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Chandler Treon

Chandler Treon is an Austin-based staff writer. He has a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in literature and a master’s degree in technical communication, all from Texas State University.

  • US-NEWS-ONE-NORTH-TEXAS-LARGEST-WATER-1-DA.jpg
    News
    Plano Budget Proposes $6.2M in Technology Replacements
    What to Know:
    • The replacement plan covers core infrastructure, employee devices, security cameras, audiovisual systems and emergency communications equipment.
    • Information Security funding would rise 21.1 percent, supporting zero-trust access, network detection, penetration testing and expanded risk management.
    • Other planned work includes new asset-management software, traffic-management computers and foundational development for an AI-enabled digital service portal.
    Insider
    July 31, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Dallas on a sunny day.
    News
    James Wilkinson Named Dallas Chief Information Security Officer
    What to Know:
    • Wilkinson will begin the role Aug. 17 and lead Dallas’ enterprise information security program.
    • He brings more than 25 years of technology, cybersecurity, risk management and operational leadership experience.
    • His background includes 26 years of military service and senior roles at MUFG, Lockheed Martin and Wells Fargo.
    Insider
    July 31, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Student Laptops.jpeg
    News
    DIR to Issue Solicitation for End-User IT Outsourcing Services
    What to Know:
    • The forthcoming request for offers will cover services and equipment supporting end-user computing environments.
    • The solicitation will be offered through the Department of Information Resources’ Cooperative Contracts Program.
    • DIR plans to post the RFO Aug. 11.
    Insider
    July 31, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Broadband
    News
    Texas Broadband Awards Face Audit After Lawmakers Question Process
    What to Know:
    • The audit will examine how the Broadband Development Office evaluated applications, changed payment terms and documented award decisions.
    • Lawmakers questioned whether some satellite and middle-mile projects received favorable treatment despite competing proposals or existing service.
    • Providers called for clearer scoring, stronger mapping, better challenge procedures and more explanation when applications are rejected.
    Insider
    July 30, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • A row of servers in a Google data center.
    News
    Texas Senators Examine Rising Cost of Data Center Tax Breaks
    What to Know:
    • Lawmakers discussed mandatory reporting on electricity, water and project benefits as a condition of receiving the exemption.
    • Witnesses urged the state to give host communities more control over local tax incentives, infrastructure demands and land-use impacts.
    • The committee took no vote, leaving repeal, restructuring and other safeguards for possible consideration next session.
    Insider
    July 30, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Cybersecurity: Managing Risk
    News
    HHSC Plan Emphasizes Cybersecurity, AI, Data Governance
    What to Know:

    • HHSC plans to modernize cybersecurity with Zero Trust access, continuous monitoring and post-quantum cryptography.
    • Data priorities include analytics for fraud detection, data stewardship policies and a connected analytics data mart.
    • The agency is seeking higher IT procurement thresholds, citing overlapping reviews and longer timelines for large technology projects.
    Insider
    July 28, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Flock Safety license plate reader
    News
    Conroe Council Seeks Vote on License Plate Cameras
    What to Know:
    • The existing Flock Safety program remains in place, with no new review process or ballot measure approved.
    • Council members cited public safety benefits alongside concerns about privacy, data access, retention and oversight.
    • The council must vote before Aug. 17 on whether to put the issue on the November ballot.
    Insider
    July 28, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Illustration of an open laptop with book pages coming off of the screen. Dark blue background with bright cyan blue cloud symbols.
    News
    Texas Higher Education Board Adopts AI Code of Ethics
    What to Know:
    • The policy creates a formal process for complaints and review when the agency’s use of AI produces an adverse outcome.
    • It emphasizes human review, privacy, security, transparency and agency accountability.
    • The policy governs the coordinating board, not Texas colleges and universities.
    Insider
    July 24, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Austin City Hall on a sunny day.
    News
    Austin Approves $20M in Technology Investments
    What to Know:
    • All nine items moved through the consent agenda, with only the payment-processing amendment drawing separate comment.
    • The package includes cybersecurity training, network threat management, data analytics and systems supporting city utilities and courts.
    • The $20 million figure combines new contract ceilings, contract increases, grant funding and required city matches.
    Insider
    July 24, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Downtown Austin and the capitol as seen from Congress Avenue.
    News
    Texas HHS IT Budget Director Announces Retirement
    What to Know:
    • Dorothy Sinclair has spent more than 18 years with Texas Health and Human Services.
    • Her current role includes oversight of a $2 billion biennial IT budget.
