Dive Brief: - Senate Republicans on Tuesday failed to agree on a reconciliation budget bill to fund the government until Dec. 11. The bill would extend transportation programs funded by the Highway Trust Fund at fiscal year 2026 levels but would not continue the advance appropriations provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. - The proposed bill would reduce public transit investment 20% and passenger rail by 83% from current levels, according to the American Public Transportation Association. - Leaving out the advance appropriations would “immediately disrupt and delay ongoing planning, engineering, and construction of surface transportation projects across the nation,” APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas said in a July 31 letter to House and Senate leaders. Dive Insight: Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said at a Tuesday press conference that “we intend to accomplish” funding the government “between now and the end of this week, or however long we’re here.” However, it won’t be easy to pass the reconciliation package, which may include amendments opposed by some Republican and Democratic senators, according to The Hill. Thune said he wants to get a funding package done before the FY 2026 budget expires on Sept. 30 to avoid another government shutdown, but the proposed reconciliation bill raised warning flags from some transportation advocates. “States, transit agencies, and local communities are already suffering from instability caused by the White House’s politically motivated grant cancellations and delays,” Union of Concerned Scientists Clean Transportation Program Director Steven Higashide said Tuesday in an emailed statement. “The cuts codified in this bill would further reduce their ability to plan and build long-term.” Others favored the short-term funding package for surface transportation. The American Traffic Safety Services Association said the extension is “a necessary measure” to keep critical roadway safety programs going. “But an
Aug 5, 2026 · via constructiondive.com
Nebius: How to Make AI Infrastructure Less Energy Intensive With investments in AI infrastructure going stratospheric, attentions are increasingly turning to the energy systems needed to support the next generation of data centres. For operators building facilities capable of handling ever-larger AI workloads, improving computational performance is only part of the equation. Reducing electricity demand, lowering water consumption and integrating sites with local energy networks are becoming equally important priorities. Nebius believes the answer lies in designing its AI cloud as a fully integrated system, combining servers, racks, cooling technologies and cloud software to maximise efficiency. The company's latest Sustainability Report outlines how this engineering-led approach is helping reduce the energy and resource intensity of its expanding global infrastructure while supporting rapid growth. Reducing electricity demand through integrated design With AI driving unprecedented growth in data centre electricity consumption, improving operational efficiency has become a central challenge for the sector. Nebius reports that its global data centre portfolio achieved an average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.25 in 2025, comfortably below the reported global industry average of 1.54. According to the company, its combination of purpose-built hardware and advanced cooling technologies prevented around 102GWh of electricity consumption over the course of the year. Nebius says that figure is comparable to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 9,800 households in the US. "How AI is built matters just as much as what it enables," says Daria Mukhortova, Head of Sustainability at Nebius. "Our job is to clearly report the impact of increasing demand for AI, and to use the data to improve how we build. Since our inception, we have measured and reported our impact, because transparency is how we stay accountable as we scale." Rather than treating servers, racks and cooling systems as separate components, Nebius develops them together as
Aug 5, 2026 · via energydigital.com
Dubai ranks second globally in adoption of AI, intelligent technology DUBAI, 5th August, 2026 (WAM) -- Dubai is ranked second globally in the Intelligent Cities Index published by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which evaluated 61 cities across 39 countries. The ranking reaffirms Dubai's global leadership in harnessing advanced technologies and AI to enhance quality of life, elevate government services, and facilitate business, reflecting the emirate's success in building a human-centric, future-ready digital city. Published for the first time by Boston Consulting Group, the index evaluates the maturity of cities in deploying digital technologies and AI to deliver tangible outcomes for residents and businesses. It assesses 61 major cities across five key domains: Outcomes, Strategy, Adoption, Ways