Local Government

The project's first phase — which was funded through $3 million of CARES Act money last year — connected 415 homes in Clark County. The second phase will connect around 1,165 homes, though a timeline has not been established.

Officials in Harlingen, Texas, want to use $4 million to give all homes in the city basic access to the Internet. Officials note that the investment won't provide broadband-level speed.

Local governments, including Sacramento, Calif., and Kauai County, Hawaii, have turned to City Portal by Airbnb to develop and manage short-term rental policies and gain short-term rental market insights.

After the accidental firing of a weapon, the Virginia Beach Police Department has recalled all of its gun holsters. The special holster makes a body cam automatically turn on when an officer withdraws a gun.

The city of Lansing, Mich., modernized the process of marijuana business licensing through a new online records management system. The changes have simplified the process for city staff and end users.

It’s often said that people are the problem in IT security, but ensuring staff are engaged with cyber protocol, having a strong plan in place, and coordinating efforts across state and local agencies can stop attacks.

Next week, the Central Ohio Transit Authority will fully roll out a new digital fare system. Riders can pay with an app or smartcard with money loaded on it. The system automatically caps what users spend in a month.

The idea behind killware, a new type of cyber attack, is to disable or manipulate the electronic or computer equipment that humans depend on, resulting in potential harm or death to individuals.

Nadia Hansen concludes two years as CIO of Clark County, Nev., leaving behind a more human-centric department. In her next role, she will help support digital transitions for state and local governments worldwide.

States readying for the 2022 midterms will need to be prepared to push out truthful information to counteract the spread of fears and false narratives, and holdout states should adopt paper ballots.

Electrification, congestion pricing and how streets are used could all greatly influence the future of transportation in cities, say speakers at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo.

Plus, Philadelphia reports progress in getting residents connected to the Internet, Cleveland has a new program to connect residents to resources, an online map lets residents get involved with redistricting work, and more.

Public-sector and industry leaders remarked on the future of work at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo, saying remote should be the default to improve efficiencies and aid in recruitment.

Melissa Bridges, the first performance and innovation coordinator for Little Rock, Ark., has announced on social media that she will be leaving her position to join the private sector.

In one of the first panel discussions at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo, cybersecurity took center stage as experts advised for more spending, education and collaboration as threats increase.

The Big Sky Fire Department, located in the community of Big Sky, Mont., is testing out Pano's AI wildfire detection technology to help increase fire visibility and improve response efforts.

When a new mayor is seated in January, he will take over for an administration that, for eight years, worked to link technology, robotics and artificial intelligence with an influx of startups and its major universities.

Salem, Mass., officials are considering whether to allow electric bikes, noting that a state law forbidding the vehicles was written for license-requiring mopeds years ago rather than the new bikes with small motors.