Mercer Courthouse Clock Repaired

Nice story here (WFMJ-TV) about community cooperation as students raised money to help pay for renovation of the large county clock on top of the Mercer County (Pa.) Courthouse. The students raised more than $1,200 to pay for parts and two local businesses conducted the extensive renovations free of charge. Commissioner Ken Ammann said the savings to taxpayers amounted to $35,000. The clock had been inoperable for about a year and has now been repaired in time for the courthouse's 100th anniversary.

States, Counties Spar Over Medicaid 'Flexibility'

"Our mantra is, when states talk about 'flexibility,' that's flexibility to let someone else pay for it," says Paul Beddoe, associate legislative director for health and the National Association of Counties. "And we're going to be that somebody else."

Interesting blog post in Governing exploring the differece of opinions of block-ganting federal Medicaid monies to the states.

Senators decry Medicaid block-granting

Hugely successful NACo Rally on Capitol Hill last week to drum up support to preserve Medicaid. Many thanks to West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller for sponsoring the event with NACo. No fewer than seven United States Senators stood with members of NACo's Large Urban County Caucus. More in County News.