The University of Rochester named Jim Forrester as interim chief information officer (CIO) and university vice president, effective Aug. 1.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law a new statewide artificial intelligence (AI) safety framework that requires large AI developers to disclose safety practices, report major safety incidents, and undergo independent third-party audits.

Frederick County, Md., is pausing new applications for data center developments through Dec. 31, 2026, while officials complete a statewide study examining the environmental, energy, and economic impacts of data center growth.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule codifying how state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and correctional agencies can use counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) authorities under the SAFER SKIES Act.

The University of Utah plans to offer its first bachelor’s degree program in artificial intelligence (AI) beginning in fall 2026, after the Kahlert School of Computing’s proposal won approval from the university’s Board of Trustees. The new major is pending approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the university’s accrediting body.

The University of California, Santa Barbara was named the first university recipient of the 2026 Zero Trust Champion Award at the Zscaler Public Sector Summit.

Florida State University (FSU) named Jonathan Fozard vice president for Information Technology Services (ITS), a newly created position at the university. Fozard, who joined FSU in 2020, has more than 25 years of experience leading technology, cybersecurity, and digital modernization initiatives in higher education and the public sector.

Former U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) IT official Shannon Casucci joined the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) as chief procurement transformation officer, NCDIT announced on June 24.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 24 passed legislation that would allow municipalities to temporarily pause consideration of data center development applications while they update local land-use rules.

The New York State Assembly passed legislation this month that would place a one-year moratorium on issuing permits to data centers while the state studies their impact on communities and the environment, according to a press release from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.