Rules & Public Services
67 storiesCoverage includes service-change explainers, permit and fee guides, ordinance updates and resident checklists. Stories clarify which department is responsible, who is affected, when a requirement begins and what practical steps follow from changes to licensing, code enforcement, waste collection, water service or other municipal functions.
SMART to Add New Bus Routes Across Wayne County After Millage Approval
SMART will launch new bus routes and service improvements in Wayne County after voters approved a 10-year transit millage expected to generate at least $570 million for regional transportation upgrades
Florida County Adds Local Radar After Missed Tornado Warning
Lee County, Florida has installed its own advanced weather radar after a tornado went undetected by federal systems, highlighting how local governments are investing in technology to close dangerous gaps in storm detection and emergency response.
Labor Day Closures and Farmers Market Event in Downtown Farmington
Farmington city offices will close for Labor Day on Monday, shifting garbage pickup by one day. Meanwhile, Riley Park hosts a hands-on applesauce demonstration at the Farmers Market Saturday morning.
California Agencies Face New Rules for Public Participation and Trust
California's updated Brown Act now requires local agencies to offer two-way remote participation and expanded language access, but experts say real public trust depends on showing how community input shapes decisions
Power Outages Top 90,000 After Severe Storms Hit Metro Detroit
Nearly 93,500 DTE Energy customers in Metro Detroit lost electricity after Wednesday night's storms brought damaging winds, flash flooding and widespread debris. Utility crews are working to restore service as residents face blocked roads and cleanup challenges.
Farmington Schedules Public Hearing on Brownfield Plan for Senior Apartments
A public hearing is set for September 22 at Farmington City Hall to review a proposed Brownfield Plan that could fund major rehabilitation of the Farmington Place Apartments, a senior income-based complex on Grand River Avenue
Teachers Left to Tackle AI Cheating as States Sidestep Enforcement
While most states have issued AI guidelines for public schools, few address student cheating, leaving teachers to manage rising misuse of generative AI tools without clear support or effective detection methods.
Farmington Hills Offers Free Car Seat Inspections September 12
The Farmington Hills Fire Department will provide free car seat inspections for families on Sunday, September 12. Appointments are required and must be confirmed by September 10 to secure a spot at Fire Station #3.
Whistleblower Warns USPS Mail Ballot System May Reject Valid Votes
A new mail ballot system rushed by the U.S. Postal Service to comply with a Trump executive order could lead to widespread rejection of mail ballots, according to a whistleblower. The system is under court review ahead of the midterm elections.
Arkansas to Receive $172 Million in Meta Settlement Over Child Safety
Arkansas will gain at least $172 million from a multistate settlement with Meta over online child safety, while several lawsuits against other social media companies-including TikTok, Google, and Snapchat-remain active in state and federal courts
Most States Progress on Website Accessibility, But Gaps Remain
A new report finds most states are on track to meet federal website accessibility rules by 2027, but many lack resources to fully investigate and fix issues, raising concerns as the deadline approaches
Oakland County Road Construction Paused for Labor Day Weekend
Most Oakland County road construction will be suspended from Friday, September 4 at 3 p.m. through Tuesday, September 8 at 6 a.m. to help reduce holiday traffic delays, with several key roads remaining closed for ongoing repairs.
Mobile Driver's Licenses Expand as States Push Toward Digital IDs
Mobile driver's licenses are now available in 21 states and Puerto Rico, with over 8 million active credentials. Wider adoption and remote verification could soon make digital IDs a practical tool for banking, employment, and age verification.
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Limits on Flock Cameras and ALPR Use
Pennsylvania legislators are considering new bills to regulate automated license plate readers and Flock cameras, aiming to address privacy concerns and set clear rules for law enforcement and local governments
Michigan Rural Townships Warn of Crisis as Help Stalls in Legislature
Rural townships across Michigan face mounting challenges filling key government roles and managing increased responsibilities, but proposed state legislation to provide relief remains stalled in Lansing with no hearings scheduled.
Oakland County Opens 45th Roundabout at Wixom Road Intersection
Oakland County has opened its 45th roundabout at the intersection of Wixom Road, Wixom Trail, Sleeth Road, and Duck Lake Trail, aiming to improve safety and traffic flow for more than 12,000 daily drivers in Commerce and Milford townships.
States Shift to Unified Cyber Defense as AI Threats Grow
State and local governments are moving toward integrated cybersecurity strategies to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, with new federal guidance and AI-powered tools helping protect critical public services and infrastructure.
Florida Moves to Regulate AI Use in Public Schools and Colleges
Florida's education boards are preparing new rules to govern artificial intelligence in classrooms from pre-K through college, with policies aimed at student safety, parental notification, and academic integrity set for review and votes in September.
Dozens of U.S. Cities Enact Data Center Moratoriums and Bans
At least 76 local governments across the U.S. have moved to restrict or ban new data centers, with most efforts succeeding. The trend is driven by concerns over electricity, water use, and community impact, according to new tracking data.
Farmington Hills Recognized as HEARTSafe Community for Cardiac Response
Farmington Hills has earned the HEARTSafe Community designation after training nearly 15% of residents in CPR and registering over 140 AED locations, making it one of only three Michigan cities to achieve the program's highest standard
Lawmakers Push New Funding After Cyberattacks on Water Utilities
After cyberattacks linked to Iran targeted water systems in at least seven states, federal and state lawmakers are proposing new funding and oversight to strengthen utility cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure from future threats.
County Governments Face Tough Choices in Emergency Response
As the Aspen Acres Fire put Pueblo County's emergency systems to the test, the realities of county budgeting and public accountability became clear, highlighting how local governments must balance resources and make visible tradeoffs
New Toolkit Offers Solutions for State and Local Government Hiring
A nonprofit has released a practical toolkit to help state and local governments streamline hiring, address bottlenecks, and attract skilled workers as public sector roles evolve and private sector layoffs continue.
Maricopa County's AI Assistant Reveals High Demand for Pet Services
Maricopa County's new AI chatbot, Mari, is seeing strong interest in pet adoption and animal services, with nearly 8% of early user questions focused on pets. County officials hope the tool will improve access to local programs and boost resident engagement.
Virginia County Adopts AI Tool to Safeguard Sensitive Data
Prince William County, Virginia has implemented the Liminal platform to help employees use generative AI tools without risking exposure of sensitive or personally identifiable information, aiming for compliance across 20 departments.
States Shift AI Focus From Competition to Community Impact
California, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina are rethinking artificial intelligence oversight, prioritizing public benefit and risk over industry competition as new systems enter workplaces and public services.
South Dakota Local Governments Face Cybersecurity Funding Deadline
South Dakota's $7 million SecureSD program, which helps local governments defend against cyberattacks, will run out of state funding in 2028, leaving counties and cities to cover ongoing cybersecurity costs themselves
Lafayette Cancels City Council Election, Appoints Three Members
Lafayette, California will not hold a City Council election this November after only three candidates filed for three open seats. The city council appointed all three, saving at least $48,000 in election costs and ensuring uninterrupted leadership.
Farmington Public Safety Names Shane Wash as Deputy Director
Shane Wash has been promoted to Deputy Director of Farmington Public Safety after more than 20 years with the department, bringing extensive leadership and training experience to the city's top public safety team
Cities Use AI to Cut Housing Permit Delays and Speed Up Reviews
Cities across the U.S. are adopting artificial intelligence to reduce housing permit backlogs, with new federal funding supporting automated systems aimed at eliminating costly application errors and shortening approval times.
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