 News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.
Today’s update includes news about a Seattle Mariners game, South County Recycling and Transfer Station's Groundbreaking Ceremony, King County Metro's temporary service reductions, King County Library System's removal of overdue fines, the return of Trailhead Direct, the 2023 Seahawks Military Hiring and Resource Fair, grants, health and crime updates, and more.
This University of Washington alum was an American painter and sculptor for whom one of his first well-known commissions was a sculpture for the fine dining restaurant, Canlis. Who was he?
(Answer is at the bottom)
I often have said that sports bring people together, and baseball is a cultural bridge between the Republic of Korea and the United States. Recently, I had the opportunity to join Seattle Mariners’ President of Business Operations, Catie Griggs, and Republic of Korea Consul General in Seattle, Seo Eun-ji, at a Mariners ballgame at T-Mobile Park. Catie is the only active female president in an MLB front office and the first in Mariners’ history, while Consul General Seo is the first ever female Korean Consul General in Seattle. What an honor to be joined by two powerhouses in sports and public service, who are leading their organizations forward.
 With Seattle Mariners’ President of Business Operations Catie Griggs and Republic of Korea Consul General Seo Eun-ji
King County Hosts a Groundbreaking Ceremony for South County Recycling and Transfer Station
Today, King County hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-the-art station in South King County that will make it safer and easier to recycle, compost, and dispose hazardous materials, contributing to the Re+ initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions by reinventing the region's waste system.
The new station in Algona will make it more convenient to recycle appliances, glass, metals, plastics, wood, and paper, compost yard waste, and dispose hazardous materials. It will support many green jobs in our region and bolster local apprenticeship programs, both of which are essential to our region’s long-term success. Click here to watch King County TV's coverage of today's event.
 With Muckleshoot Tribe Member and SCRTS Art Coordinator Sam Obrovac, Operations Supervisor Henry Dotson, Living Building Challenge Vice President Kathleen Smith, King County Deputy Executive April Putney, Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier, Algona Mayor Troy Linnell, Solid Waste Division Director Pat McLaughlin, and King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director Christie True
King County Metro Announces Temporary Service Reductions Beginning September 2
King County Metro announced temporary service reductions that will go into effect with the Fall Service Change, on September 2nd. These temporary reductions will match their schedule to what they are currently able to operate daily. This will mean a more reliable schedule for riders, instead of the daily cancellation of approximately 5% of their scheduled service. The agency currently is delivering 95% of more than 11,200 daily bus trips while facing challenges with canceled trips. The changes beginning in September will ensure riders can have confidence knowing that Metro will be there no matter where they need to go. Read more here.
King County Library System No Longer Charging Overdue Fines
The King County Library System Board of Trustees has voted to permanently remove late fines and clear all current late fines from accounts effective May 9th. This data-driven change supports their values by increasing equitable access to libraries. Read more here.
King County’s Trailhead Direct, the weekends and holidays transit-to-trails service, began its fifth season on Saturday, May 13th, and will run through Labor Day, Monday, September 4th. Metro and King County Parks, with the support of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Amazon, are working together to provide funding for the 2023 season. Read more here.
King County Fair Celebrates 160 years in July
Save the date for the 160th King County Fair on July 13th, 10:00 am to July 16th, 6:00 pm at the Enumclaw Expo Center. Visit http://www.kingcofair.com for more information.
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KCVP Employment Navigators will be at the 2023 Seahawks Military Hiring and Resource Fair
Stop by and say hi to King County Veterans Program (KCVP)’s Employment Navigators at the 2023 Seahawks Military Hiring and Resource Fair at Lumen Field. The hiring and resource fair is on Tuesday, May 23rd from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, is free, and is open to all branches of service, active duty, reservists, veterans, family members and DoD employees. Read more here.
Vets Engaged is a social engagement program of the VSHSL. The program awards small grants at three levels, $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000, for entities to convene community-building events that increase social connection for veterans, military servicemembers, their respective families and other non-veterans in King County. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout 2023. The next deadline for application review is Friday, May 19th at 2:00 pm. Visit bit.ly/VetsEngaged to learn more and to apply.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month
King County is celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by featuring community members who look to the future. Click here to watch videos featuring the work of King County’s Pasifika community.