of Working, and Enablers, supported by 35 indicators covering 14 dimensions of digital transformation. Together, these provide a comprehensive assessment of how effectively cities leverage technology to drive sustainable development and strengthen their global competitiveness. The report stated that Dubai ranks first globally in the Adoption of AI technologies and smart city solutions, which recorded the strongest performance across the index's five domains. This reflects the emirate's extensive deployment of AI applications and smart digital services across multiple sectors. Dubai's strong performance in this area has contributed to one of the highest levels of digital maturity among the cities assessed, demonstrating its success in converting advanced technologies into practical services and solutions that generate measurable value for people and businesses. Commenting on the achievement, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said, "This outstanding global ranking reflects the success of our wise leadership's vision, which has established digital transformation and AI as strategic priorities for building a more efficient government and a future-ready city. Dubai's achievement is the result of an integrated digital ecosystem built on data, shared digital infrastructure, and
Aug 5, 2026 · via bignewsnetwork.com
South Korean design agency Second White developed VtoV 2000 in 2023 as a conceptual electric scooter proposal presented to Hyundai. Rather than introducing a production-ready vehicle, the unrealized project examines how the increasingly common kickboard could evolve into a safer and more credible component of future urban transportation. Electric scooters have become a familiar answer to the last-mile problem, offering an affordable and relatively low-impact alternative to cars and motorcycles for short journeys. Their rapid spread, however, has also introduced accidents, uncertain road etiquette, and pavements dotted with abandoned vehicles — convenience, it turns out, occasionally comes with handlebars. the concept explores a new direction for urban mobility | images courtesy of Second White A CONCEPT FOR MORE RESPONSIBLE MOBILITY VtoV 2000 responds to these contradictions by considering the scooter as part of a wider mobility system rather than as an isolated consumer object. Second White identifies usability and safety as essential areas for development if electric kickboards are to play a larger role in reducing congestion, limiting urban air pollution, and connecting different forms of public and private transport. The concept therefore focuses less on celebrating personal mobility as an end in itself and more on questioning how it might coexist with pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and the surrounding city. By addressing the social problems that have accompanied the scooter’s popularity, the proposal imagines a future in which the vehicle becomes more deliberate, dependable, and perhaps slightly less likely to appear sideways across an entrance. Second White imagines the electric scooter as part of a more integrated transport system SECOND WHITE SEARCHES FOR THE ESSENTIALS The project reflects Second White’s wider design philosophy, expressed through the studio’s slogan, ‘Only the Essentials.’ Working between product and graphic design, the agency looks for fundamental value amid the constant stream of information, technological
Aug 5, 2026 · via designboom.com
Dive Brief: - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills last month that update the state’s construction code to allow for single staircases in more multifamily buildings. - One bill increases the number of stories in buildings permitted to have a single staircase from three to four, while the other allows for single staircases in buildings with fewer than six stories that are served by an accredited fire department. - The reforms are expected to reduce construction costs by upwards of 10% and open up a more diverse range of housing options, according to a state press release. Dive Insight: More states and local governments are exploring building code reforms with the aim of making housing development faster and cheaper. Some housing advocates have painted single-staircase reform, an alternative to longstanding two-staircase requirements, as a way to unlock more “missing middle” housing — mid-size multifamily housing structures that are smaller than many apartment buildings but larger than single-family homes. In 2025, seven states enacted single-staircase reform measures. The debate over fire safety stemming from single-staircases continues, however. While some studies have shown single-staircase apartment buildings maintain strong records of fire safety, a March report from the California Office of the State Fire Marshal urged caution. “The presence of an additional exit is important for maintaining safety in the face of unforeseen failures, fire spread, or structural compromise,” the report stated.
