Nine-year-old boy honored as "9-1-1 Hero"
Austin Holdt, a nine-year-old boy from Pacific, was named a "King County 9-1-1 Hero" for his quick actions that saved his grandmother's life. The award comes as King County kicks off National 9-1-1 Education Month by releasing a new storybook that helps kids learn how to use 9-1-1.

Executive calls for historic investment to connect the region with high-capacity mass transit
Executive Constantine’s 2016 State of the County address focused on the once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand and connect the growing region with reliable high-capacity mass transit. Sound Transit 3 will deliver more than 108 miles of light rail, creating a regional system that rivals San Francisco’s BART and Washington, D.C.’s Metro.

More frequent, reliable bus service will soon connect more riders to congestion-free light rail
Riders across King County will see milestone transit improvements in just a few weeks: Sound Transit expands Link light rail on March 19 by opening the University Link light rail extension to Capitol Hill and the UW, and Metro implements the third phase of Seattle voter-approved service additions to make bus service more reliable and frequent for Seattle neighborhoods.

Executive kicks off Best Starts for Kids implementation with plan to prevent youth and family homelessness
The first initiative to be funded by the Best Starts for Kids levy will work to prevent youth and families in King County from becoming homeless. It will provide flexible funding and case management for those who are at imminent risk of homelessness, reducing the number of children who are traumatized.

Executive Constantine names board members to guide behavioral health integration
As King County prepares to take on new responsibilities as a Behavioral Health Organization (BHO) beginning April 1, 2016, Executive Constantine has nominated 15 community members to serve on a new advisory board that will provide oversight to the integration of mental health and substance use disorder services.

A year after launch, ORCA LIFT shows how transit can help confront income inequality
ORCA LIFT, the nation's largest reduced-fare program for lower-income riders, is showing other metropolitan regions how transit can be part of the solution to the nation's growing income inequality.

Exec on Bill Hobson: Few advocates have been able to do so much for so many who have so little
King County Executive Dow Constantine issued the following statement regarding the passing of Bill Hobson, the former longtime Executive Director of the Downtown Emergency Service Center.

Executive Constantine delivers on his promise to transform animal services, setting new pet adoption records
Six years after King County nearly disbanded its animal services program amid high euthanasia rates and poor shelter conditions, the County now operates a high-performing regional agency where nearly 9 out of 10 cats and dogs find a safe, loving home. It's the latest example of Executive Constantine's efforts to build the nation's best-run government.

Executive Constantine, Mayor Murray announce task force to confront heroin and opiate prescription addiction
More people in King County now enter detox for heroin than they do alcohol, and the number of opiate-related deaths has tripled since 2009. King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray are bringing together a wide range of experts to recommend immediate actions to confront the epidemic.