News

Explore articles from our award-winning County News, NACo press releases and other news.
Health and Safety Associate Jen Keys checks in with a regular patron at the San Francisco Public Library.
County News

Library program offers path to employment, stability

San Francisco County, Calif. Library Health and Safety Associates provide care and support to the unhoused patrons who congregate at the library — monitoring for overdoses and connecting them with county services such as showers, food or shelter. 

civic engagement and health
County News

Promoting civic engagement, from voting to volunteering

County officials have deep ties across their communities and their influence goes a long way in promoting stronger, healthier communities, during election cycles and beyond. 

phishing
County News

The phishing attack that rocked the fictious county of Countyville: A cautionary tale

A generative AI tool crafts a story of what can happen if a county employee clicks on a phishing email.

County News

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County News Team

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Mary Ann Barton

County News Editor & Senior Writer
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Charlie Ban

County News Digital Editor & Senior Writer
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Meredith Moran

County News Junior Staff Writer
UAC leaders meet with Moab Valley Fire Protection District members. From left: Marki Rowley, Millard County clerk and UAC secretary; Shelley Brennan, Duchesne County recorder and UAC immediate past president; Carter Lloyd and Doran Michels, firefighters, Brandy Grace, UAC CEO; TJ Brewer, firefighter; Sheri Dearden, UAC COO and Bill Winfield, Grand County commissioner. Photo courtesy of Brandy Grace
County News

Utah Association of Counties takes on health benefits for EMTs

A program championed and managed by the state association will help rural counties attract and retain crucial volunteers for emergency responders.

Flood waters rise Sept. 27 from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville in Buncombe County, N.C. after Tropical Storm Helene pounded the area with rain. Photo by Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press
County News

Counties dig out from deadly Hurricane Helene

Counties have been coordinating shelters, food and water distribution, information and making efforts to vet or refer people to donation managers in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation across six states.

Mountain Lakes Memorial Hospital Life Care Specialist Mandy Kuntz, left, converses with Amy Upchurch, R.N. Photo courtesy the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center
County News

Urban opioid education moves to rural counties

A hospital program in Fulton County, Ga. that educates patients on opioids, and is working to prevent misuse and dependency at the source, is expanding to four rural counties in Georgia.

mfa
County News

MFA drives a county’s cybersecurity victory

A story about a county succeeding in avoiding a cyber-attack because they had MFA in place, presented by a generative tool.

computers
County News

Secure our world by protecting county digital assets

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good occasion to note that protecting digital assets is a job for the entire county workforce, not just the IT department. 

CN102124

County News - Oct. 21, 2024

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County News Podcast

Stories behind the stories, lessons on county leadership, and more – your audio companion to County News.

Apartment building
County News

Podcast: Counties find homes in the midst of a housing crunch

Allegheny County, Pa. Director of Housing Strategies Ed Nusser introduces the 500 in 500 initiative for moving people out of shelters and NACo’s Mike Matthews discusses the county role in developing housing affordability.

Flood
County News

Podcast: Challenges mount for counties facing disasters

Clay County, Iowa Supervisor Barry Anderson joins the County News Podcast to describe the compounding effects from a generational flood his county seat faced in June.

James Gore
County News

Podcast: James Gore on getting stuff done

NACo President James Gore joins the County News Podcast to talk about what brought him to county government, the challenges Sonoma County, Calif. has faced while he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors and and how he views county government.

Podcast
County News

Podcast: Mental health and the criminal justice system

Miami-Dade County, Fla. Administrative Judge Steve Leifman joined the County News Podcast to outline systems that can be put in place in counties across the country.

NACo President Mary Jo McGuire addresses county officials at the 2024 Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Podcast: ForwardTogether during National County Government Month

NACo President Mary Jo McGuire spoke to the County News Podcast about National County Government Month seen through the prism of her presidential theme: ForwardTogether — connect, inspire and lead.

Tom Rolfe, Lewis and Clark County, Mont. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

Podcast: Making intergovernmental connections at NACo's Federal Agency Expo

A handful of county officials and a federal exhibitor talked on the County News Podcast about the connections they hoped to make and what they hoped to learn during the Federal Agency Expo at the NACo Legislative Conference.

Boone County, Mo. Clerk Brianna Lennon joins us in studio for the first episode of the County News Podcast.
County News

Podcast: Election officials talk shop

The hosts of High Turnout, Wide Margins join NACo's inaugural podcast to discuss how they manage elections in Boone and St. Louis counties in Missouri, what elected officials should know about election administration and more.

