California

With the average cost of breaches on the rise, cybersecurity must be regarded like any other disaster, according to the Local Government Cybersecurity Alliance. Residual costs of incidents must be accounted for, a co-founder said.

Chief Data Officer Jason Lally, who had been in state service for a total of about four years, announced he has departed from the role. Gov. Gavin Newsom had appointed him to the position in June 2024.

An additional layer of tech is helping the state’s Employment Development Department, targeted by fraudsters during the COVID-19 pandemic, smooth out identity verification and make defenses harder to penetrate.

As the invasive insect spreads, putting plant populations like grapevines and their related industries at risk, governments at all levels are using technology like drones and GIS to monitor the issue.

The program, Cafecito y Computadoras — “Coffee and Computers” in Spanish — offers bilingual classes that combine digital fundamentals with AI literacy for up to 300 residents.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office is working with the ed-tech vendor Liaison to make the CCCApply system more user-friendly, automated and secure.

To make sense of a complex state initiative, many school districts in California have turned to the behavioral health technology platform TadHealth that simplifies complex billing processes for users.

Public- and private-sector security leaders examined trends in cyber threats at the recent California Cybersecurity Education Summit. During an attack, one said, responding quickly is still very important.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced a handful of new laws regulating artificial intelligence and social media even as he vetoed what he said were overly broad measures to regulate the technology.

The California county, the nation’s most populous, improved the accuracy of its threat identification with a new solution, and saved millions of dollars in staff hours. Benefits were immediate.

Mayor Daniel Lurie has named Jessica MacLeod the city’s first chief of strategy and performance. A gov tech veteran, her previous roles include serving as director of digital service and open government for San Rafael, Calif.

Assembly Bill 1064, the Leading Ethical AI Development for Kids Act, aims to safeguard children from harmful companion chatbots. Lawmakers approved the bill and it is now awaiting action from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The ninth annual Government Experience Awards celebrates the states, counties and cities that are leveraging technology as a strategic tool to better deliver the services residents need when they need them.

The city’s new IT Innovation Hub gives tech companies a platform to pitch solutions that support civic priorities. Submissions could advance to become pilot projects or stimulate requests for proposals.

As states like Ohio, Oregon and California modernize their unemployment insurance platforms, they're putting security at the forefront, as well as the ability to adapt quickly to future needs.

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority announced the launch of the Zero-Emission Multiple Unit, or ZEMU, earlier in September after about 10 months of testing on the Arrow route.

Before last week, no one had ever reached the bottom of Lake Tahoe, despite the attempts of past engineers and researchers, but a new remotely operated vehicle has now changed that.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District’s newest $325 million addition to the Orinda Water Treatment Plant centers around a high-tech plan to use ultraviolet light as a primary decontamination strategy.