Local Government

Plus, Detroit’s parks are getting public Wi-Fi; the White House has launched invest.gov; New York continues to up enrollment in broadband program; and more.

Centre County Commissioners have voted to advance broadband expansion project proposals from two Internet service providers. The county will apply for part of $200 million in state funding for the final proposals.

After several high-profile interstate shootings, city officials are calling for new technology to help catch those pulling the trigger. Unlike shootings in neighborhoods, the interstate often leaves police with few witnesses.

Existing data gaps related to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community must be understood and addressed in order for government agencies to equitably serve the needs of constituents regardless of identity.

The Spotsylvania County Planning Commission is looking at amending its rules around data centers as they relate to the Comprehensive Plan. The region has recently become a popular place for businesses to set up server farms.

The city of Miami has created a data visualization in less than a month as part of an effort to educate and inform both city residents and local businesses about the city. The tool has a wealth of regional data to explore.

The Detroit Parks Coalition, along with the city and Connect 313, announced that they will be installing Wi-Fi at five parks as part of a $265,000 program aimed at closing the digital divide.

Open data portals were a good first step toward putting the massive amount of information government holds to work. But now, experts say data should drive storytelling and decision-making across the enterprise.

Liz Rodgers replaces Aldona Valicenti, who has led the city's IT department as CIO for more than a decade. Valicenti, meanwhile, will be heading to the private sector as a consultant.

The $20 million contract meant to connect every Cleveland resident to high-speed Internet was put on hold this week when concerns were raised about whether the nonprofit DigitalC has the capabilities to see the work through.

Housing and other development built in concert with transit stops are solving the persistent last-mile gaps in U.S. transportation planning. In Miami, a new development could serve as a model for other cities.

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office announced that the private information of 58,000 voters was exposed when an unauthorized user appeared to have accessed and copied files containing personal identification information.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and California's ACLU chapters have asked more than 70 law enforcement agencies in the state to stop sharing location data from automated license plate readers with agencies in anti-abortion states.

The Walpole Police Department is finalizing its policy for the drone it bought last year. The department has been using it off and on since last summer, and some have voiced privacy concerns about the technology.

Longtime Maricopa County IT leader Richard McHattie will fill the role left open when former CIO Ed Winfield retired earlier this year. McHattie brings more than 15 years worth of public-sector experience to the role.

The two companies provide licensing and permitting software to public agencies, with Camino, the younger firm, focusing on small- and medium-sized agencies. Clariti expects even more growth to take place in 2023.

Does your local government need a stance on generative AI? Boston encourages staff’s “responsible experimentation,” Seattle’s interim policy outlines cautions, and King County begins considering what responsible generative AI use might be.

Following the recent launch of Yolo Urban-Rural Ride for Knights Landing and the Winters area, Yolo Transportation District is preparing a new on-demand, point-to-point bus service for Woodland.