Public Safety
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California DOJ probes civil rights violations in Eaton Fire response
Investigators will examine whether evacuation delays in West Altadena, a historically Black community, reflect discrimination tied to race, age or disability.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Feb. 17, 2026 -
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FEMAFEMA shutdown threatens local reimbursements, training and long-term recovery
As Congress fails to reach a DHS funding deal, emergency managers are bracing for delayed payments, stalled grants and deeper uncertainty in an already strained federal disaster system.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Feb. 13, 2026 -
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A US senator introduced a bill to ‘end sanctuary cities.’ The cities are doubling down.
The new Senate bill, introduced Thursday, would condition federal dollars on cooperation with immigration enforcement. On Friday, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani expanded restrictions on ICE operations and data access.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Feb. 9, 2026 -
US House bill would fund transit safety ambassadors
The bill aims to provide federal grants for programs based on a successful initiative to reduce crime on San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit system.
By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 5, 2026 -
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HHS launches $100M program to address homelessness, substance abuse in 8 localities
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the pilot program will be open to faith-based organizations.
By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 4, 2026 -
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The Smart Cities outlook for 2026: Pressure points for city leaders
As cities navigate housing reform, transportation needs, climate resilience, AI and changes in federal funding, 2026 will be a consequential year for how they govern, budget and protect their autonomy.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 30, 2026 -
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Local officials nationwide move to hold federal immigration agents accountable after Alex Pretti’s death
Mayors, attorneys general and lawmakers are advancing new laws and coalitions to prosecute federal agents who exceed their lawful authority. “It can happen anywhere,” a Minnesota mayor said.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 29, 2026 -
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Q&AHow Trump could make good on his threats to cut ‘sanctuary’ city funding
The administration could quietly squeeze cities through discretionary grants, a legal expert says. Here’s how cities should prepare for Trump’s Feb. 1 deadline.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 28, 2026 -
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Federal immigration agents to begin leaving Minnesota, Frey says
A judge asked for supplemental briefings in Minnesota’s bid to halt Operation Metro Surge as the Minnesota secretary of state refused the U.S. attorney general’s request for access to voter registration data.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 27, 2026 -
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After Pretti shooting, Minneapolis warns immigration operation is straining public safety resources
The Minnesota National Guard is deployed as a judge blocks DHS from altering evidence in the shooting. “This is taking an enormous toll,” the Minneapolis police chief said.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 26, 2026 -
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Supreme Court broadens police authority for warrantless home entry
The Case v. Montana decision replaces the Fourth Amendment’s “probable cause” requirement with “objective reasonableness” when officers believe someone is in danger.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 22, 2026 -
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Minnesota police chiefs call out federal immigration agents while mayors face DOJ subpoenas
The Department of Justice demanded records from the governor, mayors and prosecutors, while law enforcement leaders warned that immigration enforcement tactics are eroding public trust in policing.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Jan. 21, 2026 -
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'Sanctuary' CitiesChicago, New York mayors vow to fight Trump’s ‘sanctuary’ city funding cuts
“We will be relentless until we restore every dollar that has been withheld by the Trump administration,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 14, 2026 -
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Illinois and Minnesota sue to halt federal immigration enforcement tactics
The lawsuits allege mass ICE and Border Patrol deployments in Chicago and the Twin Cities have undermined public safety, strained municipal resources and violated constitutional limits on federal power.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 13, 2026 -
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Local officials move to hold federal immigration agents accountable after Minneapolis shooting
City and state leaders are launching investigations and public reporting portals and testing new legal tools as they weigh questions about jurisdiction, liability and the limits of federal authority.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 12, 2026 -
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State, federal authorities clash on Minneapolis ICE shooting
The Trump administration has removed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from investigating the death of a resident during an immigration enforcement surge.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 8, 2026 -
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2026 Trends to Watch8 trends that will shape cities in 2026
As federal funding becomes less predictable, cities face major shifts in transportation, housing and climate resilience in the new year.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 8, 2026 -
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2026 Predictions14 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 -
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Court blocks ‘arbitrary and capricious’ changes to FEMA grants
FEMA’s “abrupt change in policy is particularly harmful to local emergency management,” the judge stated.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 6, 2026 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
2026 Trends to WatchWhat Trump’s National Guard withdrawal means for cities
A Supreme Court ruling blocks deployments for now, but a legal expert says it increases the risk of President Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Jan. 5, 2026 -
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Supreme Court blocks National Guard deployment to Chicago
Citing the Posse Comitatus Act, the justices ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration failed to meet its standard for federalizing Guard troops.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Dec. 23, 2025 -
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Bill to improve highway-rail crossing safety moves out of US House committee
The legislation would direct states to show how they would work with railroads and other stakeholders to reduce pedestrian deaths and suicides along railroad tracks.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 23, 2025 -
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OpinionHow cities are using AI to keep drinking water safe
An important federal deadline for identifying and replacing lead and copper service lines is less than two years away. New technology can help communities meet the LCRI mandates.
By Ajay Sharma • Dec. 22, 2025 -
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Emergency managers, meteorologists push back against breakup of NCAR climate research center
Dismantling the nation’s premier weather and climate institution would have “a horrible impact on the local level,” says the chair of the International Association of Emergency Managers USA Weather Caucus.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Dec. 19, 2025 -
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GHSA, Waymo partner on safety training for first responders
As robotaxis expand to cities across the U.S., police, firefighters and EMTs need to learn how to interact with these vehicles safely, the Governors Highway Safety Association says.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 18, 2025
