Students shadow county employees through 9th Annual Cumberland County Government Day

A popular way many counties celebrate National County Government Month is holding "county official of the day" events. In Cumberland County, N.J., they do it in a big way.

During the county's 9th Annual Cumberland County Government Day, county officials allowed 64 eighth-grade students from local schools to learn about county government and explore career options by "shadowing" county employees for a day.

Said one student quoted in the The News of Cumberland County:

“I’m hoping to learn how government plays a part and helps out,” said Brenda Zeck of Cumberland Christian School. “I want the inside scoop.”

Bernalillo County to honor veterans

National County Government Month is in April. Counties across the country are announcing their plans. This year's theme is, "Serving Our Veterans, Armed forces and Their Families." Bernalillo County, N.M. has several events planned under the veterans theme.

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference

Here are the prepared remarks U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder delivered during the Opening General Session of the 2011 Legislative Conference.

The highlight of the speech from NACo's perspective was when he praised NACo for our policy on indigent defense.

"In what must now become a nationwide effort to bring systemic, not incremental, reform to our justice system, I am proud to count each of you as partners. So many of you – both as individuals and as an association – have called attention to our country’s indigent-defense crisis. You’ve worked to ensure that the unique needs of rural communities are part of the national conversation. And you have been champions of bringing innovative and creative solutions to this problem. In this work, I’m grateful for your contributions."

Mullen Urges Communities to Assist Returning Troops

"Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed hundreds of participants at a meeting here of the National Association of Counties, which provides essential services to the United States’ 3,068 counties." - Cheryl PellerinAmerican, writing for the Armed Forces Press Service.

State, local lobbyists push to save programs from budget ax

NACo officers met with the editors and writers of The Hill newspaper last Friday. Here's an article they produced as a result, highlighting the fact that counties are arguing to Congress that the scrifice needed to reduce the deficit should be shared across the board - including Medicaid, Medicare and defense programs - and not fall on domestic programs.

Holder supports prevention for youths over courts

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder gave a speech today during the Opening General Session of the 2011 NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. He focused on juvenile justice issues. Media attending the session included CBS News, NBC News, CNN and the Associated Press. Here is the AP story.

NACo Kicks Off Legislative Conference in D.C.

The 2011 NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. kicked off this weekend. Some 1,500 county officials from across the country are participating. The NACo officers got started a few days early. Pictured here are (from the left) NACo 1st VP Lenny Eliason, President Glen Whitley, 2nd VP Chris Rodgers, and Immediate Past President Valerie Brown. They were meeting Thursday with the editors and writers of Governing magazine.