News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.
Dear Friends:
Today’s update includes news about the introduction of King County's new Recording Activity Notification System, the IEnVA Certification for King County International Airport, the Small Business Administration's Disaster Assistance program for those impacted by the December 2025 severe winter storm, the South County Recycling and Transfer Station, transit & travel industry updates, and more.
Washington Trivia
This Seattle-born sprinter and hurdler triumphed over Graves’ disease to achieve Olympic gold medals in both 1992 and 1996. Who is she?
(Answer is at the bottom)
In Memoriam: Lou Holtz
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”
“Do the right thing. Do your best. Show people you care.”
“Everybody needs four things in life, something to do, someone to love, someone to believe in, and something to hope for.”
I met Coach Holtz once in Tacoma, but I recall his words EVERY week. Rest in peace, Lou Holtz!
King County Recorder’s Office New Recording Activity Notification System
Property owners are invited to sign up for the free Recording Activity Notification System (RANS), which notifies subscribers any time a land records document associated with their property is recorded by the King County Recorder's Office. RANS is now available online at kingcounty.gov/recorder/recording-activity.
This free electronic notification service will send an email to a subscriber any time a land records document matching the subscribed name is recorded. Subscribers can register their own personal name or their business name for monitoring. While RANS can't prevent property recording fraud, it can help keep property owners apprised of any land records filings associated with their name or parcel.
The entire process is self-service, and subscribers can view and edit notifications for parcels after signing up. Property owners still have the option of searching for document recordings manually through the Online Records Search tool found at kingcounty.gov/recorder.
KCIA: The First Airport in the Nation to Receive IEnVA Certification
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) is again receiving recognition for its environmental efforts. KCIA is the first airport in the United States, as well as the entire Western Hemisphere, to earn the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Certification, a significant milestone.
IEnvA is a new international certification program aimed at improving environmental sustainability in the air transport industry. It is based on globally recognized standards, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) environmental management system and the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). For more information, visit KCIA’s website.
|
Low-Interest Loan Applications Now Available for King County Residents and Businesses Impacted by Historic Flooding
Disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is available for King County residents and businesses affected by the December 2025 winter storm. Deadlines for applications are April 27, 2026, for property damage and November 24, 2026, for economic injury.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. For those with hearing impairments, dial 7-1-1 for relay services.
Applicants can also get application assistance at one of two SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers:
- Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S (starting February 26)
- Fall City Library, 33415 SE 42nd Place (starting March 2)
Outreach center operating hours at both libraries:
- Mondays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tuesdays: 12 – 8 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 12 – 8 p.m.
- Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Fridays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturdays: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South County Recycling and Transfer Station Update
The South County Recycling and Transfer Station (SCRTS) in Algona, opening this summer, will replace a 60-year-old facility, providing King County residents with convenient waste disposal and diverse recycling options. Designed for sustainability, it will serve Algona, Auburn, Federal Way, and Pacific, featuring separate disposal areas for commercial haulers and public self-haul customers.
The Algona Transfer Station will have temporary changes to its operating hours from April 6 to the end of the month. During this period, the station will be open to commercial haulers on weekdays but closed to the general public. Weekend hours remain the same. This closure facilitates construction for the new SCRTS. Learn more at kingcounty.gov/south-county.
 Construction is underway at the South County Recycling and Transfer Station. Behind the facility, the hillside and waterway are visible, restored with native plants for wildlife habitat and stormwater flow.
Transit Updates
Sound Transit: Spring Service Change Begins March 28
Sound Transit's spring service change begins on Saturday, March 28. This update includes the launch of the 2 Line Crosslake Connection and the pilot program for the new Night Bus service, which will operate between SeaTac and Downtown Seattle. Furthermore, adjustments will be made to the ST Express and Sounder schedules to enhance reliability. Learn more on Sound Transit’s website.
RapidRide I Line
King County Metro is set to introduce the RapidRide I Line in Renton, Kent, and Auburn by 2027, covering 17 miles and providing connections to key transit centers and regional services. The project aims to enhance north-south transportation in South King County.
Construction activity, mainly along roads and sidewalks, is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with typical hours from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays, plus some nighttime and weekend work. Temporary disruptions to access or travel patterns may occur during construction. Visit the new RapidRide I Line website for an interactive map and project details.
|
South Link Connections
Metro proposes final route improvements for the South Link Connections project, enhancing public transportation in South King County. With the expansion of Link light rail to three new stations in Kent/Des Moines, Star Lake, and downtown Federal Way, the project aims to create a transit network connecting Metro buses, ST Express, and Pierce Transit services. The final proposal was developed with input from community members and officials from several local areas. Learn more in the Metro Matters article.
Travel Industry Update
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the travel industry report from Visit Seattle showed a Downtown Seattle hotel occupancy rate of 63.4%, with a total of 886,000 rooms sold from October to December, generating revenue of $182.5 million.
October emerged as the strongest month of the quarter; however, it still fell short of 2024 levels, with occupancy decreasing by 5.4%, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) declining by 4.3%, and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) dropping by 9.5%. November exhibited growth in ADR, rising by 2% due to corporate and convention activities, although both occupancy and RevPAR experienced slight declines. December presented significant challenges, with occupancy at just 50.1%, ADR declining by 7.6%, and RevPAR decreasing by 14.4%, largely attributed to a 48% reduction in group room demand.
Seattle's Leisure & Hospitality sector gradually recovered in Q4, with employment stable between 138,000 and 141,000 jobs, despite being smaller than pre-pandemic levels. October and November figures were delayed due to the federal government shutdown. Learn more in the latest Visit Seattle update here.
 Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from?
Hold your horses
Meaning: Used to advise someone to pause and thoughtfully consider their decision or opinion regarding a particular matter.
Origin: The phrase originated from the horse-drawn transportation era, referring to holding reins to prevent horses from moving too quickly. Recorded in American English since the 1840s, it notably appeared as "hold your hosses" in 1844. The phrase may have gained popularity along the Erie Canal or from military contexts to control horses during artillery operations. Over time, it evolved into an idiom meaning "slow down," "wait," or "exercise patience."
Straight from the horse's mouth
Meaning: To get information directly from someone with firsthand knowledge of the matter.
Origin: The phrase "from the horse's mouth" likely originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when gamblers relied on insider tips directly from trainers or jockeys for horse race predictions, essentially "from the horse's mouth." An alternative theory suggests it comes from assessing a horse’s age and health by examining its teeth, thus, the most reliable information about a horse originates directly from its own mouth. The phrase gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in racing contexts in Britain and the U.S., contrasting with terms like "the grapevine" or "hearsay."
|