Aug 5, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from rescinding $20 billion in climate grants. In a three-page unsigned court opinion, a divided court overturned a panel’s earlier decision, saying the Environmental Protection Agency likely violated the Inflation Reduction Act when it attempted to terminate and claw back Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants awarded to Climate United and other nonprofits. The grants were being used to fund “projects across the United States that support domestic clean energy development, build healthy and affordable housing, accelerate American-made electric vehicle manufacturing, and save hard-working Americans money on their bills,” Climate United said in a March 8 lawsuit filed after EPA froze the funding. Six of the court’s 10 judges upheld a preliminary injunction rejecting the EPA’s attempts to terminate the grant program “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the statute and take back $6.97 billion in funds disbursed to Climate United. The judges said the EPA has not indicated it would not continue to take steps to repeal the funds if the injunction were lifted. Congress authorized $19.97 billion through the IRA in 2022 to support beneficiaries — including local governments — in achieving climate, clean energy, infrastructure and equity goals, according to an amicus brief filed Feb. 9 by the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Local governments have suffered, and remain at risk of further suffering” because they planned for projects and made budgetary decisions based on the grants, the brief states. Last year, Congress repealed unspent EPA IRA funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin terminated GGRF funding awarded to eight National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator entities “as serious concerns were raised regarding self-dealing and conflicts of
Aug 5, 2026 · via utilitydive.com
Dive Brief: - Schneider Electric and energy-as-a-service company Budderfly will modernize the infrastructure of seven municipal facilities in Cadillac, Michigan, with energy efficiency upgrades and distributed energy technologies, the companies announced Wednesday. - The facilities, which include city hall and a wastewater treatment plant, will get a mix of solar power, battery energy storage, electric vehicle charging, and upgraded HVAC and lighting, among other things, according to the announcement. - Schneider says the project is an early example of how its Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative is being used to accelerate community infrastructure projects by connecting developers, capital providers and technology partners. The city expects the project will stabilize long-term operating costs while strengthening the reliability of essential services, said Cadillac City Manager Marcus Peccia. Dive Insight: When electricity systems fail, they can disrupt services when they’re needed most, hurting the public and organizations that rely on the services, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. “Businesses close, transportation systems and supply chains stall, refrigerated goods and medicines spoil, and residents’ health, safety, and wellbeing suffer,” says RMI, an energy efficiency nonprofit. Disruption is likely to increase, according to Schneider; by 2028, the U.S. power grid is expected to reach an inflection point where peak electricity supply might no longer meet peak demand, highlighting the need for resilient, local energy systems, the company says. The Cadillac project will have no up-front costs for the city, which will repay Budderfly’s $4.4 million investment through the operational savings the work achieves. Schneider will provide integrated energy management and automation technologies for the project. Approved by the Cadillac City Council July 20, the project is an early municipal deployment under the Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative, a $7.5 billion program Schneider and other organizations created in 2025. The initiative brings together developers, capital providers and technology
Aug 5, 2026 · via facilitiesdive.com
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from rescinding $20 billion in climate grants. In a three-page unsigned court opinion, a divided court overturned a panel’s earlier decision, saying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency likely violated the Inflation Reduction Act when it attempted to terminate and claw back Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants awarded to Climate United and other nonprofits. The grants were being used to fund “projects across the United States that support domestic clean energy development, build healthy and affordable housing, accelerate American-made electric vehicle manufacturing, and save hard-working Americans money on their bills,” Climate United said in a March 8 lawsuit filed after EPA froze the funding. Six of the court’s 10 judges upheld a preliminary injunction rejecting the EPA’s attempts to terminate the grant program “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the statute and take back $6.97 billion in funds disbursed to Climate United. The judges said the EPA has not indicated it would not continue to take steps to repeal the funds if the injunction were lifted. Congress authorized $19.97 billion through the IRA in 2022 to support beneficiaries — including local governments — in achieving climate, clean energy, infrastructure and equity goals, according to an amicus brief filed Feb. 9 by the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Local governments have suffered, and remain at risk of further suffering” because they planned for projects and made budgetary decisions based on the grants, the brief states. Last year, Congress repealed unspent EPA IRA funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin terminated GGRF funding awarded to eight National Clean Investment Fund and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator entities “as serious concerns were raised regarding self-dealing and conflicts
