Program offers diverse community opportunities in trades and apprenticeships 

The King County Priority Hire Program is helping people in economically distressed communities across King County receive the training and skills they need to access rewarding employment and training opportunities in the construction industry. This work is building opportunities and creating a more diverse and trained workforce that will help this region prosper and grow. “There are opportunities for people in the trades and this program is a great strategy to implement that will help diversify the workforce,” said Samantha Kealoha, Labor Equity Program Manager. “It’s important to help people get into this industry… Read More

Superior Court behind the scenes: The Jury Room 

Crossposted from King County Superior Court blog   This is the second in the Walk in the Shoes series with Chief Administrator, Paul Sherfey, Presiding Judge, Laura Inveen and Communications Manager, Jamie Holter.  Judge Inveen, Paul Sherfey and I visited the Jury Room Monday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 a.m. as jurors started to trickle in. Over the next hour, Jury Room Court Operations members Daisy Rios and Santiago Villanueva will check in more than 200 people using a barcoded postcard which doubles as a juror badge.  Read more at King County Superior Court blog

Pet of the Week: Gerti 

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  We’d like to introduce you to Gerti, our Pet of the Week!  This eight-year-old tortie is extremely affectionate and would love to curl right up in your lap. Her personality color is “Easy Going Green,” meaning she is a fun little lady who loves to go with the flow.  Read more Tails from RASKC

Meet our Elections translators: KC Jung, Korean 

Crossposted from Election Connection  We’re highlighting the great work our translators do helping to make our elections and services accessible to every member of the community. Here we sit down for a brief Q&A with KC Jung, our Korean language translator.  What is your background and what brought you to working in local government at King County?  I am originally from Seoul, South Korea. I first came to the U.S. to study English and decided to adopt this country as my new homeland because of the diverse background of people and places…. Read More

Join us Nov. 8 to honor employees who serve in Guard and Reserve  

King County has approximately 90 employees who currently serve in the National Guard or Reserve. This event will recognize them for their service to our country and present them with a “challenge coin” in appreciation. Register and read more here.   Thursday, November 8, from noon to 1 p.m., Chinook Building, 401 Fifth Ave., Room 121/123

Pet of the Week: Keyla 

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  This happy girl is Keyla, our Pet of the Week!  She’s an eight-year-old pittie who is very affectionate and would love to spend time cuddling with you! Despite her size, Keyla thinks of herself as a lapdog, and will gladly curl up in your lap for a nap. She’s an expert snuggler!  Read more

Exec visits Elections employees on Election Day 

King County Executive Dow Constantine visited King County Elections headquarters in Renton on Election Day as the staff counted ballots. This is the first General Election since he and Director Julie Wise made it possible for King County voters to return ballots without having to pay for postage.

King County Veterans Court celebrates Veterans Day and court graduates, Nov. 8

Regional Veterans Court will be holding a celebration of all veterans and a graduation for those successfully completing the court program on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the King County Courthouse (Courtroom E-326). Regional Veterans Court is a specialized track within King County District Court that connects veterans in the justice system to health and behavioral health treatment, housing and other services they may need to re-stabilize their lives. The Court helps veterans stay out of further involvement in the justice system, and reduces the use of jails and… Read More

King County Drug Court serves as international model

King County Superior Court’s Drug Court is an international model, and recently had two international visits to capture what Superior Court is doing right to help manage the opioid epidemic.   On Monday, the U.S. State Department sponsored a high-level delegation from Haiti. Visitors spent several hours speaking with Drug Court Supervisor Mary Taylor and Judge Dean Lum about how it works and the success rate. On Tuesday, French journalist Romain Bolzinger from the French version of 60 Minutes captured how drug court impacts just one person as he followed a participant through the process. He… Read More

Behavioral Health Legislative Forum: A community conversation about mental health and substance use recovery, Nov. 8 

Are you interested in learning more about funding and services for mental health and substance use disorders? Come to the 2018 Behavioral Health Legislative Forum at Seattle Center on November 8. Thursday, November 8, 6-8:30 p.m. Program begins at 7 p.m. Seattle Center Exhibition Hall – 301 Mercer St, Seattle The forum will include: Opportunities to meet with legislators before the program Remarks by King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg King County’s proposed 2019 behavioral health legislative priorities Compelling personal stories from individuals in recovery Legislative Round Table Interpretation available… Read More