Modernizing state and local government (SLG) systems has become critical to delivering a better quality of service to constituents. Many IT leaders and decision-makers agree that modernization efforts have changed citizen experiences for the better – including improving customer service and support, increasing awareness of available services and availability of digital services, and improving website usability and navigation.
In a move that takes Shark Week off the TV screen, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state will deploy new shark-monitoring drones to local beach communities on Long Island and New York City.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has launched a new online dashboard called the Massachusetts Vehicle Census (MVC).
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has selected Comcast executive Amaya Capellán as the state’s new chief information officer (CIO) to lead the Office for Information Technology (OIT).
In a bid to improve citizen engagement, Aiken, S.C., has unveiled a new texting platform, TextMyGov. In a press release, the city said the platform offers a simple and convenient way for residents to connect with the city using keywords and key phrases in text messaging. TextMyGov also offers residents the opportunity to opt-in to select lists to receive information via their cell phone.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a new round of funding through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which provides digital tools and services to support students nationwide. The $13.9 million in new funding will benefit roughly 35,000 students nationwide, including students in California, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia.
The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education announced that it has awarded nearly $400 million in grant funding to support the infrastructure and technology needs of New Jersey’s higher education sector.
The University of Virginia (UVA) has tapped Kelly Doney as its next chief information officer (CIO). Doney will begin in her new role on August 14. She joins UVA after serving as vice president and chief information officer at Villanova University
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is urging fellow agency commissioners to support a proposal that would take additional steps to enhance cybersecurity protections for K-12 school networks.
Santiago “Santi” Garces, chief information officer (CIO) for the city of Boston, talked about his organization’s exploration of policy-building around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies during a June 26 event organized by Route Fifty and GCN.
