Rules & Public Services - Page 2
88 stories
Arkansas to Receive $172 Million in Meta Settlement Over Child Safety
Arkansas will gain at least $172 million from a multistate settlement with Meta over online child safety, while several lawsuits against other social media companies-including TikTok, Google, and Snapchat-remain active in state and federal courts
Most States Progress on Website Accessibility, But Gaps Remain
A new report finds most states are on track to meet federal website accessibility rules by 2027, but many lack resources to fully investigate and fix issues, raising concerns as the deadline approaches
Oakland County Road Construction Paused for Labor Day Weekend
Most Oakland County road construction will be suspended from Friday, September 4 at 3 p.m. through Tuesday, September 8 at 6 a.m. to help reduce holiday traffic delays, with several key roads remaining closed for ongoing repairs.
Mobile Driver's Licenses Expand as States Push Toward Digital IDs
Mobile driver's licenses are now available in 21 states and Puerto Rico, with over 8 million active credentials. Wider adoption and remote verification could soon make digital IDs a practical tool for banking, employment, and age verification.
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Limits on Flock Cameras and ALPR Use
Pennsylvania legislators are considering new bills to regulate automated license plate readers and Flock cameras, aiming to address privacy concerns and set clear rules for law enforcement and local governments
Michigan Rural Townships Warn of Crisis as Help Stalls in Legislature
Rural townships across Michigan face mounting challenges filling key government roles and managing increased responsibilities, but proposed state legislation to provide relief remains stalled in Lansing with no hearings scheduled.
Oakland County Opens 45th Roundabout at Wixom Road Intersection
Oakland County has opened its 45th roundabout at the intersection of Wixom Road, Wixom Trail, Sleeth Road, and Duck Lake Trail, aiming to improve safety and traffic flow for more than 12,000 daily drivers in Commerce and Milford townships.
States Shift to Unified Cyber Defense as AI Threats Grow
State and local governments are moving toward integrated cybersecurity strategies to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, with new federal guidance and AI-powered tools helping protect critical public services and infrastructure.
Florida Moves to Regulate AI Use in Public Schools and Colleges
Florida's education boards are preparing new rules to govern artificial intelligence in classrooms from pre-K through college, with policies aimed at student safety, parental notification, and academic integrity set for review and votes in September.
Dozens of U.S. Cities Enact Data Center Moratoriums and Bans
At least 76 local governments across the U.S. have moved to restrict or ban new data centers, with most efforts succeeding. The trend is driven by concerns over electricity, water use, and community impact, according to new tracking data.
Farmington Hills Recognized as HEARTSafe Community for Cardiac Response
Farmington Hills has earned the HEARTSafe Community designation after training nearly 15% of residents in CPR and registering over 140 AED locations, making it one of only three Michigan cities to achieve the program's highest standard
Lawmakers Push New Funding After Cyberattacks on Water Utilities
After cyberattacks linked to Iran targeted water systems in at least seven states, federal and state lawmakers are proposing new funding and oversight to strengthen utility cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure from future threats.
County Governments Face Tough Choices in Emergency Response
As the Aspen Acres Fire put Pueblo County's emergency systems to the test, the realities of county budgeting and public accountability became clear, highlighting how local governments must balance resources and make visible tradeoffs
New Toolkit Offers Solutions for State and Local Government Hiring
A nonprofit has released a practical toolkit to help state and local governments streamline hiring, address bottlenecks, and attract skilled workers as public sector roles evolve and private sector layoffs continue.
Maricopa County's AI Assistant Reveals High Demand for Pet Services
Maricopa County's new AI chatbot, Mari, is seeing strong interest in pet adoption and animal services, with nearly 8% of early user questions focused on pets. County officials hope the tool will improve access to local programs and boost resident engagement.
Virginia County Adopts AI Tool to Safeguard Sensitive Data
Prince William County, Virginia has implemented the Liminal platform to help employees use generative AI tools without risking exposure of sensitive or personally identifiable information, aiming for compliance across 20 departments.
States Shift AI Focus From Competition to Community Impact
California, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina are rethinking artificial intelligence oversight, prioritizing public benefit and risk over industry competition as new systems enter workplaces and public services.
South Dakota Local Governments Face Cybersecurity Funding Deadline
South Dakota's $7 million SecureSD program, which helps local governments defend against cyberattacks, will run out of state funding in 2028, leaving counties and cities to cover ongoing cybersecurity costs themselves
Lafayette Cancels City Council Election, Appoints Three Members
Lafayette, California will not hold a City Council election this November after only three candidates filed for three open seats. The city council appointed all three, saving at least $48,000 in election costs and ensuring uninterrupted leadership.
Farmington Public Safety Names Shane Wash as Deputy Director
Shane Wash has been promoted to Deputy Director of Farmington Public Safety after more than 20 years with the department, bringing extensive leadership and training experience to the city's top public safety team
Cities Use AI to Cut Housing Permit Delays and Speed Up Reviews
Cities across the U.S. are adopting artificial intelligence to reduce housing permit backlogs, with new federal funding supporting automated systems aimed at eliminating costly application errors and shortening approval times.
Missouri Unveils Flood and Drought App for Real-Time Updates
Missouri has launched a new mobile app and website to help residents and officials monitor flood and drought risks, offering real-time data, alerts, and predictions statewide. The project is funded by $10.4 million in federal relief.
Oakland County Targets Invasive Plants Along Major Roadways
Oakland County will treat invasive Phragmites and knotweed along main roads through October, aiming to protect native plants and prevent infrastructure damage in dozens of local communities.
How Tool Sprawl Is Complicating Local Government IT Operations
State and local agencies are facing mounting challenges from fragmented technology systems, increasing manual workloads and security risks. Leaders are now rethinking how to streamline IT tools and improve service reliability.
Cheshire Schedules Public Hearing on 2026-27 Capital Budget
Cheshire residents can weigh in on the Town Manager's proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2026-27 at a public hearing set for August 26 at Town Council Chambers. The council will vote on the budget following the hearing.
Alabama Data Centers May Outpace Statewide Home Power Use
A wave of proposed data centers in Alabama could consume more electricity than all residential homes combined. Alabama Power says rates won't rise, but residents and experts question whether new laws and oversight will truly protect customers.
New Guide Helps Cities Build Digital Service Teams for Residents
A new toolkit offers step-by-step guidance for city and state officials looking to launch digital service teams, aiming to improve access to government services and address challenges with technology and staffing.
Cloud Security Gaps Challenge Local Governments Adopting New Systems
Local governments are moving finance operations to cloud-based ERP systems, but experts warn that misconfigurations and overlooked security practices can leave sensitive data at risk despite modern technology.
Pennsylvania Sets New Rules for Data Center Projects Statewide
Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order making stricter standards mandatory for new data center developments in Pennsylvania, responding to mounting criticism and concerns about local impacts and energy use
Loudoun County May End Fast-Track Data Center Approvals
Loudoun County supervisors are proposing to require public hearings and board votes for more than 20 pending data center applications that were previously exempt from new zoning rules, potentially changing the approval process as soon as September 1
Page 2 of 3