The Latest

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    The Municipal Cost Index

    The Municipal Cost Index is now updated with data from April. See how it stacks up against data dating back to 1978. 

    Updated May 20, 2026
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    Here’s what’s changed in the revised ROAD to Housing bill

    The House amended the major bipartisan housing legislation with some key differences from the Senate’s version.

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    Ryan Murphy via Getty Images
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    NYC unveils plan to speed up affordable housing development

    Mayor Zohran Mamdani is proposing a slew of reforms that he says would shave eight months off the development process by streamlining environmental reviews, pre-development financing and permitting.

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    Permission granted by HDR
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    Streetcar line extension opens in Kansas City, Missouri

    The 10-year-old, fare-free KC Streetcar system now runs from the city’s downtown to the riverfront.

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    Michael M. Santiago/ via Getty Images
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    FEMA’s $1B BRIC relaunch prioritizes shovel-ready projects

    Communities with mature project plans, early benefit-cost analyses and proven delivery capacity will be best positioned to win resilience dollars, experts say.

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    EPA to formally rescind certain PFAS drinking water regulations

    The agency proposed two rules: one to rescind drinking water standards for four PFAS and another to allow some water utilities to delay enforcement on PFOS and PFOA until 2031. A hearing is set for July 7.

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    (2026). "Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Member Day" [Video]. Retrieved from T&I Committee Republicans/YouTube.
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    Surface Transportation Legislation

    House committee agrees to $580B surface transportation legislation

    The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee propose EV registration fees and continued funding for Amtrak and public transportation.

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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    HUD chief defends proposed budget cuts amid Senate scrutiny

    Secretary Scott Turner had occasional heated exchanges with legislators as he sought approval for a 13% reduction in his agency’s fiscal 2027 budget.

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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Sanctuary from what? Abortion, gun rights, other measures test the limits of local sanctuary policies.

    As cities adopt protections for trans people, reproductive care, the unborn, gun owners and even bears, questions about enforcement, legal stakes and the cost of defying higher governments remain.

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    US House releases ROAD to Housing bill without build-to-rent sale mandate

    The bill is “the most significant legislation to increase housing supply in years” and could provide “more housing affordability in communities across the country,” housing industry advocates say.

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    Cities sound alarm on crumbling water infrastructure

    Aging assets, stricter regulations, climate risks and fiscal restraints are contributing to problems long hidden underground, a new National League of Cities report finds.

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    Rick Kern via Getty Images
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    Dallas suburb exits regional transit agency

    Highland Park, Texas, lost bus, paratransit and on-demand services after voters chose to withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system.

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    Retrieved from Governor Gavin Newsom.
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    California governor proposes $500M to address homelessness — with new strings

    Localities seeking Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention funding would have to demonstrate efforts to address homeless encampments in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget proposal.

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    simonkr via Getty Images
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    Smart meters have saved Austin, Texas, more than a billion of gallons of water, utility says

    The meters, which detect leaks and provide daily water-use reports, are helping to build “a more sustainable water future for generations to come,” the city’s water chief says.

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    Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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    Tracker

    Air taxis and urban air mobility: The latest developments

    Hyundai air mobility subsidiary Supernal and Korea Aerospace Industries announce plans to jointly develop air taxis.

    Updated May 14, 2026
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    Permission granted by OZ Architecture
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    Opinion

    Fire stations are more than facilities. They’re 50-year operational bets.

    Outdated station design is driving up costs, slowing response and increasing long-term liability for cities. Local leaders need to rethink design frameworks to improve performance outcomes.

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    Permission granted by Heather Minor
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    How AI is helping municipal clerks speed up public records reporting

    In Long View, North Carolina, AI-powered “clerkware” has reduced transcription time from hours to minutes, reduced errors and improved public access to meeting minutes, the town clerk says.

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    Aging infrastructure, climate risks shake water sector confidence: report

    Century-old systems, extreme weather, cyberthreats and regulatory inconsistencies threaten future water supply and resilience, the American Water Works Association found.

    Updated May 14, 2026
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    Alexander Farnsworth via Getty Images
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    Maryland enacts oversight boards for transit and commuter services

    The state’s six-year, $22.1 billion transportation plan includes completion of a light rail line connecting two counties bordering Washington, D.C.

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    3 cities making strides in housing affordability

    Ivory Innovations recognized a housing finance program in Boston and housing policies in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and New Rochelle, New York, for their ingenuity.

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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Archer, Joby expect to begin commercial air taxi flights in US cities this year

    “The goal is to have half a million people in the biggest cities in the country start to see these aircraft as part of your everyday commute,” Archer Aviation’s CEO said.

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    Noam Galai via Getty Images
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    These 12 cities are leading on environmental health, African American Mayors Association says

    AAMA and the Community Data Health Initiative are highlighting municipalities using data, partnerships and targeted infrastructure strategies to address heat, pollution and lead risks.

    Updated May 15, 2026
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    HUD trims environmental reviews for multifamily projects

    Streamlined standards could help ease affordability pressures nationwide, federal officials and housing industry leaders say.

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    Illinois cities push back on state proposal to bypass local zoning

    After Gov. JB Pritzker proposed sweeping statewide housing measures, municipal groups say they’re expanding housing options on their own terms.

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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    DOJ targets ‘sanctuary’ rules in Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Albuquerque, New Mexico, joins a growing list of cities facing federal lawsuits over immigration enforcement policies. “We are ready to defend our community,” the city’s mayor said.