Civic Tech

The Washington, D.C., nonprofit has introduced an Innovation and Incubation Fellowship to drive technology work that enhances accessibility and equity in government services. Its first fellow hails from the U.S. Digital Service.

The sheriff’s department continues to promote the app, which actually debuted last year, as “an innovative way for us to connect with residents, businesses and visitors.” Through it, people can report crimes, and the sheriff’s office can send alerts.

The shift is designed to let the city offer more details about its 2025 budget, the subject of a public hearing Nov. 11. This is the first year Eau Claire has used the new budgeting software and, following state statute, it offers a print version as well.

After a delay, Linn-Benton Community College will roll out its new electric vehicle program in 2025. The program is designed to recruit women to the field, but had difficulty attracting qualified instructors. It is aimed at filling a training gap for EV technicians.

Next-generation 911 with the resilience of a modern, digital, Internet protocol-based network was essential to North Carolina’s storm response. It enabled officials to answer nearly 90,000 emergency calls in three days.

The concept of a “smart city” or “connected community” has been around for decades, but experts argue the meaning of the term, and the expectations around it, have changed in recent years. Residential input remains vital, city leaders explain.

The facilities are definitely a popular trend in metropolitan Denver, potentially moreso than statewide. A tax exemption program could make the state as a whole more attractive, one observer said.

Libraries taking part in a Digital Equity Pilot Project will bring on digital helpers to give residents free tech assistance and build online skills. A $250,000 national leadership grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services underpins the effort.

The City Council is examining how the city’s famous views are being preserved. A recent study session on design and development standards included a proposal to use new software to examine how views would be impacted by proposed development.

The City Council has approved buying software and equipment to underpin an online portal capable of tracking water use daily or hourly. It could help residents who use it spot leaks and call out emergencies.

A City Council committee will consider next week a new contract with the company that provides the gunshot-detecting tech. Chicago and Seattle have moved away from it, and Houston's mayor has indicated he wants the city to drop it.

Students at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, Calif., started the nonprofit 404 Found Code to teach younger children concepts of coding. Now they have funding and gifts from tech companies and plan to expand.

Agencies in Southern Maine have tried using software with artificial intelligence to draft police reports. Officers who have tried it have said it produces an accurate summary, but observers are worried it may impact narratives and fairness.

How Iowa was able to navigate the red tape involved with real-time child-care search, vacancy and supply and demand dashboards to help parents quickly find available child care in the state.

In migrating to a more advanced digital platform, and moving off timecards, officials hope to save hours of time and eliminate inaccuracies and accounting errors. The timecard system will be retired next month.

The Windy City’s contract for the gun detection service will expire shortly, but two aldermen have launched attempts to extend it. A parliamentary move or a special vote could potentially compel an extension.

The organization that popularized civic hackathons is now taking on the responsible use of AI in government. Code for America draws on the collective expertise of the public, tech and nonprofit sectors to tackle societal challenges.

A tech startup is leveraging AI to empower tribal nations in navigating the complex landscape of grant funding. Their solution is tailored to address these communities’ unique challenges and data sovereignty concerns.