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Updates to mask requirements and other COVID-19 restrictions
Restrictions on in-person work to end for remote workers
At-home COVID-19 tests now covered by your medical plan
Booster shots now available for all three COVID-19 vaccines
News
July is Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride celebrates the important history of the disability civil rights movement and recognizes contributions that people with disabilities make in workplaces and communities. All King County employees are welcome and encouraged to participate in Disability Pride Month events. Join the conversation that honors the lived experience of King County employees with disabilities and highlights continued efforts to advance disability equity and justice in King County. Movie and Discussion: Crip Camp Watch and discuss the Sundance Festival award-winning documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, which tells the story of Camp Jened,… Read More
Free admission to Emerald Downs July 10
King County employees and their families are invited to attend the Emerald Downs racetrack for King County Day on Sunday July 10. They will receive free admission and should check in at Will-Call to receive their tickets. Employees will need to show proof of current employment, such as an employee badge or recent paystub. Part of the Family Fun Weekend event, gates open at 9 a.m., and the first race of the day is at 2.15 p.m. Throughout the day from 1-5 p.m. children can also participate in several games and activities… Read More
Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
Originally posted in King County Sheriff’s Office News On Thursday June 16, law enforcement throughout the state participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for the Special Olympics. The mission is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement, and several King County contract city partners also participated. Shoreline, Burien, Sound Transit, Sammamish, Maple Valley, and Covington ran or walked alongside community members and King County Deputy Kristi Bridgman, who led the effort. There were also two Special Olympic athletes in attendance, both of whom have been participating in… Read More
Commander Todd Clark retires after 40 years with Adult and Juvenile Detention
Originally posted in the June edition of Roll Call, the newsletter for the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Commander Todd Clark’s deep experience working for King County jails made him a wealth of institutional knowledge. At the end of April, Clark stepped down from the commander’s role for both the Seattle and Kent divisions. He had been leading the Seattle Division since 2020, following Gordon Karlsson’s retirement. In the fall of 2021, he took on the added role as commander of the Maleng Regional Justice Center, after Ed Bautista retired. Clark’s… Read More
Judge Jim Rogers receives Outstanding Judge Award from King County Bar Association
The King County Bar Association (KCBA) recently presented Judge Jim Rogers with its 2022 Outstanding Judge Award. KCBA lauded Judge Rogers for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Rogers served as Presiding Judge of Superior Court from 2019 through the end of 2021. During his tenure as Presiding Judge, King County Superior Court held hundreds of trials while courts across the nation remained closed. Read more.
Fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant: A spotlight on farmers markets serving our immigrant and refugee communities
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider After a winter that stayed too long, a cooler than average spring, and as summer moves in with the promise of endless sunshine, so do the annual summer farmers markets that emerge across the county each year. For many residents, buying fresh local food at one of the 30-plus farmers markets is a highly-anticipated seasonal ritual. These market programs provide communities with access to local, fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant produce. Read more.
Update on protests in response to Supreme Court ruling
With today’s ruling by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, a number of large-scale protests will take place in our region beginning today. Several protests are planned, including: Westlake Park in downtown Seattle today and tomorrow at 5 p.m. Federal Building at 915 Second Avenue at 5 p.m. today Yesler Terrace Park at 5 p.m. today Redmond Downtown Park at 5 p.m. today. Additional protests may also take place. Please expect disruptions to traffic in and around the downtown core. Be prepared for these impacts and allow extra time when… Read More
A shameful day in our nation’s history
By Dow Constantine, King County Executive This morning’s ruling by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade is the culmination of a decades-long strategy by right-wing zealots to strip the essential right to abortion care from millions of Americans. On a personal level, I am outraged that my daughter will come of age in a society that treats her as a second-class citizen, without authority even over her own body; in a country that lacks basic supports for families, like universal paid family leave and affordable access to quality child care;… Read More
Pride Parade is back, and King County is marching
Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 26 to join with colleagues and represent King County in the 2022 Seattle Pride Parade. Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to participate. Marchers can join the King County contingent on 4th Ave, between Columbia and Cherry, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. See the parade and staging area map below. To get the full logistics and stay up to date on all things related to the Pride Parade, email leah.holland@kingcounty.gov with the subject line “PRIDE Info.”
