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Data Centers Need Earlier Community Input, Brookings Panel Says
As more communities consider data center development, state and local leaders need to bring residents into the process earlier and give them better information about projects’ energy, land-use, environmental, and economic impacts, panelists said during a recent Brookings Institution discussion.
Recent News
  1. California Accelerates AI Audit Rules, Explores Kill Switch Requirement
    California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Sept. 18 that accelerates implementation of the state’s new artificial intelligence (AI) audit laws and directs officials to study additional safeguards for large frontier AI developers, including a potential requirement for an emergency kill switch.
  2. Salesforce Announces $27M in Education Grants for Public Schools, Educators
    Salesforce announced $27 million in new education grants on Sept. 14, including $18 million for public school districts in five cities to support student career readiness, teacher development, and artificial intelligence (AI) education.
  3. UNT Receives $20M Gift to Expand AI, Advanced Analytics
    The University of North Texas (UNT) received a $20 million gift to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics programs, including student scholarships, research, faculty support, and emerging technology initiatives, the university announced Sept. 8.
  1. Indiana Names John Stark Chief Privacy Officer
    Indiana named John Stark its chief privacy officer. Stark is also the state’s director of digital governance, a role he has held since August.
  2. California Enacts AI Audit Requirements
    California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law on Sept. 9 that establish artificial intelligence (AI) safeguards. According to the governor’s office, the bills create a framework for independent third-party evaluation and audits of AI systems and establish a foundation for greater transparency and accountability as AI becomes increasingly embedded in critical sectors of California’s economy and public life.
  3. Georgia Adopts GovRAMP for Statewide Cloud Security
    The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) announced on Sept. 9 that the state will adopt GovRAMP as its primary framework for authorizing and continuously monitoring third-party cloud services. The new requirement goes into effect Oct. 1.
  4. George Mason University, TreQ Partner on Quantum System
    George Mason University is partnering with Oxford, England-based quantum computing company TreQ to deploy a $7.7 million open-architecture quantum computing system in Northern Virginia, the Fairfax, Va., university announced Sept. 2.
  1. Springfield, Mass., Schools Close for 2nd Day After Severe Cyber Incident
    Springfield Public Schools in Massachusetts closed for a second consecutive day on Sept. 9 as officials worked to contain a severe cyber incident that disrupted systems needed for essential school operations, including access to student medical records.
  2. Gottheimer Unveils Bipartisan Bill to Build K-12 AI Labs
    The bipartisan proposal seeks to prepare students and teachers for wider AI use while keeping critical thinking at the center of the classroom.
  3. Athens-Clarke County Names Hemant Desai as CIO, IT Director
    Athens-Clarke County Unified Government in Georgia announced on Sept. 2 that Hemant Desai was appointed the government’s new chief information officer (CIO) and Information Technology Department director, effective Sept. 28.
  4. Colorado Launches Mobile Driver License for TSA Checkpoints
    Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Aug. 31 announced the launch of a new mobile driver license that Coloradans can use to verify their identity at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at Denver International Airport and more than 250 participating airports nationwide.
  5. AI Search Emerges as Top-3 Way Gen Z Finds Government Services
    Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted search has emerged as one of the top three ways Gen Z residents discover online government services, according to new PayIt research, which finds that state and local agencies could push digital adoption of government services above 90%.
  6. NYC Schools Set 1-Year Generative AI Moratorium for Students Through 8th Grade
    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced on Sept. 2 a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative artificial intelligence (AI) for students in 2-K through eighth grade, along with new screen time limits and restricted AI pilots for high school students.
  7. Florida Atlantic University Launches Quantum Computing Certificate
    Florida Atlantic University (FAU) launched a quantum computing certificate program aimed at helping business and technology leaders evaluate the emerging technology, develop sourcing strategies, and prepare for its cybersecurity and governance implications.
  8. UTampa to Require AI Digital Literacy Course
    The University of Tampa is adding a focus on generative artificial intelligence (AI) to its required Digital Literacy course this academic year, teaching students when and how to use AI tools in academic and professional work.
  9. White House Launches Program to Secure Water Systems in Texas
    The White House-led pilot will test a public-private approach to protecting critical water infrastructure from growing cyber threats.
  10. Delaware Names Tina Donbeck Chief Technology Officer
    The Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI) named Tina Donbeck as its new chief technology officer on Aug. 25, putting her in charge of several organizations central to the IT agency.