News

Explore articles from our award-winning County News, NACo press releases and other news.
Prince George’s County, Md. Air Boat 847 roams the Potomac River in the aftermath of the fatal Jan. 29 mid-air crash between a passenger jet and a military helicopter.
County News

Crash sets big stage for well-honed county mutual aid response effort

Local counties responded with practiced coordination to the deadly collision between an airplane and helicopter, offering help for search and rescue, recovery and support operations.

Durham County, N.C. Commissioner Wendy Jacobs listens to a speaker during NACo's Intergovernmental Roundtable on Local Behavioral Health Crisis Response. Photo by Nicole Weissman
County News

Panel: People in crisis need support, not handcuffs

Counties can better serve people experiencing a behavioral health crisis by engaging behavioral health specialists instead of law enforcement, experts told county officials at a recent meeting held at NACo headquarters.

DaRon McGee speaks at a press conference flanked by Jackson County legislator colleagues Sean Smith (left) and Manuel Abarca.
County News

Jackson County chair combines diverse experiences for effective leadership

A fellowship funded by the Congressional Black Caucus kick-started DaRon McGee’s career in public service, but his promise to his mother brought him back to Jackson County, Mo., where he's made his name.

County News

Welcome to County News, the official news publication of the National Association of Counties.

Quick Links

County News Team

Image of Mary-Ann-Barton2.jpg

Mary Ann Barton

County News Editor & Senior Writer
Image of Charlie_Ban-Crop.jpg

Charlie Ban

County News Digital Editor & Senior Writer
Image of Meredith-Moran-1.png

Meredith Moran

County News Junior Staff Writer
meeting
County News

Civic engagement strengthens community relationships

Inclusive engagement fosters stronger community relations because inclusion makes all residents feel invested in the betterment of the county. 

County Executive Calvin Ball, Howard County, Md., takes to the microphone at a local event designed to bring business to his community.
County News

Accepting criticism can help improve results, Howard County executive says

Calvin Ball recognizes that any election results show elected officials probably don’t have universal approval, and winning over critics can lead to better overall communication with all residents.

Longtime Fairfax County, Va. Supervisor Gerry Hyland, flanked by U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (l) U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly and Supervisor Dan Storck (far right) celebrate naming of county center for Hyland.
County News

Gerry Hyland leaves a legacy of NACo service

The Fairfax County, Va. supervisor found a niche at NACo, bringing a detail-oriented approach to the Board of Directors and taking on projects to help the organization improve its processes.

County News - Feb. 17, 2025

County News - Feb. 17, 2025

NACo Career Center

Streamline your hiring process with the NACo Career Center. Connect with top professionals and get your jobs filled more quickly.

County News Podcast

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

Artificial intelligence
County News

Podcast: Artificial intelligence and county government

Shinica Thomas, a Wake County, N.C. commissioner and a member of NACo's AI Exploratory Committee, talks about her process for learning about artificial intelligence, its limits and challenges and some applications for use in county government.

Industrial carriers blue and white big rig semi-truck tractors transporting cargo on dry van semi-trailers running on the truss metal arch I-5 Interstate Bridge between Washington and Oregon across  the Columbia River.
County News

Podcast: Heavier truck proposals in Congress threaten county bridges

Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Rick Bailey spent 35 years in the trucking industry prior to running for office, and he offers two perspectives to the County News Podcast on the issue backed by his experience, but there’s no reason to save the surprise — he doesn’t approve of proposals to increase the weight limit on trucks. 

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.

View all stories

Light a Path Image
News

#LightAPath for Amazon Deliveries This Winter

During reduced daylight hours, Amazon is encouraging customers to help drivers when they are delivering their packages in the dark.

HIPAA compliant
News

New in 2025: Counties Should Prepare Now for the Upcoming HIPAA Security Rule Update

Counties across the country are leveraging the Sectri platform to achieve HIPAA Security Rule compliance and to proactively prepare for the updated requirements set to be finalized in 2025.

Opioid crisis
News

America's Opioid Crisis: Counties as Frontline Forces in the Fight

Counties serve as the first line of defense, providing essential services in public health, mental health, law enforcement and social services - supporting communities in crisis and driving lasting recovery.

Prevent
News

Empowering Communities: How County Leaders are Tackling the Opioid Crisis Head-On

Forward-thinking county leaders are implementing year-round strategies to prevent overdoses, educate communities about the importance of proper drug disposal and connect residents with local resources for support.

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. 

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