Drones
Coverage of ways unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are changing how state and local government collects data on physical infrastructure, maps jurisdictions via GIS and monitors public safety from the sky. Also includes stories about efforts by private-sector companies and education institutions to improve how drones can better help government deliver services.
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County commissioners approved a contract that will begin with a free nine-month pilot, but could extend to a three-year, $2.5 million pact. Residents voiced a variety of concerns about the drone program.
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County commissioners will consider expanding the sheriff’s office's use of Flock Safety technology by adding drones through a nine-month pilot program that is free to the jurisdiction.
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County commissioners will vote on accepting a nearly $10.7 million federal grant that would help police spot and deal with unauthorized drones during 2026 FIFA World Cup games in June.
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Drones have captured images of bridges, mansions, lighthouses and other historic structures across Wisconsin and the Midwest in recent years, gathering data before the sites are razed and gone.
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In an effort to increase transparency about emerging tech in police work, a new Minnesota law requires law enforcement agencies to submit annual reports about how they utilize and how much they spend on drones.
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Drones might be a better solution for controlling mosquitoes in remote areas that ground vehicles have a hard time accessing.
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In March an appeals panel ruled that township officials could not fly a drone over someone's backyard, take photos and use them to cite the homeowner for zoning violations, without first obtaining a warrant.
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As of last month, the U.S. Air Force has started using virtual reality provided by a New York-based company to get hunter-killer drone pilots and sensor operators up to speed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
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The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office announced a new drone program to help with search and rescue cases. The devices are equipped with infrared cameras, which provide infrared radiation and night imaging.
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The Texas county’s EMS now includes SPARTAN: a program using drones to assist first responders in various missions to improve public health and safety and give the department a better look at the big picture.
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Thanks to a partnership with New Jersey-based company Drone Express, Kroger is gearing up to fly goods to customers through a new drone delivery pilot. The effort might produce as many as 100 new jobs.
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Answer: Girl Scout Cookies.
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As use cases for drones continue to multiply, and more businesses incorporate them into regular operations, there’s a case to be made for teaching K-12 students how to use them. Here’s how schools can get started.
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Deuce Drone, an unmanned aerial delivery startup, has plans to begin making deliveries for local retailers in the Legacy Village shopping center. The drone technology relies on coded mats to pinpoint landing zones.
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Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris said the unmanned aircraft system will be useful when it comes to searching for missing children, hunters and elderly people and other law enforcement activities.
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This month marks the beginning of a unique pilot program in Wisconsin where tethered drones will boost Internet connections for students living in rural areas within the Northland Pines School District.
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The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport as one of five in the nation where companies will test technology that detects and blocks drones that pose a threat to commercial airlines.
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A bill unanimously passed by the Florida Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee aims to expand the use of drones by law enforcement and government agencies, spurring concern among privacy and civil rights advocates.
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According to a researcher, neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor states are sure about where drones should be allowed to fly, but drone highways above public roads offer one potential solution.
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Federal officials have announced new rules that will allow operators of small drones to fly over people and at night, a move that is expected to turbo-boost commercial use of the flying machines.
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Perhaps surprisingly, New York has a history of oil and gas drilling, largely in the western part of the state. At its peak in 1882, nearly 6.7 million barrels of crude oil were extracted in the Empire State.
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