Local governments in five states will share best practices and new ideas to boost economic development and improve civic engagement.

Jeffrey Wann, a former IT executive in the insurance industry, will take over for Mike Cheles, who retired at the end of 2019.

With not enough funding for new positions or training to keep up with technological changes, state CIO Mike Cheles encourages new tactics.

The longtime private-sector IT executive who was hired in October 2018, plans to retire Dec. 31.

The "Small Places, Big Ideas Innovation Cohort" is now collecting proposals for technologies that can connect governments and the public and help with mobility.

The Department of Homeland Security says it wants to make it easier for cities to mix and match technologies from different vendors.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson released a plan this week that includes creating a new statewide broadband office charged with connecting all communities with more than 500 residents.

Cindy Riordan says the IT agency has cracked down on the number of people who have access to the municipal data center, and revised contracts to ensure vendors follow industry standards on security.

The Missouri city CIO will leave government in April after three years of "smart city" work that he says has finally paid off.