June, 2023

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How small cells are empowering local governments to build smarter cities

Open Access Government - Technology News

Ian Newbury, Business Development Director at BT Wholesale, describes how small cells can support greener and more sustainable technology infrastructure and facilitate a better digital future for everyone Speak to anyone working in the sector today, and it is clear that promoting digital inclusion and achieving a decarbonised future are among the key aims of most local authorities.

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How AI is improving constituent experiences in government

Google Public Sector

For years, Google has been working with state and local governments to focus on the needs of the mission, using data to improve the constituent experience and offer more accessible digital services, while helping government workers operate more efficiently. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been core to helping agencies achieve these goals. As a pioneer in AI, Google has been investing in responsible AI research for years, as well as advancing the state of the art with Google AI and DeepMind.

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Freight Rail Safety—Potential Impacts of Longer Trains

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Some recent derailments and other rail incidents have had something in common: they involved longer freight trains. Federal rail regulators are investigating the exact causes of these incidents and GAO has not examined them. But, we have reviewed.

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The Grassroots Movement That Built Puerto Rico’s First Community-Owned Microgrid

Next City

In the small mountain town of Adjuntas, an "energy insurrection" is building a model for clean, reliable power across the island.

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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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SCP 189: Remix: Spicing up Rainy Day

Summer Camp Programming

SHOW NOTES This is the episode to listen to now, not when it’s too late! If you host a camp anywhere water falls from the sky, you need to have a plan ready. Unlike the rains down in Africa, these aren’t blessed days. Check out this week’s episode for new ideas (and remixed ideas from […] The post SCP 189: Remix: Spicing up Rainy Day appeared first on Summer Camp Programming.

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A ‘NORAD-like’ Model for Disaster Response in North America

Disaster Zone blog

This is being proposed by Canadian officials.

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Windows 365 Enterprise meets FedRAMP requirements

Microsoft Public Sector

We’re excited to announce that customers using US Government Community Cloud (GCC) environment and Microsoft Azure can now purchase Windows 365 Enterprise and deploy their Cloud PCs in Microsoft Azure commercial regions. Windows 365 Enterprise has been assessed by a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) authorized auditor to meet FedRAMP High requirements at data centers within the Continental US and has an agency authorization at FedRAMP Moderate.

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Supporting Military Service Member and Veteran Well-Being Through the Arts

NLC (National League of Cities)

There are more than half a million military service members who are living with conditions that compromise their mental health and well-being, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. With 62% of the veteran population falling outside federal healthcare systems, the burden falls on local communities to step in.

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New York Finally Gets Its First Worker-Owned Cooperative Cocktail Bar

Next City

Despite the exploitative labor environment in bars and restaurants, this may be the first worker-owned cooperative in New York City’s hospitality sector.

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Ep 20: Consequences of Actions

Summer Camp Programming

SHOW NOTES Kelie and Shauna discuss what constitutes acceptable reasons when to bring a staff member back after they’ve been fired. Want to add to our conversation? Have a question you want us to discuss? Email Us: exploringcampsides@gmail.com HOSTS KELIE COOK SHAUNA GUGLIELMO The post Ep 20: Consequences of Actions appeared first on Summer Camp Programming.

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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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Artificial Intelligence's Impact on Jobs

Disaster Zone blog

Technology tends to automate tasks, not entire occupations.

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How State and Local IT Agencies Can Best Prepare for Natural Disasters

State Tech Magazine

The National Centers for Environmental Information recently released the final update to its 2022 Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters report. Last year tied 2017 and 2011 for the third-highest number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S., with the cost of 18 weather events totaling more than $175 billion. The report indicates that natural disasters are becoming more prevalent, expensive and diverse, with a mix of floods, winter storms, wildfires and other predictable and unpredictable

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Hyperautomation Adoption Increases Across Federal Agencies

FedTech Magazine

Several federal agencies have embraced artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation and digital process automation to streamline processes and optimize efficiency, but few have put all of the pieces together to adopt hyperautomation. “In the commercial world, there’s a lot of interest and investment in hyperautomation for the returns that it can provide,” says Jason Payne, CTO for Microsoft Federal.

