Technology
States sweeten their offers to chipmakers in competition for jobs
HILLSBORO, Ore. — “Oregon’s been at this for decades,” the governor’s office assures potential investors in its so-called Silicon Forest. The Lone Star State’s governor calls it a “race that Texas must win for our state, our workforce, our national security, and our future.” And New York’s governor boasts on the state’s YouTube channel that […]
AI is used widely, but lawmakers have set few rules
In the fall of 2016, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families began using a predictive analytics tool that promised to help identify kids in imminent danger. The tool used more than two dozen data points to compare open cases in Connecticut’s system against previous welfare cases with poor outcomes. Then each child received a […]
The latest ‘right to repair’ law is the broadest one yet
Do-it-yourselfers and repair shops are celebrating a victory in Minnesota with the enactment of a new law that requires many manufacturers to share parts and information with tinkerers and small businesses. The so-called right to repair law will allow equipment owners and independent shops to more easily fix devices like phones, laptops, appliances and other […]
Hiring Outlook Brighter for College Grads
Brooke Southwell of Evansville, Indiana, expresses thanks to her parents as she waits for the start of her graduation ceremony earlier this month at the University of Southern Indiana. Two out of three employers say they plan to hire from this year’s college graduates, a survey found. (AP) America’s jobs machine finally may be churning […]
Some States Lag in Using Electronic Health Records
Dr. Damodar Poudel updates patient records in Chillicothe, Ohio. Nearly half of all U.S. physicians maintain electronic patient records, but some states are lagging behind. (AP) Less than a decade ago, nine out of 10 U.S. doctors updated their patients’ records by hand and stored them in color-coded files. Today, nearly half of all office-based […]
The National Guard Takes On Hackers
Washington National Guard members wait in an end zone to take a re-enlistment oath before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings late last year. Washington and other states view the Guard as a natural fit to counter cyberattacks. (AP) At home, the National Guard is summoned during natural disasters and […]
NSA Controversies Spur States into Action
The RAPTR drone helicopter manufactured by Tactical Electronics in Broken Arrow, Okla., is displayed at a convention on UAVs. State lawmakers will debate privacy issues related to drones, license plate readers and cellphones this year. (Photo: Maggie Clark/Stateline) A year of revelations about the National Security Agency’s domestic spying program has sent legislators back to […]
How Does Your State Stack Up?
To mark the end of the year, Stateline this week is republishing some of the most popular interactive features from 2013. From the impact of food stamp cuts to the shrinking number of school districts nationwide, these features resonated with readers and helped us illuminate state politics and policy in a creative way. We hope you enjoy […]
Distracted Bus and Train Drivers Under Scrutiny
A makeshift memorial in New Jersey marks the spot where an 8-month-old girl died in an accident caused by a distracted bus driver in July. High-profile accidents have prompted regulators and transit agencies to crack down on distracted driving by bus and train operators. (AP) An 8-month old girl in a stroller was killed when […]
Thanks JFK: States Gained from Space Program
Caption President John F. Kennedy visits Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Nov. 16, 1963 to review the progress of the space program. (AP Photo/NASA via John F. Kennedy Library and Museum) As the Minotaur 1 rocket launched from Virginia and Maryland’s spaceport Tuesday night, it provided a subtle reminder of President John F. Kennedy’s legacy. It […]
Stiff Resistance to State Technology Taxes
David Rosenbaum, president of Real-Time Computer Services, confers with a staffer in New York. States that have tried to tax technological services have run into fierce political resistance. (AP) As the nation moves from a tangible goods-based economy to a service-based economy, a few states are trying to keep revenues robust by taxing technological services […]
Why States Need Social Media Policies
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s office was caught deleting Facebook comments that were critical of his position on gay marriage. A website was set up to capture the censored comments. (Courtesy of Pencership.com) Soon after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence posted a statement on Facebook expressing disappointment in the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage, a long […]