Local Government

A bad update can bring down entire operations. Here’s how governments are returning to business as usual after the landmark CrowdStrike outage — and how to prepare for the next such incident.

John Matelski, the longtime CIO and director of innovation and technology at DeKalb County, Ga., is stepping down from the public sector. He will join the Center for Digital Government at e.Republic next week.

Local governments have turned to GIS tech to enhance their election process, for staff and voters alike. This year, several jurisdictions will debut new features to further improve transparency and make voting easier.

The library system has restored its Wi-Fi network and Internet access to publicly available computers, following a ransomware attack April 5 that disrupted phone lines as well. Mobile printing, however, remains offline.

The report, from the Communications Workers of America, critiques federally funded broadband work by 14 counties in the South, Northeast and Midwest on metrics including availability of project information.

Just a few years ago, only a handful of cities had chief data officers. Now that the position is more prevalent, experts take stock of what it takes to build an effective, data-driven local government.

The successful deployment of an online parking reservation system in June at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has revealed high demand for spaces. An expansion is likely in coming months.

Council members in the Washington county voted to adopt what’s known as the Safe Systems Approach, in a move to lower transportation fatalities. Technological aids like cameras and speed governors on official vehicles could follow.

A new app that went live Monday lets residents in the Pennsylvania village get alerts and updates in real time from the police department, ask for vacation checks on their properties and send confidential tips.

The city’s former Director of IT Alyssa Rodriguez has been appointed chief infrastructure officer/assistant city manager. Russell Nelson, now acting director of IT, had been Henderson’s deputy CIO for more than a decade.

Grove City, Ohio, has taken a cautious, intentional approach to regulating artificial intelligence. An AI policy enacted late last year specifies implementation of AI-powered tools is approved on a case-by-case basis.

The University of Michigan said its public safety department's phone system was down Friday, and some faculty and students might be affected. Henry Ford College also had to close for the day.

The new app, created in partnership with SaferWatch is mainly used by law enforcement and schools. The county will offer real-time alerts and information on local events through it; it can also intake tips to the county sheriff.

Over 67 acres owned by a Catholic liberal arts university in Irving, Texas, have been rezoned for a data center, slated for completion in 2027, that would support regional needs for data collection and artificial intelligence.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in partnership with Cubic Transportation Systems, will introduce new contactless tap-to-ride technology, where riders tap a credit card or digital wallet to pay transit fares.

Interim CIO Michael Makstman, in place since Jan. 1, has been made permanent and will lead the city-county’s Department of Technology. Makstman has been with San Francisco more than six years and was previously its CISO.

The local government declared a “local disaster emergency” due to a “significant disruption in services as a result of a criminal ransomware attack.” This follows disruptions to the county courthouse and probation/community corrections.

The first-place finishers in this year's Digital Counties Survey from the Center for Digital Government are those that have focused on modernizing major systems while also championing innovation.