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How Transportation Can Drive Economic Mobility

NLC (National League of Cities)

As local leaders look to increase the economic mobility of their residents and reduce poverty in their communities, a key emerging area to address is transportation.

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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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How A Nonprofit Reunites Separated Families At The U.S.-Mexico Border

Next City

At the annual Hugs Not Walls event, it's a logistical challenge to clear the way for families to reunite in the river while border patrol officers promise not to intervene.

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Unleashing developer productivity with generative AI

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

A McKinsey study shows that software developers can complete coding tasks up to twice as fast with generative AI. Four actions can maximize productivity and minimize risks.

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AZ Begins to See the End of Water

Disaster Zone blog

Groundwater can’t be replaced anytime soon.

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SIEM vs. SOAR vs. XDR: Strengthening Cybersecurity

State Tech Magazine

State and local governments have the crucial responsibility of protecting essential utilities and citizen data from cyberattacks.

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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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Advanced Analytics Is Changing How Agencies Fight Fraud

FedTech Magazine

The Department of Justice is using advanced data analytics to discover suspicious healthcare activity, enabling the agency to crack down on healthcare fraud. Through analytics, 16 people in Michigan and Ohio — including 12 physicians — were sentenced last year for their roles in submitting more than $250 million in false claims and illegally distributing more than 6.6 million opioid pills.

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EU urges for stronger artificial intelligence regulation to protect the future

Open Access Government - Technology News

The EU is urging organisations to participate in a global initiative aimed at implementing artificial intelligence regulation in an effort to control AI programmes like ChatGPT The chatbot ChatGPT, an AI product released in November, has the amazing capacity to write essays, engage in philosophical debates, and produce computer code, but what are the dangers?

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Inside The Fight To Kick Out Rochester’s Power Company

Next City

In New York’s third-largest city, locals are sick of skyrocketing bills and dirty fuel sources. They’re fighting against long odds for the public to own the grid.

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Unlocking commerce in the metaverse

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Consumers already know what they want at the intersection of virtual and physical retail. It’s up to companies to evolve their strategies to capture growth and long-term value.

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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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State Farm Pulling Out of Home Insurance Market in California

Disaster Zone blog

Rates statewide went up 30 percent year over year.

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Local Governments Continue to Prioritize Broadband Expansion

State Tech Magazine

Broadband expansion remains a priority for state and local governments. Reports indicate that both Placer County, Calif., and Crawford County, Pa., are set to bolster their broadband networks. According to Placer County, its Board of Supervisors approved $31 million in funding to bring broadband to new neighborhoods, expanding to almost 11,000 new homes.

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How Cities are Leading in the Fight Against Plastic Pollution

The City Fix

“Plastic kills, and the damages of plastic pollution have no borders. We cannot beat plastic pollution if we don’t tackle climate change, environmental loss and food crises at the same time.” That was the powerful message Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

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EU proposes prohibition on manufacturing sensitive technology in China

Open Access Government - Technology News

The European Union plans prohibition on manufacturing sensitive technology in China, such as supercomputers, AI, and advanced microchips The European Economic Security Strategy, which was unveiled by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, intends to control the international trade and investment activities of European businesses. The recommendations will be debated at the forthcoming EU summit, which will include leaders of state and government on June 29-30.

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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 Upstate Town That Took Back Its Power

Next City

Massena residents fought the local utility to bring their electric grid under public control. Forty years later, they say it’s still paying off.

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State scales up cloud workforce with free training for agency employees

GCN

Any employee at a Georgia state agency making the transition to cloud can now take an eight-week course through the Technical College System of Georgia and improve their cloud skills.

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The Fallout from Smoke and Fires in Canada

Disaster Zone blog

Canada expected to create a disaster agency.

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NICE Framework Defines the Specifics of Federal Cybersecurity Jobs

FedTech Magazine

During the final round of the annual President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition in December 2022, competing teams had to find their way out of virtual escape rooms by solving various cyber challenges. In one, they received USB fobs with keys that unlocked hidden files. “There were clues there to look in your system’s memory, and then get a four-digit PIN code to get out of the first room,” explains Rob Karas, assessments branch chief for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which

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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.