King County biologists recently reported the strongest return of adult kokanee salmon in the Lake Sammamish watershed in a decade, a potential breakthrough for the freshwater species after nearly going extinct a few years ago. At least 6,800 adult kokanee salmon have returned from the lake to their spawning ground this season after 10 years of alarmingly low returns, including just 19 salmon returning to spawn during the 2017-2018 season. The strong return occurred six years after King County Executive Dow Constantine directed the Department of Natural Resources and Parks to enact… Read More

Originally published by the King County Wastewater Treatment Division  To those who pass by, Skills Inc. may seem like just another grey building tucked behind Auburn’s mile-long dealership row. Inside, the company is quietly making its mark contributing to western Washington’s cluster of innovation in commercial aerospace. The work of manufacturing and finishing wings, landing gear, side panels, and other aerospace parts involves the use of heavy metals and caustic chemicals. While Skills Inc.’s finished products end up all over the world, the company has a responsibility locally to keep Puget Sound… Read More

Crossposted from King County Parks From baseball to soccer, lacrosse to cricket, sports fields are an important part of our community. They’re a place to hone new skills, learn the value of working on a team, a place to come together over the love of the game, and an opportunity to exercise and improve mental and physical wellbeing. The 2020-2025 King County Parks Levy has a variety of projects and funds that go to creating and improving existing sports fields on King County Parks properties and in local cities throughout the county. Read more.

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Like many animal shelters across the nation, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is overwhelmed with dogs and cats. To help ease the shelter space crunch, RASKC is waiving adoption fees for dogs through the end of the year during our “Home for the Holidays” promotion. “Our dog kennels have been consistently at or over capacity all year,” said RASKC assistant operations manager Tim Anderson. “I can’t recall that happening in the last twelve years. So, by waiving adoption fees, we hope we can find a… Read More

Crossposted from KC Emergency News Report Damage King County Emergency Management wants to know if last week’s windstorm caused you any damages. This information may help Washington request disaster assistance from the state and federal government. If your primary residence or business was damaged by the weather, we’d like to hear from you. Here is the link to report your damages. Property Tax Relief If your property (private and business) has been damaged in this storm, you may qualify for property tax relief. For more information on how to apply, go to Destroyed property… Read More

During this national time of thanksgiving, we would like to say how thankful we are for our employees and their dedication to making King County a welcoming community and a great place to live. Your work supporting and serving the 2.27 million people in our region does not go unnoticed. It is you, our employees, who move us forward, make an impact in people’s lives, and deepen our impact on the community. We give a special shout out to the employees who continue to serve King County over the Thanksgiving holiday – bus… Read More

Crossposted from DES Express King County Archives is excited to announce its new online exhibit that sheds light on an aspect of our local history: the development of disability rights and services in King County government. Thanks to funds received from the Washington Digital Heritage Grant, the Archives staff have digitized more than 400 items to bring these important stories to the forefront. The exhibit, Accessibility, Centered: A History of Disability Services in King County, highlights the efforts of disability advocates and showcases important milestones, including the first Washington State Special Olympics in the 1970s,… Read More