tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992Tue, 21 Oct 2025 07:16:46 +0000The official media relations blog of the National Association of Counties. We observe and analyze coverage of the nation's 3,069 counties and NACo so you don't have to.http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)Blogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-7002980871307887025Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:23:00 +00002014-02-19T09:23:21.378-05:00States Aren’t the Only Ones Reforming Health Care Innovative Hennepin Health getting noticed as a national model.  http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2014/02/states-arent-only-ones-reforming-health.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-1101037680841619458Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:16:00 +00002014-01-17T13:16:48.306-05:00Congress cuts funds for jailing undocumented criminals Great coverage for NACo and counties in this USA Today article about Congress cutting the annual funding of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which reimburses  reimburses states and local governments for the cost of incarcerating undocumented immigrants. http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/congress-cuts-funds-for-jailing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-2293052862821101434Tue, 14 Jan 2014 14:03:00 +00002014-01-14T09:03:43.877-05:00County services in jeopardy if Congress fails to fund PILT NACo issued a press statement indicating that "America’s counties will have no option but to severely reduce or eliminate critical county services to the public if Congress fails to deliver funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program in the FY2014 Omnibus spending bill." The word is getting out across the country and on http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/county-services-in-jeopardy-if-congress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-6638054717757594106Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:02:00 +00002014-01-09T09:02:04.224-05:00Federal Budget Deal Delays Hospital Cuts -- For Now NACo is quoted in this Governing article about how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to change state Medicaid expansion from obligatory to optional is affecting urban hospitals.   “The way it was done, it gives kind of a breather, but then it increases the steepness of the cliff,” said Paul Beddoe, the associate legislative director http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/federal-budget-deal-delays-hospital.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-6427891506047084485Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:49:00 +00002014-01-08T08:49:04.209-05:00Full PILT funding sought This article from the Ruidso News in Lincoln County, N.M. mentions NACo advocacy effort to secure full PILT funding for 2014. "The National Association of Counties sent out a legislative action alert on the issue and suggested letters be sent to legislative delegates. The county's resolution called for swift passage of a bill to extend the mandatory PILT funding for http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/full-pilt-funding-sought-this-article.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-6054898912917650690Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:25:00 +00002014-01-08T08:38:04.123-05:00 Editorial: Connecting recreation, health The Daily Reflector, which covers Greenville, Pitt County, and eastern North Carolina, mentioned Pitt County winning a 2013 NACo Achievement Award in an editorial.    "The normal time for updating the parks plan came when work was progressing on the Pitt County District Park (renamed the Alice F. Keene District Park), which provides multiple http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/editorial-connecting-recreation-health_8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-1513861877440077750Wed, 18 Dec 2013 13:56:00 +00002013-12-18T08:56:43.354-05:00Counties could lose millions if appropriators don’t hurry after Ryan-Murray budget deal Great coverage for the PILT program in the Washington Post. The PILT program was created in 1976 to offset costs incurred by counties for services provided to federal employees and families, the public and to the users of public lands. These include education, solid waste disposal, law enforcement, search and http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/counties-could-lose-millions-if.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-481054079924042357Mon, 16 Dec 2013 17:58:00 +00002013-12-16T12:58:11.032-05:00County Drop Off Sites Paying Off WMNT radio in Minnesota reports on an innovative program in St. Louis County: "The 'Take it to the Box' medication drop off sites are a proving to be a hit.  Area law enforcement agencies around Saint Louis County have collected more than 645 pounds of unused pharmaceuticals in the past ten months.  The county's Environmental Services Department set uphttp://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/county-drop-off-sites-paying-off-wmnt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-1375022645372536316Thu, 12 Dec 2013 20:30:00 +00002013-12-12T15:32:08.652-05:00Albemarle approves water, sewer connections for MonticelloCounties are ruled by state law and local ordinances. But sometimes you just have to break the rules for certain people, like the man who penned the Declaration of Independence.  The Daily Progress in Albemarle County, Va. reports on the board of supervisors approving a request to connect Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, to http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/albemarle-approves-water-sewer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-7368532566678008791Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:39:00 +00002013-12-03T10:39:39.127-05:00 Zucker plans massive change at CNN If you like CNN, prepare yourself for big changes. This article is in "Capital," a new online-based news organization based in New York City affiliated with POLITICO.  http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/zucker-plans-massive-change-at-cnn-if.