Tech Tip: Basic intro to OneDrive and cloud storage access

ICYMI: Here’s a great basic introduction to OneDrive! Everyone talks about “The Cloud” – where internet users can store files and access them from anywhere. Did you know King County employees have the exact same application available to them through Office 365? It’s easy to navigate and use. OneDrive is a great tool for uploading files to share with others (including photos), give others permission to edit and work on files at the same time, and get to your files from anywhere, on your computer, tablet or phone. Essentially, it’s an online locker… Read More

2019-2020 Proposed Budget and reorganization overview

Director Dwight Dively of the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget has put together a short video of his points on the upcoming 2019-2020 Budget process. “The County uses a biennial – or two-year – budget process, and our biennium starts Jan. 1 of each odd-numbered year,” said Dively. “The timeline for our budget process begins with getting budget proposals from departments by the end of June. The executive will then submit his budget proposal to council Sept. 24. The King County Council would then adopt a budget sometime in mid-Nov., and… Read More

Leadership transition at Public Defense

Lorinda Youngcourt announced her resignation Friday, June 29, from her role as Director of the Department of Public Defense. Youngcourt became King County’s first Public Defender in January 2015, joining King County from Lawrence County, Indiana, where she was the Chief Public Defender. “In her three and a half years in the role, Lorinda worked hard to build a new department that extends the highest quality advocacy and representation for indigent individuals and people who cannot afford an attorney in our community,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “She has continued the… Read More

Joseph Rivers: Metro operator and Special Olympics athlete, coach, referee, volunteer and athlete parent

Joseph Rivers is one of King County’s 3,000 Metro Transit operators. He is also a former Special Olympics athlete, current volunteer, has coached and refereed for the games, and is the proud father of two of the athletes competing in this week’s Seattle- and King County-hosted 2018 Special Olympic USA Games! Rivers joined King County Metro General Manager Rob Gannon before the games to announce the partnership between Metro, Sound Transit and Port of Seattle in support of the USA Games. He also discussed the games with KIRO 7 and the Seattle… Read More

Pet tips: Pets and fireworks

Shared from RASKC Fireworks are beautiful to look at, but they can be scary for our pets. The bangs and booms are hard on their sensitive hearing, and even the calmest pet can get upset by the unfamiliar loud noises. To help your pet cope with the noise from fireworks, and reduce the chance that it runs away, Regional Animal Services of King County offers these tips: Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your home while fireworks are going off. You can also use soothing music or television… Read More

Metro managers who #RideTransit: Bill Bryant

Shared from the Employee Transportation Program In observance of #RideTransit Month, we talked with four Metro managers about their transit commutes and any advice they’d like to pass along to new riders. Metro’s Managing Director of Service Development Bill Bryant is our fourth and final feature, and he regularly rides Routes 15, 18, 40, and the D Line to work from his home in Ballard. Most of the time, he takes the bus both ways, but he also describes himself as a “fair-weather bicyclist” who puts his bike on the bus’ rack… Read More

Apply to the Balanced You Worksite Fund

How do you want to be healthy and well at work? A new program has just launched to help you and your coworkers bring your own innovative ideas and solutions to life – The Balanced You Worksite Fund! When you apply for a Worksite Fund grant, you have an opportunity to create positive change, for you and your coworkers. The Worksite Fund is a competitive grant process that will award approximately 10-30 projects across County agencies to improve health and well-being in our worksites. Grants of up to $5,000 will support a… Read More

Kudos! to Metro driver Michael Mackay

Zachary Cohn @ZacharyCohn gave props on Twitter Friday to one of our many great Metro drivers, after being impressed with how Michael Mackay avoided a potential accident: Props to @kcmetrobus driver of e line bus 6202 today at 1150. someone pulled out in front of him on Aurora. He slammed on the brakes, leaned on the horn, expertly avoided an accident, then calmly reached for the radio to apologize for the inconvenience and ensure riders were ok. Thank you, Zachary Cohn, and Kudos, Michael!

Happy Tails: Macy

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Like Happy Tails? We sure do! Here’s one from Kayla about her new addition, Maci. My boyfriend and I adopted [her last week]. I believe she is 3 or 4 months now! She is literally the cutest thing ever! We are totally head over heels for her and our hearts can’t get any fuller! She has learned where the toilet is and likes to drink the water so we’re trying to teach her to drink out of her water bowl now! Thanks Regional Animal Services of King… Read More

Catching up with Wastewater Engineers Samayyah Williams, Semhar Abraha, and Sammy Wood

We help new employees learn – and they help take care of everyone’s sewer system Crossposted from Clean Water Stories Everyone has “stuff” to take care of. You might have a house, a car – or an iPhone. With a smartphone, you have to charge the battery, restart it every once in a while, download apps – and sometimes simply find it (am I right?). When you drive a car, you need to fill it with gas, check the wiper fluid, get oil changes, go to the car wash, and go to… Read More