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Contractors and Advocacy Groups Push Back on State Efforts to Mandate Surveillance Software
State legislation pushed by one company to require contractors to install the software would compromise data privacy and carry steep costs for companies and governments, the groups argue.
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Not Out of the Woods Yet—State Borrows $100 Million As it Looks to Solve Forest Controversy
The story of Oregon's Elliott State Forest is one of logging, litigation, old trees, imperiled animals, and school funding.
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Moody’s: FEMA’s Decision About California Dam Is a Signal to States and Localities
The federal agency may want governments to repair and replace aging infrastructure before it fails, but making California eat some of the repair costs could lead to more deferred maintenance on other projects, the ratings company said.
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Florida Lawmakers Look to Make Ex-Felons Pay Fines Before They Can Vote
The legislation comes months after voters overwhelmingly approved a measure restoring the voting rights of people convicted of felonies who have completed their sentences.
Nextgov
White House to Nominate Michael Kratsios as U.S. CTO
Kratsios, who currently serves as the country’s deputy chief technology officer, will be the first person to hold the title since the Obama administration.
Nextgov
Office In Charge of Trying Guantanamo Detainees Needs IT Support
The Office of Military Commissions is conducting market research on a $20 million IT support contract.
Nextgov
Security Authorizations Trickle In As Deadlines Near on $50 Billion Telecom Contract
So far, only one vendor on the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract has gotten an authority to operate—an important requirement that could complicate the upcoming transition.
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Climate Change Warming Great Lakes Region Faster, a New Report Says
Experts say accelerating renewable energy development, energy efficiency programs and electric vehicle adoption is critical in the Midwest.
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States Could See 'Unprecedented' Flooding
NOAA's spring outlook, issued Thursday, predicts a heightened flood risk, even as states in the Midwest are dealing with historic flooding.
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State Bill Seeks to Clamp Down on Pension Benefits for Lawbreakers
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to sign the legislation.
Nextgov
VA Botched GI Benefits Modernization Because Nobody Was in Charge, Watchdog Says
The project, which started in August 2017, didn’t have a designated leader until November 2018, the VA inspector general found.
Nextgov
Destroyed Notes and a Nondisclosure Agreement Gum Up an EPA Cloud Security Assessment
A routine EPA Office of Inspector General security audit has taken a weird turn.
Nextgov
NSF Director Approaching Uncertain Tech Landscape with Confidence
France Córdova sat down with Nextgov to discuss the national AI strategy, the federal research ecosystem and the “very exciting” future of quantum computing.
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A Suburban Community Rejects Transit Expansion
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Changes to eviction laws in Mississippi ... Raising the age to buy tobacco in Delaware ... Examining state employee raises in North Carolina.
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Soda Taxes Lead Some to Cut Down on Sugary Drinks, Fizzle With Others
But the full cost of the taxes does appear to be getting passed to consumers in at least two cities.
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How a School District Did Away with Snow Days
In Anderson, South Carolina, school officials traded inclement weather closures for remote learning.
Nextgov
Automation Will Be a Requirement of a Shrinking Workforce, Not Its Cause, Officials Say
While the budget focuses on reducing headcount, officials said that isn’t the goal of pushing more automation.
Nextgov
Inside GAO’s Plan to Make Congress More Tech-Savvy
The new Science and Technology Assessment and Analytics group aims to prep lawmakers for big decisions on artificial intelligence, privacy and 5G.
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Poppy Apocalypse Overwhelms California Town
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Amazon incentive package passes in Nashville ... Floods continue in Midwest ... Former governor to lobby for a constitutional convention.
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