutually agreed" the time was right for the state's top technology official to tender his resignation, effective June 1.
April 4, 2018

Nearly Two Weeks Post-Cyberattack, Atlanta Continues Its Recovery

Emergency response and service at the nation's busiest airport were unaffected by a March 22 ransomware attack, but the city of Atlanta is still working to restore some services across its enterprise.
April 2, 2018

New Tools, AI Help Transportation Officials Better Understand Traffic Patterns

Departments of transportation in Massachusetts and Pima County, Ariz., are exploring technology that connects them more closely to their traffic signals.
March 30, 2018

Bryan Sastokas, Long Beach CIO, Hired as L.A. Metro's New Tech Leader

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which serves around 1.3 million riders a day, has named Long Beach Chief Information Officer Bryan M. Sastokas as its new CIO.
March 28, 2018

Shireen Santosham

Chief Innovation Officer, San Jose, Calif.
March 27, 2018

FirstNet, Verizon Launch Dedicated Public Safety Networks

FirstNet debuted its long-awaited dedicated first responder network in a controlled introduction on March 27, and Verizon has set its general availability launch for March 29.
March 26, 2018

Atlanta Pivots to Recovery Post-Ransomware Attack, Officials Say

Less than a week after a ransomware cyberattack struck the city of Atlanta, the municipality's response has circled in local, federal partners and is turning to recovery.
March 26, 2018

Security, Screening Key to Delaware's Mobile Driver's License Pilot

Delaware is the latest state to pilot a mobile driver's license for residents, partnering with IDEMIA, which provides its current physical drivers' licenses.
March 23, 2018

Atlanta Officials: Situation 'Fluid,' but Major Systems Unaffected by Ransomware Attack

Emergency response, payroll and 311 systems remain operational following a cyberattack against the city of Atlanta March 22.

March 22, 2018

FBI, DHS Assisting Atlanta Response to Reported Ransomware Attack

The FBI and federal Department of Homeland Security are coordinating with the city of Atlanta to resolve a ransomware attack that impacted internal and public-facing applications and caused some online outages.
March 20, 2018

Interest, Commitment Levels High as Indiana's First IoT Lab Opens

Thirteen months in the making, Indiana's first Internet of Things (IoT) lab opens March 21 and will focus on stimulating IoT device and application development.
March 19, 2018

San Francisco's Jay Nath Leaves City Hall to Focus on Startup in Residence

Nath has joined nonprofit City Innovate Foundation as its co-executive director. His former deputy Krista Canellakis has replaced him as chief innovation officer.
March 14, 2018

Don't Be So Quick to Write Off the Government Data Center, Officials Say

Governments at every level are looking into moving information, tools and processes to the cloud, but public-sector officials warn against writing off data centers anytime soon.
March 13, 2018

St. Louis Hires First-Ever Chief Technology Officer to Work Closely with Its New CIO

The city of St. Louis announced two recent staffing additions: its first-ever chief technology officer, and a new chief information officer.
March 2, 2018

Arizona Governor Launches Cybersecurity Task Force

The Arizona Cybersecurity Team, created by an executive order on March 1, is expected to foster a collaborative approach to cybersecurity and education throughout the state.
March 1, 2018

Idaho Transportation Department Pilots Smart Pavement Markers

Solar-powered pavement markers from a Boise, Idaho, startup are helping the state transportation department light particularly dark highways.
March 1, 2018

Chicago CIO Danielle DuMerer Works to Streamline Citizen Service Delivery

Plus updates on the Array of Things Project and the city's redesigned website.
February 28, 2018

Verizon's Public Safety Network On Schedule, Officials Say

A Verizon official said the company's new network for first responders, and additional communication features like pre-emption, are on schedule to debut later this year.
February 27, 2018

IT Centralization Review Among New Jersey Committee's Recommendations for New Governor

Members of the New Jersey Government Technology and Innovation Transition Advisory Committee found state infrastructure "outdated" but offered numerous ways to upgrade it and improve innovation.
February 26, 2018

Florida Races to Catalog Its Data

With a looming deadline fast approaching, Florida’s new chief data officer is working against the clock to make sense of the wealth of data the state is sitting on.
February 23, 2018

California Utility Regulator's IT Modernization Focuses on the Experience

The California Public Utilities Commission is deploying new mobile- and Internet-friendly apps and platforms to modernize customer and employee interactions.
February 21, 2018

Initial Reports Are Positive as FirstNet Buildout Continues

For adopters of the nationwide first responders network in Brazos County, Texas, the benefits of the enhanced communications tools are already evident.
February 20, 2018

Los Angeles Chatbot Deputized to Help with Police Recruitment

"Officer Chip" was developed in-house using Microsoft technology, and can answer more than 1,000 questions for potential police recruits.
February 14, 2018

Nevada CIO Shanna Rahming Will Step Down After Three Years

Rahming will leave the state having strengthened its cybersecurity posture and saved millions through renegotiating master service agreements.
February 13, 2018

Innovation, Emerging Tech Committee in the Works for Los Angeles County

Following the sunset of its Information Systems Committee, county officials are exploring formation of an innovation and emerging technologies committee, and the potential for an innovation incubator.
February 12, 2018

Delaware Governor Broadens Open Data Council and Orders Expansion of Portal

Delaware Gov. John Carney has issued an executive order giving all executive branch agencies a seat on the state's Open Data Council and setting a 2020 deadline to expand data sets on the state portal.
February 7, 2018

With New CIO at Helm, Baltimore Crafts First Strategic IT Plan

Former Intel executive Frank Johnson, Baltimore's new chief information officer, is spearheading creation of its first digital transformation plan.
February 6, 2018

Data Visualization Tool Helps Missouri County Fight the Flu

Having used data visualization to educate residents about the flu season, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department will deploy it to help area hospitals maintain nonprofit status.
February 5, 2018

IT Chief Phil Wittmer Resigns as New Kansas Governor Takes Reins

Phil Wittmer, chief information technology officer for the state of Kansas, stepped down after incoming Gov. Jeff Colyer was sworn in Jan. 31.
January 30, 2018

States Partner to Get Girls Interested in Cyber, IT

A coalition of states are partnering with the SANS Institute to offer training to young women interested in cybersecurity and information technology careers.

