April, 2024

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New Houston mayor reverses course on bike, pedestrian improvements

GCN

Mayor John Whitmire ordered pedestrian islands removed, froze projects with bike lanes and suggested cyclists stick to “recreational” trails. It’s a big change in direction from his predecessor’s approach.

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Big Day for NLC and Municipal Governments: Final Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Grants Guidance Released

NLC (National League of Cities)

Last week, the White House announced the final Office of Management and Budget (OMB) UniformGrants Guidance. This guidance is designed to create a streamlined set of rules and regulations forfederal grants that ensure that Congress, agencies, and applicants have standard language andprocesses for grant awards and administration.

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Feds move to make gov websites more accessible to people with disabilities

GCN

It’s the first time the federal government has ever issued rules clarifying how the more than 30-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act applies online. But the new rules come with a hefty price tag for state and local governments.

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How DOD Can Maintain Zero-Trust Momentum

FedTech Magazine

The Department of Defense reports strong momentum toward meeting its goal of implementing a zero-trust security architecture departmentwide by 2027. DOD’s Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office recently approved implementation plans from all military components. One key takeaway from this milestone moment: Agencies that leveraged commercial solutions got a big head start on their zero-trust efforts.

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A Look Inside the Minds of Government’s Most Innovative Leaders

Successful partnerships start with knowing what public sector leaders care about. This report spotlights global innovators shaping the future of public service by tackling real-world challenges across AI, digital identity, citizen experience, and data strategy. Their work reveals the priorities, pain points, and investment areas that are driving transformation.

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Extreme Connect 2024: Agencies Can Use Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity Outdoors

State Tech Magazine

In a recent video interview, Jose J. Peña, IT director for the city of Pharr, Texas, said that the enhanced capabilities of Extreme Networks infrastructure ensures that the city can continue to innovate. “We have been doing public Wi-Fi and video surveillance in our city parks for several years now, and this just helps us,” Peña said in an Extreme Networks online presentation.

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Why Fugaku, Japan’s fastest supercomputer, went virtual on AWS

AWS Public Sector Blog

Mount Fuji in Japan. When you think of climbing one of the world’s most famous mountain peaks, ease of access isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. While Mount Fuji in Japan is famous for its height and width, it is also reachable by novice hikers without lots of time on their hands due to the nation’s efforts to make it accessible. Now, the researchers behind one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, Fugaku , are trying to make the supercomputer just as accessible on the Amazon Web Service

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Trust, Leap, and Learn

Careers in Government

If you want to create momentum in your life, you must be willing to leap, trusting that everything you need is already inside you. The post Trust, Leap, and Learn appeared first on Careers in Government.

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Ep 34: Elevating Staff Training at Camp

Summer Camp Programming

SHOW NOTES This episode dives into the transformative approaches Kelie and Shauna are implementing for staff training at their respective camps. From reinventing traditional methods to integrating dynamic activities. The conversation reflects on past experiences, anticipates future challenges, and explores strategies to enhance the camp experience for both staff and campers, highlighting the importance of […] The post Ep 34: Elevating Staff Training at Camp first appeared on Summer Camp Pr

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Crisis management in English local government: the limits of resilience

Policy & Politics Journal blog

By Tania Arrieta and Jonathan S. Davies In our recently published article in Policy & Politics, we explore the context for local authorities in England that have been pushed to develop “resilience.

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Extreme Connect 2024: Texas Officials Spotlight Cybersecurity Cooperation

State Tech Magazine

“One of our biggest challenges is tackling the whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity,” said Texas CIO Amanda Crawford in a chat with Extreme Networks Chief Marketing Officer Monica Kumar on Wednesday. Crawford and Seguin CIO Shane McDaniel addressed a sold-out audience on a very busy and productive day at Extreme Connect 2024, emphasizing that cybersecurity cooperation between levels of government remains top of mind for them, in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Local Government Tax Guide: 6 Benefits Businesses Will Buy Into for Compliance

In a survey of U.S. business owners, more than 64% indicated their local government’s online tax portal needs improvement. It’s clear that while business owners want to work with their local government to stay in compliance, many online tax systems do not enable them to do so effectively.

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Build a personalized student companion powered by generative AI on Amazon Bedrock

AWS Public Sector Blog

Personalized learning is a pressing challenge in modern education due to the diverse learning needs of students and the limited resources available to educators. Traditional methods of seeking academic support, such as one-on-one consultations or peer study groups, often fall short in providing tailored guidance and bridging knowledge gaps. Compounding these challenges is the inherent diversity of learners, each with distinct strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles, rendering a one-size-fits-

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For Earth Day (April 22), We Examine Some of Our Work on Challenges Facing The Planet

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

From sparkling oceans to breathtaking mountain views, Earth has a lot of beauty to offer—and it’s our only home, so taking care of it is incredibly important. Pollution and water contamination can threaten not only the health of the planet, but the.

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OpenGov Procurement Receives AEP Certification through NPI

OpenGov

Written by: Thao Jones-Hill, SVP, OpenGov Procurement We are thrilled to announce that OpenGov’s Procurement suite has received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Certified Platform designation for its end-to-end […] The post OpenGov Procurement Receives AEP Certification through NPI appeared first on OpenGov.

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Steady progress in approaching the quantum advantage

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Quantum technology could create value worth trillions of dollars within the next decade. The third annual Quantum Technology Monitor synthesizes the latest opportunities in this burgeoning field.

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Municipal Maintenance Guide: Inspections

Get this municipal maintenance guide that provides municipalities with a detailed and structured approach to maintaining city infrastructure. This guide outlines systematic inspection procedures and best practices, ensuring the safety, longevity, and operational efficiency of municipal assets. From roadways and bridges to public buildings and utilities, the guide covers all aspects of municipal maintenance.

