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Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
Learn to identify plants
Cross-posted from Noxious Weed News If you’re looking at a new plant and not sure where to start with identifying it, the internet is your friend. Whether you’re looking in a park, on a trail, or in your own backyard, we can provide some tips to help you figure out what plant you’re looking at. Before you get started with some plant identification specific applications, it will be helpful to become familiar with some useful plant terms. Read more.
Look inside the giant new tunnel that will improve water quality in Seattle’s Ship Canal
The famed “MudHoney” drill, Seattle’s latest celebrity boring machine, has finished its 100-foot-deep tunnel-boring job. It recently broke through its destination at a shaft in Wallingford, completing a 2.7-mile journey from Ballard along the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The work took 21 months at a pace of about 50-feet a day. This is a major milestone in a multi-year project to construct a tunnel and pump system that will improve water quality for the benefit of people and wildlife. Read more.
Keeping children safe during the wildfire season
Cross-posted from Best Starts for Kids With rising temperatures and dryer conditions, the 2023 wildfire season is expected to start early in King County and last into the fall. Wildfire smoke is unhealthy for everyone, especially after heavy exercise or spending long periods of time outside. Children are more sensitive to heat and wildfire smoke than adults because their lungs and bodies are still growing. In preparation for wildfire season, Public Health has put together recommendations to help protect children from smoke and unhealthy air. Read more.
Addressing inequalities in LGBTQ+ cancer screening coverage in King County
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider While we are fortunate to live in a top-ranked state for LGBTQ+ equality, LGBTQ+ communities have long faced misunderstanding and stigma due to limited healthcare access. In addition, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are LGBTQ+ face extra challenges receiving equitable care due to systematic segregation, lack of access, and exclusion. There is also evidence that many LGBTQ+ individuals are likelier to experience inadequate and poor care because of potential bias and lack of knowledge from health providers. Increasing awareness of cancer screenings is crucial and will ensure… Read More
Executive Constantine responds to US Supreme Court affirmative action decision
King County Executive Dow Constantine released a statement today on the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action in college admissions. “Allowing disparities rooted in racism to persist is a choice,” Executive Constantine said. “When we ignore that fact, as the court did today, we perpetuate the ugliest aspects of our nation’s past and present. The better future we all want is built on a foundation of pluralism, diverse perspectives, and abundant, shared opportunity, and America will not be able to reach its potential until we directly confront and defeat discrimination and bias —… Read More
Independence Day holiday is Tuesday, July 4
Tuesday, July 4 is Independence Day, which means that King County government offices will be closed. All offices will be back on schedule Wednesday, July 5. On July 4, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules with extra late-night services. There will not be an Employee Newsletter published on July 4. If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe and healthy holiday.
Emerald Downs racetrack discounts for employees July 9
King County employees and their families are invited to attend the Emerald Downs racetrack for King County Day on Sunday, July 9 for free admission. Employees can pick up tickets at will call, and there is no need to reserve. There is also no limit, as long as the entire party arrives together. Employees will need to show proof of current employment, such as an employee badge or recent paystub. Please contact Emerald Downs directly for more information. Their customer service number is: 253-288-7711. As part of the Family Fun Weekend event, gates open… Read More
WA Cares Fund deduction to show on July 6 paystub
The mandatory payroll tax for the state’s new WA Cares Fund long-term care insurance program will begin on your July 6 paycheck. The premium is 0.58% of gross wages (58 cents per $100). The initial maximum value of the benefit will be $36,500 (adjusted annually for inflation). The WA Cares Fund deduction will appear on your paystub, as shown below, in the Taxes section under the description “WA LTC/EE.” Note, also in this section are deductions for Washington’s mandatory Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, which began in 2019. PFML deductions… Read More
Sun safety tips
As we all know, our region does not get year-round sun. It seems like every year when summer arrives, we rush outside to get the much-needed sun we’ve been missing. Whether you are enjoying your summer activities or exposed to sun during your workday, don’t forget to follow these sun safety tips to keep you cool and safe: Wear sunscreen: No matter your skin type, sunscreen helps protect you from damage caused by UV rays. Cover all exposed areas of your body with an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. Wear appropriate clothing: Choose lightweight,… Read More
How to prepare for an early and long 2023 wildfire season
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider Since 2017, rising temperatures and dryer conditions have created a health risk we’re learning to expect in the Pacific Northwest – wildfire smoke season. This year, wildfire smoke is forecast to start early in King County and last into fall. Record-setting forest fires have already darkened skies in Canada and the eastern U.S., and our region is set to be next. By preparing now, you can help to protect your and your family’s lungs, heart, and health from smoke. Read more.
