State and local government IT leaders say the AI payoff is real – and mission-critical – but many efforts are stalling short of broad deployment, according to new MeriTalk research.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced on Sept. 17 that Microsoft will open a new quantum research center in the greater College Park, Md., area, building on Maryland’s momentum to become a global leader for quantum.

Colgate University is introducing a new centralized digital portal aimed at simplifying access to campus systems and information for students, faculty, and staff.

Higher education IT leaders are bullish on artificial intelligence (AI) but struggle to scale pilot projects organization-wide, according to new research from MeriTalk.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is calling for a national AI regulatory framework to avoid what he describes as a fragmented and failing system of state-led oversight.

Arizona’s top cybersecurity official is warning that state and local governments cannot stand alone against sophisticated nation-state cyber threats, stressing that defending against adversaries such as the China-linked “Salt Typhoon” requires collective action across government, industry, and international partners.

The Department of Education’s online system that millions of Americans use each year to submit applications for student financial aid has critical modernization delays and errors that the agency is no longer addressing, according to a federal watchdog. 

An executive order from North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has created the Artificial Intelligence Leadership Council to oversee the state’s strategy on AI and policy related to the technology as it looks to bolster innovation.  

The U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online form will be available for students this fall, following months of beta testing.

Nevada officials announced that the state has been targeted in “a sophisticated ransomware-based cybersecurity attack,” with federal partners working closely with state officials as they respond to the incident.