Local Government

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and some groups in the public sector have already announced plans to address a range of topics, including password protection, phishing and social media safety.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Southwest Research Institute will develop a Transportation System Management and Operations data exchange platform, to improve coordination on regional mobility.

An entity has claimed responsibility for the Sept. 4 cyber attack on the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. It’s not clear whether it has demanded a ransom, but leaders are working “around the clock” on a restoration.

Unswayed by neighborhood opposition, Statesville City Council unanimously approved a developer’s planned data center on 330 acres of land previously used for farming in western Iredell County.

Veteran technologist Alison Deigan, who spent two decades in federal service and oversaw a $150 million technology portfolio, has been appointed the county’s new IT director. The role, she said, has personal significance.

Following a new state mandate that municipalities update IT policies, village officials are mulling a new cybersecurity policy. Its precise details, due to state requirement, may not be publicly available.

Three law enforcement agencies are seeking to establish a $10 million self-governing authority within a statewide information sharing agreement, a shift from the current model overseen by the county.

The new plan includes revised policy informed by the nearly 40 AI pilot projects already underway. The city will also be hiring a new AI leadership position to implement the updated plan.

The company joins a handful of other government technology suppliers that are publicly traded. Via, which was founded in 2012, could now be on the hunt for acquisitions, according to its CEO.

Commissioners have called for a moratorium on data center development in the city – recommending it to the Board of Aldermen. The city’s mayor said she is supportive of a temporary pause.

The city’s series will offer community members training about AI, data privacy, and other digital skills through hands-on learning opportunities. The first workshop is scheduled to be held Oct. 8.

The Urban Land Institute is partnering with cities and a university in California and Nevada in a one-year program to develop policies and programs around extreme heat mitigation and planning.

The city’s Department of Buildings wants to improve its “workforce efficiency,” and is giving companies a chance to produce results. This marks the second such contest, the first of which produced eight winning firms.

A regional trash hauler is seeking 25-year pickup contracts from cities and counties in the southeastern area. It is also finalizing negotiations with a disposal company that uses AI and robotics to sort trash.

The organization’s new solutions and service blueprints provide states with step-by-step guidance to identify challenges, simplify reporting and improve residents’ access to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

The incident over a period in late June enabled outside access to the county’s Children and Youth Services recipients’ health data, including Social Security numbers. Officials are unaware of the information being misused.

Local governments have been deliberate in rolling out and using the unmanned devices. Transparent information, one analyst said, can help law enforcement find the “big picture” and determine if drones are worth it.

North Dakota’s cybersecurity strategy, overseen by its new CISO, involves elevating the security posture of public entities across the state — a method that is enhanced by its statewide network.