Crossposted from DNRP Field Notes On Dec. 8, the first of two atmospheric rivers slammed into King County and brought historic river flooding, setting all-time records for portions of the Snoqualmie and Cedar rivers. Five of the six major rivers in King County (Cedar River, Green River, Issaquah Creek, South Fork Skykomish River, White River, Tolt River, and Snoqualmie Basin) reached a flood Phase 4 during the storm, the Tolt River was the one that only reached a flood Phase 3. Read more.

By MyNorthwest News Crime scene DNA test results in minutes rather than weeks or months. It’s a new technology now in the hands of investigators at the King County Sheriff’s Office. It’s called the Rapid DNA machine. “It allows officers to place DNA into a machine and instead of waiting weeks or months, you get results on whether that DNA is a single source of human DNA in 90 minutes,” King County Sheriff’s Captain Chris Leyba said. “Right now, every sample we collect at a scene, let’s say we collect 14 blood… Read More

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Progress continues on a new site for Regional Animal Services. King County is renovating a former warehouse in the Kent Valley into a new, modern animal shelter that will replace RASKC’s current facility. The new center is expected to open in early 2027. 2025 highlights Purchasing the property at 5920 S. 194th St. in Kent Onboarding an architectural firm to develop design and construction plans Establishing a Project Delivery Team in partnership with the county’s Facilities Management Division Developing initial design plans Read more.

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections As 2025 comes to a close, the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) reflects on a year marked by challenges and meaningful progress. Amid federal funding uncertainty, rising housing instability, and growing behavioral health needs, on top of an audit that underscores the need for more policies, procedures and infrastructure, DCHS focused on what matters most: helping people live connected, supported, and stably housed. Across King County, DCHS’s work shared a common purpose: building communities where everyone can thrive. That meant expanding access to stable housing, strengthening… Read More

City Grind Espresso is now open on the ground floor of the King County Courthouse serving coffee, tea, Italian sodas, energy drinks, food from local vendors, and more. Located just past the security check point near the Third Avenue entrance, the City Grind Espresso café is a great place to grab a drink and snack to go or take a break at one of the tables and chairs. “It’s really nice to have a spot that isn’t a bench outside a courtroom where employees and Courthouse customers can meet up, sit down,… Read More

Get ready for the next stage of construction on Seattle’s busiest corridor. As early as Jan. 9, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will resume its Revive I-5 preservation work on the northbound Ship Canal Bridge. The Revive I-5 project is designed to extend the life of the aging Ship Canal Bridge and improve safety and ride quality for years to come. While the short-term traffic impacts will be challenging, the long-term payoff will be smoother, safer travel through this critical stretch of I-5. As part of the project, two northbound… Read More

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children involved in the dependency court system. Whether or not serving as a CASA is the right fit for you, we encourage you to share this information session with family members, friends, colleagues, or recently retired coworkers who may be interested. Increasing awareness of the CASA program helps ensure more children have a consistent, caring advocate by their side. CASA information sessions are held via Zoom on the second Monday of each month from noon to 1… Read More