January 3, 2019
Government Technology Magazine
International Open Data Conference Identifies Key Themes for Data Work’s ‘Second Phase’
Notes (by GovEx team member Eric Reese)
Following the recent International Open Data Conference (IDOC) in Buenos Aires, Eric Reese of the Center for Government Excellence (GovEx) at Johns Hopkins University identified several key themes he expects to be a major part of the next phase of open data work. Read more. (scroll down)
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December 10, 2018
Philadelphia Inquirer
Cities are using data to make decisions more than ever. Are they calculating risks for bias?
by Michaelle Bond
With one million properties and limited staff, New York City needs to be selective about the buildings it inspects for fire risk. So it relies heavily on data — including on past fires and building traits — to choose. Read more.
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The Centre for Government Excellence (GovEx), DataSF, the Civic Analytics Network and Data Community DC have introduced an algorithm toolkit that aims to help municipal leaders ensure that decisions made based on algorithms are unbiased and deliver the best outcomes for residents. Read more.
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September 18, 2018
SmartCitiesDive
Algorithm toolkit aims to help cities reduce bias from automation
By Jason Plautz
The Center for Government Excellence (GovEx) at Johns Hopkins University released a new toolkit to help cities ensure that automated decisions based on algorithms in fields like criminal justice or higher education are free of bias. Read more.
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The Center for Government Excellence (GovEx) launched a new training center on the Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore, Maryland, onMonday that offers in-person and online data courses for government employees and those interested in data-driven governance. Read more.
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The Center for Government Excellence, also known as GovEx, is launching a new training center aimed at helping public employees embrace emerging trends in government technology, including data management, analytics, community engagement and more. Read more.
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January 19, 2018
KGNS.tv, Laredo, TX
“What Works Cities” Program: Where does Laredo stand?
By KGNS staff
The City of Laredo is wrapping up its first year in the Bloomberg Philanthropies “What Works Cities” program. The program is a national initiative meant to help mid-sized cities improve how they use information to improve the quality of life for its residents.
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December 18, 2017
Policy Options Magazine
Open Data Standards Will Improve Public Information
By Rachel Bloom
Canadians who rely on public transit know how uncomfortable it is to wait outside for a bus on the coldest day of winter. Some Canadians are turning to transit apps that display information about bus locations in real time on their phones to avoid the cold.
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Dec 8, 2017
The Hub at Johns Hopkins University
Setting standards: Hopkins center helps develop new tool for cities to navigate the open data movement
By
If you’re looking into recent crime activity in your neighborhood, chances are you can check out a Google map dotted with incident locations. Click further, and you can find the type of crime reported, the date and time it occurred, and other details.
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November 30, 2017
StateScoop
New open data directory collects standards from around the world
By Zaid Shoorbajee
A partnership between two civic data groups has led to the launch of a free directory of open data standards with the goal of making it easier for governments to find specifications that suit their open data needs.
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November 29, 2017
Government Technology Magazine
GovEx Launches First International Open Data Standards Directory
By Zack Quaintance
The project aspires to give city governments a resource for identifying suitable data standards based on popularity, reliability and other criteria.
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November 27, 2017
KnoxNews.com (part of the USA Today Network)
New tools help reduce Knoxville’s urban blight
By Tyler Whetstone
Tye and Andre Duvall’s home project has taken them months to work on and there’s still plenty of work to be done. When a reporter got a tour of the home on East Fifth Avenue in October there was no deck (it had rotted), the living room was roped off (some rot there too) and there was no drywall or much of any infrastructure.
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November 20, 2017
CivSource
GovEx, Geothink Launch Open Data Standards Directory
By Bailey McCann
The Center for Government Excellence (GovEx), part of Johns Hopkins University, and GeoThink, a part of McGill University’s Department of Geography, have launched a new open data standards directory.
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October 27, 2017
The Baltimore Sun
Universities to study how to turn Baltimore into a “smart city”
By Sarah Gantz
Imagine that Baltimore’s street lights automatically came on when they sensed someone was near, collected data about air quality and even alerted police at the sound of a gunshot.
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October 23, 2017
Long Beach Business Journal
Technology And Innovation Department Seeks Study To Improve Business Processes
By Samantha Mehlinger, Assistant Editor
Assuming the Long Beach City Council approves a recommendation from the technology and innovation department tonight (October 24), the city might get one step closer to improving its business licensing and permitting processes.
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August 15, 2017
Laredo Morning Times
Fire station improvements, public park surveillance eyed as Laredo City Council delves into budget
By Julia Wallace
Laredo City Council began parsing through its fiscal year 2017-18 budget on Monday, wrapping up day one of a three-day workshop with a focus on data governance, the city’s debt and a capital improvement program.
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March 20, 2017
Government Technology Magazine
Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers of 2017
Beth Blauer
by Tod Newcome
It seemed like the start of a promising, somewhat modest career as a lawyer working at the World Trade Center in New York City. But on Sept. 11, 2001, Beth Blauer’s life changed dramatically. Following the tragedy and without a job, she returned to her home in Maryland where she ended up working for the state in juvenile probation services.