Local Government

Officials said online the city was hit by a “sophisticated, socially engineered phishing scheme” linked to construction of a recreation center. A payment of $432,739.21 was issued to an unauthorized entity.

The city recently launched the first phase of an online permitting portal, reflecting a larger, nationwide gov tech trend. An official leading that effort tells what the city has learned so far.

The program would involve sending drones out on 911 calls ahead or instead of police officers and would require a new technology contract. One result so far has been a saved life.

Shawn Smith will step down this month as IT director for Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to join the Tennessee consolidated city-county as its permanent CIO. He replaces an interim CIO who has been in place since mid-2024.

The County Council approved spending roughly $99,600 to upgrade mapping software. The intention, the county administrator said, is ensuring computer-aided dispatch sends public safety to the right place.

The City Council voted 5-1 to accept a nearly $21,000 state grant to purchase a drone for police. Vice Mayor Curt Diemer, the lone vote against, urged the city to take a serious look at “shrinking liberty.”

Months after shutting off most of its Flock Safety cameras due to privacy concerns, Richmond must now decide whether or not to give the company a second chance, a dilemma splitting the community.

Lea Eriksen, who has been serving as director of the Department of Technology and Innovation for the Southern California city, will become the next senior assistant city manager in Culver City.

Officials are moving toward bringing the city network back, allowing some email access, and posting City Council agenda items and the budget online. They discovered an attempted “interruption” last month.

Data center builds are on the rise across the country to power cloud computing and AI. Here’s how some local governments are taking action to ensure projects benefit the communities in which they are built.

The career technologist, who has held leadership roles in IT from Arizona to Oregon and San Jose to Seattle, will depart the public sector this month to join the division of e.Republic.

Experts and public-sector technologists say the AI-powered software development technique may one day offer government the ability to fast-track ideas, improve procurement and more.

City 911 center staff temporarily moved Feb. 17 to a statewide emergency communications center. Several city departments remain without Internet after the attempted “interruption” Feb. 13.

From San Jose, Calif., to Washington, D.C., cities are advancing AI training for staffers or members of the public. Mesa, Ariz., recently launched its own AI education initiative to support adoption.

Elizabeth Crowe, the city’s director of urban analytics and innovation, has been selected to serve as interim chief innovation and technology officer, a role formerly held by Stephanie Wernet.

Rain has long slowed the trains in the Northern California rail system. But a software upgrade is enabling gradual deceleration that is, so far, avoiding dramatic slowdowns in wet weather.

Jennifer Pittman-Leeper is GovRAMP’s new field CISO, which is an advisory role. Meanwhile, the nonprofit organization has now added North Carolina to the states that it provides cybersecurity guidance.

Tekquell Watson has more than 25 years of military and federal experience, including senior technical and leadership roles. She will oversee technology operations across the consolidated city-county government.