DOT extends deadline to apply for intercity passenger rail grants

About $5 billion in funding is available to states or groups of states for new or improved rail service outside the Northeast Corridor.

Local governments need to step up as FEMA’s future remains uncertain, experts say

The upheaval in emergency management could ultimately strengthen a long-overlooked profession, former FEMA leaders said Monday during a Carnegie Institute panel.

Updated Dec. 16, 2025

Bellevue, Washington, wants faster permitting. Can AI help?

As the housing crisis rages on, cities are testing artificial intelligence to improve permitting processes.

Trump calls for federal policy framework preempting state AI laws

Under a new executive order, states could lose federal funding if their AI laws are found to be burdensome.

HUD withdraws homelessness grant opportunity ahead of court hearing

The department said it still plans to change the Continuum of Care program, but future changes will be “well in advance” of the next funding deadline.

Updated Dec. 15, 2025

What a $1.48 trillion pension gap means for cities and states

Unfunded liabilities have dropped, but public pensions remain deeply underfunded, a new analysis found. The report’s author calls for benefit-structure and cost-sharing reform.

Emergency managers expected direction on FEMA’s future. They got silence instead.

Capping nine months of reduced federal support and legal disputes, the abrupt shutdown of a FEMA review vote Thursday deepens uncertainty around disaster planning, experts say.

Updated Dec. 12, 2025

Making special days special in the world’s wedding capital: 2024 Exemplary Public Servant Paula Cook

Clark County, Nevada, Records Administration Manager Paula Cook works to create a welcoming environment for couples looking to tie the knot in Las Vegas.

As federal environmental health protections stall, cities and counties can still protect their residents

Federal resources, state and local best practices and taking a “health in all policies” approach can help local governments make progress on environmental health.

Judge blocks federal control of California National Guard

The district court judge says the Trump administration overstepped its authority when it nationalized state troops and sent them across state lines, “effectively creating a national police force.”

Bipartisan housing package left out of new defense bill

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle nonetheless indicated support for the ROAD to Housing Act, which aims to boost supply by simplifying regulations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.