Policy

Furthering efforts to make Illinois an eco-friendly leader in battling climate change, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a package of incentives he said will boost the production of electric vehicles in the state.

Given widening gaps in K-12 student learning amid an influx of federal money for schools, reliable two-way communications between parents and teachers could help students forge relationships and stay engaged.

Several rural towns in Massachusetts have taken on millions in broadband-related debt. State lawmakers may allow the towns to use American Rescue Plan Act dollars to lighten the debt for taxpayers.

Lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice mailed a letter to Portland's city attorney and police chief recommending that all uniformed officers wear body cameras. Questions remain about how the cameras would be used.

ResourceX, which works on Priority-Based Budgeting, has pulled in a seed investment round right as the federal government is poised to pump billions of dollars in infrastructure funding into state and local government.

“The exciting nature of it is that it opens up so many opportunities for state and local innovation around this issue,” said Amy Huffman, policy director for the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

The recently-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act sets aside roughly $6 billion for grant awards meant to expand capabilities of U.S.-based battery research and development, looking to shore up the supply chain.

West Virginia has joined a broad, bipartisan coalition in writing to the Federal Communications Commission in support of its efforts to reduce illegal robocallers' access to legitimate phone numbers.

Local police chiefs shared a number of observations about technology, transparency and the social responsibility of police departments during a webinar hosted by Veritone and Microsoft early last week.

Seeing a precipitous decline in state proficiency exam scores, Illinois schools are looking to tutoring, teacher development, after-school programs and extra social-emotional support for students dealing with trauma.

As part of a project that affects multiple departments, Ohio is requiring unemployment insurance filers to create an account with the state's OH|ID platform. The ID will allow access to other state programs.

The three largest districts in Stanislaus County are testing new grading policies that take life circumstances into account, allow for grade recovery and focus on subject mastery, rather than attendance or extra credit.

Following in the footsteps of states like Florida and Nevada, North Carolina now allows "neighborhood occupantless vehicles" to deliver goods to homes. Legislators wanted to get ahead of a growing industry.

A Federal Trade Commission report says the largest Internet service providers don't clearly inform customers about the many ways their data is used and often have "problematic interfaces" for customer data options.

Plus, Kansas City, Mo., launches new phase in digital equity work; Wisconsin unveils new broadband grants; Philadelphia debuts an online tax center; and a data map tackles chain restaurants.

Kansas, which has strong standing in the aeronautics industry, could help lead the future of aviation by developing air taxis and other forms of advanced air mobility that may end "transportation deserts."

When COVID-19 broke out nationwide, the avalanche of related health data overwhelmed the federal government's outdated data infrastructure. More needs to be done if the country is to be ready for the next health crisis.

Tacoma Public Schools in Washington is considering switching to remote learning on days when inclement weather prohibits travel to school, and a local columnist argues that families need a break.