Featured Headlines
DCHS-led Health Through Housing initiative hits major milestone
In the field with Executive Zahilay: Listening to staff and empowering solutions
Tap to pay: Puget Sound region transit systems to accept credit and debit cards, and digital wallets as fare payment
Major ‘Revive I-5’ repairs continue for Ship Canal Bridge
News
VIDEO: A unique salmon recovery partnership in King County has proven to be an effective model for collective impact
Crossposted from King County Field Notes Twenty-five years after creating a first-of-its-kind regional partnership for salmon recovery, King County and a coalition of partners are celebrating progress and renewing the alliance for another decade. The partners have so far reconnected 730 acres of floodplain, completed 719 salmon recovery projects, and planted native vegetation in nearly 1,500 acres of riparian areas while also improving water quality, reducing flood risks, and expanding public access to greenspace. They are achievements that would have been nearly impossible without the agreement signed in 2000 that unified investments and… Read More
Executive Zahilay transmits legislation to expand Metro bus service and strengthen Link light rail connections in South King County
Crossposted from Metro Matters On Monday, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay transmitted legislation to the King County Council proposing major updates to Metro bus service across South King County as part of the multi-year South Link Connections project. The proposal builds on the recent opening of the Kent-Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown Link light rail stations and would create a more connected, reliable transit network serving Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Pacific, SeaTac, Tukwila, and nearby unincorporated areas. If approved, the new service would launch as… Read More
In the field with Executive Zahilay: Listening to staff and empowering solutions
During my first months in office, I have made it a top priority to get away from my desk and into the field to meet with King County employees. I believe leadership starts with listening, and these experiences have grounded me in the day-to-day work that keeps our region running and given me tremendous appreciation for the hard work and dedication of King County employees. In December, I joined King County Metro staff at the Mosaic of Us event at Metro’s Central/Atlantic Bus Base, celebrating the strength of our diverse workforce. I… Read More
The 2026 Noxious Weed List is official!
Crossposted from the Noxious Weeds Blog What does it mean to be a noxious weed? “Noxious weed” is a legal designation. To become a noxious weed a plant must first meet four criteria. Introduced to Washington state (non-native) Spread beyond where they are planted Create harm where introduced* Difficult to control *This harm can be agricultural, such as reducing crop output, ecological, such as out competing our native plants, or physical, such as toxic to humans or livestock. They can impact wildlife, human health, land value, recreation, and natural resources. Anyone can nominate… Read More
Updated King County Critical Area Ordinance enhances protection for environmentally critical areas, supports housing, and commercial agriculture
Crossposted from King County Local King County has completed the first major update in two decades of its regulations for developing land near wetlands, streams, and other critical areas. Developed through three years of research, planning, and public discussion, the updated King County Critical Area Ordinance is a set of land use regulations intended to safeguard environmentally critical areas, communities, and infrastructure. The Metropolitan King County Council adopted the final ordinance on Dec. 2. Please continue reading for more information on when the ordinance becomes effective, frequently asked questions, next steps, and updated… Read More
King County becomes first public agency to receive the Year Up United Impact Award
Crossposted from the DES Express King County commits more than $1 million to continue paid internships and expand career opportunities for young adults through Year Up United. Jonny Lopez, a former Year Up United intern, took the podium after some heavy hitters. John Stanton, chairman of the Seattle Mariners and Trilogy International Partners and founding chairman of the Year Up United Puget Sound Board, had addressed the crowd. Other Year Up and county leaders had spoken about the importance of internships and the successful partnership between the two organizations. But it was… Read More
Learn about the Harborview Bond Program in new “Ted Talks” series
Crossposted from the DES Express From the Harborview Construction and Infrastructure Division: Harborview Medical Center has launched the video series “Ted (Klainer) Talks,” hosted by Harborview’s Senior Director of Capital Development Ted Klainer, showcasing the Harborview Bond Program’s journey toward building a new tower and making other improvements on the hospital campus. Ted will be joined by numerous project experts, including Harborview Construction and Infrastructure Division (HCID) Director Tony Wright, to share project updates, show how the project was developed, and take viewers on a behind the scenes look at how the… Read More
Executive Office presents Day of Remembrance Proclamation to RISE and AANHP Leaders
In recognition of Feb. 19 as Day of Remembrance, an official proclamation was shared with leadership from the Refugees and Immigrants Support and Empowerment (RISE) Affinity Group and the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacifica (AANHP) Affinity Group. Day of Remembrance honors the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated during World War II. This observance serves as a reminder of the harm caused by fear-driven policies and the importance of protecting civil liberties for all. “Remembering this history is essential to preventing the repetition of policies… Read More
Tap to pay: Puget Sound region transit systems to accept credit and debit cards, and digital wallets as fare payment
Crossposted from Metro Matters On Feb. 23, ORCA is launching a new Tap to Pay feature allowing riders to use credit and debit cards, and digital wallets, to pay for transit across the Puget Sound region. Riders can simply tap their contactless Visa, Mastercard, Discover® Network, or American Express credit or debit cards, or cards in digital wallets, using Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™ to ride. This new feature expands access to public transportation and supports seamless travel experiences for both daily riders and visitors alike. This new feature also comes as Seattle and the Puget Sound region… Read More
Executive Zahilay visits staff at Chinook Wind project in Tukwila