Stories from our partners

NACo partners with the private sector on solutions.

Together, we are highlighting innovative solutions for counties, as we work with our federal, state, local and private sector partners to build healthy, safe and vibrant communities.

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Tech
News

County collaboration is key to overcoming the cybersecurity talent shortage

In the United States, citizens depend on county governments to deliver many of the nation’s most critical services. These organizations play a crucial role in ensuring overall community well-being by managing essential services such as law enforcement, public health, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency response.

AGA
News

DTE Energy bringing natural gas, opportunity to Tri-County Region in Northern Michigan

Residents of Benzie, Manistee and Wexford counties in Michigan can breathe a sigh of relief this winter as natural gas becomes available in the region for the first time leading to significant savings, increased comfort and improved reliability.

Windmill
News

Building Resilience Against Climate Change – Insights from Tidal Basin

Carlos J. Castillo, President of Federal Services at Tidal Basin, emphasized the critical role of emergency management in local climate resilience at the 2024 NACo Legislative Conference and Annual Conference.

Telecommunications
News

Investing Over $100 Billion in American Infrastructure

AT&T has invested over $140 billion in the past five years to enhance American connectivity, focusing on expanding its role as the nation's largest fiber internet provider and improving its reliable 5G network, which now serves nearly 290 million people.

Computer servers
News

Building Networks for the Next Century, Not the Last One

AT&T emphasizes its nearly 150-year history of innovation and connectivity as it transitions from traditional copper landlines to modern fiber and wireless technologies, highlighting the importance of adapting to current consumer demands and technological advancements.

Home construction
News

Travis County Develops 2,000 Units of Housing to Address Homelessness

This post is sponsored by our partners at Guidehouse. Through Guidehouse's comprehensive support, Travis County is on track to successfully create over 2,000 units of affordable, supportive housing by 2027.

Picnic
News

Feeding kids during the summer requires county officials

The introduction of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program marks a pivotal shift in addressing childhood hunger, especially during the summer when school meals are unavailable. This nationwide initiative, offering substantial grocery benefits, promises transformative support for over 29 million children, with a significant impact on communities facing systemic inequalities.

Programmers
News

Why customer-centric strategy is vital for digital service adoption

The importance of a customer-centric strategy in digital service adoption for county governments is emphasized, highlighting the need for thoughtful design, clear communication, and multi-channel engagement to meet user expectations and improve customer experience.

EMS
News

Fighting opioid addiction – one life at a time

The opioid crisis, a major national issue, saw a 55% increase in drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022, with 75% involving opioids. Effective strategies to combat this include integrated care, policy enhancement, and technology, focusing on whole-person care and intervention opportunities to save lives.

Building facade
News

Planning for the post-American Rescue Plan Act future

Guidehouse outlines strategies for state and local governments to sustain programs after the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding. It emphasizes the need for reassessing constituent needs, measuring program impact, and considering fiscal implications to ensure long-term viability and effective resource allocation for programs initially funded by SLFRF.

Group with hands in
News

How voluntary benefits can help improve your employee benefit package

Voluntary benefits, tailored to diverse employee needs and often at reduced costs, are proving essential in enhancing employer benefit packages, attracting, and retaining talent, and addressing specific wellbeing issues across different age and income groups.

Deterra
News

A countywide opioid misuse prevention campaign is easier to implement than you think

The Deterra Household Mailing Campaign delivers educational tools and deactivation pouches directly to homes. To save lives by tackling the opioid crisis.

Fire danger sign
News

From prevention to resilience: Strategies in wildfire mitigation

Explore a multifaceted approach to wildfire mitigation with Tidal Basin. From creating defensible spaces to early detection systems, discover strategies fostering resilient communities, protecting lives & property. Urgent action is crucial amidst rising wildfire risks. Learn more at TidalBasinGroup.com. 

San Francisco smog
News

A breathing crisis: Rising concerns over U.S. air quality

Facing a stark rise in hazardous air quality, the U.S. grapples with the health implications of escalating pollutants. The alarming data from the American Lung Association urges a renewed focus on air quality management. Federal and local initiatives are in play, yet a unified approach is crucial to mitigate risks and safeguard public health. 

All NACo News

Use the feed below to access all of NACo's news. For more, visit NACo's Advocacy Hub, view our latest press releases and explore past print editions of County News. Be sure to also read the latest from our partners.

The official news publication of the National Association of Counties