Cities test AI vision sensors for traffic and pedestrian safety

AI-enabled cameras provide data for city traffic management and can alert motorists to pedestrians in low-vision conditions.

To address homelessness, Oakland, California, has a new plan and new resources

Some funding for the Office of Homelessness Solutions will come from a half-cent county sales tax that took effect in April.

Chicago draws a line on federal troops

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order affirms local control of police and outlines steps to protect Chicago residents as Trump prepares broader federal military and immigration operations in major U.S. cities.

Updated Sept. 2, 2025

Illinois transit authority shifts money to delay service cuts

The move, approved by the Regional Transportation Authority’s board, will keep the Chicago Transit Authority running as is until mid-2026.

Updated Aug. 28, 2025

Oregon moves toward state-level zoning in push for ‘missing middle’ housing

“We have to cut red tape and get out of our own way,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in signing two bipartisan measures into law.

New data tool helps Gulf Coast cities pursue disaster funding as federal resources shrink

The Urban Institute’s analysis gives local leaders information they can use to build cases for prevention and recovery support.

Trump grantmaking order heightens uncertainty for city funding

The new rule directs federal agencies to align awards with Trump’s policies and gives them power to revoke funds already in place. This threatens the stability of health, safety and infrastructure projects, cities and counties say.

After Katrina, green infrastructure aims to supplement the rebuilt — but still vulnerable — levees

Residents and activists are forging resilient communities and implementing “flood mitigation by 1,000 cuts.”

Housing affordability was a problem in New Orleans before Katrina. That hasn’t changed.

Uneven investment has worsened the city’s housing affordability crisis in the two decades since the storm, housing advocates say.

How Hurricane Katrina killed Amtrak’s transcontinental train

Amtrak restored train service from LA to New Orleans, but passenger trains east to Mobile, Alabama, only restarted last week.

New Orleans’ economic recovery since Katrina is divided along racial lines

New Orleans has gained a more diversified economy and stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem. But Black households have not benefited as much as White ones.

As federal funding dries up, 72% of Michigan city leaders fear fiscal problems: survey

Uncertainty and limited capacity are factors in local governments' lack of preparation, researchers said.

Judge blocks Trump from halting funding to 34 ‘sanctuary’ cities

Trump’s orders threatening to strip funds from cities limiting immigration cooperation are unconstitutional, a federal judge said, extending protections to Boston, Chicago, Denver and more.

Updated Aug. 25, 2025

FTA seeks to eliminate environmental criteria from capital investment grant guidelines

The Federal Transit Administration requests public comment on updated guidelines that would remove the “social cost of carbon” calculation and make broader changes to the multibillion-dollar program.

Hurricane Katrina’s legacy is a warning for today’s city leaders

Twenty years after New Orleans flooded, federal funding cuts mean local governments must strengthen hazard planning, engage communities and prioritize vulnerable residents to prevent another avoidable disaster, climate advocates say.

In Colorado, most residential zoning codes block affordable housing

Restrictive zoning laws prohibit multifamily dwellings throughout much of the state, a recent study found. 

The Municipal Cost Index

See the August update to this monthly index, developed by American City & County to capture the rising cost of doing business as a local government.

Updated Aug. 22, 2025

Salesforce debuts AI agents for city services

The tool joins a growing field of AI products intended to increase local government efficiency and responsiveness.

Ann Arbor’s all-electric community offers a new model for net-zero living

Veridian at County Farm stands out for its rooftop solar, heat pumps and potential community battery network. Will the local utility’s hesitation and loss of federal tax credits prevent other developers from following its lead?

California’s clean mobility push is leaving low-income residents behind

E-bikes and e-scooters are among the cleanest and least expensive transportation modes. California can make equitable green mobility a reality.

Are intercity buses having a Cinderella moment?

Ridership is on an upswing, and several cities are opening new or refurbished intermodal terminals. Here’s what you’ll find in eight major cities.

City and county leaders urge Congress to reinstate ‘critical’ cybersecurity funding

The federal government canceled funding for a cybersecurity resource credited for detecting more than 43,000 potential state and local government cyberattacks last year.

Should schools be the centerpiece of heat resilience action?

As federal support to protect people from extreme heat shrinks, advocates say local governments must set a model for climate-smart leadership with enforceable standards and resources to protect children.

DOT revives $5B EV charging program, hands states more control

New federal guidance cuts planning requirements and unfreezes funds, but critics note the changes eliminate consumer and environmental protections.

Cities brace for legal battles as Bondi’s ‘sanctuary’ deadline looms

Local leaders say they’re prepared to defend protections limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement even as the Trump administration threatens to revoke funding and bring criminal charges.