Sat.Mar 23, 2024 - Fri.Mar 29, 2024

article thumbnail

Rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge will be a ‘FAR bigger challenge’

GCN

While recent bridge replacements have been completed in a matter of weeks, this incident will be tougher to recover from and have wider impacts.

137
137
article thumbnail

Federal Government Made $236 billion “Improper Payments” Last Fiscal Year

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

The federal government reported an estimated $236 billion in “improper payments” during the most recently completed fiscal year (FY 2023). Such payments are essentially payment errors that can be the result of many things—include overpayments.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

How to balance Accessibility and Security in an AI world

Microsoft Public Sector

With the recent announcements around Copilot, especially Copilot for Microsoft 365, many agencies are excited to adopt the new capabilities and unlock user productivity and accessibility. However, there is one lingering question that has always and continues to be in the background: “How to balance accessibility, productivity and security in an AI world.

Security 128
article thumbnail

Surge in Encrypted Attacks on Government Underscores the Need for Improved Defenses

FedTech Magazine

In the wake of escalating cyberthreats — including the Play ransomware gang’s 300-plus attacks on public entities across North America, South America, Europe and Asia, and the breach of two federal agencies — it is clear that malicious cyber actors are increasingly targeting government through encrypted attacks. The federal government is taking steps in the right direction to prepare agencies.

article thumbnail

The Ultimate Playground Inspection Handbook

Dive into the world of playground safety with this complimentary guide. It offers a detailed exploration of essential practices to ensure the utmost safety for children. Delve into inspection techniques, from assessing equipment conditions to evaluating surfacing materials. Gain insights into maintenance strategies to keep playgrounds in top-notch condition year-round.

article thumbnail

Modern data strategy for government tax and labor systems

AWS Public Sector Blog

Introduction Government authorities such as tax, unemployment insurance, and other finance agencies across the US and globally are seeking ways to innovate. They are trying to unlock insights from their data, deliver better customer experiences, and improve operations using cutting-edge technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and other data analytics tools.

article thumbnail

SCP 202: Exploring Specialty Camps (Part 1)

Summer Camp Programming

SHOW NOTES In part one, Curt and Chris delve into the world of specialty camps and their significance in offering targeted experiences beyond traditional camping. They discuss the evolution and variety of specialty camps, from music and equestrian camps to coding, robotics, and even escape room camps, highlighting the unique opportunities these provide for children […] The post SCP 202: Exploring Specialty Camps (Part 1) first appeared on Summer Camp Programming.

246
246

More Trending

article thumbnail

Why so many election officials are leaving

GCN

Some states are seeing high rates of turnover among local election officials, according to new research. It’s a troublesome trend that may have a silver lining.

article thumbnail

What’s the Status of U.S. Assistance to Ukraine? Our First Reports on Oversight Efforts

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

The war in Ukraine has had devastating consequences—creating a humanitarian crisis, threatening Ukraine’s democracy, and exacerbating global challenges, such as food insecurity. Congress has approved $113 billion in response to the Ukraine crisis.

117
117
article thumbnail

SCP 203: Exploring Specialty Camps (Part 2)

Summer Camp Programming

SHOW NOTES In the second installment of their discussion on specialty camp ideas, Curt and Chris share an array of unique camp themes, drawing from both their personal experiences and broader trends. They delve into a variety of specialized camp options, including cooking, survival, archery, scuba diving, music production, detective camp, and fitness camps, among […] The post SCP 203: Exploring Specialty Camps (Part 2) first appeared on Summer Camp Programming.

246
246
article thumbnail

Economic conditions outlook, March 2024

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Survey responses show increased confidence in the economy—globally and at home. Geopolitical concerns persist, and respondents increasingly view political transitions and policy changes as pressing risks.

2024 142
article thumbnail

7 Signs Your Local Government ERP Is Holding You Back: A Guide for Small Municipalities

Local governments and municipalities serving populations under 200,000 face distinctive challenges in delivering efficient and effective services to their communities. To overcome these challenges, many rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tailored to their specific needs. Not all ERP systems are created equal, and some may hinder progress rather than support it.

article thumbnail

Pro teams aim to score nicer stadiums—and maybe more—from the public

GCN

Sports teams are asking for millions of dollars in public subsidies to build or refurbish their stadiums, and many want to create nearby fan districts to boost their bottom lines too.

