Local Government

With a winning vote of 11-9 by city aldermen, Madison, Wis., will soon launch a one-year police body camera pilot. Although the pilot has a number of critics, the police department supports the idea.

Tacoma, Wash., Police Chief Avery Moore presented his crime reduction plan to the city council yesterday. The plan will lean on data to identify where crimes are being committed the most.

After almost a year and a half of allowing electric scooters on its streets, Seattle has seen the number of scooter trips dwarf the number of bike trips. Some city council members still have safety concerns, however.

Soon, police in Pittsburg, Calif., will have to receive city council approval for the purchase, acquisition and use of military equipment, which includes items such as armored vehicles and chemical munitions.

Maine's county and city governments received a total of $191 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, but the majority of the money hasn't been spent. Officials say they're deliberately sitting on the money.

According to a report that examines the digital divide in St. Louis, between 250,000 and 300,000 households lack access to broadband. Low-income areas in the city face the most digital equity challenges.

The Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center in Windber, Pa., is in the process of developing a new telehealth program that aims to provide a higher quality of care. The program will help keep needed hospital beds open.

Following the February departure of Miami CIO Mike Sarasti, the city has appointed Deputy CIO Otto Contreras to serve in his place. The city has mounted a search for a permanent replacement.

Following interviews with 27 people who work directly in the country’s courts systems, a study by Next Century Cities has found that digitizing the courts may exclude residents on the wrong side of the digital divide.

The state’s Department of Information Resources will operate the new center in partnership with Angelo State University in San Angelo. The initiative will serve a range of local government and utility entities.

Far from being too small for notice, special districts can be tempting targets for cyber criminals and adversaries. Former CISA Director Chris Krebs explains risks and advice, and districts share their cyber concerns.

City Council approved a sweeping $21 million package on Wednesday to enhance the city's response to people in mental health crises—and Mayor Sylvester Turner pledged more support in the coming weeks.

New federal funding means state and local governments will have more digital infrastructure to support than ever. Investing in staff technology skills and finding creative ways to attract new hires are essential.

California's second most populous county has new leadership in its IT department; David Smith is set to officially take over the role May 20. Smith replaces Susan Green, who retired last month.

Last week, New York City released a digital version of the Mayor’s Management Report. The digital report intends to give residents an easy way to view and compare city agency data.

A group of Mitchell, S.D., residents is calling for a ban on 5G technology. The residents claim that 5G signals show up in certain parts of Mitchell, but officials say no company has installed 5G towers in the city.

The company, which sells computer-aided dispatch tech, says triage for 911 calls can reduce pressure on first responders. A program in Rochester, N.Y., also shows the potential for costs savings for public agencies.

After a pilot program, Chicago is expected to welcome 4,000 electric scooters to its streets next month. The program should help residents during a time of high gas prices, officials say.