August 24, 2026

Good Morning. The NYU School of Law came out with a scorecard evaluating states on their current license plate reader regulations. More than half currently have no regulations on the books, but what about your state? Elsewhere in law enforcement technology, some Nebraska school resource officers use the same shock gloves as ICE, but the move is not without controversy. Next, our cyber contributor examines White House support for offensive hacking. In CIO news, Boston CIO Santiago Garces has accepted a role at Harvard, making way for his successor, Shin Pei-Tsay. Finally, see which company New York state has paired up with on its AI endeavors.

Noelle Knell, Executive Editor

ALPR Policies: All 50 States Ranked on Privacy, Data Sharing

The Policing Project at the NYU School of Law has evaluated the policies governing automated license plate readers in all 50 states.

Schools, Police Already Use Shock Gloves ICE Is Buying

Police departments, schools, and other state and local government agencies already use the controversial form of less-lethal compliance. But sales could increase even amid pushback.

Hacking Back: White House to Enable Cyber Privateers

In an Aug. 12 memo, President Donald Trump set out guidance for more private-sector action in global cyber battles. Here’s the rest of the story.

IBM Deal Gives New York State AI, Cloud Tool Access

The three-year agreement is expected to save the state $6 million and make IBM technology available to participating agencies.

Omaha School District Says ‘No’ to Electric Shock Gloves

But that doesn’t mean all school resource officers there will stop using them — or that police have lost faith in the less-lethal, pain-inducing devices. The decision follows a community outcry.

Boston Chooses Its New CIO, Shin-pei Tsay, From Within

The data and sustainability expert replaces Santiago Garces, who is taking an AI and government-focused job at Harvard.

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Editor's Picks

50 States, 50 Different Ways: Who Owns AI Once It's Deployed?

Now that most states have built AI governance frameworks, guardrails or road maps, a new question has started to emerge: who exactly is responsible for AI once it is deployed?

West Virginia CIO Leans Into Whole-of-State Cybersecurity

A new set of agency requirements passed during the most recent legislative session gives CIO Heather Abbott another tool as she works to expand cybersecurity support statewide.

New Rules of Procurement: What It Means to Buy Tech in 2026

AI. Cooperative contracts. Federal requirements. Public agencies can’t buy tech the same way anymore, so as the process becomes more complex, government must rethink how it brings new tools to the table.

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