127
127
article thumbnail

Smithsonian’s Digitization Program Captures and Preserves Delicate Treasures

FedTech Magazine

The Smithsonian Institution’s massive collection includes items too fragile to put on display or so complex that they’re difficult for scientists to study. Its Digitization Program Office takes these objects and creates 3D scans that preserve them for history, research and outreach to people who may not be able to visit the Washington, D.C., museums.

Outreach 113
article thumbnail

March 2024 - Microsoft 365 US Public Sector Roadmap Newsletter

Microsoft Public Sector

Release News Teams Deprecating the ability to view websites inside the Website tabs in the new Teams Upgrades to importing a schedule in the Shifts app - GCC Optimize screen sharing for video – GCC March, GCCH & DoD April Viva Viva Topics will be retired as Microsoft focuses our efforts on building new knowledge and content experiences in Microsoft Copilot SharePoint Online List owners and collaborators with the permission to edit the list will be able to collect information on their lists w

article thumbnail

States Improve Unemployment Insurance Systems with Cloud Solutions

State Tech Magazine

Anyone in Wyoming who’s applied for unemployment benefits is familiar with the state’s Department of Workforce Services. What they may not realize: The unemployment insurance system through which claims are filed does not run on infrastructure at DWS headquarters in Cheyenne but on an offsite Microsoft Azure Government data center. The DWS moved its UI system to the cloud in 2018 using federal funding from the U.S.

2018 113
article thumbnail

ASPA TIMES Magazine: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

PA TIMES Magazine is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), a not-for-profit corporation. This edition focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in public administration, including guest columns, insights for the field and interviews with city government DEI officers about their work at the local level.

article thumbnail

New Florida law bans kids under 14 from social media

GCN

It is the latest in a series of efforts by states to regulate social media in a way that protects minors and stands up to legal challenges. But opponents say Florida’s law still runs afoul of the First Amendment.

article thumbnail

Good Jobs, Great Cities Spotlight: Monroe, NC

NLC (National League of Cities)

In May of 2023, Monroe, North Carolina, was selected for the inaugural Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy, a first-of-its-kind national technical assistance initiative and partnership between NLC and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

2023 111
article thumbnail

The Key to Professional Development

GovLoop

Our NextGen Gov Virtual Training Summit line-up has keynote topics that are perfect for anyone who wants to move their career forward. We’ve curated a jam-packed agenda around the topics that matter most to government employees like you. Now the difficult part: which sessions will you join on May 15? We’re here to help – below is a list of our upcoming keynote sessions so you can start planning your schedule.

article thumbnail

Driving innovation with generative AI

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Companies with innovation cultures are way ahead of peers in deploying—and benefiting from—generative AI.

145
145
article thumbnail

Sustainable Facility Maintenance Management for Small Local Governments

Unlock the potential of sustainable facility management! This guide empowers small local governments to lead with climate-resilient infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and more. Elevate your community's resilience, reduce costs, and embrace eco-friendly practices. Discover the role of facility maintenance teams in green cleaning, sustainability analyses, and infrastructure upgrades.

article thumbnail

Without federal internet subsidies, state efforts to offer low-cost broadband could be impacted

GCN

The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program will not only impact the 23 million households participating, but also those who live in areas where broadband is being built out.

article thumbnail

NLC and Cities Win on Lead Pipe Replacement

NLC (National League of Cities)

President Joe Biden, speaking at the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional Cities Conference, touted the achievement of providing funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to replace lead pipes in communities across the country, including private-side lead pipes on personal property that connect to homes.