    • The agency named Blanca Tondre as IT budget director in May.
    Insider
    July 23, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Beaumont, Texas, skyline on a sunny day.
    News
    Beaumont Weighs Technology Needs in Tight Budget Year
    What to Know:
    • Departments submitted $2.9 million in new IT requests.
    • Proposed spending includes $726,000 for an enterprise resource planning project and $767,000 to replace end-of-life Cityworks software.
    • Officials are also considering better mapping of water meters.
    Insider
    July 23, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • BANNER_Austin_1.jpg
    News
    Austin Unveils Budget for Consolidated IT Department
    What to Know:
    • The ONE-ATS initiative would transfer 191 IT positions from 15 departments without eliminating jobs.
    • The city expects $5.8 million in technology savings from retiring redundant applications and contracts.
    • Proposed funding includes updates to permitting, public-safety communications and enterprise software systems.
    Insider
    July 21, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • nurse
    News
    Board of Nursing Eyes $1.7M Technology Modernization Request
    What to Know:
    • Three servers and two storage devices are expected to reach end of life in November 2027, according to board materials.
    • The proposal includes server and storage replacement, cloud-based disaster recovery, records management, website hosting and enterprise software costs.
    • A separate staffing request includes technology-related positions for cybersecurity, data analysis and system support.
    Insider
    July 21, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • The Texas flag on a flagpole next to the Alamo.
    News
    What We're Hearing: TFC CIO May Be Headed to General Land Office
    What to Know:
    • Manukonda has served as the Texas Facilities Commission’s CIO since 2022.
    • The General Land Office’s CIO post opened when Sean Peterson left in May for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
    • Neither agency has publicly confirmed the personnel move.
    Insider
    July 17, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Hands holding a phone with a chatbot graphic saying "hi."
    News
    DIR Chatbot Notice Offers Look at AI Disclosure Expectations
    What to Know:
    • Vendors may need to document model ownership, government data sources, training practices and external data sharing.
    • Testing, human oversight, retention, user feedback and encryption could become routine parts of agency reviews.
    • Suppliers that cannot provide clear governance details may make it harder for agencies to complete required public disclosures.
    Insider
    July 17, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Houston_shutterstock_4419276341
    News
    Harris County Budget Hearings Surface Tech Opportunities
    What to Know:
    • Harris County is moving toward vendor engagement to replace an enterprise resource planning system and purchase new tolling equipment and commercial permitting software.
    • Other potential opportunities include vendor-management tools, traffic signal battery systems and upgrades tied to county software and 311 services.
    • Many projects remain early-stage, with funding, scope and procurement schedules still pending.
    Insider
    July 17, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • The columns and edge of the roof of a court building as seen from below.
    News
    Texas Indigent Defense Commission Floats Tech, AI Modernization Request
    What to Know:
    • TIDC’s proposal identifies possible tools for legal research, drafting, discovery review, trial preparation, case management and client administration.
    • The technology component is part of a broader $64.1 million proposal to stabilize and modernize public defense systems.
    • The posted document lists conflicting cost figures for the technology component, so the final request amount remains unclear.
    Insider
    July 16, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Aerial view of San Marcos on a sunny day.
    News
    Hays County Names Chris Ulibarri IT Director
    What to Know:
    • Ulibarri joins after nine years as a division director within Travis County IT
      Services.
    • His priorities include the county’s strategic technology initiatives, cybersecurity and departmental support.
    • He previously spent 12 years directing technology implementation at the University of Texas at El Paso.
    Insider
    July 16, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • A beige-sided building with the words "Texas Workforce Commission" above the entrance.
    News
    TWC CIO Heather Hall Retires, Jeff Peden Named Interim
    What to Know:
    • Hall had led the agency’s IT organization since 2019.
    • Peden has served as deputy CIO since 2016 and previously led IT at another Texas agency.
    • The transition comes as TWC weighs Sunset recommendations on modernization planning, procurement and data governance.
    Insider
    July 14, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • budgeting_shutterstock_522559909
    News
    Agencies May Limit Exceptional Funding Requests in Upcoming Budget
    What to Know:
    • Many Texas agencies are likely to file their next Legislative Appropriations Requests in August for the 2028-29 biennium.
    • The next budget cycle is expected to have less discretionary funding than the last two.
    • Industry Insider has heard discussion that agencies may be discouraged from including exceptional items.
    Insider
    July 14, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • An aerial view of downtown Abilene, Texas
    News
    TxDOT Draft Transportation Plan Includes $37.6M in Traffic Technology Projects
    What to Know:
    • Most of the identified traffic technology work is in the Austin District, with projects on I-35 and SH 71.
