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 14 hours ago

Colorado regulators press forward with landfill rule despite industry pushback

The proposal, which would be among the strictest in the nation, could be approved as soon as August.

Pedestrian-friendly traffic signals cut injuries 33% in NYC: study

Allowing pedestrians a several-second head start when crossing an intersection “can mean the difference between life and death,” a researcher said.

Maine clears the way for more multifamily housing, ADUs

New laws in Maine ban parking minimums and relax zoning rules as it joins a growing list of states adopting top-down strategies to drive housing growth.

Florida governor, CFO launch DOGE-style local government audits

Broward County and Gainesville are the first communities to receive letters from the governor requesting financial and DEI information and access to offices, data and personnel.

White House announces infrastructure priorities, permit updates

DOT head Sean Duffy announced $488 million in grants, proposed streamlining the grant process, encouraged state-led environmental reviews and conditionally endorsed high-speed rail.

3 keys to building climate resilience from the ground up

Cross-department alignment, community engagement and data are essential for preparing communities to weather climate crises, experts say.

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

Rebates for electric bikes in California have been successful but can leave out people who most need an alternative to private vehicles and public transit.

Boeing’s Wisk Aero plans autonomous air taxi service in US cities by 2030

Houston, Los Angeles and Miami are the first U.S. cities likely to see Wisk Aero's unpiloted commercial flights.

Updated July 22, 2025

Bill seeks to fill federal void on heat protection for public workers

Proposed legislation backed by AFSCME and other major unions could raise the bar for how cities protect municipal workers from rising temperatures.

How to protect employees from heat and other climate extremes

Clear protocols for identifying heat illness, safety training, paid breaks and access to water and shade are among the steps cities can take to protect workers as temperatures rise.

DOJ threatens to subpoena California sheriffs in seeking county jail data

The Los Angeles County sheriff said his department won’t hand over inmate data without a judge-signed warrant, setting up a potential showdown over federal authority, state sovereignty and local law enforcement discretion.

Updated July 18, 2025