AI tools for law enforcement are proliferating. Now cities and states are setting guardrails for their use.

From automated reporting to AI-powered 911 systems, AI is reshaping law enforcement faster than regulations can keep up. New state laws in California and Utah aim to set the first limits.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Nov. 7, 2025

States sue FEMA over new grant rules

A 12-state coalition claims recent changes unlawfully tie funding to population data they can’t access and shorten timelines so drastically that cities can’t use the money.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Nov. 6, 2025

After a trial, Oregon judge again halts National Guard deployment to Portland

The district court’s injunction forces the Ninth Circuit to consider detailed court findings when reviewing an earlier temporary restraining order. This “changes the appeal’s playing field,” a legal scholar says.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Nov. 6, 2025

Newsom moves to reclaim control of California National Guard

State officials filed a district court motion arguing the Trump administration’s continued federalization of state troops has outlived its purpose and diverts resources from firefighting, drug enforcement and food relief.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Nov. 3, 2025

St. Paul, Minnesota, fell victim to a cyberattack in July. It’s still recovering.

The city worked with the FBI and Minnesota National Guard in the wake of an incident that revealed the increasing severity of cyberattacks on cities.

By Ryan Kushner • Oct. 30, 2025

Strengthening communities through smarter asset management

As infrastructure risks grow, smarter capital planning must become a strategic imperative.

Oct. 27, 2025

National Guard in cities: What leaders need to know as legal battles intensify

As court rulings shift “hour by hour,” experts say city officials must build a united front with law enforcement, businesses and communities — before troops arrive.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 24, 2025

Police chiefs say the nation’s rhetoric has become dangerous. They’re calling for a reset before more violence erupts.

Pressing law enforcement to “be the adults in the room,” police chiefs at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference outlined steps cities can take to restore civility and safety.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 22, 2025

Ninth Circuit agrees to rehear Oregon’s challenge to troop deployment in Portland

The federal court reasserted temporary limits on Trump’s power to send National Guard troops into the city. Meanwhile, a trial testing DHS claims that local law enforcement can’t contain protests is underway.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Oct. 30, 2025

Judge keeps Illinois troop deployment on hold pending Supreme Court action

Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is creating an accountability commission to monitor federal immigration agents' conduct.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Oct. 23, 2025

Appeals court allows Trump to federalize but not deploy National Guard in Portland as troops move into Chicago

Federal courts will hear arguments today in two cases about whether the Trump administration can override governors and send National Guard troops into the two U.S. cities.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Oct. 9, 2025

Judge rebukes DHS for defying order on FEMA grant conditions

A federal judge said the Department of Homeland Security ignored a directive to remove immigration enforcement conditions from FEMA funding agreements in a “ham-handed attempt to bully” states.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Oct. 15, 2025

Top smart city conferences in 2026

Technology, housing, climate action, transportation, public safety and more take center stage at events for local government leaders in 2026.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2025

Illinois officials condemn federal troop request for Chicago

Gov. JB Pritzker says DHS has requested 100 military personnel be sent to Chicago and calls the action an “unconstitutional occupation.”

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 30, 2025

5 steps to disaster-proof your city as FEMA pulls back

FEMA is stretched thin, a GAO report warns. Its author offers advice for local leaders to respond strategically and build resilience now.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 30, 2025

Portland and Oregon sue Trump administration over National Guard deployment order

The lawsuit contends the National Guard mission breaches limits of federal authority in local law enforcement, following a court ruling against similar troop deployments in Los Angeles.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 29, 2025

The AI tightrope: Balancing government modernization and resident trust

AI promises smarter government but raises resident fears. 

Sept. 29, 2025

Beyond CJIS compliance: Reducing access friction while strengthening security

Already CJIS compliant? Here’s how to make secure access faster and more sustainable.

Sept. 29, 2025

An Indiana councilman saw politics turning toxic. Now he’s launching a national civility movement.

Leaders from 16 states will convene in Carmel, Indiana, this weekend to share strategies for fostering respect, finding common ground and encouraging constructive debate in service of community.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 26, 2025

Mayors group joins legal battle against LA National Guard deployment

The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the 9th Circuit to block deployment. State attorneys general remain divided, with 19 supporting the president’s authority and 22 challenging similar actions in D.C.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 22, 2025

Changing the culture of silence around suicide: Exemplary Public Servant Lynne Mignemi

The probation officer built programs that prioritize wellness and open up conversations about mental health, addiction and suicide after years of watching her colleagues bear unspoken grief.

By Michelle Havich • Sept. 19, 2025

Trump signs order to deploy National Guard to address Memphis crime

City and county leaders warn that Trump’s call for boots on the ground could do more harm than good.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Sept. 17, 2025

Trump says he’s sending National Guard to Memphis

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signals cooperation with the White House plan, while Memphis mayor stresses progress without troops and county mayor denounces the move as an occupation.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Sept. 12, 2025

Traffic cameras double as a hurricane-response system in this South Carolina county

By connecting existing cameras to an AI-powered command hub, a hurricane-prone county plans to track evacuation patterns, adjust routes on the fly and strengthen recovery planning.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 10, 2025

Supreme Court clears path for ICE to resume stops in LA

The ruling allowing federal immigration agents to stop residents based on ethnicity, language, location and occupation means city leaders must navigate legal uncertainty until at least 2026, a legal scholar says.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 9, 2025