Technology & Society
How connectivity, automation, and everyday technology are reshaping cities, work, and daily life.
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Newtown’s Online Permit System Cuts Wait Times by 95%
Filing a building permit in Newtown, Connecticut used to mean at least one trip to the Municipal Center, sometimes two or three, just to drop off paperwork or ask why an application had stalled. Starting September 1, Newtown’s online permit system changes that math almost overnight. Town officials say most requests that once took weeks…
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Chicago Connected Program Keeps 28,000 Students Online for Free
Chicago and CPS now fully fund the Chicago Connected program, giving 28,000 low-income students free home internet and closing the homework gap on the South and West Sides.
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Kansas Unemployment AI System Cuts Wait Times
During the pandemic, a call center built for 1,500 calls a day faced 1.5 million. A cloud and AI overhaul now clears claims almost 80 percent faster, and nearly 9 in 10 filers never pick up the phone.
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Connecting the West Makes Rockies Driving Safer
A tri-state connected-vehicle network across Utah, Colorado and Wyoming now warns drivers of ice, wildlife and stalled traffic before they hit it.
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Lee County’s Weather Radar Closes a Tornado Blind Spot
A 2022 tornado near Fort Myers caused roughly $10 million in damage with no warning at all. The county’s new radar came at zero cost to taxpayers, paid for entirely by a private weather company.
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Oregon’s Fiber Expansion Brings Fast Internet to Rural Homes
The $42 million project leans on $31.6 million in federal BEAD funding, covering most of the cost so rural counties get modern broadband without leaning on already-stretched local budgets.
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Colorado Mobile Driver’s License Eases Airport Travel
Colorado’s new mobile driver’s license now works at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports, letting residents clear security with a phone instead of digging for a physical ID.
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Oklahoma’s Library Broadband Portals Reach Rural Homes
Oklahoma has committed $14.5 million and five years of maintenance to a rollout that could reach 175 libraries statewide. See how the first private booths are already changing daily life in Kingfisher.
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Easthampton’s MyEasthampton App Puts City Hall in Reach
A cyberattack knocked out Easthampton’s old alert system in November 2025. Its $10,000-a-year replacement reaches residents automatically, no re-signup required.
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Nebraska’s DMV AI Assistant Cuts Wait Times for Drivers
In three pilot months, Nebraska’s DMV chatbot fielded more than 88,000 questions and cut call volume up to 20%, freeing staff for the cases that actually need a human.