Tech & Data
-
Courtesy of Microsoft
Data Centers3 things cities should do before approving another data center
Aurora, Illinois, and Anchorage, Alaska, offer a road map for developing rules that balance economic opportunity with resident concerns over water, power, infrastructure and quality of life.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 27, 2026 -
Getty Images
Mapping, digital twins boost emergency services, building management in Frisco, Texas
The city created an indoor mapping system to help responders during school emergencies, but the system has since expanded to help asset management and more, an IT expert says.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 25, 2026 -
Getty Images
Q&AICE is using shock gloves. Local police shouldn’t, a policing expert says.
Municipal agencies should scrutinize the technology’s capabilities, limitations and costs before following ICE’s lead in using it, a criminal justice professor and former police officer says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 25, 2026 -
Permission granted by Center for Internet Security
NLC program offers AI to assist local governments with cybersecurity efforts
The National League of Cities is partnering with CyberAlliance to offer an AI-powered platform that provides risk assessments and guidance.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 24, 2026 -
Getty Images
ColumnCyberattackers are using AI. Local governments must, too.
While state and local governments grapple with questions about AI, many are using it to enhance their cybersecurity operations — and build public trust in the process, Dataminr’s Tim Miller writes.
By Tim Miller • Aug. 21, 2026 -
Courtesy of Ouster/Georgia Department of Transportation
Utah to add intelligent intersections
The Utah Department of Transportation aims to improve safety for vulnerable road users by using lidar-based traffic management technology.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 19, 2026 -
Permission granted by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Data CentersSweeping new data center rules give local governments more leverage in Pennsylvania
"If the local community doesn’t approve a project, the state won’t approve it, either,” Gov. Josh Shapiro says.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 19, 2026 -
Getty Images
OpinionFire response is infrastructure. Cities should treat it that way.
Aging fleets and increasingly demanding fire conditions require cities to rethink how they support the technology behind emergency response.
By Kirk McKinzie • Aug. 14, 2026 -
Getty Images
Cyberattack impacts critical public safety operations in California city
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a state AI cyberdefense program in the wake of the ongoing cybersecurity incident in Suisun City, California.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 11, 2026 -
Getty Images
Protecting water systems from cyberattacks: 5 steps cities can take now
Hacking is getting easier. But the real problem is that many systems were never designed with cyberattacks in mind, experts say.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 11, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
As Flock surveillance camera backlash grows, one governor tells cities to pause installations
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is asking police officials to develop guidelines on surveillance technology and clarify how data is collected and used.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 10, 2026 -
iStock.com/RerF
Sponsored by MelissaGood government starts with a good address
Cities can reduce waste and improve services with better citizen address data.
By Bud Walker, Chief Information Officer, Melissa • Aug. 10, 2026 -
Getty Images
These 8 ‘intelligent’ US cities are tops for technology services
More big cities are embracing AI and digital technology to serve residents. These are the ones doing it best, a new Boston Consulting Group analysis says.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 6, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
30+ water utility cyberattacks expose a vulnerability across US cities
Attackers remotely accessed industrial controllers at water systems in seven states. The campaign suggests a common weakness utilities everywhere should address, experts warn.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 3, 2026 -
Sponsored by PCL Construction
Can direct potable water reuse overcome its image problem in the US?
From “toilet-to-tap" stigma to trusted solution — reshaping how the U.S. approaches water reuse.
Aug. 3, 2026 -
Getty Images
AI adoption by local governments outpaces public trust: survey
Transparency about AI use and quality of digital infrastructure were among the issues where resident perceptions were less favorable, the survey found.
By Ryan Kushner • July 29, 2026 -
Getty Images
Cybersecurity incident disrupts DC housing authority for weeks
Limited sensitive information was compromised in the June attack, the housing authority said.
By Ryan Kushner • July 27, 2026 -
Getty Images
How do you train a new AI service agent? A lot like you would a new employee, a city CIO says.
Raleigh, North Carolina, is resolving nearly half of its IT support requests with an artificial intelligence agent, and it has more big plans on the horizon.
By Ryan Kushner • July 24, 2026 -
Getty Images
Hundreds of smart traffic intersections coming to the Houston area
Emergency vehicles will get priority in the Harris County system, part of a 12-year agreement with Miovision.
By Dan Zukowski • July 22, 2026 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
New York freezes new large data center projects for one year
The first statewide moratorium will give officials time to evaluate impacts on electricity demand, water resources, infrastructure and surrounding communities, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said.
By Zoya Mirza • Updated July 15, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Discounted AI services coming to California cities, counties as state partners with Anthropic
Local governments in California will receive a 50% discount on Claude, the company’s AI productivity assistant, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced.
By Ryan Kushner • July 1, 2026 -
Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
With 125 speed camera installations, LA’s speed safety program becomes California’s largest
Speeding behavior and crash history factor into installation sites, with many locations using multiple cameras, Verra Mobility said.
By Dan Zukowski • June 16, 2026 -
Samsara YouTube
How AI is changing government asset management
New tools aim to help cities keep closer tabs on fleets and equipment in real time, participants in a Samsara public sector technologies event said.
By Ryan Kushner • June 16, 2026 -
Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
More cities are embracing AI permitting systems. HUD funding is available for them.
Local governments have until July 13 to apply for up to $3 million in grants for automated permitting and building code systems.
By Ryan Kushner • June 11, 2026 -
Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images
Federal support for ‘critical’ local cybersecurity resource could be renewed under new bill
Sen. Mark Warner introduced legislation to restore federal funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which many state and local governments once relied on for support.
By Ryan Kushner • June 10, 2026
