Local Government

Some property-related offices in Jackson County, Mo., were closed Tuesday due to computer malfunctions. A ransomware attack, the county said in a statement, is “a potential cause,” but no data currently appears to have been compromised.

The city will lease space at Stockton 1 Data Center on a barge at the Port of Stockton. San Joaquin County is among other public- and private-sector entities renting space at the Nautilus Data Technologies facility.

The Orange County city is “a little bit behind the curve” in crime-fighting tech, its police chief told the City Council recently. It intends to make a dent in crime by adding license plate readers and video cameras to its streetscape.

The Silicon Valley city has marked itself as a leader in AI with establishment of the GovAI Coalition and early adoption of guidelines — and CIO Khaled Tawfik says AI will likely change how leaders approach technology.

The City Council will consider a two-year lease of 10 automatic license plate-reading cameras, technology already in use in nearby Santa Cruz and Watsonville. In the latter city, its cameras helped catch a suspect in a Capitola fatal hit-and-run.

Reducing vehicle miles is the most powerful way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, an executive at StreetLight Data said. Its new 2024 U.S. Transportation Climate Impact Index ranks the nation’s 100 most populous metropolitan areas.

Kansas-based QTS Realty Trust will build a more than 210,000-square-foot, two-story data center in Irving, Texas. Plans are to commence construction in August. The project is just the latest in the area’s robust market for data centers.

Attackers are seeking $700,000 from the Tarrant Appraisal District, following an incident last week that took its new website offline. It’s unclear whether sensitive information has been compromised, a cybersecurity attorney said.

Elections officials have deployed new voting machines at three vote centers to better accommodate people with disabilities, and a way for voters to “cure” or fix signature problems via text message. In-person voting began Monday morning.

After two years as the Tennessee city’s tech leader, Tyson Morris will pursue other opportunities. He said Friday he is committed to continuing his work using technology to help people.

The Tarrant Appraisal District’s site was down for a few hours Thursday and officials are assessing the issue with cybersecurity experts. No sensitive data is believed to have been affected.

The nonprofit accelerator, which focuses on government technology, says the 10 startups will show off their offerings before officials from several municipalities. The areas of innovation could foreshadow the future of the industry.

Portico, the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s new portal, features an online assistant to help expedite modernization for historically significant buildings and sites. It replaces a system that had only recently begun moving off paper.

New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey said his agency’s body camera deployment has “made our community better.” Police officers at the city department have been using body cams since the summer of 2023.

San Jose, Calif., has announced several steps to shape AI governance, including an open letter to stakeholders, a resource toolkit and an invitation to participate in its growing GovAI Coalition. A meeting is set for next Wednesday.

Making good on the promise of generative AI requires a foundation of clean data and clear policies. Chief data officers and AI experts weigh in on practical ways to build a strong program.

Hayden has been at the city since 1986, most recently as infrastructure services manager, a role he has had for nearly 17 years. He's leading the Technology and Innovation Department, which has a staff of around 128.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday asked a state commission to not approve the carrier’s application to end landline service in areas of its jurisdiction. Landlines are the only option for some residents who lack cell reception.