Now that the Federal government, via the Department of Labor (DoL), has signed up to put $2 billion of stimulus-related funding into shoring up beleaguered state unemployment insurance (UI) systems overpowered by the jobless claim surge due to coronavirus pandemic, Federal and state officials discussed how those efforts will roll out during a panel discussion at MeriTalk’s State Tech Vision virtual program on September 15.

State and local government rely heavily on Federal funding sources to advance their IT goals even in the best of times, and government and industry experts explained at MeriTalk’s State Tech Vision virtual program how expanded Federal government funding streams during the pandemic era can work to help pay for traditional assistance for social service and healthcare applications, plus IT modernization efforts targeted by Washington.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has named Waldo Jaquith, a veteran technologist and former member of the Biden-Harris transition team, to be GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan’s senior advisor for state, local, tribal, and territorial government.

The city of Chicago announced that it has tripled the number of self-service payment kiosks across the city.

Howard University has been hit by a ransomware cyberattack, the university confirmed after the information technology team detected unusual activity on the university’s network on Sept. 3.

The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) established the Center for Intergovernmental Partnership (CIP) to strengthen collaboration and cooperation among leaders at all levels of the U.S. government.

The state of Maryland is launching Connect Maryland, a program that will infuse $400 million in broadband investment to address the digital divide, Gov. Larry Hogan announced.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced 23 new awards through its Research Traineeship Program, expanding the program to 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that more than five million households have enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program since its launch in mid-May.

Peterborough, N.H., confirmed that it has lost $2.3 million in taxpayer money due to two instances of email-based scams.