Author Archive
Chris Teale
Workforce
Why so many election officials are leaving
Some states are seeing high rates of turnover among local election officials, according to new research. It’s a troublesome trend that may have a silver lining.
- By Chris Teale
Digital Government
New Florida law bans kids under 14 from social media
It is the latest in a series of efforts by states to regulate social media in a way that protects minors and stands up to legal challenges. But opponents say Florida’s law still runs afoul of the First Amendment.
- By Chris Teale
Cybersecurity
Survey: Few states have ‘established’ privacy program
As states race to protect Americans’ data, the number of chief privacy officers has increased in state government. Still, a majority reported in a recent survey that they are building their programs.
- By Chris Teale
Cybersecurity
States warned of ‘recent and ongoing’ cyber threats to critical infrastructure
The EPA and White House acknowledged water systems and other utilities “often lack the resources” to adopt rigorous cybersecurity measures. They want to partner to bolster the current efforts of state and local governments.
- By Chris Teale
Cybersecurity
Schools are vulnerable to breaches—and hackers know it
Schools face unique challenges in shoring up their cyber defenses. Just ask Baltimore County Public Schools. It suffered a successful attack in 2020, and while its cyber protection has improved, it still faces roadblocks.
- By Chris Teale
Cybersecurity
As cyber grant program hits the halfway mark, feds laud states’ progress
Two years into the $1 billion program, state and local governments are better prepared for cyber attacks. But funding remains an obstacle as under-resourced cybersecurity budgets struggle to keep up with mounting threats.
- By Chris Teale
Management
Longtime state senator announces plans to retire
In an interview from earlier this year, Washington’s Karen Keiser discussed her nearly 30-year career and how to affect change in state legislatures.
- By Chris Teale
Digital Government
Supreme Court clarifies when public officials can block citizens on social media
The Supreme Court unanimously found in a pair of cases that whether a government official can block a constituent on their personal social media account hinges on if a post is a state action or is private conduct.
- By Chris Teale
Management
There are 100,000 fewer Election Day polling places in 2024
A major Supreme Court decision, a pandemic and localized issues have all conspired to reduce the number of physical voting locations. Advocates say that’s bad for democracy.
- By Chris Teale
Finance
From paper to portal: How one city brought tax filings online
Under an aggressive modernization strategy, Columbus, Ohio, has built a one-stop shop for filing income tax returns.
- By Chris Teale
Cybersecurity
17 million cyberattacks a day: How Oklahoma stops 99% of them
In a recent interview, the state’s CISO talks about zero trust, the upside to COVID and triaging the state’s aging tech infrastructure.
- By Chris Teale
Emerging Tech
Americans are skeptical of online age verification, even as its use grows abroad
States are turning to technology to verify users’ ages before allowing access to social media and other content. But the approach faces an uphill climb without a national data privacy law that addresses Americans' concerns about the safety of their personal data.
- By Chris Teale
Workforce
Meet the newest member of your team: the chief AI officer
Federal agencies must hire a CAIO by year’s end. State and local governments could soon follow their lead, but some observers doubt that another C-suite officer is the best way to go.
- By Chris Teale
Emerging Tech
AI tools lack ‘expertise’ for site selection
A recent study found that generative AI doesn't produce the same results as humans when helping businesses pick a city or state for a new factory or headquarters. It also doesn't explain how it makes its choices—a troubling finding, researchers say.
- By Chris Teale
Emerging Tech
AI could help clear food stamp backlogs plaguing some states
States are increasingly seeing it as a way to better process public benefit programs amid workforce shortages and outdated technology issues. But change can be incremental amid policy and money concerns.
- By Chris Teale
Digital Government
Justices appear skeptical of states' social media censorship laws
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases challenging Florida and Texas laws designed to prevent the alleged censorship of conservative viewpoints on social media. Observers say the decision could shape the future of free speech on the internet.
- By Chris Teale
Management
West Virginia’s top election official on trust, social media and secure elections
Ahead of what promises to be a hectic election season, Secretary of State Mac Warner spent part of his last National Association of Secretaries of State Winter Conference touching on conspiracy theories, among other topics.
- By Chris Teale
Management
Feds preach vigilance amid multiple physical, cyber threats against election officials
In response, agencies as varied as CISA and the Postal Inspection Service are offering a slew of free and low-cost resources in a bid to help states and localities keep issues under control.
- By Chris Teale
Emerging Tech
States clash over what responsible AI looks like
While some states are still establishing task forces and preparing to take advantage of the tech, others are more hesitant, warning of job losses and federal influence on a nascent industry.
- By Chris Teale
Management
Election leaders debut new standards of conduct, aim to build trust ahead of key races
The standards call for better communication and more transparency. Secretaries of state and other election administrators on hand for the announcement also detailed the challenges they are facing leading up the November general election.
- By Chris Teale