The Latest

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    Amid encampment crackdowns, Maui County, Hawaiʻi, explores ‘compassionate’ approach

    A county bill would require notice about encampment removal schedules and assurances the people living in them could remain with their companions and have their personal possessions stored.

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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    FTA administrator pledges partnership with transit authorities on safety, efficiency, accessibility

    Federal Transit Administrator Marcus Molinaro promised to reduce regulatory burdens and accelerate project delivery while urging transit agencies to address crime and operate efficiently.

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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    California set to allow denser housing by transit

    Gov. Gavin Newsom will soon review SB 79, new legislation that will make it easier to build multifamily housing near major train stops and rapid bus lines.

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    alacatr via Getty Images
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    Cities can lead the way on resilient cooling, report says

    Local officials have the tools to expand access to affordable cooling while boosting grid resilience and economic development, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Trump signs order to deploy National Guard to address Memphis crime

    City and county leaders warn that Trump’s call for boots on the ground could do more harm than good.

    Updated Sept. 17, 2025
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    Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Judge temporarily blocks new HUD housing grant criteria

    “The irreparable harm is that these funds would be lost forever by anybody that intends to apply,” U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy said.

    Updated Sept. 16, 2025
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    Dee Liu via Getty Images
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    CenterPoint Energy courts Minnesota communities for networked geothermal pilot

    The utility is hoping to prove to local governments that such decarbonization efforts can meet residents’ energy needs in a cold-weather climate.

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    Jeff Swensen via Getty Images
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    EPA moves to end greenhouse gas emissions reporting

    Gutting the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program would strip local governments of information they rely on to hold polluters accountable and undermine efforts to protect residents’ health, climate advocates say.

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    Art Wager via Getty Images
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    Houston had outpaced the nation in addressing homelessness. Now it’s facing a setback.

    The city’s unsheltered homeless population jumped 16% in 2025, new point-in-time data shows.

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    Permission granted by Mike McMonagle, EDC Lancaster
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    Horse-drawn carts? High-tech manufacturing? Lancaster County wants to be known for both.

    With urban redevelopment, public-private partnerships and diversified manufacturing, the county wants to become a destination for opportunity and growth while honoring its Amish and agrarian roots.

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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump says he’s sending National Guard to Memphis

    Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signals cooperation with the White House plan, while Memphis mayor stresses progress without troops and county mayor denounces the move as an occupation.

    Updated Sept. 12, 2025
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    Courtesy of City of Lancaster
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    California city adopts AI permitting

    Lancaster will embark on a public-private partnership with Labrynth, a contractor-side artificial intelligence permitting platform, to speed up the review process.

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    matdesign24 via Getty Images
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    Column

    Public-private partnerships can help local leaders do more with less

    You can share responsibility, combine resources and leverage private-sector capabilities to continue innovating even when times are tough.

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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    9 ways the FEMA Act would reform federal disaster response

    Cities are rallying behind the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act, which they say would cut red tape, accelerate recovery funding and strengthen resilience against future disasters.

  • A highway with cars on it in front of a city skyline. Two large cranes line the highway next to new construction.
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    JasonDoiy via Getty Images
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    San Francisco’s permitting reform seeks an end to building project ‘death by a thousand cuts’

    San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s latest permitting reform package loosens restrictions on historic buildings, reduces fees and clears the path for accessory dwelling units in the city.

  • President Donald Trump stands at a podium with Seal of the President of the United States on it, with Pete Hegseth on his right and Pam Boni on his left,
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Judge declines to halt National Guard use in LA

    As the federal troop fight shifts to a U.S. appeals court, cities and counties argue the deployments bypass local authority and create dangerous conflicts on city streets.

    Updated Sept. 2, 2025
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    DenisTangneyJr via Getty Images
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    Traffic cameras double as a hurricane-response system in this South Carolina county

    By connecting existing cameras to an AI-powered command hub, a hurricane-prone county plans to track evacuation patterns, adjust routes on the fly and strengthen recovery planning.

  • A woman is about to enter a white minivan labeled "May Mobility" and "Lyft."
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    Courtesy of May Mobility
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    Lyft and May Mobility begin robotaxi service in Atlanta; Zoox gambles on Las Vegas

    As Georgia’s capital becomes a prime destination for autonomous ride-hailing providers, Zoox launches in Las Vegas with its purpose-built robotaxi.

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    Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    With an executive order, Maryland aims to build more houses faster

    Gov. Wes Moore wants to shrink permitting timelines, set housing production targets and use state land for transit-oriented development.

  • Person with face wrapped in scarf that says "US Border Patrol" and badge on a chain around their neck.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court clears path for ICE to resume stops in LA

    The ruling allowing federal immigration agents to stop residents based on ethnicity, language, location and occupation means city leaders must navigate legal uncertainty until at least 2026, a legal scholar says.

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    Apu Gomes/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    California forms task force to clear homeless encampments

    The task force will target encampments on state rights-of-way in the state’s 10 largest cities, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

  • Aerial view of multilane highway surrounded by trees crossing over a river.
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    (2022). "I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing Project Complete" [Video]. Retrieved from Virginia Department of Transportation.
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    How one firm uses digital twins to develop large transportation infrastructure projects

    The technology can help build buy-in, minimize costly errors and facilitate monitoring and maintenance, a Bentley Systems senior director says.

  • A person wearing a Statue of Liberty costume leans on their walker next to a person holding a sign that says "Hands Off Chicago."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Chicago officials decry ‘militarized’ immigration operation

    The Trump administration’s announcement of Operation Midway Blitz escalates its clash with Illinois leaders over sanctuary laws and local authority.

    Updated Sept. 9, 2025
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    Tero Vesalainen via Getty Images
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    Half of US residents ‘uncomfortable’ about AI in government: survey

    Survey respondents see the new technology as a way to increase government efficiency but express concerns about privacy, bias and inaccuracies.

  • The president in a blue suit and red tie alongside Elon Musk in black with a ballcap in front of a red Tesla vehicle with the White House behind them.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    13 state governors join coalition to promote EVs

    The Affordable Clean Cars Coalition said it will push back against the Trump administration's policies of “putting polluters over people.”