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The article focuses on the emerging trend of cities implementing rental cooling standards to address the rising temperatures and protect tenants. Topics include recent policies requiring landlords to provide air conditioning, the challenges and limitations of these cooling standards, and the need for complementary support programs to assist with energy costs and address equity issues.

The article focuses on FEMA's extension of the application period for its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to assist disaster-affected communities. Topics include the new 15-month application window and 240-day extension, the agency's response to feedback from state and local governments about previous deadlines, and the impact of these changes on improving access to resilience funding.

The article focuses on the release of the first-ever national heat strategy by the U.S. to address the rising dangers of extreme heat. Topics include the strategy's science-based solutions and resource expansion for communities, a challenge for local governments to design heat emergency drills, and the federal agencies' roles in supporting heat resilience initiatives.

The article focuses on HUD's 100 million U.S. dollars grant program aimed at reducing barriers to affordable housing development. Topics include the Biden administration's efforts to address the housing shortage, the challenges faced by communities in building affordable homes, and the political opposition from congressional Republicans.

The article focuses on the Softwood Lumber Board's initiative to support U.S. cities in adopting mass timber construction, which is considered a more climate-friendly alternative to traditional building materials like steel and concrete. It highlights the funding opportunities available for cities to develop mass timber accelerator programs, noting recent efforts in Boston, New York City, and Atlanta to promote mass timber use.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied Berkeley, California's request to reconsider its decision to overturn the city's ban on natural gas hookups in new construction. The court initially struck down Berkeley's ordinance in April, stating that it violated federal law. This decision has prompted other jurisdictions to reconsider their own building electrification rules. Berkeley may now appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court if it wishes to continue pursuing the case. [Extracted from the article]