The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) celebrated its 125th anniversary and Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani Gonzalez visited the Gaithersburg campus, where a NIST representative described local work in nanofabrication, quantum science, cybersecurity and fire research aimed at improving industry and public safety.

The school district anticipates a $2.5M deficit while addressing rising worker compensation claims.

DHS reports significant successes in border security and crime victim support in 100 days

At its Dec. 15 meeting the council approved a temporary 2026 general appropriations ordinance (42-2025), amendments to 2025 appropriations (43-2025), an emergency ordinance updating the sanitary sewer overflow program (44-2025), and a cybersecurity program resolution pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 9.64; council also authorized a façade grant loan for $55,867 to Martin Holmes Law Offices and several consent-agenda contracts.

City of Trenton reports positive results from using Eden Red Pay for vendor payments.

Missouri plans a forensics lab to address rising computer and internet-related crimes.

The House passed Senate File 334, a measure to modernize county human‑services software with about $90 million in funding, governance structures and a $50 million cap; the bill passed 134‑0. It includes a $15 million allocation for the Office of Inspector General and a $10 million county grant program.

District technology staff presented an overview of a formal data-governance program, reporting progress on a districtwide data inventory, access decision logging, software evaluations and cybersecurity training; committee took routine procedural votes but made no policy decision.

County Commissioners approve budget adjustments and require cybersecurity course for all officials.

Apex officials say law enforcement traced stolen municipal data to a U.S.-based company, secured a temporary restraining order, and recovered roughly three terabytes of files; forensic review is ongoing and the town reports no evidence so far of identity theft or dark-web exposure.

The committee reviewed a ransomware incident and approved IT contracts for security and payroll software.