January 30, 2018

Government-Focused Information Exchange Goes Live

A new information network is putting the collective wisdom of public sector IT agencies within reach of their colleagues and trying to solve some of the big problems that vex government.
January 24, 2018

Vehicle Licensing, Cybersecurity Top Priorities for New Minnesota CIO

Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Brig. Gen. Johanna Clyborne, an officer in the Minnesota National Guard, to replace retiring state Chief Information Officer Tom Baden.
January 24, 2018

Lidar, Connected Vehicle Data Collection Among Latest Las Vegas Deployments

A lidar implementation and a collection of connected vehicle data are two of Las Vegas' most recent tech initiatives in its downtown Innovation District.
January 23, 2018

Chicago Police Cut Crime with Major Upgrades to Analytics and Field Technology

Since deploying six Strategic Decision Support Centers across the city, Chicago saw a 21 percent drop in shootings last year.
January 22, 2018

Montana's Chief Technology Officer Named Interim CIO

Montana, which is beginning a search to replace former CIO Ron Baldwin, named Chief Technology Officer Matt Van Syckle as its interim CIO.
January 17, 2018

Montana CIO Ron Baldwin Heeds the Call of the Private Sector

Montana CIO Ron Baldwin, appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock in Jan. 2013 and a leader of the state's executive branch-level infrastructure consolidation, will leave government for a role with Deloitte.
January 16, 2018

Florida’s First Geographic Information Officer Maps Out a Statewide Strategy

Ekaterina Fitos, who spent time in the public and private sectors, has signed on with the Florida Agency for State Technology as its new geographic information officer.
January 15, 2018

As a New Governor Arrives, New Jersey's CTO Will Leave

Appointed by Gov. Chris Christie in June 2016, outgoing New Jersey Chief Technology Officer Dave Weinstein said he's proudest of the state's progress toward IT centralization.
January 11, 2018

CES 2018: FirstNet Sees Growth Potential of App Ecosystem, Partnerships

Public safety agencies and the venture capitalists and developers who work with them are poised to create more solutions for the national first responders network.
January 10, 2018

Las Vegas AI Pilot Improves Highway Patrol Response Times

A six-month pilot of a cloud-based platform from Israeli company Waycare is already yielding results for public safety agencies, including the Nevada Highway Patrol.
January 9, 2018

CES 2018: Making Smart Cities Responsive

During the Smart Cities: Thriving in the Future track at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, public- and private-sector officials said municipalities may be shifting their focus in smart city efforts to be more citizen-centric.
January 5, 2018

Watchfulness Is 'New Normal' for Mecklenburg County After Ransomware Hack

Officials in Mecklenburg County, N.C., where hackers in December froze data, declined to pay a ransom and plan to move aggressively to strengthen security.
January 4, 2018

D.C. Chooses Chief Data Officer to Serve as Interim Chief Technology Officer

Barney Krucoff, Washington, D.C.'s first-ever chief data officer and a longtime staffer, will become the city's interim chief technology officer starting Jan. 8.
January 3, 2018

Cybersecurity, IT Centralization Are Focuses for Santa Clara County CIO

Nearly 11 months after former EPA CIO Ann Dunkin became Santa Clara County's CIO, she reflects on an ongoing IT centralization and the importance of good "cyberhygiene."
January 1, 2018

States Battle the Devastating Opioid Crisis with Data

Indiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are among states focused on using data-driven methods and prescription drug monitoring programs to track the opioid epidemic, reduce its impact and save lives.
December 28, 2017

Minnesota CIO Tom Baden Will Retire in February

Tom Baden, commissioner and CIO for the state of Minnesota, will retire in February citing health as the motivation.
December 28, 2017

All 50 States Have Joined FirstNet as Deadline Closes

A flurry of states indicated they would join FirstNet as the 90-day opt-in deadline comes to a close.
December 21, 2017

New York City Broadband RFI Generates Strong Response

About a month remains before responses to New York City's Request for Information are due, part of the city's quest to deploy affordable, equitable, gigabit-speed broadband citywide.
December 20, 2017

Private Sector Beckons Montana CISO Lynne Pizzini

The state's chief information security officer and deputy chief information officer has decamped for the private sector after a 25-year career in government.
December 19, 2017

After Considering Its Own Network, Colorado Joins FirstNet

Having weighed their options for coverage and control carefully, Colorado officials will join FirstNet.
December 14, 2017

Boston's CIO Will Step Down in January, His Next Move Unclear

Boston CIO Jascha Franklin-Hodge will step down in January and said he expects to find his next role at the intersection of "technology and public good."
December 14, 2017

Net Neutrality Repeal: Government IT Officials Respond with Trepidation

Public IT leaders worry that the end of net neutrality will harm their constituents, and are searching for solutions.
December 13, 2017

Oklahoma’s IT Unification Nets Hundreds of Millions in Savings

Roughly five years into the state's IT consolidation, officials are citing substantial benefits in their operations and cybersecurity standing.

