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New Mexico faces a shortage of 58,000 housing units, with restrictive local regulations suppressing housing construction. The Mercatus Center report proposes five reform recommendations, including public participation at the policy level, by-right approval, periodic review, streamlined processes, and funding support, and calls for the establishment of a state housing department.
Facing increasing controversies over automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) surveillance at the city level, multiple U.S. states have begun taking action. Arizona's Attorney General announced a review of the system's impact, South Dakota proposed legislation to limit law enforcement use, Florida's Governor called the technology 'out of control,' and Connecticut's Governor demanded a suspension of installations. The Policing Project at New York University School of Law released a policy scorecard showing that most states lack strict legislation.
Nearly five years since Flix acquired Greyhound, this North American intercity bus operator has undergone a significant transformation. By updating its fleet, expanding routes, and improving on-time performance, Greyhound has attracted students, young professionals, and value-conscious travelers. In 2026, the World Cup, high fuel prices, and Spirit Airlines' suspension further drive passenger growth. The company is preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and advancing hub facility upgrades in cities such as Chicago, Boston, and New York.
Lauren Bridges, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, notes that over 70% of bipartisan residents oppose AI data centers, and related restrictive policies are rapidly increasing. At the local level, moratoriums are spreading like wildfire. Cities do not have to choose between welcoming data centers and protecting communities, but they must act proactively. Alison Lindburg, sustainability director for the City of Aurora, and Anna Brawley, a member of the Anchorage City Council, shared their cities' experiences: defining data center uses in advance, addressing water and power infrastructure capacity, and strengthening public engagement.
Job site Indeed released its first "Best Cities for Jobs in 2026" report on August 25, comprehensively scoring 233 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations over 200,000. Boston, Washington, D.C., and Burlington, Vermont, ranked in the top three. The report noted that large coastal cities excel in wages and career mobility, while smaller cities in the North and Midwest offer more work-life balance opportunities.
Chicago's rent growth ranks first among major U.S. metropolitan areas. Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced the Tenant Protection Ordinance this summer, proposing measures such as banning hidden fees, establishing a regulatory agency, and strengthening eviction protections to provide more comprehensive safeguards for tenants. The proposal has sparked strong opposition from the real estate industry, and the City Council has introduced an alternative bill.
In 2026, North America is expected to open approximately 150 miles of new fixed-guideway transit lines, including the Seattle floating bridge light rail, Las Vegas BRT, and Los Angeles metro extension. Compared to 240 miles in 2016, this year's scale is reduced, with some cities favoring lower-cost bus rapid transit.
This month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), together with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Department of Health and Human Services, released a 'Treatment First' toolkit for local leaders. The toolkit aims to push communities away from the long-standing 'Housing First' strategy and toward intervention paths oriented around addiction treatment and long-term abstinence. HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated in an August 12 press release that while housing is essential, housing alone is not sufficient. The toolkit proposes a five-phase outcome measurement framework and encourages localities to adopt mandatory measures such as drug-free living spaces. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund criticized the toolkit as a blueprint for 'compliance in exchange for shelter.'
Archer Aviation and AEG announced on Monday that they will develop a vertiport at the L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex in downtown Los Angeles. The project is part of Archer's efforts to build an air taxi network in Los Angeles, following previous partnerships with the University of Southern California, SoFi Stadium, and Hollywood Burbank Airport. Initial feasibility studies have been completed, covering land use, airspace, power, and community impact assessments.
Since 2008, the City of Frisco, Texas, has introduced indoor mapping for city buildings, initially to improve emergency response, and it has now expanded to real-time management of over 200 facilities, integrating more than 30 systems, benefiting multiple departments such as fire and facility maintenance.