Policy

Plus, the public comment period is now open for the broadband programs within the new infrastructure bill; Maine has named the first leader for its broadband authority; and a New Jersey city works on digital inclusion.

Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, announced Wednesday she will introduce legislation to leverage an expected $200 million in federal dollars to expand Internet services in underserved Oregon communities.

The latest talks between the federal government and the city of Portland, Ore., on police reform have led to a couple of major agreements, including a body camera measure that will involve Justice Department approval.

The recently proposed legislation would require an update of the state’s websites, implementation of modern customer service experiences and a transition from paper processes to more intuitive digital formats.

Birmingham City Schools is spending $29.5 million on extra instruction, after-school care and intersession periods for schools like Brown Elementary, where reading proficiency is about 13 percent.

The state’s 2022 legislative session will seek to address the growing shortage of teachers across all subjects, falling student proficiency scores and grades after 22 months of hybrid classes, school choice and more.

The grant from the National Science Foundation will provide scholarships for 18 students to study computer science, math, biology, engineering technology or other subjects at the university over the next six years.

Notwithstanding concerns about privacy and how data might be used, Lake County will now permit its municipalities to install automated license plate readers on roads owned by the county.

The acting police chief of the Bridgeport Police Department said she attributes a recent reduction in shootings to ShotSpotter. She argues that the city needs more of the sensor technology.

Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster has proposed using American Rescue Plan Act money, $3 million specifically, to help close the digital divide in the county. The county has a total of $11.74 million in ARPA funds.

Much attention has been given to the billions the bill will put toward bridges, cybersecurity and more. But behind the big-ticket items are many small projects. Here are some that will impact state and local government.

Private investment, coupled with an unprecedented level of public investment from the recently passed infrastructure law, has presented the right mix of ingredients for even more public- and private-sector collaborations.

The effort comes from a recently enacted bill requiring the Office of Information Technology Services to notify state agencies of any data breaches and plans to remediate cyber attacks within 24 hours of discovery.

State Sen. Louis P. DiPalma is seeking more information about the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority data breach that allowed hackers to steal the personal information of thousands of state workers.

Pennsylvania legislators introduced bipartisan legislation yesterday that would allow an autonomous vehicle to be tested without a human behind the wheel. Officials believe the law could attract companies to the state.

The congressional investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack has revealed that misinformation about Antrim County, Mich., was part of a written plan to propagate Donald Trump's election fraud claims.

Pending legislative approval, the state wants to use loan forgiveness and deferrals, scholarships, and potentially reducing the time it takes for clinicians to get licensed to help bring 10,000 counselors into schools.

Over 500 people have signed an online petition asking Quincy Public Schools to temporarily allow remote learning amid a new wave of COVID-19 cases, while the state points to mounting evidence it’s been harmful for kids.