Alabama

The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that $192 million in broadband funding would be awarded to the state for rural expansion efforts. The money is expected to expand coverage to an estimated 55,000 locations.

Through a new contract with Alabama Supercomputer Authority, General Dynamics Information Technology will manage high-performance computing, cybersecurity, broadband and other services at K-12 and higher ed institutions.

Secretary of State-elect Wes Allen has announced his intention to withdraw from the Electronic Registration Information Center, a collaboration between 33 states aimed at cross-checking voter registration data.

School officials say technology and practices now in place for virtual instruction will help them deal with outbreaks when they occur, and minimize the need for closing schools and adding days to the end of the year.

The proposal would allow local governments to award funds designated for broadband infrastructure to public or private entities who provide broadband infrastructure with approval via public meeting.

The new state magnet school will serve as a technical education hub for students pursuing careers in the technology and cybersecurity space. The 26-acre campus is housed in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park.

The new 125,000-square-foot school includes science labs, machine shops, a fabrication and engineering lab, and a “cyber range” where students can learn to detect and mitigate cyber attacks in a controlled environment.

Mobile, Ala., police are praising their new gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter, which they say was used to arrest a juvenile shooter just hours after it first went live in the city earlier this week.

The university’s new course, with scholarships from Draganfly, offers an introduction to unmanned aerial vehicles, regulations, operation and navigation, and a chance to earn a remote pilot certification.