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Government’s Annual Cyber Report Shows Improvements Across the Board

Agencies received lower scores for not holding contractors responsible for privacy requirements.

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As Virus Keeps Kids From Schools, New Figures Show Millions Lack Home Internet

Meanwhile, a California education official this week said it would take at least $500 million to get students there the computers and internet access they need, and asked the private sector to help.

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Women Disproportionately Losing Their Jobs During Coronavirus Downturn

Women of color, single mothers, and women over the age of 55 have been particularly hard hit.

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Coronavirus Will Have an Unequal Impact on School Budgets

Districts that can largely support themselves with local tax dollars are in a better position as the economic downturn continues.

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Bill Proposes Restructuring NSF and $100B to Focus on Tech

The new agency would feature a technology directorate to usher advancements in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, 5G communications and cybersecurity. 

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The Air Force’s Platform One Team Thought It Was Agile. Then COVID-19 Hit.

The pandemic pushed the service’s internal DevOps team to hit a 10-updates-a-day deployment schedule for a new secure communications platform.

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A City Looks to Expand Its Virus Tracing Workforce in Distressed Neighborhoods

Chicago is one of the latest jurisdictions around the U.S. seeking to beef up its contact tracing program. Experts say it’s a key step towards reopening the economy.

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DARPA Funds Earthworm-Inspired Soft Robot to Rapidly Dig Military Tunnels 

As part of the Underminer program, General Electric’s innovation arm is perfecting a soft robot to boost battlefield operations.

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Defense Department’s AI Center Seeks Own Acquisition Authorities

Having its own mechanism for purchasing artificial intelligence will increase speed, according to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center’s chief.

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Weeding Out Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Just Became More Difficult

Millions of out-of-work Americans are filing for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic and fraudsters are using the unprecedented crush of filings to take advantage.

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Census Bureau Seeks Industry Input on Cybersecurity Acquisitions Strategy for Next Decade

With data collection for the 2020 census underway, the bureau is thinking about how artificial intelligence and other capabilities might help address sore points.

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The States With the Worst Job Losses

Labor Department data released on Friday shows the states with the highest unemployment rates in April, and how many jobs were lost that month as the coronavirus upended the economy.

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Bill Would Increase Broadband, Telehealth Capabilities in Rural America

Senate legislation would direct $2 billion in funding to help meet increased broadband demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Nearly Half of U.S. Households Lost Some Income During Pandemic

The findings released by the Census Bureau come at a time Republicans and Democrats in Congress are at odds over an extension of expanded federal unemployment benefits.

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NOAA Predicts Active Hurricane Season

The federal agency's annual forecast projects a likelihood of at least 13 named storms and six hurricanes.

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Virus Testing in Nursing Homes is Still a Stumbling Block, Experts Say

New estimates show the testing could cost over $1 billion a month nationwide. The virus has claimed a disproportionate number of lives in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

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A Ranking of City Park Systems—While Parks Are More Important Than Ever

The national index ranks large city park systems on a number of metrics, including how many residents can walk to the nearest one.

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Contact Tracers Don’t Need Your Social Security Number or Bank Info, FTC Warns

A new text scam uses coronavirus-response efforts as cover to pump victims for financial information.