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These State Legislative Chambers Are Most Likely to Flip Blue
Democrats could take control in a handful of states, including North Carolina and Texas. But it won't be easy.
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1-in-4 Adults Say Household Finances Deteriorated From March to September
New survey data from the Urban Institute presents these and other troubling findings about how many Americans are faring economically as the coronavirus pandemic wears on.
Nextgov
DOD’s First Agreement with Accreditation Body on Contractor Cybersecurity Nears End
Lead official grapples with the challenge of resourcing a federally funded research and development center to act as a gateway for the Pentagon’s certification program.
Nextgov
Lawmaker Proposes Federal Institute of Technology and New Contracting Set-Aside
The 21st Century Jobs Package would create a federal agency for training the workforce of the future and incentivize federal contracting officials to buy from vendors who hire rural American workers.
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State and Local Leaders Raise Concerns About Remote Work Hurting Productivity
Government finance and administrative officials responding to a recent survey also said that their departments have taken on more work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Nextgov
VA Launches New Electronic Health Record Platform Amid a Pandemic, Wildfires and Citywide Power Outages
Nature seemed to be against the Veterans Affairs Department’s new EHR system. But officials are reporting a “flawless” cutover for the first deployment.
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One State Will Deploy National Guard to Nursing Homes
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said the National Guard will take over employee health screenings, data entry and other tasks to allow staff members to focus on patient care.
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Filing for Unemployment Doesn’t Have to Be So Terrible
State unemployment systems were overwhelmed by filings during the pandemic. A new report lays out basic steps states can take to make the claims process easier for users.
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A State Moves Its Mainframe System to the Cloud
With technicians retiring and fewer agencies using the state-run system, Washington state is turning to an outside vendor to provide mainframe computing services.
Nextgov
OMB Official Says Evidence Act Implementation Guidance May Come in Early 2021
Two Office of Management and Budget officials discussed the guidance at the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building.
Nextgov
Congress Faces Contentious Cyber Proposals When NDAA Conference Kicks Off
Industry groups are hoping these will lead to greater investment in government intelligence services to protect their assets.
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First Came Legal Marijuana, Now Comes…Magic Mushrooms?
In some places where the marijuana decriminalization and legalization movement took hold, voters are being asked a new question: Should psychedelic mushrooms be next?
Nextgov
VA Piloting AI to Predict Mortality Rates of COVID-19 Patients
The tool has been in development since the spring and is now being piloted ahead of a larger rollout, VA officials said.
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Salem, Mass. Hopes to Scare Away Halloween Visitors
Known for its dark history, the Witch City’s annual Halloween festivities traditionally draw large crowds. But officials this year hope business closures, fines, and limited transit and parking options will keep tourists at bay.
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College Students in One State Will Still Get to Vote There, Even if They’re Learning Remotely in a Different State
New Hampshire will allow some college students who attend school in the Granite State to cast ballots there, even if remote learning has them living in their home states.
Nextgov
Defense Department Jumpstarts Deployment of AI-Driven, Cancer-Detecting Augmented Reality Microscopes
Similar capabilities could be applied to the realm of radiology.
Nextgov
How Customer Experience Leaders Are ‘Hardwiring’ CX Across Government
Cross-pollination and communication among agencies are helping build the discipline of customer experience across government.
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States Are Getting Close to Spending Down Federal Covid Aid
Two surveys of state and local officials find that states and local governments are using up the money, but that restrictions on how it can be spent have been problematic.
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OxyContin Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges in Opioid Lawsuit
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Iowa misspent $21 million in coronavirus relief funds, audit finds ... California city will launch a pilot program to guarantee income for some residents ... Georgia voters may not know who funded campaigns before casting ballots.
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