Aug 5, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Vasilios Brachos Appointed as Team Wendy President Vasilios Brachos was named Team Wendy's president. Additionally, Brachos will become a member of the Group Executive Committee of Avon Technologies plc. Brachos has almost 25 years of expertise creating cutting-edge head protection systems and a thorough grasp of client needs in some of the most challenging settings on the planet. Team Wendy's emphasis on innovation, operational excellence and growing its footprint in military, commercial and international markets is strengthened by this appointment. By fusing cutting-edge ballistic protection technologies with industry-leading traumatic brain injury (TBI) mitigation and comfort solutions, Team Wendy has established a reputation for innovation in helmet systems, impact protection and wearer performance. Team Wendy provides cutting-edge integrated head protection solutions made for tough operating situations with the help of a highly qualified production crew and continuous investment in innovation. Brachos has worked at the nexus of user-centered design, engineering and materials science throughout his career. Ballistic helmets, helmet pads, retention systems, and soldier-system integration have all advanced as a result of his senior technological and product development positions. His background demonstrates the same dedication to technical proficiency, creativity, and customer comprehension that has characterized Team Wendy for many years. "Team Wendy has a proud heritage of innovation and a strong reputation for protecting those who protect others," Brachos said. "I am honored to lead the business at such an exciting time and look forward to working with our talented team to continue serving our customers, advancing new technologies and driving the next phase of growth." In his capacity as President, Brachos will oversee the next stage of Team Wendy's strategy, which will concentrate on enhancing the company's reputation in key military markets and quickening its expansion in both domestic and foreign markets through innovative products, superior customer service and operational
Aug 5, 2026 · via firehouse.com
- Smart has teased the #2, ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show. - Upcoming model is appearing on murals in cities across the globe. - City car echoes the concept and will have around 186 miles of range. Like a globetrotting dog with gastrointestinal issues, Smart has dropped #2s in cities across the world. They’re part of a teaser campaign, which is designed to promote the upcoming ForTwo successor. Jokes aside, the murals – which have been created in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Paris, and Shanghai – effectively reveal the design of the model. The road-going city car follows in the footsteps of the #2 concept, but adopts a ventilated grille as well as a lightly revised shark nose front end. The hood has also been pushed further back, while the production model trades fancy lights for vertical air curtains. More: Smart Teases The Production #2, The Two-Seater It Swore Off Years Ago Moving down the sides, there’s curvaceous bodywork and rounded fenders. They’re joined by aerodynamically optimized wheels and what appears to be an available contrasting black roof. Elsewhere, we can see proper door handles and a hint of Toyota iQ. Smart didn’t show much of the rear end, but we were able to get a better look by zooming in on a planning sheet. It reveals the #2 will have circular taillights and a pronounced spoiler. They’re joined by a more conventional liftgate, which features a mid-mounted license plate recess. We can also see a black bumper that trades a digital display for what appears to be a reflector. As we’ve previously reported, the #2 will ride on the Electric Compact Architecture and have a roughly 35.7 kWh battery pack that provides around 186 miles (300 km) of range. When it’s low, a
Aug 4, 2026 · via carscoops.com
In a unanimous ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court revised the framework for localities considering variance requests, saying they must prioritize local land use compliance before weighing a project’s public benefits. The July 13 ruling, hailed by the state’s municipal league as a major win for local authority, states that local zoning authorities “should determine whether the applicant has made a showing that the variance or other relief sought will not substantially impair the intent and the purpose of the zoning plan and zoning ordinance” and should deny the variance “if the applicant has not made such a showing.” The ruling stems from a dispute after the Montville Township zoning board denied a developer’s application for a use variance to construct a 165-unit senior living facility because it conflicted with local land use rules despite being recognized as “inherently beneficial” under the state’s Municipal Land Use Law. The court in its ruling expressed no opinion on the Montville case itself. The ruling updates a state framework established