COVID-19

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that prohibits businesses and government agencies in the state from asking people for proof — digital passport or otherwise — of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Republican politicians and privacy advocates are bristling over so-called vaccination passports, with some states moving to restrict their use. Critics say they create different classes of citizens.

As coronavirus vaccines become more widespread, critical questions arise around providing proof of vaccination. Blockchain or open source digital ledger technologies could offer a secure solution.

More than 28 million people in the United States have downloaded the mobile apps or activated exposure notifications on their smartphones. Critics say the technology has overemphasized privacy at the cost of usefulness.

Schools in Massachusetts are using pooled testing to detect COVID-19 among students, despite skepticism about the method's accuracy and sensitivity. Proponents of the method say it's more cost-effective for schools with limited resources.

Spin is introducing remote-operated scooters in Boise, Idaho, an indication of the kinds of tech upgrades the devices are acquiring as they re-emerge in cities following the COVID-19-induced slowdown.

Answer: No.

Biden will sign an executive order directing agencies to use the Defense Production Act and "all appropriate authorities" to ramp up the manufacturing and delivery of supplies needed for COVID-19 response.

The COVID-19 vaccines are here, but rollout has been far slower than the government hoped for. Now the gov tech company Granicus is offering some free tools to help the public sector talk about vaccination programs.

Big Rock Technologies, a finalist in the NATO Innovation COVID Challenge, received approval from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., allowing the city to be the testing grounds for contactless delivery of COVID tests and medicine.

El Paso, Texas, residents who live near a Walmart on the east side of the city can potentially get an at-home COVID-19 testing kit delivered by drone, after the delivery service started Tuesday.

Cities across the nation have fast-tracked bold moves to expand dining and other business activity into city streets. The repurposing of these public spaces have positive effects that extend beyond simple economics.

The stay-at-home edicts at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic this spring made it obvious that thriving communities in Maine need broadband access, yet for scores of small towns, wider Internet access remains impossible.

Budget cuts are coming, but uncertainty surrounds them. So now experts are weighing in on how much money states might lose, what it will mean for technology work and what we can learn from the Great Recession.

Since the coronavirus pandemic has forced residents to stay inside of their homes, scooters have been left on the empty streets of San Antonio. The virus has been a monumental roadblock for on-demand transit companies.

All four scooter companies licensed to operate in the city of Atlanta have been pulled of off the streets due to the virus pandemic. The micro-mobility businesses have seen a sharp decline in business and are a non-essential service.

Work to bridge the digital divide has gained momentum in recent years in state and local government, and it may be boosted further by the novel coronavirus reinforcing the importance of having the Internet at home.

Advocates and government staffers in the broadband and digital equity space say there is a renewed interest in supporting their work, with shelter-at-home orders emphasizing the need to bridge digital divides.