News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.

Dear Friends:

Today’s e-news includes information on a recent visit to Pacific Raceways, the opportunity to apply for a Landmarks Capital, a troubling increase in diabetes among our youth, a countywide vaccination milestone, a new COVID-19 video series, and more.


Washington Trivia

Last weekend Eli Jones, a member of the Eastlake Little League (Sammamish, WA) team competing in the Little League World Series, accomplished a feat that no player has since 2015 and the first for Washington since 1980. What did he do?

(Answer is at the bottom).




Pacific Innovation Center and Motorsports Park Breaks Ground

Since 1960 Pacific Raceways has been the premier racing site in the Northwest. Last week, I joined 3 of the 4 generation of Fioritos at the groundbreaking of their new Innovation Center. The five initial buildings total 200,000 square feet and will be used as a garage/shop, business, innovation center and retail space. This project is an example of how King County and the cities of Auburn and Kent are bringing more living wage jobs to our communities!



With King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, Jason Fiorito, Barbara Fiorito, and Dan Fiorito at the Pacific Raceways Innovation Center Groundbreaking Ceremony



Wouldn’t be a day at Pacific Raceways without a few laps around the go-kart track!


South 216th in Des Moines now open

Crews working on the Federal Way Link Extension have reopened South 216th Street in Des Moines. The road had been closed since July 19 to allow for construction of a tunnel structure on the west side of Interstate 5 that will allow light rail trains to travel under the roadway. Commuters should expect intermittent delays over the next three weeks at South 216th Street as crews finish up work in the area, but access will be maintained throughout these final steps.


Landmarks Capital Grant deadline to apply is September 22

If you are the steward of a designated historic landmark property in King County and are working to rehabilitate it, we encourage you to apply for a 2021 Landmarks Capital grant. This year’s program is made possible through 4Culture and King County’s Building for Equity initiative, which supports cultural building projects and creates pathways to racial equity in funding. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 5pm. For more information or to apply online click here.


Diabetes Surges Among American Youth

The number of young people with the most prevalent form of diabetes nearly doubled in the United States from 2001 to 2017, according to a new study funded by the CDC and the National Institute of Health (NIH). The study also found that deaths from diabetes last year surged 17% to more than 100,000. Younger people, those ages 25 to 44, made up the sharpest increase, with a 29% increase in deaths. The full article can be found on Reuters.


King County is the first large county to have 70% of eligible residents across all age and racial groups having received at least one vaccine dose.

On August 24th, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced more than 70 percent of all eligible King County residents across all age and racial/ethnic groups have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine based on data tracked by Public Health – Seattle & King County. King County is the first large county to achieve this milestone. More than 1.6 million residents have received at least one dose, and more than 3 million doses have been administered to King County residents. The full news release can be found here.



Source: Public Health – Seattle & King County


COVID Conversation video series aims to encourage vaccination

The new COVID Conversations video series from Public Health—Seattle & King County features local residents having open, unscripted conversations about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and getting the vaccine. In the videos, community members share with their siblings, friends, and coworkers how they felt when they learned the vaccine was available. They talk about what questions or concerns they had about getting vaccinated, and what they would tell their loved ones who may still be unsure. This is a great resource to share with community members to encourage vaccination. The video series can be found on YouTube.


Weekly King County Health Updates

August is National Immunization Awareness Month - keeping your child health during the upcoming school year

The Washington State Department of Health reports that many school-aged children missed their recommended vaccines in 2020. With the approaching in-person school year, state health experts are especially concerned about the significant decreases in pre-teen (11-12 yo) vaccination rates for Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough), meningococcal, and HPV diseases. Parents and guardians should contact their health care provider about protecting their children against serious illness through updated vaccinations including the flu and if eligible, the COVID-19 vaccine.

An additional dose for immunocompromised people & boosters for the public

The CDC recommends moderately to severely immunocompromised people consider an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least four weeks following their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer. Immunocompromised people may not develop the same level of immunity as non-immunocompromised people – they are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 illness and may transmit the virus to their close contacts. Immunocompromised individuals are urged to discuss the benefit of a third dose with their health care providers.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a plan for COVID-19 boosters – a dose “given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time.” Approval for a booster dose for the public awaits a three-step process: the independent Advisory Council on Immunization Practice’s through review of current and emerging data, U.S. Center for Disease Control recommendations, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.


King County COVID-19 Case Update

Today, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 818 new positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 132,705. In addition, Public Health reported 12 new deaths, bringing the total in the county to 1,748.

Recent data may be incomplete. For more information, visit the King County Daily Summary Dashboard here.







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 Auburn and Kent.

For in-home vaccination: Call King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977.

Register by phone: Call King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977 or Washington COVID-19 Assistance Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #.

For veterans: Call 206-716-5716 or visit www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine.

For more information, visit Getting vaccinated in King County.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or Text TALK to 741-741


Stay Healthy. Stay Strong.

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember




Washington trivia answer:



Eli Jones threw the first solo no-hitter in the Little League World Series since 2015. The feat occurred on August 21st in a 1-0 win over Palm City, Florida. Congratulations to Eli Jones and his Eastlake teammates representing our region on a national stage!

Photo source: Tom E. Puskar / The Associated Press


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