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AFT Launches National AI Academy for Teachers with Microsoft, OpenAI
One of the nation’s largest teachers unions is launching an artificial intelligence training hub for teachers in partnership with top technology companies as industry members ramp up their push for AI education integration.  
  • New York Launches Website to Help Schools Prepare for Phone Ban
    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul launched a website on July 2 that provides resources for school districts across the state as they prepare to implement “bell-to-bell” restrictions on student use of smartphones for the coming school year.
  • Binghamton University Launches SafeBing App
    Binghamton University – located in Binghamton, N.Y., and part of the State University of New York system – has launched its new SafeBing mobile app that enables students, staff, faculty, parents, and family members to receive real-time emergency alerts and access a suite of campus safety resources directly from their smartphones.
  • MeriTalk Q&A: Illumio’s Gary Barlet Sizes Up SLG Cyber Outlook
    With a March presidential executive order putting some breathing room between the Federal government and states on cybersecurity protections – and state and local governments hoping for a second go-round of funding from Congress under the 2021 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) – we checked in with Gary Barlet, Illumio’s public sector chief technology officer, for his read on the new landscape.
Recent News
  1. Judge Extends TRO to Universities Suing DoD Over Research Funding Cuts
    A Federal judge has extended a temporary restraining order (TRO) for two additional weeks in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of major research universities against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
  2. Nevada Launches New Cyber Office, Names Deputy Director
    Nevada officially launched the state’s Office of Information Security & Cyber Defense (OISCD) on July 1 and appointed Adam Miller as its inaugural deputy director.
  3. New FCC Policy Plan Aims to Speed Broadband Infrastructure Expansion
    Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on July 2 unveiled his Build America Agenda that aims to have the agency pursue action on a number of fronts to pave the way for service providers to build out more fiber-based networks that provide high-speed broadband services.
  1. Senate Overwhelmingly Strikes AI Regulation Moratorium from Bill
    The U.S. Senate voted early Tuesday morning to drop from its reconciliation legislation a controversial 10-year moratorium on state regulation of artificial intelligence tech after the proposed ban met significant bipartisan pushback.
  2. Judge Grants TRO to Universities Suing DoD Over Research Funding Cuts
    A Federal judge last week temporarily blocked the Department of Defense (DoD) from implementing a controversial policy slashing research funding for U.S. universities by granting a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by a coalition of 12 major research institutions.
  3. MIT Names Gaspare LoDoca CIO
    The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has appointed Gaspare LoDuca vice president for information systems and technology (IS&T) and chief information officer (CIO), with a start date of Aug. 18.
  4. White House Secures AI K-12 Education Pledge from Over 60 Tech Giants
    The White House has announced that more than 60 companies have joined its pledge to provide K-12 students with resources to ready the next generation of workers for an AI-driven economy.  
  1. N.C. Names Woods Digital Opportunity Chief
    The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity has named Maggie Woods director of its Office of Digital Opportunity (ODT).
  2. Gov. Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity Across New York
    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday signed into law S.7672A/A.6769A, which aims to enhance the cybersecurity of state and local government networks across the state.
  3. Illinois Libraries Getting $1M in State Grants for Tech Upgrades
    Technology grants totaling more than $1 million are being awarded to libraries across the state of Illinois to bolster services in underserved areas.  
  4. Supreme Court Upholds FCC’s Universal Service Fund
    The Supreme Court on June 27 issued a 6-3 ruling that upholds the constitutionality of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF).
  5. Ohio School District Recognized for Student Data Privacy Work
    The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a professional association for school system technology leaders, has awarded Beavercreek City Schools in Beavercreek, Ohio, the Trusted Learning Environment (TLE) Seal for its student data privacy work.
  6. Mississippi Launches Higher Ed AI Talent Accelerator
    The Mississippi state government on June 12 launched the Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP) that aims to build artificial intelligence and machine learning capacity across the state’s higher education system.
  7. Oklahoma Seeks Its Next State CISO
    The state of Oklahoma is on the hunt for its next chief information security officer (CISO), according to a job posting issued last week by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
  8. North Dakota Launches Modernized Business-Owner Portal
    North Dakota has launched the first phase of ND Gateway, an online portal designed to simplify how entrepreneurs and business owners interact with state government. 
  9. California Releases Report to Inform AI Policy
    California Gov. Gavin Newsom has released a new report from leading artificial intelligence academics and experts that offers a policy framework for state officials to consider when crafting new AI-related laws and regulations.
  10. Mayors, Google Offering AI Adoption Guide for Cities
    The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Google have published a new guide for cities to use when developing their municipal artificial intelligence strategies.