Meet the new Crisis Care Centers Initiative planning team
Cross-posted from Cultivating Connections In April, more than 56 percent of King County voters approved the Crisis Care Centers levy. This is a generational opportunity to improve the behavioral health system and deliver care to King County residents. The core components of this initative include crisis care, walk-in services, and residential treatment, in addition to strengthening this critical workforce. King County has brought on three new employees to help lead the implementation process and serve as planning team leads in the next phase of this work. Get to know them here.
King County first in the nation to order new hybrid fire truck
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) will be the first airport in the nation to receive a Striker Volterra 6×6 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) hybrid electric fire engine after finalizing purchase details with Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc. The new rig complements the airport’s existing diesel-powered firefighting vehicles also made by Oshkosh Airport Products and will allow the airport to retire its oldest diesel fire truck. “Climate change is an urgent global crisis that requires us all to do our part, in ways large and small,… Read More
King County receives Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for support of National Guard and Reserve
King County has been honored with a 2023 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in recognition of its support of National Guard and Reserve members. Only 15 recipients were selected for the award, which is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to small and large private and public sector employers for their exceptional support of employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Read more.
Focus on values: We are racially just
“We are racially just” is a core value of King County government because to reach our True North – a welcoming community where every person can thrive – we must achieve racial justice. Only by achieving racial justice can we, together, experience the peace, power, and prosperity needed to truly thrive. Watch the video here and below.
Administrative Professionals Program quarterly recognitions
Do you know an administrative professional you’d like to recognize for the outstanding work they do? The Administrative Professionals Program holds quarterly recognitions for the County’s administrative employees who contribute to the success of every department every day. The upcoming recognitions will cover April-June, 2023, and will be posted by July 12. To recognize an administrative professional, please fill out the form here by June 30.
Second Professional Development Scholarship applications under review
The second and final round of completed applications for the 2023 Coalition Labor Agreement’s Professional Development Scholarship Program are currently under review. There are 52 applicants requesting a total of $130,000 in scholarship funds. Awardees for this period will be notified by email no later than July 14, 2023. The scholarship is part of the County’s commitment to Investing in YOU, and is designed to assist employees represented by a union in the Coalition of Unions with their professional development by providing up to $3,000 in financial assistance towards obtaining training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and… Read More
Goat Hill Garage open for LGBTQ+ Pride parade
Plan on participating in the LGBTQ+ Pride parade or watching the festivities? Public transportation is an excellent way to get downtown and avoid the traffic. Check out your options at Metro Trip Planner and Sound Transit. If public transportation is not an option for you, the Goat Hill Garage, normally closed on weekends, will open on Sunday, June 25 for parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking will be $9 for the general public and $7 for King County employees. The garage is at 415 Sixth Avenue just across the street from the Chinook… Read More
FEMA Public Assistance Program Cost Reimbursement Team receives 2022 Innovation Award for Cost
The Department of Executive Services and Office of Emergency Management – FEMA Public Assistance Program Cost Reimbursement Team has been honored with the Innovation Award for Cost. This award, part of King County Executive’s Performance Excellence Awards, is one of the of five Innovation Awards highlighting department teams whose projects, improvements, and ingenuity deliver exceptional, measurable results. “We solve problems” and “We drive for results” are core values at King County, and these award recipients met challenges in creative and impactful ways. Meet the team and view the award announcement and video… Read More
Register now for upcoming retirement classes
Check out the educational opportunities below to help you learn about — and prepare for — retirement. The following online classes are provided by your King County Retirement Team. For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, read the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator. Introduction to Social Security — Wednesday, July 12 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Join this 90-minute class if you are interested in learning more about Social Security. Guest speaker Kirk Larson from the Social Security Administration will discuss your options as a King County employee… Read More
Update on the budget process and next steps
Dear employee, Back in late April, Executive Constantine emailed you about the unavoidable budget cuts facing the County’s General Fund. As the Executive explained, state law prohibits more than a 1% annual increase in the property tax. When inflation grows, that law prevents us from keeping up with rising costs, and inflation has been as high as 9.5% in recent years. King County was able to pass a two-year budget last year, and while the overall budget is healthy, it’s based on several funding sources. One key component – the General… Read More
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