Local Government

With Thanksgiving days away, GIS technology has been helping cities and local organizations understand how and where food insecurity impacts residents in their communities so they can prepare accordingly.

Amid account verification turmoil and warnings of potential outages at Twitter, some agencies say they have no plans to leave, but are alerting users to other social media options and tips for spotting real accounts.

The Willmar City Council on Monday approved an audit of the current Internet infrastructure throughout the city. The project will cost $42,486 and will be conducted by Hometown Fiber.

The project is expected to connect more than 1,700 homes with high-speed Internet. About 5,000 people live on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, but only about 59 percent of households have broadband Internet subscriptions.

In anticipation of the FCC releasing its new nationwide broadband maps today, Government Technology spoke with several industry experts to better understand how these maps will work and some of the challenges still ahead.

A review of recent financial reports from the industry — including from gov tech giant Tyler Technologies — shows how companies plan to grow in the midst of economic anxieties. Public safety and the cloud play big roles.

Election-related disinformation built on strategies tested in 2020, and its believers remain a strong community, those watching the space say. Though voters rejected many election denier candidates, there is still cause for concern.

A study on municipal operations recommended that the city hire more staff and introduce more technology to address needs in its building, planning and code enforcement departments.

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners agreed last week to a software upgrade that manages building permit applications. Tyler Technologies’ EnerGov software was selected for the project.

The Washington city first began talks of implementing body cameras and in-car dashboard cameras back in 2015, but funding to make it happen wasn’t approved until last year. Officers began wearing the devices Oct. 31.

Mayor Byron W. Brown's capital spending proposal for next year includes a $1 million allocation for an electric vehicle charging network throughout the city, though exact placement of the stations is yet to be determined.

The new TravelSafely app, released Thursday, aims to make streets safer for drivers, walkers and cyclists. The app connects drivers to an electronic network of intersection and crosswalk data, and to each other, city officials said.

Talks between the city and Hawaii media outlets have not resulted in an agreement to reopen public access to emergency services radio traffic. Officials say the channels will remain closed for at least 90 days.

Airports are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technologies to meet their daily operational needs. These initiatives serve as real-world tests and economic drivers in the communities the airports serve.

Tarrant County becomes the first in that state to use the technology since Texas lawmakers approved remote marriage licenses last year. Military members and others could save time and money with the digital system.

The Daviess County Council has voted in favor of an update to its public safety radio system after encountering problems and service gaps. The fix will cost nearly $73,000 and will require all new equipment.

The Mercer County Commission allocated money the day after Election Day to replace the county's voting machines with a new system. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan and Coal Severance Tax.

Honorees in this year’s Digital Cities Survey from the Center for Digital Government elevated their municipalities’ resilience, while bolstering services and prioritizing engagement with their residents.