The dangerous spread of measles stops with us
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
Sergeant Ted Griffin administers life-saving Narcan
Crossposted from DES Express Sergeant Ted Griffin was returning to the King County Courthouse when he was approached by an individual requesting medical help for their companion. Griffin quickly sprang into action, noticing that the companion was sweaty and unresponsive, but still breathing on their own. Griffin then requested additional support from Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Officers. Security Officers Briggs, Wainaina, and Fisher were first to arrive with Security Supervisor Fontenot and Security Officers Tuiolenuu, Mason, and Jackson following shortly afterward. Read more.
Free Youth Transit Pass: Five years of transit choices
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
Grateful for our employees this Labor Day and every day
Thank you to all our employees for their contributions, achievements, and hard work, making King County a vibrant, welcoming community. We value and appreciate your dedication. As a reminder, 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…. Read More
Labor Day weekend safety reminder
As Labor Day quickly approaches, please keep safety in mind while enjoying the long holiday weekend. King County has launched a new tool to help employees find safety, security, and emergency preparedness information. It’s a new intranet homepage or one-stop-shop called the Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Homepage. The homepage centrally hosts links to webpages on kingcounty.gov and the intranet for campus safety and security, safety at work, and emergency management information. Please bookmark this link. You can also access the new page on the King County Employee Intranet Homepage in the Quick Links and Employee Resources… Read More
Breaking backpack records: ReOpp Back-to-School Resource Fair hands out 544 backpacks ahead of new school year
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.
King County to observe Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 7
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.
Executive Zahilay opens modern recycling and transfer station to serve South King County, contributing to cleaner, safer, healthier communities while improving the natural environment
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently led the opening celebration for a state-of-the-art recycling and transfer station that makes it safer and more convenient for South King County residents to recycle and dispose of hazardous waste, contributing to cleaner, safer, healthier communities while improving the natural environment. The new South County Recycling and Transfer Station – mostly powered by renewable energy and the first facility of its kind to earn Salmon-Safe certification – offers recycling services for appliances, glass, metal, plastic, wood, cardboard, paper, and yard waste, none of which are offered… Read More
Preparing for emergencies in National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month and King County wants to help you stay safe – and keep your family and community safe – in the event of an emergency. The best time to prepare for a natural disaster or emergency is before it happens. Here are some steps you can take to be more prepared: Make a plan workbook: Use the Get Ready King County fillable workbook to start (or continue) your preparedness journey. The step-by-step workbook guides you through the resources and items you need to be ready for an emergency. Personal and… Read More
Quick guide for parents and caretakers: What vaccines your child needs
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.
Employee News 