Local Government

After a pilot project decreased wait times at a busy intersection by 25 percent to 30 percent, a city in the Bay Area is expanding use of AI-driven systems to detect traffic and instruct signals to speed up or slow down.

The program will debut on a handful of streets in town limits. Drivers observed going 10 or more miles per hour over the speed limit will be cited. The technology will only capture images of speeding vehicles.

Proposed by the state Department of Information Resources, the code would apply to all state agencies and local entities that procure, develop or deploy AI technology. It is now available for public comment.

Boston’s new 311 system replaces one that could no longer deliver on the city’s needs. The no-code platform leverages AI to help officials be more efficient and agile as these needs evolve.

The county, which is home to Chicago, has partnered with AidKit to issue $1,000 cash grants to homeowners there who are facing sharp property tax increases.

City councilors in Bangor, Maine, decided to remove the option for public comments at city meetings via Zoom after four weeks of disruptions by agitators who joined meetings under fake names.

AI technology is quickly placing itself at the center of digital government tools. But the goals in using it remain the same: improving efficiency, saving money and achieving better outcomes for residents.

RapidSOS, backed by Black Rock, acquired the Canadian company as gov tech suppliers race to sell the last tools for emergency calls and responses. It follows a larger Axon acquisition announced last week.

The Lagunitas Creek Spawner Dashboard is a resource offered by the Marin Municipal Water District, and it shows nesting grounds for coho, chinook, pink and chum salmon as well as steelhead trout.

With the average cost of breaches on the rise, cybersecurity must be regarded like any other disaster, according to the Local Government Cybersecurity Alliance. Residual costs of incidents must be accounted for, a co-founder said.

Los Angeles County is using new technology in its L.A. Found program, which aims to help the county find people with Alzheimer’s, autism, dementia, or other cognitive conditions who may wander.

As governments at all levels continue to embrace new developments in artificial intelligence, cities are using automation for everything from reducing first responder paperwork to streamlined permitting.

As state and local agencies worry about cybersecurity budget cuts and increased attacks, public officials and researchers try to build a network to boost digital defenses. Leaders of the effort discuss their aims.

The town board voted unanimously last month to put bags over the devices. A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the mayor will scrutinize how police use license plate readers and security cameras.

The 2025 Massachusetts AI Models program doled out seven grants, including five to university-led artificial intelligence research projects in manufacturing, energy and climate resilience.

A recent Amazon Web Services report points to continued global cloud growth across sectors, with security, compliance and cost ranking among the key factors shaping adoption.

The city has smoothed its development review process, expanding the types of projects that can move forward without conditional use approval. New software is next, coming this winter or spring.

The mayor and Board of Selectmen in Putnam, Conn., will convene this week for a special meeting regarding the police department’s use of license plate readers and security cameras in town.