Bots trying to join your Teams call? Don’t let them in!

King County is seeing an increase in automated “meeting bots” attempting to join Microsoft Teams meetings—sometimes without the meeting organizer’s knowledge. These bots can pose a serious security risk; unauthorized bots may record, transcribe, or export meeting content to external systems, potentially exposing confidential information. Microsoft Teams now detects many external bots and places them in the meeting lobby, clearly marking them as automated participants. However, human approval is still required: someone in the meeting must choose whether to admit or block the bot. What you should do: If you see a… Read More

Executive Zahilay announces one-year lease for Harbor Island Studios with CREATE48 Media Network 

Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced a one-year lease agreement with CREATE48 Media Network for the use of Harbor Island Studios, supporting the region’s growing film industry, strengthening the creative economy, and expanding job opportunities for local filmmakers, creatives, and production professionals.    “Harbor Island Studios has been a unique public asset that supports King County’s film industry and creative economy. I’m glad we were able to find a nonprofit partner to continue momentum for the community while we work with stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy that supports access to affordable film and production space in our region,” said Executive Zahilay. “We’re excited that CREATE48 Media Network will… Read More

Progress on extreme heat preparedness five years after fatal heat dome

Crossposted from Field Notes Five years after the Pacific Northwest Heat Dome that led to 34 heat-related deaths in King County, our staff continues to work with partner agencies and communities to better prepare our region for extreme heat. Guided by King County’s Extreme Heat Mitigation Strategy, we’ve made progress on multiple fronts to help people stay safe and promote more equitable access to healthy tree canopy. Read more.

July is Disability Pride Month

The Disability Pride flag – Celebrating inclusion for all The King County Disability Equity Network (KCDEN) invites you to recognize Disability Pride. The Disability Pride flag was created in 2019 by disability rights activist Ann Magill. Initially, the flag featured a zigzag design. After receiving feedback from people with visual and other disabilities, the flag was revised in 2021. It is now comprised of 5 diagonal stripes of various colors on a faded black background. Each stripe represents an array of disabilities, including: Red for physical disabilities Gold for neurodiversity White for invisible disabilities and… Read More

A year in residence: Q’mmunity House’s impact on LGBTQIA+ veterans in King County

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections After only a year in operation, Q’mmunity House is making a profound impact, achieving full occupancy by the end of its first year. As a first-in-the-nation transitional home designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ veterans experiencing homelessness, the program provides on-site case management, essential connections to the veteran-serving community, and a safe, affirming environment. Read more.

What to know before taking transit to events on the big July 4 holiday weekend

Crossposted from Metro Matters Fireworks, parades, picnics and festivals on the Fourth of July weekend — there’s so much going on in honor of the country’s 250th birthday! Here’s some things to know before stepping onto transit on July 4 to get to your celebration. King County Metro buses are operating on a Sunday schedule on Friday, July 3, (a holiday for many workers) and will operate a regular Saturday schedule on Saturday, July 4. There are bus reroutes planned in several areas July 4 due to events, such as parades, fun runs and local festivals around… Read More

ADA Title II and Disability Equity Resource Hub is live for employees

It is officially July, which means it is officially Disability Pride Month! From the ADA and Disability Equity Team to you, we hope you have a month full of accessibility, inclusion, and disability joy. The ADA team is part of the Executive’s Office and focuses on systemwide change to build a culture of inclusion, accessibility, and equity in every part of King County government.  One of the ways the team is celebrating is by launching our new SharePoint site and resource hub. Here employees can learn more about our team, our work, get support for your department, and learn about… Read More

Making Life Easier and Employee Assistance for Supervisors Programs now available

Historically, Making Life Easier (MLE) has focused on helping King County employees with home- and life-related stress and concerns. On July 1, MLE expanded its services to also help employees with workplace issues. This all-in-one counseling is provided by King County’s external vendor Curalinc. Also on July 1, King County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) changed its name to the Employee Assistance for Supervisors (EAS) and will provide resources to supervisors only. Supervisors will receive counseling, coaching, consulting, and training from the King County mental health professionals who worked with EAP. Click here to… Read More

Seattle hosts sixth FIFA World Cup match on Monday, July 6

Seattle will host its sixth and final match of the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 for a Round of 16 showdown at Lumen Field (referred to as Seattle Stadium for the FIFA World Cup) at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 6. On game days, street closures will go into effect four hours before kickoff and stay in place until approximately two hours after the end of the match. There will be significant security and crowd-control measures in place around the stadium, with no on-site parking at the stadium. Both King Street Center (KSC) and the Graybar… Read More

Summit at Snoqualmie Summer 2026 discounts available

Employees can now take advantage of discounts available for Summit at Snoqualmie. Discounts are only available via online purchase through the online site with discount code. Discounts are not available for purchase at in-person ticketing locations. Scenic Ride discount: Take 20% off the day-of price, no matter when purchased. Bike Park Ticket discount: Take 20% off the day-of price, no matter when purchased. Click here to access these discounts and use discount code bpKingCoSum26. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.