Technology
States were not prepared to face COVID-era UI fraud, congressional report says
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic said states paid out more than $191 billion in fraudulent payments. Data-driven oversight could have mitigated some of those losses, the report said.
At legislators' retreat, lawmakers discuss AI and economic growth
City & State’s Legislators’ Retreat featured keynote speeches from Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez and Center for an Urban Future executive director Jonathan Bowles.
A change at Route Fifty
We are shifting our focus to report on how state and local governments are using technology, and will keep following innovative solutions to pressing challenges.
Empowering state and local governments in the evolving tech landscape
COMMENTARY | Agency employees can leverage new developments to deliver positive outcomes for their constituents. It is up to them to seize these new opportunities.
Public health tech must be agile in post-COVID world, Virginia official says
Agencies had to quickly stand up new systems to track cases and vaccines, among other things. With federal help reduced, they need to be sustainable with their tech investments.
Government technology segments to watch
COMMENTARY | With all the pressures on government agencies, they must embrace innovative solutions.
Florida’s Deloitte-run computer system cut off new moms entitled to Medicaid
Florida discovered a glitch in its Deloitte-run Medicaid eligibility system. The problem, alleged in court testimony, led to new mothers wrongly losing their insurance coverage.
How one policymaker is dabbling as a social influencer
A New York City council member is turning to social media and short-form videos to interact with residents.
State's education department offers schools guidance on limiting student cell phone use
So far, at least eight Oregon school districts have either banned cell phone use in some schools, in individual classes or in all schools.
End of SNAP’s pandemic internet deduction pinches some Kentuckians at grocery store
JD Charles is among 11,800 Kentuckians who lost SNAP benefits Oct. 1. The $23 a month helped him get by on his Social Security disability income.
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Nevada says it worked out the kinks in its new voter system in time for the election, but concerns remain
After recent practice runs showed significant problems in transferring data accurately, the battleground state’s new centralized voter registration system will get its first real-world test in a major presidential election.
How Nebraska's new tech chief is moving the state out of the era of mainframes and landlines
Nebraska’s technology infrastructure is outdated and its data is largely neglected. Matthew McCarville, the state’s new CIO, has big plans to change that, and it starts with the state’s employees.
Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month should be every month
COMMENTARY | Cybercrime costs have surpassed $10 trillion globally, illustrating the relentless threat and why state CISOs say they want the spotlight on cybersecurity year-round.
Letter from Congress warns county against Chinese drone use
Arguing that the drones put privacy and national security at risk, a U.S. House committee is asking the country to stop buying them. The letter hints its efforts could expand to localities nationwide.
Computer programs monitor students’ every word in the name of safety
Companies tout security features; privacy advocates dislike constant surveillance.
What states learned from the CrowdStrike outage
Three months since a faulty update caused outages and disruptions worldwide, state CIOs are looking back and assessing how they did.
State CIOs take on bigger role in natural disasters
A recent survey of state tech leaders found that CIOs are increasingly an integral part of state emergency operations, tasked with making sure critical systems and communications remain available.
Move over! Two map apps to notify drivers when state police are stopped ahead
The Illinois State Police is using Waze and Google Maps to alert drivers in real time about roadside personnel in an effort to cut down on injuries.
Amid tight budgets and talent gaps, the job of state technology chief just keeps expanding
Many state chief information security officers say they don’t have a reliable budget, staff or expertise to adequately protect against cyberattacks, according to a new survey.
State IT innovations honored in annual awards
States’ efforts to improve the delivery of benefits, such as food stamps and Medicaid, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance residents’ overall digital experiences were recognized by the association of state IT leaders.