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently visited the Chinook Wind project in Tukwila to learn more about the project and see the habitat restoration work of employees from the Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ (DNRP) Water and Land Resources Division. “Yesterday I visited the hard working staff of King County’s Water and Land Resources Division at DNRP to see the Chinook Wind project in Tukwila. What used to be a rundown hotel site is now transformed back into natural habitat that will support salmon recovery for generations to come,” Executive Zahilay… Read More
Major ‘Revive I-5’ repairs continue for Ship Canal Bridge
The Revive I-5 project is designed to extend the life of the aging Ship Canal Bridge and improve safety and ride quality for years to come. While the short-term traffic impacts will be challenging, the long-term payoff will be smoother, safer travel through this critical stretch of I-5. Get the latest updates about this work from WSDOT. As part of the project, two northbound lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge will close while crews repair and resurface the bridge deck. To minimize impacts during major events, work zones will be removed in June… Read More
Celebrating Government Communicators Day, Feb. 20
Crossposted from the DES Express In recognition of Government Communicators Day, coming up on Feb. 20, take a moment to meet the professional communicators in the Department of Executive Services (DES) and learn about what they do. Whether they communicate primarily with employees or the public, or a mix of the two, these are the folks who spend their days juggling deadlines, responding to inquiries, producing content and informing people about the good work that DES divisions do every day! A typical day might involve posting information on the web, writing a… Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, November-December 2025
Crossposted from Metro Matters They style hair and coach soccer. Cheer for Real Madrid and travel. Launch rockets and cook. They also “handle problem people with class and grace,” are “patient, friendly, and went above and beyond to help an older rider,” and make passengers “feel like I’m in good hands.” They’re operators with more than two centuries of transit driving experience who enjoy meeting with their riders and giving back to their communities. Meet your Operators of the Month for November and December 2025. Read more.
Celebrating Black history, arts and culture with Attorney General Nick Brown
Crossposted from DES Express Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown talked about key milestones in Black history and discussed his personal journey into public service at “For Us, By Us: Transformational Conversations,” a Town Hall event on Feb. 3. This was Attorney General Brown’s first address to county employees. Cecelia Hayes, Equity, Social Justice and Engagement Senior Practitioner for the Department of Executive Services, worked several months to organize the event, which was executed in partnership with other “For Us, By Us” (FUBU) leaders. Transformational Conversations is a series of Black employee-led… Read More
Executive Zahilay visits and thanks Water Taxi staff
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently visited the King County Water Taxi to learn more about their operations and see the staff in action. “Our marine division teams help thousands of people get across the Puget Sound from downtown to West Seattle and Vashon Island and back,” Executive Zahilay said. “And soon they will be expanding this service to include more weekends and more hours so more people can get to work, to the hospital, to see friends, and more.” See the full post on Facebook.
Employee Discount at FragranceNet.com: Save $20 on all orders $50 or more
King County employees get access to exclusive discounts and deals through ticketsatwork.com. Use the company code KingCounty to begin receiving discounts and extra special offers on your go-to brands and most-loved experiences, including brand new offers on cruises, just in time for spring travel. This month, save on fragrances, skincare, makeup, hair care, aromatherapy, candles, and gifts at prices far below retail. Shop and save at discounts up to 80% off department store prices. You can save even more by buying testers. Click here to log in and use code PERK20 See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet… Read More
Use Form W-4 to change your tax withholding
If you want to change the amount of federal income tax withheld from your pay, use Form W-4 in PeopleSoft to update your payroll. The IRS recommends completing a new Form W-4 when your personal or financial situation changes, but this can be done any time. Go to the IRS website for information about Tax Withholding, including a Tax Withholding Estimator. To adjust the amount of federal income tax withheld from your King County paycheck, update your W-4 in PeopleSoft: Sign in to PeopleSoft Select the Payroll tile Select W-4 Tax Information Enter your choices… Read More
CSO speaks at elementary school about importance of kindness
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office Employee Newsletter Shoreline Community Service Officer (CSO) Dahlia Corona was invited to speak at the Echo Lake Elementary’s annual Great Kindness Challenge on January 21, where this year’s theme was “Kindness Is Our Superpower!” The event highlighted everyday superheroes in the Shoreline community and invited local professionals to share how kindness plays a role in their work. Guest speakers included the Shoreline School District superintendent, Shoreline Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee, a neonatal nurse practitioner, and CSO Corona, who spoke with students about her role with the Shoreline… Read More
Records Management reminder: Every county employee has a responsibility to manage records
As government employees, managing records is a job requirement for each of us. It is not just a role assigned to admin folks; it is a part of all jobs, including those at every level of county government. If you’re curious about what those basic responsibilities are, we encourage you to take the Basic Records Management online training. The online class takes just 15 minutes to complete, can be taken anywhere with internet access, and can be retaken at any time. Some of the basics are also described in these documents: Key Takeaways – Basic Records Management (PDF) Managing Records Throughout… Read More
How to use your King County ID/ORCA transit benefits
As a King County employee, your employee ID/ORCA card grants you access to King County facilities and opens up a world of public transit options in our region through the Employee Transportation Program (ETP). Buses, light rail, Sounder trains, the Seattle Streetcar and passenger ferries/water taxis provide reliable, consistent, and relaxing ways to get to work. See how to use your ID/ORCA card in the video below. Whether it’s bus, rail, or boat, find out more about your transit options at kingcounty.gov/ETP. For more information on employee safety programs and resources, check out the Safety, Security, and Emergency… Read More
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