Mon.Mar 04, 2024

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February 2024 - Microsoft 365 US Public Sector Roadmap Newsletter

Microsoft Public Sector

Release News Teams Meeting organizers can now see time-zone information of participants while scheduling a meeting Share contact information of people in Microsoft Teams chat Integrate Chat notification with Meeting RSVP status – GCC February, GCCH & DoD March Mute On Air External call routing settings - GCC & GCCH Ability to block users from joining externally hosted Teams meetings Privacy link in Teams meeting join flow changing to organization's privacy statement Meeting invite improv

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Artificial intelligence outperforms humans in creative thinking

Open Access Government - Technology News

Artificial intelligence has overtaken humans when it comes to creative thinking, according to research into generative AI and its untapped abilities Researchers from the University of Alberta have conducted a study that compared the creative potential of humans against GPT-4, an advanced generative language model. PhD students Kent F. Hubert and Kim N.

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Trending Sources

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Estimated 2.5 million people displaced by natural disasters in 2023 tell a story of recovery in America and who is vulnerable

GCN

Residents who don’t know how to find information about disaster recovery assistance or can’t take time away from work to apply for aid can have a harder time getting quick help from federal and state agencies.

2023 114
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ARPA 3-Year Anniversary: Documenting the Success of Direct Federal Aid to Cities and Towns

NLC (National League of Cities)

Three years after its passage, the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on America’s cities, towns and villages cannot be overstated. APRA’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) provided integral relief for local governments to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure stability for communities moving forward.

Document 105
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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.

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How the procurement process can help agencies acquire responsible AI

GCN

Buying artificial intelligence is not just about setting new policies to manage emerging technology, but applying tried-and-true processes, one expert says.

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AWS convenes public sector and industry leaders on future of AI in federal financial services

AWS Public Sector Blog

On February 22, 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosted its first Federal Financial Services Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum at Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, convening leaders from the public sector and financial services industry. AI has the potential to revolutionize the financial services sector by leveraging data to enhance customer experiences, reduce risks, mitigate counterintelligence, and streamline operations.

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Cultivating a Good Government Culture

GovLoop

“Hopefully, the government can save itself from itself, before it’s too late.” – Jason Briefel, Director of Government and Public Affairs at Shaw, Bransford, and Roth, P.C. In the latest edition of Management Minutes With Mika , Mika Cross, Workplace Transformation Strategist, sat down with Briefel to elaborate on this quote and to get his suggestions for creating a good government culture.

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WIC, rental assistance get funding boost in newly unveiled spending bills

GCN

But the bipartisan proposals for six bills would cut funding to housing and transit programs.

Housing 126
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Seizing the core connectivity opportunity in B2B telecom

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

To grow B2B revenues, telcos have increasingly focused on noncore services like cloud, IT, and security. But core connectivity remains the largest opportunity for B2B growth.

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Mayors, experts discuss the solution and barriers to ending homelessness

GCN

Amid a homelessness crisis nationwide, Houston and Los Angeles have housed thousands of people under a “housing first” approach.

Housing 104
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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.

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The Biggest Problem Library’s Face? Reaching New Cardholders! Here’s a 6-step Plan for Growing Your Library User Base

Super Library Marketing

Photo courtesy the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library There is nothing like the thrill of someone discovering your library for the first time. New users are often dazzled by the notion that they can check out items from your collection and use your services, without having to pay anything (except taxes, in most cases). That joy is contagious, and it’s a big thrill for library staff.

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A generative AI reset: Rewiring to turn potential into value in 2024

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

The generative AI payoff may only come when companies do deeper organizational surgery on their business.

2024 111
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As xylazine surges, some lawmakers want jail time for dealers and people who use the drug

GCN

The animal sedative is cheap, easy to get and sometimes winds up in other illicit substances.

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Why Proactive Threat Hunting Is a Must for Agencies

FedTech Magazine

Threat hunting is becoming more important than ever for government agencies as federal cybersecurity officials warn of threats that nation-state actors may pose to election systems this year. Evidence emerged last year that state-sponsored hacking groups had even breached agencies. Government entities were the fourth-most targeted sector for “interactive intrusions” — threats in which actors use hands-on techniques to accomplish their objectives — in 2023, after the technology, telecommunication

2024 70
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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.

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The rising complexity of board directorship

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Board experts explain how directors can meet the demands of growing agendas.

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Unveiling Public Sector at Next '24: A Look at Our Gov and Edu Sessions

Google Public Sector

Join us at Google Cloud Next '24, a premier event for public sector leaders who want to leverage the power of AI and security to transform their agencies. Google AI is fueling advancements in vital missions, redefining service delivery, and tackling complex challenges. In case you missed it, check out the 10 reasons to attend Next ‘24. Here's a sampling of some of the inspiring talks designed to empower and equip public sector agencies as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape: Accelerate Res

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5 Things Government Agencies Should Know About Continuous Authentication

State Tech Magazine

Continuous authentication is a tweak to traditional authentication methods, turning log-in-at-the-start authentication into more active monitoring. The usual goal is to reduce the security risk from stolen or borrowed credentials or malware-infected workstations. Here are five things to know about this authentication method. What Is Continuous Authentication?

