The Latest

  • A black Lucid Gravity robotaxi riding on a an urban street at night with its lights on.
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    Courtesy of Lucid Group
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    Uber, Lucid and Nuro unveil jointly developed ‘global robotaxi’ at CES

    The robotaxi is purpose-built for Uber’s ride-hailing network and features Nuro’s autonomous driving technology.

  • A woman wearing a white hard hat labeled "MTA" in a dark tunnel.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    New York’s congestion pricing will face off with Trump administration in court this month

    After a year, the tolling program has reduced air pollution and traffic congestion while improving economic activity in Manhattan, the region’s transit authority said.

  • A person wearing a blue uniform and a yellow helmet walks with a dog in front of a pile of rubble.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Court blocks ‘arbitrary and capricious’ changes to FEMA grants

    FEMA’s “abrupt change in policy is particularly harmful to local emergency management,” the judge stated.

  • Virginia Beach Town Center skyline.
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    Getty Images
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    Virginia Beach looks to kick-start affordable housing with new grant program

    More than 370 affordable rental units are in the pipeline following rezoning efforts and the launch of an Attainable Workforce Housing Performance Grant, the city said.

  • Two people in camouflage uniforms. One is taking a selfie with a smartphone.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    2026 Trends to Watch

    What Trump’s National Guard withdrawal means for cities

    A Supreme Court ruling blocks deployments for now, but a legal expert says it increases the risk of President Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act. 

  • Two cars equipped with rooftop, front and rear sensors stopped on a dark street.
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    Jeff Chiu/AP

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    Waymo updating software following robotaxi failures during San Francisco blackout

    Waymo explained why its vehicles responded inappropriately during a wide-scale power outage and outlined steps to prevent a recurrence.

    Updated Jan. 5, 2026
  • A digital map highlighting fire hydrant locations.
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    Retrieved from Google on January 05, 2026
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    Want insights on your city’s infrastructure? Now you can Google it.

    New Ask Google Earth feature allows users to see everything from the number of stop signs to storm drains in a city.

  • A "smart" thermostat on a wall.
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    Getty Images
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    Home efficiency upgrades could offset data center loads while creating jobs: report

    An analysis from energy policy group AnnDyl shows significant potential benefits for local grids, employment and utility ratepayers when data center companies invest in residential energy efficiency.

  • Three people in brown uniforms in front of a fence.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court blocks National Guard deployment to Chicago

    Citing the Posse Comitatus Act, the justices ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration failed to meet its standard for federalizing Guard troops.

  • A man stands on a podium at a microphone raising his arms in the air.
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    Audrey Richardson via Getty Images
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    Chicago faces government shutdown threat as budget clock ticks

    In an unprecedented move, the City Council passed a budget without mayoral backing, exposing deep divisions over how to close the city’s revenue gaps.

  • The Manhattan skyline seen from above.
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    Getty Images
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    Manhattan’s housing crisis has gotten worse, report finds

    The New York City borough hit a vacancy rate of just over 2%. City officials hope new policies, projects and suggestions from residents could help turn things around.

  • A maroon sedan stopped at a railroad crossing a a purple and silver commuter train passes.
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    CHUYN via Getty Images
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    Bill to improve highway-rail crossing safety moves out of US House committee

    The legislation would direct states to show how they would work with railroads and other stakeholders to reduce pedestrian deaths and suicides along railroad tracks.

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    Retrieved from X.
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    DOJ sues Illinois over law tightening state limits on immigration enforcement

    State leaders say the law will curb abuses following high-intensity federal enforcement in Chicago. The Trump administration says it’s unconstitutional.

    Updated Dec. 23, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    2026 Predictions

    Addressing housing, climate change and AI in an unpredictable year

    Community leaders described their efforts to tackle those and other key issues at the annual National League of Cities' City Summit in November.

  • Brown pipes running through gravel
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How cities are using AI to keep drinking water safe

    An important federal deadline for identifying and replacing lead and copper service lines is less than two years away. New technology can help communities meet the LCRI mandates.

  • A building with two tall towers and a round center sits on a grassy site with mountains behind it.
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    Getty Images
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    Emergency managers, meteorologists push back against breakup of NCAR climate research center

    Dismantling the nation’s premier weather and climate institution would have “a horrible impact on the local level,” says the chair of the International Association of Emergency Managers USA Weather Caucus.

  • 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

    Joby Aviation acquired a manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio, that will double its production capacity next year.

    Updated 2 hours ago
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    HUD probes Boston over housing discrimination

    The agency claims the city is discriminating against White residents via its equity and inclusion efforts in its housing strategy. The mayor's office called the probe an "unhinged attack” from Washington.

  • Double exposure of coin stack and notebook laptop computer with financial graph on white paper business planning vision and finance analysis concept
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    Getty Images
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    The Municipal Cost Index

    The federal government continues to stagger the release of data used to calculate the monthly Municipal Cost Index in the wake of the federal government shutdown.

    Updated Dec. 19, 2025
  • A white vehicle with sensors on the roof and sides of the car and a sign reading "Waymo" next to a sidewalk with apartment buildings across the street.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    GHSA, Waymo partner on safety training for first responders

    As robotaxis expand to cities across the U.S., police, firefighters and EMTs need to learn how to interact with these vehicles safely, the Governors Highway Safety Association says.

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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    2026 Trends to Watch

    Appeals court to reexamine EPA’s power to block climate grants

    The D.C. Circuit agreed to rehear a ruling that let the Environmental Protection Agency freeze $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund awards.

    Updated Dec. 18, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    How do cities accelerate housing? Partnerships, land buying and zoning, experts say

    Cities must be intentional about housing, a National League of Cities panel said.

  • Two representatives in business attire at a hearing.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    House introduces bipartisan housing legislation

    Lawmakers said they will work in 2026 to advance the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which builds on a recent Senate bill and similarly aims to facilitate new development.

  • White vans pass a sign that reads, "Begin Toll Zone" and "Road Narrows."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    NYC congestion zone air pollution measure fell 22% in 6 months

    Significant emissions reductions in Manhattan’s tolling zone extended to the wider metropolitan New York City area, a Cornell University study found.

  • Aerial picture of four-building high-rise apartment complex.
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    Permission granted by Spencer Brown
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    San Francisco’s new zoning opens the door for more housing — but it might bring less than expected

    The city needs a plan for 82,000 additional housing units by 2031 to meet state mandates. A study predicted the new zoning will lead to only 14,600.