Welcome back to The Weekly Wrap, our Friday roundup of stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions that bring us closer to economic, environmental and social justice.

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D.C. Sues the Trump Admin Over Deploying the National Guard

Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard on the capital city. The lawsuit accuses the president of violating the Constitution by sending in thousands of service members without city officials’ consent, WAMU reports.

“Deploying the National Guard to engage in law enforcement is not only unnecessary and unwanted, but it is also dangerous and harmful to the District and its residents,” Schwalb said. “We’ve filed this action to put an end to this illegal federal overreach.” Schwalb previously filed a lawsuit claiming the administration lacked the authority to mobilize the Metropolitan Police Department on behalf of the federal government.

Troops were deployed in early August as part of the president’s supposed anti-crime efforts, though violent crime rates were already falling. The White House called the suit an attempt to undermine the president’s “highly successful operation,” CNN reports.

Judge Rules Trump Illegally Deployed National Guard in L.A.

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration broke the law by deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles this past June after protests over his immigration raids. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco expressed concern that the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were creating their own national police force, the Associated Press reports.

Judge Breyer noted that the president used the deployed troops for functions that are not allowed according to the National Guard’s own training materials. His ruling barred the troops from actions including making arrests and collecting evidence.

The White House says it plans to appeal this ruling, calling Breyer a “rogue judge.” Meanwhile, Trump has suggested he will deploy National Guard troops to New Orleans next, NBC News reports.

Green Space Helped Prevent Depression During Covid-19

A new national study in Canada found that urban green spaces had “profound” protective effects against senior depression during the Covid-19 pandemic, CBC reports.

The peer-reviewed study of 13,000 adults aged 50 and over, published in the journal PLOS One, found that the depression rate doubled among participants during the first six months of the pandemic. However, researchers concluded, people who lived in the greenest neighbourhoods were 20% less likely to develop depression.

“Notably, the beneficial associations of greenness and depression (during the pandemic) was more pronounced in the lower wealth group than higher wealth group,” researchers wrote. “The beneficial associations of greenness on depression during the pandemic was stronger for those with mobility issues when compared to those who did not.”

Solar Installations Are Up By 64% Worldwide in 2025

Solar is quickly becoming the fastest growing source of electricity worldwide, with solar installations up by 64% worldwide in the first half of 2025, Yale Environment 360 reports.

Countries have collectively installed 380 gigawatts of solar capacity, compared to 232 gigawatts in 2024. The impressive growth was led by China, which increased its solar capacity by more than double from 2024 to 2025.

Meanwhile, the U.S. only saw solar installations increase by about 4%. This comes as American leadership has pushed back against new solar projects throughout the country. Last month, Trump announced that his administration will not approve new wind and solar power projects, despite a serious need for more renewable energy sources.

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Will Stay Open For Now

The controversial immigration detention center built in the Florida Everglades will stay open after a federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a judge’s order to shut down the center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” CNN reports.

The Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted requests from the Department of Homeland Security and the State of Florida to repeal the preliminary injunction announced last month that would have forced the center to wind down operations in 60 days. The center has been the focus of a lot of controversy from immigration rights advocates and environmental advocates. People held at the center have complained about dangerous heat and lack of sufficient food.

Despite human rights concerns, Florida Sen. Ron DeSantis has doubled down on opening more immigration detention centers. He has recently announced two new detention facilities that he has dubbed “Panhandle Pokey” and “Deportation Depot.”

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MORE NEWS

• Colorado could turn the parking lot next to the governor’s mansion into 12 stories of housing. Denverite

• This old Denny’s in Los Angeles is now a daycare that supports unhoused families. Fast Company

• A Philadelphia judge has temporarily halted SEPTA fare hikes and funding cuts that would hurt regular commuters. Smart Cities Dive

• Gun violence is down throughout New York City. Gothamist

• Chicago has seen its lowest number of summer murders since the mid-1960s. WBEZ Chicago

• Miami Beach votes to protect its rainbow crosswalk and to rename street Pride Street. CBS News

• California is trying to push ahead for its high speed rail project, even though federal funds are in doubt. NPR

• A post-war Gaza includes paying Palestinians to leave, and dystopian luxury developments. Washington Post

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

• Camelback Ventures is accepting fellowship applications from early-stage entrepreneurs who are dedicated to addressing inequities in the education and technology sectors. Apply by Sept. 10

• The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting applications for its Preserving Black Churches grant program. Apply by Sept. 12.

• The Chinook Fund is accepting applications to fund Colorado-based organization that focus on progressive social change and challenge inequality. Apply by Sept. 15.

• The Cummings Foundation is accepting letters of inquiry for their local grant program for social justice focused organizations in the Greater Boston area. Apply by Sept. 17.

• The Social Innovation Lab at the John Hopkins University is accepting applications from leaders and ventures building sustainable solutions for a better world. This is available to applicants in the Baltimore area. Apply by Sept. 27.

• The Ford Foundation’s NYC Good Neighbor Committee is accepting applications from community-based organizations working on education, human services, arts and culture in New York City. Apply by Sept. 30.

• Hinkley Allen is accepting applications from small nonprofits for its social justice partnership program. Apply by Sept. 30.

• The National Geographic Society is accepting applications to fund innovative projects that make farms, farming communities and natural ecosystems more resilient to the realities of climate change and extreme weather. Apply by Sept. 30.

• Check out Next City’s jobs board for new opportunities.

EVENTS

• Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. Eastern: Corner to Corner and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities are holding a sponsored webinar about the importance of nonprofit-research partnerships.

• Sept 10 at 6 p.m. Central: Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis is hosting an in-person panel with local civic leaders who are shaping the urban landscapes of tomorrow.

• Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. Eastern: Planner Desiree’ Powell is hosting a virtual zoning 101 class for students and early career professionals to learn more about zoning, land use and their real-world impacts.

• Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern: Urban Institute is holding a hybrid panel event on the promise and challenges of using emerging financial technology for estate planning to preserve generational wealth for vulnerable homeowners.

• Check out events from Next City and our partners here!

This post was originally published on Next City.