Protect your pet against rabies
Crossposted from tails from RASKC Public Health – Seattle & King County has tracked several cases of rabies in wild animals in our region this year. This potentially deadly virus is contagious, and in our state is usually carried by bats. While not every bat is infected with rabies, call Public Health at 206-296-4774 or seek help from a healthcare professional any time a person or pet has come in contact with a bat. Read more
King County Archives Road Show, Oct. 10
King County Archives is opening our vault and sharing history with fellow county employees and the public! On Wednesday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. archives staff will be in Chinook Building Room 115 to answer your archives-related questions. Interesting exhibits, stickers and our “Archives Photo Booth” where you can take fun selfies with historical images from our archives will also be on hand. Come see how the King County Archives is turning your records into history. View the flyer for more information here. For more information contact County Archivist Carol Shenk at Carol.Shenk@kingcounty.gov.
Judge Maureen McKee brings a wealth of experience
Crossposted from For the Defense Since she obtained her law degree from Cornell University 16 years, Maureen McKee has been in the trenches of public defense, working as a line attorney and supervisor in one of King County’s public defense agencies. She has represented teenagers and adults, people charged with felonies and misdemeanors, clients who stood to be hospitalized against their will or civilly committed as a sexually violent predator. As the newest member of the King County Superior Court bench, Judge McKee has stepped into a profoundly different world. Assigned to… Read More
Leadership transitions at King County
Executive Constantine and his Senior Leadership Team have recently announced a number of leadership changes at King County departments: Earlier today Executive Constantine announced his appointment of Anita Khandelwal as Director of the King County Department of Public Defense. Khandelwal’s appointment is subject to Council approval. Anita has served as the DPD Interim Director since July. Prior to that she served as the department’s Deputy Director of Law and Policy. She joined DPD in November 2015 and has been practicing law for more than a decade. Yesterday Executive Constantine appointed John… Read More
October is Disability Awareness Month in King County
Dear fellow King County employee, October is Disability Awareness Month in King County, a time to celebrate and recognize the many contributions of people with disabilities in our community and around the world. It’s also a time to raise awareness about challenges that people with disabilities face and look at what we can do to help them thrive and fulfill their potential. Everyone deserves a fair shot at success. We are all better off when everyone has an equitable opportunity to fully participate in our community and contribute their unique perspectives and… Read More
King County remembers Sue Ammeter
“Sue was strong, she was fierce, but she also didn’t direct attention to herself and her efforts,” said Karla Lynch, Employment and Community Access Program Manager with the Department of Community and Human Services. “When I think about her energy and her effort, it really was to improve the lives of all people with disabilities.” While at King County Sue Ammeter worked as a Disability Services Specialist. She understood how disabilities could impact people’s lives, as she was blind herself. Her impact in the areas of civil rights, disability accommodations, and employee… Read More
Oxygen masks resuscitate pets suffering from smoke inhalation
The number one cause of death related to fires is smoke inhalation. In King County, firefighters are all trained emergency medical technician (EMT) basic level qualified. This means they know how to apply oxygen, when to apply oxygen, and how to administer it in a safe manner to humans. However, what happens when a beloved animal has suffered from smoke inhalation? Thanks to an investment from Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC), emergency responders in Tukwila are now equipped with life-saving oxygen masks for pets. The idea to ADD animal masks to Tukwila Fire Departments fire responding vehicles originally came about when… Read More
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program aims to remove dangerous chemical by 2025 from dry cleaners
The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program (LHWMP) project to transition dry cleaners from using perchloroethylene (PERC) to professional wet cleaning technology has successfully transitioned the first five cleaners. “PERC is a common dry cleaning chemical linked to cancer, liver damage, and neurological problems,” said Ashley Pedersen, policy liaison for LHWMP. “Approximately 190 former and current dry cleaning sites in King County have been contaminated by PERC. The national average cost of clean-up is $200,000” There are about 75 dry cleaners in King County that use the dangerous dry-cleaning chemical PERC to clean… Read More
Pet of the week: Bruno
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC This handsome fellow is Bruno, our Pet of the Week! Bruno came to us as a stray. Although we don’t know his history, Bruno’s caregivers have noticed that he enjoys the company of people. He just needs some time and patience to adjust to his new surroundings and human friends. Bruno is not an overly “touchy” guy, but he does appreciate a few pets here and there. This could change with time, but for now he just needs some space. Read more at Tails from RASKC
Congratulations to DCHS Director Adrienne Quinn
Crossposted from the Best Starts for Kids Blog Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Director Adrienne Quinn has accepted a new position at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance as a Distinguished Practitioner (a faculty post). We are deeply grateful for Adrienne’s leadership with our department and with Best Starts for Kids. Under her leadership and vision, we’ve launched the most comprehensive approach to childhood and youth development in the nation, living into our equity and social justice values at… Read More
Employee News 