King County DNRP employees continue 24/7 flood response after rapid levee repairs, repurposing trails for emergency responders, treating two billion gallons of wastewater
In a wide range of actions that include rapid levee responses, operating the Flood Warning Program, repurposing trails to assist emergency responders, preparing transfer stations for a surge in debris, and treating more than 2 billion gallons of wastewater, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks employees continue to contribute to a coordinated emergency response to the historic storm. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay on Friday hosted Gov. Bob Ferguson’s press briefing at a levee along the Green River where DNRP’s Flood Patrol discovered a sinkhole that could have potentially caused… Read More
Tips for traveling with King County Metro this winter season
Crossposted from Metro Matters Winter season has arrived and King County Metro’s tools will help you stay informed so you can travel safely. Know before you go Visit MetroWinter.com for tips on traveling during winter weather on bus, Access paratransit, streetcar, the King County Water Taxi or Metro Flex on-demand services. There are eight languages offered on the webpage including English, plus additional languages via the Google Translate tool. What’s a snow route? If buses can’t travel their regular routes due to roadway conditions, they might switch to alternate streets called snow routes. Preview snow routes for your favorite bus routes. Updates will be… Read More
Bring a pet “Home for the Holidays” for just $30!
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) wants to give YOU a gift this holiday season! Now through Dec. 31, you can adopt a cat or dog from RASKC for just $30 – the cost of a King County pet license. There are dozens of dogs, cats, and other furry friends waiting for you at the King County Pet Adoption Center, 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. You can also see all the adorable adoptable animals online anytime at kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet.
Heavy rain and river flooding anticipated this week
Crossposted from KC Emergency News The Puget Sound region is bracing for intense rain this week, formerly known as a “Pineapple Express.” Now called “atmospheric rivers,” these are long, narrow bands of moisture from the tropics filling area rivers, which have and may again send some of them over their banks. With the rain expected to persist, the National Weather Service in Seattle has issued flood warning and watches and wind advisories throughout the week. Read more.
Stay informed and be prepared for cooler weather
With cooler temperatures and rainy weather upon us, King County wants to help you stay safe at work, at home, and on your commute. If you work on site, please be prepared for inclement weather. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight. Read more.
Night shift: What mussels can teach us about Puget Sound pollution
Crossposted from Headwaters It’s cold and dark when we head to the beach. The mussels in the trunk have been on the road and on ice all day. This morning, ecotoxicologist and shellfish chauffeur Jennifer Lanksbury picked them up from a partner in Penn Cove and now we’re squeezed between two deadlines: these native bay mussels (Mytilus trossulus) can only be out of the water for 12 hours, and they must go back in at exactly the right moment. The mollusks are key players in the Mussel Watch program, a regional effort led… Read More
Minimum wage in unincorporated King County increases to $20.82 on Jan. 1
Crossposted from King County Local On Jan. 1, 2026, the minimum wage will increase in unincorporated King County. The minimum wage is the lowest hourly wage an organization can pay an employee. It will increase from $20.29 an hour to $20.82 an hour, with exceptions for smaller businesses. The increase impacts employees and employers. Unincorporated King County is a wide and diverse area with a variety of workers and employers. To address this, the King County Council proposed a phase-in period for smaller employers based on the number of employees and the… Read More
Approved: King County Metro’s 2026-27 budget adds service, invests in zero emissions, safety and cleaning
Crossposted from Metro Matters The King County Council adopted Metro’s 2026-2027 budget in November 2025. The budget adds more than 400,000 hours of Metro bus service and totals $4 billion across Metro’s operating and capital programs, including all of Metro’s modes of transit as well as safety, cleaning, and zero emissions, among other priorities. Read more.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay leads Regional Day of Service on first full day in office
On Wednesday, Nov. 26, his first full day in office, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay held a Regional Day of Service focused on food banks and food security across King County. He encouraged all King County residents to volunteer, donate, or find another meaningful way to support the work of our county’s food banks. This Regional Day of Service corresponds with one of Executive Zahilay’s “Four B’s” guiding his administration – “Boots on the Ground,” making King County government more visible, connected, and community-driven. Read more.
Growing from a decade of success, King County’s updated Local Food Initiative has a broader vision, addressing hunger relief, access to farmland, and climate resiliency
King County is updating its Local Food Initiative to address some of the most urgent challenges facing the local food economy, including access to hunger relief, rising farmland cost, a lack of food distribution infrastructure, and increasing threats from climate change. Since launching in 2015, the initiative has guided King County’s efforts to expand access to farmland for farmers, improve the farm-to-market pipeline to get more locally grown food to consumers, and ease access to healthy, affordable food in low-income communities. Read more.
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