As $10B in federal child care funds hangs in the balance, cities and counties brace for budget shock

With a court-ordered pause on a federal funding freeze set to expire this week, local governments in five states face the prospect of service disruptions, budget gaps and economic impacts if federal dollars do not resume.

By Vicky Uhland • Jan. 20, 2026

Cities explore tossing rental ‘junk fees’ to ease affordability crisis

Colorado has banned “hidden” fees. New York City and San Diego may follow suit.

By Ryan Kushner • Jan. 20, 2026

Limits on city, state authority over AVs proposed in new federal bill

“Significant progress” has been made on the draft, its sponsor said, but safety advocates expressed concern at a recent hearing.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 20, 2026

Miami-Dade County launches innovation pilot with recycling app Scrapp

The partnership with Scrapp, which offers recycling education and data analytics, got a boost from a $100,000 county innovation grant.

By Megan Quinn • Jan. 16, 2026

With zoning and regulatory changes, cities aim to spur housing growth

The goals include increased housing density and quicker and cheaper construction. Read how Dallas’ approach stacks up against what experts see coming this year.

By Ryan Kushner • Jan. 16, 2026

Cities should govern less like bureaucracies, more like networks, experts say

Mayors must move toward horizontal, mesh-based operating models to meet demands once handled by state and federal governments, panelists at a Harvard Bloomberg Center webinar said.

By Vicky Uhland • Updated Jan. 16, 2026

One week in, Mamdani begins reshaping NYC housing

Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged to improve New York City’s beleaguered housing supply. His first week in office saw a number of executive orders aimed at accelerating housing and cutting costs.

By Ryan Kushner • Jan. 8, 2026

California high-speed rail project pivots toward public-private partnership

Abandoning funding from the federal government, the California High-Speed Rail Authority said it sees strong interest from the private sector.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 7, 2026

14 predictions about what 2026 may hold for cities

AI, infrastructure needs and shifting mobility patterns will shape how cities function in 2026, experts say.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 7, 2026

Chicago faces government shutdown threat as budget clock ticks

In an unprecedented move, the City Council passed a budget without mayoral backing, exposing deep divisions over how to close the city’s revenue gaps.

By Vicky Uhland • Dec. 23, 2025

Addressing housing, climate change and AI in an unpredictable year

Community leaders described their efforts to tackle those and other key issues at the annual National League of Cities' City Summit in November.

By Ryan Kushner • Dec. 22, 2025

How do cities accelerate housing? Partnerships, land buying and zoning, experts say

Cities must be intentional about housing, a National League of Cities panel said.

By Ryan Kushner • Dec. 18, 2025

Appeals court to reexamine EPA’s power to block climate grants

The D.C. Circuit agreed to rehear a ruling that let the Environmental Protection Agency freeze $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund awards.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Dec. 18, 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.

By Lori Tobias • Dec. 15, 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.

By Ryan Kushner • Dec. 12, 2025

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.

By Vicky Uhland • Dec. 10, 2025

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.

By Vicky Uhland • Updated Dec. 10, 2025

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.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 5, 2025

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.

By Ryan Kushner • Dec. 5, 2025

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.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 4, 2025

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.

By Ryan Kushner • Updated Dec. 15, 2025

City leaders ‘aren’t thinking big enough’ about AI, tech expert says

A National League of Cities panel broke down how some cities are using artificial intelligence effectively — and how others can get started.

By Ryan Kushner • Nov. 26, 2025

Titans’ stadium project channels billions into workforce and small business growth

The project has expanded hiring across Nashville’s Promise Zones and supported training and community events steering residents toward skilled careers.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 25, 2025

NLC leaders address cities’ time of ‘uncertainty’

“As leaders, we can’t control the chaos, but we can learn how to make sense out of it together,” National League of Cities CEO Clarence Anthony said during City Summit 2025.

By Ryan Kushner • Nov. 25, 2025

With flat revenues and increasing costs, more cities are tightening their belts

Fiscal confidence among city finance officers is plunging as COVID-era federal aid winds down, a National League of Cities survey found.

By Ryan Kushner • Nov. 24, 2025