Newark, N.J., recently launched its first smart city initiative. The city has partnered with New Jersey Institute of Technology, the New Jersey Innovation Institute and private business to start MetroLab@Newark.

In 2007 the Florida state Legislature created the Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research to mentor and invest in Florida companies. In the 2015-16 fiscal year the companies mentored by the institute had a $129 million impact on Florida’s GSD.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe aims to encourage greater high school interest in cybersecurity through the launch of Virginia’s “NSA Day of Cyber” School Challenge, which exposes high school students to virtual cyber scenarios and the tools NSA agents use in dealing with cyber.

Florida has awarded a $700 million contract to Harris Corp. to provide a statewide communications network. This network will connect 4,000 sites, bringing together public safety, law enforcement, public schools, and other state and local government agencies.

As urban populations are increasing across the country, cities are investing in “smart” technology to improve city services, reduce traffic, and increase quality of life for residents. The U.S. Postal Service said that with its vast physical network that it is well suited to collect data needed for smart city initiatives.

Though many state and local governments are increasing their cloud computing budgets for 2017, most are leery of the risks of moving to a public cloud, according to a recently released MeriTalk survey.

Taser International, a maker of stun guns and body cameras, met with police officials last week at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in San Diego regarding a drone armed with a stun gun.

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