Crossposted from Public Health Insider This opinion piece was originally published in The Seattle Times on August 20, 2026. The U.S. now has more recorded cases of measles — a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease — than any time in the past 35 years. Over the past two years, the infection has impacted undervaccinated communities across our country. National data show that measles has re-established itself after the U.S. declared the infection eliminated in 2000. Although this is a notable public health setback, there are several actions we can take to protect one another in King County and… Read More

By Allen Nance, Deputy Director of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Twenty-five years ago, the United States was shocked by an attack few had imagined possible. I still remember Sept. 11, 2001, as vividly as when it happened. Many others do as well. I’d like to share my memories of that day to help us recapture both the horror and the shared sense of purpose of that time. Whether you witnessed these events in person or on TV, or are too young to recall them, Sept. 11 is a reminder… Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters Backpack, water bottle, notebook, laptop, ORCA card! Since September 2022, young people throughout King County haven’t needed to ask family for a ride or for money to take transit. They just had to walk to a bus, streetcar, or light rail stop, or get to a water taxi or ferry terminal. This September marks the start of the fifth school year where kids and teens across the state can board regional transit for free until their 19th birthday, thanks to the Free Youth Transit Pass. That program provides young… Read More

Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids Each year the Reconnect to Opportunity (ReOpp) Back-to-School Resource Fair hands out free school supplies, backpacks, food bags, and more to young people across King County, in partnership with dozens of community organizations. This August was no different, with the fair distributing a record number of backpacks: 544 to community members. Families with kids getting ready for preschool all the way through high school attended the fair. A total of 488 community members received resources including school supplies, food bags with fresh produce, and of course, backpacks. Read more.

Most King County offices will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7. Due to the nature of our work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule. Metro will be on Sunday service. If you have any questions about your schedule, please talk to your supervisor. Offices will return to normal service on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

As you prep for school or childcare, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) makes it easy to know which vaccines are required for kids. These simple charts from Washington DOH’s School and Child Care Immunizations webpage walk you through what’s needed at each age: Required Immunizations for School-aged Children and Required Immunizations for Childcare. The following blog has resources for you to check if your child is already up to date on their vaccines and more. Learn more.