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New York Pauses New Hyperscale Data Centers for Up to 1 Year
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on July 14 that pauses state environmental permits for new hyperscale data centers for up to one year while officials develop environmental standards, ratepayer protections, and a community investment framework.
  • Public Sector Shifts to Hybrid Cloud for Secure AI Adoption
    State and local governments and educational institutions are adopting phased hybrid cloud strategies to modernize critical systems and support secure artificial intelligence (AI) deployments, according to an Information Services Group (ISG) report released on July 15.
  • University of Chicago Law School Sets AI Rules
    The University of Chicago Law School will prohibit most electronic devices in required first-year classes, administer examinations without internet access, and introduce a new legal writing structure during the 2026-27 academic year under a pilot artificial intelligence (AI) strategy announced July 9.
  • University of Utah to Launch State’s First AI Major
    The University of Utah plans to offer its first bachelor’s degree program in artificial intelligence (AI) beginning in fall 2026, after the Kahlert School of Computing’s proposal won approval from the university’s Board of Trustees. The new major is pending approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the university’s accrediting body.
Recent News
  1. Governments Move Beyond Online Payments Toward Better Resident Experience
    State and local governments have largely cleared the first hurdle in digital payments: giving residents a way to pay online. Now, they’re working on getting more people to use digital payment systems and ensuring that those systems reduce, rather than add to, pressure on government operations.
  2. Indiana University Restructures IT Organization
    Indiana University (IU) reorganized its central IT organization into five divisions focused on artificial intelligence (AI), data, digital services, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency, university technology leadership announced on July 13.
  3. US Chamber Foundation Awards $1.5M for Career-Connected Learning
    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation awarded more than $1.5 million on July 8 to five employer-led organizations working to expand career-connected learning opportunities for students in California, Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.
  1. Arizona Launches Updated AI Ballot Assistant for 2026 Election Cycle
    The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office on July 8 announced an updated artificial intelligence (AI)-powered virtual assistant to help voters find accurate official election information throughout the 2026 election cycle.
  2. Delaware Targets 2-Year Permitting Delays With JobsFirst Accelerator
    Delaware launched the JobsFirst permitting accelerator, a program designed to fast-track housing, energy, broadband, and infrastructure projects. Previously, these developments faced state-level delays of 18 to 24 months due to sequential, siloed agency reviews, the governor’s office said.
  3. Massachusetts Launches Cloud-Based Financial Management System
    The Commonwealth of Massachusetts launched a new cloud-based financial management system, replacing legacy infrastructure with a software-as-a-service platform designed to support financial operations across the state government.
  4. UConn Names Longtime IT Leader Interim CIO
    The University of Connecticut (UConn) appointed Haleh Ghaemolsabahi as interim chief information officer (CIO) on July 6, putting a three-decade UConn technology veteran in charge of the university’s central IT organization.
  1. New York School District to Pilot AI Teacher’s Assistant, Humanoid Robot
    Salamanca City Central School District on the Seneca Nation Reservation in New York will pilot an artificial intelligence (AI) teacher’s assistant and humanoid robot in its high school AI and robotics courses, Realbotix Corp. announced June 24.
  2. University of Rochester Elevates CIO Role, Names Interim IT Leader
    The University of Rochester named Jim Forrester as interim chief information officer (CIO) and university vice president, effective Aug. 1.
  3. Illinois Gov. Signs AI Safety Bill Into Law
    Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law a new statewide artificial intelligence (AI) safety framework that requires large AI developers to disclose safety practices, report major safety incidents, and undergo independent third-party audits.
  4. Frederick County, Md., Pauses New Data Center Applications Through End of 2026
    Frederick County, Md., is pausing new applications for data center developments through Dec. 31, 2026, while officials complete a statewide study examining the environmental, energy, and economic impacts of data center growth.
  5. DOJ, DHS Set Counter-Drone Rules for State and Local Agencies
    The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule codifying how state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and correctional agencies can use counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) authorities under the SAFER SKIES Act.
  6. UC Santa Barbara IT Wins 2026 Zero Trust Champion Award
    The University of California, Santa Barbara was named the first university recipient of the 2026 Zero Trust Champion Award at the Zscaler Public Sector Summit.
  7. Florida State Names Jonathan Fozard VP for IT Services
    Florida State University (FSU) named Jonathan Fozard vice president for Information Technology Services (ITS), a newly created position at the university. Fozard, who joined FSU in 2020, has more than 25 years of experience leading technology, cybersecurity, and digital modernization initiatives in higher education and the public sector.
  8. Casucci to Lead IT Procurement in North Carolina
    Former U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) IT official Shannon Casucci joined the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) as chief procurement transformation officer, NCDIT announced on June 24.
  9. Pennsylvania House Passes Bill to Let Municipalities Pause Data Center Reviews
    The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 24 passed legislation that would allow municipalities to temporarily pause consideration of data center development applications while they update local land-use rules.
  10. NY Assembly Passes One-Year Data Center Moratorium Bill
    The New York State Assembly passed legislation this month that would place a one-year moratorium on issuing permits to data centers while the state studies their impact on communities and the environment, according to a press release from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.