Did you enroll in a new Securian voluntary benefit?
If you enrolled in one of the new voluntary benefits during Open Enrollment—accident, critical illness, or hospital indemnity insurance—your coverage became effective on Jan. 1, 2026. Watch your inbox this week for an email from Securian with specifics about your new voluntary benefit(s), including: Where to get coverage details Information about your annual $50 health and wellness benefit How to file a claim If you have general questions or need assistance, call Securian Financial Customer Service at 855-750-1906. For claims assistance or to file a claim over the phone, call Securian Claims… Read More
New pharmacy benefits manager for Regence medical plans
On Jan. 1, 2026, Ventegra replaced CVS Caremark™ as the pharmacy benefits manager for employees on a Regence medical plan—both KingCare and KingCare Select. Ventegra offers a large nationwide pharmacy network including all the major chains and independent pharmacies, mail order and specialty drug services, and highly trained clinical and member support services. See the Ventegra Brochure for an overview. Read more.
The End of an Era
Crossposted from the Noxious Weeds blog 2025 has been a bittersweet year for the Noxious Weed Control Program. After long careers with the Program, both the Program Manager, Steve Burke, and County Lands and Regional Supervisor, Roy Brunskill, made the choice to retire. To reflect on their time with the program, and to celebrate their incredible achievements, this post will reflect back on how the Program has grown since its inception in 1997. The jump from six part-time staff with paper maps and an inkling of where weeds might be, to 22… Read More
Video: Cities can grow without harming lakes
Crossposted from Headwaters When scientists study a lake, they usually expect more people to mean more phosphorous in the water, often from fertilizer, detergents, septic systems, dog poop, and other human-related sources. And more phosphorous can mean more problems for water quality, as nutrient-hungry algae thrive when there is more phosphorus to feed them. But between 1998 and 2022, something different happened in Lake Washington, even as the surrounding population boomed. Read more.
Inclusion in Aviation conference attracts record attendance
Crossposted from the DES Express King County International Airport (KCIA), along with the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), hosted the third Inclusion in Aviation Conference last month. Held in Bellevue, the conference’s first visit to the West Coast attracted more than 100 attendees from across the country, with some coming from as far away as Virginia and Pennsylvania. The conference was jam-packed with sessions, including a keynote by Valerie Alexander, founder and president of Valerie Alexander Ventures, breaking barriers and building bridges, several panel discussions, and much… Read More
Parks and Flood Recovery
Crossposted from King County Parks The atmospheric river and associated flooding events this month have impacted King County and other areas across Washington State in ways we have never experienced before. We hope you and your community are safe during this time. King County has created a series of resources and ways to deal with flood damage safely and effectively – go to kingcounty.gov/flood-recovery for more information. Read more.
Wishing our employees a happy healthy new year
Happy New Year to all our employees, their families, and the people of King County. May you have a happy, safe, and rewarding 2026!
Career Connections: What does it take to become an airport firefighter?
Crossposted from the DES Express Airport travelers rarely see them, but a specialized team of firefighter-deputies stands ready every day for the worst-case scenario: an aircraft emergency. The crew also responds to structure, vehicle and dumpster fires on and around airport property. Call volume is much lower than in a typical fire district, but the stakes are high. Most emergencies are medical. About 70% of calls involve passengers, airport staff or contractors needing medical help, according to Clint Herman, a sergeant in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit (ARFF) of the King… Read More
King County to install temporary bridge at Baring Bridge site to restore reliable access for the community
Crossposted from King County Local King County is taking swift action to restore reliable access and essential services for residents in northeast King County after historic storms and flooding damaged key transportation routes in December. To address urgent needs, the King County Department of Local Services’ Road Services Division and Finance and Business Operations Division have expedited a construction contract to install a temporary bridge just downstream from the historic Baring Bridge. The bridge over the South Fork Skykomish River serves as the only access point for about 170 properties. Read more.
How King County got people out of harm’s way and better protected homes and infrastructure years before the current flooding
Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes Major floodplain restoration projects completed in recent years by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks has reduced flood risks along the Green, Cedar, and Snoqualmie rivers, getting people out of harm’s way long before the current flooding began earlier this month. Applying a multi-benefit approach to floodplain restoration has reduced flood risks for people, homes, and infrastructure while also improving habitat for fish and wildlife. The Department of Natural Resources and Parks has partnered with the independent King County Flood Control District to restore natural systems that absorb… Read More
Employee News 