in 1992 to align with a 1997 statutory amendment to the state’s Municipal Land Use Law, which shifted the initial burden to applicants seeking variances to show that their requests are not inconsistent with the intent of zoning plans or ordinances, according to New Jersey law firm Montgomery McCracken. It is the “most significant refinement” of the framework in more than three decades, the law firm stated in a blog post. Under the ruling, master plans “take on increased significance,” Montgomery McCracken wrote. As a result, municipalities “should review their master plans and development regulations to ensure they adequately address ‘inherently beneficial’ uses and include detailed findings supporting future variance decisions,” the law firm said. “Both applicants and zoning boards should expect greater focus on consistency with the municipality’s planning objectives and intent
Aug 4, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Industrial AI and Edge intelligence will dominate this year’s IoT Tech Expo Europe, reflecting the rapid shift in enterprise IoT from connecting devices to deploying autonomous, AI-enabled systems capable of making decisions in real time. The event will return to the RAI Amsterdam on 19-20 October 2026 as part of TechEx Europe. The event comes at a pivotal moment for the IoT industry. Manufacturers are accelerating Industrial AI initiatives, cities are investing in smarter infrastructure, organisations are deploying Edge AI to reduce latency and improve decision-making, and new cybersecurity regulations are placing greater emphasis on protecting connected devices throughout their lifecycle. As these technologies converge, businesses face growing pressure to move beyond pilot projects and successfully deploy Industrial IoT solutions at scale. “The IoT landscape is evolving incredibly quickly, so we’ve built this year’s agenda around the technologies and deployment challenges organisations are dealing with right now,” said Michael Hughes, Head of Conference at TechEx Events. “Whether it’s scaling Industrial AI, deploying Edge AI, securing connected devices or building the infrastructure for smarter cities, every session is designed to provide practical insight from the organisations leading these transformations. Our focus is on helping attendees understand not just what’s next, but what’s working today.” Reflecting these priorities, the conference programme at IoT Tech Expo Europe is built around four key themes shaping the future of connected industry: industrial AI and autonomous operations, connectivity, infrastructure and smart cities, Edge AI and real-time intelligence, and IoT security and embedded systems. The agenda is supported by experts from organisations including Schneider Electric, Bosch, Electrolux Group, Volvo Group, BMW Group, Capgemini, NXP Semiconductors, Infineon Technologies, Emerson, Renault Group, and DHL Supply Chain, alongside many other organisations driving innovation across manufacturing, automotive, logistics, and critical infrastructure. Industrial AI, connectivity, and smart infrastructure Day one of IoT
Aug 4, 2026 · via iotinsider.com
The City of Chattanooga has been identified as the 16th worst American city to drive in, according to online publisher Visual Capitalist. The study assessed crash statistics from 20 cities, with the data coming from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The scores ranged from 0 to 100, with 100 being the worst. Chattanooga ranked right in the middle with a score of 49. According to the Chattanooga Police Department, citywide crashes totaled 11,469, with 24 of those crashes being fatal. CPD identified the following as the top three crash locations: - Highway 153 & Hixson Pike and Highway 153 to Gadd - Brainerd Road at North Moore to East Brainerd Road - Lee Highway at Ooltewah Georgetown Road CPD crash data also shows patterns related to when people are on the road. From January 1 through December 31, 2025, traffic collisions occurred most often on weekdays between 3pm and 5pm, with the highest activity occurring on Wednesdays between 4pm and 5pm. and on Fridays between 3pm and 5pm. These are periods when traffic volumes are at their highest. But the City of Chattanooga is working to bring traffic fatalities to zero by 2050 with its “Vision Zero Policy.” The plan, aimed at improving traffic safety across the city, was approved by the Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday, July 14. The initiative calls for expanding traffic detection technology to more areas and modernizing emergency response equipment to help improve traffic flow and public safety. The Vision Zero Policy focuses on three key priorities: infrastructure, behavior, and policy. City leaders say the upgraded technology could help reduce traffic congestion, provide real-time notifications for school zone schedules, and support neighborhood speed monitoring efforts as part of Chattanooga’s broader goal of reducing traffic-related crashes. Now, the city has installed
Aug 4, 2026 · via local3news.com
