Chris Teale
@christeale.bsky.social
Managing Editor, Route Fifty.
Some communities in southeastern Virginia will now have their waste and recycling separated by AI-enabled cameras and pneumatic jets. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Southeastern Virginia turns to AI to sort waste, recycling
The area’s sortation facilities will use the technology to extract recyclables and organic waste, an effort it said will extend the life of its landfills and double its recycling rate.
www.route-fifty.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Some communities in southeastern Virginia will now have their waste and recycling separated by AI-enabled cameras and pneumatic jets. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
The AI moratorium still hasn't gone away, and states are mad. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Threat of AI law preemption has states on edge again
The moratorium on state-level AI regulations, which failed to be included in the federal reconciliation bill this summer, has been floated to make a return as an executive order or in must-pass defens...
www.route-fifty.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The AI moratorium still hasn't gone away, and states are mad. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
St. Paul, Minnesota is still recovering from a cyberattack last summer, but it could have been much worse, officials said. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
St. Paul officials still dealing with summer cyberattack’s fallout
The Minnesota capital’s networks were disrupted in July and government operations are still recovering. Preparedness and partnerships were key in the city’s response.
www.route-fifty.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
St. Paul, Minnesota is still recovering from a cyberattack last summer, but it could have been much worse, officials said. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
At last week's GOVIT event, speakers said employees young and old need a "shared purpose" and a sense of civic duty. www.route-fifty.com/people/2025/...
Government workers young and old need ‘shared purpose,’ say local leaders
Agencies must wrestle with retirements, a multi-generational workforce and attracting employees despite the lure of the private sector. Experts said it’s doable, especially when you appeal to someone’...
www.route-fifty.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
At last week's GOVIT event, speakers said employees young and old need a "shared purpose" and a sense of civic duty. www.route-fifty.com/people/2025/...
My first of several from last week's GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium in Minneapolis, and it's on the need for leaders to "walk the talk" amid these volatile times. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Amid distrust and volatility, leaders urge governments to ‘walk the talk’
It’s been a tricky year for states and localities, but speakers at the recent GOVIT Leadership Summit and Symposium said communication and keeping promises can help those governments navigate choppy ...
www.route-fifty.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
My first of several from last week's GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium in Minneapolis, and it's on the need for leaders to "walk the talk" amid these volatile times. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Another Route Fifty Innovation Spotlight, this time about government leaders embracing the "any door" approach to service delivery. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Government leaders embrace ‘any door’ service approach
Speakers at Route Fifty’s recent Innovation Spotlight said the public sector should learn to be more human focused in how it delivers services, an effort that shows long-term value for money.
www.route-fifty.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Another Route Fifty Innovation Spotlight, this time about government leaders embracing the "any door" approach to service delivery. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
More states are looking at laws to take down drones in their airspace, but they may run up against federal preemption. www.route-fifty.com/emerging-tec...
State leaders push laws to bring down drones
While the federal government has ultimate authority over airspace, in the absence of firm action, more states are stepping up to protect residents from illegal drone activity.
www.route-fifty.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
More states are looking at laws to take down drones in their airspace, but they may run up against federal preemption. www.route-fifty.com/emerging-tec...
The government reopened, and the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program got reauthorized. For now. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
Government funding deal reups cyber grant program
Lawmakers reauthorized the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program as part of the deal to reopen the federal government, but funding remains an open question.
www.route-fifty.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The government reopened, and the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program got reauthorized. For now. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
That Nevada hack this summer was apparently caused by an employee accidentally downloading malware from a spoofed website, according to a state report. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
Report blames Nevada hack on employee downloading malware
The August cyber incident took down state websites after a state worker inadvertently downloaded malware onto a government machine. And while hackers demanded a ransom, none was paid.
www.route-fifty.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
That Nevada hack this summer was apparently caused by an employee accidentally downloading malware from a spoofed website, according to a state report. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
A tech-related ballot initiative in New York City got its moment in the sun last week. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Voters approve digitized New York City map amid affordable housing push
Supporters said the new map, which was approved overwhelmingly last week, will help speed up approvals of new housing and development projects. Opponents warned it would centralize power away from the...
www.route-fifty.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A tech-related ballot initiative in New York City got its moment in the sun last week. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
As much as $21 billion may end up left over from BEAD's $42 billion, according to recent research. Folks have some thoughts on what to do with that spare cash. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Half of BEAD funds may end up unspent, report says
Around $21 billion of the federal broadband program could be left over, according to recent research, which also found that as many as 1 million locations could still be unserved.
www.route-fifty.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
As much as $21 billion may end up left over from BEAD's $42 billion, according to recent research. Folks have some thoughts on what to do with that spare cash. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Digital twinning in Phoenix and its surrounding towns and cities. www.route-fifty.com/emerging-tec...
Phoenix plans digital twin to solve regional challenges
The Arizona region’s smart city consortium wants to bring together several towns and cities to explore how to potentially work on issues around traffic, development, climate and others.
www.route-fifty.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Digital twinning in Phoenix and its surrounding towns and cities. www.route-fifty.com/emerging-tec...
