‘RoboCops’ may be headed to the US

After years of development in Dubai, AI-powered police robots are moving toward deployment in New York and Florida, Micropolis founder says.

6 U.S. cities will get data analytics, AI support via international alliance

The Bloomberg-backed City Data Alliance aims to equip city leaders with tools and coaching to modernize services and meet evolving resident needs.

Single-family rent growth slows as new supply surges — but affordability pressures remain

Overall prices remain high following five years of rapid growth, with some markets requiring $200,000 in annual income to comfortably rent a three-bedroom home.

Tariffs make transit buses more expensive

North American bus manufacturer New Flyer reported strong demand for transit buses and a shift away from zero-emission vehicles in its second-quarter earnings call.

Denver development recruits its river for urban flood control

The River Mile project is treating the South Platte River as natural infrastructure, delivering flood protection, recreation and economic opportunity on land once considered undevelopable.

Xcel Energy ‘prepared to go to trial’ to fight Colorado fire liability

The company contends that it did not start the late 2021 Colorado blaze, which caused an estimated $2 billion in damages.

Community-based safety solutions drive 22.6% drop in homicides since 2020, Democratic mayors say

Cities are reporting historic decreases in violent crime, but mayors warn that recent federal grant cancellations jeopardize the programs that fueled these results.

The weather is changing. Here’s how utilities can adapt.

Climate READi, developed by energy providers, policymakers and government agencies, can help energy companies prioritize investments and adapt the evolving electric system to the climate of the future.

Can cities and states keep their roads in good shape?

With an influx of pandemic-era funds already spent, many states anticipate funding gaps over the next decade that could threaten road safety and infrastructure reliability.

No zoning code? That’s a problem, one Virginia city discovered.

Procedural missteps can derail even well-supported measures to eliminate single-family zoning — a problem Charlottesville, Virginia, is now addressing.

Cities and waste facility operators turn to AI for recycling education revamp

As recycling rates stagnate, cities are testing smarter ways to help residents sort waste — from tamales to chopsticks — right at the bin.

EPA’s move to gut key climate regulation raises stakes for city leaders

A repeal of the endangerment finding would make local climate policy a new battleground in continuing tensions between the Trump administration and cities, a legal scholar suggests.

Senate tackles housing affordability crisis with bipartisan bill

Mayors applauded the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act proposal to speed housing development, cut red tape and fund local innovation. 

Capital One delivers few details on $265B community plan

Local officials are still waiting for clarity on how the community investment proposal, part of the card issuer’s effort to acquire Discover Financial, will play out in their neighborhoods.

North Carolina installs 2,500 AI-based traffic signals

The largest live statewide deployment of AI-based traffic signal software in the U.S. will help traffic engineers improve signal operations, according to Flow Labs.

Municipal codes, financial incentives are driving the retrofitting boom, new research finds

Nearly half of building executives surveyed believe retrofits meet urban space needs better than new construction, but many cities lack the policy muscle to make them scalable.

LA passed a $30 minimum wage for hospitality workers. Hotels continue to fight it.

As hospitality and travel organizations push for a referendum on the Olympic Wage ordinance, city officials face a crossroads between supporting wage justice and risking economic fallout.

Chicago ups bike and scooter docks, cuts cost for new shared-ride members

The city’s bike and scooter-share system, Divvy, saw record ridership in 2024. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city is committed to expanding access to its system.

Criminalizing homelessness doesn’t work, study finds

As federal policy shifts toward punishment, a new study calls on cities to reconsider enforcement-based approaches in favor of housing and care.

The Municipal Cost Index is now on Smart Cities Dive. Here’s what you need to know.

Since 1978, American City & County’s proprietary tool has helped local governments determine the cost of providing services to their residents.

Trump sues NYC over sanctuary policy as mayor, City Council trade blame

The lawsuit revives constitutional questions about federal authority over cities and ignites a new front in tensions over federal immigration policies.

Smartphone, connected vehicle data could help states comply with DOT’s ‘Safe Roads’ demand

Governors must respond by August 30 to the Transportation Department’s letter asking for information on accident-prone arterial roads.

Bill looks to expand AI, cybersecurity resources for local governments

House lawmakers this week reintroduced the Smart Cities and Communities Act, which would allocate $1.1 billion for technology, but similar proposals have struggled to advance in the past. 

Cities move beyond law enforcement to treat root causes of crime

Concerns about emergency response to suicide, substance abuse and mental health are prompting a more holistic vision of police-community response, a National League of Cities report finds.

NY transit authority orders nation’s first battery-electric passenger locomotive

Siemens Mobility will supply locomotives that can run on batteries or overhead wire, up to 125 mph and with a range of up to 100 miles on battery power alone.

Updated Aug. 1, 2025