Missouri

The state has faced a massive backlog of payments to child-care providers following the launch of a new child care data system in 2023, after which several technical problems were discovered.

Missouri is joining other states tackling income verification for the gig economy, investing in new tech backed by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal to reduce caseworker processing times and get faster assistance to those in need.

A former public school teacher filed a proposal last week for the upcoming 2025 session that would require public school districts and charters to adopt policies that largely prohibit use of smartphones during class.

While cybersecurity remains a high priority for many CIOs, we spoke to technology leaders to understand what other skills are difficult to find when recruiting new talent.

The $63 million upgrade began in 2021 and will replace 50 separate computer systems dating to the 1980s. Offices will be closed Nov. 8, giving officials a four-day weekend with the planned Nov. 11 Veterans Day closure to install and test new software and components.

A state-level Cybersecurity Commission, enacted by law in 2021, is required to meet quarterly at a minimum, and to report annually to Gov. Mike Parson. The governor, however, has not appointed any commission members.

The state hasn't broadly promoted the service yet, but Deputy CIO Paula Peters hopes one day residents across Missouri will also be able to access local government services through the platform.

Some school districts in southwest Missouri are transitioning their bus fleets to propane or electric, citing long-term savings, lower carbon emissions, rebates to reduce costs and an overall quieter ride for students.

Officials at the Missouri Botanical Garden, a National Historic Landmark in St. Louis, are using artificial intelligence to digitize their herbarium; and to assess how changing climates nationwide may impact trees.

To prepare students for a world of misinformation, legislation expected to pass in early 2025 would establish guidelines to teach digital media literacy in K-12 based on pilot programs at a handful of schools.

The county is preparing for a soft launch of reopening the assessment, collection and recorder of deeds offices to the public on April 16, according to a new press release from officials.

Fake videos designed to persuade Missouri voters would be banned within 90 days of an election under legislation that won broad support in the state’s Legislature Wednesday.

Missouri launched a data visualization tool last month after educators and families repeatedly requested an easier way to view and understand student achievement and growth indicators for local schools.

Missouri's statewide "Close the Gap" program offered low-income students up to $1,500 each through an online marketplace with hundreds of vendors, but it was stymied by technical glitches, price gouging and lack of inventory.

The University of Missouri is among several U.S. higher-ed institutions to receive an award from the National Science Foundation to create a new research hub focused on emerging tech applications across disciplines.

A proposal to create a cyberstalking task force is before state lawmakers for the third year in a row. The task force would be charged with developing best practices for preventing online harassment and for treating victims.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced on Friday it was awarding more than $7.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to 14 projects to improve cellular coverage across the state.

An internship program at the University of Central Missouri's Innovation Campus allows students to intern at local technology businesses, in fields such as software development and cybersecurity, while taking classes.