Featured
Federal Judge Issues TRO Against Trump Funding Freeze
A Federal court judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Jan. 31 that blocks the Trump administration and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from freezing payments of trillions of dollars from government grant and loan programs – at least as it regards the 22 states and the District of Columbia that petitioned the court to do so.
Recent News
  1. New York Awards $55M to Enhance Emergency Communications Systems
    New York has awarded $55 million to 57 counties and New York City to bolster the state’s emergency response and communications systems.
  2. Illinois Launches Data Dashboard on Violent Deaths, Firearm Injuries
    The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has launched a new dashboard detailing information about all violent deaths and firearm-related injuries in the state.
  3. Minnesota Eyes AI to Curb State Fraud
    Minnesota has created a centralized state fraud investigations unit operated by law enforcement at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and intends to use new technologies, including AI, to curb fraud.
  1. AI, DotGov Adoption Top NASCIO Federal Advocacy Priorities
    The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has released its annual list of Federal advocacy priorities.
  2. N.J. Moves to Establish Rape Kit Tracking System
    New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation that requires the Office of the Attorney General to establish an internet-based rape kit tracking system.
  3. 911 Ohio Fully Implements NextGen 911 in 2 Counties
    Washington and Monroe counties are the first in Ohio to fully implement Next Generation 9-1-1 (NextGen 911), which will help improve emergency response times and save lives.
  4. Pennsylvania Awarded $1.3M Grant to Pilot Freight Signal Technology
    The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has been awarded a $1.3 million SMART grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).
  1. OMB Folds on Program Funding Freeze
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) declared an abrupt reversal today of its Jan. 27 order to freeze trillions of dollars worth of Federal grant and loan program payments after the short-lived order created nearly universal confusion over and drew opposition from several states who successfully petitioned a Federal judge to block the order from taking effect.
  2. Wayne State Keys In on Data Access to Boost Student Success
    Wayne State University is launching a new Data Literacy Institute with the end goal of improving student success at the Detroit-based university.
  3. University Leaders Don’t Think They’re Ready for GenAI
    A new survey from the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) and Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center is casting doubt on whether colleges and universities are ready for significant deployment of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools across their campuses.
  4. N.Y. State Begins Push to Restrict Smartphones in K-12 Schools
    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has begun her official push to restrict smartphones in schools, to “ensure distraction-free learning” statewide.
  5. Philadelphia Schools Roll Out New Customer Service Platform
    The School District of Philadelphia, Pa., has rolled out a new customer service platform called Let’s Talk.
  6. Maryland Pushes to Modernize State Permitting and Licensing
    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is pushing for state agencies to modernize the state’s occupational permitting and licensing processes.
  7. Illinois: IDs Coming to Apple Wallet This Year
    The Illinois Secretary of State‘s office is working to bring state IDs in Apple Wallet to Illinois residents this year, according to Secretary Alexi Giannoulias.
  8. California, GSA Expanding Login.gov Access for Fire Victims
    The California Department of Technology (CDT) is partnering with the U.S. General Services Administration to help victims of the Los Angeles firestorms more easily access Federal, state, and local government benefits and services through Login.gov.
  9. Texas Fires Employees for Illegally Accessing Protected Data
    The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has dismissed a number of employees after it learned in November that agency employees may have improperly accessed account information and personal identifying information of at least 61,000 individuals.
  10. California Reimagines its Open Source Data Portal
    The California Department of Technology (CDT) has released an improved Open Source Portal. By using the portal, developers, government agencies, and the public can collaborate to share ideas and digital tools for solving problems.