Civic Tech

Plus, the Federal Chief Data Officers Council has launched a new website with an absolutely perfect URL, the U.S. Treasury tapes artificial intelligence to help parse spending bills faster and more.

Plus, an open source tool tracks first 100 days in office for new Baltimore mayor; Baton Rouge, La., releases an open data policy report with plans for expansion, and Houston looks to hire a new CDO.

Plus, a new Kentucky state website allows visitors to test the speed of their connections, Miami has launched a new app to enable business licensing online via smartphones or computers, and more.

Plus, one of President Biden’s early executive orders calls for establishing an equitable data working group, the WhiteHouse.Gov analytics site gets an update for the first time in years, and more.

Plus, Code for America names Emily K. Tracy as chief revenue officer; the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge focuses on ideas stemming from COVID-19; City Innovate shares its STIR Lab partnerships; and more.

Plus, Code for America condemns the attack on the U.S. Capitol; the U.S. State Department adds its first permanent chief data officer position; and Congress directs FCC to create emergency broadband funds.

Using human-centered design principles and behavioral nudges, researchers revised court summons for low-level offenders and instituted a text messaging reminder system, increasing court appearance rates.

Plus, Michigan’s central IT shop has now released new data about its work helping with the pandemic response, the University of Kansas shares its 54th edition of a statewide data set, and more.

Santa Fe city officials are working with researchers from Carnegie Mellon University to implement a first-of-its-kind smartphone app that would let residents track when COVID-19 is impacting their social circle.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has joined an international network that tracks the large-scale movements of birds, bats and large insects, turning to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.

Plus, Philadelphia launches a new used technology donation program aimed at helping to close the digital divide, a federal agency releases hospital-level facility data related to COVID, and more.

The Navy has established new "Tech Bridges" in Hawaii and the Gulf Coast, with the Hawaii branch expected to be a super connector tying together state and local government, industry and academia to solve Navy problems.

Plus, Code for America expands its focus on taxes with a new leadership hire, a new Pew Charitable Trusts analysis examines how much broadband speed is needed for American households, and more.

For many jurisdictions, moving citizen services online was a long-term, “nice-to-have” project, but the pandemic forced new ways to bring city hall to the people, rather than the people to city hall.

Plus, Seattle IT is now accepting applications for its long-standing Technology Matching Fund grants program, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center wins TIME 2020 invention award, and more.

Plus, New York City announces winning projects for its civic tech contest around protecting tenant rights; MasterCard extends its City Possible network; Boston revamps its online housing assistance platform; and more.

A civic tech fellowship that was born out of crisis response earlier this year has now lead to nearly half a dozen successful digitization projects in New York City, with no sign of slowing down.

Plus, the NDIA reaches a new 500-affiliate milestone amid a crisis that emphasizes importance of its work; Pittsburgh groups to host a month of GIS events; and Delaware has launched a COVID-19 alert app.