News

Explore articles from our award-winning County News, NACo press releases and other news.
Sonoma County, Calif. Supervisor David Rabbit, Sunrise Farms owner Mark Weber, Dayna and Sonoma County Agriculture Commissioner Andrew Smith discuss Sonoma County’s Measure J. Photo by Charlie Ban
County News

Sonoma County unites to fight ag-focused ballot measure

When a ballot measure threatened a wide swath of agricultural operations in Sonoma County, Calif., stakeholders rallied around the chance to show residents what farms mean to their community.

public health
County News

Health does not have to be partisan: Talking about health in a way that resonates with everyone

The de Beaumont Foundation has identified tangible steps county officials can take to heal divides and talk about community health in a way that resonates with everyone.

Venango County, Pa. Commissioner Chip Abamovic looks on as Cedric Group’s Meredith Whitehead discusses identifying partnerships in rural counties that have helped business owners recruit and retain skilled workers. Photo by Devin Zagar
County News

Facing changing landscape, Venango County, Pa. empowers next generation for economic success

NACo's Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility program participants saw how Venango County, Pa. fosters partnerships with local nonprofits, small businesses and school districts to align the needs of its communities.

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
Then-NACo President Mary Jo McGuire of Ramsey County, Minn. (far left) pauses for a photo with Guilford County, N.C. staff after announcing their win July 14 in the Best in Category NACo Achievement Award in the Human Services category, at the NACo Annual Conference in Hillsborough County, Fla. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

North Carolina county decreases 911 non-emergency calls by connecting residents to services they need

Guilford County, N.C. was inundated with 911 calls until the county connected residents to resources, including primary care physicians and access to food, so they don’t feel the need to call an emergency line.

Interagency Recovery Campus students’ names and sobriety dates decorate a wooden board on display in the school.
County News

King County school offers students a route to sobriety

The Interagency Recovery Campus, funded in part by King County, Wash. Behavioral Health and Recovery, fosters an environment to support students' paths to sobriety.

Bernalillo County, N.M. FLAME trainee Jayden Wheeler works with his job coach, Jennifer Bartholf. Photo courtesy of Cindy WeaselBear
County News

Participants get ‘second chance’ training in county jobs

Bernalillo County, N.M.'s Foundational Learning Alliance for Maintaining Employment program places people in need of a second chance into job positions in four county departments over the course of a year. 

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.

CN110424

County News - Nov. 4, 2024

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.

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

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