Does the mortgage lending industry need more regulation?
Cleveland and Baltimore are suing banks over their lending habits, saying they contributed to the wave of residential foreclosures in their areas. ...
ICMA accepting nominations for awards
The Washington-based International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is accepting nominations for its Distinguished Service and Honorary Member awards. ...
NTSB says design flaw contributed to Minneapolis bridge collapse
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says a design flaw with gusset plates — steel plates used to connect beams — on the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis contributed to the bridge’s Aug. 1 collapse that killed 13 people....
NLC president says transportation infrastructure must have “national solution”
The president of the Washington-based National League of Cities (NLC) says the recently released “Transportation for Tomorrow: Report of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission” correctly identifies the status of the nation’s transportation infrastructure as “a national problem that must have a national solution.”...
Bobcat celebrates 50th anniversary with contest
West Fargo, N.D.-based Bobcat is seeking entries for its “How Bobcat Unleashed Me” contest, part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebration....
Cities sue lenders over foreclosures
Cleveland is suing 21 banks and mortgage companies over the effects that the recent high numbers of home foreclosures have had on the city’s economy....
Washington mayor fires social workers in wake of child deaths
Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty says the city failed four children who were found dead in their home Jan. 9, and he vows not to let a similar failure happen in the future....
EPA offers Webinar on public space recycling
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a Webinar on methods and reasons for collecting recyclable items at public events. The Webinar, “Public Space Recycling: New Challenges for Collecting Recyclables,” is scheduled for Jan. 17 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EST....
PERI to hold infrastructure policy symposium
The Fairfax, Va.-based Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) will hold an online symposium on the conflict between environmentalism and homeland security in the creation of infrastructure renewal policies....
Health insurance, security outweigh pay in job poll
Good health insurance and security are more important to job-hunting Americans than pay, according to a recently released poll from the Washington-based Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE)....
Bus crash inspires strengthening of traffic control device rules
In response to a bus crash in Atlanta last March that killed seven members of a college baseball team, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) plans to release new rules for highway signs and pavement markings....
USCM says Energy Bill passage will accelerate climate protection
Recently passed legislation that creates an Energy Efficiency Block Grant (EEBG) will “help accelerate our climate protection agenda in American cities,” says Trenton, N.J. ...
2007 New York homicides may reach record low
New York’s murder rate dropped 17 percent in 2007, and the city expected to have fewer than 500 homicides for the year, representing a new record low. Last year was the 17th consecutive year to see a drop in major felony crime in the city....
Passage of $550 billion spending bill increases Homeland Security grants
The $550 billion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress on Dec. 19 includes more than $145 million in increases over last year for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants available to fire departments, according to the Fairfax, Va.-based International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)....
NACo calls for return to federalism
The Washington-based National Association of Counties (NACo) has published seven legislative priorities for 2008, all aimed at improving the relationship between counties and the federal government. Each priority involves legislative matters that were not resolved in the last session of Congress....
NCSL forecasts cloudy skies for state budgets, other issues in 2008
Politics and economic vagaries lead to a cloudy forecast for many of the top 10 issues facing state legislatures in 2008, according to the Washington-based National Conference of State Legislatures. ...
KaBOOM seeks votes for Playful Cities
Washington-based non-profit KaBOOM! is asking for feedback from the public on 21 cities that have applied for $25,000 grants to become “Playful Cities.” Through its Playful Cities program, KaBOOM aims to increase the number of playgrounds throughout the nation....
USCM releases 2007 homelessness/hunger survey
Many cities continue to have difficulty providing food and shelter to homeless residents, according to the Washington-based U.S. Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) 2007 Hunger and Homelessness Survey released Monday. ...
NACo study provides tips on complying with GASB 45
The Washington-based National Association of Counties (NACo) has released a study of the steps 15 counties are taking to comply with the Norwalk, Conn.-based Government Accounting Standards Board’s (GASB) Statement 45, which requires local governments to account for other post-employment benefits (OPEBs), such as health care for retirees....
NBCSL opens 31st annual legislative conference
The focus of the conference, which is being held in Little Rock, Ark., is improving the financial stability and growth in communities nationwide....
Should the death penalty be abolished?
New Jersey has become the first state in 40 years to ban capital punishment....
Climate change will lead to droughts and floods, according to report
Climate change will lead to drought in some parts of the country and floods in other areas, according to a report by the Washington-based Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). ...
Georgia officials discuss water conservation
With Georgia still suffering from a serious drought that is threatening the water supply for the state’s largest city, Atlanta, local and state government officials, along with private business representatives, gathered Monday at the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for the Georgia Water Solutions Forum....
NASSCO announces inspector training and certification program
The Owings Mills, Md.-based National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) is offering an inspector training and certification program to field construction professionals, such as municipal engineers....
Los Angeles supports creation of U.S. Department of Peace
On Dec. 7, the 68th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution supporting legislation in the House that would create a U.S. Department of Peace....
