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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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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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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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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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 -
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 -
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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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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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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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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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 -
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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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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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.
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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.
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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 -
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.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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(2022). "I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing Project Complete" [Video]. Retrieved from Virginia Department of Transportation.
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.
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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 -
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.
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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.”