Louisiana

Armed with federal infrastructure funding, Louisiana is gearing up to run a massive $1.36 billion grant program aimed at ensuring that every community has access to high-speed Internet.

The literacy software company Amira Learning announced a partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education to provide AI-powered reading assistance to roughly 100,000 students starting this fall.

Louisiana's top election official announced Wednesday that the state has entered into a data-sharing agreement with Alabama meant to "ensure the further accuracy of their voter registration lists."

A data breach in June by the Akira Ransomware Group exposed files containing personal identifiable information. Officials don't know if the attackers copied those files, but they expect the district to recover by Aug. 1.

Many rural families are having to make do with mobile hotspots, while a recent report by the Legislative Auditor's Office show some planned broadband projects have yet to enter the construction phase.

Plus, the FCC is updating its broadband data collection process, Texas has launched a dashboard on public library Internet speeds, Louisiana is offering online skills training, and more.

The state will require students to stow phones during class — a decision that comes as states across the country fight back against excessive teen phone use, citing growing research on its negative impact.

What started as adult education focused on agriculture and home economics has grown into a flagship program at Louisiana State University, with certifications in fields such as AI, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

With the help of a grant, the public library in Glenmora, La., has deployed telehealth kiosks to its branches, offering equipment like blood pressure measuring cuffs and scales for residents to use.

VR headsets and 3D printers help the Verizon Innovation Learning Lab create interest in STEM at the Dorothy Height Charter School. Educators and school leaders toured it during the National School Boards Association Annual Conference.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley sees an opportunity in emerging artificial intelligence tools to give students personalized, high-dosage tutoring at far lower expense than well-trained human tutors.

Williams, a veteran of Louisiana state government and technology operations, takes over for one of the longest serving state CIOs in the country. Howze left that job earlier this year.

Baton Rogue, La., is turning to license plate readers and an artificial intelligence program called ZeroEyes, which analyzes images from security cameras and sends alerts to authorities if a firearm is detected.

With a new governor in place, Howze retired from a job he had held for nearly 11 years. During his time with the Office of Technology Services, he worked to reduce the technical debt while also spearheading online bidding, security and other projects.

Plus, a new dashboard compiles state-level rules on digital transformation, the American Library Association launches a new digital inclusion working group for library staffers, and more.

As Government Technology reflected on another year in the books, we asked state CIOs: What stood out for you in 2023?

A nonprofit contractor at Louisiana State University works closely with the U.S. Department of Defense and other national-security agencies to align the efforts of researchers with the needs of the defense industry.

Federal officials say that Louisiana has completed seven of eight requirements — more than any other state — toward awarding construction contracts that will deliver high-speed Internet.