KXAN: Almost 2 million Texans affected by Texas Department of Insurance data breach. “The department said the personal information of 1.8 million workers who have filed compensation claims — including Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and information about workers’ injuries — was accessible online to members of the public from March 2019 to January 2022.”
ProPublica: The COVID Testing Company That Missed 96% of Cases. “State and local officials across Nevada signed agreements with Northshore Clinical Labs, a COVID testing laboratory run by men with local political connections. There was only one problem: Its tests didn’t work.”
CNET: Tech groups urge Supreme Court to block Texas social media law. “Two lobbying groups for Big Tech companies like Google, Meta and Twitter have asked the US Supreme Court to block a Texas law that prohibits large social media sites from banning users or removing posts based on political viewpoints.”
Washington Post: The next book ban: States aim to limit titles students can search for. “Republican lawmakers across the country are proposing legislation that would target online library databases and library management technology — tools built by a half-dozen large companies that catalogue millions of books, journals and articles that students peruse for assignments.”
TechCrunch: A law inviting Texans to sue social media companies over ‘censorship’ is back. “A controversial Texas law that would open social media companies up to lawsuits from aggrieved users just notched a surprise win. A trio of federal appeals court judges issued the ruling Wednesday, which pauses a temporary injunction that blocked the law from taking effect last year.”
CNET: Facebook and Instagram Turn Off AR Filters In Texas and Illinois. “Meta has turned off augmented reality filters for Facebook and Instagram in Texas and Illinois due to facial recognition and privacy laws in those states.”
KHQA: Missouri A.G. sues Biden Administration officials for alleged social media censorship. “The Missouri Attorney General, alongside the Louisiana Attorney General, filed a lawsuit against several key players in the Biden Administration for ‘allegedly colluding with Social Media Giants’ in censoring conspiracy theories and misinformation on social media.”
Sublette Examiner (Wyoming): New website introduced to bolster state education, employment. “This dashboard… provides users with a greater understanding of what jobs are available in Wyoming, pathways through education to qualify for in-demand jobs, education and training values, labor supply and demand, and growth potential for Wyoming industries within the region.”
Lincoln Journal-Star: New website a guide to Nebraska birding . “With the diversity of birds and habitats in the state, it can be overwhelming trying to decide where to go birding. The Nebraska Birding Guide provides descriptions for 80 locations that offer great birding opportunities. Details are provided for each site, including habitat information, birds to observe, trails to explore, amenities, fees and more.”
Click on Detroit: New tool helps Michigan residents find COVID treatments, therapeutics. “MDHHS launched a new tool for Michigan residents and health care providers to help locate COVID-19 treatments across the state. Users may search to find sites and locations that have therapeutic options available including monoclonal antibodies, oral antivirals and Evusheld, a preventative treatment for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. The site provides phone numbers, operating hours and information about which therapeutics are available.”
WINK: Court scrutinizes Florida crackdown on social media. “Lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration tried to persuade a federal appeals court Thursday to undo a preliminary injunction that blocked a controversial law seeking to prevent social media behemoths such as Twitter and Facebook from stripping politicians and other users from online platforms.”
WINK: Court scrutinizes Florida crackdown on social media. “Lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration tried to persuade a federal appeals court Thursday to undo a preliminary injunction that blocked a controversial law seeking to prevent social media behemoths such as Twitter and Facebook from stripping politicians and other users from online platforms.”
Keene Sentinel: Social media posts on NH landfill legislation spark concern. “A social media post late last month depicting blood dripping from the scorecard of a state Senate vote is among communications that led some lawmakers to notify the legislative security detail, Sen. Jeb Bradley said Monday.”
State of Maine: Maine DHHS Launches Online Resource for Families and Pilots New Tool for Mandated Reporters During Child Abuse Prevention Month. “Ensuring that parents and caregivers have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need helps promote the social and emotional well-being of children and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities…. To that end, the DHHS Office of Child and Family Services partnered with other Department Offices and state agencies to develop and launch this month Access Maine, an online guide of programs and resources tailored for families to connect them to services and resources. Access Maine includes information about meeting basic needs, such as nutrition and child care, as well as domestic violence support, mental health and substance use resources, and other programs, complementing Maine’s 211 directory.”
Virginia Tech: Enhanced map shows broadband coverage in Virginia. “Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology (CGIT), working in tandem with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Broadband, has developed and launched an enhanced mapping tool to narrow the digital divide across the commonwealth. The Commonwealth Connection mapping tool, which provides more timely and accurate information on where high-speed internet service is available in Virginia, will allow state officials as well as consumers to determine where reliable broadband access exists — and where it is lacking.”
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