The Latest

  • Nighttime view of congested Midtown Manhattan street with people walking across.
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    Alex Kent via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    NYC’s congestion pricing could be halted, but the data says it’s working

    TomTom data shows a significant shift in traffic patterns, with congestion levels dropping considerably across the city, a company expert says.

  • A person walks past a brick building and a banner hung between two trees that says "FEMA - STATE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER."
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    Allison Joyce via Getty Images
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    Is your city prepared to weather the storm without FEMA?

    Local officials must act now to build emergency networks for community-based disaster resilience as federal support evaporates, experts say.

  • An illustration of a high-speed train in California's Central Valley.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    Tracker

    US high-speed rail projects: The latest news

    The U.S. Department of Transportation said it could terminate two grant agreements previously awarded to the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

    Updated June 4, 2025
  • A person attaches a white flag with a blue star onto a barricade fence while two other people look on.
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    Chet Strange via Getty Images
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    Mayors call for action amid rising antisemitism

    As attacks targeting Jews and Jewish institutions surge across the U.S., one security expert demands a “coordinated, unapologetic and immediate” response.

    Updated June 3, 2025
  • Two men from behind standing on a factory floor wearing visibility vests reading "Alstom."
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    Courtesy of Alstom/Mike Fowler
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    Alstom opens new passenger rail car manufacturing plant in New York

    The $75 million facility reshores production of stainless steel car body shells from Brazil and creates or retains nearly 650 jobs.

  • Construction workers begin to rebuild a business
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Private construction pullback drags down overall spending

    Nearly 22% of contractors have reported project delays or cancellations due to tariff-related impacts, according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

  • Four people stand with their right hands raised.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Trump administration deletes ‘sanctuary city’ list after backlash

    The list was taken down after sheriffs, mayors and officials from listed jurisdictions pushed back, but DHS maintains the information remains valid for enforcement purposes.

  • Chicago silver colored commuter train moving on elevated tracks to railroad station in between urban city buildings of Chicago, Illinois.
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    Mlenny via Getty Images
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    Chicago area public transit faces up to 40% service cuts

    The Illinois General Assembly ended its legislative session without resolving a $770 million budget gap affecting train, bus and commuter service across Northern Illinois.

  • DC Climate Week attendees eat lunch with the Capitol in focus in the background
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    Permission granted by Cedric Craig for DC Climate Week
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    Q&A

    How Washington, D.C.’s first climate week came together

    Behind the scenes with DC Climate Week co-founders C’pher Gresham and Vid Mićević on how they, and over 200 volunteers, built toward the first week-long climate event in the nation’s capital.

  • A radar device installed on top of a water tower with a graphic that contains the words "Americus, Georgia" and "Touch America's Heart."
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    Courtesy of Climavision
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    AI, drones, private radar fill gaps from National Weather Service cuts

    Private tech companies are stepping in to support local officials on the front lines of weather emergencies as federal offices struggle to stay staffed.

  • Two electric bikes with riders on a street pavement.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Californians leap at state e-bike voucher offer

    The popular program offsets e-bike costs for low-income residents and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

  • A person picks up a group of packages on a doorstep.
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    SDI Productions via Getty Images
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    Porch piracy: What’s holding back industry prevention efforts?

    Limited data sharing and fears of inconveniencing customers make addressing the problem more difficult, per the USPS’ Office of Inspector General.

  • Los Angeles's downtown skyline enveloped in smog.
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    Congress votes to rescind California vehicle emissions waiver

    Clean vehicle advocates say air quality and public health will suffer; auto and petroleum industry lobbyists supported the move to end California’s authority under the Clean Air Act.

  • A small blue house sits next to a larger yellow house in a yard.
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    Nickbeer via Getty Images
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    Iowa ADU law aims to address housing shortage

    It joins a growing number of state and local governments lifting restrictions on accessory dwellings in areas zoned for single-family housing.

  • A skyline of New York City
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    TomasSereda via Getty Images
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    NYC power bills going up this summer, ConEd warns

    The increases come amid a national rise in electricity prices and rapidly growing demand. Consolidated Edison has spent about $2.35 billion on its distribution system since last summer.

  • A woman in a blue jacket at a podium holding up a letter surrounded by several people.
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    (2025). [Video]. Retrieved from New York State.
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    Judge stops DOT action against New York congestion pricing

    A federal court judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Department of Transportation from imposing punitive actions as a deadline passed for New York to end its tolling program.

    Updated May 28, 2025
  • A man sits with his head in his hands in a large pile of rubble.
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    Michael Swensen via Getty Images
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    With AI, post-tornado assessments could be ‘near-instantaneous’

    Texas A&M researchers have developed a model that delivers comprehensive damage maps and recovery forecasts within hours of a storm.

  • A wall of six electric smart meters against gray, metal paneling.
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    Permission granted by Ethan Howland
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    Opinion

    Making energy affordable again: The role of cities, states and utilities in enhancing the energy safety net

    Even as the U.S. pursues an energy agenda centered on achieving affordability through abundance, utilities and local governments have tools to help families navigate energy insecurities.

  • Aerial view of city with baseball field in the foreground, lake and mountains on the horizon.
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    Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images
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    Cities sue Colorado over housing reform laws

    Similar legal challenges over housing policy and development autonomy are unfolding in California and Massachusetts, potentially reshaping state-local power dynamics.

  • Two people prepare to enter a Waymo ride-haling vehicle in San Francisco.
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    Courtesy of Waymo
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    As robotaxis proliferate, safety, sustainability, traffic congestion concerns grow

    Federal legislators and administrators want autonomous vehicle legislation to enable greater innovation; Uber, Tesla and other companies see opportunity. 

  • Construction equipment is stationed near transmission towers
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    Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    CenterPoint completes critical Houston grid upgrades ahead of hurricane season

    The utility has bolstered its power grid and communications systems since Hurricane Beryl left almost 2.3 million Houston-areas customers without power last summer.

  • Six construction workers stand on rebar along a viaduct.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    California high-speed rail project seeks outside investors

    Facing possible loss of federal grants, the authority leading the $128 billion project looks for new funding sources.

  • A protester displays a sign reading "Reparations Now!" in front of a crowd of other protesters.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    DOJ dismisses lawsuits against Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, police departments

    Mayors in these cities, where high-profile police killings occurred, vow to continue reforms.

  • The front of the EPA building
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    Megan Quinn/Smart Cities Dive
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    Federal grantees reckon with loss of ‘generational’ recycling funding under Trump

    The administration has canceled or limited grant awardees’ ability to access federal funding, changing how plastics and organics recyclers view the federal government.

  • A person in a gray suit stands at a podium
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    Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    DOJ opens investigation after Chicago mayor touts Black hires

    The department took issue with comments the mayor made at a public event Sunday, in which he identified six high-level positions held by Black workers.