Emergency Management goes to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Crossposted from the DES Express Last month, two staff members from King County Emergency Management had the unique opportunity to join the University of Oregon incident management team which was supporting the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for track and field. Nathan Emory and Edan Edmonson, both Emergency Management Program Coordinators, spent three days observing and lending a hand to the emergency management team. The experience gave KCOEM staff the opportunity to see how the University of Oregon’s emergency management team connected with local first responders, facilitating a coordinated and effective response to… Read More
King County awarded $50 million EPA grant to cut greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a $50 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to lower greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and construction throughout the region. King County will partner with local governments to help multifamily and community buildings across four counties — King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish — transition to clean energy. The funding will also be used to reduce emissions in new building construction and create systems to reuse wood when a building is deconstructed to avoid emissions. “We’re leading on climate action by cutting emissions, creating resilient frontline communities,… Read More
Employee discounts: Washington State Fair and Benaroya Hall presents
Washington State Fair: Employees can save on tickets to the 2024 Washington State Fair, Aug. 30 – Sept 22. To purchase your discount tickets: Visit thefair.com/corporate Click the “Buy Tickets” button Enter access password: king24 Under “Corporate Perks – 2024” click “Buy Tickets” for Admission & Ride deals. Get full details here. Benaroya Hall presents: esperanza spalding, Sunday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. Emphasizing simplicity and intimacy of her voice, bass, and songs, in this special configuration of two musicians and two dancers, esperanza performs songs from all eight of her previous albums,… Read More
Sheriff’s Communications Team brings awareness to Vehicle Theft Prevention Month
Cross-posted from the KCSO Newsletter As July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) communications team thought this would be a great time to teach the community how to keep their vehicles – and everything inside – safe from would-be thieves. The team invited the media for something of a ‘show-and-tell’ where Sergeant Eric White (pictured above) provided great tips and tricks for protecting property. Three of the four local TV stations covered the event, resulting in some great stories and ‘news you can use’ for their… Read More
King County study of Lake Washington sediment shows decline in once-common dangerous chemicals, offering a roadmap to address newer health risks
A King County study of Lake Washington’s lakebed sediment shows levels of PCBs, the once common and dangerous chemical are expected to fall below currently detectable levels within the next two decades. Researchers say the findings reaffirm the effectiveness of regulations and personal actions and offer a strategy for addressing emerging environmental threats, including stormwater pollution. The pilot study, including lakebed coring conducted by scientists aboard the King County research vessel SoundGuardian, also showed how the techniques for collecting and analyzing samples could be used in other research projects to detect human-caused… Read More
Discounts available for Seahawks and Huskies
King County employees can now purchase discounted tickets for several upcoming football games for the Seattle Seahawks and University of Washington Huskies. For the Seattle Seahawks, tickets are available for four home games on Aug. 24, Nov. 3 and 24, and Dec. 22. Ticket prices start at $35, plus a $3 handling fee. Use promo code KING24. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. For the UW Huskies, tickets are available for three home games on Aug. 31, Sept. 21, and Nov. 15. Ticket prices start at $18. Click here for more… Read More
Black Women’s Experience Project examines equity at King County
Crossposted from the DES Express The Black/African Women’s Affinity Group, co-chaired by DES’s own Miesha Vaughn, Tort Claims Investigator in Risk Management, and by Ebony Frazier, EIB Manager in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), recently released a report with the Wright Resource Group, “An examination of the experiences of Black women employees at King County.” From the Executive Summary: “The purpose of the project is to understand the current state of Black Women employed at King County and to provide recommendations to address possible inequities and promote a healthy… Read More
Maple Valley Bike Rodeo teaches kids about safety
On the beautiful morning of Saturday, June 22, the Maple Valley Police Bicycle Rodeo at Lake Wilderness Park provided an excellent opportunity for new bicycle riders to hone their skills. Children ages 10 and under were able to practice essential cycling skills, such as navigating around distracted pedestrians in crosswalks and maneuvering around “boulders,” painted foam pieces on the road. Sixty-two kids took turns overcoming these obstacles under the guidance of Officer Baldwin and Master Police Officer Olmsted, along with the assistance of the Maple Valley Explorers, a volunteer program for young… Read More
FMD Security Officer Brian Pollack saves man from overdose
Crossposted from the DES Express Security Officer Brian Pollack from the Facilities Management Division (FMD) saved a life last month outside the Robert Clewis Center (RCC), a low-cost medical clinic in downtown Seattle. An RCC customer was overdosing outside the center, which was closed at the time. The man’s friends had tried to administer Narcan but weren’t successful. Pollack acted quickly due to training he recently received. “I am grateful for the Opioid Reversal Training I received from Public Health, which proved invaluable during a critical incident,” said Pollack. “I’m thankful I… Read More
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, a time to highlight the unique strengths and challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in relation to mental health. Named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a journalist, teacher, author, and mental health advocate, this month is dedicated to continuing her legacy by focusing on the mental health needs and experiences of BIPOC communities. Fear of judgment, cultural beliefs, generational differences, and lack of access to resources often prevent people of color from addressing mental health… Read More
Employee News 