Laws 111
article thumbnail

Embracing the Roles Your Agency Plays

GovLoop

Building trust with constituents is difficult. It means establishing and maintaining relationships as you carry out your agency’s mission. Among other variables, there is an ever-present challenge: the mind-boggling task of playing many different roles in people’s lives. The relationships they experience through interactions with federal, local and state agencies can vary so much.

article thumbnail

Sustainable style: How fashion can afford and accelerate decarbonization

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Translating fashion’s decarbonization commitments into action has proved difficult. A new McKinsey analysis outlines what the industry can do to reach its targets.

article thumbnail

Proactive vs Reactive Maintenance: Making the Case for Preparedness

Discover comprehensive strategies for optimizing operations and achieving cost efficiency! This document offers insights into efficient inspections, data-driven decision-making, goal alignment, and resource optimization. It empowers local governments and maintenance departments to streamline operations and ensure significant cost savings. From aligning maintenance goals with community needs to leveraging data for strategic planning, this guide provides a roadmap for smoother, more reliable opera

article thumbnail

It’s time for local policymakers to cement the Biden administration’s workforce gains

GCN

COMMENTARY | By adopting strong job quality standards for government spending, state and local policymakers can improve residents’ quality of life and support a strong, stable workforce for generations to come.

article thumbnail

Women’s History Month 2024: Celebrating the Success of Women in Municipal Government 

NLC (National League of Cities)

By Yvette Colbourne, Commissioner, City of Miramar, Florida President, NLC Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) This year’s Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) luncheon, held during our Congressional City Conference (CCC) in Washington, D.C., was especially memorable as the sold-out room welcomed keynote speaker Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday.

2024 111
article thumbnail

Strengthening Federal Cybersecurity: CISA, Zero Trust, and Google Workspace: Exclusive Sessions at Next ‘24

Google Public Sector

The Federal IT landscape is undergoing a rapid shift toward stronger cybersecurity, driven by CISA's Zero Trust Maturity Model v2.0. This model offers a roadmap for federal agencies to boost their cyber posture. For government agencies, selecting the right tools to navigate this transformation is paramount. Google Workspace enters the picture with its robust security capabilities, designed to meet the demanding compliance requirements of federal agencies.

article thumbnail

Rethinking organizational health for the new world of work

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Yes, organizational health still drives long-term performance—but the way leaders measure and diagnose health should change, new research shows.

134
134
article thumbnail

Facility Maintenance Trends for 2024: What's Changing in the Industry?

This comprehensive article delves into the transformative trends reshaping local government facility maintenance in anticipation of 2024. From embracing smart technology for efficient management, sustainability's pivotal role to data-driven decision-making, workforce upskilling, and predictive maintenance strategies, each aspect is explored. Insights into outsourcing collaborations, digital twins, safety enhancements, and the broader industry evolution highlight the critical adaptation needed.

article thumbnail

Survey: Few states have ‘established’ privacy program

GCN

As states race to protect Americans’ data, the number of chief privacy officers has increased in state government. Still, a majority reported in a recent survey that they are building their programs.

article thumbnail

The Sun is Going Away! How Municipalities are Preparing for the 2024 Solar Eclipse

NLC (National League of Cities)

This year, on April 8, a total solar eclipse will directly pass over several states from Texas to Maine, impacting an estimated 31.6 million residents.

2024 105
article thumbnail

Quote on housing that's very apt: "As demand for housing rises, Philadelphia’s neighborhoods can either remain affordable or remain low-density. They cannot do both"

Rebuilding Place in Urban Space

This is true everywhere, not just in Philadelphia. It's relevant to both strong and weak markets, because even in weak markets, there probably isn't enough housing. In the discussions about school closures in Salt Lake City, the g word, gentrification came up. People blamed it for the decline of families in the center city--therefore a bunch of center city schools were on the chopping block--when that is a trend that is national, that people with no children or few children tend to live in the c

Housing 90
article thumbnail

Making green logistics services profitable

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Logistics companies have struggled to commercialize decarbonized services. A new approach could help win over customers and boost margins while reducing emissions.

article thumbnail

Efficiency and Sustainability: Leveraging Digital Solutions in Facility Operations

Speaker: Alan Kavanaugh, BA, CRM, CCPI ​​​​​​​Director of Loss Control & Risk Management

This session is designed to unveil the transformative potential of digital solutions in reshaping conventional practices, offering a roadmap towards greener and more efficient facilities regardless of municipality size. Attendees will learn: Insights into cutting-edge trends and strategies in sustainable facility management. Practical knowledge to effectively incorporate digital solutions for operational efficiency.