April 2026

April 20, 2026

December flood victims sued King County over two levee breaches — Residents whose neighborhoods flooded after heavy rain in December filed suit against King County and the flood control district, alleging the breaches were preventable and that the county had prior notice of the levees' condition.

April 6, 2026

King County executive orders 500 new shelter beds and housing units by mid-2027 — Girmay Zahilay signed an executive order combining emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and subsidized units under a single target, and announced an exploratory committee to develop a first-ever countywide housing levy.

March 2026

March 30, 2026

King County Council bans ICE operations on county property — The 7-1 vote prohibits federal immigration agents from staging or processing on county-owned facilities without a judicial warrant; sheriff's deputies will verify warrants on-site.

August 2025

King County this week advanced plans to open a new 24/7 crisis care center on Capitol Hill, submitting the proposal to the Metropolitan King County Council for approval. If approved within the next 30 days, the county expects to close on the former Polyclinic building at Broadway and Union by the en...

New leadership could be heading to key Seattle-area offices this fall, as fresh contenders lead early primary results in three influential races. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay is leads fellow Councilmember Claudia Balducci by thirteen percentage points. Zahilay has emphasized progressiv...

Seattle and King County voters have overwhelmingly approved two property tax measures in the August primary, renewing funding for public parks and the city’s Democracy Voucher program. King County’s Proposition 1, which passed by a wide margin, will raise roughly $200 a year from the median h...

July 2025

Seattle voters are receiving ballots for the Aug. 5 primary, which will decide the finalists in races for mayor, city attorney, city council, and school board, alongside contests for King County executive and council. Voters will also weigh in on campaign financing and a countywide parks levy. Ma...

July 28, 2025

King County approves new sales tax for public safety — The council voted 8-1 to add a 0.1% tax expected to raise $95 million annually, offsetting a looming $180 million budget deficit.

July 21, 2025

King County reaffirms sanctuary status — Council passes welcoming jurisdiction policy 8–1, pledging continued support and protection for immigrants and refugees amid shifting federal immigration laws.

July 14, 2025

King County assessor ends executive bid  — John Wilson suspended his campaign after his recent arrest for allegedly violating a restraining order.