Burien Police storefront takes an old-school approach
While the idea of a ‘storefront’ police officer is not new to King County – Kent, White Center, Skyway, Seatac, and others have had them several years – Burien has only recently joined in with the practice of having a fulltime presence in the downtown business district. The storefront is more of a community-focused, old-school approach to policing. It’s basically having an officer who’s out there most every day, walking a beat. “It allows us to look at problem solving instead of crisis response,” said Burien Police Chief Ted Boe. People feel… Read More
New PeopleSoft interface demonstrates improved inclusion and accessibility
You might have noticed a change the last time you logged in to PeopleSoft. As part of an upgrade earlier this month, the Business Resource Center (BRC) implemented a new look and feel to the interface, including new icons. While the old icons served their purpose to illustrate the tasks and functions, they didn’t reflect the diversity of our workforce and the communities we come from. They also weren’t designed to be accessible for people with vision impairments. “All employees, at one time or another, access PeopleSoft for payroll, benefits, or other… Read More
King County Council and King County Executive proclaim Juneteenth
The King County Council and King County Executive Constantine have formally proclaimed June 19, 2022, as JUNETEENTH. “Juneteenth is an important opportunity to honor the principles of the Declaration of Independence and to celebrate the achievements and contributions African Americans have made, and continue to make, in King County and across the nation” the Council and Executive proclaimed. View the official proclamation below.
Allen Nance prepares to lead DAJD
Quanetta West will serve as interim juvenile division director Submitted by the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD) Allen Nance is scheduled to take over for John Diaz as DAJD director effective June 25. Nance has served as juvenile division director since late 2019. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve King County in this important role leading the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and want to thank John Diaz for his leadership to the department and his lifelong commitment to public service,” Nance said in May, after Executive… Read More
“They’re everywhere”: The never-ending battle to control noxious weeds
Recently, The Seattle Times accompanied one of the King County noxious weed patrols on their rounds as they take on the determined garlic mustard weed. This group from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Water and Land Division has the ongoing task of trying to keep certain weeds from taking over indigenous flora habitats in the region. The Times story is a great look at how King County crews on the frontline of environmental stewardship keep up this steady, important work. Read more. Photo: Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times
King County IT Security Tips: Data Breaches
Data breaches are becoming more and more common these days. You hear about them in the news all the time. So you might be wondering: what exactly is a data breach? A data breach is when secure information is taken from a trusted environment without permission. The bad guys can use this information to steal your identity, hack into your online accounts, or use the information for targeted phishing attacks to gather even more information about you. However, just because the data was exposed does not necessarily mean it’s already being used… Read More
Jennifer Hills receives Fred Jarrett Award
The recipient of the Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award is Jennifer Hills, Director of the Office of Risk Management, Department of Executive Services. This award is named for former Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett and honors a senior leader of a department or division. Under Jennifer’s guidance, King County has adopted a more progressive view of risk. Where it once avoided risk, the county now uses a more balanced approach and takes risks when it can add value, drive change, and deliver results. Watch the video to learn how Jennifer led the Office of… Read More
Welcome Back Bash to Celebrate County and City Employees
Fellow Public Servants, It’s time to celebrate your great work in support of our residents and communities! Thank you for all you have done to serve the people of Seattle and King County during a time of significant challenge. We were the first in the nation to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, but because you stepped up with courage, dedication, and hard work – even while lives and livelihoods were upended – our region is recovering and reopening. To celebrate you, and all public employees, during these unprecedented times we are throwing a… Read More
Local Food Initiative supports farmers, protects land, and increases access to healthy foods
King County strives to be a healthy community, where residents can access opportunities and receive the support needed to succeed. One way it does this is through the Local Food Initiative. This program was started in 2014 and aims to make the local food economy more equitable and resilient to climate impacts. The initiative is overseen by Mike Lufkin, Food Economy Manager in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Mike has been with King County since 2015. His work includes growing the food and farm sectors, increasing access to healthy nutritious… Read More
Executive Services BEAT Assessment wins 2022 Achievement Award
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express The Department of Executive Services’ Beginning, Exploring, Applying and Transforming (BEAT) Assessment has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. The BEAT Assessment was recognized in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training Category. Read more.
Metro Pride! Operator Johnathon Futch selected as Grand Marshal of 2022 Pride Parade
Cross-posted from Metro Matters Pride Month celebrates the history and accomplishments of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities throughout the world. For Metro Operator Johnathon Futch, Pride 2022 is an opportunity to lead the celebration as one of the Grand Marshals of Seattle’s 48th Annual Pride Parade through downtown Seattle on Sunday, June 26. Read more. Join Johnathon to represent King County in the 2022 Seattle Pride Parade. Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test. For information, email leah.holland@kingcounty.gov with the subject line “PRIDE Info.”
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