It'll be a busy time in Los Angeles in the coming years, and the city is turning to tech to help get ready. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
‘Game on’: LA ramps up tech ahead of major sporting events
The city is set to host the World Cup, Super Bowl, Olympics and Paralympics in the coming years, and it is looking to AI to help improve its services.
www.route-fifty.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
It'll be a busy time in Los Angeles in the coming years, and the city is turning to tech to help get ready. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Kansas has relied on paper for its regulatory rulemaking process since 1965. It's now turning to software to help streamline it. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Kansas looks to tech to modernize agency rulemaking
The state will use a cloud-based platform to draft, publish and take comments on regulations, having relied on paper since 1965.
www.route-fifty.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Kansas has relied on paper for its regulatory rulemaking process since 1965. It's now turning to software to help streamline it. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi on school buses and loan programs for Wi-Fi hotspots is gone, and a nonprofit has stepped up in its place. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Nonprofit offers alternative funding for school, library Wi-Fi programs
Mission Telecom said it would match any discounts those institutions received under the FCC’s E-Rate program for loaning out Wi-Fi hotspots and providing service on school buses.
www.route-fifty.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi on school buses and loan programs for Wi-Fi hotspots is gone, and a nonprofit has stepped up in its place. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
A report from New America called for changes to how AI is implemented in state and local governments, or else it could "entrench the status quo." www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Report warns AI could ‘entrench the status quo’ unless changes are made
Researchers at New America called on governments to use the tech to rethink how they structure their institutions, or else they could repeat the mistakes of past innovations.
www.route-fifty.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A report from New America called for changes to how AI is implemented in state and local governments, or else it could "entrench the status quo." www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
A final one from NASCIO, on states' continued interest in regulating AI. It's unlikely to die down anytime soon. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
State interest in AI regulations unlikely to die down soon, expert says
Even as the federal moratorium threatens to return, state legislators want to regulate the technology themselves absent action from Congress, and are looking at a variety of areas to do so.
www.route-fifty.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
A final one from NASCIO, on states' continued interest in regulating AI. It's unlikely to die down anytime soon. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
A final one from NASCIO about the changing role of the state CIO. They used to be a technologist, but now are much more focused on building relationships and setting strategy. www.route-fifty.com/people/2025/...
From technologist to ‘digital governor’: State CIO role has evolved dramatically
Once expected to be a purely technical role, research found the job has evolved to be a strategic leader, communicator and bridge between the governor, legislators and more tech-focused positions.
www.route-fifty.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A final one from NASCIO about the changing role of the state CIO. They used to be a technologist, but now are much more focused on building relationships and setting strategy. www.route-fifty.com/people/2025/...
There are more than 100 uses of generative AI in state government, NASCIO says. It's only going to accelerate in the coming years. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Generative AI’s state government use ticks up
States have found more than 100 uses for the technology according to a recent survey, and while there might be excitement and momentum for its continued use, plenty of pitfalls lie ahead.
www.route-fifty.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
There are more than 100 uses of generative AI in state government, NASCIO says. It's only going to accelerate in the coming years. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Another from NASCIO, as states' dreams of modernizing their IT and tech are running up against hard budget realities. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
States’ IT modernization dreams run into budget realities
Federal funds have largely dried up, meaning state tech leaders are worried about how they will be able to afford to execute their strategies and wondering where more money can come from.
www.route-fifty.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Another from NASCIO, as states' dreams of modernizing their IT and tech are running up against hard budget realities. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
The first of several from last week's NASCIO conference in Denver. First, on the importance of website accessibility but the lack of money to make necessary changes. www.route-fifty.com/customer-exp...
Accessibility funding inconsistent despite growing importance, report finds
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ annual survey found that, while nearly all states are ploughing ahead to comply with a federal accessibility rule, they need more money to...
www.route-fifty.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The first of several from last week's NASCIO conference in Denver. First, on the importance of website accessibility but the lack of money to make necessary changes. www.route-fifty.com/customer-exp...
Billions of dollars look to be left over under the revised BEAD plans, and states are left to wonder, what will happen to that money? www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
What will become of leftover BEAD money?
States and the federal government are projecting billions of dollars in savings from the latest round of broadband plans. Where those savings go next remains an open question.
www.route-fifty.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Billions of dollars look to be left over under the revised BEAD plans, and states are left to wonder, what will happen to that money? www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
AI has hit schools "like a ton of bricks," a new report says, with leaders worried about cheating, phishing, deepfakes and misinformation, with little in the way of policy to govern its use. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
AI has hit schools ‘like a ton of bricks,’ report says
A survey by Keeper Security found that most education leaders are concerned about AI-related incidents, but few school districts have formalized policies governing the tech.
www.route-fifty.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
AI has hit schools "like a ton of bricks," a new report says, with leaders worried about cheating, phishing, deepfakes and misinformation, with little in the way of policy to govern its use. www.route-fifty.com/artificial-i...
Federal funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center has run out, and now it moves to a paid membership model. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
Federal funding runs out for cyber info-sharing center
Without federal support for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, it now shifts to a paid membership model.
www.route-fifty.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Federal funding for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center has run out, and now it moves to a paid membership model. www.route-fifty.com/cybersecurit...
Governments are turning to social media influencers (of the local kind) to help them get their messages out and meet people where they are. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...
Governments are relying more on social media influencers
More are using influencers as trusted community messengers for public information and education campaigns, a trend that started during the pandemic and is not going away.
www.route-fifty.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Governments are turning to social media influencers (of the local kind) to help them get their messages out and meet people where they are. www.route-fifty.com/digital-gove...