King County

Seattle, King County to spend $1.5 billion on wastewater upgrades

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:35:09 +0000

The city of Seattle and King County will spend $1.46 billion on upgrades to public sewer systems aimed at reducing the amount of polluted water entering the Puget Sound and other waterways, according to a federal settlement filed under the Clean Water Act.

Under the agreement, the city and county will also pay $750,000 in fines for dumping raw sewage into the Sound and several lakes.

Coming soon: 9-1-1 via text, but is it a good idea?

Paula Wissel — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:53:13 +0000

If you're faced with a serious emergency, chances are you'll pick up the phone and call 9-1-1. But how about sending a text message instead? It’s not something 9-1-1 operators can handle now. But, that could soon change.

First marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in Washington

Paula Wissel — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:33:01 +0000

In King County, the first marriage license to a same-sex couple was issued at exactly 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

People cheered as King County Executive Dow Constantine counted down and declared, "Happy Marriage Equality Day."

King County prepares for midnight rush on same sex marriage licenses

Paula Wissel — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:54:46 +0000

Same sex marriage becomes legal in Washington at midnight tonight. King County is pulling out all the stops to accommodate the hundreds of couples expected to show up at twelve to get marriage licenses.

Washington counties brace for same-sex marriage rush

Gabriel Spitzer — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Same-sex couples can start applying for marriage licenses in Washington at midnight on Thursday, and county officials say they’ll be ready.

The King County auditor’s office will open bright and early: Couples will be able to start queuing up at 10:00 the night before. County Executive Dow Constantine will preside over a special licensing ceremony for a handful of couples right after the stroke of midnight, and the office will keep operating right through 6:30 that night.

Defunct Kingston ferry could improve reliability for King County’s passenger-only service

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Their loss is our gain. That’s one way some folks are looking at the
failure of the Port of Kingston’s passenger-only ferry service.

Deadline approaches for in-person voter registration

KPLU News Staff — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:08:14 +0000

Less than two weeks to go until Election Day, and some people are still scrambling to register for the Oct. 29 in-person deadline.

Seattle's free-ride zone is ending; 'funeral' is set for Friday

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:44:54 +0000

A cultural shift is taking place in Seattle. It’s the elimination of a free-ride zone downtown, for bus riders.

It’s been in place for four decades. And on Friday (Sept. 28) it will go away.

Why King County held a party for a property tax

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:01:49 +0000

Celebrating taxes is a pretty uncommon event, but the King County Council did just that yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of a property tax and the more than 100,000 acres of public lands it has paid to preserve.

The council also made its praise of the Conservation Futures Tax official with a resolution honoring those who created the program to spend the money.

Abandoned rail line may become an Eastside bike trail

Ashley Gross — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:47:52 +0000

The dream of a bike trail stretching from Renton to Woodinville has moved one step closer to a reality. The Port of Seattle commission today voted to approve a $15 million sale of former rail land to King County.

Seattle deal would trade iconic views to preserve farmland and forests

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:10:35 +0000

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine have proposed new development incentives for Seattle's bustling South Lake Union neighborhood.

The program would allow dramatically taller buildings in exchange for extra funds from developers to preserve farmland and forests in rural King County.

Families celebrate success stories in the foster care system

Gabriel Spitzer — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0000

About 1,160 children in King County spent last month in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services. Most were separated from their parents because of unsafe conditions at home, such as drugs, violence or neglect.

But it may come as a surprise to learn that most eventually will be safely returned to their parents.

Get 8 tickets to ride when you renew your car tabs in King County

Evan Hoover — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:13:40 +0000

The Metropolitan King County Council approved a two-year incentive program providing eight free bus tickets to drivers renewing car tabs.

Website links needy renters with affordable rentals

Paula Wissel — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:44:55 +0000

Finding a place to rent can be a hassle. If you don’t have much money, it’s even more difficult.

Now, a new website, HousingSearchNW.org, provides help in locating reasonably priced housing in King County. The website is a free service for tenants and landlords. It's been in operation a little over a month and is averaging about 12,000 searches a week.

Seattle global health experts put talents to use in south King County

KPLU — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:57:03 +0000

By Collin Tong at Crosscut

A coalition of local and global health groups have banded together to bring the lessons they’ve learned in developing countries to south King County, where the health index is as bad as Nairobi.

Read more on Humanosphere.