Route Fifty
For Rural Drug Users, Finding Clean Needles Might Mean Looking in the Mail
In places where needle exchanges are scarce or even illegal, one online, mail-based needle exchange is trying to get people safe injection supplies and overdose reversal materials.
Route Fifty
Lawmaker Sees State Rainy Day Fund as Lifeline For Localities Battling Big-Box Stores Over Taxes
The Indiana legislation could assist local governments dealing with “dark-store theory” property tax appeals.
Route Fifty
Five States Diverted 911 Fees For Other Purposes, FCC Says
Montana was removed from the list of states shamed by the federal agency after the state banned the practice of diverting these funds.
Route Fifty
A Vermont Lawmaker Calls for Cell Phone Age Limits
A new proposal, which points out all the other things young people aren't allowed to do, would restrict cell phone usage to residents over the age of 21.
Nextgov
Energy Invests Millions to Launch Strategic Quantum Research Centers
Following a 2018 mandate from President Trump, the department will help build a more comprehensive ecosystem to spark quantum advancements.
Nextgov
GSA Reissues E-Commerce Platform Solicitation With Significant Changes
Vendors that bid on the original RFP will have until Jan. 15 to revise their proposals.
Nextgov
White House Plans to Tap SBA Official as Next Deputy Federal CIO
Maria Roat will join the Office of Management and Budget, according to multiple sources.
Route Fifty
Tax Incentives Fail to Spur Broad Economic Growth, Study Finds
Researchers analyzed state and local governments tax incentive spending, finding little evidence that the deals spurred job growth outside the specific industry implicated.
Route Fifty
Investigating Illegal Elk Poaching
Five elk were poached from mid-November to mid-December in Michigan, the most ever illegally killed in one month.
Route Fifty
Equal Rights Amendment Clears First Step in Virginia, as Trump Administration Declares Effort Dead
A Justice Department opinion issued this week says the deadline for ratification has passed. Advocates say otherwise.
Nextgov
Lawmakers Ask FCC to Protect Consumers from Phone Hijackers
The request comes amid an uptick in SIM swap scams.
Route Fifty
Kansas City Sues Gunmaker and Others Over Alleged Firearm Trafficking
The lawsuit by the Missouri city is the first one a municipality has filed against the gun industry in over 10 years, officials say.
Nextgov
OPM CISO Seeking a Small Business to Help Monitor Agency Cybersecurity
The winning vendor will help the government’s HR department track incidents across 1,000 servers and more than 10,000 devices.
Nextgov
DARPA Wants Help Developing a ‘Sea Train’ of Unmanned Warships
The Pentagon’s research arm is looking to produce technologies for a new class of long-distance unmanned surface vessels.
Route Fifty
States, Election Officials On Guard Over Iranian Cybersecurity Threat
Amid tension between the United States and Iran, state and local government officials are taking precautions to protect themselves from cyber warfare.
Nextgov
Experts Recommend Expanding Agencies’ Authorities to Combat Online Deception
At Facebook’s first congressional testimony of the 2020s, experts said agencies’ jurisdiction should include the digital spaces.
Route Fifty
More States Considering a Cap on Insulin Costs
A new bill in Washington is similar to legislation passed in Colorado last year.
Route Fifty
A Proposal to Protect Referees From Angry Parents
A Wisconsin lawmaker, who is also a youth umpire, wants to increase penalties for harassing or intimidating sports officials, a move he hopes will improve recruitment and retention in the field of athletics.
Nextgov
Defense Officials Tout Smoother Electronic Health Records Rollout
The second deployment of MHS Genesis went “much, much smoother” than the first, as officials take lessons from both rollouts to 25 more bases this summer.
Nextgov