Balanced You Mindfulness: Fall 2024 schedule
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment—free from distraction or judgment. It’s a proven method to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. Balanced You partners with mindfulness providers CuriosityBased, SolJoy, and Mindfulness Northwest. View the full list of classes and learn more here. Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF with the Mindfulness fall 2024 schedule to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions, please contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov.
“Fall” in love with $50 dog adoptions in October
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC The leaves are changing color and the weather is turning cooler, making October a great time to cuddle up with a warm pup from Regional Animal Services of King County! All this month, you can adopt a dog for just $50, plus a pet license fee where applicable. All pets from RASKC have had an initial veterinary exam, are up to date on their vaccinations, have been spayed or neutered, and are microchipped. Adopters get 30 days of opt-in pet health insurance through Trupanion, among other benefits…. Read More
New virtual contact center and search tool to connect King County residents to services
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections On Sept. 30, the Resource Access Team, a new key investment of the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, launches their virtual contact center and online interactive resource database to better connect King County residents with the services and resources they need to thrive. Resource Access is a multifunctional customer service team within the Department of Community and Human Services that will serve as a centralized information and resource referral system, helping to bridge gaps across the human services system making it easier for residents of King County to access the services they… Read More
Test of KCInform employee alert and warning system on Oct. 17
King County will conduct a test of KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system, on Thursday, Oct. 17 between 9 and 10 a.m. as part of the annual Great Washington ShakeOut drill to test earthquake preparedness. KCInform is used to notify County employees of emergency situations, infrastructure disruptions, facility closures, changes in department business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email address are already in the KCInform system. However, please register your County provided cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address… Read More
Earn rewards when you bike or scoot to transit!
Crossposted from Metro Matters As we step into fall, King County Metro, in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Sound Transit and Lime, is offering a new exciting promotion for those connecting their rides on shared bikes or scooters with public transit. Whether you’re hopping on a bus or catching the Link light rail, you can now earn rewards just by riding and parking at certain transit hubs. What’s new this year? Launched on Sept. 16, the Bike and Scoot to Transit pilot now makes it even easier to ride… Read More
How King County is reducing waste generated by building demolition and creating more equitable access to green jobs
A new training program offered by King County is helping the local construction industry transition from demolition to deconstruction, a modern approach that dramatically decreases the amount a material the ends up in the regional landfill while creating more equitable access to green jobs. Unlike traditional demolition that relies on heavy machinery to turn buildings into piles of mixed debris, deconstruction carefully dismantles structures so materials can be salvaged and put back into the economy or, in some cases, completely rebuilt or relocated. The approach taught by King County can reduce the… Read More
Committed to public service: Honoring the Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellows
Crossposted from Metro Matters Join us in celebrating King County Metro’s Pauline Estrella, recently honored by the King County Council as one of several prestigious Ruth Woo Fellows. Estrella worked with Metro staff on World Cup transportation planning and other efforts during her 2023-2024 fellowship. Their dedication throughout this fellowship exemplifies a commitment to public service and advocacy for underserved communities. Diversity in leadership Civic leader Ruth Woo recruited diverse leaders to serve in local government. King County’s Ruth Woo Fellowship continues to recruit the leaders of tomorrow. Read more.
Executive Constantine announces proposal to preserve the county’s public health clinics, further sustain Harborview Medical Center’s operations and maintenance
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced on Sept. 19 a proposal to preserve and fund the county’s public health clinics and further maintain operations and maintenance for the county hospital, Harborview Medical Center. The proposal is part of Executive Constantine’s 2025 budget and, if approved by the King County Council, would utilize a modified county hospital property tax authority approved by the state Legislature earlier this year. The proposal would levy an 8.5 cent tax that would raise $74.6 million for the 2025 budget, eliminating the need for public health clinic services to be… Read More
Executive Constantine announces his 2025 budget proposal, highlighting key investments in housing, health, safety, transportation, climate, and the environment
King County Executive Dow Constantine yesterday announced his 2025 budget proposal totaling $10.2 billion. The budget prioritizes key investments in housing, health, safety, transportation, climate action, and the environment, and demonstrates a commitment to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. The budget proposal is a road map to King County’s vision and values based on transforming the way government operates, solving problems effectively and efficiently, with equity and accountability, to best deliver services to all residents. “This 2025 budget reflects King County’s commitment to creating innovative solutions… Read More
Airport fire trucks get cleaned of “forever chemicals”
Crossposted from the DES Express In a partnership with the Port of Seattle, King County International Airport’s fire engines are being cleaned of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroakyl substances, found in firefighting foam. These chemicals stick around for a long time, possibly thousands of years, and can build up in the environment and people’s bodies, causing harmful effects. Among the health effects are developmental problems, immune system issues, and links to certain cancers. PFAS are man-made chemicals used in things like non-stick cookware and fire-retardant materials. The presence of PFAS is pervasive in… Read More
Employee News 