December 11, 2017

Mike Wons, Architect of Illinois' Technology Modernization, Returning to Private Sector

After two years as the state's chief technology officer, Mike Wons is stepping down for a similar role with a global risk compliance firm.
December 7, 2017

New Hampshire Is First State to Opt Out of FirstNet

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced his state will opt out of FirstNet's dedicated communications network for first responders and build its own with Rivada Networks LLC — an option also under consideration in Colorado.
December 7, 2017

Maine Officially Becomes Next State to Join Unemployment Insurance Cloud Consortium

On Dec. 6, the state of Maine migrated the benefits side of its unemployment insurance system to the cloud, joining the four-state consortium ReEmployUSA.
December 6, 2017

North Carolina County Refuses Ransom Demand

Confronted with a hack that has frozen data across multiple departments, officials in Mecklenburg County said they'll rebuild instead of paying ransom.
December 5, 2017

Following Hack, Minnesota Tourism Agency Restores Control of Facebook Account

A hacker seized control of the Explore Minnesota Facebook account for more than eight hours Dec. 4, but neither the account nor the agency appears to have suffered any permanent damage.
December 1, 2017

Indiana Medicaid Data Challenge Released Historic Levels of Information, Identified Millions in Potential Savings

Winners at the 2017 Indiana Medicaid Data Challenge used 25 sets of Medicaid data released by the state to identify more than $150 million in potential savings.
November 29, 2017

After Troubled Rollout of Vehicle License System, Minnesota Hires Outside Developer

Following a state Senate hearing into issues including a backlog in its new vehicle license and registration system, Minnesota will hire FAST Enterprises to create a new driver's license IT system.
November 28, 2017

With $35M More, Georgia Will Double Size of Its Cybersecurity and Innovation Lab

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has announced $35 million in funding for a second building at the Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Augusta.
November 22, 2017

Coverage, Cost Will Be Key Issues for Whether Colorado Opts in or out of FirstNet

The FirstNet Colorado Governing Body has made a conditional contract award to partners that could help the state stand up an independent public safety communications network — but a final decision whether to join FirstNet looms.
November 21, 2017

Chicago, Seattle Streamline Construction Projects on New Platform

With the goals of minimizing impacts to the traveling public and lowering overall costs, some cities are turning toward a project management platform for better outcomes.
November 17, 2017

Washington State Begins to Fill Key Technology Vacancies

Sue Langen, Washington state's new acting director for its Office of the CIO, was most recently CIO for the Department of Social and Health Services.
November 15, 2017

2018 Poised to Be the Year for Public Safety Networks

The two providers of dedicated public safety wireless communication networks aim to launch in 2018, though full build-outs will take more time.
November 14, 2017

Florida Governor's Proposed Budget Would Formalize Cybersecurity Training

Gov. Rick Scott's budget proposal for the 2018-2019 fiscal year would solidify nearly a quarter-million dollars in cybersecurity training for agency leaders.
November 8, 2017

Minnesota Names IT Security Director to Interim State CISO Post

Aaron Call, the director of information security for Minnesota IT Services, will become interim chief information security officer as current CISO Chris Buse moves elsewhere in state government.
November 7, 2017

Baltimore's New CIO is Veteran Intel Executive

Frank Johnson, an Intel executive for more than 25 years, joined the city of Baltimore in October as its new CIO and CDO.
November 6, 2017

Efficiency in Numbers as States Take Unemployment Insurance to the Cloud

Mississippi, Rhode Island, Maine and Connecticut are part of ReEmployUSA, a consortium that deploys unemployment insurance solutions in the cloud.
November 2, 2017

Iowa Employee Pension Accounts Compromised, Security Practices Scrutinized

Officials at a public employees pension fund are investigating how thieves were able to use illegally acquired Social Security numbers and dates of birth to create fraudulent member accounts.
November 1, 2017

Florida Names First Chief Data Officer

Nancy Sampson, the former Information Technology Services director for the state Department of Financial Services, Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation, started her new position on Friday, Oct. 27.
November 1, 2017

Is Missouri’s ‘Innovation Corridor’ Enough to Draw Amazon to the State?

The state of Missouri is equally supportive of proposals from St. Louis and Kansas City suggesting both cities as home to Amazon's second headquarters — but it's submitted its own bid too.
October 30, 2017

Smart Cities, FirstNet Break-Out Tracks Planned for CES 2018

Last year's conference featured what's believed to be its first major hackathon, and CES 2018 will debut separate events focused on smart cities and FirstNet.
October 27, 2017

Colorado CIOs Highlight Potential Benefits of Teamwork, Collaboration

At the annual Colorado Digital Government Summit, state, city and county officials recounted technology-driven use cases that centered on a theme of working together.
October 23, 2017

New York City's Tech Engagement Program Designed to Think, Act, Locally and Globally

NYCx, a reorganizing of New York City's technology programs, is designed to bring technologists and residents together to solve tech problems with answers that could be adaptable worldwide.
October 20, 2017

Iowa, Five Other States Will Try Digital Driver's License Projects in 2018

The state of Iowa will develop an app-based mobile driver's license for statewide deployment in 2018, as five other states expand use case explorations in their own pilots.
October 19, 2017

What’s New in Civic Tech: Bipartisan Honest Ads Act Targets Online Political Ads

Plus, Chicago launches redesigned website aimed at being more accessible, NYC Launches New Muni Tech Program and Facebook hackathon uses Seattle’s vast open data for civic tech projects.
October 18, 2017

Seeing Shootings, Murders Decline, Chicago to Double Down on Predictive Analytics Tools, Body Cameras

Chicago plans to hire nearly 1,000 more police officers, double their number of police body cameras, and add six Strategic Decision Support Centers at area police stations, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said during his annual budget address.
October 16, 2017

A Harbinger of Fire and Flood, Hydromet Helps Residents, First Responders

Hydromet, a gauge system that monitors rain, rivers and lakes for the Lower Colorado River Authority, provided life-saving information to residents and authorities during Hurricane Harvey.
October 11, 2017

Boston Hires Second-Ever Chief Digital Officer

Jeanethe Falvey, former digital director for National Geographic, said her personal mission includes helping people understand the role they’re playing in the cities, states and nations where they live.
October 9, 2017

Online Civic Engagement: Define the Problem, Really Use the Solution

Online civic engagement can yield powerful results, but the maker of a platform and two of its clients caution agencies that technology is no substitute for planning and utilization.
October 4, 2017

City of Austin IT Exec Will Become Travis County's New CIO

Paul Hopingardner, Austin's deputy director of communications and technology management and a fixture in its government for nearly two decades, has been hired by Travis County as its new CIO.
October 3, 2017

NASCIO: New Tech, Changing Business Models Are Transforming CIO Role

The 2017 National Association of State CIOs survey examines how the job of chief information officer is changing in response to emerging technology and new business models.
October 3, 2017

Mammoth Riverside County Broadband RFP Takes a Modern Approach

In its quest to spearhead last-mile fiber-optic broadband at gigabit speeds, Riverside County seeks participants, not mere proposals, for a project worth as much as $4 billion.
September 28, 2017

Big Data: An On-Ramp to Better Fleet Management?

