The Latest

  • A view of a large ferry boat seen through a sign that reads "Public Market."
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    $657M for ferries available from 3 FTA grant programs

    Separately, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $517 million in grants for bridges in rural areas.

  • Aerial view of cityscape with golden dome in the foreground.
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    Cool Cities Lab heat-mapping tool helps cities target relief where it’s needed most

    From Atlanta’s cool roof ordinance to Boston’s pilot programs, cities are using block-level data to identify heat risks and deploy targeted solutions.

  • City buildings and downtown street, mountains in background
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    This city is not just training its staff on AI, it’s educating the public

    San José, California, is partnering with OpenAI, Google and Anthropic to make AI tools and education available to residents through the public library.

  • Exterior view of multifamily residential building under construction in Palo Alto
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    Most mayors say market-rate housing development can boost housing affordability

    Up to 80% of U.S. mayors say their city needs to develop more multifamily housing, a Boston University survey found. Support for zoning and permitting reform was more muted, however.

  • A young person in a red-stripe shirt looks down at her smartphone while standing on an island platform in a wide road.
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    It’s the most dangerous part of a transit bus trip. These experts have ideas to make it safer.

    A report from the Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety recommends ways to reduce pedestrian crashes at or near bus stops.

  • An aerial photograph of the Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill in Roane County, Tenn.
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    Retrieved from Tennessee Valley Authority/Wikimedia Commons.
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    EPA proposes weakening power plant coal ash protections

    EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the proposal as “commonsense changes,” but environmental advocates say it threatens drinking water.

  • Hand holding a mobile phone with image of a credit card that says Bill Payment and has a red Pay button.
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    How AI is rewiring utility billing in Panama City, Florida

    The city replaced a disconnected legacy system with an AI-enabled platform, accelerating payment posting, improving data access and trimming paper costs by 25%, it says.

  • Aerial view of a large, low round stadium structure with a point at one end. Homes surround the stadium in the background.
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    johnemac72 via Getty Images
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    How cities can prepare to overcome FIFA World Cup transportation hurdles

    Three transit experts offer recommendations for public transit, traffic congestion and coordinating with law enforcement officials.

  • The Seattle skyline, featuring the Space Needle and skyscrapers.
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    3 city AI policies to watch

    Local governments are increasingly interested in using artificial intelligence to boost efficiency. These cities have established policies.

  • Blazing sun shining on a red tile roof
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    Affordable housing standard evolves from sustainability to resilience

    Updated Enterprise Green Communities Criteria focus on extreme heat, wildfire, flooding and power outages, treating climate risk as a core housing responsibility.

    Updated April 10, 2026
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    Court narrows New Jersey’s case against RealPage in rent-setting suit

    A federal judge partially dismissed claims against the rental software provider and several major landlords in a suit that alleges collusion to raise rent prices.

  • A gloved hand holds a test tube with yellowish water reflected in a body of still water.
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    The EPA wants to test for microplastics in drinking water. Here’s what that means for cities.

    Microplastics pose risks that science and monitoring tools aren’t equipped to fully capture, which could produce “uninformative and potentially misleading” results, an expert says. 

  • An interior gray staircase with a white metallic railing and white brick wall.
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    Single-staircase reform proposed in California

    Reducing the number of staircases smaller multifamily buildings require could unlock more housing, advocates say, but a state fire marshal report urges caution.

  • A white vehicle outfitted with many sensors stopped at a curb in with people and buildings in the background.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Tracker

    Robotaxis: The latest developments

    Waymo’s permit to provide public rides in New York City expired March 31, but the company continues to expand in other U.S. cities.  

    Updated April 8, 2026
  • An engineer repairs an electricity pole as smoke billows after overnight airstrikes on oil depots on March 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.
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    Majid Saeedi/Getty Image via Getty Images
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    Energy authority is ‘actively monitoring the grid’ following Iran-linked cyber threat

    Hackers have disrupted critical U.S. infrastructure by targeting programmable logic controllers, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned.

  • President Donald Trump walks while adjusting his tie.
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    Trump budget proposal once again targets affordable housing, homeless assistance

    Elimination of the HOME Investment Partnerships and Community Development Block Grant programs would be part of the 13% cut in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s discretionary budget.

  • A silver subway train with its doors open to an empty platform.
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    Courtesy of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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    Los Angeles to open subway extension May 8

    The nearly 4-mile extension is the first of three that will provide a through ride from downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills by 2027.

  • A person wearing a red shirt carries a bronze bust on their shoulder next to a ladder while another person looks on.
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    Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
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    Cities’ moves to rename Chavez landmarks can be complex and costly

    Local governments are fast-tracking the renaming of Cesar Chavez parks, schools and streets, but those symbolic decisions can carry significant price tags.

  • President Donald Trump walks to a podium with the presidential seal followed by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. A sign on the stage says "Largest Deregulation in U.S. History."
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Trump’s FY27 budget slashes climate and disaster funding, shifting costs to cities and states

    Deep cuts to FEMA, EPA and climate programs would force local governments to absorb preparedness, infrastructure and resilience costs.

  • Exterior view of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters.
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    Kent Nishimura via Getty Images
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    Trump administration effort to rewrite federal housing grant criteria hits setbacks

    A judge found the administration illegally imposed a criteria change for federal funds, and an appeals court upheld an order blocking Trump from cutting permanent supportive housing grants.

  • The dome of U.S. Capitol is seen framed by trees.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Surface Transportation Legislation

    5 policy principles that will be key to next surface transportation bill

    A Consumer Reports white paper evaluates six options to fund highways, bridges and mass transit.

  • Aerial view of a modern houses in a new housing development.
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    Getty Images
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    Housing referrals from United Way helpline hit all-time high: ‘a sounding alarm for communities’

    The 211 network saw “a sharp increase in people struggling — particularly around finding and keeping stable housing,” a United Way representative said.

  • Yellow sign with graphic of a traffic signal reads "Red light photo enforced" over another yellow sign depicting pedestrians against a blurred backround of a city street.
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    Getty Images
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    Automated traffic safety cameras: life-saving or revenue-raising?

    Automated technologies have reduced speeding and red-light violations in some cities. The U.S. Department of Transportation wants to limit their use.

  • Strings of blue, orange and green hanging lanterns over a street with tall buildings in the background
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    Can raising city wages drive local growth? Detroit is about to find out.

    Local leaders across the U.S. are betting that livable wages for city employees can strengthen consumer stability and community investment. But the policy could force tough choices on taxes and spending, an expert says.

  • FTC noncompete ban, Juge Ada Brown
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    mphillips007 via Getty Images
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    FTC seeks public input on junk fee rule for rental housing

    The agency is continuing to crack down on unfair or deceptive advertising in the rental housing industry.