Monday’s Headlines Go to War

The conflict with Iran is set to send oil and gas prices skyrocketing. But there are alternatives.

By Blake Aued

12:06 AM EDT on June 23, 2025

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An Iranian oil field near the Iraq border on fire in 2008.

America's addiction to cars and fossil fuels has geopolitical and economic ramifications, in addition to environmental and traffic safety dangers. The U.S. attack on Iran is sending oil and gas prices skyrocketing, fueling inflation and potentially hastening a recession. (CNN, USA Today)
Oil and gas producers would get a $1 billion tax break under President Trump's reconciliation bill. (World Oil)
A lot of medium-duty trucks like school buses and delivery trucks are ripe for electrification because they only drive about 150 miles a day. (HeatMap)
Statistical models can help prevent traffic deaths by predicting hotspots beforehand. (Route Fifty)
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can't tie federal transportation grants to cooperation on immigration enforcement. (Courthouse News)
In Colorado, ICE is hanging around traffic stops in hopes of nabbing and deporting immigrants (Sun). Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers denied immigration agents access to Dodger Stadium parking lots (ESPN).
Providence as an example of reimagining density was a theme of a recent Congress for the New Urbanism conference. (The New Urban Order)
Austin's Cap Metro is testing the first automated full-size electric buses in the U.S. (Smart Cities Dive)
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell cut the ribbon on bike and pedestrian safety upgrades on Pike and Pine. (The Urbanist)
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell supported a four-lane East Bank Boulevard with bike and bus lanes, but now he's backing down and exploring a six lane design instead. (News Channel 5)
Older and disabled Pennsylvania residents are most at risk if the state legislature doesn't boost transit funding. (Spotlight PA)
Hamburg's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045 depends on getting more people to ride transit. (Cities Today)
Labour officials are blaming the previous Conservative administration for delays on high-speed rail in Northern England that recently came to light. (The Guardian)
If you want to live like a European in the U.S., Angie Schmitt reminds you that no one's forcing you to drive an F-250 to McDonald's. Even car-centric cities have neighborhoods where you can walk to a coffee shop. (Unpopular Opinions)