5 actions cities can take to keep climate goals on track

Local action is filling the void as the Trump administration pulls back from climate commitments. A new report details how cities can deliver emissions cuts — even without federal support.

How Charlottesville, Virginia, is getting its zoning back

The city is settling a lawsuit that left it without a zoning ordinance since this summer.

FEMA delays $11B in reimbursements as states brace for tighter disaster budgets

The agency’s shifting of COVID-related payments into the next fiscal year highlights mounting fiscal pressure on its Disaster Relief Fund and growing uncertainty for states counting on federal aid, the National Association of Counties says.

How state CIOs are using GenAI

More than 80% of state CIOs say their employees are using generative artificial intelligence in their daily work, a recent survey found.

How local governments are tackling traffic deaths with technology

AI, automated traffic enforcement and connected vehicle technology are some of what cities and counties are trying to make their streets safer.

Apartment conversion projects surge

A record-breaking 180,585 apartments are being developed from office spaces, hotels and other buildings as major cities actively transform underperforming properties, per a RentCafe report.

Caltrain ridership up 47% after electrification

A $2.72 billion project to replace diesel trains with electric trains on the San Francisco Bay Area commuter railroad increased train service, attracting more riders.

Building a granny flat or tiny house in Charlotte, North Carolina? The city might spot you up to $80K.

Housing-strapped Charlotte is loaning homeowners money to build smaller rental accessory dwelling units on their properties.

How one county is benefiting from digital asset lifecycle management

Lucas County, Ohio’s geographic information system-centered ALM system connects people, processes and data, greatly enhancing its infrastructure management and community development workflows.

Trump administration dismantles CISA division linking feds, cities and critical infrastructure

Eliminating nearly 100 cybersecurity staffers severs key collaboration channels with cities, health systems and energy providers at a time when attacks on infrastructure are accelerating.

National Guard in cities: What leaders need to know as legal battles intensify

As court rulings shift “hour by hour,” experts say city officials must build a united front with law enforcement, businesses and communities — before troops arrive.

What Amtrak won’t do, NY transit agency will

Additional passenger rail service will help alleviate sold-out Amtrak trains and reduce fares while tunnel repairs limit operations in New York City.

A model for multilingual public health campaigns: 2024 Crown Communities Award

In Frederick County, Maryland, a Spanish-language stroke-awareness program is saving lives and inspiring a broader approach to health care education.

The Municipal Cost Index

Local governments and contractors use the MCI to calculate budgets. Some data for the September update is not yet available due to the federal government shutdown, however.

Updated Oct. 24, 2025

The Olympics are headed to LA. So is free Wi-Fi.

Free public Wi-Fi is now available via streetlights in South Los Angeles as the city prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Judge keeps Illinois troop deployment on hold pending Supreme Court action

Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is creating an accountability commission to monitor federal immigration agents' conduct.

Updated Oct. 23, 2025

4 strategies to help close the opportunity gap

Millions of full-time workers can’t afford the basics. Reversing that trend will take local action, targeted investment and new models of collaboration.

Police chiefs say the nation’s rhetoric has become dangerous. They’re calling for a reset before more violence erupts.

Pressing law enforcement to “be the adults in the room,” police chiefs at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference outlined steps cities can take to restore civility and safety.

Baltimore is betting big on vacant and at-risk home revitalization

A $6.2 billion public-private revitalization plan aims to address nearly 40,000 properties in the city.

San Francisco speeding declines at locations with automated cameras

Six months into the city’s speed camera program, drivers are operating below the speed limit at 15 measured sites.

Oregon’s producer-funded recycling program offers cities a road map for cleaner waste streams

With plans for more than 140 dropoff depots by 2027, the state’s new program is designed to make recycling more efficient and manage hard-to-recycle materials without new taxpayer costs.

Chicago Housing Authority files lawsuit over HUD’s anti-DEI funding stipulations

The country’s third-largest public housing authority says at least 13% of its budget is at stake.

Can AI detect road hazards?

San José, California, is testing AI and cameras to identify and quickly alert the city to potholes and other dangerous street issues.

Steep insurance cost increases loom for commuter rail

With liability insurance costs expected to rise nearly 24% next year, a bipartisan bill would give Amtrak, Brightline and commuter rail operators more time to obtain it.

As stadium boom resumes, ‘private funding’ often comes with public strings

Cities eager to tout privately financed sports stadiums are still spending big through tax breaks, land deals and public financing that shift costs back to taxpayers.