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Federal Online FAFSA Form Enters Final Beta Test Phase
The U.S. Department of Education announced that it will expand the online beta testing period for the 2025-26  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to all users later this month, and before officially releasing the new form.
Recent News
  1. cyber Maryland Deploys SecurityScorecard for Finance Cyber
    The Maryland Department of Labor’s Office of Financial Regulation has deployed a new cybersecurity monitoring service offered by network security provider SecurityScorecard to enhance the office’s supervision of Maryland financial institutions and further its consumer protection mission.
  2. Illinois Kicks Off CORS Network Installation
    The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has kicked off the installation process for the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) network, which will help improve the accuracy of location data used for surveying, mapping, construction, and engineering, as well as a host of other applications.
  3. Maryland Maryland Names Ioffreda Chief Innovation Officer
    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced that Francesca Ioffreda will serve as the state’s new chief innovation officer.
  1. Colorado to Roll Out Dynamic Tolling on Highways This Fall
    The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) plans to roll out dynamic tolling on two main highway corridors in the coming weeks.
  2. St. Louis Begins Installing WiFi in Public Parks
    St. Louis, Mo., is using Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to install free WiFi in nine city parks.
  3. Denver Denver Names Sean Greer Chief Data Officer
    The City and County of Denver has tapped Sean Greer as the city’s new chief data officer.
  4. Maui Adds AI Tools to Wildfire Response
    As part of its efforts to combat wildfires, Maui, Hawaii has added a new AI tool to its emergency response plan.
  1. AI Platform Targets Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
    Edia, an edtech company, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to target chronic absenteeism in K-12 schools across the country.
  2. University of Texas at San Antonio Receives $4M Grant for Neuromorphic Computing Hub
    The University of Texas at San Antonio is using a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund “The Neuromorphic Commons (THOR)” project, which will offer researchers access to a large-scale neuromorphic computing system.
  3. New Partnership Provides Michigan Students With Online Tutoring
    A new partnership between Michigan Virtual, a provider of online education for K-12 schools in Michigan, and Stride Tutoring, an online tutoring service, will provide online tutoring opportunities for students across Michigan.
  4. FCC Sees Massive Demand for School Cyber Pilot Funding
    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it has received 2,734 applications from schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries to participate in the agency’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.
  5. How Fortinet Platforms and AI help State and Local Governments Ward off Cyber Threats
    State and local governments – facing technology skills gaps and difficulties hiring and retaining talent – can be especially vulnerable to cyber threats. Increasingly complex network infrastructures add new cybersecurity challenges. In a recent interview with MeriTalk, Mike Lauer, national director of public sector at Fortinet and former chief technology architect for the state of Iowa, discusses how platform approaches coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) can give state and local governments the boost they need against threat actors. 
  6. Connecticut Gets $9M in Federal Funding to Close Digital Divide
    The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded Connecticut more than $9 million in Federal funding to implement the state’s Connecticut: Everyone Connected digital equity plan.
  7. San Diego Says Smart Streetlights, Plate Readers Improving Public Safety
    San Diego, Calif., is touting the success of its recent roll out of smart streetlight and automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology in helping police get a better handle on crime. 
  8. Pennsylvania Launches Grant Search Tool to Improve Transparency
    Pennsylvania has launched a new one-stop grant search tool that is intended to improve citizen access to government funding opportunities.
  9. Illinois Launches New Online Professional Licensing System
    The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced that it has launched the Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment (CORE), a new online licensing system, for the first set of IDFPR-licensed professionals.
  10. Chicago Begins Automated Bus Lane Ticketing
    Cars parked in bike and bus lanes in downtown Chicago will now begin receiving automated tickets taken from cameras mounted on city vehicles.