Last week, Government Technology featured an article about Ottawa County, Mich., which announced a service that is rarely seen in local, state or federal government. Citizens can now “order and instantly print out certified copies of vital records from the county clerk’s office” through their website. This means that citizens don’t need to visit theRead… Read more »
According to an article on Government Technology, new automated devices and robots are changing law enforcement as we know it. The invention of these new devices is widening the range of public safety efforts, while simultaneously making these efforts significantly less dangerous. A variety of devices have been created in order to aid police inRead… Read more »
Last night friends and colleagues gathered at the Hilton during the SharePoint 2011 conference in Anaheim for 2nd SharePoint Salon. During the event several topics were brought to the table to discuss. It was, as the last Salon, exhilarating to engage in exchanges of ideas and opinions. Many of the participants were just as passionateRead… Read more »
Hi Josh, I am reviewing the PM PrepCast for the second time. I am scheduled to take the exam [soon]. Right now I have an issue discerning the difference between Rolling Wave Planning and Progressive Elaboration. Not that this issue by itself is pass/fail but every question answered correctly helps. Can you provide a someRead… Read more »
When faced with a decision, young organizations tend to pick the least worst of two options. A better way is to enforce creating a list of a dozen alternatives. That can be done in a couple of hours. The process creates a better definition of the problem and also of the choices. The last choicesRead… Read more »
Deltek Sr. Analyst Chris Cotner reports. Previous Deltek analyses and projections have demonstrated several key points with regard to state budgets. First, from FY 2009-2011, state budgets (all-funds, overall budgets) increased at an abnormal rate. Second, FY 2012 is the first projected overall state budget loss since Deltek began tracking in FY 1987. Third, andRead… Read more »
Where do you start to standardize legislative information for all 50 United States? Blazing an open data trail for one state government isn’t easy, so shifting 50 must be nearly impossible. Or is it? The Open State Project is making progress towards the impossible—and closing in on the goal. When I first heard about thisRead… Read more »
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (CA) police are testing six small clip-on video cameras designed to create a permanent record of police actions in the field. Officers will activate the cameras to record interactions with the public in an effort to improve the agency’s transparency. “They are the next wave of technology in lawRead… Read more »
As companies like Zipcar have popularized car-sharing, some localities are testing nonprofit models that they hope will expand the reach and scope of these programs. Chicago (IL) has I-GO, Boulder (CO) has eGO CarShare, and Syracuse (NY) has CuseCar, which is run by Synapse Sustainability Trust. “We’re not driven by dollars per share per quarter,”Read… Read more »
The Chicago Transit Authority (IL) has started to install electronic countdown signs at its busiest bus shelters. The agency expects to have 150 LED signs in place by March 2012; signs should be available at 400 shelters by the following September. Project costs were shared by the Regional Transportation Authority ($1.8 million), CTA ($1.4 million),Read… Read more »