Alabama

Plus, Alabama announces $188 million for broadband; California sees digital discrimination legislation introduced; Phoenix opens a digital skills training center; and more.

Artificial intelligence was used to create pornographic deepfake images of six Alabama middle schoolers, prompting one state senator to propose new legislation that would make the practice a felony punishable by up to 20 years.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey told members of the state board of education in December that they couldn’t outright ban cell phones from schools, but he would like to give some additional guidance to districts.

Alabama’s 48-year-old grand jury secrecy law looms over two separate cases that are drawing national attention while raising questions over what constitutes legitimate legal secrets in South Alabama.

Plus, the New York State Library is preparing to hold a digital equity roundtable, a report details the lack of Internet at rural Pennsylvania schools, and more.

Both states are leveraging digital platforms to centralize job prospects, skills data and educational opportunities in the hopes of creating strong talent pipelines to address job access, training and education barriers for residents.

A technical team of experts is being formed to create a $30 million center at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park that is expected to put north Alabama on the cutting edge of electric vehicle technology.

The Alabama Community College System will make Canvas and other Instructure products available to all students in its 24 public community and technical colleges by fall 2024.

A 45,000-square-foot renovation at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is laying the groundwork for an interdisciplinary facility to be called the Center for Cybersecurity Research, Education & Advanced Training.

The previous ordinance, passed in recent years, had stated that unmanned aerial craft could not be flown over the city's police station or public parks, but the FAA said the city doesn’t have agency to decide that.

The two-week summer program was designed to give students from various backgrounds the opportunity to collaborate on medical device prototype creation with the guidance of established innovators in the mechanical engineering industry.

Alabama legislators want the state to jump in on a growing startup industry: novel aircraft designed to quickly take off and land for short-distance travel. This technology could allow passengers to soar over traffic.

Alabama Office of Information Technology Secretary Marty Redden has announced his retirement. Gov. Kay Ivey has tapped the deputy secretary to take on the leadership role in his absence.

Walmart has announced a $350 million investment to outfit the Cullman, Ala., distribution center with automation equipment and AI-powered software systems after the city offered a tax abatement for upgrades.

Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones is hoping a portion of the money Limestone County has received from the opioid settlement can benefit the county's court system.

The Alabama Supercomputer Authority, which provides free Internet and cybersecurity services to all schools statewide, warned the Board of Education about an increase in ransomware and phishing attacks.

Over the past three years, Ed Farm has opened K-12 learning spaces to train students in STEM, created specialized training to empower STEM teachers and provided virtual resources and tech internships at the university level.

Twenty-four founders of tech companies in Alabama endorsed the college's request for a one-time infusion of public money, advising the state not to lose a valuable part of its talent pipeline for the innovation sector.