It may take time, but local agencies are expecting operational successes from updating and modernizing their fleet tracking solutions.
September 26, 2017

Rhode Island IT Projects Roll On with New, Deliberate CIO at Helm

Rhode Island's new CIO Bijay Kumar is also its chief digital officer in his first-ever public-sector role, bringing two decades of experience to bear.
September 25, 2017

Washington State Reveals Upcoming Federal Cybersecurity Pilot, After DHS Confirms Attempted Election Breaches

Washington state, one of 21 states officially notified of an attempted election breach by the Department of Homeland Security, is embarking on a federal pilot to strengthen cybersecurity.
September 21, 2017

Best of New York 2017: Winning Solutions Reflect Modern Missions, Technologies

From monitoring the power grid to promoting community-based services, winning solutions in this year's awards revealed agency missions that are keeping pace with technology, and embracing new strategies in management and procurement.

September 20, 2017

5 Key Recommendations for Improving State IT Procurement

In a joint publication from leading government IT and procurement associations, communications and teamwork are listed as key to transforming IT procurement in the public sector.
September 19, 2017

Autonomous Vehicles' Future May Be Further Away, Different Than Imagined

Experts agree that electric and autonomous vehicle technologies are here to stay, but where the industry will be in a decade or more is open to debate.
September 14, 2017

Innovate Your State: What Cool Technologies Should Government Consider Implementing?

The third iteration of Innovate Your State's Civic & Gov Tech Showcase highlighted the latest in nascent technology solutions with public-sector potential.
September 13, 2017

Missouri Treasurer's Dashboard Compares State, National Financial Metrics

The Missouri Economic Dashboard, believed to be the first economic dashboard launched by a state treasurer, examines state and county financial data in comparison to national averages.
September 11, 2017

Best of California 2017: Winners Offer Solutions with Public, Internal-Facing Impact

Technological solutions recognized in the Best of California 2017 awards do more than create efficiencies and cost savings for their respective agencies — they benefit members of the public as well.
September 8, 2017

Equifax Data Breach Could Involve State Agencies but How, to What Extent Not Yet Clear

The information verification services provided by Equifax, compromised in the recent historic data breach, are used by state agencies, but it's unclear whether the public sector will suffer as a result of the incident.
September 8, 2017

Illinois Announces Key Partnership in Birth Registry Blockchain Pilot

The state of Illinois, which has six blockchain pilots underway, will partner with Utah-based Evernym for a birth registry pilot meant to individualize and secure identities.
September 6, 2017

Cook County's Inaugural CISO Will Take Identical Post In Private Sector

Ricardo Lafosse, who joined Cook County, Ill., in May 2013 as its first chief information security officer, is leaving to join investment research and management company Morningstar Inc. as its CISO.
September 5, 2017

Kansas, Missouri Collaboration Aims to Improve Regional Cybersecurity

Agencies in Kansas and Missouri are working together to create a strategic framework that would help local governments improve their cybersecurity.
September 1, 2017

3 Strategies for Procurement Success

Departments are exploring solutions that bring creativity, flexibility and agility to procurement.
August 31, 2017

Education, Outreach and Culture Change Needed to Attract More Women to Tech

At this week's Los Angeles Digital Government Summit, four female technology officials agreed that women can forge tech careers — but more opportunities and education in the field are needed.
August 30, 2017

Privacy and Security Concerns Need Attention as IoT, Machine Learning Take Hold

Agencies need to consider when and how they keep public data secure and private, as vulnerable machine learning and Internet of Things devices come into wide use, state and local officials warn.
August 29, 2017

Los Angeles City, Police Officials Offer Strategies for Hiring Younger Staffers

At the Los Angeles Digital Government Summit, city police and technology officials discussed the challenge of attracting young staffers to the public sector, and why they may be a good fit.
August 24, 2017

Louisiana Streamlines How It Bills Agencies for IT Services

As part of a consolidation overhaul, the Office of Technology Services has deployed software that aggregates data on what services agencies are using and to improve billings for cost recovery.
August 24, 2017

Splunk's Expected Public-Sector Expansion Tied to Smart Cities Movement

An official focused on public sector at big data company Splunk, which now works with 40 states, sees governments increasingly innovating in data analysis.
August 21, 2017

Florida Tests Cybersecurity Defenses with Hurricane Scenario

Attendance is up at an annual cybersecurity training exercise held by the Florida Agency for State Technology and the Florida National Guard.
August 17, 2017

Total Solar Eclipse 2017: How Data, Mapping Technologies Are Helping State, Local Oregon Agencies Prepare

State and local agencies in Oregon, where the solar eclipse will first reach the United States, have partnered for the past year to identify best uses for geospatial and mapping technology.
August 15, 2017

With Indiana's First IoT Lab Rising, Fishers Seeks to Become a Tech City

Fishers, Ind., will be home to the state's first Internet of Things lab scheduled to open this fall — and the city intends for IoT and technology to bolster and even supplant longtime powerhouse industries.
August 14, 2017

CIO for Maricopa, Nation's Fourth-Largest County, Heads to Private Sector

David L. Stevens, who has led a tech modernization and realized a considerable cost savings in nearly five years as CIO, will take a position at a managed information technology company in October.
August 11, 2017

