technology

WICHITA, Kansas — Smartboards have been replacing chalkboards in Kansas for more than a decade. Yet districts are still figuring out tech’s place in the classroom.

The city of Hutchinson is set to become a test site for new technology that’s designed to improve public safety and city operations.

AT&T selected Hutchinson to try out its new Smart City program beginning this summer. The company will provide and install sensors, cameras and communication technology at no cost to the city.

Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper presented the proposal to city leaders at a council meeting last Tuesday.

Most Wichitans probably don't realize there are more than 100 technology companies in the city.

“It's like one of the best-kept-secrets type of a thing,” said Robin Huber, a vice president at NetApp.

FlagshipKansas.Tech plans to change that. The new organization wants to help tech companies grow by making the industry more visible in Kansas.

It also wants to attract tech talent to Kansas and retain talent already here. And it wants to work with colleges and technical schools on aligning curriculums with industry needs.

It’s campaign season, meaning candidates are filling television airwaves and mailboxes with political advertising. Now, campaigning has spread onto another platform: your smartphone.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas that would reduce wasteful government technology spending and increase cybersecurity was signed into law Tuesday.

The bill, the Modernizing Government Technology Act, is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan legislation was signed by President Trump.

The law will encourage federal agencies to cut wasteful IT spending and modernize government technology and security.