October 6, 2009
Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson Daily Star
A rash of thefts at two Tucson high schools has prompted the Tucson Unified School District to team up with police.
In a matter of two months, 64 laptops and 25 digital cameras have been stolen from Tucson High Magnet School and Cholla High Magnet School. The estimated cost to replace the computers is $78,000.
Boston
Boston Globe
City officials acknowledged that they have discovered a second computer used by chief mayoral aide Michael J. Kineavy that may contain the bulk of the e-mail subpoenaed by federal authorities in a public-corruption case against former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and City Councilor Chuck Turner.
October 5, 2009
Arizona
Arizona Republic
As Arizonans began to lose their jobs in record numbers over the past year, the technology that powers the state's unemployment-benefits system began to quake under the load. Computer problems have blocked people from filing for benefits, and tens of thousands have waited months to receive their first unemployment funds. Aging technology and a lack of foresight have compounded the problems.
The Nation
Federal Computer Week
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has made little progress in improving either of its largely information technology-based national public warning systems for disasters in the last two years, a senior Government Accountability Office official told a congressional panel. A senior FEMA official disputed those assessments and said several improvements are scheduled for completion in 2012.
The Department of Homeland Security should improve planning for its program to let key officials continue to correspond when communications networks are damaged or overly congested, according to congressional investigators.
October 2, 2009
The Nation
Federal Computer Week
The federal Department of Health and Human Services will spend $27.8 million in economic stimulus law funding for health information technology projects at low-income health centers in 21 states, the department announced. The Health Resources and Services Administration will pay for implementing electronic health record systems, forming health information exchanges and other projects, HHS said.
Texas
Austin American-Statesman
Brian Rawson, who for three years has headed the state's Department of Information Resources that has come under fire for its oversight of an $863 million data-center consolidation contract with IBM, will move to the Texas Education Agency as director of statewide data initiatives. Karen Robinson, director of administration and technology for Gov. Rick Perry's office, will serve as interim director of the DIR.
Colorado
Denver Post
Democrats complained when Republican gubernatorial candidate Josh Penry sent campaign information to state workers at their work e-mail addresses, but it turns out plenty of candidates of both parties are e-mailing voters at their state and local government jobs. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said he doubts candidates are violating the law, but he suggested that campaigns "scrub" their lists.
The Nation
New York Times
Federal employees will not be allowed to text while driving government-provided cars, according to an executive order signed by President Obama. Separately, the federal government plans to ban text messaging by bus drivers and truckers who travel across state lines, and may also preclude them from using cellphones while driving, except in emergencies.
October 1, 2009
The Philadelphia Region
Philadelphia Inquirer
After months of delay, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority closed the bidding for a new "smart card" fare system with several firms submitting proposals. The system is expected to cost about $100 million, and SEPTA is seeking federal stimulus funding to pay for it, but the agency urged bidders to offer innovative financing proposals such as public-private partnerships.
Texas
Austin American-Statesman
Gov. Rick Perry's live webcast campaign speech to supporters was supposed to show how tech-savvy he is while doubling as a way to control his message, but many viewers who tuned in saw an error message. The Perry campaign said saboteurs were to blame and lined up its service provider to explain how it happened.