Illinois Blockchain Proofs of Concept Likely to Materialize Later This Year

Roughly a year after beginning to explore how blockchain can benefit government, the state of Illinois has six pilots in various stages.
August 9, 2017

Digitized and Re-Analyzed, Atmospheric Nuclear Test Films Could Educate Governments, First Responders

Cold War-era nuclear test films being re-analyzed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California to more accurately predict current weapon yields could also better educate governments and first responders.
August 7, 2017

In Illinois, Cybersecurity Training for State Employees Now Required by Law

On Aug. 7, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation, which he called a welcome display of "bipartisanship," aimed at educating end users and strengthening the state's first line of defense against cyberattacks.
August 4, 2017

Report: Funding, Focus Are Issues as Agencies Eye Internet of Things

A new survey from Northeastern University-Silicon Valley highlights issues public agencies may face as they contemplate Internet of Things initiatives.
August 2, 2017

Report Reveals Potential Inflection Point in Systems Modernization

A report by the Ponemon Institute surveyed attitudes and preferences in IT among more than 1,200 federal, state and local public agencies.
July 31, 2017

Report: What States Are the Best for Data Innovation?

Nonprofit think-tank the Center for Data Innovation rated states for data innovation based on their use of data and technology, and their interaction with people and companies.
July 28, 2017

Could the Missouri Prescription Drug Monitoring Program's Use of Private-Sector Data Be a National Prototype?

Missouri was the last state to enact a wide-ranging prescription drug monitoring program, but its top health official said its use of private-sector data could inspire others.
July 24, 2017

California's Riverside County Names New CIO, Broadband Project Manager

As an RFP deadline nears, Dave Rogers has become the county's new CIO, replacing Steve Reneker, who is now the Riverside County Information Technology (RCIT) RIVCOconnect Manager.
July 24, 2017

Tips for Guarding Against Untraceable, 'Fileless' Cyberattacks

With public software increasingly less vulnerable, bad actors are utilizing legitimate tools already on users' systems — and so-called 'fileless' attack techniques that leave no trace.
July 19, 2017

Digital Counties Survey 2017: Winners Focus on Knowing When, How to Introduce New Tech

The first-place winners in this year's survey don't deploy technology for technology's sake.
July 18, 2017

7 States Partner with SANS Institute to Offer Free Training, Grow Cybersecurity Workforce

A free online aptitude course called CyberStart offers scholarships to onboard students into the cybersecurity sector.
July 17, 2017

Missouri Governor Signs Executive Order to Create Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

The Missouri Legislature's efforts to enact a statewide program have been unsuccessful for more than a decade, so Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order to create a program that he said is "a step" toward solving the opioid crisis.
July 17, 2017

How Automating Victim Restitution Helps Agencies Maximize Revenue Streams

Public agencies' perennial interest in doing more with less may be driving an increased interest in automating victim restitution.
July 14, 2017

Following Audit, State Agencies Update Policies Around Noncompetitive Bidding

The Department of General Services and the California Department of Technology are renewing procurement policies and working to ensure data is complete and accurate following a recent audit.
July 12, 2017

Baltimore's Acting CIO Resigns as Search for 'Visionary' Replacement Ramps Up

Baltimore Acting CIO Evette M. Munro resigned after less than five months on the job, but a nationwide search for a replacement with vision is heating up.
July 11, 2017

Ohio Qualifies 50 Firms for 'Exploratory' Data Analytics Projects

After an updated RFP process yielded a significant response, Ohio has qualified 50 companies to consider statements of work for data analytics projects with state agencies.
July 6, 2017

Mississippi and Utah Double Down on Digital Assistants, Expand Their Skillsets

As projected shipping numbers for the Amazon Echo soar and interest in digital assistants grows, agencies in both states are watching the market eagerly and focused on identifying needs and creating skills for Alexa, the Echo’s smart assistant.
July 5, 2017

3 State Transportation Agencies Turn to Smart Technologies to Save Time, Money on Road Projects

Agencies in Idaho, California and Colorado are using Automated Machine Guidance, 3-D modeling and Intelligent Traffic Control Devices.

June 28, 2017

Report: Federal Regulations Website Should Consider Adopting Yelp-Style Commenting Approach

Silicon Valley nonprofit Argive scrutinized Regulations.gov, the decade-old federal website designed as an online repository of developing government regulations and comments about them.
June 26, 2017

Smart Cities Connect Conference Will Move from Austin, Texas, to Kansas City, Mo., Officials Say

An extension of the Smart Cities Innovation Challenge, the event's first two editions have been held in Austin, but it was always intended to circulate among technologically progressive cities.
June 23, 2017

Employee 'Phishing' Expeditions Among States' Tools for Cybersecurity Awareness

Cybersecurity awareness programs in Missouri and Washington center on education, anonymized real-life anecdotes and assessments that can include "phishing" their own employees.
June 21, 2017

New App Helps Officials, First Responders in 9 States Find Well Locations and Their Histories

The new, free Risk Based Data Management System WellFinder app is addressing calls for increased transparency and safety.
June 19, 2017

State, Territory Plans and Next Step in FirstNet Build-Out Arrive Ahead of Schedule

FirstNet, created in 2012 to build, deploy and operate a nationwide broadband network for public safety agencies, announced plans for rapid state deployment.
June 14, 2017

Missouri Governor Affirms State's Commitment to Open Data

At the 16th annual Digital Government Summit held in Jefferson City, Gov. Eric Greitens said the state wants to open up data so citizens can see what officials doing and hold them accountable.
June 14, 2017

Don’t Overlook Basics in Cybersecurity Strategies, Officials and Experts Warn

The cybersecurity landscape has many pitfalls, public officials and industry experts said at the 2017 Missouri Digital Government Summit, but some solutions are out there for enterprising agencies.
June 13, 2017

Officials Support Missouri Sunshine Law But Say Complying Can Be Challenging

The Missouri Sunshine Law, enacted in 1973 as a commitment to open government, has had just two updates during the computer age, and officials say complying can have unintended consequences.
June 12, 2017

