Local Government

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.

Wentworth, who has been in county service since 1996, will lead the Information Services Department as director and CIO. He had been serving as interim CIO since May, following the departure of Jon Walton.

A city audit indicates that the Portland Police Bureau should have been more transparent and purposeful with the personal information it collected about racial justice protesters in 2020.

This week, State of Place Founder and CEO Mariela Alfonzo, with a Ph.D. in urban planning, answers the “In Case You Missed It” crew’s questions on urban design, spatial justice and how our environment impacts our lives.

John Gonzalez, communications manager for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, on balancing the entertaining and the informative on Twitter and how to tailor messages for different social platforms.

Madison, Wis., is slowly moving from online to in-person committee meetings after two years of nearly exclusive online remote municipal sessions due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county’s public library and information technology department partnered to assemble a task force that is developing a long-term plan to increase access to affordable and reliable broadband Internet.

First responders in Jefferson County, N.Y., are now using an upgraded and improved public safety radio system. The project was constructed over 10 years, and the county saved $15 million in the process.

Various organizations have come together to create Tech Equity Miami, an initiative that aims to provide $100 million over five years to improve equity in the Miami-Dade tech sector.

As cyber attacks on infrastructure like utility services increase globally, city and county leadership must look to other governing bodies and cybersecurity experts to strengthen their own systems.

When it comes to accessibility and inclusion, there are steps local and state agencies can take — and others that should be avoided — to provide an equitable government service experience across populations.