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    Illinois law tightens state limits on federal immigration enforcement

    State leaders say the law will curb abuses following high-intensity federal enforcement in Chicago. New York and New Orleans city officials have offered other measures intended to increase accountability.

  • Aerial view of a hill in Thousand Oaks, California at sunset. There is a single tree a the top. Several apartment buildings are in the foreground, along with trees.
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    Climate change is rapidly altering cities. Here’s how some are responding.

    As cities heat up, leaders continue to pursue sustainability, panelists at the National League of Cities City Summit said.

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    DOJ expands litigation seeking to force access to voter records

    The Trump administration is suing 14 states that have refused to turn over full voter rolls. Cities should be allocating resources to data security and due-process protocols in preparation, a legal expert says.

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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Drug use on public transit erodes safety and traumatizes staff. A 7-step plan can help cities respond.

    A five-city assessment of transit drug use calls for an integrated response that includes naloxone policies, station redesign, better partnerships, stronger outreach models and unified communications.

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    How AI is impacting homebuying

    A U.S. Government Accountability Office report shows the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to artificial intelligence’s growing influence in how people purchase homes.

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    3 Supreme Court cases local leaders shouldn’t ignore

    Decisions on property seizures, warrantless entry and concealed-carry rules could force policy and procedural changes, experts say.

    Updated Dec. 10, 2025
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    Massachusetts lost its ‘middle’ housing. This study has 6 tips for getting it back.

    After an in-depth look at the dearth of middle housing types in the state, the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies published recommendations for revitalizing the affordable housing options.

  • A person walks a dog through floodwaters along a park path.
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    Facing extreme rainfall and flooding, NYC is turning Brooklyn’s Prospect Park into a natural buffer

    A $68 million Bluebelt system includes drainage upgrades, ponds and rain gardens designed to manage intensifying rainfall while easing pressure on the city’s aging sewer system.

  • The Energy Choice Act, The All Electric Buildings Act, Rep. Nick Langworthy
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    House bill barring state, local gas appliance bans clears hurdle

    California and Washington are among the states with gas bans, and Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland, are among the localities with bans.

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    Georgia county to launch autonomous shuttle service

    With a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, Cobb County, Georgia, will connect major venues in the Cumberland district beginning in 2027.

  • A person wearing a police uniform prays as two other people touch them.
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    Minneapolis draws a line on federal immigration tactics

    The city is refusing to support federal staging operations and has directed local law enforcement officers to intervene if residents’ rights are violated as ICE agents move into the region.

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    In a tech-focused world, this city’s deputy CIO puts people first: Exemplary Public Servant Ryon Saenz

    Alexandria, Virginia’s Deputy CIO Ryon Saenz has tackled cybersecurity and department vacancy challenges with a human-centric approach.

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    NYC expands project labor agreements for more than $7B in city projects

    The new agreements aim to standardize labor rules, embed community hiring requirements and streamline capital delivery for projects including recreation centers, schools and water infrastructure.

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    Retrieved from House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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    Advanced air mobility sees bipartisan support in US House subcommittee

    Air taxis and drones “can redefine how we transport people and goods,” the subcommittee chair said.

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    Deep Dive

    150 cities tested guaranteed income. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t.

    Direct cash payments effectively addressed housing, food and mental health needs, but administrators are grappling with questions about employment outcomes and program sustainability.

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    5 steps to increasing biodiversity in cities

    Researchers from the University of Notre Dame analyzed international biodiversity initiatives and developed actionable steps cities can take.

  • The Federal Trade Commission entrance is seen in 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    Leigh Vogel via Getty Images
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    Greystar to pay FTC, Colorado $24M to settle rental fee suit

    Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson has directed the agency to develop a rule to address unfair or deceptive fees in rental housing.

  • Scott Tuner, HUD secretary, testifying before Congress
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    Local governments sue after HUD rewrites homelessness grants ‘mere weeks’ from deadline

    The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s policy shifts could displace as many as 170,000 people, according to a lawsuit.

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    Tracker

    Air taxis and urban air mobility: The latest developments

    Archer Aviation announced plans for an air taxi network serving Miami-area airports and attractions.

    Updated Dec. 3, 2025
  • President Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry sit at a table with a white tablecloth and two empty wine glasses with American flag behind them.
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    National Guard troops headed to New Orleans for extended operation, Louisiana governor says

    Calling New Orleans a “crime-ridden city,” Gov. Jeff Landry said he welcomes the troops and an immigration crackdown called “Swamp Sweep.”

    Updated Dec. 3, 2025
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    Smart permitting, phase-out of diesel generators could curb data center impacts

    A look at what’s happening in California shows that even in an environmentally progressive state, unhealthy emissions and resource depletion are problems needing a solution, an academic report says.

  • Overhead view of bumper-to-bumper traffic on a highway leading to the tall buildings of Chicago in the background.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Traffic congestion grew this year in U.S. cities, but NYC saw no increase

    Baltimore and Philadelphia saw the largest increases in traffic delays. Congestion pricing may have helped keep New York City traffic in check.

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    Accelerator aims to strengthen resilience in Austin-San Antonio region

    Local governments across Texas’ fastest-growing corridor will build a shared road map to tackle flooding, extreme heat, wildfire and winter storms as population growth amplifies risk.

    Updated Dec. 2, 2025
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    Congress mulls preempting state-level AI laws — again

    A coalition of state CIOs is asking Congress not to “strip states of their ability to address real AI risks in their communities.”

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    Shifting water infrastructure decisions to local governments could accelerate housing, advocates say

    A new WOTUS definition proposed by the EPA would give builders relief from federal permitting delays, but environmental groups warn it could leave cities more exposed to flood and water quality risks.