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State Legislatures Scramble to Meet in the Age of Coronavirus
Lawmakers across the country rushed to pass resolutions permitting virtual meetings and remote voting, efforts they said were necessary to adhere to social distancing guidelines and protect legislators.
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Some States Stall Plastic Bag Bans During Coronavirus Outbreak
Lawmakers and some store chains are temporarily banning reusable bags amid fears that their usage could help spread coronavirus.
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Nearly 200 Cities Short on Supplies for Dealing With Coronavirus, Mayors Report
The U.S. Conference of Mayors says new survey findings show shortages of essential items have reached “crisis proportions.”
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Trail Use Way Up as Coronavirus Stifles Other Activities
“People are craving outlets for their physical and mental well being,” said an expert. But this has created concerns that people are too crammed together in these open spaces.
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Coronavirus Will Not Delay Pentagon’s Contractor Cybersecurity Program, Official Says
The Defense Department signed an agreement with an accreditation body for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.
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California, New York Extend Mortgage Relief to Homeowners
Action taken by the states will temporarily halt foreclosure proceedings and allow residents to defer mortgage payments.
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Local Government's Still Open—Remotely
As Covid-19 takes hold in communities, local governments are transitioning staff members to telework—a first for many localities. And it's come with challenges, from slow broadband connections to a laptop shortage.
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Is America Ready for a Second Wave of Coronavirus?
A resurgence of the virus would strain local health systems already close to a breaking point—but they might be more prepared the second time around.
Nextgov
ICE Wants to Connect Its Facial Recognition System With a Pennsylvania County’s Gang Intel App
Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to develop an offshoot of Lehigh County’s Gang Intelligence App over the next year.
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Coronavirus Is Slamming State Unemployment Systems
Funding is one concern, another is handling an unprecedented wave of claims.
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White House Releases National Strategy for 5G Security
The strategy focuses on four lines of effort and will guide how the government approaches 5G for the near future.
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Governor Reiterates Importance of Social Distancing after 'Coronavirus Party' Attendee Tests Positive for Virus
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had a hard time containing his frustration this week.
Nextgov
Agencies Have Spent More Than $300M In Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak
Federal buyers spent more than $4.8 million on hand sanitizer alone in the last two months.
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States and Cities Turn to Empty Hotel Rooms to House Homeless and People Ill With Coronavirus
Hotel rooms left vacant as people stopped traveling because of the coronavirus could be used to house mildly ill patients and homeless people currently living outside or in shelters.
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Defense Secretary Says Teleworking Could Last Months
During a virtual town hall, Mark Esper warned employees to be vigilant for phishing attempts and practice good cyber hygiene.
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Salt Lake City Cracks Down on Large Groups Greeting Missionaries at Airport
The stricter rules came after hundreds of residents ignored social-distancing guidelines to greet missionaries returning from abroad.
Nextgov
Amazon: Pentagon Trying to ‘Gerrymander’ JEDI Corrective Action
Amazon Web Services said the Pentagon’s plan to fix the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud contract is not enough.
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GSA Warns of COVID-19 Contracting Scam and Price Gouging
After receiving reports of an imposter claiming to hold a GSA contract, officials are reminding agency buyers to verify vendor information.
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New Jersey Set to Release 1,000 Jail Inmates to Limit Coronavirus Spread
Up to 1,000 people could be eligible for release. Other jurisdictions around the U.S. are also taking steps to curb their jail populations.
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