County News Podcast

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

About the Podcast

Take a deep dive on issues impacting local governments across the country, share in lessons on leadership from county leaders and their counterparts in Washington, and learn more about what it takes to strengthen America's counties on the County News Podcast from the National Association of Counties.

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.

Featured Series: Public Lands

In this series presented by the National Center for Public Lands Counties, the County News Podcast interviews leaders from public lands counties about their unique experiences.

Rolling hills
News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part VI

Modoc County, Calif. Supervisor Ned Coe outlines how ideas from county government have helped the U.S. Forest Service do its job.

Yosemite
News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part V

Mariposa County, Calif. Supervisor Miles Menetrey and Eagle County, Colo. Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry discuss the coalition building necessary for counties to succeed when much of their land is managed by the National Forest Service and National Park Service.

Utah countryside
News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part IV

Two Southern Utah commissioners – Tammy Pearson from Beaver County and Jerry Taylor from Garfield County – discuss building relationships outside of their network of public lands officials, in hopes of educating and winning new champions.

Diaz Lake near Lone Pine, California
County News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part III

Two county supervisors from California — Jeff Griffiths from Inyo County and Heidi Hall from Nevada County — talk about balancing serving their residents and drawing tourists to their mountain communities.

Coconino County, Ariz. Supervisor Patrice Horstman and Hawai’i County, Hawai’i Councilmember Sue Lee Loy
County News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part II

Coconino County, Ariz. Supervisor Patrice Horstman and Hawai’i County, Hawai’i Councilmember Sue Lee Loy contrast their public lands leadership experiences in very large and relatively small counties.

Grand Teton
County News

Podcast: Talking with Public Lands County Leaders, Part I

The inaugural episode of the National Center for Public Lands podcast features a conversation between NACo Executive Director Matt Chase and Lincoln County, Nev. Commissioner Varlin Higbee.

Ravalli County, Mont. Commissioner Greg Chilcott talks to colleagues before the General Session at the 2022 NACo Annual Conference. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Podcast: National Center for Public Lands Counties builds a legacy of knowledge, experience

Ravalli County, Mont. Commissioner Greg Chilcott outlines plans for the National Center for Public Lands Counties.

Featured Series: Civic Engagement

In this series, the County News Podcast interviews county civic engagement leaders about their unique experiences.

Man with headset
News

Podcast: Civic Engagement Series, Part 1 – Berrien County, Mich.

Berrien County, Mich. ensures that all residents and visitors can access emergency services regardless of their primary language thanks to a translation and interpretation service.

Top County News Stories

Stay up-to-date on America's counties with NACo's award-winning County 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.