Washington Streamlines Child Welfare with New Apps, Portal and Hardware

Realizing a series of initiatives during the past year, employees at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration have migrated to mobile technology, freeing them from writing case notes to do more social work.
June 9, 2017

Arkansas Auditor's Assessment Questions Conduct of Former Information Services Director

A new report by the Arkansas Legislative Audit questions an alleged relationship between former Department of Information Services Director Mark Myers and a vendor representative that it said affected three procurements.
June 8, 2017

Pennsylvania County Project Seeks to Shape Best Possible Deals on Broadband

In a strategy known as broadband aggregation, municipalities, public-safety organizations and a university joined private businesses in an RFP seeking better broadband.
June 7, 2017

Federal Highway Administration Partners With INRIX to Measure, Monitor and Report Health of Road Networks

INRIX was selected based on the quality of its data to replace a previous provider, through its response to an RFI/RFP process, and will be retained on a multi-year contract.
June 6, 2017

Agencies in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota Make Strides in Federated ID Management, Single Sign-On

State and local agencies are evaluating federated identity concepts as a way to become more business-friendly and potentially forge a unified citizen document stream.
June 1, 2017

New Jersey to Centralize Executive Branch IT, Boost Efficiency

Gov. Chris Christie has signed Executive Order No. 225, which directs New Jersey's chief technology officer to oversee the centralization of IT for more than 70 executive branch agencies.
June 1, 2017

Online Voting Is Inevitable, But Will It Impact Turnout?

In a new "Predicting Our Future" podcast, entrepreneur Andrew Weinreich looks at voting via the Internet and the two essential questions that remain unanswered: whether more people will vote and what the risks are.
June 1, 2017

How Should IT Strategies Evolve to Capitalize on the Cloud’s Potential Today?

Here’s where government cloud strategy is headed as the technology enters its second decade.
May 30, 2017

In Implementing and Improving Tech, Boston Officials Emphasize People, Quality of Life

Whether seeking a new chief digital officer or improving the city's new website, second-gen open data portal or even traffic safety, CIO Jascha Franklin-Hodge said the answer isn't just technology.
May 26, 2017

Can an App Increase Carpooling? Contra Costa Agency's Partnership with Scoop Aims To Find Out

Transportation agency will pay $2 per ride to sponsor residents who use the ride-finder application.
May 23, 2017

GSA Hackathon Sought Tangible AI Solutions for Making Government Data Accessible via 'Personal Assistant'

Many agencies in attendance gave overviews of what types of public data they have, how those are accessed and in what format they exist — focusing on frequently requested information ranging from student loan qualifications to parks information to applying for a passport.
May 17, 2017

Lauren Lockwood, Boston's First Digital Officer, Leaves Position But Not Civic Tech

Boston's first-ever chief digital officer arrived from the private sector in December 2014 and led creation of the city's digital team and its website redesign.
May 16, 2017

Blockchain a 'Next Big Transformational Technology' in Government

In a new brief, NASCIO said blockchain — now the subject of five pilots by the state of Illinois — may be a game changer.
May 15, 2017

Missouri Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Bill Founders

The Narcotics Control Act failed to clear the state Legislature by session's end due to state Senate amendments — but county prescription drug monitoring efforts are gaining traction.
May 15, 2017

Study: Ohio Statewide Broadband Office, Investment Fund Could Help Boost Rural Access

A new study from Ohio State University found 31 percent of the state's rural population lacked access to fixed broadband service.
May 12, 2017

Four-Jurisdiction Digital Driver's License Pilot Key Piece of Gov's Digital Transformation

Colorado, Idaho, Maryland and Washington, D.C., are nearing the start of a roughly three-month test of digital drivers' licenses that is poised to speed up an epic shift in technology that's already underway.
May 10, 2017

5 Ways Data Analytics, Performance Agreements Saved Cincinnati $3.3 Million in Fiscal 2017

Since standing up the Office of Performance and Data Analytics roughly two years ago, Cincinnati has enhanced customer service; boosted collections; and cut fire, police and IT costs.
May 8, 2017

U.S. Census Collaboration to Leverage Data's Societal Problem-Solving Utility

The U.S. Census Bureau worked with data.world of Austin to integrate and streamline its data in the Amazon Web Services cloud, making it easier to use by states, counties and cities.
May 3, 2017

4 Ways Arizona Management Systems' Principles Are Improving State Processes, Saving Millions

Focusing on customer value and continuous improvement, and engaging employees to improve productivity, quality and service has helped Arizona save millions of dollars so far.
May 3, 2017

Los Angeles, Microsoft Unveil Chip: New Chatbot Project Centered on Streamlining

Named Chip, for "City Hall Internet Personality," a new chatbot unveiled at a New York Smart Cities conference answers nearly 300 questions a week on the Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network website.
April 26, 2017

Report: Amid Pivot to Political Targets, Cybercrime Turns to Emails, Common IT Tools

The Symantec 2017 Internet Security Threat Report scrutinizes a variety of cyberthreats relevant to public agencies including security in the cloud, ransomware, and a rise in reliance on emails and commonly used IT tools.
April 26, 2017

Michigan Gaming Board Will Integrate 19 Legacy Systems in Unisys Online Solutions

The board, which regulates aspects of casinos, horse racing and charitable gaming, is working to unify its data and file management through one platform.
April 24, 2017

Atlanta’s Internal Platform Turns Public to Provide Real-Time Commuter Data Following Bridge Collapse

A 12-day build, CommuteATL helps Atlantans get around congestion.

April 20, 2017

RFP Seeks Providers to Build 1 GB Broadband Network to Every Home, Business in Riverside County, Calif.

