The Latest

  • Aerial view of mobiel phone cell tower over forested rural area of West Virginia to illustrate lack of broadband internet service.
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    Trump called the Digital Equity Act ‘racist and illegal.’ This nonprofit is pushing back.

    The National Digital Inclusion Alliance is suing the Trump administration after its $25.7 million grant to bridge the digital divide was terminated.

  • A group of people around President Donald Trump, who holds up a signed bill.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    SNAP funding restored through September 2026

    The funding bill President Donald Trump signed Wednesday includes $107.5 billion for SNAP and $8.2 billion for WIC.

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    Jemal Countess via Getty Images
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    St. Paul, Minnesota, and environmental groups sue over canceled DOE clean energy grants

    The lawsuit claims the Trump administration’s cancellation of $7.56 billion in grants for projects in 16 states was politically motivated.

    Updated Nov. 13, 2025
  • A man cycling to work on an e-bike in Downtown Los Angeles.
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    CARB defunds California e-bike incentive program

    Overwhelming demand plagued the program, but it could return in “future years,” according to the California Air Resources Board.

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    AI came to San Francisco. A ‘homebuying boom’ followed.

    Homes are being scooped up as high-paying AI jobs flood the city — but a lack of supply looms, a Redfin analysis shows.

  • The exterior of a rear-loading garbage truck with the New York City Sanitation Department's logo emblazoned on the side.
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    Jacob Wallace/Smart Cities Dive
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    New York seeks feedback on 10-year waste strategy

    The city’s sanitation department sets goals for expanding composting and rethinking its recycling infrastructure as it looks to boost diversion and phase out landfill reliance.

  • A person wearing an inflatable frog costume holding a sign that says "Frogs Together Strong," surrounded by officers wearing military gear.
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    Mathieu Lewis-Rolland via Getty Images
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    Federal judge permanently bars National Guard troops in Portland

    The U.S. District Court judge sided with Portland and Oregon officials who argued the attempted deployment violated states’ rights under the 10th Amendment and violated federal law.

    Updated Nov. 10, 2025
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    AI is moving fast. This project aims to help states keep up — responsibly.

    The Rockefeller Foundation and Center for Civic Futures launched the AI Readiness Project to help public officials collaborate on artificial intelligence use.

  • The Department of Agriculture (USDA) building in Washington DC.
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    USDA reverses course on SNAP

    The agency that runs the food aid program said Saturday that states are not authorized to load full November benefits.

  • Torso of a person wearing Los Angeles Police Department uniform with a body camera.
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    AI tools for law enforcement are proliferating. Now cities and states are setting guardrails for their use.

    From automated reporting to AI-powered 911 systems, AI is reshaping law enforcement faster than regulations can keep up. New state laws in California and Utah aim to set the first limits.

  • Two futuristic electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft fly over farmland.
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    Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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    Tracker

    Air taxis and urban air mobility: The latest developments

    Air taxi developer Archer Aviation is buying a Los Angeles-area airport as its base of operations for Southern California.

    Updated Nov. 7, 2025
  • A masked federal agent stands holding a pepper ball gun in a cloud of tear gas as protesters look on.
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    Scott Olson / Getty Images via Getty Images
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    As ICE raids rage on, Chicago is faced with a question: Should evictions be paused?

    Tenant advocates are asking the city for relief reminiscent of the pandemic era as “Operation Midway Blitz” upends daily life for many.

  • The Department of Agriculture (USDA) building in Washington DC.
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    USDA will fully cover SNAP benefits for November

    The department said Friday it has started issuing funds to states in order to comply with a Rhode Island court order.

    Updated Nov. 7, 2025
  • The exterior of the Department of Agriculture
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    Trump administration fights court order to fully fund SNAP

    The Justice Department is appealing a Rhode Island federal judge’s ruling, further complicating the chaotic suspension of federal food assistance benefits.

  • A wall of a stone building with the Department of Homeland Security seal and FEMA written on it with a U.S. flag in the background.
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    States sue FEMA over new grant rules

    A 12-state coalition claims recent changes unlawfully tie funding to population data they can’t access and shorten timelines so drastically that cities can’t use the money.

  • People hunched over a stand with dividers at a voting place.
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    Michael Ciaglo via Getty Images
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    Voters approve $11.7B in local ballot measures to fund public transit

    “Transit is winning,” said an American Public Transportation Association executive, citing an 81% win rate among 16 measures in seven states.

    Updated Nov. 6, 2025
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    How 8 housing-related proposals fared in November’s elections

    Ballot measures in Colorado, Montana, New York and Washington saw mixed results on Nov. 4.

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    Baltimore, eyeing a ‘renaissance,’ passes a slew of housing reforms

    The city is reducing red tape for development by eliminating parking minimums and allowing single staircases in certain buildings.

  • People stand in line to board a green bus seen through a glass partition.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Boston downtown bus terminal expansion opens

    With a 60% increase in bus docks and better connections with the train station, the South Station bus terminal will enable growth for the bus carriers, its general manager said.

  • People stand at voting booths in a large white room. The word "Cinema" is on the wall above them.
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    Stephen Maturen via Getty Images
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    What to know about federal requests for voter data

    The Justice Department is asking states and counties for access to voter rolls. Local officials should pause before sharing the information, legal experts say.

  • An aerial view of a highway with skyscrapers in the distance.
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    San Jose, California, will clear homeless encampments on state land within the city

    As many as 22 cities have formed agreements with the California Department of Transportation to clear homeless encampments on state rights-of-way.

  • A shot of a building during daylight from an angle, in front of a green lawn.
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    Courtesy of Michigan State University
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    Michigan bets on mass timber to build economy and shrink carbon footprint

    A new state grant program aims to accelerate adoption of renewable building materials across public and private projects.

  • A hand reaches out from a car to deposit a letter in a blue mailbox.
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    Neither rain nor snow nor digitization have stopped local governments from accepting payments by mail

    A recent Euna Solutions survey found 83% of local governments still accept payments through the post.

  • A sign that says Howard University at the entrance to a campus.
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    Washington, D.C.’s answer to public sector brain drain: 2024 Crown Communities winner

    Facing a “silver tsunami” of retirements and inequities in hiring, the District of Columbia is using paid internships to bring in young, diverse talent that’s ready to lead.

  • People walking on a station platform as a silver trains lettered "CTA" has its doors open.
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    Brian Kersey via Getty Images
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    Illinois legislature passes transit-friendly bill

    The legislation averts proposed service cuts and fare hikes with $1.5 billion in funding for Chicago’s public transit network.