Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  The holidays are a fun and festive time for everyone, including our pets. However, that good cheer could be ruined if your cat or dog ends up sick, missing, or worse. To help keep this the most wonderful time of the year, Regional Animal Services is pleased to offer the following tips adapted from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).  Keep people food away from your pet, especially candy and chocolate, and ask your holiday guests to do the same. If you suspect your dog or cat has gotten… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider  Last year, 14,373 people died in King County. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) investigated those deaths that were sudden, unexpected or unnatural – 2,494* in total.  But, the count of life lost is more than a number. By tracking and analyzing different manners of death as well as trends in homicides, traffic fatalities, and drug overdose deaths, we are able to develop preventative measures and learn about emerging issues.  Here are some key findings from 2016, as illustrated in the MEO’s recently published annual report, and… Read More

Preliminary work is about to get underway on planned upgrades to an aging and undersized regional sewer line that is a critical part of King County’s clean-water infrastructure in Bellevue and Newcastle.  While construction on the Coal Creek Trunk sewer upgrade isn’t expected to begin until 2021, crews will begin drilling test holes in early January near Coal Creek Parkway to help determine soil conditions along the new line’s recommended alignment.  Starting Jan. 4, crews will perform two to four days of test drilling per week at five locations along Coal Creek Parkway.  The… Read More

Crossposted from Go, Green Team!  Easy ways to help the environment are to compost your food waste and not waste food. On average, Americans waste about 25 percent of all food and drinks we buy. That’s not only wasting food, that’s wasted money – $130 every month. By helping prevent food waste, you are also saving water, energy and fuel that are all used to produce, package, and transport food.  Learn more at Food: Too Good to Waste.  Recently, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) did studies in three cities- Denver, New York and Nashville… Read More

Crossposted from Inside Transportation  King County Executive Dow Constantine is accelerating the transition to zero-emissions transportation by making one of the largest bus fleets in the US all-electric by as early as 2034. Under his leadership, and that of DOT Director Harold Taniguchi and Metro General Manager Rob Gannon, Metro is not only upgrading its fleet to battery-powered buses, we’re demonstrating that there is strong market demand for the new generation of cleaner, quieter buses that can help King County confront climate change.  In January, Executive Constantine announced Metro’s commitment to purchase 120 battery-electric buses… Read More

Crossposted from Eye on Your Metro Commute  Please note the information below about service advisories and alerts due to significant events and construction in Metro’s service area. Visit Metro’s Service Advisories page for a complete list. Sign up for Transit Alerts. Events Seahawks at CenturyLink Field Saturday, 12/31 at 1:25 PM. Traffic in the SODO, Stadium, Pioneer Square & downtown Seattle areas may be congested on game days. Ride regularly scheduled transit service to & from the game. Read more at Eye on Your Metro Commute

In 2017 King County Information and Technology’s (KCIT) three fulltime trainers delivered 2500 in-person training hours in KCIT’s dedicated training lab in Chinook. In 2018, look for a robust, wide-ranging and responsive training programs and a new, easy-to-use training site.  In Q1 of 2018 we will offer the following: Introduction to King County Technology Office 365 including SharePoint site owner, Planner, OneNote, Power BI Technology training reinforcement videos Look for more and new classes throughout the year. KCIT is listening to what customers need and developing training to meet those needs. To visit… Read More

Crossposted from Clean Water Stories Water is heavy, and moving it around takes a lot of energy. King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is responsible for 54 percent of total energy use for all King County facilities, so even small energy savings make a big difference. The pumps are vital to plant operations and vital to energy efficiency, and after 50 years of service, it was time for three pumps to be replaced. While the pumps were reliable and easy to operate throughout their lifespan, they were also inefficient. These pumps liked to… Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters  We want everyone in our community to make it home safely. Please look and listen before crossing the street, never run to catch a bus, make yourself more visible in the dark and cross the street after the bus leaves the zone. Safety Gets Us All Home! Read more at Metro Matters

Crossposted from the Centerline  The Airport’s Main Terminal is our iconic centerpiece, one that has played a vital role in the history of Northwest aviation. Today – nearly 90 years after its completion – our terminal also serves as a model for what local governments can do with their aging buildings to reduce energy use. This week, King County International Airport/Boeing Field celebrated its recent improvements at the historic building to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption as part of a special recognition by the U.S. Department of Energy. Read more at Centerline