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The Importance of Government Research Jobs: Career Insights

Careers in Government

Are you fascinated by research and looking for a career that will give you the opportunity to contribute to society? Government research may be just what you are looking for. A federal career in the United States gives individuals the chance to work on projects that can positively impact people’s lives and make a real […] The post The Importance of Government Research Jobs: Career Insights appeared first on Careers in Government.

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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.

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Is Grant Writing Consulting Your Next, Best Move? 

Grant Writing Made Easy

Navigating the world of grant writing consulting often feels like juggling flaming torches while blindfolded. Trust me, I get it. With a bustling business, a team that relies on me, clients with expectations as high as skyscrapers, and students hanging onto every word of my courses, my day-to-day is anything but simple. And, oh, project and time management?

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Tax incentive programs underfund schools

Rebuilding Place in Urban Space

One of the biggest sources of funds for urban revitalization is tax increment financing. Governments impute a likely increase in property value and tax revenue from a new development, but direct that increase to the developer as a source of finance, inducement, etc. But that is all the taxes--city, county, schools, special districts, etc. The argument can be made that the tax abatement shouldn't be total, that it should be more measured, especially when it comes to funding local schools (" Stude

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What’s on the Agenda?

GovLoop

The agenda is set for our upcoming NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit , and it’s time for you to start making notes on which sessions you’re psyched to attend! From finding purpose in your professional growth to advocating for your ideas, there’s a topic that resonates with everyone. Read on to learn more about the keynote sessions that we’re offering on May 15, and be sure to read the complete schedule (and register for the summit ) now. 3 Ways to Make Your Boss Shine…And Why That Matte

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10 Leadership Tips For Local Government Officials From GovPilot

GovPilot

Local government officials are invaluable when it comes to ensuring their community is run in an organized, efficient, and positive manner, proving to be indispensable for several reasons. Effective leadership in government is vital because it ensures that every public sector employee can efficiently manage their responsibilities such as providing essential services, implementing policies, and addressing community needs in a timely fashion.

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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

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Tech Ready Career Training

The Whistle Post

The Tech Ready Career Training aims to empower individuals across Southwestern Connecticut with high-demand skills in the Information Technology industry. Through our collaboration with the Stamford Partnership, we are committed to serving our community by bridging the gap between job seekers’ and employers’ demands. With a focus on accessibility, our IT training programs are designed to equip you with the skills needed to excel in the dynamic technology field.

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Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ Deployed Report-A-Concern Module With GovPilot

GovPilot

Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ expands their partnership with the government management software provider to streamline operations and government services in the municipality.

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NASIG Call for Proposals - Great Ideas Showcase & Snapshots Sessions

A Library Writer's Blog

The NASIG Program Planning Committee invites proposals for the Great Ideas Showcase and the Snapshots Session for the 39th Annual Conference, to be held June 3-7, 2024 in Spokane, Washington. We are currently seeking in-person presentations. The NASIG Conference presenters and attendees will be expected to follow hotel Covid safety protocols. The Snapshots Sessions will be held on Tuesday June 4, 2024 4 - 5:30 PM and the Great Ideas Showcase will be held on Wednesday June 5.

2024 40
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March top 5 for under 5 – 2024

Princeton Public Library

We invite you to check out this month's PPL Youth Services recommendations for activities, resources and new books in the library The post March top 5 for under 5 – 2024 appeared first on Princeton Public Library.

2024 40
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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.

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The GSE Public-Private Hybrid Model Flunks Again: This Time It’s the Federal Home Loan Bank System (Part 1)

The Stoop (NYU Furman Center)

Introduction In November of last year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) published a report 1 (the Report) recommending reforms for the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System. 2 The report came about at a time when the FHLBs have been increasingly criticized for neglecting their housing and community development mission and instead using their subsidies and privileges to benefit their financial institution owners and executives.

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The benefits of running controlled substance databases with AWS

AWS Public Sector Blog

Healthcare authorities and providers use state-run controlled substance databases (CSDs) to track prescriptions and identify patients for substance abuse. CSDs help evaluate treatment options, screen patients who may be at risk for drug abuse problems, and make informed decisions about prescribing medication. While modernizing CSDs is crucial for healthcare systems, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is making significant efforts to support the healthcare industry through innovative cloud technologies to

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The revolutionary role of book scanners in modern libraries: The power of knowledge digitized

Open Access Government - Technology News

Learn about the revolutionary role of book scanners in modern libraries, or in other words, the power of knowledge digitized from ScannX, Inc. It’s late in the evening at the university library. Fluorescent lights cast a dull glow onto stacks of books. Students hunch over their laptops, hard at work on research papers. One stressed student, hair a mess and eyes bloodshot, frantically flips through the five books before her when she finally finds the perfect citation.

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TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST

Barrett & Greene

As we recently reported in the second of a two-part series about Trust In Government for Route Fifty, about 45% of Americans have a less than favorable view of the trustworthiness of local governments, according to data from Polco. That’s somewhat up from 40% in 2017. And while it’s better than the federal government it’s still a very sorry state of affairs.

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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.