Crossposted from the KCSO Newsletter On the evening of Sunday, Aug. 6, just before 7 p.m., Marine Unit Deputy Matt Martin and Deputy Alex Thomas were making a routine patrol and safety check on Lake Sammamish. During their rounds, they observed a significant plume of smoke forming along the lake’s western shoreline. Sensing a potential danger, Deputies Martin and Thomas went to investigate and located the beginnings of a small brush fire. Responding promptly, they moored their Marine boat at a dock and immediately acted, utilizing both lake water and their equipment… Read More

Needing to find a new home for a beloved pet is sometimes a difficult reality. While Regional Animal Services of King County strives to ensure surrendered pets have the best possible stay at the Pet Adoption Center, shelters are still a stressful place for animals. That’s why RASKC has partnered with Home To Home, an online interactive pet placement platform, to help people find new homes for their pets. Home To Home is easy to use. People needing to rehome a pet can visit kingcounty.gov/HomeToHome to register for the service and post… Read More

Does your unincorporated community have the services it needs? Do you need more summer camps, food banks, or tutoring services? Complete the Community Needs survey to help plan and prioritize future spending for your neighborhood. Fill out your survey today at https://publicinput.com/CommunityNeeds. The Community Needs survey is your opportunity to tell us how you want to see funding spent and what services you need to see in your community. Through the Community Needs survey, we ask neighbors what they want and need from their local government to support them as they build… Read More

Check out the latest Recovery Plan Annual Report to learn more about how King County is investing its federal Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery (CLFR) funds to ensure an equitable recovery for everyone in our community. This annual performance report is required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and describes the County’s use of over $430 million in CLFR funding. This year’s report includes 107 programs that range in focus from homelessness response, public health response, equitable economic recovery, community resiliency, Jobs and Housing, and County operations. Learn more.

Crossposted from Keeping King County Green This year, the King County Solid Waste Division launched Re+, with an ambitious goal to reduce the amount of waste going to our regional landfill by 70% by 2030. The plan outlines actions to reduce waste at every point in the lifecycle of the products and items we use. In addition to reusing more, reducing single-use items, and expanding access and effectiveness of our recycling and composting programs, the County is investigating a new technology, called mixed waste processing, that can capture and divert valuable resources… Read More

Crossposted from Keeping King County Green Farmers markets across King County are at their most vibrant as we head into the last push of summer and then fall harvest season. August is prime time for vegetable variety and summer’s finest produce. Farmers Market Week, Aug. 6 to 12, is a great reason to get to a market and support local farmers and growers. You’re never far from farm-fresh food in King County. Many markets offer SNAP/EBT matching through the SNAP Market Match program, and you can make the most of your visit… Read More

Crossposted from King County Parks For the second summer in a row, the King County Parks’ Mobile Engagement Team (MET) program is hosting a group of college interns who are passionate about working with parks, government, and community outreach. Galit Berezansky, Malefia Gustafsson, Annabelle “Bee” Kisky, and Luc Tworek have conducted safety and accessibility surveys with pedestrians and disc golf players at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park, as well as other sites. At Marymoor Park, the interns have engaged with concert goers to share more information about outdoor recreation opportunities at different parks… Read More

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced an investment of $30 million in partnership with the five managed care organizations of the innovative King County Integrated Care Network, resulting in a 15 percent Medicaid rate increase to help stabilize the behavioral health system in the region. Investing in the behavioral health workforce is a key component of the Crisis Care Centers initiative and is central to King County’s efforts in addressing a crumbling behavioral health system and increasing access to services and treatment. The 15 percent Medicaid rate increase is applicable to all… Read More