S.J. veterans spanning 7 decades honored by county officials

San Joaquin County, Calif. honored local veterans spanning seven decades during National County Government Month celebrations, as reported by Zachary Johnson, staff writer for the The Record newspaper in Stockton, Calif.

Houston County reunion event to honor area veterans

The Palestine Herald-Press reports today that in celebration of County Government Month, Houston County (Texas) is sponsoring a Veterans Reunion event at 5:30 p.m. today on the Houston County Courthouse Square in Crockett.

"We'll be serving up free burgers with all the trimmings to all our veterans," said Houston County Veterans Service Officer Fred Newtz, who is coordinating the event. "And we want to allow them some time just to visit with each other, renew old acquaintances, and make some new ones."

AP Analysis: US Economic Stress Eased In February

According to this Associated Press analysis, many counties are seeing some welcome economic improvement. "Thanks to lower unemployment and fewer bankruptcies, the nation's economic stress edged down in February as all but five states strengthened from January, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis." Unemployment declined or remained the same in more than three-quarters of the nation's 3,141 counties and in 43 states, the AP's Economic Stress Index showed. "Bankruptcies declined in more than half the counties and in 41 states. Still, foreclosures rose in more than half the counties and in 27 states.The AP's index calculates a score from 1 to 100 based on unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates," the article states. The average county's stress score in February was 11, down from 11.2 in January. A year ago, the average score was 11.8. Under a rough rule of thumb, a county is considered stressed when its score exceeds 11. The article also quotes NACo commenting on why state capital counties tend to be doing better than others.

Counties air nuclear concerns in wake of Japan’s quake

An important story by NACo County News Senior Staff Writer Charles Taylor on the earthquake that damaged a Japanese nuclear plant, raising concerns in many of the U.S.'s 107 "nuclear counties."

Chatham County, Ga. celebrates NCGM

WSAV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Savannah, Ga., reports on a special Chatham County National County Government Month event: "Take a Soldier Fishing Day." Ten anglers volunteered their boats and expertise and conducted a catch & release bass tournament with local wounded soldiers.

Local-government group concerned about Ryan budget

With members of NACo's Rural Action Caucus in town this week lobbying Congress and federal agencies on NACo's legislative priorities, NACo sent a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen voicing NACo's conerns about Ryan's "budget roadmap" released Tuesday. “We believe that deficit reduction should not be accomplished by shifting costs to counties, imposing unfunded mandates, or pre-empting county programs or taxing authority,” said Larry Naake, NACo’s executive director. The letter was reported by The Hill, a widely read Capitol Hill newspaper. Click here to read the April 5 NACo letter.

OUR VIEW: Drug card a winner for county

Here is a terrific editorial in The Gadsden (Ala.) Times on the NACo Prescription Discount Card Program. Etowah County residents are now taking advantage of the free, money-saving program as a result of the county's membership in NACo.

New website provides information on health, social services programs

NACo President Whitley introduced "TarrantCares" at a news conference Wednesday. As reported by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, he described the new website as a "constantly changing, living site" where consumers can securely keep personal medical records, access service directories and get information on diseases, medications and other topics. The article says Whitley pushed to bring the site to Tarrant County, Texas because it will give people direct access to health information. "I saw it as an opportunity for people really to take responsibility for their own health," he said. "They can search the Internet when they have a health challenge and don't know where to go."