    • The listed projects are funded through Category 12 Strategic Priority and Category 2 Metropolitan and Urban Corridor Projects.
    • The draft does not guarantee construction; it authorizes TxDOT and local partners to prepare projects based on potential future cash flow.
    Insider
    July 10, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • HoustonLightRail
    News
    Harris County Approves $14.7M in Technology Items
    What to Know:
    • The largest approval was an $8.6 million TransCore agreement for roadside toll collection system maintenance.
    • Other approvals covered cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, public safety systems, laboratory automation, workforce software and data management.
    • The Flock surveillance amendment passed on consent without added funding, while an Accenture juvenile justice technology item received no action.
    Insider
    July 10, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • A person in a blue business suit working on a laptop with open lock icons floating around it.
    News
    Cyber Command Plan Calls for AI Defense, Faster Procurement
    What to Know:
    • The new agency is scaling from 48 full-time employees toward an anticipated workforce of 122.
    • Proposed functions include threat intelligence, incident response, digital forensics, statewide reporting and 24/7 monitoring.
    • Capital planning areas include managed cybersecurity services and a transition to post-quantum encryption.
    Insider
    July 09, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • White icons including a shopping cart, a lock, a star and an envelope, surrounded by circles and connected by lines, also in white. Blurred multicolored background.
    News
    NCTCOG, Alliance for Innovation Expand Cooperative Purchasing Access
    What to Know:
    • Members can use the combined portfolio through Civic Marketplace without signing separate interlocal agreements.
    • Civic Marketplace lists the shared catalog at 279 contracts, 504 vetted suppliers and 14 service areas.
    • The arrangement also extends access to participating COGWORKS agencies through the East Texas Council of Governments’ existing TXShare membership.
    Insider
    July 09, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • View of Amarillo, Texas, with baseball diamond in foreground.
    News
    Amarillo Assistant City Manager, Chief Technology Officer Resigns
    What to Know:
    • Amarillo has not announced an interim or permanent replacement for CTO Rich Gagnon.
    • City financial documents and the Texas Municipal League directory list Missy Laird as chief information officer, but neither identifies her as Gagnon’s successor.
    • Gagnon’s work with Amarillo included cybersecurity, broadband modernization, infrastructure security and creation of the city’s digital human employee.
    Insider
    July 07, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • shutterstock_AI.jpg
    News
    Brazos County Adopts Artificial Intelligence Use Policy
    What to Know:
    • County users may not submit protected or confidential data to public AI tools.
    • AI tools may not independently make final governmental, legal, personnel, procurement, financial, enforcement or policy decisions.
    • Inputs and outputs may be subject to the Texas Public Information Act and county records retention rules.
    Insider
    July 07, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • The Texas Capitol.
    News
    Abbott Appoints Don Huffines as Texas Comptroller
    What to Know:
    • Huffines will replace Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, with his service scheduled to begin Aug. 1.
    • The appointment fills the vacancy before the November general election, when voters will decide who holds the elected statewide office going forward.
    • Huffines is a Dallas-area businessman and former state senator who represented District 16 from 2015 to 2019.
    Insider
    July 02, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Texas Open Data Platform.png
    News
    Texas Open Data Portal Downloads Top 2M
    What to Know:
    • Use of the Texas Open Data Portal has grown alongside broader demand for centralized digital access to state information and services.
    • Published data assets have grown from 488 to 1,348 since 2022, while participating agencies increased from 26 to 36.
    • DIR says the portal can help reduce routine public information requests by giving users direct access to already published data sets.
    Insider
    July 02, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Top of the capitol building in Washington, D.C., in dual colors communicating color blindness
    News
    Texas Republicans Push Federal AI Oversight Bills
    What to Know:
    • U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-TX 1, introduced a bill to create a federal reporting framework for critical AI incidents involving advanced models.
    • U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-TX 36, is backing legislation that would authorize a federal center focused on AI security and innovation.
    • The proposals point to potential new expectations around risk reporting, testing and documentation for AI systems.
    Insider
    July 02, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
  • Urban sprawl along I-35 in Austin
    News
    Texas, Oklahoma Data Agreement Links Traffic Systems Across State Line
    What to Know:
    • Shared information includes camera status, incidents, roadway hazards, closures, work zones, travel times and environmental sensor data.
    • The agencies are considering future additions such as truck parking availability, freight routing data, special event traffic coordination and evacuation route information.
    Insider
    June 30, 2026
     · Chandler Treon
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