At a proposer conference, service providers, city officials and potential investors discussed details about the RFP for a countywide broadband network.
April 19, 2017

County, City Prescription Drug Monitoring Efforts Give Missouri Legislation a Push

Six Missouri cities and 12 counties are joining an online prescription drug monitoring program that observers say lends momentum to state legislation.
April 18, 2017

Developers Hope New Maryland Food Map Will Be a Force for Change

The new Maryland Food System Map from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future features more than 175 data indicators and quick, responsive design.
April 14, 2017

Cities Narrowly Outpace Counties on Key Digital Metrics, Survey Finds

Now in its third year, the survey from government website developer Vision identified significant digital communication usage from city and county agencies.
April 13, 2017

Ohio Reports Early Success From Streamlined RFP Process, Is Mulling Submissions

Ohio sought guidance from 18F, the federal team within the General Services Administration, and received 82 total proposals involving 129 business entities in response to its data analytics RFP.
April 12, 2017

3 Cities Pilot Cloud-Based App, Dashboards to Get Smart About Trash and Recyclables

Each jurisdiction has unique ideas of how the technology can get its trash and recycling issues sorted and move it closer to becoming a smart city.
April 6, 2017

Hillsborough County, Fla., Uses Real-Time GIS to Target Zika Virus

The southwest Florida county is modernizing how employees document their work and see their progress in eradicating the virus carrier.
April 4, 2017

Denver Announces 311 System Upgrade with Social Listening Capabilities

The consolidated city-county is making significant changes to how it interacts with more than 650,000 residents.
April 4, 2017

Memphis Crafts 'Handshake' Solution Allowing ArcGIS, Oracle to Talk in Real Time

Plus, officials in Marshfield, Wis., launched an online GeoReporting System that links the city’s infrastructure and investment and ensures constituent issues go to the right place.
March 30, 2017

Public Agencies Have More Work to Do On Becoming Digital, Report Says

Salesforce's 2017 Connected Citizen Report found a majority of residents have had better experiences dealing with private enterprise than with government agencies.
March 29, 2017

Leigh Tami

Chief Performance Officer, Cincinnati
March 27, 2017

Cincinnati Seeks Developers to Create Smart City Platform With Free Wi-Fi

Building on its rewritten small-cell wireless ordinance and 15 informational dashboards released in December, Cincinnati is looking for a few good developers to wire the city.
March 22, 2017

New Discovery in Backscattering Could Hold Promise for Smart Cities, Report Finds

Backscattering, a passive broadcasting method, has an increasingly clear future as public agencies move aggressively to deliver services more cheaply and serve residents more effectively.
March 20, 2017

Brooklyn's 'Neighborhood Innovation Lab' Targets Quality of Life, Tech Jobs

The Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn will debut several smart city projects later this year as part of the city's first Neighborhood Innovation Lab, which also aims at stimulating tech jobs.
March 17, 2017

Through Data, Customers Tell Riverside If They're 'Happy or Not'

In response to a strategic planning workshop that identified customer service as a top priority, Riverside officials are installing kiosks and Web tools to easily measure satisfaction with city performance.
March 15, 2017

Kansas Moves Cattle Brand Registration to the Cloud

Cattle brands aren't mandatory in Kansas, but that isn't stopping the state from deploying a new tech-savvy way to register the time-tested livestock markings.
March 13, 2017

'4 Cs' — Commitment, Collaboration, Consistency, Community — Crucial for Smart Cities

A new report may help municipalities become 'smart cities,' but legacy infrastructure may hold them back.
March 9, 2017

New Hyper-Converged Platform, Cloud Architecture Streamline Louisiana IT, Health Care

A new platform and cloud architecture scheduled to go live later this year is already saving Louisiana money and is expected to yield an improved IT experience for employees and residents.
March 6, 2017

New Colorado Website Re-Visualizes Ways to Interact with GIS Data

The state's new GIS data website offers an easier and more attractive entry point to geographical information, and a mix of visualization tools and service information.
March 6, 2017

The Job of Data: The Chiefs in Charge of Data in the C Suite

Here’s a look at all the ambassadors for the new culture of evidence-based decision-making.
March 3, 2017

State, Local Officials Question Open Data Directives Under Trump

As online information has disappeared from view, state and local officials wonder how the Trump administration will handle open data.
March 2, 2017

New Data Center Cooling Concept Could Save Governments in Annual Energy Costs

The Conductive Cooling model uses up to 85 percent less water and up to 80 percent less energy than traditional data centers.

March 1, 2017

Government Agencies Reportedly Unfazed By Amazon S3 Outage

Four states have signed Criminal Justice Information Services agreements with Amazon Web Services, but Tuesday's "high error rates" at Simple Storage Service appear to have left public agencies that use AWS Cloud unscathed.
February 23, 2017

Virginia Expands Cybersecurity Training for Veterans in Bid to Fill Vacant Positions Statewide

Two new VetSuccess Immersion Academies from the SANS Institute will augment the Cyber Vets Virginia initiative announced in November.
February 22, 2017

Data Storage Upgrade Handles Volcanoes, Fault Lines, Deduplication

In Port Angeles, Wash., a data storage upgrade dealt with the changing needs of law enforcement, potential natural disasters and a lawsuit.
February 22, 2017

Baltimore CIO Jerome Mullen Resigns, Third IT Leader to Leave the City in 5 Years

Baltimore's CIO of three years has resigned, a source at City Hall confirmed, but for reasons that remain unclear.
February 17, 2017

Contemplating Change for Coding Competitions, Hackathons

State and municipal agencies take different approaches to hackathons, coding competitions and app challenges, which have altered — and are an important fixture in — the tech world.
February 10, 2017

After Two Years, New York State CIO Will Step Down, State Says

Two years after being appointed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state's Chief Information Officer Maggie Miller will step down.
February 10, 2017

Idaho's Wireless Weigh Station Could Generate $2.1 Million in Estimated Savings

Continuing the rollout of Weigh-in-Motion/Automatic Vehicle Identification technology should save cargo carriers money and improve highway safety, Idaho officials said.
February 8, 2017

State and Local Govs Need to Improve Data Sharing, Big Data Use

Like the feds, state and local agencies have improved how they share and use big data, but a new report shows areas that still need improvement.
February 7, 2017

Philly Uses Tech to Tackle Litter

This spring, Philadelphia will pilot a new litter index aligned with the city's Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet, and digitize the results.
February 6, 2017

Solutions to Workforce Talent Gap Already Exist

A monopolistic education system and traditional service model may prevent cities from bridging their workforce talent gap, but solutions to this problem already exist, according to a technologist panel.
February 2, 2017

New Partnership to Bolster Local Leaders' Skill Sets, Enhance Networking

A new partnership with the Public Technology Institute, the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities will mean a more structured and sustained network of policymakers and C-suite decision-makers.

