The Latest

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    Andrea Booher via Getty Images
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    FEMA public safety grant policy challenged in city, county lawsuit

    Four local governments sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over new requirements that would withhold $200 million in funding unless they verify voter citizenship and switch to paper ballots.

    Updated 23 hours ago
  • A sleek 2-door bronze color vehicle crosses an intersection with trees and buildings in the background.
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    The image by 9yz is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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    Tesla readying Cybercab launch in Austin, Texas: The Information

    The two-seat Cybercab, which lacks typical driver controls, will likely begin test rides with Tesla employees before opening to the public, according to news reports.

  • Construction workers assemble a squat prefabricated house with two windows under a blue sky.
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    ADUs had a banner year in LA County. It’s not enough to fill the housing gap, study says.

    Nearly 40% of housing units added in the county last year were accessory dwelling units, according to research from the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate.

  • Two locomotive lable Amtrak next to a station platform with people on it.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Amtrak, cities and states get $5.3B in federal rail grants

    Using funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded grants to 41 projects across 23 states.

  • A person wearing a white t-shirt points and speaks into a microphone.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Extreme indoor heat is a housing violation, Arizona warns landlords

    The state’s most recent lawsuit against Tucson landlords reflects a nationwide movement to establish maximum indoor temperatures for rental housing.

  • Seattle skyline at night.
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Seattle bans rental ‘junk fees’

    The new transparency ordinance eliminates administrative service charges, pet rent and package fees and requires upfront pricing for tenants.

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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    California high-speed rail project could run out of money by end of 2027, inspector general says

    State infusions of $1 billion a year over 20 years won’t come fast enough to keep construction on track, the authority’s Office of Inspector General said.

  • Wood frames for homes under construction surrounded by dirt with a concrete road in the foreground.
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    Getty Images
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    State preemption laws are changing the land use landscape

    More than 500 state bills containing clauses preempting county land use authority were introduced across 40 states, a National Association of Counties analysis found.

  • A red fire engine speeds through a city street with tall buildings in the background.
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    Opinion

    Fire response is infrastructure. Cities should treat it that way.

    Aging fleets and increasingly demanding fire conditions require cities to rethink how they support the technology behind emergency response.

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    Getty Images
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    Housing supply, affordability barriers the focus of US Chamber housing council

    Building on ROAD to Housing law momentum, the advisory council will push for zoning, permitting, capital and workforce measures it says could result in more housing.

  • Locomotive and passenger train at a station with many people.
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    Courtesy of Metrolink
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    Commuter railroads scramble to meet 24% jump in liability insurance coverage requirements

    Passenger railroads have until Sept. 4 to find new policies they can afford. If they can't, they may have to cease operating, an industry advocate warns.

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    Getty Images
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    Online payments: 8 ways cities can make them easier and safer

    Cities need to think beyond the payment portal to consider integration, security and user experience when implementing electronic payments, experts say.

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    Spencer Platt/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    NYC luxury home tax moves ahead while courts review lawsuit

    A Staten Island judge ordered a halt to the city’s rollout of a new “pied-à-terre” tax. The city’s appeal stayed the order.

  • A red, white and blue locomotive and train at a station with a person walking toward an escalator.
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    Dave Collins via Getty Images
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    FTA grants $1.28B for Utah commuter rail

    The 83-mile FrontRunner rail line connecting Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo would get more trains and track, but federal funding questions could impact the project.

  • A person wipes their face surrounded by a crowd on a subway platform.
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    Michael Nagle via Getty Images
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    Steamy-hot subways are a problem in New York. They could become a clean-energy asset.

    An $800,000 study will examine whether subway stations’ excess heat in the summer could warm municipal buildings in colder months.

    Updated Aug. 12, 2026
  • View of downtown Houston during sunset on a clear day with townhouses on the foreground. Viewed from Washington Avenue area.
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    Getty Images
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    Adding to Texas housing affordability challenges are soaring home insurance prices

    Premiums have surged 30% in Texas in the past five years, while median income has only grown 3%, a study by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University found.

  • A small yellow aircraft with six propellers parked on an airport apron.
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    Courtesy of Wisk Aero
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    Archer Aviation to acquire eVTOL company Wisk Aero from Boeing

    The aircraft giant will acquire nearly 20% of Archer's Class A shares and make a future stock investment in the company.

  • The front of a government building with an American flag on top under a blue sky with clouds.
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    Getty Images
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    Cyberattack impacts critical public safety operations in California city

    Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a state AI cyberdefense program in the wake of the ongoing cybersecurity incident in Suisun City, California.

  • A round blue metal lid with the word WATER written on it.
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    Getty Images
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    Protecting water systems from cyberattacks: 5 steps cities can take now

    Hacking is getting easier. But the real problem is that many systems were never designed with cyberattacks in mind, experts say.

  • A green bus at a bus stop with two people on the sidewalk and tall buildings in the background.
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    Courtesy of New Flyer
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    Transit bus orders remain strong in North America, bus manufacturer says

    U.S. transit agencies need to replenish their aging bus fleets, driving demand despite tariffs and uncertain future funding, NFI Group’s CEO said.

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    Heather Diehl via Getty Images
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    Changes to HUD homelessness aid again blocked by court

    The agency’s new criteria for access to $4 billion in funding for local governments to address homelessness failed to follow administrative procedures, a Rhode Island judge ruled.

  • Person in blue suit at a podium surrounded by people beside and behind.
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    (2026). "Thune: Congress Has Important Work Ahead, Starting With Government Funding" [Video]. Retrieved from John Thune.
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    Surface Transportation Legislation

    Reduced transportation funding approved by Senate in stopgap bill

    Public transit faces a 20% cut and passenger rail an 83% cut in the Senate reconciliation bill, which funds the federal government until Dec. 11.

    Updated Aug. 10, 2026
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    As Flock surveillance camera backlash grows, one governor tells cities to pause installations

    Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is asking police officials to develop guidelines on surveillance technology and clarify how data is collected and used.

  • Two people prepare to enter a Waymo ride-haling vehicle in San Francisco.
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    Courtesy of Waymo
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    Uber, Waymo go from robotaxi partners to competitors

    Each company plans to grow its robotaxi operations in the coming years as cities deal with regulations, lobbying and safety issues.

  • A row of unfinished houses at various stages of construction under a blue sky with mountains in the background.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    For local governments, full benefits of ROAD to Housing Act could take years, analysis shows

    The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act adds to the U.S. Department of Housing and Development's workload — with a significantly reduced staff.