City officials ordered the partial construction stoppage of a third office-to-residential conversion project in Manhattan on July 28, The Wall Street Journal reported. The pause on work at 750 Third Avenue followed the halt to work at 222 Broadway on July 30, according to The Wall Street Journal. Both of the orders resulted from enhanced Department of Buildings outreach and inspection following a structural failure on the former Pfizer building office conversion job on July 7. Experts told Construction Dive the enhanced scrutiny and number of work stoppages are both predictable and unprecedented. Though it’s ordinary for an agency such as the DOB to ramp up enforcement and outreach following a headline-grabbing occurrence, the size and scope of the response is unique. “Whenever a major incident occurs, the government often responds with more scrutiny. That is normal,” said Dan Rosenberg, principal at Much Shelist in Chicago. “The pure scale and scope of this incident is staggering, however.” Sources, in part, attributed the heightened response to New York City being the largest and most densely populated city in the country and the high value of its real estate, much of which is currently being converted. “When DOB sees [a structural issue], they will look at similarly situated projects to ensure those are proceeding safely. In that type of situation, the inspectors err on the side of safety, stopping any work that deviates from the code or approved plans,” said Carol Sigmond, New York City-based partner at law firm Nossaman. “That is what is happening now.” Violations on every building Then again, the rules and regulations around construction, especially in the Big Apple, are so numerous that it’s hardly surprising structures weren’t in perfect compliance to begin with, experts said. “It’s impossible to find a building in New York City that doesn’t
Aug 4, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
JOBY Stock Pops 8% On US Infrastructure Push Ahead Of Commercial Operations Launch - The partners plan to build vertiports, which are special landing pads and small stations where the air taxis take off, land, charge their batteries, and connect passengers to cars or rideshares. - They will initially concentrate on Florida, New York, Texas, and California. - The partnership announcement comes as the company gears up for commercial operations later this year. Shares of Joby Aviation (JOBY) climbed more than 8% on Tuesday after the electric air taxi developer announced a strategic partnership with Atoms to acquire and develop vertiports across key U.S. markets. Atoms, the industrial AI and infrastructure firm founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, and Joby will initially concentrate on Florida, New York, Texas, and California. These align with markets where Joby is preparing early operations under the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). The eIPP is a special U.S. government program that lets companies start limited real-world flights in selected places sooner, before finishing the long full-approval process. Early operations under the program are expected later in 2026 in priority states, providing a pathway for passenger service. Partnership Details The partners plan to build vertiports, which are special landing pads and small stations where the air taxis take off, land, charge their batteries, and connect passengers to cars or rideshares. They will support passenger links, aircraft servicing, and last-mile ground transport. “Smart cities require innovative real estate and infrastructure development,” said Travis Kalanick, Atoms founder and CEO. “Designing and deploying a new asset class to support them is critical.” Approaching Commercial Launch Joby’s aircraft—quiet, battery-powered eVTOLs that take off and land straight up like helicopters but fly more efficiently—are nearing commercial readiness. The company has flown its first FAA-conforming aircraft and entered the
Aug 4, 2026 · via tradingview.com
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Aug 4, 2026 · via youtube.com
New Report Quantifies Multimillion-Dollar Economic and Innovation Impact of Fiber Broadband in New Mexico Comprehensive study reveals surging internet speeds, $77 million in added home values, job creation & the rise of the nation's first open-access quantum network ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ezee Fiber has released a comprehensive economic study, "Expanding Opportunities in the Land of Enchantment with Glass: New Mexico and Fiber." The report integrates national economic frameworks with local insights to showcase how the rapid expansion of fiber-optic infrastructure is reshaping New Mexico's economy, housing markets, public safety systems, and technology ecosystems. "This independent report demonstrates that our multi-million-dollar investment in New Mexico is a direct investment in the long-term prosperity of New Mexico," said Carlos Rosas, SVP and General Manager for Ezee Fiber. "We are building the foundational infrastructure that drives local job growth, boosts real estate values, and fosters local tech innovation. Beyond the infrastructure we are bringing to New Mexico, we are deeply committed to being a trusted community partner, hiring locally, and delivering the world-class, multi-gigabit connectivity that New Mexicans deserve to live, work, and thrive." The report shows that New Mexico has made significant strides in closing the digital divide. When the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) was established in 2022, only 72% of the state had high-speed internet access. By early 2026, that number surged to 90% (connecting approximately 770,000 locations), with state projections targeting 94% by the end of 2026 on a trajectory toward 100% universal coverage. Key Findings from the Report: - Fast Internet Speeds: Widespread commercial deployments have dramatically accelerated regional performance. Between 2022 and 2025, median download speeds more than doubled in Albuquerque (from 142 Mbps to over 285 Mbps) and in Santa Fe (from 100 Mbps to over 225 Mbps).
