North Dakota Hires Latvian Support For Our Outdated Technology.
At least our doctors aren t still using leeches for our annual blood lettings. But North Dakota s Unemployment Insurance Program is running on a platform so old that we have to go to the medieval heart of Eastern Europe to find druids that are learned in it s ancient ways. We re talking about mainframe computers that are so old, a Commodore 64 can probably process circles around it. (Please note, if you get that reference, than you too are so old ).
Governor Doug Burgum made his fortune on riding the tide of technology. This is more like a mud puddle of machines. For years now, and at a considerable cost, the state has been able to maintain the system. The Grand Forks Herald reports that according to Duane Schell, chief technology officer for the North Dakota Information Technology Department, much of that considerable cost is maintaining the service of Latvian scientists that are familiar with it s outdated mainframe
Lawmakers propose fixes for Virginiaâs beleaguered unemployment insurance program Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury By Ned Oliver | December 24, 2020 at 5:18 PM EST - Updated December 24 at 5:18 PM
Lawmakers say they plan to propose legislative fixes next month to speed unemployment claims in Virginia, which ranks last in the country for quickly processing applications that require staff review.
The legislatureâs Commission on Unemployment discussed the proposals in a Wednesday meeting, outlining bills that, among other things, would reduce the programâs reliance on paper mail and prevent the state from stopping benefits once theyâve started without first investigating.
âAll of the legislation ⦠is aimed at helping things go more smoothly, with the goal of starting to get the wheels moving for you but also preparing Virginia to weather a storm like this in the future,â said Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, a labor economist at the Unive
Gov. Northam announces temporary changes to Virginiaâs unemployment insurance Gov. Northam holding a press briefing in Richmond (FILE) (Source: VPM) By WHSV Newsroom | December 22, 2020 at 4:35 PM EST - Updated December 23 at 12:20 AM
RICHMOND, Va. (WHSV/Office of Gov. Northam Press Release) â On Tuesday, Governor Ralph Northam announced temporary changes to Virginiaâs Unemployment Insurance Program that will support workers and businesses throughout the commonwealth who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a press release from the governorâs office, this change will protect Virginia businesses from having to pay an additional $200 million to replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The release also says Northam is directing the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to begin distributing unemployment insurance benefits to unemployed residents who have been held in the agencyâs determination process.