Virginia

The Destination Box, called DBX, is a gray storage locker about the size of a parking space and a few feet taller than a person. On top of each box is a large netted area where drones drop off packages.

CIO Bob Osmond said prioritizing system modernization, financial optimization and infrastructure enhancement is essential to providing the best tech resources to agencies and residents.

The U.S. General Services Administration has chosen to collaborate with four states to pilot a text notification platform geared toward enhancing internal and external communication surrounding federal benefits services.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s latest executive order on artificial intelligence targets the use of the technology in the classroom and offers standards to safeguard state databases and individual data.

The $418 million allocation includes contracts with Zearn, Ignite Reading and Lexia to help boost reading and math test scores. Elementary and middle school students statewide will have access to the added technology.

A pair of new studies take an in-depth look at the experiences of residents and businesses in Virginia who have fallen victim to cyber crimes, hoping the findings can inform strong cybersecurity moving forward.

Plus, support for continued ACP funding continues to grow; the FCC adopted final rules on digital discrimination; HUD has unveiled a streamlined enrollment process for the ACP; and more.

Governors Josh Shapiro and Glenn Youngkin have issued new guidance on the use of artificial intelligence technology in state government. Both orders seek to create a more solid foundation for the rapidly evolving technology.

Plus, a new module is added to the Broadband Infrastructure Playbook, Virginia is the latest state to release its five-year broadband action plan, and more.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, which oversees more than 40 transit agencies in the state, has partnered with technology provider Via to give all agencies access to the Remix planning platform.

A failed cybersecurity attack is responsible for Newport News Public Library branch computers being out of operation the past three weeks, with city officials saying they blocked the attack.

Virginia and Maryland are utilizing various workforce strategies to create online training programs, empower agencies with a pipeline of skilled workers and provide existing employees with upskill opportunities.

Virginia CIO Bob Osmond views innovative emerging tech like artificial intelligence as a means to enhance, rather than replace, the work of state IT staff.

Three HBCUs in Virginia will receive nearly $10 million in federal funding from the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to close the digital divide and provide students with additional tech job training.

Jefferson Lab, the Department of Energy particle accelerator facility in Newport News, plans to hire dozens of new positions and upgrade research equipment and workspaces with millions in new federal funding.

The majority of states are abandoning third-party cyber insurance for self-insurance, says Colorado CISO Ray Yepes. Plus, Virginia and Alaska cyber leads talk federal cyber grants and the importance of understanding local needs.

As of July 1, state agencies are required to report certain cybersecurity incidents to the Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center. Officials hope the law will improve the response to attacks across the commonwealth.

As cybersecurity continues to concern state governments, many have turned to task forces to address issues such as ransomware, phishing and other threats. But what have they accomplished so far?