Aug 4, 2026 · via prnewswire.com
Newswise — To cool or not to cool? As extreme heatwaves grip the European continent, the debate over air conditioning has reached a boiling point, transforming a technical necessity into a fierce cultural and political battlefield. In France, where only about one in four households is air-conditioned, localised blackouts — like the massive transformer failure in Finistère that left over 100,000 homes in the dark during a June canicule — have exposed the fragility of an ageing energy grid under thermal stress. The climate control divide is continent-wide: while Spain has normalised cooling in over 40% of its homes, and Italy absorbs nearly a third of the EU’s cooling power, Germany and the Low Countries remain structurally unprepared, still well below 20% of dwellings equipped. Yet, while active cooling is a medical necessity for vulnerable people, from the elderly in care homes to pregnant women, its environmental feedback loop is devastating — fuelling the very urban heat island effect it tries to escape, and accounting for a massive spike in power demand and associated emissions. How to break this thermal deadlock? The answer might not lie in the high-tech, energy-guzzling promises of tomorrow, but in the forgotten, passive wisdom of the past. "Architects have been talking about this for years; it's just that this is the first time anyone is bothering to listen," says Christine Thornley, a chartered architect based in the northeast of England and founder of Grove Studio Architecture. To resolve the modern cooling crisis, Thornley argues that we must first deconstruct the errors of 20th-century construction, which relied on cheap fossil fuels to bypass the natural environment. "We spent a long time focusing on how to make buildings more energy efficient to heat them in winter, and then we forgot that there's a converse side to that,"
Aug 4, 2026 · via newswise.com
A new global study ranks New York and Washington, D.C. as the “most intelligent” cities in America for their use of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). 61 of the world’s largest cities in 39 countries were evaluated for how they use artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to serve residents and businesses. They received scores in 35 quantitative and qualitative indicators across five categories: outcomes, strategy, adoption, methods of operation, and enablers. The researchers then divided them into four stages of maturity: developing, emerging, accelerating, and leading. Boston Consulting Group then published the results in the first edition of their Intelligent Cities Index. “The five leading cities are London, Dubai, New York City, Washington, and Amsterdam,” the report explained. “All five show leading maturity across two or more of the five domains. However, no one city leads every domain; even cities at the cutting edge of technology implementation have areas to strengthen.” Other American cities analyzed include San Francisco (7th overall), Boston (15th), Los Angeles (16th), Austin (22nd), Dallas (24th), and Chicago (27th). Enthusiasm and optimism about AI isn’t universal The study also found a strong correlation between residents’ optimistic perceptions of AI’s future role and their frequency of Generative AI use. According to San Francisco State University, Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) refers to a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, audio or video, by learning patterns from large sets of sample material. “Positive sentiment toward AI provides a key element — confidence in the technology’s future place in the world — that can shape how the intelligent city evolves,” the report claims. “Our research found a powerful link between how frequently residents use GenAI tools and how positively they view AI’s role in their future.” The study broke the cities
Aug 4, 2026 · via brobible.com
A proposed overhaul of the rules that would change how the U.S. Office of Management and Budget administers more than $1 trillion in grants to cities, counties and states has prompted nearly half a million people and organizations, including municipal leaders, to weigh in. “I’ve been encouraged by the overwhelming response from elected officials across the country,” College Park, Georgia, Mayor Bianca Motley Broom told Smart Cities Dive. “Hopefully the collected voices around the country are heard on this.” The proposed rule, which rewrites 2 CFR Part 200 - the Uniform Guidance, governs $1.1 trillion in public safety, transportation, housing, public health and emergency management grants, according to an action alert from the National Association of Counties. It would centralize and standardize federal grant processing while giving agencies significantly broader authority to terminate grants mid-award for reasons beyond noncompliance, The grant changes proposed by the OMB — scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1 – would be “devastating” for small cities like College Park, Motley Broom said. “It’s already difficult enough for communities the size of 50,000 people and below to get access to federal funding.” These changes will “dissuade communities like ours from applying in the first place,” she said. In a letter to the OMB, the National League of Cities highlighted four key concerns local governments have with the proposed rule: - Expanding federal grant documentation, monitoring and compliance requirements could increase cities’ administrative burdens. - Increasing federal agencies’ authority to terminate grants mid-award if the agency determines the grant no longer “advances program goals, agency priorities or the national interest” could create municipal budget uncertainty. - Expanding monitoring requirements for federal grants that flow to local governments through states could increase administrative costs and slow delivery of funds. - Requiring additional review of grants by senior political
Aug 4, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com