Local Government

After more than a decade in roles at the city, Chris Craig was recently ratified by the Las Vegas City Council as the municipality's new director of the Innovation and Technologies Department.

The Denver City Council is poised to adopt new rules for shared electronic scooters that would add parking requirements in some places while also ushering in a ban on sidewalk riding.

The grant, which would have benefitted the Birmingham Biotechnology Hub, led by Southern Research, has been cancelled. The award followed its 2023 designation as one of 31 federal Tech Hubs, setting the stage for funding.

After hearing hours of comments from more than 50 residents, the Chesapeake Planning Commission denied a proposal for the city’s first large-scale data center. The project still could be greenlit by the City Council.

Its Board of Commissioners is examining a system that could result in the county being able to reduce its full-time hours. One idea still under discussion is the duration of a potential contract.

Darwin, an artificial intelligence-focused startup, has released a free tool that agencies can use to spark AI development. The move comes as lawmakers and other officials pay increased attention to AI.

Officials have agreed to spend nearly $1 million on electronic voter check-in systems that will enable virtual sign-language services for deaf voters. Each polling place will have at least two tablets with the software.

The district attorney’s office in Fort Bend County is investigating the Feb. 24 breach of the county’s library system, which led to $2.6 million in contracts with cybersecurity companies. Some library systems are still down.

The local government may limit data center development, holding it to an area in and near White Oak Technology park in eastern Henrico. Should this happen, data centers elsewhere would need supervisors’ approval.

The initiative is among its recent smart city endeavors. Others include working with Georgia Tech to debut a technology workspace that lets students learn among tech startups, and exploring smart mobility.

The City Council is considering adopting a range of new security cameras. Public opinion on the devices, however, has been mixed, both in emails to the city and testimony. A decision could come as soon as next month.

Just months in the making, the city’s new facility includes an advanced public safety hub with real-time video analytics and artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance to respond to incidents, and guide future strategy.

A new study from the Mineta Transportation Institute outlines the symbiotic relationship between highway tolling and transit, and how each program needs the other. Transportation panelists examined the idea recently.

Commissioners for the local government of just over 180,000 unanimously approved a new solution that will eliminate paper checks and offer the option of a payment card. A goal is making sure jurors actually spend the money they’re paid for service.

The East Bay city will offer the free service plus identity theft protection to people who may have been impacted in an August 2024 cybersecurity incident. An investigation is continuing.

Coweta County officials on Tuesday became the second metro Atlanta government to temporarily pause all new data center projects, to find their bearings amid an unprecedented wave of proposals.

Terawatt Infrastructure debuted a heavy-duty, high-speed truck charging location on the I-10 Consortium to electrify goods movement. It joins Greenlane, which recently opened its own large truck charging facility.

In a new report, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers proposes cybersecurity training for incarcerated people could enable them to more easily find work once released — addressing an acute staffing shortage.