Texas County Voice

Rural Texas desperately needs more doctors and health care providers. In this episode, Curtis Donaldson, director of Rural Medicine Outreach at Texas A&M University's School of Medicine, talks about the school's efforts to cultivate country doctors.

We talk with Burleson County Judge Keith Schroeder about his county's decision to hire a full-time mental health deputy to help persons in psychological crisis find treatment and avoid jail. The initiative earned Burleson County a 2022 County Best Practices Award from the Texas Association of Counties.

In this episode, w e talk with Jeff Davis County Judge Curtis Evans about growing up in Far West Texas, his passion for horses and roping, and the real star of the courthouse in Fort Davis, his dog Lou.

With the help of Williamson County Elections Administrator Chris Davis and Texas Association of Counties ' associate general counsel Paul Miles, Texas County Voice looks at what a recent opinion by Attorney General Ken Paxton  potentially means for  voted ballots, county election officials and election budgets.

Three Texas county election officials discuss what it takes to make our elections work. Guests: Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza, Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Doinoff and Sherman County District and County Clerk Laura Rogers.

Texas Secretary of State John Scott, the state's chief election officer, talks with Texas County Voice about the challenges county election officials are facing ahead of the Nov. 8 general election, and how his office is working to support them.

Texas' new election rules and broadband development efforts were prominent topics at TAC's 2022 Legislative Conference. In this episode, you'll hear excerpts from two panel discussions on the subjects. Plus: a Q&A with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

Matthew Chase, the National Association of Counties' CEO and executive director, joins Texas County Voice to talk about federal issues of interest to Texas counties, including the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. You'll also learn about Operation Green Light, a special NACo initiative planned for Veterans Day.

Texas County Voice joined hundreds of county officials recently at TAC's 2022 Legislative Conference . Our latest episode samples the action from three busy, informative days.

We here at the Texas Association of Counties have been busy getting ready for our 2022 Legislative Conference , Aug. 24-26. The conference will dig into the details of numerous issues that counties can expect to face when the Legislature reconvenes in January. It's an essential event for preparing for legislative action to come, and in this episode, we take a quick look at what's ahead.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Aug. 25, 2017, causing massive damage in Aransas and many other Texas counties. In this episode of Texas County Voice, we recognize the five-year anniversary of the storm and the resilience of our members as they continue to rebuild. Joining us is Robert Ruiz, associate director of TAC Risk Management Services. Ruiz was one of the first TAC staff members to visit...

Voices of County Government is a favorite feature of the Texas Association of Counties' quarterly magazine, County . Consider it now an occasional feature here on Texas County Voice. Our guest: Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson. Judge Johnson talks about what it's like to wield the county gavel after 11 years as county and district clerk, her experience as clerk and a few of her favorite things a...

On this episode of Texas County Voice, we sit down with the presidents of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas and Texas Chief Deputies Association, both of whom just so happen to be from the same county – Lubbock County, about the biggest issues affecting county law enforcement, including staffing shortages and mental health services in their jails. We also talk to them about how they got intereste...

Haley Click, director of the Texas Association of Counties' Education & Member Services, and Comal County Treasurer Renee Couch visit Texas County Voice to talk about Leadership 254, one of TAC's premier training programs for county officials. Applications are open for the next class of Leadership 254 until Sept. 16, 2022. County officials can apply online at www.county.org/leadership254 .

What happens in Washington doesn't stay in Washington. Decisions made at the federal level affect Texas counties. Federal outreach efforts by TAC's Legislative Services department, in partnership with the National Association of Counties, make sure Texas counties have a voice in Washington, D.C.

Delivering health care in rural communities is a perennial challenge . This episode includes e xcerpts from a recent panel discussion on rural health care hosted by The Texas Tribune and cosponsored by the Texas Association of Counties. The episode also includes an interview with Bell County Pct. 3 Commissioner Bill Schumann .

The new issue of County magazine is here, and we're talking about it. Because it's got stuff you'll want to read. For free. Plus: Hudspeth County Judge Tom Neely is 94. That's right, 94. Yeah, he has a few stories to tell.

Burnet County Justice of the Peace Roxanne Nelson and Waller County Justice of the Peace J.R. Woolley talk about the judiciary's role when interacting with people with mental health issues, intellectual and developmental disabilities or substance use disorders.

Robert Ruiz, associate director of TAC's Risk Management Services, and San Patricio County IT Director Steven González guide Texas County Voice through the cybersecurity landscape in this report from this year's County Management & Risk Conference.

The Legislature made big changes to the bail bond system in Texas in 2021. TAC Legislative Consultant Kelsey Bernstein and Bronson Tucker, director of curriculum at the Texas Justice Court Training Center, join Texas County Voice to discuss key bail reporting rules now taking effect.

It was year ago on March 11, 2021, that President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act into law. The act set aside $5.7 billion in direct aid for Texas counties. In this episode, we look at the key points and questions associated with the American Rescue Plan .

County jails have become de facto mental health facilities for many Texans suffering a mental health crisis. In this episode, we look at one of the state's most pressing problems.

This year's Healthy County Boot Camp focused on how to move from the challenges of the pandemic to a new normal. Texas County Voice attended the annual wellness conference hosted by TAC's Health & Employee Benefits Pool. This is our report.

More than 1,000 Texas laws are  based on a county's population . We explore  an interactive tool TAC created  to help counties find  which population-bracketed laws apply to them . And we visit  Chambers County, one of many Texas counties experiencing rapid growth.

Confused about  Texas' new election law ?  Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza   walks listeners through  the new rules  and what they mean for Texas voters and counties .