Infrastructure
Nebraska wants data centers to come clean about water usage
The industry can be a black box of information. But as the state deals with persistent drought, residents and regulators want more answers.
Artificial Intelligence
What Rhode Island lawmakers did — and didn’t do — on AI, crypto and data centers
Lawmakers passed limited AI rules for companion models and healthcare. Broader tech regulations, including data centers, largely stalled, although a cryptocurrency study commission is finally coming.
Digital Government
The difference between ‘another dashboard’ and a useful one
COMMENTARY | A great dashboard requires clear ownership, and taking a closer look at your data culture.
Sponsor Content
Strengthening the state and local workforce with AI literacy
Discover how AI literacy helps state and local agencies accelerate adoption while strengthening responsible AI governance.
Digital Government
Automatic enrollment could make text reminders more cost efficient, expert says
An opt-out model for court date reminders can help reduce court date no-shows, which have significant time and financial costs for state and local governments.
Artificial Intelligence
New York governor signs nation’s first moratorium on large data centers
Kathy Hochul said the one-year ban on hyperscale data centers comes alongside an effort to establish standards for their development and prevent residents footing the bill.
Artificial Intelligence
AI, once relegated to helping hackers with certain tasks, can now power every stage of a cyberattack
Researchers determined that AI was used in steps across entire cyber operations to identify security flaws, generate commands and carry out parts of intrusions, sometimes with little human oversight. Both U.S. and Chinese AI models have been involved.
Finance
Cash App parent company to pay $45 million in multistate fraud settlement, state AG says
Virginia is among 46 participating states in the settlement with Block, Inc., the company behind Cash App. The commonwealth will receive about $845,500.
People
Beeck Center leader reflects on ‘bipartisan opportunity’ for government efficiency
Efforts at the federal level generated a lot of headlines, but at the state level, where the goal is delivery, a lot more progress can be made, said the head of the Georgetown University-based center.
Infrastructure
Feds launch groundbreaking electric plane pilot program in Virginia
The program, driven by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, is designed to accelerate the safe integration of advanced air mobility into the country’s national airspace system.
People
Trump empties out election commission leadership just months before midterms
The shake-up raises questions about voting system certification, federal election security coordination, and the commission’s ability to approve key policy decisions.
Featured eBooks
Artificial Intelligence
AI’s real promise for government: Shortening the distance from data to decision
COMMENTARY | The speed of decision-making matters for those in charge of government programs. AI can change that process from months to days, hours or minutes.
Sponsor Content
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Digital Government
Maryland’s foster care matching platform demonstrates continued success
The state’s Department of Human Services is seeing staff spend less time on manual administrative work and more time connecting youth with caregivers after a system modernization project, one official says.
Artificial Intelligence
Missoula County adopts temporary moratorium on data centers
The interim freeze would prohibit new or expanded data centers in the Montana county, excluding the city of Missoula.
Cybersecurity
Virginia nonprofit launches mobile tech education bus for underserved students
The cyber education bus is the latest way the nonprofit organization RFK Outreach will fulfill its goal to help children and teens learn about technology.
Digital Government
Breaking down silos: A practical guide for cross-agency data sharing
COMMENTARY | Regulations provide clear guidance on how to share responsibly, yet are routinely used to justify inaction. Being a responsible data steward means using the data, not just protecting it.
Artificial Intelligence
The nation’s housing crisis needs more than AI to solve it, experts say
The technology is just one of many levers to effecting change in the housing landscape for states and localities, experts say.
Artificial Intelligence
Illinois governor signs major AI safety law
The legislation requires large developers to identify, disclose and mitigate risks, protects whistleblowers and — in a national first — mandates regular third-party audits.
Cybersecurity
A Puerto Rico government agency exposed 1M Social Security numbers
A cybersecurity loophole in an official government mapping service left private data easily accessible, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo and ProPublica learned.
Artificial Intelligence
This permit, common for dry cleaners, is now being used to build AI power plants
Texas regulators are allowing AI data centers across the state to start up thousands of new pollution sources with no public notice or environmental reviews.
