Reducing flood risks, improving salmon habitat, sustaining orca: Work begins on a major Cedar River restoration project 

King County and partners have started a major restoration project along the Cedar River that will reduce flood risks, improve habitat for Chinook salmon, and provide sustenance to southern resident orcas.  The 52-acre project will restore a mile-long portion of the river in South King County to its natural state, creating slow-water, shallow habitat that is ideal for native Chinook salmon. It will build on the progress that partners have made to protect people, homes, and infrastructure from flood risks along the the river that flows from the Cascades to the southern tip of… Read More

Featured Job: Court Coordinator 

Salary: $73,607.04 – $93,653.04 Annually  Location: Issaquah District Court, WA  Job Type: Regular, Full time, 40 hrs/week  Department: KCDC – District Court  Job Number: 2020 Coordinator-ISS  Division: East  Closing: 10/11/2020 12:00 PM Pacific  Learn more about this position or view all available positions. 

Featured Job: Accounts Payable Supervisor 

Salary: $102,537.34 – $129,972.34 Annually  Location: Seattle, WA  Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week  Department: DES – Executive Services  Job Number: 2020AB12157  Division: FBOD-Finance & Business Ops  Learn more about this position or view all available positions. 

Join us: Veteran diversity, equity and inclusion listening sessions 

Crossposted from  Cultivating Connections  Our King County Veterans Program, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Puget Sound Health Care System) is hosting four listening sessions on diversity, equity and inclusion in veterans service systems. The listening sessions seek to learn and hear from veteran constituents (partners, employees and clients) to identify systemic bias and discrimination in veterans services in King County.  Please join us for a virtual conversation on:  Veteran Listening Sessions: Addressing Systemic Racism with Veteran Systems  Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 1:30 –… Read More

Internship program takes off despite COVID 

Crossposted from the DES Express Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, King County International Airport’s internship program continued this spring and summer, with a twist, thanks to an innovative new partnership between the airport and the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). “We are very excited to keep the internship program running this summer despite the challenges,” said Mohamed Nimeri, Managing Engineer. “Thank you, Eric and Kevin, for leading this effort!” Eric Miller and Kevin Nuechterlein, both capital project managers at KCIA, led the development of the new internship program. While many activities were shutting… Read More

Reducing coronavirus risk as we spend more time indoors for fall and winter 

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  As the season changes, cooler temperatures mean more time indoors. The risk from COVID-19 increases with indoor gatherings compared to outdoors, but there are ways to reduce the spread and stay healthy.  We talked to Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin about COVID-19 risks indoors and what to do about it.  Dr. Duchin, you’ve said “outdoors is safer than indoors.” Why is that?  Socializing outdoors is less risky than indoors for two main reasons: First, natural outdoor airflow rapidly dilutes viruses floating in the air. Second, sunlight kills viruses. But, as we… Read More

Annual Giving Drive is now on   

King County Employee Giving Program’s Annual Giving Drive kicked off for 2020 on Monday, Oct. 5, and it’s your opportunity to support a cause you care about. Find out the many ways that you can take action in support of the participating nonprofits who are doing great work in our community and around the world.   For more information, visit the Employee Giving Program at www.kingcounty.gov/giving. Thank you for all you do. 

New Climate Action Toolkit will help King County cities develop customized climate strategies, mobilizing the region’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions

A new Climate Action Toolkit created by King County and King County-Cities Climate Collaboration will provide local governments with practical guidance on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for both government operations and at the community-wide scale, spur the growth of an equitable clean energy economy, and preserve our natural environment.  If approved by the King County Council, the toolkit that King Executive Dow Constantine announced today will be available at no cost to all 39 cities. It is designed to be a flexible guide for cities in all stages of climate planning to… Read More

Pet of the Week: Mr. Wilson 

Hi! My name is Mr. Wilson and I am available for adoption. I am an independent kitty who likes to do my own thing! I like getting attention on my own terms. I can get overstimulated with petting, so please move carefully with me and keep an eye out for signs that I might need a break. My caregivers have noticed that I do not seem to get along with other cats and dogs, so I may do best as the only pet in my new home. My personality color is RED. I am… Read More

Fall and winter mindfulness class schedule now available 

Mindfulness is a practice that can support you in reducing stress at work and at home. Mindfulness techniques are especially useful now, as we move through the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.  Balanced You continues to partner with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees, via both employee-specific and community classes. In alignment with social distancing recommendations, all in-person classes have temporarily shifted to online platforms.  For the fall and winter, we have expanded our mindfulness class menu to include classes for employees involved in the COVID-19 response,… Read More