New Jersey

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka named his fourth public safety director in eight years, choosing a longtime city police officer and chief to replace an outsider who resigned last week two years after being hired.

Jersey City on Monday became the latest municipality to join a state program that pairs mental health professionals with police officers responding to 911 calls involving emotionally disturbed persons.

Plus, a new apprenticeship program will help bolster the broadband workforce, survivors of domestic violence can access support through the Lifeline program, and more.

A handful of districts are piloting the Transportant system and its Bus Compass app, allowing drivers to assign seats, and giving administrators tracking capabilities and a live feed of what’s happening on buses.

Burlington County, N.J., election officials are providing voters with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the county’s new voting machines prior to the 2024 general election.

The state’s new Disability Information Hub offers information about state programs, resources and assistance for people with disabilities. Their input helped guide its development and design.

The state announced the release earlier this month of a course on using generative artificial intelligence, for public-sector staffers in New Jersey and elsewhere. More coursework is coming later this summer.

Officials in Middletown, N.J., have proposed a policy banning smartphone use in classrooms, bathrooms, locker rooms and most spaces outside of high school free periods, as a statewide ban is discussed.

The agency received a $99.49 million grant to upgrade its Meadowlands Bus Garage. It will enable the 30-year-old facility to house, charge, and maintain electric buses, and increase service.

The state has been an early adopter of artificial intelligence, and is now equipping staff with the skills and knowledge they need to leverage AI securely. Training is free and voluntary.

Cities are no longer seeing their miles of streetscape as cheap parking spaces. Curbs are now considered some of the most in-demand pieces of urban real estate, and technology is stepping up to help manage them.

To build an ethical framework for AI in state government, New Jersey is surveying its employees to engage them in the process of creating a system that uses AI to enhance services and empower workers.

The Borough of Prospect Park has deployed a tool from gov tech startup Polimorphic to respond to incoming telephone calls. The artificial intelligence is helping a small staff connect with residents despite a reduced work week.

As governments grapple with how to roll out generative AI — or whether they even should — policies in Seattle, New Jersey and California aim to to be broad, easy to understand and relevant in the face of change.

Building an AI program is a daunting proposition, but government has to start somewhere. From strengthening cybersecurity to improving 311, a handful of early adopters are finding safe and practical uses.

With a new threat assessment report, state CISO Michael Geraghty recently raised warnings about cyber attacks with systemic impacts, geopolitical hacktivism and more.

CTO Chris Rein discusses the work of adjusting to a fast-evolving tech environment, as well as the progress his state has made on identity access and management, mainframe as a service and data sharing.

RIDE On Demand, a new shared on-demand transit service in Middlesex County, N.J., aims to give riders in the county seat more transit options and reduce traffic congestion. It arrives Tuesday through technology provider Via.