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American Mental Health Hits 20-Year Low
A new Gallup poll finds that fewer Americans are assessing their mental health positively during the pandemic.
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GSA’s Central Procurement Hub Will Lose the ‘Beta’ in April
The legacy SAM.gov will be shuttered and all the capabilities will be folded into the new SAM.gov, which currently goes by beta.SAM.gov.
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Microsoft Unveils Top Secret Cloud for Government
The move comes among an array of other cloud-driving announcements.
Route Fifty
State Medical Board Won't Let Doctor Practice After He Advised Against Masks
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | U.S. House approves federal marijuana legalization … Endangered tree species that grizzlies rely on could see new protections soon … Two out of five transit riders in Utah say they won’t return after the pandemic.
Route Fifty
Updated Building Codes Prevent Billions in Disaster Damages. Many Localities Don’t Have Them in Place.
Almost two-thirds of local governments haven’t adopted modern building codes.
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States Overpaid Millions in Unemployment and Now Demand People Pay It Back
States rushed to get unemployment benefits approved when the pandemic struck. Reviews are now identifying millions of dollars in overpayments that they want workers to repay.
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Robotic Surgeries Are Changing the Game Inside One VA Facility
More than 60 robotics-boosted surgical procedures were performed since March—and the program will likely expand in the next year.
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Bipartisan Cadre of Lawmakers Call for Permanent Telehealth Expansion
Telehealth has proved vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than four dozen lawmakers want to see maximized moving forward.
Route Fifty
With New Funding Elusive, a Governor Turns to Planning to Address Flood Hazards
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf outlined a three-pronged initiative this week. “It’s the best we can do right now,” he said.
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Mayors Pessimistic About Cities' Prospects for Post-Covid Rebound
Concerns highlighted by the Menino Survey of Mayors include possible deep cuts to local education and the changing economic landscape for local businesses.
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Mayors and Governors Apologize for Violating Their Own Covid Suggestions
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Auditor finds Chicago has not been enforcing recycling laws … Health officials say vaccination cards will be issued to those who get Covid shots … Provo City Council votes to preserve a popular waterfall.
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Senate Passes Bill to Stop Scams and Fraud Around Student Debt Relief
It makes some of these sorts of malicious moves punishable by fines or prison.
Route Fifty
Electric Cargo Bikes Are Debuting in City Fleets
Under a pilot program, parks employees in Portland, Oregon will conduct trail maintenance using zero-emission bikes that were specifically designed for municipal employees.
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How to Fairly Use Algorithms to Make Tough Decisions
COMMENTARY | With computer power increasingly used to guide policies adopted by states and local leaders, governments need to take steps to ensure the underlying algorithms aren’t biased.
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12 Million People to Lose Unemployment Benefits This Month When Federal Programs Expire
Federal safety net programs that have provided additional unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic are set to end.
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NYC Health Official Tells Older Residents to Stay Home
At-risk residents in New York City, including people over the age of 65, should limit excursions as Covid-19 cases rise, the city's top health official advised this week.
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Pentagon Extends Work From Home Flexibility for Civilian Employees
The Defense Department will allow civilians to telework even if children or other dependents in need of supervision are present at home.
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GAO: AI Promising in Health Care, but Challenges Remain
The nascent technology is leading to positive health care outcomes, but issues may impede widespread adoption.
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Lawsuit Claims Remote Learning is Driving Inequities for California K-12 Students
The suit, brought by families and advocacy groups, argues that kids have lacked technology and faced other problems as the coronavirus keeps them from classrooms.
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