January 31, 2017

Audit: Michigan DTMB Must Improve IT Disaster Recovery Operations, Policies

In a series of responses to the audit, the Department of Technology, Management and Budget indicated agreement with the findings and spelled out changes that are already underway.
January 30, 2017

With Missouri's Prescription Drug Monitoring Facing Privacy Roadblock, County Program Emerges

Patient privacy and the security of electronic data remain key issues in the ongoing debate over a statewide prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri, but if legislators don't pass a bill this session, county programs are poised to fill the void.
January 26, 2017

As Data Privacy Day Dawns, Survey Reveals Higher Confidence in Public Sector

Think Americans don't trust their government? A survey released ahead of Data Privacy Day shows they actually trust public agencies more than private entities — albeit by a narrow margin.
January 23, 2017

Las Vegas Eyes CES Hackathon Winners for Civic Tech Ideas

City officials have contacted two winning teams after their solutions to civic problems won the recent Smart Cities Hackathon at CES 2017.
January 20, 2017

In Rare Move, Former EPA CIO Will Fill Same Role in Santa Clara County

Ann Dunkin, Environmental Protection Agency CIO under President Obama, will be CIO of Santa Clara County, Calif., starting next month.
January 19, 2017

Los Angeles County Voting System Redesign Enters Solicitation Phase

What will ballots look like for future voters, and how will contractors create what’s being referred to as a new “voting experience”?
January 12, 2017

Construction Planned This Year for Denver Smart City Peña Station NEXT

Some intelligent devices have already been installed and construction should start later this year on 220 apartments at the Peña Station NEXT project in Denver.
January 9, 2017

Maryland CIO David Garcia Resigns

Nearly two years after his appointment by the governor, Garcia, who also serves as secretary of the Department of Information Technology, has said he will step down effective Jan. 31.
January 6, 2017

CES 2017: As with Big Data, Human Factor Plays a Part in IoT

CES 2017 panelists agreed that like their business counterparts, agencies must de-silo, collaborate to make the most of the Internet of Things.
January 5, 2017

CES 2017: Sensors, Innovators Key in Furthering Smart Cities

Two panels at CES 2017 critiqued the move toward smart cities, agreeing efforts must be individualized and that the U.S. is somewhat behind other nations — but catching up.
January 5, 2017

CES 2017: Officials Talk FirstNet, Public Safety Technology

FirstNet and public safety officials take a look at how broadband can power a public safety transformation.
January 4, 2017

CES 2017: Honing in on Smart Cities, Intelligent Highways and Airport Robots

Some of the same technologies used in Japan will be put to work in Colorado to make highways smarter and safer.
January 3, 2017

Civic Tech Takes on Snow: Seattle Hackathon Addresses Winter Weather

City officials and residents brainstormed ideas like using drones and creating an informational app for coping with snow.
December 19, 2016

Tennessee Prepares to Move Alcohol License, Permit Process Online Following Audit

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission is preparing to fully automate license, permit and evidence-cataloging processes, as a new state audit finds a paper culture persists within the agency.
December 14, 2016

Oklahoma's New Portal Seeks to Help Thousands on Medicaid Waiver Waiting List

The first phase of a new state portal that aims to improve online access to information about services and resources for those with disabilities in an easy-to-understand manner is expected to be up and running by the end of 2017.
December 9, 2016

Finding Ways to Do More With Less Is Job No. 1 for Arkansas' New Chief Transformation Officer

Amy Fecher, the state's first chief transformation officer, said she'll work with agencies statewide to boost efficiency and improve use of technology.
December 9, 2016

Cincinnati Uses Visual Dashboards to Demystify Government

CincyInsights, a new Cincinnati Web portal with 15 dashboards, uses city data in different ways to make city services more interactive and easy to understand.
December 7, 2016

New Cyber Threat Intelligence Grid Aims to Connect Cook County, Ill., Municipalities

The new Cook County Cyber Threat Intelligence Grid lets municipalities pool information on virtual "bad actors."
December 6, 2016

Dashboard Helps Washington Track State Agencies' Open Data Progress

The dashboard was released on Oct. 31, which also was the deadline for state agencies to submit their open data plans.
December 2, 2016

Oregon Audit Finds IT Vulnerabilities Remain

An audit by the Oregon Secretary of State's office finds vulnerabilities in the systems of 13 state agencies, but an executive order from the Governor assigns more authority over security to the CIO's office.
December 1, 2016

Missouri, Arizona Team Up to Create Shareable Cloud-Based Portal Architecture

The short-term goal of this cloud-based portal architecture is helping municipal Missouri governments better understand environmental law and regulations, but officials hope to create architecture other states can use as well.

November 21, 2016

Disaster Recovery and the DMV: Testing is Key

Following a recent and widespread California Department of Motor Vehicles service outage, officials are explaining how they prepare for disaster recovery.
November 18, 2016

Talent Gap Is a Main Roadblock as Agencies Eye Emerging Tech

Advanced analytics and predictive modeling top the list of technologies government is watching, according to a new report.
November 15, 2016

Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery: Take a Methodical Approach

Cloud data recovery and multiple cloud usage are becoming the new standard — but agencies should plan data migrations carefully.
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