Governing

Soundside

'We cannot wait for a global solution' - King County Executive talks homelessness, the environment, and more

If you live or do business in King County, you're probably curious about local policy decisions and how your government is running things. We asked for your questions for King County Executive Dow Constantine.... and you delivered.

Vaccine-related firings exacerbate King County Sheriff vacancies

King County Sheriff’s Office continues to struggle with job vacancies. The agency is looking to fill 172 open positions, or about 15 percent of its total workforce. And the county’s employee vaccine mandate, issued last August, hasn’t helped.

Soundside

Body cams and crime reduction — new King County sheriff details her approach

On Tuesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that Patti Cole-Tindall will be King County’s next sheriff. She spoke to Soundside about her plans for the department.

Patti Cole-Tindall named King County Sheriff

King County has named Patti Cole-Tindall as the new full-time sheriff.

Federal Way seeks to stamp out fentanyl fumes by punishing smokers

Federal Way is trying to clear its air of fentanyl smoke.

Soundside

Edmonds considers making camping in public spaces a misdemeanor

As inequality rises and our housing crunch just gets worse, cities across the Pacific Northwest are grappling with homelessness and how to regulate public space. The Edmonds City Council is considering an ordinance that would make it a misdemeanor to camp in a park or the sidewalk if the person has been offered shelter. But it's not going down without controversy.

Soundside

18 sites across WA contain a slur for Indigenous women in their name, but not for long

The names of our cities, landmarks, and geographic features can tell us a lot about the history of our communities. But when you name something - it's impossible to look into the future and determine if those words will always carry the same weight and meaning.

Washington lawmakers of color announce departures, one calls the work environment ‘toxic’

In recent years, Washington’s Legislature has grown more diverse. And majority Democrats have emphasized diversity and equity as core values. But now three members of color, out of nearly 30, are stepping down from the Legislature after serving just one full term. One of them describes the legislative work environment as toxic.

Speakers Forum

Mayor Bruce Harrell looks back on his first 100 days and details his plans moving forward

‘When I talk about public safety, when I talk about I need more officers, I always lead with, but not in a racialized or militarized fashion.’

King County sheriff finalists cite challenges in crime, recruitment, and community trust

King County's next sheriff will likely come from Texas or Georgia. Or it will be the person currently running the office. The three finalists to become King County’s next sheriff spoke at a virtual press conference Tuesday. They all cited recruitment, rising crime, and building community trust as some of their top priorities.