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South King County may not have the same large benefactors that Seattle does, but our non-profits work just as hard to help people and good causes in our region. Below are a couple places where your donations go a long way:
Crime and Law Enforcement Updates
This update is intended to inform you about what is happening in our communities and where. My hope is that this information will not only make us better informed, but also provide us with solutions for how we can address the issues facing our community as we move forward. Click the following links to see crime information in Auburn, Federal Way, and all of King County.
 For a detailed 2022 end-of-year law enforcement officers fatalities report, click here. For a complete list of benefits for public safety officers and survivors as shared by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), click here.
On Tuesday, the King County Council, led by Councilmember Reagan Dunn, proclaimed National Police Week from May 14 – 20, to salute the service of law enforcement officers in our community and across the nation and to remember all fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. This proclamation also recognizes the National Peace Officers Memorial Day celebrated every May 15th since 1962.
King County Medical Examiner’s Office Seeks Public Assistance in Identifying Two Unknown People Found Dead in King County
The King County Medical Examiner's Office is asking for the public's help to identify two people found dead in two separate cases in King County. The Medical Examiner’s Office is releasing forensic sketches and information related to the two cases with the goal of bringing answers to who these people were. Anyone with information on the case is requested to call the King County Medical Examiner's Office at 206-731-3232, ext. 1. Read more here.
Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Ends
On May 11th, the Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration ended, which means there will be changes to how some people receive COVID-19-related care, like testing, treatment, and vaccines. To find out how this is going to affect you, read more in this Public Health Insider article.
King County Residents Enrolled in Medicaid at Risk of Losing Health Insurance
Beginning June 1st, many King County residents enrolled in Medicaid are at risk of losing health insurance. During the pandemic, more than 100,000 King County residents were newly enrolled in Apple Health insurance coverage. Now, with the end of COVID pandemic emergency measures, many people must confirm eligibility for Apple Health, or enroll in alternative insurance options by May 31st. Clients can login to Washington Healthplanfinder to check their renewal status and update their contact information.
King County provides free support for those who need assistance with re-enrollment or to enroll in alternative insurance options. For more information, call either Healthplanfinder Customer Support at 1-855-923-4633 or the King County Community Health Access Program at 1-800-756-5437 – before June 1st. Read more here.
Check if You Are at Higher Risk in the Heat
After a cool spring in King County, warmer weather is finally on the way. As we experience temperatures in the mid-80s and low 90s, the sudden change from cooler weather can create health risks for many people. Even when temperatures are not very hot, some people are at higher risk for serious health problems on warmer days. Read more here.
New Closure and Reopening Protocols at King County’s Lake Beaches
While the official start of summer is still a month away, King County starts monitoring water quality at popular lake beaches this week. This annual program, which is done by tracking the water quality at more than two dozen beaches from mid-May to mid-September, helps protect the public’s health during the swim season. Read more here.
King County COVID-19 Case Update
Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 61 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 559,077. In addition, Public Health reported 0.4 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,556.
Vaccine Locator: To find COVID-19 vaccine appointments, visit Vaccine Locator.
For King County residents: Register here to schedule your appointment at one of the high-volume vaccination sites in King County.
For in-home vaccination: Call 206-477-3977, press option 3.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat https://988lifeline.org/ to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, any other kind of emotional distress. Non-English Speakers can call 988 and simply say the name of your preferred language to be connected to an interpreter. People who are hearing impaired can use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
King County Councilmember
Washington Trivia Answer:
Born in Seattle in 1910, George Tsutakawa was an American painter and sculptor best known for his avant-garde bronze fountain designs. He was named in honor of George Washington whose birthday is February 22nd as well.
George attended the University of Washington, and later became a teacher after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. One of his first well-known commissions was a sculpture for the fine dining restaurant Canlis - today, it’s still the door handle, but he made his name in bronze, stainless steel, and aluminum,
In 1958, he was asked to design and build a fountain for the new main Seattle Central Library in downtown Seattle. Though he had never created a fountain before, he accepted it and worked with Jack Uchida, a Boeing engineer, to create Fountain of Wisdom.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Tsutakawa rose to international prominence as a fountain designer, and became one of the influential figures of modern Asian-American art. During his career, more than 70 of his distinctive fountains were placed in public spaces. In 1976, he retired after 34 years of teaching Art and Architecture at the University of Washington. He died at his home Seattle in 1997.
 Photo Source: Seattle Public Library
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