Aug 08, 2025

Special Feature RCRC President and CEO Gets Rural on Latest Episode of The Gower Hour on KZYX Mendocino

This week, RCRC President and CEO Patrick Blacklock sat down with the host of KZYX Mendocino’s Gower Hour, Bode Gower, to talk about rural issues. Together, they explored a variety of topics including broadband access, one-size-fits-all state policies, wildfire prevention in rural California, and much more. Listen to Episode 13 here.

Aug 08, 2025

Special Feature SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Meet RCRC's 2025 Technology Sponsor - Alliant

Learn more about RCRC’s 2025 Technology Sponsor – Alliant. As California’s largest public agency broker and consultant, Alliant delivers unmatched expertise in

Aug 01, 2025

Special Feature SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Meet RCRC’s 2025 Chairperson’s Circle Sponsor – SitelogIQ

Learn about RCRC’s 2025 Chairperson’s Circle Sponsor – SitelogIQ! SitelogIQ is proud to be your Premier Rural County Design-Build Partner – Together, we build Sustainable Community Infrastructure!

Jun 20, 2025

Special Feature RCRC Board Member Spotlight: Rex Bohn (Humboldt County) – Executive Committee Member

RCRC is pleased to introduce the subject of the June 2025 Board Member Spotlight, Humboldt County Supervisor and RCRC Executive Committee Member, Rex Bohn

May 30, 2025

Special Feature Special Feature! AI Agents Are Invading Our Rural Counties

AI agents are showing up in rural California counties, and Agentic AI—AI that can act on its own within set boundaries—is finding its way into county operations. In this special feature to the Barbed Wire, Steve Monaghan, retired Director of Nevada County’s Information & General Services Agency, discusses how Agentic AI systems can work independently to achieve specific goals, make decisions, and handle tasks with minimal human input– and why it matters.

The views or opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of RCRC or its affiliate entities.

May 16, 2025

Special Feature RCRC Board Member Spotlight: David Griffith (Alpine County) – Executive Committee Member

RCRC is pleased to introduce the subject of the May 2025 Board Member Spotlight, Alpine County Supervisor and RCRC Executive Committee Member, David Griffith. 

Mar 21, 2025

Special Feature RCRC Board Member Spotlight: Bob Nelson (Santa Barbara County) – RCRC Second Vice Chair

This is the third installment of the RCRC Board Member Spotlight, a recurring feature of the Barbed Wire! RCRC is pleased to introduce the subject of this Board Member Spotlight, Santa Barbara County Supervisor and RCRC’s 2025 Second Vice Chair, Bob Nelson. 

Feb 21, 2025

Special Feature RCRC Board Member Spotlight: Miles Menetrey (Mariposa County) – RCRC First Vice Chair

This is the second installment of the RCRC Board Member Spotlight, a recurring feature of the Barbed Wire! The Board Member Spotlight is intended to familiarize subscribers with RCRC Board members, providing insights from their...

Jan 17, 2025

Special Feature RCRC Board Member Spotlight: Geri Byrne (Modoc County) - RCRC Chair

This is the first installment of the RCRC Board Member Spotlight, a new recurring feature of the Barbed Wire! The Board Member Spotlight is intended to familiarize subscribers with RCRC Board members, providing insights from...

Dec 19, 2024

Special Feature Special Feature! Artificial Intelligence in Rural California Counties: Practical Steps for Leaders

Today Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are no longer just futuristic concepts—they are reshaping how local governments operate. From theoretical ideas to practical solutions, tools like ChatGPT are enabling more efficient, impactful public service delivery. In...