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Rhode Island Moves to Remove ‘Plantations’ From Official State Name
The full name of the country’s smallest state, “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” will be changed on official documents to remove the words that have an association with slavery.
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Trump Administration Weighs in Against Hawaii Quarantine Mandate for Travelers
Restrictions on out-of-state arrivals in several states have drawn court challenges. Meanwhile, New York and two other states moved ahead with a policy like this on Wednesday.
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State Fairs Are the Latest Casualty of Covid-19
At least 15 states have canceled their annual fairs due to public health concerns amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, while others are moving ahead with modified, pared-down events.
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In One State Legislature, a Back-and-Forth Over Whether Police Deserve Hate Crime Protection
In Georgia, passage of a hate crimes bill was momentarily stalled over a provision added by Republicans to include police officers. But the legislature is moving forward separately with enhanced penalties for people convicted of targeting police officers.
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Coronavirus Relief Helping to Keep Down Poverty Rate—For Now, Research Finds
A new report says the CARES Act has offered an important boost to low-income families. But aid will dry up as the year goes on.
Nextgov
How DHS Is Using Multicookers and Predictive Calculators Against the Coronavirus
The agency’s Science and Tech Directorate continues to focus its efforts on pandemic-fighting experiments.
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Cities Delay Infrastructure Projects Amid Covid-19 Budget Uncertainty
A survey by the National League of Cities Found that more than 700 cities are cancelling or delaying infrastructure projects because of budget shortfalls caused by the pandemic.
Nextgov
TSA's Plan to Address Evolving Threats to Travelers Relies on Innovative Technology
While technology was not a distinct focus area for the agency, it permeates every aspect of the administrator’s vision.
Nextgov
New National Science Foundation Director Begins Six-Year Term
Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan officially became the 15th director of the government’s lead scientific research outreach and funding arm.
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Four States Have Borrowed Money to Pay Unemployment Benefits
Thirty-six states borrowed from the federal government after the Great Recession, which over time led some to restrict unemployment benefits.
Nextgov
5G-Focused Legislation Aims to Improve Security in Military Telecom Infrastructure
The DoD 5G Act would direct the launch of a Defense Secretary-led telecommunications security program.
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In Many Cities, Police Only Solve a Portion of Murder Cases. What Happens if We Defund Them?
Homicide clearance rates in cities across the country are abysmal. Experts say solving more murders would involve increased resources and improved community relations.
Nextgov
DHS Insider Threat Program Expanding to Anyone Who Accesses Agency Info
The Homeland Security Department will begin tracking all personnel—federal employees and contractors, with or without a security clearance—in the hunt for insider threats.
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Contact Tracers Struggle to Get People to Answer Phones and Questions
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Shooting in Seattle's CHOP area … Chicago police records won’t be destroyed … Columbus ditches Columbus statue.
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Power to Rework Criticized Police Contracts Lies With Elected Leaders
In the wake of protests over police brutality, new attention is being focused on police unions and their contracts, known to stymie reforms. Will mayors and city council members force changes?
Nextgov
37 IGs Report on Agency Tech Challenges Related to $2.4 Trillion COVID Relief Package
A new report shows similar issues with bandwidth, cybersecurity and aging IT systems across government, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Nextgov
Pentagon Says it Needs ‘More Time’ Fixing JEDI Contract
The JEDI contract will not be awarded until at least August.
Nextgov
NSA Revises Guidance on Teleworking Services for Government Users
The agency now notes end-to-end encryption may not be an option for some use cases.
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As Coronavirus Spreads, So Do Mandatory Mask Policies
More state and local leaders are passing mandatory mask policies—including California on Thursday—to help slow the spread of coronavirus, which is rising in some places as restrictions are loosened.
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