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-5063783646210429160Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:26:00 +00002013-11-20T08:26:03.515-05:00NACo held a Capitol Hill briefing yesterday – “Local Priorities at Stake in Federal Budget Negotiations: Why Counties Matter” – to educate Congressional offices about the triple threat facing counties and communities across America. The Bond Buyer publication was there and nicely captured where NACo stands on these important issues. NACo Executive Director: Counties Facing a 'Triple Threat'BY http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/11/counties-facing-triple-threat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-3247333163805191536Fri, 15 Nov 2013 13:04:00 +00002013-11-15T08:04:40.924-05:00 For Some in Government, ‘Effective’ Is the New ‘Efficient’ Liz Farmer writes in Governing magazine: For a generation now, the buzzword for government officials has been “efficiency”—faster and cheaper equals better. But that mindset misses the big picture, says Linda Langston, the county executive of Linn County, Iowa, and the current president of the National Association of Counties. “You http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/11/for-some-in-government-effective-is-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-2838891648054661735Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:25:00 +00002013-11-15T08:05:23.378-05:00Shelby Co. offers free prescription discount cardWelcome to the latest county to participate in NACo's Prescription Discount Card Program - Shelby County, Tenn. More than $530 million saved nationwide.  http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/11/shelby-co.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-7451690808592440672Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:15:00 +00002013-11-06T14:15:10.832-05:00Colo. Official Testifies in D.C. About Wildfire Budgets NACo 2nd VP Sallie Clark was on Capitol Hill this week testifying before a Senate panel, telling members, "healthy forests and pre-fire mitigation efforts” are the only answers to help mitigate thethreats of wild fires and floods on public lands and private property across the country. Clark, commissioner, El Paso County, Colo., testified http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/11/colo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-5207544995057075134Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:06:00 +00002013-09-25T09:06:02.746-04:00Kamenetz Honors County Agencies for Winning National Awards County Executive Kevin Kamenetz honored six Baltimore County agencies today for winning 10 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo).  He presented Executive Citations to department heads and their staff members who contributed to the winning programs, which have been designated by NACo as model programs. http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/kamenetz-honors-county-agencies-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-3975275825580680262Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:25:00 +00002013-09-23T08:25:28.043-04:00Savings Continue to Add Up for ParticipantsWay to go Calvert County, Maryland. http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/savings-continue-to-add-up-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-3328366707864511845Tue, 10 Sep 2013 15:12:00 +00002013-09-10T11:12:43.070-04:00Budget fight could hurt Beltway-area local governments This article on The Washington Post website is from a new blog launched just last month called "Gov Beat: The Pulse of State and Local Government." This one quotes NACo on municipal bonds.   http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/budget-fight-could-hurt-beltway-area.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-33095570984636931Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:53:00 +00002013-09-03T08:53:03.671-04:00Manatee County Wins Third NACO Award for Smart Justice Month A little coverage in The Brandenton Times for Manatee County, Florida for winning a National County Government Month Award this year.   http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/manatee-county-wins-third-naco-award.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-1596740666368336295Fri, 26 Jul 2013 14:31:00 +00002013-07-26T10:31:46.566-04:00Public official Chris Rodgers has made his shots count — on the court and off A fitting and warm column in the Omaha World-Herald by Mike Kelly about Chris Rodgers, commissioner, Douglas County, Neb., who this week wrapped up his year serving as NACo President in Tarrant County, Texas.  http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/public-official-chris-rodgers-has-made.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-4477070234708547498Mon, 15 Jul 2013 19:59:00 +00002013-07-15T15:59:27.943-04:00County leaders to set national policies, explore innovations during NACo annual conference Attention Texas: Here comes NACo! http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-2012532838886483103Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:18:00 +00002013-07-08T09:18:14.333-04:00Local Officials Asked to Help on Health Law New York Times reports that counties are being asked to help HHS on ACA implementation, especially encouraging the young and healthy, to sign up and purchase health coverage through the exchanges. Secretary Sibelius will likely be discussing this when she visits NACo's Annual Conference on July 22 in Tarrant County, Texas.    &http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/local-officials-asked-to-help-on-health.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-1575963225282724127Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:25:00 +00002013-06-04T14:25:31.350-04:00Analysis: Disparity Exists in Condition of Local vs. State Bridges Governing magazine reports: An analysis of 2012 FHA inspection data showed the disparity in bridge conditions to be widespread:•About 15 percent of all bridges local governments own in the U.S. are structurally deficient, compared to 7 percent for states.•Of states with at least 1,000 locally-owned bridges, only Colorado has a http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/06/analysis-disparity-exists-in-condition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-6808147977484096889Tue, 21 May 2013 13:15:00 +00002013-05-21T09:15:38.787-04:00Smart justice begins with smart sentencingNice column about the benefits of Smart Justice programs by Chester County, Pa. Commissioner Terence Farrell published in The Phoenix, a Journal Register community newspaper.    http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/smart-justice-begins-with-smart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-353485371173069698Fri, 03 May 2013 18:50:00 +00002013-05-03T14:50:59.093-04:00Washington Post Profits Drop Sharply Tough times remain for the one of the country's best-known daily newspapers.   http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/washington-post-profits-drop-sharply.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503733177762927992.post-1333042800915772031Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:10:00 +00002013-04-26T10:10:11.163-04:00Md. Democrat challenges Obama budget, saying it will decrease local revenue This may be a first: a major news organization - in this case NBC.com's First Read blog - cites a NACo policy brief and links to it. The Maryland Congressman, a former county executive, makes an important point about changing the tax exempt status of municipal bonds which local government uses to raise monies to build http://naconewswatch.blogspot.com/2013/04/md.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Philipps)0