King County debuts app to report noxious weeds 

King County residents concerned about noxious weeds have a new gardening tool to turn to when it comes to eliminating invasive species — a mobile app that makes it easier to identify and report the precise location of such plants.  With technical assistance from Microsoft and Slalom Consulting, the new app called King County Connect eliminates a complicated reporting process in which the public was previously required to take a photo of a suspected noxious weed, match it through their own image search, submit a report on the King County website and estimate the… Read More

Join us for Pride Flag-raising today at 1 p.m. and Pride Parade Sunday

You’re invited to join King County Executive Dow Constantine as he hoists the Pride Flag over the Administration Building today at 1 p.m. in celebration of Pride Month. Executive Constantine will be joined by King County Councilmembers and employees on the Administration Building Plaza (Fourth Avenue side, 500 Fourth Avenue) at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 27, as we debut a new version of the Pride Flag.  The “Progress” Pride Flag was designed by Daniel Quasar of quasar.digital and shared under a Creative Commons license. This new design is an evolution of the traditional six-stripe rainbow flag, and is meant to be more representative of… Read More

Why is it important to work for an LGBTQ-inclusive employer? 

King County is dedicated to being a welcoming, inclusive place – and that includes being a welcoming, inclusive place to work. As we prepare to celebrate Pride this weekend, you’re invited to watch and hear from your colleagues who are members of the LGBTQ community about being part of our 15,000-person team. We strive toward equity and inclusion every day, and our message to everyone is clear: you belong here. 

Eric Stark’s first day back  

We rode along with Eric Stark on his first day back operating a King County Metro bus on June 11, 2019. Welcome back, Eric!   Eric Stark was greeted with the community’s love and support as he returned to driving a King County Metro bus after surviving gunfire and protecting his passengers during a shooting incident in Seattle on March 27, 2019. 

2019 BECU Movies at Marymoor Park schedule announced 

BECU Outdoor Movies at Marymoor Park, presented by Overlake Medical Center and Clinics, starts its season on July 10. Big screen flicks, variety entertainment, and some of Seattle’s best food trucks will be available. All events are “bring your own seating,” dog friendly and smoke free. Join the fun at King County’s Marymoor Park in the big grass field!  The complete line-up and more information can be found at on the Movies at Marymoor website or at www.facebook.com/moviesatmarymoor.  

Summer is heating up – and so should your water safety planning 

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  According to climate scientists, chances are it’s going to be a hotter summer than typical across King County. Hot weather brings people out to our region’s lakes, rivers and salt water areas looking to cool off and have fun.  But the more folks flock to beaches and rivers, the higher the likelihood that more people will drown, both fatally and non-fatally. There have been seven child and youth drowning deaths since 2015.  In 2018, 16 people lost their lives on King County waters. The Insider sat down with Tony Gomez,… Read More

Congratulations 2019 Bridge Fellowship graduates 

More than 100 leaders, colleagues, family, and friends celebrated the 27 employees who graduated from the 20-week Bridge Fellowship, King County’s intensive professional development program, at a ceremony in downtown Seattle. King County Executive Dow Constantine gave the keynote address at the June 24 ceremony, speaking about the importance of providing genuine opportunities for employee development and advancement, and how the Executive Branch True North – Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive – is connected to this focus. “With the Bridge Fellowship, we are developing employees, helping them thrive… Read More

Farmers Markets in full swing! 

Summer is here which means fresh produce is also! The Seattle City Hall farmers market is now open, every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through October 9. This is one of five farmers markets organized by Pike Place. Come and check out over 15 vendors and enjoy an array of fresh spring greens, meats, baked goods, fresh flowers, berries, yogurt, honey, fermented foods and more.  Stop by the market frequently to see how offerings change with the seasons.   Outside of Seattle and King County? The Tilth Alliance maintains a list of regional farmers markets…. Read More

Graduate shares her experience with Bridge Fellowship  

Ladna Farah graduated from King County’s Bridge Fellowship program on June 24, and gave a heartfelt speech about her experience in the program, her aspirations, and what she learned from it.  Good Afternoon! My name is Ladna Farah. Thank you all for being here today. I would like to share my thoughts and discoveries about the topics: Fear and Leadership, to share how the King County Bridge Program has contributed to my personal development and to thank the King County Bridge Fellowship Program for awakening my leadership potential and aspirations. There is a… Read More

Are you listening? The Untold Story Project offers hope and healing as employees share their untold stories of racism and visions of a more equitable future 

Kelly Westhelle, Wastewater Treatment Division  The Untold Story Project is launching its 2019-2020 program. Employees of color are encouraged to submit their untold or unheard stories of racism or vision for a more equitable future here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/untold-story by August 30, 2019. All submitted Untold Stories will be posted at http://www.untoldstoryproject.blog. Stay tuned for an announcement on performance dates later this year.   I believe storytelling is foundational to the human experience. Stories bridge time across generations, and bridge space by linking different communities and cultures. Stories teach us about life, the world around us, the people around us,… Read More