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Policy responsiveness and its administrative organisation in China 

Policy & Politics Journal blog

by Yao Liu, Eduardo Araral, Jiannan Wu Do policy makers in China care about public opinion?

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Cities Can Use AI to Enhance Public Services and Streamline Internal Operations

State Tech Magazine

For many local government leaders, artificial intelligence was not a concern before the mainstream rise of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard (now Gemini), in 2023. Now, a recent Bloomberg Philanthropies poll of 100 global mayors found that 96 precent are interested in using generative AI. Cities, towns and villages are at the forefront of this AI evolution.

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Brazil, Colombia join the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to tackle talent gap

AWS Public Sector Blog

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the demand for skilled tech professionals continues to outpace the supply. This talent gap poses significant challenges for businesses across Latin America, with almost half of tech vacancies remaining unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates. Addressing this challenge, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded the Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance to Brazil and Colombia.

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Financial Decision Making Can Get Harder with Age—We found 24 Federal Programs that Help Seniors and Those with Disabilities

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Older adults and people with disabilities must often make tough decisions that can have lasting consequences on their financial well-being. They may also need assistance in making these choices. At the same time, they could be vulnerable to financial.

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Empower Digital Government: Strategic Workbook for Modern Transformation

Digital transformation is reshaping government interactions, bringing agencies closer to the communities they serve. However, while many have adopted new digital tools, few have implemented comprehensive strategies to maximize their benefits. Our Strategic Workbook for Modern Government offers a step-by-step guide to developing a sustainable digital strategy.

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Cash isn’t the only thing guaranteed income programs can deliver

GCN

Data is starting to show that supplemental income programs can boost participants’ employment, housing stability and family well-being.

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Why strategists should embrace imperfection

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

In a world of rapid change, looking for certainty can obscure opportunity. Taking smaller yet bold steps provides a more sure-footed path through uncertainty.

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Advocacy coalitions, soft power, and policy change in Mexican electricity policy: a discourse network analysis 

Policy & Politics Journal blog

by Raúl Gutiérrez-Meave A central hypothesis in the influential policy process theory, the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) posits that major policy change is unlikely if the coalition defending the status quo retains power.

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State and Local Agencies Improve Child Services Intake and Outreach Communications

State Tech Magazine

When the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) sought to modernize its contact center, IT leaders took the opportunity to shift from an on-premises infrastructure to a cloud-based one. “We literally are the entry point for teachers, for medical providers, for the public, for parents when they want to report child abuse or neglect.

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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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How EdTech and workforce development companies drive business success through AWS Marketplace

AWS Public Sector Blog

Educational institutions around the world seek reliable options that allow administrators, professors, teachers, and students to maintain connectivity and productivity on- or off-campus. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace provides a curated digital catalog to help institutions navigate evolving situations and quickly deploy solutions. In 2023, more than 2,000 education customers around the world subscribed to software in AWS Marketplace.

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For World Health Day (April 7), We Look At U.S. Efforts to Promote Global Wellness

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

When it comes to communicable diseases, it turns out, it is a small world after all. Serious diseases like COVID-19, AIDS, and mpox (previously known as monkeypox) can move quickly around the globe—threatening lives and livelihoods. The U.S. plays an.

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It’s FAFSA Week of Action: Time to Take a #FAFSAFastBreak!

Homeroom

It’s FAFSA Week of Action (April 15-19) and to kick off the effort the U.S. Department of Education is thrilled to announce the launch our #FAFSAFastBreak campaign, a national effort to drive FAFSA submissions among high school seniors and returning college students. Everyone has an important role to play! We have already received nearly 200 Continue Reading The post It’s FAFSA Week of Action: Time to Take a #FAFSAFastBreak!

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From margins to mainstream: Asians and Pacific Islanders in Hollywood

McKinsey Public & Social Sector Insights

Asian and Pacific Islander consumers could generate billions of dollars in additional revenue—if the film and television industry can improve the representation and authenticity of API content.

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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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One city takes to the streets to address extreme heat

GCN

A Los Angeles neighborhood tested the impact of an innovative cool pavement coating, and research shows it holds potential to supplement climate mitigation efforts.

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Local Governments Break Down Data Silos to House Vulnerable Citizens

State Tech Magazine

As 2024 dawned the Sonoma County, Calif.-based nonprofit Social Advocates for Youth made an urgent announcement: It would need to close Northern California’s only homeless shelter for youth if it couldn’t raise funds. A flurry of support temporarily postponed the move, but with homelessness an ongoing challenge — including among teens — county officials have been piloting technology solutions to help manage the issue, serve those in need and even prevent individuals from becoming homeless.

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New AWS survey reveals the link between AI fluency and the next education revolution

AWS Public Sector Blog

Education leaders are eager for solutions to the difficulties facing schools across the country. With strained local resources impacting educators, it is more critical than ever for the education community to adapt and evolve to meet student needs and address challenges. Educators know that more resources can help provide personalized approaches that better address students’ individual learning needs.

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If Used by Drivers Correctly, Advanced Vehicle Technologies Could Save Lives. But They Could Also Cost Owners More to Repair

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

New cars are increasingly equipped with advanced vehicle technologies that could help reduce crashes and fatalities. But drivers may turn off these technologies, may not understand the correct way to use them, or can over-rely on them, which could.

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How Gilbert, AZ Prepares for the Future While Protecting What Makes It Great

A top-rated place to live, Gilbert, AZ struggled with outdated short-term rental management—low compliance, lost revenue, and growing administrative strain. By adopting the GovOS Tax & Compliance suite, the Town: Increased compliance from 40% to 90% Generated over $85K in new revenue Has a single digital system to manage tasks more efficiently With a centralized hub for short-term rental registration and enforcement, Gilbert balances tourism and community needs.